The Cobb Group Blog - Home Matters! Monthly Update

Bookshelves 101

As I'm sure you know by now, bookshelves aren't always for books anymore! So, how do you get your bookshelves to look clean, organized, and up to date? Here are some great quick tips from Better Homes and Gardens to get you on your way.

How to Decorate a Bookshelf

The best bookshelf decor often comes from items you already have. Shop around your house to find artwork, picture frames, vases, and other accessories in a cohesive color scheme or style. Place the largest items on the bookshelf first, staggering objects between shelves. Fill in with the rest of your objects, adding in stacks of books or magazines and potted plants for added color and texture.

Easy Bookshelf Decorating

For…

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The Emotional Impact of Selling Your Home

Lately we've been hearing from people that they are thinking about selling their home but not quite sure because their home has so much history for them. We completely understand, after all, we have had a lot first in our homes also. We thought this article is fitting for those of you on the fence. While it was written in 2018, it still holds true. We are here to help and make the process as easy as possible. We want to help you move to your new home so you can create new memories there. 

“Home is where the heart is”, goes the saying. And selling a beloved home can feel like years of memories and a neighborhood of friendships have been taken away. If the sale involves a life change, every twist of the process can feel like more salt in the wound.

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The Huge Tax Break for Home Sellers

The Huge Tax Break for Home Sellers: What to Know About the $500,000 Exemption

A tax exclusion allows millions of Americans to skip taxes when they sell their homes at a profit. A Biden administration proposal would take a larger bite from some sellers with the biggest gains.

The market is sizzling for home sellers, and President Biden wants to raise taxes on long-term capital gains for people with incomes above $1 million. 

These two facts make it a good time to focus on the cherished tax break known as the home-sellers’ exemption, both to see how it applies now and how Mr. Biden’s proposals would affect it. Although his proposals explicitly preserve this exemption, some homeowners with large gains would likely owe more if it is enacted. 

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Why You Need an Experienced Real Estate Agent

When you are in the market to buy a house—or need to sell your current home—that is the time to use an experienced real estate agent. An inexperienced agent can cost you time and money, and unfortunately maybe even put you at risk of losing out on your dream home.

Gauging Experience 

Instead of asking how much experience an agent has, ask how many times the agent has renewed their real estate license. In Oklahoma, for example, real estate licenses are issued for three years, New Hampshire's term is two years, and California has four-year terms.

Search your own state's real estate commission—or equivalent office—website to find how long licenses last. Knowing how many times an agent has renewed a license allows you to…

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Is a low appraisal good for the buyer?

Ask the next ten real estate agents you meet to tell you the biggest reason why a deal falls through. The odds are every single one will say it’s because of financing, usually because of a low appraisal.

But the fact is, a low appraisal can be good (and bad) for a buyer and there are ways to salvage the transaction and get the property you want. 

In this article, we’ll explain the biggest reasons for a low appraisal, how to get the appraisal that matches the purchase price, and what to do if your home appraisal comes in low.

What is an Appraisal?

One of the common contingencies in a real estate purchase contract is that the property must appraise for the purchase price. A home appraisal is a report provided by a licensed professional that…

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Why Waiting to Buy a Home Could Cost You a Small Fortune

Many people are sitting on the fence trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a home. Some are renters who have a strong desire to become homeowners but are unsure if buying right now makes sense. Others may be homeowners who are realizing that their current home no longer fits their changing needs.

To determine if they should buy now or wait another year, they both need to ask two simple questions:

1. Do I think home values will be higher a year from now?
2. Do I think mortgage rates will be higher a year from now?

Let’s shed some light on the answers to these questions.

Where will home prices be a year from now?

If you average the most recent projections from the major industry forecasters, the expectation is home prices will…

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Night Blooming Flowers

Last spring, during the days of social distancing gatherings, I went to a "bring your own chair and drink and sit in the street" get-together. As the sun set and darkness was setting in, I kept catching waves of sweet smelling jasmine. Finally I commented on it because it was so strong and wonderful. The owner of the house told me that she planted night blooming flowers and what I was smelling was night blooming jasmine. I had no idea! The flowers were all open and so fragrant. When I came across this article, I thought you all may enjoy planting some for your summer backyard evenings. 

This list of night-blooming flowers will help you create a beautiful and fragrant moon garden! Some of the most exotic scented flowers are night bloomers!

My Old…

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Snakes in the Lowcountry

This morning I found a snake waiting for me at my back door while I was making coffee! I instantly started looking up articles on snakes to find out what kind it was and learned that May is snake season. I mean...I'm a little ahead of the curve since it's only April! They must know that I am a safe house because I would never hurt them ????.

I found this article through my voracious researching this morning and thought I would share since the snakes are likely headed to your home too!

State law prohibits killing snakes in Georgia, South Carolina

There are more than forty species of snakes in Georgia and South Carolina. Chances are the one you stumble across in your yard is not one of the six venomous ones in our region.

…

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Under Contract! 4 Foxhunt Drive

That didn't take long! This great HHP home with a newly remodeled kitchen is going to be loved by its new owners. The quiet park-like setting on a cul-de-sac was hard to pass up. HHP has so many amenities for homeowners. I'm partial to the walking path along the Port Royal Sound. 

We have buyers who are very interested in buying a home in HHP. If you know someone who may be interested, have them give us a call! 

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Should You Use An Escalation Clause?

An escalation clause is language inserted into a purchase offer for a home that's intended to make sure a buyer is the highest bidder. It's typically used when a buyer and their real estate agent strongly believe a house will receive multiple offers.

An escalation clause states that the buyer will pay a certain amount of money above the highest offer the seller receives. It generally includes a ceiling cap to make sure the buyer doesn't agree to pay more money than they can afford.

Learn more about escalation clauses and how they work.

What Is an Escalation Clause? 

An escalation clause improves the odds that a home buyer will submit the highest offer. It typically includes three parts:

• Proof of an offer: Sellers can only use the…

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