Check out this Southern Beauty in Downtown Columbia, South Carolina!

333 Old Woodlands Rd. is 6,000 sq. ft. with 6 Bedrooms and 5 Baths in the main house, with a fully renovated guest cottage on the property.

The cottage is perfect for a myriad of buyers’ ideas and/or needs. Would you like the best She Shed, Mega Man Cave, or In-law opportunity? All are ideal!

This home is ready for all levels of entertaining from sun supper clubs, to watching college football games by the pool with friends or hosting a political or philanthropic fundraiser your favorite candidate or organization would love to invite their supporters.

This is one of those properties that qualifies for the comment, “you need to see it…”

Here’s the write-up for some of the story:

Live beautifully at this all-brick stately manor in Downtown Columbia. This Southern charmer has been featured in SC Homes & Gardens as a Designer Showcase & is replete w/updates inside & out. Original mahogany HWs & new Pella windows throughout. Marble foyer leads to formals that feature a dramatic curved wall, heavy moldings, & textured ceilings. The Tuscany-inspired chef’s kitchen is complete w/Clive Christian cabinets, handcrafted in England, & opens to a dining courtyard w/fountain. Family room w/gas FP & built-ins leads to multi-level sunroom featuring breezy Pella casement windows overlooking the extensively renovated saltwater pool. Wine cellar w/temp-control system is adjacent to laundry & pantry area. The primary BR is complete w/amazing custom closet & multi-head shower. The curved wall leads upstairs to 4BRs, 2BAs, infrared sauna, & 2nd fam room that could easily be a 7th BR. The professionally maintained, lushly-landscaped & lighted patios/grounds are perfect for entertaining. Pool cabana includes bar, FP, half bath, connectivity for 2 TVs, and curtains can be pulled for protection from elements. Further, there is a newly renovated guest house on property complete w/mini-split, kitchenette, & full bath. Whole house generator, extensive wi-fi system, dehumidifier in crawlspace, & updated plumbing systems are just a few of the many items the seller has upgraded w/care. This stunning estate is only minutes to anything intown & is close to I-77 for work or travel plans.

If you or anyone you know would like to know more about this Southern Stunner, please call/text 803-447-8683 or email Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com and I can tell you all about it. 333 Old Woodlands is only minutes away from everyone on the team, and is a pleasure to show!

Thank you!

Franklin Jones

Check out this awesomely remodeled house in super popular Forest Acres!

5203 Spring Branch Road is 2,500+/- square feet with 4 BR / 3 Baths with a big back porch and a huge lot!

As many readers are aware, Forest Acres is home to about 10,000 residents and continues to grow in popularity. Trenholm Plaza is a favorite place to shop, dine, and drink, and the Richland Mall project will only make “A City Apart” better. Further, its proximity to I-77 makes it an easy place to live for folks that use the Highways for work or those who travel to the beach often.

Here are the remarks – Welcome to this stunning modern ranch home that incorporates the best of contemporary luxury and timeless mid-century design elements. Nestled on an expansive 1-acre lot, this completely updated property offers the perfect blend of indoor and outdoor living. As you step inside, you’ll be greeted by an open and airy floor plan that seamlessly connects the living spaces. The formal living room is bathed in natural light, courtesy of large windows that perfectly frame the picturesque views of the surrounding landscape. The double-sided fireplace connecting the living and dining spaces evokes a mid-century aesthetic, creating an inviting atmosphere for both relaxation and entertaining. The beautifully renovated kitchen is a chef’s dream, boasting stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, and gorgeous countertops with plenty of prep space. From the kitchen, you step into a cozy yet light and airy den with a fireplace and direct access to the large screened-in back porch. The master bedroom features a huge walk-in closet and double vanities. The expansive backyard offers maximum privacy for in-town living with the lush landscaping. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a beautifully updated modern ranch!

As I’ve said many times, and have written on this blog, buyers that like the mid-century modern look, REAALLLLY like the Frank Lloyd Wright style.

If you or anyone you know would like to know more about 5203 Spring Branch Rd. or anything Forest Acres, please call/text Franklin @ 803-447-8683 or email Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com and I can tell you what you want to know.

As most readers know, Forest Acres is only minutes to anything Downtown Columbia and Spring Branch is zoned for one of the coveted school trifectas of Satchel Ford, Crayton, and A.C. Flora.

Thank you!

Franklin Jones

All real estate sales have their own stories and this is a good one regarding getting something sold.

A month or two ago, Meghan Hesley and I went on a listing appointment at 1020 Laurel Crest Drive. The 6,000-square-foot home had been on the market for a year with two different listing agents/brokerages. Meghan and I went over and assessed the property and situation and then proceeded to sit down on the back deck with the sellers. Of course, they asked us our opinions and what they should do.

We spoke for a good while about thoughts, strategies, marketing opportunities, and some of the things that helped sell a vacant lot a few doors down for almost $800,000 some months ago.

Over the year, the asking price had been lowered a few times, and there had been some good traction, and also some lull times.

The first thing we told them is that it was imperative to hire a hyper-local REALTOR. One that the co-broke REALTORS have no problem texting something like, “Hey y’all, what’s the what over here?” or “What do you think about _____?” and actually know who they are communicating with as we all have different styles, inflections, tonalities, hustle points, et al. They did.

The second thing we advised was Meghan verbalized that we should raise the price. “RaIsE the price?! “On this, yes,” we replied. They had never heard of such a thing and wondered if we had ever done it before. I said that we had and if memory serves, it has worked out every time. Now, to be sure, it’s rare that we suggest this, but sometimes it can be successful. We told them, “If we’re going to be the most premium baddest ass thing out there, then let’s look and act like it. Let’s flex.  They did.

The third thing we told them to do is commit to compensating the buyer’s representative for what he/she is expecting to make. They said, as most sellers respond, “Aren’t they making enough?” Our response was, “They are obligated by their fiduciary to do what is in the best interest of their client. That said, $2M buyers don’t come along every day in this market, so they are going to hope their client chooses the house that will pay them for having/representing this level of buyer. If you don’t, they may ask the buyer to make up the difference and that is not going to put your house on the top of the stack.” They did.

Next discussion: “When do we put it on the market and what about pictures and whatnot?” My response was, “I think we should put it on this Monday (I think we met on a Thursday) with no photos to start.” They responded, “Really? Why?” I replied, “Let’s create a buzz of wonderment and curiosity. Sure, some folks will just go online and type in the address and say to themselves, ‘Oh it’s that house. I know that one. That said, you never know whose inbox it may hit out there.

Obviously a lot more went into this but I just want to tell some good stories where they are due. Some stories are teaching moments, too, as I’ve learned over the years that ‘Sharing is Caring.”

If any you or anyone you know would like to discuss buying, selling, or investing in real estate please call/text/IM or email us. Meghan’s number is 803-665-8844 and her email is Meghan@TheNeighborhoodRE.com.

Thank you!

Franklin Jones

 

Today will mark another milestone day in the story of our team. Today is the day we announce that we are joining the all-inclusive real estate platform that includes some of the best REALTORS, teams, leaders, admins, and overall culture in the industry, Livian. The Neighborhood Co. will officially become business partners with Adam Hergenrother in Vermont and the most influential person in real estate, Gary Keller, to form Livian SC.

Here’s the scene – I was in Anaheim, CA at our annual KW convention we call “Family Reunion.” Outside of a doorway in a giant hall stood Vanessa Pollock of Pollock Properties Group out of Short Hills, NJ. She was standing by herself waiting for the next class to start, whereby she would soon be on stage teaching. I approached Vanessa (if you know me, you’re aware that I have no problem with this), and said, “Hey Vanessa. My name is Franklin Jones and I have a team and started a KW franchise in Columbia, SC. I think you’re awesome and I have something for you.” She looked at me and reached out her hands as if I was going to put a little songbird in them. I gave her a domino with my name on it. I said, “When I find or run into someone extraordinary and would like to get to know them and potentially work with them, instead of a business card, I hand them a domino.” I went on to explain that when I hand out the domino the recipient asks, “What’s this?” I reply, “That’s your lead domino.” They reply, “What’s my lead domino?” My response is, “That’s what we need to find out, together.” Then I text them The ONE Thing podcast or send them The ONE Thing book written by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan and the dialogue grows from there.

I went on to tell her how impressed I am with her and that I see her as one of the keepers of the KW culture and that she blows me away with her generosity and demeanor. Her response was, “Well I’m blown away right now!”

I returned to Columbia, and the next thing I know our Director of Action & Ops, Clara Humberg, and I are on Zooms with Joe Zimmerman out of Chicago and David Lewis who recently partnered with The Peters Company and Team Kimberley in Atlanta, GA to become Livian Legacy Group.

Fast forward to today, and here we are.

Why Livian, you ask? Partnering with an all-in-one real estate platform like Livian, gives us the bandwidth to do some things only the largest companies can do. We can now provide health insurance options to teammates along with 401K and other benefits. More lead generation opportunities for far less money. Title insurance opportunities for those who qualify. Support for the leadership of the team. Support for the REALTORS on the team and our “vertical.” Proprietary artificial intelligence inside sales agent (ISA). Training and onboarding for REALTORS in any stage of their business. The list is limitless and powerful.

That all said, and for a myriad of other reasons, if you or anyone you know would like to talk about joining The Neighborhood Co. | LivianSC team, or would like to know more about joining Livian without directly joining the team please raise your hand! My number is 803-447-8683 and my email is Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com !

Qualifying for this opportunity with other mega agents and being able to partner with all of these fine people will allow The Neighborhood Co. | Livian SC to grow better and stronger which means we can change more lives through real estate and provide better service and value to our clients and teammates.

BTW, what’s your lead domino?

Livian – Love How You Live.

Thank you!

Franklin Jones

You can see on social media outlets that it is very much awards season for the real estate industry, and well, our shiny medals arrived from HQ!

Of the real estate sales volume, the four circle medals in the photo are the level each person on the team reached during 2022. The six square medals from Keller Williams International represent where The Neighborhood Company landed as a team within the company, respectively (Double Platinum is over 1M GCI).

Locally, our REALTOR Association created a new award that Elizabeth W. Ross and I qualified for and received. Description – “The Legacy Member is being awarded for the first time this year at the 2022 Circle of Excellence Awards Gala. A recipient achieves this award having had active membership in the Circle of Excellence for 10 consecutive years. This award is not retroactive.”

I didn’t really understand the reason for this new award until the speaker said something to this effect on the microphone, “these REALTORS have achieved at a high level during a timeframe that includes good and bad real estate markets.” I can certainly understand that, as I’ve seen a lot in the last 10 years.

As you and I well know, this volume of sales does not happen without extreme professionalism, partnerships, vendors, and straight-up love and effort for our clients who trust our team to make things happen.

If you think you or anyone you know would like to talk about joining the team or have a conversation about a career in real estate sales, please reach out to me at 803-447-8683 or Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com. Keller Williams has a real estate school and we have scholarships available. Click on this link if you would like to know more.

Further, if you know anyone that is thinking of buying, selling, or investing in real estate, or if you would like to discuss your real estate planning opportunities, give one of our teammates or me a shout!

Congratulations to the sales team of Elizabeth W. Ross, Elizabeth Laffitte, Meghan S. Hesley, Andrew Stark, Liz Black Fischer…and the leadership of Amy Ackerman Cartin, Kathryn Cathcart, and Clara Humberg for holding it all together behind the scenes!!!

Huge thanks to everyone, and thank you for being part of the best real estate network in SC!!!

Franklin Jones

Today we welcome this traditional, stately, all-brick home to Columbia’s Downtown real estate market.

This clever floorplan includes 5 Bedrooms and 4 full baths. One of the bedrooms and full baths is located on the main floor. Welcome home, Nana!

Everything about the home is meticulously thought out and well-delivered, indoors and out. Open plan, large owner’s suite, sweet screened porch, adjacent open back deck, and a just enough #frontporchlife!

As you know, Woodhill Crest is conveniently located to anything Downtown Columbia, Forest Acres, and I-77. That all said, it’s also on the “beach side” of the Midlands, meaning it’s the closest section of Columbia, SC that you can be to Charleston, SC, Litchfield, SC, Pawley’s Island, SC, et, al.

If you or anyone you know would like to know more about this awesome house, please call/text me @ 803-447-8683 or email Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com and he can tell you all you need to know.

Thank you!

Franklin Jones

 

 

 

Check out the sharp stunner that just hit the market in one of Columbia, SC’s most popular neighborhoods | HEATHWOOD!

Nestled on one of Heathwood’s amazing streets, 1540 Adger Rd., arrives to market at 3,550+/- sq. ft. with 4 BR& 4 Baths.

As you look at the facade, floorplan, and flow, you see the mid-century modern style that has been made famous by the late, Frank Lloyd Wright. Lemme’ tell you what I know about this phenomenon. When someone likes the style, they don’t only like it, they LOVVVE IT, and are addicted to what I’ve learned are the “clean lines” of the architecture. That said, this is a statement house within the Historic Heathwood Neighborhood. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the words, “Oh, I know that house, for sure!”

This all said, as many readers of this blog know, Adger/Heathwood is only minutes to anything Downtown Columbia and/or Forest Acres. Further, Adger feeds into the coveted Brennen/Crayton/A.C. Flora public school zone. #ThisIsABigDeal

If you or anyone you know would like to know more about 1540 Adger Road, please call/text Meghan Hesley 803/665-8844 or email @ Meghan@TheNeighborhoodRE.com and she can tell you all you need to know!

Thank You!

Franklin Jones

Today marks the anniversary date when three big-eyed, somewhat uneasy REALTORS took a step out of their comfort zones a few years ago.

I can remember the Friday afternoon before the weekend started a few years ago. Amy had gone home for the weekend and I got on the phone with Jennifer. She asked, “well, babe. Did you drop the mic?” My response was, “I did.” Her immediate response was, “holy s%*#!”

That Sunday, Amy and I packed up our stuff from what had been our professional home for 10 years and hauled it all to my garage. Jen was not pleased, as much of it is still there today! :-O

The above graphic is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people including the ones who supported and/or simply believed in Elizabeth, Amy, and me. The positivity was not unanimous from some of my real estate colleagues in the Columbia market, and I had to hear some tough words regarding bringing this disruptive franchise to Downtown Columbia. That said, my heart is full and I love our story.

If you or anyone you know would like to discuss a career in real estate sales, please raise your hand! One of the most common phrases I run across in this industry is, “I wish I had started this sooner.” Well, me too! Call/text 803-447-8683 or email Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com and we can talk about what we mean when we say, “changing lives through real estate.”

Thank you, Columbia, SC!

Franklin Jones

 

 

Check out this newly renovated house on Lakeland Dr. in the popular City of Forest Acres!

This all-brick ranch is 2,050 sq.ft. 3BR – 2.5 baths.

Here’s the write-up:

Beautiful renovation in Forest Acres zoned for Satchelford, Crayton, and Flora. This 3 bed, 2.5 bath home has a fabulous decorator’s dream kitchen, new electrical, plumbing, HVAC, high-end bathrooms, and new hardwood floors throughout. Too many upgrades to list them all! Perfect floorplan for entertaining with a separate family room w/fireplace and a formal living room area just off the large, open kitchen and dining room. Escape to the huge master suite, big enough for a private sitting area, and enjoy the spa-like en suite bathroom with a connecting walk-in closet. With access to the back patio from the kitchen and master bedroom, you can easily pop outside for your morning coffee! It’s a rare find to have an oversized two-car garage and this house has that too. Come see for yourself and make this house your new home!

Lakeland Drive is only minutes away from bustling Forest Drive/Trenholm Plaza, anything Downtown Columbia, and I-77.

Call/text Meghan Hesley @ 803/665-8844 or email her @ Meghan@TheNeighborhoodRE.com and she will tell you what you need to know!

Also, there will be an Open House this Sunday from 2 – 4! Come see!

Thank you!

Franklin Jones

 

 

Over the years we’ve all heard of the term BoomTown or BoomTowns, obviously referring to “a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity.”

Now, we have Zoom Towns, and Columbia, SC is making lists as one of them.

When people ask me the question, “how’s the market?”, many times I’ll end my answer with, “you know, Columbia doesn’t really boom, but we don’t really bust, either,” and then I’ll go into how our job market is steadier than most. Many times I’ll also say, “Columbia isn’t really what many would call a destination city like say, Charleston or Savannah.” Well, the answer is starting to change, if even a little bit, as many cities in the Carolinas and the rest of the South have been discovered. During Covid, folks that were trapped in their apartments and flats by mayors and governors in giant colder climate cities got on the Internet and saw that they could buy a single-family house with a real yard for less money than they ever thought possible, keep their current job and salary, and be in their flip-flops most of the year.

Here’s how Louise Bolger who writes about real estate for Castles In The Sand explains it:

“They call them “Zoom Towns” because so many of the new residents are working remotely and have given up their city and suburban lifestyles for a more relaxed environment in smaller communities. It’s no secret that this massive lifestyle change evolved because of COVID-19, but even now, when the danger of serious infection is substantially reduced, Zoom Towns are still popular.

A recent National Association of Realtors survey reported that buyers who purchased homes in the year that ended in June moved a median of 50 miles from their previous residences. This is the highest distance on record, going back to 2005 when the median was a consistent 15 miles. This may not seem like a lot of mileage difference, but 15 miles from Boston, for instance, is still part of the city, but when you go 50 miles, you’re in real country. In New York City and other large metropolitan areas, however, you would need to go a little further than 50 miles to really be getting away from it all.

In the same survey, smaller communities were more popular, with buyers purchasing 48% of the homes. Again, this is a record and is up from 32% a year earlier. By comparison, traditional suburban home purchases dropped to 39% from 51% the previous year and only 10% of home purchases were in urban areas, down from 13% the year before. Naturally, the increased cost of homes and now the increased cost of financing has certainly influenced buyers.

Home buyers who are getting close to retirement are another influence on the popularity of small communities. Many who have the ability to work remotely chose to relocate now rather than after their retirement date. This gave them an edge before mortgage rates and prices went up further and set them up for easing into retirement.

Confirming further the demand for homes in smaller communities, The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Indexes came out at the end of October. It reports that the demand for homes in low-cost cities with strong local economies is, in their opinion, “robust.” This annual survey incorporates economic and lifestyle data, including real estate taxes, home appreciation, unemployment, wages and commute time in their 300 biggest metro area rankings.

This survey places the North Port, Sarasota and Bradenton region at number four in the top 10. Unfortunately, as we all know, North Port has taken a big hit from Hurricane Ian since this survey was completed, so in next year’s survey it will be interesting to see where that area is placed.

The other Emerging Housing Markets were in this order: Johnson City, Tennessee; Visalia-Porterville, California; Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana; Columbia, South Carolina; Columbia, Missouri; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Yuma, Arizona.

Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said, “These more affordable markets continue to offer some opportunity. It doesn’t mean that they’re not seeing a slowdown in their housing markets, but they’re better positioned generally.” In other words, they had faster home sales and lower unemployment rates than the market as a whole, which is attracting buyers in an otherwise difficult housing market. Further, according to an economist at Nationwide Insurance, the trend toward less expensive housing markets looks like it will continue even if home prices start trending down.”

There ya go!

Franklin Jones