North Beach Realty Archives - Page 4 of 5 - North Myrtle Beach Real Estate Sales Blog

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020

Beaches are Open!

March & April were really long months, right?!! Now it’s May and we here at North Beach Vacations are happy to announce that our vacation rentals are open and available to you! Keep reading to learn more about Grand Strand openings below…

We are so delighted to welcome you back!

We hope that you and your family, friends, and loved ones are healthy and safe.

We want to keep you up-to-date as we learn about the lift of many restrictions in North Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina. As of last Friday, short-term rentals have reopened after an order last month requiring short-term accommodations and hotels to shut down.

We are happy to let you know that during your stay, you WILL be able to go to the beach. All beach accesses along the Grand Strand have reopened. Please note, social distancing is required and groups of 3 or more will be separated (families from same permanent residence excluded).

If shopping is on your mind…Horry County retailers are allowed to reopen, including clothing, furniture stores, jewelers and florists, after McMaster lifted the order that closed businesses. Among those are some shops at Barefoot Landing and Tanger Outlets.

Boating and other water sports may also be enjoyed as public docks and boat landings in Horry County have also reopened. It’s important to note that the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources have advised boaters to not gather on beaches, sandbars or islands.

Watch the sunrise as you sip your morning coffee…

Restaurants Are Open – Outdoor Dining Only

As of Monday, May 4th, Gov. Henry McMaster has allowed restaurants to open for outdoor dining only. For restaurants that aren’t able to provide outdoor dining services to customers, they may still offer takeout, curbside, and delivery services.

One other thing we wanted to point out is that resort pools, fitness centers, game rooms, saunas–pretty much all communal amenities, etc.–are still closed until May 13th, unless the Governor’s order is lifted or extended.

Here at North Beach Vacations, we’ve been working hard to keep up with all the changes during this crisis. We will keep you updated as we learn more. Until then, if you don’t already have a reservation, please give us a call NOW to book your dream beach vacation today at 800-274-1105.

We are so excited to welcome you back to our beautiful North Myrtle beaches!

North Beach Vacations uses the COVID-19 Disinfection Checklist, which follows cleaning and disinfection guidelines provided by the CDC, EPA, and World Health Organization. All of our properties are cleaned thoroughly, and we have disinfected our bathrooms, kitchens, & major touch points like light switches, doorknobs, tabletops, electronics, appliances, & control panels.

Please contact us if you’d like to know more about how we’re protecting your health and ours.

Wanting to call paradise HOME? Call our North Beach Realty Real Estate agents now at 800-274-1105 or search listings.

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

Plant a Garden this Summer in your New Backyard

Did you and your family just purchase a new home in the North Myrtle Beach area and are looking to grow fresh fruits and vegetables? We at North Beach Realty can assist you in helping you find which vegetables or fruits may work well in your garden. We understand that owning a new home can be a little daunting at times, but planting a garden in your backyard can give you and your family something to do together.

What Do You Want to Plant?

Plant a Garden this Summer in your New Backyard

When it comes to planting a new garden, it may be a little challenging to figure out what to plant. For many locals, you may find them growing things in their backyard like tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, zucchini, squash, and green beans. But if you are looking for something a little more specific, do a little research in to see what the best for the area is. This way, you can make a quick plan on what you’d like to plant in your first garden at your home.

Pick a Spot in your Backyard

Picking a spot in your backyard is a vital task for any homeowner, whether they live in the North Myrtle Beach area or not. You will want to find a spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of full sun each day. Another thing that you can do is check out the local garden center and see what each vegetable or fruit needs as far as shade or full sunlight. Making sure that you choose the right place in your backyard will help you know what plants work best for you.

Do You Want Raised Beds or Use the Soil?

After you have picked a spot for your garden in your backyard, it will soon be time to make another decision. This time you will be deciding if you want to dig up your yard or if you want to use raised beds. If you choose to build a raised bed, then this is the easier way to go. For many new homeowners, they don’t want to dedicate a particular part of their yard just for a garden, so they choose the raised beds. The good thing about using the raised beds is it can be a lot more back-friendly for those who don’t want to bend over to tend to their garden. If you choose to use the soil, then you will be continuing to turn down to care for it, weed, and get the ground ready. No matter what decision you make, it will be an excellent garden for your family!

The final step to planting a garden in your new backyard is to plant it and water it. For many of the fruits and vegetables, you will find that late spring is the best time to plant. But we would suggest that you check each plant to make sure it is the right time. If you don’t have a backyard that you can grow a garden, now is the time to start looking. We at North Beach Realty look forward to helping you and your family find yours forever home in North Myrtle Beach!

February 18, 2020March 30, 2020

3 Ways to Decorate Your Guest Bedroom

Did you recently move into your new home in North Myrtle Beach and are looking for ways to decorate your guest room? If the answer is yes, then you will want to continue to read this post as we know of 6 ways that you can decorate your guest room. Moving into a new home can be stressful and we understand that decorating can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s look below at 3 ways that you can decorate your guest bedroom in your new North Myrtle Beach home.

Make it Relaxing & Cozy

Think about when you stay in a hotel or resort, what is the first thing that you check to see how relaxing the bed is. Create a room where your guests will not want to leave to go back to reality because the room is relaxing and cozy. Add several throw pillows onto the bed and adding a throw onto the end of the bed can create a welcoming and cozy room. Get a rocking chair or an armchair where you can have a knit blanket over the top of it. Be sure to leave your guests with plenty of clean towels for their stay.

Clutter Free

When you think about going to another person’s home, you think about how clean it is and clutter free. That is one of the main things that you will want to make sure you have your guest room. Having family or friends stay with you is always a treat but making sure that the room they are staying in is inviting. If you think that the room is a little small, then why not add some built-ins on each side of the bed. This is a great way to allow your guests to have their own nightstands, plus you can have books for your guests to read on the built-ins. This is another way to keep the room clutter free by having a space to put the books and knick-knacks for show.

Add Fresh Flowers

Have you ever been to someone else’s home where the room had a nice light fragrance in it? Most likely they have left you some beautiful fresh flowers to enjoy and help freshen up the room. Adding fresh flowers to your guest room can give the appeal to your guests to feel more at home. Depending on the time of year that you have guests coming to stay with you, will depend on what kind of flowers you will leave in the room for them. For the spring, you can leave some hydrangeas or some tulips. Either way, adding this little touch into their room will allow your guests to relax more at night and during their stay.

While there are many other ways that you can decorate your guest bedroom, these are the few we wanted to share with you. If you still haven’t found your next home in the North Myrtle Beach area, allow us at North Beach Realty to help you. We have agents who can assist you in finding your dream home.

November 24, 2019

Decorate Your Vacation Home this Holiday Season

Have you recently purchased your North Myrtle Beach vacation home and are looking for ways to decorate it this holiday season? We at North Beach Realty want to help you with that decision this year. Getting your beach house ready for its guests or even your family for the holidays can seem overwhelming. Let’s look below at how you can liven up your holiday décor this year in your new home.

Trim the Tree

The holidays aren’t complete unless you have a Christmas tree in your home. After Thanksgiving Day is normally when families put up their trees and decorate them. This year you could have a small tree in your home and decorate it in a beach theme. For many who live at the beach or have a vacation home at the beach, they love to decorate it with flamingo’s and have a coastal feel to them. Be sure to put non-breakable ornaments on the tree and trim the tree with all the pretty colors you may find at the beach. No home or vacation home is complete this year without trimming the tree as a family!

Decorate the Outside

It’s time to haul out the holly and decorate the outside of your new vacation home. Adding festive decorations to your home can make your home inviting to your friends, family and guests. Grab some fresh garland, lights and a beautiful wreath to decorate the front porch of your vacation rental. Add a few lanterns with some unbreakable ornaments and add that perfect bow to the top of each one. Place a new festive welcome mat by the front door and hang that wreath on the door. Your family and guests will definitely be inviting for anyone who visits your vacation home.

It Feels Like Home

The holidays definitely bring out the best in us all and making your vacation home feel like your guests’ home too. Add some holiday décor throughout your home such as garland along the railings of the staircase and on the mantle. Breakout the holiday dishes and have a nice table runner or cloth on the dining room table. To also make your home more inviting, you could leave some holiday candy, chocolate candy or candy canes in a glass jar or bowl for your guests to enjoy.

There are many other ways that you can get your new vacation home ready for your guests, but these are just a few we thought you’d like. If you are still in the market for a new home or vacation home, allow one of our agents at North Beach Realty help you out. We hope that you and your family enjoy your North Myrtle Beach vacation home this holiday season!

October 28, 2019

Reasons Why You Should Look for Your Vacation Home this Fall

Do you and your family love to visit North Myrtle Beach during the fall, but you’d love to have a place of your own? Fall is a great time of the year to start house hunting for your new vacation home. Finding the perfect home that will meet your family’s needs is one of the top reasons that we at North Beach Realty focuses on. Let’s look below at what the reasons are of why you should look for your vacation home this fall on the Grand Strand.

Competition

Did you know that during the fall months the market is better for anyone who is looking to purchase a vacation home? The reason that it is a better market is because during the warmer months there is more competition out there. The cooler months many of the sellers are looking to find the best buyer for their home and you as the homebuyer will have a better chance of getting the home without being outbid. This in return will mean you will be about to find the perfect vacation home in the area for a great deal.

Decorating Your Home

Another great reason as of why you should look for your vacation home this fall is the sales. We understand that furnishing a vacation home ca be a little pricey especially if you purchase it for its full price. But the good news is during the fall months a lot of home furnishings and other stores put their “summer” items on sale. What a better way to furnish your new home than with the items you were eying during the summer but for half the price. This can not only help you get some really nice things but can help you stay on budget too!

Weather is Perfect

Buying a home whether it’s a vacation home or your permanent home, looking at homes when the weather is nicer is a plus. Who wants to be hunting for homes during the dead heat of the summer when you could be searching for homes during the fall? Even though it can still be a little warm in the North Myrtle Beach area during the fall months, the humidity has lowered some. This can make not only searching for the home a little easier but can also make moving into one feel even better. We promise you that you won’t want to leave your vacation home to go back to real life after you experience the fall weather here.

While there are many other reasons as of why you should look for your vacation home this fall in North Myrtle beach, we thought you’d like these instead. If you still haven’t found your next vacation home and need help looking for one, let us at North Beach Realty assist you. We hope that we can help your family look for your dream vacation home today!

October 1, 2019

Decorate your Home for Fall on a Budget

Have you just moved into your home within the past 9 months and are looking to decorate your home on a budget. We at North Beach Realty can help you with some ideas for the fall in your home. Living in South Carolina it can sometimes be hard to feel like it’s fall, so why not bring the season inside your home. Let’s look below at a few tips on how to decorate your home for the fall on a budget.

Pick a Neutral Color

For many families who live here on the coast, they want their home to be “beachy”. But why not bring a little fall or farmhouse decorations into your home this fall? When you go to the local craft store or any store, you want to choose a neutral color. Something that will go with anything that you may have in your home such as off-white, rust, orange or gold colors. If you choose an off-white color or light green, you may be able to use them in your home year-round. Let your imagination run wild when you go to the store. There are a few stores that already have their fall decorations on a good sale, so check them out first.

Repurpose

Having a home can be a great thing, but when you’re looking to stay on a budget it can be difficult. Look around your home or a local thrift store for a few things that you can repurpose. Repaint a chair or an old milk can and add some fall flowers. Check out your parents homes to see if there is something they don’t need and repurpose them to fit in your home decor. Not only will this save you money but it will allow you to be a little more creative.

Leave it up to Nature

For many homeowners, they want to bring the outside inside but aren’t sure how to do it. Head to a local orchard or a farmer’s market where you can purchase different fall elements on a budget. Farmer’s markets may be a little easier on the budget for any homeowner but just check around town. Another great place to look is outside your home. Bring in pinecones, leaves or other things to help spruce up your home.

There are so many possibilities that you can do to decorate your home this fall on a budget. These are the few that we wanted to share with you. If you haven’t found your home yet in the North Myrtle Beach area, we can help you. Allow one of our amazing agents to help you and your family find your forever home today!

August 26, 2019

4 Things to Think About When Purchasing Your First Vacation Home

Summer is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean that your vacations to the North Myrtle Beach has to either. Buying a vacation home is not only a great investment but is a wonderful purchase for larger families. North Beach Realty can help you and your family find the perfect rental property in the area. With the housing market these days you will be able to see the low property taxes, wonderful climate year-round and a steady supply of renters. Let’s look at what 4 things you need to think about when purchasing your first vacation property.

Do Your Research

Before you even think about purchasing your very first vacation home, you must do some research. This is a very important key factor when it comes to buying a vacation home or a new home for anyone. Research to see which areas the best for families are, look into what kind of budget you have and see where many families are looking to vacation in. This can be a key component when starting the process of finding the perfect vacation home for your family and many more. If you are still in need of assistance just give us a call and we can help you out!

What Location is the Best?

Deciding on where you’d like to purchase your first vacation home is a key element. Just like buying a home in your home state, buying a vacation home in the right area is going to help you. Of course, finding a home that is located either on the beach or close by will be the ticket for you. You will find that purchasing a home closer to the water is what will help you be able to market your vacation home to potential renters. This will also help generate a better revenue and if you ever need to sell the vacation home, the resale is better. But finding a home in a certain location for the perfect price is what we want for you too.

Size of the Vacation Home

Another key factor for searching for the perfect vacation home is going to be the size of it. Sometimes you may find that purchasing a larger home will not only cost more money but can be a little hard to handle too. We know that when you go on vacation the last thing you want to do is clean a big home, so maybe look for a smaller home. Many vacation home owners do start out with a smaller home and then they work their way up from there. And since this would be your very first investment property, we know that you will want to keep the cost as low as possible. This way you won’t have to worry about if you can afford it or not.

Work with Our Agents You Can Trust

During this process of purchasing a home and even renting it, it is important to work with a professional team that you can trust. We at North Beach Realty have quality agents that are here to help you through this process from the beginning to the end. We like to make sure that you are comfortable with the home and with the price long before you sign on the dotted lines. We hope that you will allow us to help you throughout this process for getting your very own beach vacation home.

There may be other things that will help you in making a decision on purchasing your first vacation home, but these are the few we thought you’d like. If you need any help making the big decision or you are ready to purchase your North Myrtle Beach vacation home, give us a call today. We at North Beach Realty look forward to helping your family with one of the best decisions you can!

July 14, 2019

Moving Trucks or Moving Containers – Which One Should You Choose?

For many families who are moving from another state or even another home, they often have the question which should I use? Should they go with a moving company who uses a truck, or should they use a moving container instead? We know that moving out of one home and into another can have its challenges, but we at North Beach Realty can help you with making those big decisions. Below we will put some of the pros and cons of both using a moving truck or using moving containers for your next move.

Moving Containers

We understand that this is an important decision on if you should use a moving company or use the moving containers. Some of the pros to using moving containers would it’s convenient for your family as they will bring the container to your location and take it to the new home. Using a container will allow you enough storage and have the flexibility in packing at your own pace.

When it comes to some of the cons, the price of using them can be a little more than you expected. The other con to using a moving container is the accessibility to them. While you are on the move to your new home, you may have to wait a week or so before your belongings get to you. So be sure to check out all your options before you make the right decision.

Moving Truck Company

For many families, they love to use a moving truck company to help move to their new home. There are many different options that you can choose such as the size of the truck, packing the truck and moving on your own. You will have control over most of the move as you can receive your belongings in just a few short days if not all on the same day. The cost may seem to be a little less than using the moving containers and this can be a big thing for families on a budget. But you will want to make sure that you won’t have any hidden costs in using a moving truck or a moving company. Be sure to get all that up front before you sign on the dotted line. If you need to know of who to use or where to rent a truck from, we would be more than happy to assist you.

Moving for any family can be quite stressful especially if you have younger children. Be sure to allow them to help out in packing and with the move as much as possible, so they don’t get upset about moving into a new home. This can also be a big help for you as parents because you are allowing them to be a part of something so important to the whole family. If you are still looking for your forever home, please allow our agents at North Beach Realty to help you out. We hope that you and your family have a wonderful summer and will be able to enjoy your new home together!

March 26, 2019

What to Expect on the Day You Close on your Home

Are you purchasing a home in the North Myrtle Beach area and aren’t sure what to expect on the day of closing? We at North Beach Realty can help you with those questions of uncertainty that comes along when you buy or sell your home. Many want to know when their closing date will be and where will the closing take place? Anyone who may be buying a home for the first time generally have many questions to ask as they prepare to settle into their new life as a homeowner. Let’s look below at what you can expect on the day you close on your new home.

Where Will the Closing Take Place?

For many of our clients, we are often asked after an offer has been accepted is ‘Where will the closing take place?’ Closings are generally held at lawyers’ offices or they can be held at the title company that issued the title policy for the house. This is normally a very neutral place that has access to technology so the documents can be signed and verified. This can be a very neutral place that does have access to technology so the documents can be signed and verified. You will be told where the closing will be at by your real estate agent once a date is confirmed.

Who Will Be at the Closing?

We understand the importance of knowing who will be at the closing of your home. The buyers, sellers, lawyer, both Realtors will be at the closing. The mortgage lender may be there at the time of the closing so it can be a full table if everyone is there. Most times however it will be a small group at the time of the closing. There may be times where the buyers and sellers will go into the room at different times depending on the situation. If you have children, you can bring them along, but the process may be a little too long for the younger ones to sit through it.

What Will We Be Signing?

Many homeowners want to know what they will be signing on the day of closing and this is the important part. You’re closing documents will consist of the buyer’s packet and the seller’s packet. Most times the sellers will be the first to sign the paperwork as they normally have the least number of documents to sign. This process is the quickest of the whole day for everyone. Next up, it will be your turn to sign the documents. This is where you the buyer will go through each document and either initial or sign on the dotted line. During the time of signing your documents, you will also have to pay the closing costs too. While you are finishing up with signing, the funds will be verified and soon you will be on your way to your new home.

You will leave with your copy of the closing documents that you have just signed and the keys in your hands for your new home. If you are still on the hunt for a new home or vacation home in the North Myrtle Beach area, we’d love to help you find the one. And if you have just recently purchased a new home, congratulations and welcome to the area!

January 31, 2019

5 First Time Home Buyer Mistakes You Want to Avoid

Have you made the decision that now is the time to buy your first home in the Myrtle Beach area? Buying your first home can bring a high level of uncertainty and stress. There are many steps when buying a home and many first-time buyers are unaware of what steps they need to take when buying their first home. Unfortunately, many first-time home buyers who are unaware of the home buying process and can make some mistakes. These mistakes can often cost themselves thousands of dollars, frustration and possibly not being able to purchase their first home. We understand that it is important when you buy your first home that you understand what the most common first-time home buyer mistakes are and how to avoid them.

Not Getting a Pre-Approval for a Mortgage

The first mistake that any first-time home buyer can make is not getting “pre-approved” for a mortgage. As you prepared to purchase your first home you may hear the word “pre-qualification” being thrown around. You need to know there is a difference between a mortgage pre-approval and pre-qualification. A mortgage pre-approval is an in-depth look at your (the buyers) financial by a mortgage lender or bank in order to see the likelihood of getting a mortgage. A pre-approval will normally require the buyer to provide documents such as their tax returns, recent pay stubs and bank statements. A mortgage pre-qualification is just a general look at the buyer’s financials by a mortgage lender or bank to determine of the likelihood of getting a mortgage. A mortgage pre-approval will place you the buyer in the best light of the seller because the changes for you to get a mortgage is actually granted is greater.

Not Taking the Process of Hiring a Buyer’s Agent

The most important person that you will be relying on for guidance in purchasing your first home is a real estate agent. There are many reasons on why you should use a real estate agent when buying a home and the worst first time homebuyer mistakes is not using one. We always recommend that you do not use the same agent as the home seller is using. This can be a conflict of interest and can become very complicated to deal with. Also hiring a friend, family member or the very first agent you encounter can be a recipe for disaster. While a friend or family member may be a competent and successful agent, it’s not always the case. Since you are purchasing your first home this is a big deal and you want to have an agent who is guiding you through the process and not choosing what they think is the perfect home for you. We at North Beach Realty have many real estate agents who are well qualified to become your own agent in the process of buying your first home.

Factoring in Additional Expenses of Owning a Home

Many first-time home buyers will forget to factor in the additional expenses of home ownership. It’s important that you realize to factor in any additional expenses that come with owning a home. You may be wondering what those additional expenses may be but we can tell you they are monthly utilities, refuse, homeowners insurance and general maintenance. To help you with factoring in the additional expense we recommend creating a spreadsheet with your estimated home ownership costs. Creating a monthly budget will help you ensure that you don’t purchase a home you can’t afford and keep on track for being able to afford everything.

Relying on Online Home Value Estimates

As a first-time home buyer, you may struggle on how to determine how much to offer for the home once you find one you love. One way to embarrass yourself when making an offer is to believe the home values you may see online. It’s likely you have seen different websites online that will give you an estimate on what the house is worth, but many are just calculated using an algorithm. We have seen many of the estimates online either be too high for what the home is really worth or too low.

The only true way to find out what the home is worth is to have an appraisal done on the home when you purchase it. Then you will know that you are making a fair offer on your dream home. Having an experienced real estate agent will help you with making a fair offer on the home as well so you will be able to purchase your dream home.

Not Doing the Home Inspection

When you are in the first stages of buying your first home one of the most important steps in the process is the inspection phase. Skipping the home inspection is one of the worse first-time home buyers’ mistakes and here is why. There are a ton of reasons that will make you want to skip the home inspection even if it’s on a new home, but it can help save you time and money in the long run. Having an inspection done on your prospective home can protect you from a home that may need a lot of home repairs. The home inspector can also see if there is structural issues or mold present in the home. These are just a few red flags that you want to watch for when purchasing a home and may help you save thousands of dollars just by doing a home inspection.

Buying your first home is a very exciting event and time but it’s important that you don’t let your excitement get in the way of these common mistakes. As you are going through the process of buying a home, and you have any questions then to please allow us to answer them for you during the process of finding the perfect home. We at North Beach Realty want to help you find your perfect dream home and want this process to go as smooth as it can in being first time home buyers.