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The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is projecting that mortgage interest rates will inch up over the next twelve months.  According to Steve Harney, our favorite real estate expert and author of the KCM blog, he explained that many experts are calling for home prices to also increase over the next year.  Here is his simple demonstration of what impact certain changes would have on the mortgage payment of a home selling for approximately $200,000 today:

Follow his blog here.

Steve Harney, a leading real estate expert, composes one of our favorite real estate blogs, Keeping Current Matters.  Follow him here.  He says the following:

“Based on prices, mortgage rates and soaring rents, there may have never been a better time in real estate history to purchase a home than right now.” 

He lists five major reasons purchasers should consider buying now rather than in the Spring:

1.  Supply Is Shrinking

2.  Price Increases Are on the Horizon

3.  Rents Are Skyrocketing

4.  Interest Rates Are Projected to Rise

5.  Buy Low, Sell High

Read his full article here.

The Palmetto Heroes Program has lowered its interest rate on their 30 year fixed mortgage loans from 3.75% to 3.25%, as well as offering down payment assistance up to $5,000.

Put your scarf and mittens on and grab a cup of hot chocolate! It is Christmas time in the Lowcountry, and it is time to hit some of our favorite holiday events around town.

Holiday Exhibits at the Nathaniel Russell House and Aiken-Rhett House Museums from 11/23/2012 – 01/06/2013

Historic Charleston Foundation invites guests to enjoy the holidays at the Nathaniel Russell House Museum, 51 Meeting Street, and the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, 48 Elizabeth Street.

At the Nathaniel Russell House Museum, guests will learn about early 19th century holiday gatherings, and for the Russell family, in 1808, that meant religious observances and holiday feasts with friends and relatives. Just as if the family were gathered for a holiday meal, the dining room table will be laden with delightful sugared fruits, syllabubs, cakes, and sweetmeats.

Continue on to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum where you will see the dazzling trimmings of a Victorian Christmas in the Lowcountry. Holiday celebrations at the Aiken-Rhett House date back to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and the budding popularity of decorated trees in America. Christmas was a joyous time for members of the enslaved community as well, and interpretive material will be exhibited in the Aiken-Rhett House outbuildings, where these African Americans both lived and worked.

Hours:
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with the last tour at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 2 – 5 p.m.

Admission is $10 and a combination ticket to both houses is $16; children under 6 admitted free.

22nd Annual Reindeer Run on December 1
www.reindeerrun.org

The Reindeer Run, presented by Piggly Wiggly and Half-moon Outfitters, is a family-oriented, pet-friendly 5k run/walk through the lower peninsula of downtown Charleston, SC. The event has grown significantly over the years; from only a few hundred participants to record attendance of over 3,200 runners in 2011. Throughout the history of the event, the Charitable Society of Charleston (CSC) has donated over $500,000 to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). In 2011 alone CSC donated $71,000 to the Children’s Hospital.

The funds generated from the Reindeer Run help MUSC develop and maintain a variety of programs in the Children’s Hospital and the Darby Children’s Research Institute, including research in the prevention and treatment of childhood diseases.
Proceeds from the Reindeer Run are split between MUSC Children’s Hospital and the Charitable Society of Charleston. 80% of the funds go to the MUSC Children’s Hospital and 20% go to the Charitable Society of Charleston’s endowment. This endowment provides grants and donations to local non-profit organizations which benefit both children and elderly residents of the Lowcountry

Runners begin at 9:00AM and walkers begin at 9:05AM

Marion Square Tree Lighting on December 1
4:30-6:00

Join Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and Santa Claus in lighting the magnificent 60-foot Tree of Lights, the official City of Charleston Christmas Tree at Marion Square.

King Street will be closed off for 2 hours directly following the Christmas Tree lighting to allow for sidewalk dining and shopping.

The Charleston Community Band will be playing.

Charleston Boat Parade on December 1

Parade begins along Mt.Pleasant at 5:30pm, Viewing from the peninsula begins at 6:30pm; Fireworks begin at approximately 6:45pm

You may participate in the parade by simply registering with the city, decorating your boat from stem to stern with lights, and joining us on the water. Thousands of spectators view the parade along the route from Mt. Pleasant to Charleston each year.

The parade begins at approximately 5:30PM near the Mt. Pleasant side and ends in the Ashley River, (after processing down the Charleston side of the Cooper River), at approximately 8:00PM.

Charleston Christmas Parade on December 2

The holiday tradition is better than ever as bands, floats, marchers and performers parade through downtown Charleston. The parade begins at the intersection of Calhoun and Meeting Streets, and then proceeds down King Street to Broad Street to Lockwood Blvd.

Mount Pleasant Holiday Parade on December 9

More than 100 floats will march down Coleman Boulevard as the Mount Pleasant Holiday Parade sets sail to the delight of thousands of residents and visitors. The tree lighting and fireworks display will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Moultrie Middle School, immediately followed by the parade beginning at 5:45 p.m. The parade starts at the intersection of Coleman Boulevard and Pelzer Drive, then continues past Shem Creek to conclude at the Sea Island Shopping Center around 7:15 p.m.

Charleston Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops on December 14/15
www.charlestonsymphony.org
Sottile Theatre, 44 George Street, 7:30 pm

The Nutcracker
http://www.charlestonballet.com/#!home/mainPage
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
5001 Coliseum Drive North Charleston

An enchanted Nutcracker doll magically comes to life to battle the Rat King and his band of mice and to protect his beloved, 1865 Charlestonian Marie Lowndes. A wonderful ballet for the entire family, The Nutcracker is the perfect way to ring in the holiday season and to introduce young children to the power and beauty of classical ballet.Sponsored by BOEING
12/15/2012 @ 2:00 PM
12/15/2012 @ 7:30PM
12/16/2012 @ 3:00PM

Gingerbread House Workshop on December 16
The Inn at Middleton Place
4300 Ashley River Rd., 1-5 p.m.

All ages welcome! Bring the kids out to The Inn at Middleton Place and take part in a Gingerbread House Workshop. All materials will be provided for you to take home a tasty Christmas treat and decoration. There may even be a visit from Santa! Cost is $18 for adults with purchase of house, $10 without; $12 for children 3-16 with purchase of house, $5 without. Kids under 3 are free! Refreshments offered.