Just Sold! Inlet Harbour! Inlet Front Home!
HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY, MYRTLE BEACH!
In 1937, Myrtle Beach became an incorporated town and this year marks its 75th anniversary!
A huge celebration and Beach Music Festival is happening downtown today to honor the anniversary of this great city, as well as the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. The festival kicks off on the old Pavilion grounds, between Eight and Ninth avenues North on Ocean Boulevard. Performances will feature beach music from The Catalinas, The Original Drifters, and The Temptation Review–a Temptations cover band.
In addition to music, Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, owners of Georgetown Cupcakes and sisters who appeared on TLC’s DC Cupcakes, are attempting to build a 7,500 cupcake pyramid! If they succeed, they will break the world record for the largest cake ever made out of cupcakes. You can enjoy the cupcakes beginning at 7 p.m.
According to an article written by WMBF news, those who attend are encouraged to use the hashtag #myr75 on Twitter and Instagram to share their experiences at the celebration.
The fun doesn’t end there.
Tomorrow, July 21, The Salt Games at Plyler Park (on the beach at North Ocean Boulevard and Mr. Joe White Avenue) will be an all-day event presented by Native Sons Screen Print & Embroidery and benefits the Grand Strand’s chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
The Salt Games, which is being compared to a “beach themed” X Games, will consist of several different competitions and winners go home with prize money! The entire event is free to the public, with the exception of competition entry fees. It starts at 9 a.m. with a two-person team volleyball tournament, and prizes include $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. Entry into the tournament is $30 per person.
This is the listed schedule of events:
9 to 10 a.m. – Yoga in the Park. Bring your own mat.
10 to 11 a.m. – Paddleboard Race (Registration is $25.)
10 to 1 p.m. – CrossFit Dog Summer Games (Registration is $65.)
11 a.m. to Noon – Kids’ Shark Run around 14th Avenue Pier (Ages 5 to 12. Register online.)
Noon to 12:20 p.m. – Sea Salt Margarita Challenge (The challenge involves running into the ocean, dunking your head, and filling up a giant margarita glass with water. The winner takes home a gift basket.)
1 to 1:30 p.m. – Tug-of-War (Restaurant gift cards are awarded to the winning team.)
3 to 3:45 p.m. – Boots & Bikini Contest (The winner takes home $500, and the top eight finishers are invited to participate in Club Rodeo’s official Boots & Bikini Contest for a chance at a $10,000 prize. Register online.)
3:50 to 4:20 p.m. – Salt Shaker Game (A box similar to that of a tissue box is tied around the waist. Six ping pong balls are inside the box and must be shaken out. Winners earn restaurant gift cards.)
5 to 5:45 p.m. – Chief Kamu’s Fire Dancers performance
6 to 8 p.m. – Lifeguard Games (More than 300 lifeguards will compete in four-person team relay swims and 1-on-1 land drills.)
6 to 11 p.m. – Concerts performed by Jah Creation and Ten Toes Up
Other events include a live remote with WKZQ, caricatures and face painting, DJ from noon to 4 p.m., and an amateur half-pipe open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Salt Games definitely sound like a fun way to spend the day on Sunday. Visit the Salt Games website for more information.
Regardless of your weekend plans, be sure you head out to celebrate and enjoy this great city on its 75th anniversary!
It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
Every day is a beautiful day in the neighborhood when your neighborhood is nestled in or around one of the best beaches in the United States! (The Travel Channel ranks Myrtle Beach at #TWO!) Let me introduce you to the Grand Strand’s best neighborhoods, communities, and subdivisions!
Dargan Real Estate strives to provide each homebuyer with every piece of information available to help the public form well-educated decisions in the home buying process. We hope you check back with us often to learn more about each of our great communities in detail. In the weeks ahead, we plan to focus on each area individually to give you the opportunity to learn more about their demographics, school systems, and unique neighborhoods. You’ll find each community has its own identity, likability, and charm about it.
Listed below are the areas that will be discussed in greater detail in the weeks ahead.
NORTH
Little River – Town
North Myrtle Beach – City
Cherry Grove , Windy Hill, Briarcliffe Acres – Neighborhoods
Atlantic Beach – Town
CENTRAL
Myrtle Beach – City
Carolina Forest, Forestbrook, Socastee – Unincorporated Areas in Horry County
SOUTH
Surfside Beach – Town
Garden City Beach – Unincorporated Horry County
Murrells Inlet – Unincorporated Georgetown County
Litchfield Beach – Unincorporated Georgetown County
Pawley’s Island – Town
DeBordieu – Unincorporated Georgetown County
Georgetown – City
WEST
Conway – City
Featured Property: 105 Osprey Cove Loop Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Today’s featured property is an adorable three bedroom, two bath home built in the late 90’s and located at 105 Osprey Cove Loop in Myrtle Beach, SC. This property is move-in ready and just minutes from the beach and local shopping.
With white paint, blue shutters, and a porch perfect for rocking chairs, this home is the definition of a southern home. Tiled floors and white cabinetry in the kitchen create a clean and efficient working space, and an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings allow plenty of room for entertaining guests!
Laminate hardwood floors in the living room and hallways, along with tile floors in the bathrooms, are just a few of the added perks to this property. Add in a spacious master bed and bath, along with a private backyard and one-car garage, and you’re sure to fall in love with this home.
Contact Neil Johnson at 843-712-2585 to tour this home and fall in love today!
10 DIY Home Decorating Projects
Last week, I posted a few simple things that can be done to stage your home in a way that entices buyers. I recently read a great article on Better Homes & Gardens website that listed several DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects that are quick and easy. I thought I’d share a few of them, along with a few Pinterest finds, for more ideas on adding that extra oomph to the decor in your already great property!
1. DIY Pouf
For approximately $50, add extra seating or a footrest with style to any room by making this DIY pouf. Download step-by-step instructions and take advantage of BHG’s free pattern here.
Photograph Source: Better Homes & Gardens
2. DIY Lamp Revamp
Add your own personal style to an old lamp by using ribbon and spray paint. Spray paint the base with a metallic colored paint and wrap shiny ribbon in fun, bold patterns around the lampshade. Secure the ribbon with a hot glue gun or pins. Paint your favorite quote, poem, love note, or Bible verse with acrylic paint around the lampshade instead, like Micheala at Happy Apple did in the picture shown below.
Photograph Source: Happy Apple
3. DIY Photograph Masterpiece
Find simple objects you love and take pictures of them. Play around with the hue, saturation, and brightness of the photograph with an online photo editing tool. (Clueless about photo editing? PicMonkey offers a free online editor that doesn’t require a user login and is fairly simple to use.) After you’ve created the perfect picture, order large prints and frame them on black mats with white frames for a sleek modern touch.
Photograph Source: Better Homes & Gardens
4. DIY Bathroom Wall Design
Randomly place wall decals for added flare to your bathroom walls. They are relatively cheap and create a completely new look.
Photograph Source: Better Homes & Gardens
5. DIY Roller Shade Accents
Find your favorite fabric, ask a retailer to cut the shade to fit your windows, and insert a curtain rod in the bottom pocket. Read the entire DIY description here.
Photograph Source: Better Homes & Gardens
6. DIY Marble Art
Marbleizing is so trendy right now. Create your own personal marble art by marbleizing paper, scanning it, and sending the design to a print center to be printed on canvas. Waterpaper color works best for this project.
Photograph Source: Better Homes & Gardens
Directions: Fill an aluminum baking pan with about an inch of water and place it outside or on top of a drop cloth. Drop generous amounts of acrylic paint into the water in a range of coordinating colors across the surface. Mix the colors gently with a stirrer or toothpick. Too much stirring creates muddy colors so try to swirl the paint instead. Gently place a piece of the paper on top of the water and carefully lift it off. Rubber gloves will keep your hands clean. Add more paint after using three or four sheets. Alternate with contrasting colors and shades. Place the dipped paper on newspaper to dry or hang it on a clothesline with clothes pins. After the paper is completely dry, flatten it overnight by pressing it between two books.
7. DIY Patterned Furniture
One of the easiest DIY home projects is simply painting a piece of old furniture. Freshen it up a bit by replacing the knobs or handles and painting patterns or designs on drawer fronts or tabletops with paint pens.
Photograph Source: Better Homes & Gardens
Photograph Source: Pin found on Pinterest of Craigslist posting
8. DIY Candle Cylinders
Transform a candle into a beautiful centerpiece by wrapping pre-punched paper found at craft stores around a glass cylinder. Voila!
Photograph Source: WeHeartIt.com
9. DIY Stone Tub
You must admit, adding stone to a bathtub is pretty genius. Blogger Rachael at Lovely Crafty Home created a brand new tub by applying a lightweight stone to it with adhesive!
I’m sold! On the project AND the home!
10. DIY Crate Bookshelf
Build your own crate bookshelf with crates found at any craft store. Spray paint them any color you choose and secure them together with bolts. You can find complete step-by-step instructions from the blogger and inventor herself, at Calm Cradle .
Photograph Source: Calm Cradle
Just Sold
Just Sold
10 Home Staging Tips
Listed below are a few helpful tips to consider as you stage your home for a sale.
1. Get rid of all that clutter.
Having too much furniture can contribute to a cluttered look. Once you’ve scaled back on some of your belongings, you’ll notice the rooms appear much larger!
2. Group your furniture together.
Contrary to popular belief, rooms look smaller when furniture is pushed up against the wall. Pull the sofa and chairs out, and place them in conversational groups. This allows smooth traffic flow and makes the room appear larger.
3. Transform your rooms.
Transforming is especially important for those rooms that serve no real purpose. Create something that will add value to your home. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It can be as simple as throwing down a comfy rug and adding pillows to create a yoga room or adding a small table and chair by a window to create a reading nook. Get creative!
4. Light it up.
Most of our homes are not lit properly. Aim to keep light of at least 100 watts for each 50 square feet. Also, display more than one or two fixtures in each room. You will need three different types of lighting throughout the house: ambient lighting for general or overhead, task lighting for underneath cabinets or for reading, and accent lighting for tables and walls.
5. Keep things neutral.
Bright, bold colors tend to scare away potential offers. Repaint off-white walls a warm and inviting neutral hue. Neutral colors help tone down any outdated finishes.
6. Experiment with color.
This sounds contradictory to the last tip but it’s okay to go bolder (or more specifically, darker) in the bedroom. Darker colors make bedrooms seem more cozy and intimate. If you tend to be afraid of bolder colors, try painting only an accent wall instead.
7. Accessorize.
Accessories can add charm to a room. They look best in groups of odd numbers like three and displayed in a triangular formation, rather than lined up. Be sure to vary height and width and keep larger or taller items at the back.
8. Keep things serene.
Create a peaceful and calming bedroom by keeping luxurious linens in soft colors on the bed. It’s best to clean out the closet, as well. Buyers love homes with a lot of storage space, and the less you have in your closet, the more storage it appears you have.
9. Finish all projects.
Unfinished projects could scare off potential buyers. It’s cheaper to fix the crack in the sidewalk or the missing floorboard than to deduct money from the asking price if a potential buyer requests it.
10. Prim and polish.
Put out items like rolled up towels, candles, and baskets in bathrooms. It’s a cheap and easy way to create a polished look that will create a spa-like atmosphere.
Largest Increase To Pending Home Sales In 7 Years!
The latest real estate news remains positive!
The housing market has shown increased improvements over the past year. These improvements are visible in a variety of statistics, including those related to the increased number of home sales.
According to a report at Realtor.com, the number of pending home sales in May increased by 6.7 percent from those seen in April with a total increase of 12.1 percent this year. That’s the largest increase for the housing market since 2006! It also marks the 25th consecutive month in which there was an annual increase reported.
According to the National Association of Realtors, prices are projected to rise approximately 10 percent from those in 2012 by the end of the year. This rise could be the result of buyers hoping to take advantage of current prices before potential increases in mortgage interest rates. Despite those probable increases, buyers will likely continue to rise in the market by the end of the year. Even with the predicted higher interest rates, prices will still be more affordable than those that were in place prior to the financial downturn. The price increases aren’t all bad either because they’re likely to encourage potential sellers and loosen the demand that has been building among buyers for some time.
Featured Property: 1380 Bermuda Grass Drive Myrtle Beach, SC
Located at 1380 Bermuda Grass Drive is one of our great featured properties!
This property is a charming 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home conveniently located in Carolina Forest. The Carolina Forest community is a wonderful place to live as it boasts one of the best school districts in Horry County. More specifically, this house is located within the gated neighborhood of Brighton Lakes. Brighton Lakes amenities include a clubhouse and swimming pool for you and your family to enjoy.
This beautiful home feels like a brand new property with many upgrades you’re sure to love. Double tray and vaulted ceilings, as well as an open floor plan, create a bright and spacious atmosphere. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, dark cherry wood cabinetry, and a gorgeous blue tile backsplash are just a few of the luxurious accents in this beautiful kitchen. Other accents include a convenient work island and breakfast nook. The master suite looks out over the lake, has plush carpeting, and a huge walk-in closet. The master bathroom has double vanities, tile flooring, a glass shower, and a large garden tub for relaxation.
A few property extras include a large laundry room with a front load washer/dryer and an awesome covered back patio. The patio is perfect for listening to the tranquil sounds of the fountains as you look out on the lake. As an added bonus, the surrounding windows and doors are insulated to keep those hot and cold temperatures outside where they belong. Also, the two-car garage and cul-de-sac location give you a bit of added privacy.
1380 Bermuda Grass Drive truly is a wonderful property. Contact Caroline Dargan to set up your appointment to see this home TODAY. It’s priced to sell and won’t be on the market for long.
843-712-2585
Happy Fourth of July!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FROM DARGAN REAL ESTATE!
The Initial Mortgage Meeting: What To Take With You
One of the biggest financial transactions you’ll ever make in life is buying a home. It’s important to know every option available in order to fully maximize your investment.
After you’ve decided which financial institution will be handling your mortgage, it’s a good idea to set up a meeting with one of their mortgage advisors. He or she can help you determine the type of mortgage that best suits your personal needs, in addition to calculate how much money you can borrow.
You should take documents that reflect your income and the amount you spend on average each month with you. This information will more than likely be verified later through credit checks (when you officially apply for a mortgage loan), but having bank statements or wage slips with you will help the mortgage advisor determine how much you can comfortably borrow. You may not need the maximum amount you are able to borrow, but this figure is often helpful when looking at potential properties.
It’s also extremely helpful to fill out a monthly budget plan prior to the meeting. You may be fairly certain how much money you spend, in relation to the money you bring in, but a monthly budget can shed light on areas you may have overlooked or failed to factor into your equation. It’s important to consider the new mortgage payment amount, as well as any potential increases to your monthly bills, if upsizing, to calculate an appropriate amount you can afford.
A meeting with a mortgage advisor is also the perfect opportunity to learn more about the mortgage lending process and what types of deals may be available to you. It’s important to consider every factor to determine which type of mortgage is best for you. Take your time, ask a lot of questions, and decide when YOU feel comfortable.
Just Sold ! Emmens Preserve
Just Sold ! Emmens Preserve
Featured Property: 4334 Windy Heights Drive North Myrtle Beach, SC
You don’t want to miss this gorgeous, featured property located at 4334 Windy Heights Drive in North Myrtle Beach, SC. It has all of the appealing touches you could ask for without the steep price tag.
This 4 bedroom, 4 bath home is located in a gated community within minutes of the beach and local shopping. The moment you walk into the home, you cannot help but notice that no detail was left unturned. From the gorgeous winding staircase, to the dark hardwood floors, everything about this property feels luxurious.
The fabulous details don’t stop there. Vaulted ceilings, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, upgraded cabinets, a downstairs master suite with a lavish soaking tub, rainmaker shower, granite double vanities, a spacious master walk-in closet, private outdoor patio, and a two-car garage that is both heated and cooled are just a few more to mention.
The master suite is located on the bottom floor, and the additional three bedrooms are located upstairs. One of the upstairs bedrooms was previously used as a media room and has the same gorgeous hardwood flooring as the downstairs living area. We’re sure you will fall in love with the Mediterranean style home the moment you walk inside.
Contact Caroline Dargan today to schedule a showing of this hidden treasure!
Celebrating Independence Day Along The Grand Strand
The smell of hot dogs on the grill and sounds of booming fireworks are probably a few things that come to mind when you think about celebrating the birth of our Nation. Add in the sight of a moonlit ocean, the feel of white sand between your toes, and the smell of salt in the air, and you’ll quickly realize there’s no better time to own property in Myrtle Beach.
There are a vast number of choices along the Grand Strand when it comes to deciding how to celebrate this Fourth of July. Grilling out back is always a fine idea, but we’ve got you covered if you’d prefer to venture out on the town for food, fun, and fireworks.
WEDNESDAY
To kick off your holiday celebration a little early, watch the Pelicans play ball at TicketReturn.com Field, and stay around for their fireworks show after the game. TicketReturn.com Field is located at 1251 21st Avenue North (across from Broadway at the Beach).
THURSDAY
Think you’re a pro at eating cupcakes? Celebrate at Croissants Bistro and Bakery (3751 Robert Grissom Parkway, Myrtle Beach) by entering their 2nd Annual 4th of July Cupcake Eating Contest. Contest from 3 to 5 p.m.
If you’re big on parades, head down to the intersection of Highway 17 Business and Calhoun Street in Garden City Beach for their 4th of July Garden City Golf Cart Parade. Line-up begins at 2 p.m. Parade starts at 3 p.m.
Another fun parade, as well as a long-standing, 4th of July tradition, is the Murrells Inlet Boat Parade. The parade begins at 5:45 p.m. along the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. After the parade, enjoy fireworks from Garden City Point at 9:30 p.m. and the Marsh Walk at 10 p.m.
However you choose to spend your day, keep an eye out for vintage military aircraft flying overhead. Despite the sequester, volunteers have continued to make the annual “Salute from the Shore” possible this year. The flyover will start at the North Carolina border at 1 p.m. and will continue to fly south over every beach in South Carolina. You can locate the flight schedule on the webpage salutefromtheshore.org.
As for fireworks, you can expect shows from every location along the Grand Strand.
In Myrtle Beach, Broadway at the Beach will display their annual 4th of July display at 10 p.m. over Lake Broadway. You can also watch a patriotic juggler and live music from the Celebrity Square stage starting at 7 p.m. (1325 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach)
In Murrells Inlet, as previously mentioned, fireworks will be displayed along the Marsh Walk at 10 p.m.
In Garden City Beach, as previously mentioned, fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. from Garden City Point.
In Surfside Beach, a 4th of July Celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. and last through 10 p.m. Enjoy fireworks with live entertainment at Surfside Drive and Ocean Boulevard. Fireworks will be displayed from the Surfside Beach Pier at 9:30 p.m. (11 North Ocean Boulevard, Surfside Beach)
In North Myrtle Beach, fireworks will be displayed at Barefoot Landing at 10:15 p.m. (4898 Highway 17, North Myrtle Beach)
In Cherry Grove, fireworks can be seen at the Cherry Grove Pier at 9:30 p.m. (3500 North Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach)
Dargan Real Estate wishes you all a safe and happy Fourth of July!