With a reputation for being a charming, extremely walkable neighborhood, Park Circle is now one of Charleston’s more sought-after areas. This means it’s attracting quite a lot of interested buyers, making the housing market here more competitive.
Fortunately, there are a variety of real estate options, ranging from forever homes to lucrative investment properties. The key to finding the right property is to know where (and how) to look. Keep reading for nine tips to guide you in how to search for houses in Park Circle, North Charleston.
How To Search for Houses for Sale in Park Circle, North Charleston
You’ve heard of the concept of working smarter, not harder, and these nine tips will help ensure you find the perfect property, at the right price, and at a perfect time.
1. Start by Getting To Know the Park Circle Neighborhood
You can save a lot of time by familiarizing yourself with the area before you begin a detailed search. Park Circle has multiple community parks, desirable amenities, and a balance of suburban tranquility and a bustling urban environment.
Consider your goals to target certain locales. For example, if you have young children, you might want to be near a top school. Alternatively, if you’re young or single (or both), a property near the renowned local restaurants or breweries might be a preference.
2. Search Online Real Estate Listings
Most homes will have online listings, so the Internet can be an efficient route to find available listings. At Park Circle Real Estate, we keep a current inventory of available listings you can look at. Other sites like Zillow and Realtor.com also include property search tools that allow you to search for homes for sale and see what houses have recently sold.
When you look at our real estate website, you can apply multiple filters, including:
- Price
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Square footage
- Area and subdivision
- Street
- Parking
- Year built
3. Explore the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a comprehensive database used by real estate professionals to list available properties for sale. Typically, you have a licensed realtor to access MLS information, but sites like Park Circle Real Estate pull data from the database.
Further, when you work with local realtors, you can often get priority access to MLS listings, even those that are not publicly advertised.
4. Attend Open Houses
Look for opportunities to attend open houses so that you can see a property in person and get a feel for the surrounding areas and home styles, including who your new neighbors might be! There’s no substitute for touring a home and seeing it firsthand, and an open house also gives you the chance to speak directly to the listing agent to get all of your questions answered.
Often, a listing will include dates for future open houses, so be sure to scroll to the bottom. If you’re on the email list of a local agent, you can also get regular updates about upcoming open houses.
5. Collaborate with Local Realtors
Though this tip is number five on our list of how to search for houses for sale in Park Circle, North Charleston, it is arguably something you should do first. Connecting with a local realtor is a key tip because a local realtor is going to have in-depth knowledge of the market, access to exclusive listings, and insights that can guide you through the negotiation and closing processes.
You’re also bound to get information on comparable sales in the area, which can ensure you make an informed decision and offer a competitive bid (without overbidding).
6. Research Market Trends
Your realtor will have a lot of information about market trends, but if you haven’t begun working with a realtor yet, this is some leg work that you can do on your own. Key statistics to look at include:
- The number of days a house stays on the market
- Median sale prices
- Inventory levels
- Foreclosure rates
You can use this information to get insights into the competitiveness of the market, and you may be able to uncover opportunities to negotiate.
7. Consider Future Developments
If you’re not in a rush to buy something immediately, you can get a brand-new property that is in current development or will be built in the near future.
On the flip side, it’s also a good idea to be aware of planned developments because new properties in an area can affect home values, traffic patterns, and the overall appeal of a neighborhood. Be sure to check city planning websites, follow local news, and have discussions with local realtors who can share information with you about upcoming projects.
8. Set Up Personalized Alerts
If you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for in a property, you can often create an alert on a real estate website that will send you an email or text message when a property becomes available that matches your preferences.
This can be particularly helpful if you’re looking for an edge in how to search for houses for sale in Park Circle, North Charleston, because if the market is in a competitive phase, a desirable property can go quickly.
9. Evaluate Your Financing Options
Before making a single serious offer on your dream home, you should have a realistic idea of what your actual budget is. A mortgage lender can help you understand the options that are available to you, including current interest rates and pre-approval processes. By knowing how much home you can afford, you’ll be in a stronger position when it comes time to make an actual offer.
The Bottom Line
Now that you know how to search for houses for sale in Park Circle, North Charleston, the next step is to take action and start your search! We recommend contacting a local real estate agent to discuss your preferences and get exclusive, insider tips on available properties that precisely fit your needs and your budget.
Troy Gandee of Park Circle Real Estate is a licensed and experienced agent providing five-star, personalized service. To get started, give him a call at (843) 817-4431 or contact him online.
