Posts by : Matthew Brockbank

When mortgage rates spiked up over the last few years, some homeowners put their plans to move on pause. Maybe you did too because you didn’t want to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate for your next home. But is that still the right strategy for you?

In today’s market, data shows more homeowners are getting used to where rates are and thinking it may be time to move. As Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody’s Analytics, explains:

“Listings are up a bit as life events and job changes are putting increasing pressure on locked-in homeowners to sell their homes. Homeowners may also be slowly coming to the realization that mortgage rates aren’t going back anywhere near the rate on their ...

If you amble down Legare (pronounced Luh-gree) Street, one of the prettiest streets in Charleston’s South of Broad, you pass filigree ironwork gates and secret gardens, antebellum mansions and live oaks. Then suddenly, in front of one of the mansions, there’s a large stone half circle on the street.

 “Can you guess what that is,” asks Bill Harris, founder, co-owner and extremely knowledgeable private guide of Oyster Point Tours which specializes in detailed, authentic walking tours around the city. I ask whether it relates to the cotton or rice trade, the industries that led to the fortunes of many of the former residents of this street. A mark of a secret society? An industrial accident...

Attract birds, butterflies, bees, and critters to your backyard by creating a wildlife habitat with these tips.

Creating a backyard wildlife habitat can be quite simple. Planting native plants and nectar-rich flowers, supplying food and water sources, and avoiding pesticides are some of the keystones for attracting fascinating creatures such as birds and butterflies to your garden. Start creating a wildlife garden with the tips and ideas in this guide.

1. Mix Up Flower Shapes

Different types of pollinators prefer different shapes of flowers. Some like flat clusters of tiny flowers, and others seed out trumpet-shaped blossoms, for example. In the garden shown here, native plants suc...