MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Realtors in the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand area say they're seeing an unbelievable increase in home sales that they haven't experienced in over five years.
"My partner and I have closed twelve properties in January," says Wendy Hodges of Re/Max Town & Country. "We're very busy. Everybody in the field has seen increased activity."
The Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors says the numbers for January sales haven't been released yet, but they've received positive feedback from realtors all over the Grand Strand. The Association gives much of the credit of increased sales to the perfect combination of low prices and higher consumer confidence.
"We're seeing a slight stabilization in the market, and that's created a buzz in the community," says Laura Crowther with the CCAR. "That's got people who were on the fence coming off of it."
But most of the property closings have involved foreclosed properties or short sales, which are unloaded with little regard to profit. That could mean trouble for homeowners in stable financial shape who are trying to sell their property near its actual value.
"We've had some very qualified customers, but no one who would sit at the table with us," says Kevin Cribb. Kevin and his wife have had their Myrtle Beach home on the market for six months, but have not found an interested buyer yet. Cribb says the home is almost completely paid off, and they're asking for its full value, which has put them at a disadvantage in the housing market.
"We're all in the same bucket," Cribb says. "Anyone who has sold their property in the past year has not gotten what the home deserved."
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