Census estimates released in early July show that Rock Hill is now the fourth-largest municipality in South Carolina. Population is approaching 65,000, and has grown 56% since 1990.
Other Rock Hill stats:
Median age 32
Median HH income $56,432
Median home price $135,287
College educated - 55%
# Restuarants - 998
Growth rate from 2006 to 2007 - 5.4%
Other towns in York County:
Fort Mill's growth rate from 2006 to 2007 was 7.2%, second in the state only to Bluffton (near Hilton Head).
Clover's growth rate - 6.1%. Of course, that was before the mighty Clover Eagles captured first place in the SC state football championships.
It's a great place to live!
For Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Tega Cay Events and Activities please visit my website, TheLakeWylieMan.com. Your source for Lake Wylie waterfront real estate and more!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Lake Wylie Real Estate - 2007 in Review
2007 - The Year in Review
In mid-summer 2007, we thought we had a record year shaping up for Lake Wylie waterfront home sales. Dollar sales were up almost 20% over the year before, and average home prices were up as well.
Then, after August (see chart to the left), the market changed dramatically. Waterfront home sales suffered a "double whammy" resulting from the overall real estate (mortgage) downturn, as well as the impact from the drought. At the end of the year, total 2007 waterfront home sales in the Lake Wylie area were down 8% vs 2006.
Charlotte fared better than other markets across the region, being one of the few markets to post an increase in home prices and strong sales despite the gloomy news across the rest of the country. In particular, sales for homes above $500,000 climbed 71% in 2007 vs 2006. After August, the increase vs previous year was +10%. Not astronomical, but still a healthy increase!
On the lake, however, sales for September - December 2007 fell 68% vs 2006 sales. Ouch! In fact, during the last three months of the year, only five waterfront homes listed on Charlotte's MLS sold. Five of the 120 homes on the market!
As Milli Vanilli sang in their 1989 hit, "Blame it on the Rain". (Ok, so they weren't really singing, but that's another story.) Anyway, the drought did a number on the market. As public boat ramps closed, fewer people were on the lake. Boat lifts were on the ground. Waterfront properties were puddlefront. You get the idea. Buyers were hesitant.
The good news is that the drought is a temporary situation. Spring is just around the corner, and we'll all be singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head." Already we've had enough glorious little raindrops that the Buster Boyd access ramp has reopened. We've had good news of new jobs and new people moving to the area. SC taxes have been lowered. Lake Wylie and Fort Mill are reporting explosive growth. The demand for lakefront property will continue to climb. Life is good!
For a complete list of waterfront property available for sale right now, visit my website, Lake Wylie Waterfront Real Estate. You'll also find many resources for waterfront property owners, Lake Wylie area activities and events, and virtual tours of the area.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Fort Mill Schools - The Freeze is on!
Fort Mill, one of the fastest growing school districts in the state, plans to open two new elementary schools in 2009. In the meantime, some of the elementary schools are resorting to enrollment freezing and attendance reassignments in ordert to control crowding and ensure the high level of quality education we've come to expect from the district.
The capacity in the Fort Mill elementary schools is about 900 students per school. Orchard Park and Gold Hill's attendance has already reached maximum levels and enrollment is frozen. New students in the Orchard Park and Gold Hill districts are being sent to Riverview Elementary. As of early December 2007, Riverview had over 850 students.
Springfield Elementary is the latest Fort Mill school to announce a freeze on new enrollment, beginning June 6, 2008. Springfield's enrollment is expected to reach 1000 students before the end of the school year, and mobile units have been installed to provide 6 new needed classrooms. After the freeze in June, new students in that district will be sent to Fort Mill Elementary, which at this time has fewer than 800 students in attendance.
With the enrollment freezes, the district has to be creative with bus transportation. Children ride buses to schools for which their home is zoned, and then a shuttle bus takes the children to either Fort Mill Elementary or Riverview.
As spots open up in the frozen enrollment schools, students will be able to transfer in based on thier date of residency and grade level. The district will consider siblings as one unit, to avoid the inconvenience to families having to manage children in different schools.
Real estate sales have been extremely strong in the Fort Mill area. New construction homes are charged an impact fee, which has helped fund school expansion plans.
In March, an $87 million bond for a new middle school and two new elementary schools will be presented to voters. If approved, those schools will be ready to open in 2011.
For more Lake Wylie real estate news, property search tools, and Lake Wylie waterfront resources, please visit my website: Lake Wylie Waterfront Real Estate.
The capacity in the Fort Mill elementary schools is about 900 students per school. Orchard Park and Gold Hill's attendance has already reached maximum levels and enrollment is frozen. New students in the Orchard Park and Gold Hill districts are being sent to Riverview Elementary. As of early December 2007, Riverview had over 850 students.
Springfield Elementary is the latest Fort Mill school to announce a freeze on new enrollment, beginning June 6, 2008. Springfield's enrollment is expected to reach 1000 students before the end of the school year, and mobile units have been installed to provide 6 new needed classrooms. After the freeze in June, new students in that district will be sent to Fort Mill Elementary, which at this time has fewer than 800 students in attendance.
With the enrollment freezes, the district has to be creative with bus transportation. Children ride buses to schools for which their home is zoned, and then a shuttle bus takes the children to either Fort Mill Elementary or Riverview.
As spots open up in the frozen enrollment schools, students will be able to transfer in based on thier date of residency and grade level. The district will consider siblings as one unit, to avoid the inconvenience to families having to manage children in different schools.
Real estate sales have been extremely strong in the Fort Mill area. New construction homes are charged an impact fee, which has helped fund school expansion plans.
In March, an $87 million bond for a new middle school and two new elementary schools will be presented to voters. If approved, those schools will be ready to open in 2011.
For more Lake Wylie real estate news, property search tools, and Lake Wylie waterfront resources, please visit my website: Lake Wylie Waterfront Real Estate.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Staging a Home
Anyone who has been house hunting has stories to tell. I remember some years ago, looking for a new home, when we went into a house that was full of ducks. Giant duck on the front porch, wearing a seasonal outfit. Ducks in the kitchen. Ducks on the shower curtain. Ducks on the wall. Ducks. I joked to the real estate agent that we might consider the house, if there were a reduckerating allowance!
There was another house that wasn't too bad, until we got to the room with the walls painted black, and a velvet Elvis adorning the wall.
In retrospect, either of those houses may have been perfectly fine, ideal layout and meeting all criteria. We just couldn't get past the ducks.
A growing trend in the real estate market is home "staging". The idea behind staging is to depersonalize a house so that a potential buyer can imagine themselves living in it. Professional stagers can be hired to help a homeowner remove clutter, rearrange furniture to make rooms appear larger, and neutralize decor.
Sometimes a home is so beautifully decorated, reflecting the style of the current owner, that potential buyers are either intimidated or so distracted by the decor that they can't picture the house with their own things inside. When a seller puts his house on the market, he needs to refocus attention on the house, rather than the contents. This may mean removing prized collectibles, hiding pictures of the grandchildren, and putting eye-catching artwork in storage for a bit.
Professional stagers work with all types of homes, including new construction. Sometimes a few pieces of furniture are rented and positioned, plants are added for warmth, and a few pieces of artwork are placed so that buyers can get past the stark apperance of some empty houses.
Many homeowners choose to handle the staging themselves. Following a few basic guidelines is best, followed by obtaining a third party's honest opinion (your realtor is a good one to ask!):
There was another house that wasn't too bad, until we got to the room with the walls painted black, and a velvet Elvis adorning the wall.
In retrospect, either of those houses may have been perfectly fine, ideal layout and meeting all criteria. We just couldn't get past the ducks.
A growing trend in the real estate market is home "staging". The idea behind staging is to depersonalize a house so that a potential buyer can imagine themselves living in it. Professional stagers can be hired to help a homeowner remove clutter, rearrange furniture to make rooms appear larger, and neutralize decor.
Sometimes a home is so beautifully decorated, reflecting the style of the current owner, that potential buyers are either intimidated or so distracted by the decor that they can't picture the house with their own things inside. When a seller puts his house on the market, he needs to refocus attention on the house, rather than the contents. This may mean removing prized collectibles, hiding pictures of the grandchildren, and putting eye-catching artwork in storage for a bit.
Professional stagers work with all types of homes, including new construction. Sometimes a few pieces of furniture are rented and positioned, plants are added for warmth, and a few pieces of artwork are placed so that buyers can get past the stark apperance of some empty houses.
Many homeowners choose to handle the staging themselves. Following a few basic guidelines is best, followed by obtaining a third party's honest opinion (your realtor is a good one to ask!):
- Outside: Look at curb appeal. Trim overgrown shrubbery, make sure grass is cut. Add some fresh mulch in natural areas. Make sure shutters are nicely painted. Remove any outdoor clutter such as garden hoses, toys, and that clay pot of dead azaleas that has been next to the house for four years.
- Add some flowers or color to the front porch, along with a new, clean welcome mat.
- Inside: Neutral colors work best on the walls. When you're trying to sell your house, it is just not the time to display your quirky, creative touches in the decor.
- Replace any carpet that is stained or torn. You may rationalize that the new owners will want to "pick out their own carpet," but worn carpet is a negative. A similar home with new carpet, priced comparably, will sell before the one with the "carpet allowance." Remove all "negatives" that you can!
- Remove clutter. Then remove some more. In the kitchen, store away all of those appliances that generally sit out in open view: coffee makers, toaster ovens, juicers, blenders, etc. Put them away in cabinets or closets.
- Remove pieces of furniture, if possible. Minimize, so that perceived space is maximized!
If you need professional help, there are quite a few home stagers in the Lake Wylie/Charlotte area. Your realtor will be able to recommend a few. Full service home staging will include a written plan, selection of furniture and accessories, delivery, and set up. Depending on the items added and the work involved, the cost may be up to 1.5% of your home's listing price. More limited services are available as well, including consultations with written suggestions for improvement. Expect fees of $200 or so, depending on size of home and level of service.
Keep in mind that you only have one chance for a first impression! Don't rush into getting your home listed before you are ready. Don't be afraid to spend a few hundred dollars to get the job done right. It will save you much more than that as your house sells faster, and closer to your asking price!
Visit my website Lake Wylie Waterfront Real Estate for information on all Lake Wylie area real estate, community and school information, activities and events in Lake Wylie, helpful tips for buying and selling real estate.
For other real estate blogs: http://www.real-estate-blogs.com/blogs/
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Growth in York County - Freightliner
York County Council annouced last month that Freightliner is moving a corporate headquarters office to western York County. They'll be building an office park on Hands Mill Road (Hwy 274) near Allison Creek on Lake Wylie. This move will relocate over 300 families, and ultimately employ 2500 people in the area.
This development is a first for western York county, an office park development unlike anything else in the area. Cresent Resources owns quite a bit of property along Highway 274, and reportedly has plans for mixed uses of the properties, including office and industrial parks.
According to a recent article in The Herald, economic developers have suggested that housing demand could increase between Lake Wylie, York, and Clover due to this move. Shopping centers, housing, and other projects will contribute to further growth.
Recent "blog" traffic suggests that those relocating are already exploring housing options. Inquiries are being made regarding neighborhoods offering homes in the $300-$450m range. This will further fuel the real estate growth we've seen in the area in recent years.
Beginning in summer 2008, Freightliner will operate out of a temporary office off Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill, until the permanent space is constructed. The office space construction is likely to coincide with the planned widening of Highway 274.
So folks, watch for the orange and white barrels - - coming our way soon!
For all of your real estate needs in Lake Wylie and surrounding areas, please visit my website, Lake Wylie Real Estate. Sign up for free email alerts on new listings and property updates!
This development is a first for western York county, an office park development unlike anything else in the area. Cresent Resources owns quite a bit of property along Highway 274, and reportedly has plans for mixed uses of the properties, including office and industrial parks.
According to a recent article in The Herald, economic developers have suggested that housing demand could increase between Lake Wylie, York, and Clover due to this move. Shopping centers, housing, and other projects will contribute to further growth.
Recent "blog" traffic suggests that those relocating are already exploring housing options. Inquiries are being made regarding neighborhoods offering homes in the $300-$450m range. This will further fuel the real estate growth we've seen in the area in recent years.
Beginning in summer 2008, Freightliner will operate out of a temporary office off Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill, until the permanent space is constructed. The office space construction is likely to coincide with the planned widening of Highway 274.
So folks, watch for the orange and white barrels - - coming our way soon!
For all of your real estate needs in Lake Wylie and surrounding areas, please visit my website, Lake Wylie Real Estate. Sign up for free email alerts on new listings and property updates!
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