Posts by : Gracen Tilton

If you’re thinking of selling your house this year, timing is crucial. After all, you’ll want to balance getting the most out of the sale of your current home and making the best investment when you buy your next one.

If that’s the case, you should know – you may be able to get the best of both worlds today. Here are four reasons why this spring may be your golden window of opportunity.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

If history has anything to do with it, there are countless reasons why people are celebrating St. Patrick's Day in the Holy City.

It is simply tradition; with Irish ties that go back to day one in Charles Towne. One of the original settlers was Captain Florence O'Sullivan, for whom Sullivan's Island is named.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Most of us have neighbors who like to tackle projects around their homes - and you’ve likely learned to live with the occasional hammering from their smaller DIY undertakings. First, there was the birdhouse construction, then the installation of the backyard playset, and now the racket that produced a full sized grill gazebo. 

Whether you like it or not, your neighbor’s renovation jobs may be inevitable. So here are some survival tactics to help keep your sanity intact from start to finish.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Ask any homeowner about expenses and they’ll tell you: If you’re a first-time buyer, you need to carefully calculate the total cost of owning a home before taking the plunge into homeownership.

Owning a home comes with dozens of additional costs; from mortgage payments & interest to upkeep, renovations, and household utility bills. It doesn’t take long before expenses add up - especially when they come on top of potential property tax costs.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Magical Charleston, with its cobblestone streets and historic homes, sets the scene for a romantic night out.

The culinary culture continues to thrive in this growing and well-traveled city. Whether you want the traditional steakhouse with wine pairing, seafood towers, or something a bit more exotic, Charleston exceeds dining expectations.

Here are the 12 most romantic restaurants to try for any romantic occasion, from a first date to an anniversary! 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

As Bill Murray once said, “Well, it’s Groundhog Day…again,” but you don’t have to risk being snowed in at a Punxsutawney bed and breakfast this year.

Last year, Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. It marked the 106th time that he saw his shadow since the tradition began in 1886.

With the recent snap of arctic cold to come through the Northeast, most are anxious to see warmer days. 

Does Phil feel lucky?

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

It's easy to tell when it's time to replace your favorite pair of shoes or your grandmother's hand-me-down mixer collecting dust in your kitchen.

But, knowing when it's time to swap out your washer and dryer? Not as cut and dry.

According to experts, there are a few simple annual tasks you can add to that checklist of yours, that support the lifespan of your machinery. 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Led by higher prices for homes and vehicles, consumer prices soared by 7.0% in December from a year ago. It was the largest year-over-year gain since June 1982.

Supply-chain constraints and strong consumer demand, related to the pandemic, and the re-opening of the economy have contributed to recent price increases in some sectors. Government stimulus efforts have also contributed to recent gains in inflation.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Forget champagne - in the South, hoppin’ John is a standard New Year’s fare. This simple, delicious dish of peas, pork and rice has graced holiday tables since the 1800s.

Although it’s believed to bring luck and peace in the coming year to anyone who eats it, hoppin’ John’s history is anything but peaceful. 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

There's a wealth of opportunities for imbibing in Charleston, but where to find the latest and greatest? The newest and hottest?

Click the link for an updated cocktail heat map of places to visit, if you're looking to down a few as soon as happy hour hits. Go out and try somewhere new this week — perhaps you'll find a new favorite libation or bartender in town.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Known as the December birth flower, poinsettias have long symbolized good cheer and success and are said to bring wishes of merriment and celebration across the world during the holiday season. But what many might not know is that the plant was named for one of the Lowcountry’s very own. 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

With mortgage rates falling during the COVID-19 crisis, many households were able to refinance to monthly lower payments. Due to a mortgage payment being the most prominent payment households make each month, lower payments have allowed homeowners who bought homes to have better cash flow. 

This means that mortgage holders who have refinanced their homes to lower payments; all while their wages have also grown, look great on paper. 

In general, homeowner households were financially solid going into the crisis. When COVID-19 happened, some sellers were able to sit back and watch the market. We didn’t see any mass hysteria to sell. It was just a matter of weeks before the buyers returne...

Not in the mood to cook Thanksgiving dinner from scratch this year? No worries, as Eater Carolinas has put together a map of Charleston restaurants that will be open + serving on Thanksgiving Day.

Whether you're looking for dine-in or take-out options; these go-to restaurants will be serving Thanksgiving in an easy and no-fuss way so you can stay spirited throughout the Holiday! 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318

She crab soup, a Southern seafood staple, has a rich history that began right here in Charleston.

According to legend, the first bowl of she-crab soup was made at John Rutledge House Inn in the 1920s. The Rutledge House was home to the former mayor of Charleston, Robert Goodwyn Rhett. Mayor Rhett’s butler, William Deas, prepared a meal for President William Howard Taft, who was visiting the city. 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318

If you’re a renter & want to become a homeowner, or a homeowner who’s decided your current house no longer fits your needs, you may be hoping that waiting a year might mean better market conditions to purchase a home.

To determine if you should buy now or wait, you need to ask yourself two simple questions:

What will home prices be like in 2022? And, where will mortgage rates be by the end of 2022?

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

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

➡️https://www.residentialrealtytoday.com/edition/weekly-marketing-brokerage-2021-09-18?open-article-id=202267...

South Carolina's historic hotels & inns offer a wide array of uniqueness; sometimes of the ghostly kind. 

If you're looking for a room with an extra guest, there are plenty of spirited options good for delivering a few chills of paranormal action.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

In an attempt to social distance, homeowners spent a lot more time in their homes last year, especially in their kitchens cooking, cleaning, and eating well.

Zillow Research analyzed closed home sales in the United States over the past two years and found homes with features related to high-end kitchens and luxurious bathrooms in their listing descriptions sold for more than otherwise expected.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

Oktoberfest is happening now in Charleston, and local spots are breaking it down Bavarian-style with brats, pretzels, and brews galore.

It’s time to bust out your lederhosen and welcome Oktoberfest, a traditional German fall festival that’s perhaps better known to most Americans as the biggest beer fest of the year.

Whether this is your first Oktoberfest or you’re a seasoned sauerkraut fiend, join us in raising a bierstein mug to these Oktoberfest events right here in town.

Cheers, or, as the Germans say, “Prost!”

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

The real estate market in South Carolina is cooling down, according to a report from the South Carolina Realtors.

The report revealed 9,670 homes were sold across South Carolina in August, a 0.2% drop compared to this time last year when 9,686 homes were sold.

The report showed that statewide median sales price increased by almost 13% to $285,000. In 2020, the median sales price was $252,000.

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318 

With Halloween coming up, it’s officially pumpkin season and there is no shortage of pumpkin patches in Charleston this year. 

There is always something nostalgic about traipsing through the dirt + vines to pick out the perfect jack-o-lantern. Aside from having hundreds of options to choose from, many pumpkin patches also boast other niceties like fresh jams, apple cider, hayrides, corn mazes and haunted houses. 

Here’s a look at all of the pumpkin patches happening around the Lowcountry this fall! 

Gracen Tilton | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | operations@marshallwalker.com | 803-549-6318