Finding your dream home is much like dating and falling in love. It takes patience, persistence, compromise, magical butterflies, and a little bit of elbow grease. Taking the time to research and laying out a blueprint for exactly what you want will make the process of buying your dream home easier than landing the partner of your dreams. 

What kind of home are you looking for? Take a look at some of the design styles around town. What calls out to you most? Do you prefer a one-story ranch style home, a small Craftsmen, a southern style country home, or something with a modern twist? 

Think about the future. Always consider what your life will be like in 5 years. Will you need extra roo...

Low competition, quality buyers, and great prices are all great reasons to buy and sell real estate in the winter and, though the weather may be warming up here in the south, all homes are prone to hide seasonal issues that could make or break a sale...or your wallet once the weather warms up for good. 

In areas prone to snow and ice, blankets of winter can cover a number of problems ranging from framing issues to deceptive landscaping to roofing problems to pests. That’s why a home inspection during the winter is an absolute must. 

1. Strength & Framing: Freezing temps and heavy storms can all wreak havoc on the structure of a home. A certified home inspector will check a home’s found...

First-time homeowners are the most fun clients to work with around the holidays because their joy and enthusiasm are filled with the magic of the season. They’ve saved up their money, their efforts have paid off, and they’ve finally purchased the home they’ve always wanted. Because they’ve had their sights set on this prize for weeks, they’ve had their own visions of exactly where they want their sugar plums and candy canes to go. Because of this, we tend to steer clear of gifts that include decor. 

Instead, we love to gift first-time homebuyers with practical items they usually don’t have in their arsenal. Items they will absolutely need at some point in their homeowning journey, but wo...

Why Listing Your Home During the Holidays Could Pay Off

Most seasoned real estate pros will tell you that selling during the winter months, especially during the holidays, is a bad idea, because you won’t get into bidding wars and you won't have showings every day. 

While that may be true, we believe listing your home during the holidays could really pay off:

Less Inventory Means Less Competition: Springtime is the most popular time of year for both listing and buying a home, but studies have shown that homes sell quicker and for money in the offseason because there are fewer homes to choose from. Less inventory means less competition. 

Neighborhoods are Dressed to Impress: Entrances ...

Looking for fun, family-friendly, fall activities in Charleston?  We've got the hookup! Check out this list of some of our favorite things to do this time of year! 

1. The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze - Through October 31

This awesome event includes a corn maze, hay mountain, play areas, rock climbing wall, goat walk and more. Plus, visit the pumpkin patch to buy pumpkins by the pound. At the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch choose from a vast field of juicy pumpkins to take home for all your pumpkin carving needs.

2. Home, History, and Architecture: By the Charleston Historic Preservation Society - Oct. 3- Nov. 2

Visit some of the most historic homes and gardens in America on these...

Hurricane season is now upon us, and it never ever hurts to be prepared!

We have several real estate clients moving to the Charleston area from other states that have lots of questions. We love to share our experience and tips on any aspect of Lowcountry Living.

Over the next few weeks, we will be doing a quick series on Hurricanes - How to....

Below is a great list we brainstormed on about documents to gather when a hurricane is threatening.

Documents to gather, have copies of, and protect in a waterproof container:

• health insurance cards
• drivers license/passports
• birth/marriage/death certificates
• homeowners insurance policy and agent contact number /renters insurance policy
• l...

Moving is an exciting and stressful time for everyone, including your pet.  Since your pet can’t speak English, there is no way to tell them exactly what is going on.  Thus, you must do whatever you can to reduce their stress during this transition.  Here are a few tips for keeping your pets and yourself, sane!

Chat with your vet ahead of time

 Let your vet know that you are moving away so they can send prescriptions and records with you.  They may even be able to recommend a vet in your new neighborhood.  This is also a great opportunity to ensure your pet has an extra supply of their medicines so you don’t have to worry about them in the first few weeks. 

Avoid the action

On moving ...

In the Lowcountry, we are blessed with a variety of salty destinations! From surfing and sand castles to the best eats around, you are sure to find your own little slice of heaven.

Folly Beach

Have you always dreamed of living the life of a surf bum?  Folly beach is calling your name.  Sign up for a surf lesson and hang ten!

After hours of fun in the sun, chill out on the deck at Tides with a cold beverage in your hand.  Grab some street corn at Taco Boy.  Refresh your beach wardrobe at our local shops or rent a bike to explore. 

Isle of Palms

If a family friendly, classic Charleston beach is more your vibe, head across the bridge to Isle of Palms.   This beautiful beach is lined w...

Aside from historic sites and beautiful beaches, Charleston is known for notoriously sweltering summer weather.   Many home buyers moving to the Charleston area are concerned about their summertime utility bill.

Here are a few ways to reduce the cooling cost for your Charleston home:

Have your HVAC system serviced regularly.

It's worth investing in a contractor to clean and inspect your HVAC system once or twice a year. Things like dirty coils, low refrigerant levels and air leaks in duct lines can all add up on your electric bill. If you aren’t sure who to call, ask about one of our trusted local partners, like Fogel Services.

Upgrade your water heater.

Tankless "on-demand" water he...

Spring and Summer Events in Charleston

From amazing art walks, to music filled evenings, to meandering strolls soaking up the history of colonial homes, the list of Spring and Summer events in Charleston is nearly never ending.

Between the paid events like High Water Music Festival to free activities on the beach, it’s easy to understand why Charleston has been named The Best City in the World for several years running.

10 Free Activity Ideas

Visit the Angel Oak
Dolphin watch at Waterfront Park, Fort Moultrie, or the Battery
Walk the Bridge
Spend the day on one of the areas stunning beaches
Have a picnic in a parks
Tour the Charleston Tea Plantation
Attend the Charleston Farmer’s Market
Catc...

Charleston, SC always sparkles with southern hospitality. Its deep roots and antebellum architecture embrace the spirit of locals and tourists year round, but spring in Charleston is when the city truly comes alive.

Bursting blooms in bright colors, local artisans old and new, salty sea breezes, farm fresh produce, and waddling goslings crossing the cobblestone streets add to the award winning ambiance of this thriving coastal town.

Weather

Charleston’s spring thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature of not too hot and not too cold. The classic flip-flop, t-shirt combo worn by locals is perfect for an afternoon full of activities and adding a simple light jacket at the end of the day m...

Buying a fixer upper and cutting back on finances is a great investment, but purchasing a home fraught with problems can lead to major dollar signs...if you don’t know what you’re doing. Fixer uppers can transform into lucrative profitability and wallets laden with cash, or shapeshift into money hungry pits of despair, riddled with flaws that can’t be fixed and draining wallets faster than a first time home buyer in a checkout line at Ikea.

So how do you know what to buy?

Buying a Fixer Upper

Ideal Property

You’ve heard it before, and you’ll continue to hear it until the world ends. Real estate is all about location, location, location. Finding a low priced property or foreclosure in ...

Park Circle in North Charleston is one of the most eccentric and sought after neighborhoods in Charleston.  

 Originally comprised of rice plantations then developed into a community focused on green space and parks, the Marquis style design of Park Circle became one of the first English Garden style communities in the US.    

With its perfect location, STEAM schools, diverse dining and love for local fare, it’s easy to see why Park Circle has become so beloved by both natives and newcomers in the present day:  

1. Location, location, location: First and foremost, it’s all about location in real estate. Park Circle is centrally located to the entire town of Charleston, and it’s easily a...

The holidays are swinging into gear! Menus are planned, presents are wrapped, and friends and family will soon be near. Before they come, take some time to accomplish these quick outdoor touch ups that’ll boost your curb appeal for the holidays and get buyers to the door in the new year:

1. Repaint the shutters and front door: A bright and beautiful coat of paint will catch people’s eyes and draw them straight onto your property. Be sure to choose a matte, one coat outdoor paint that’s easy to wipe clean. Don’t forget to use painters tape to avoid getting paint lines on the house.
2. Change the address #s: Take a step back, put yourself in the mind of the buyer. Gauge the easiest, most nota...

The verdict is still out on home staging during the holidays.

Some real estate pros believe holiday decorations should be sacrificed all together. Because, let’s face it. It’s pretty hard for buyers to picture themselves living in a home if a blow up Santa is ho, ho, ho-ing on the front lawn, and a choo choo train screams along the skirt of a ginormous evergreen.

Flip the coin, and other pros swear by the comforting spirit of glittering lights, gingerbread houses, and cinnamon scented candles.

If the decision is made to decorate a home during its sale, be sure to understand these key factors when home staging during the holidays:

1. 
   Classic curb appeal is key. A simple wreath, flower b...

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Although the weather hasn’t quite cooled off Charleston is still celebrating the arrival of autumn in a variety of ways. Whether you’re looking for family friendly fall festivals, polka dancing in your lederhosen at area Oktoberfests, haunted hayrides through spiderwebs at local fright nights, or picking your own great pumpkin from the patch, we’ve created the ultimate guide to help you have fun in Charleston all October long!

Check out our A Ghoulish Guide to Charleston’s Pumpkin Patches, Fall Festivals, Oktoberfests, and Fright Nights below, and please be sure to let us know if you see an event that we’ve missed!

Awendaw

Owl-o-Ween
Center for the Birds of Prey
4719 ...

Hurricane Florence made a devastating impact on both North and South Carolina and many people lost their homes, cars, personal possessions and all out livelihoods. It’s now abundantly clear that all coastal dwellers must have a natural disaster recovery plan in place because Mother Nature is so unpredictable.

Would you know what to do if your home was filled with water or the roof was blown off by the wind?

This natural disaster recovery plan will give you an idea of where to begin if your home is hit by a major catastrophic event:

Disaster Recovery Plan

1. Stay Tuned In! Pay attention to the local news and authorities when it comes to your town. Only return home when state and city of...

We Buy Houses

Did you know?

With backgrounds in contracting and engineering, we have created an investment team who loves getting into the nitty gritty of tri-county real estate. We thoroughly enjoy the thrill of the home buying process, and investing in the Charleston real estate market is a dream come true for us. Throughout the years we have come across clients who were shackled to either residential and commercial property in some form or another. These unwanted circumstances caused them unwavering worry and crippling anxiety because they didn’t know where to turn or how to get rid of real estate.  

We have always seen ourselves as service providers rather than salespeople, and we soon...

Gatehouse Realty: We’re Not Salespeople, We’re Service Providers

There is a legitimate trust problem in real estate.

From inaccurate descriptions to unprofessional photos to overpricing homes just to get a listing, there are a lot of bad apples to be seen in the Charleston real estate market.

When we first founded Gatehouse Realty in 2014, we made it our mission to change the misconception that real estate agents just see dollar signs. Sure, making money is part of the job, afterall it is at the heart of every business, but money is really not what opened the gate into real estate for us.
We have personal experience, business knowledge, and licensure in a slew of other industries including...

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Your Home

From June 1 to November 30 hurricane preparedness should be on the forefront of everyone’s mind in the Gulf of Mexico and along the East Coast.  With all the rain we’ve seen already this year, it is quite evident hurricane season is in full force.

It is never too early to prepare for a hurricane and having a plan will be a game changer when the threat of a hurricane exists. Last year we talked about the 5 key elements of hurricane prep which included the hurricane safety checklist prepared by the American Red Cross, Charleston evacuation zones as well as basic tips on how to safeguard your personal life and home.

This year we’re delving de...