A Visitor's Guide to Round O, South Carolina
Where is Round O, SC located? According to Wikipedia, "Round O is an unincorporated community in Colleton County, South Carolina..." Round O is located in Colleton County, South Carolina essentially between Cottageville to the east and Walterboro to the west along route 17, otherwise known as Savannah Highway. How did Round, O get its name? According to the stories, the name originated around 1709 from Round O Creek, which was named after a local Native American Chief. His name was long and difficult to pronounce and English traders found it easier to identify him by the round purple tattoo on his shoulder - Hence "Round O" was born. How far is Round O from Charleston? Round O is located roughly 40 miles northwest of Downtown Charleston with travel time clocking in around an hour from Round O to Charleston door-to-door. What's the real estate market like in Round O? Around 77% of residents in Round O are homeowners and about 37% of those people are single with no kids. The median home price in Round O is $260,000 Schools in Round O School-age children living in Round O have a few options for schools: Cottageville Elementary is located about 6 minutes away and currently has around 523 students attending K-5th grade with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Northside Elementary School is around 9 minutes away also teaches K-5th grade and serves around 506 students with a 15 to 1 teacher-student ratio, as well. Colleton Middle School, around 9 minutes away serves 1,288 students in grades 6-8 with a student-teacher ration of 18 to 1. Colleton County High School has around 1,446 students in grades 9-12 with a 16 to 1 student-teacher ratio. Colleton Preparatory Academy is an independent college preparatory school serving grades K-12 that serves the Colleton, Walterboro, and surrounding areas. Current enrollment is 360 students and 35 faculty members. Black Street Early Childhood Center serves around 393 students in the Pre-kindergarten to kindergarten age range with a 16 to 1 student-teacher ratio. Neighborhoods A home for sale in Round O, SC Harmony Hall is a well-established community with relatively newer single-family homes being built between 1993 and the present day. Homes in this community continue to be very reasonably priced with the median sale price around $216,000 for homes with 3-5 bedrooms, 2 to 3 bathrooms, and between 1-3 acres of land. Harmony Hall does not have an HOA. Presidential Estates is also a well-established neighborhood with single-family homes being built between 1997 to 2001. Current home prices here are also very reasonable at $133,000 for 1400 to 1700+ square feet, 3-4 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms on up to a full acre. Do, Stay, Eat For a wider selection of food and lodging options, most folks typically head to the Walterboro area. There you can find larger chains like Dunkin' Donuts, and Domino's as well as a regional airport and several hotel options. However, there are still local spots to grab a bite to eat. Red Brick Pizza and Cypress Patio in nearby Cottageville serve up a friendly atmosphere along with some great pizza and wings. Patrons rave about the staff, free jukebox, and outdoor patio area. image courtesy of Fat Jack's Fat Jack's located in Walterboro is another great local spot to grab a bite. You can't go wrong with their famous sterling silver steaks, but their ribs, shrimp, and chicken wings get rave reviews, too. What is the population of Round O? The most recent data puts the population of Round O at around 2,210 residents, with a median age of 45 and an almost even split of men and women. What are the employment statistics in Round O? The current unemployment rate is around 2.8% which comes in below the national average of 3.6%. White-Collar workers make up 69% of employed residents in Round O, while blue-collar jobs are held by roughly 31% of the population. There are a few entrepreneurs the area at around 10.5% and a little over 13% work in government institutions. photo courtesy of wikipedia What is the zip code for Round O, SC? The zip code for the area is 29474. Interested in living in the area? Interested in buying a home here? Check out the available homes for sale in Round O, SC 843-609-5202 | Chris.Sotiroglou@gmail.com | www.TheFamilyRealEstateGroup.com
What Questions You Should Ask a Potential Home Builder
photo by Pixabay As a Homebuyer who's chosen to have your home built for you, you're investing a significant amount of time and money into the process. So it's only natural that you have questions. During our 20+ years of new home construction experience, all of our clients have had a healthy interest in the building process. Because of that, they've had some common questions that always come up. In this blog post, you'll get a comprehensive list of questions to ask a potential builder to set your expectations early and be confident with your final choice. How many years have you been in business? Of course, every home builder has to start somewhere. But you want a skilled, qualified builder to count on to get the results you're after. While they don't need to be fifth-generation builders, an experienced builder will have the knowledge and experience to keep customers happy and run a successful business. Look for a builder who's been in business for at least 5 years. An experienced home builder should have extensive knowledge about the area you plan to build in; with knowledge of utilities, building codes, and inspections. This combined with their willingness to provide references should give you a good idea of the health of their business. photo by Pixabay How many homes have you built? The answer to this question should give you an idea of their experience with home building. If you're looking for a particular home style to be built you should ask how many homes they've built in that style, as well. If the builder mostly specializes in log cabins, they may not be the first choice for a raised beachfront home or a tiny home if that's your thing. Hiring a builder with experience building the style of home you want will make the process that much smoother. You'll avoid learning curves and other challenges they may face constructing your home. What licenses and insurance do you have? The state of South Carolina requires home builders to be licensed, but some states don't. Regardless, you should ask a potential home builder about their licensing. A reputable builder shouldn't hesitate to provide proof of insurance and licenses and it's even better if they display the information proudly on their website or in their office. Hiring a builder that's not properly licensed and insured puts you and your new home at risk if they happen to get shut down. You could potentially lose your deposit and more. In addition, you're liable for any unlicensed workers on a property you own. So hiring a company that's properly insured and licensed to work in the state you're building in is crucial. What type of home warranty do you offer? In theory, one of the benefits of building a brand new home is not worrying about repairs, right? Every inch of the home is brand new from the foundation, to the plumbing to the cabinets. But what if something does break? Who's responsible for the repairs or maintenance? Ask your builder what type of warranty program they offer on their work. You want the peace of mind that they stand behind the quality of their work and that they'll make it right if something does happen to go wrong. Ask what's covered and what's not and what the warranty period is after completion of the work. And always get the agreement in writing. Can you provide references from previous home buyers? A quality home builder will happily tout their previous clients' satisfaction, right? Well, of course, a builder will say their clients are the happiest in the world! But how can you make sure you're comfortable with the claims? You can start by doing a little homework on your own. Review the builder's website, online reviews, and social media to see what kind of opinion past clients have toward the builder. Next, ask the builder for a list of references or client testimonials you can see. Finally, ask if they have model homes you can tour. Calling someone out of the blue can seem awkward and intrusive so don't be surprised if the builder wants to protect their past clients' privacy. However, if they have references willing to speak to you, there are a few questions we recommend asking them: What was your experience like? How did the builder handle construction delays? Would you say you're satisfied clients? Would you hire this builder again? What sets you apart from other home builders? Whether you're trying to choose between several builders or have your heart set on just one, this is an important question to understand who you'll be working with. Allow the builder to toot their own horn and display a bit more of their personality. Ask the builder what it is about the company that truly sets them apart from the others in the area. This will give you insight into the type of people you'll be working with and help you decide if you'll enjoy the process of working with them. Not only that but the small details they mention and the pride in their work should be apparent. What are the standard features included in your homes? It's important to understand what is and is not included in the home you're considering. When planning your budget and preparing for your mortgage loan, you don't want any expensive surprises down the road. Discuss in detail with the builder what exactly is included in the base price of the home, what features would be extra, and how much each will be. While one builder's base price may seem like a great deal, things that seem like necessities such as plumbing for appliances and electrical wiring may be additional. You must have a list of the features you want so you understand what costs to expect and request a complete estimate to include all these items for your reference. photo by Pixabay What are the options and upgrades I can choose from? How "Custom" do you want your custom home? It's important to understand that one custom builder's definition of custom can be completely different from another. One builder's "Custom" only amounts to cosmetic changes such as paint colors, countertops, and light fixtures. While other builders' "Custom" options run the full gamut of adding extra bedrooms, altering the roofline, or increasing the room size. While most homebuyers are looking for something somewhere in the middle, it's important you clearly understand your options to make the most informed decision. Who will I communicate with during the home construction? In our opinion, whether you're buying an existing home or having one built from the ground up, clear communication throughout the entire process is key. And clear communication should start from the get-go. Ask the builder how they plan to communicate with you and who the point of contact will be. Do you want to decide on your home needs, sign off and only get updates at specific milestones? Do you prefer frequent updates to keep your finger on the pulse of the entire process? Let the builder know upfront. It should also be clear exactly who will be your point of contact during the process. If the builder isn't clear with you who your contact will be, tell them you prefer a single point of contact. This ensures you're getting the most accurate and up-to-date information. photo by Pixabay How will you handle construction delays? If you've ever completed a large project for work or a DIY project at home, you'll know that things happen. Problems arise, setbacks occur and there's always a chance that the original timeframe you started with can potentially change. What mattered, in the end, is how those delays were dealt with, right? This is a great question to ask your builder to give you insight into how open and honest they're going to be and how they'll handle setbacks if they should occur. photo by Ksenia Chernaya What is the deadline for making changes to the construction plans? The answers about their standard features, options, and upgrades should already give you some idea of what can and can't be done with your new home construction. It's also important to understand how long you have to make changes to the design before it's too late. Additionally, this will also give you some insight into how flexible your builder will be during the construction process. What's the average time to complete construction? Whenever something exciting is on the horizon, it's natural to want to know how soon it's going to happen. It's only natural to wonder how soon you'll be settling into your new home. However, the answer depends on a few things such as how complex your home design is, the number of changes that are made during construction, and other decisions. But, they should be able to give you a general idea of the timeline for a home like yours. And don't be afraid to ask! You need to plan your move, pack, and do other general planning as well. Do I have to locate the land myself or can you help me find land for my new home? If you haven't purchased a plot of land you're going to need to find a piece of property to build your new home on. Some builders can take the process off your hands by inspecting and purchasing the land on your behalf. This is a great service if available as the builder will know what type of land your home design requires, what the property values are, etc. If the builder doesn't offer this service, it's going to be your responsibility. You'll need to choose an architect or land surveyor yourself to confirm if the land you're interested in is capable of building your home on. photo by tima miroshnichenko The Bottom Line While these may seem like a lot of questions, don't shy away from asking them. The more questions you ask, the more information at your disposal to make informed decisions during the selection process. This decision is one of the biggest investments you'll make - it's crucial you have the information you need so there are no surprises. We at The Family Real Estate Group, for one, welcome these types of questions! We're committed to building exactly the home you want and ensuring you're completely satisfied with the process. If you have any additional questions about the home building process, don't hesitate to get in touch. And if you're reading this and thinking about building your dream home, why not give our free mortgage calculator a try to see how much home you could afford to build? The Family Real Estate Group | 843-609-5202 | chris.sotiroglou@gmail.com
Round O SC Home for Sale $250,000
Brand new 2022 Clayton home model on 1 acre of land. 1559 Harmony Hall Road Road | Round O, SC 29474 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Square Footage: 1,801 Area: Colleton County Subdivision: Harmony Hall More Details About 1559 Harmony Hall Round O, SC This Round O SC home for sale is listed by The Family Real Estate Group, the best real estate agents in Round O, South Carolina. The Family Real Estate Group helps with home buying, home selling, home rentals and vacant land sales throughout the state of South Carolina.
How Strict is the Walnut Farms HOA in Summerville, SC?
Walnut Farms is an established neighborhood located in Summerville, South Carolina. The neighborhood features large single-family homes built between the years 1989 to 1997. The homes range in size from 2,386 to 5,761 square feet with 4 to 5 bathrooms and 3 to 6 bathrooms. Around 175 homes occupy this quiet community and are managed via an HOA with covenants and restrictions. But, just how strict is the Walnut Farms HOA? In this post, we'll go over some of the main information so you're able to make an informed decision. featured photo by Magic K What is an HOA or Homeowners Association? According to Bankrate.com's definition of an HOA, an HOA is, "...a self-governing organization in "common interest" communities where homeowners collectively pay fees to maintain the units or neighborhood." The members HOA's are unpaid volunteers who own homes in the community. They're elected to the board to oversee the management of the HOA. Walnut Farms Bylaws photo by Kindel Media Each person who owns a lot in Walnut Farms is considered a member of the HOA. Therefore, they have voting rights regarding issues related to the neighborhood. If the lot is owned by more than two people, both are considered members but only have one vote per lot. Additionally, the Board of Directors may suspend members due to violations or lack of paying dues. The Board of Directors is required to comprise between 7 and 11 directors, each serving a minimum of 2 years. They can be removed from their posts by a majority vote of the HOA membership. These are not paid positions but the directors may be reimbursed for expenses. Nominations for director positions are made by a committee consisting of three members appointed by the board. Provided the nominee has consented to serve, may also be nominated during the annual meeting. Directors hold "Director's Meetings" once a month which all directors are required to attend. If a director misses more than 3 meetings in a row, they may be asked to vacate their position. In this instance, the remaining directors select replacements for the open seat which is held for the remainder of the term. HOA officers serve a one-year term in which the President and Vice President must be elected Board of Directors. However, the office of secretary and treasurer do not need to be elected directors. Annual meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of September during which members elect the Board of Directors. Additionally, the Treasurer's Report is presented, but HOA records are available to all members during normal business hours for review. Walnut Farms Covenants New Construction Walnut Farms allows only single-family homes to be constructed in the neighborhood. These structures must be a minimum of 2500 square feet and may not exceed three stories in height. The square footage requirements do not include porches, garages, and the like. Building plans must be submitted for approval and construction must comply with those approved plans. All construction must be completed within 180 days or 6 months and asbestos and concrete blocks are prohibited construction materials. The garage materials must match the residence materials and A/C units must be screened from the road. Swimming Pools photo by Helena Lopes Swimming pools are required to be 10 feet or more from the lot line, and must be positioned behind the rear building line of the house. Fences photo by Kristina Pakshtite Fences must be located behind the rear building line of the home and may not be constructed in the front yard. Additionally, fences and hedges may not exceed 6 feet with the exception of a few areas of the neighborhood. Landscaping photo by Magic K Trees and vegetation are not allowed to obstruct the view at an intersection. Trees that are 4 inches and above must be approved for removal by the ARB or Architectural Review Board. Entryway planters and ornamental walls must also be approved and you may not alter the elevation of your lot. Gardens may be kept but only for personal consumption and not for sale. Maintenance Owners have a minimum requirement to maintain their homes from basic care, painting, pruning of trees, and landscaping to mowing. More detail about the requirements may be found in the full set of Covenants available from the Walnut Farms HOA. Vehicles & Parking All vehicles must be parked either in the homeowner's driveway or garage, no vehicles may be stored in open view. This includes trailers, RVs, boats, etc. which may be parked only in the driveway for a temporary time, but not permanently. No overnight parking on the streets is allowed at any time. Yard Debris & Waste Residents are required to keep garbage cans and yard equipment concealed from street view when not in use. Additionally, waste and yard debris must be disposed of properly and in a timely manner. No building materials or other bulk materials are allowed to be stored on lots, either. Animals Residents are permitted to keep domestic animals as pets as long as they are secured and under control at all times. This does not include livestock, chickens, rodents birds, or reptiles. Additional Covenants of note Other notable covenants worth mentioning. Mailboxes must follow approved guidelines Temporary structures such as sheds and barns are prohibited Garage doors must remain closed. More detailed information on the full HOA covenants can be requested from the Walnut Farms HOA. Walnut Farms Fine Schedule HOA fines and their enforcement are standard practices within communities that have HOA's in place. Their main purpose is upholding certain expectations regarding the atmosphere and appearance of the community for the homeowners. Purchasing a home within the community legally obligates residents to adhere to these restrictions or be subject to fees or fines. The HOA enforcement policy is structured as follows: Inform the homeowner when a fee or fine being considered Allow them a reasonable timeframe to correct the issue Provide them an opportunity for a hearing with the Board of Directors or a representative regarding the issue. The homeowner must request a hearing within 15 days of assessment. If they fail to do so, the fine becomes final and is receivable on the homeowner's account. Fine Schedule The following is the current fine schedule for Walnut Farms: Reminder of violation with a two-week window for correction Official notice of violation with a four-week window for correction Third notification with a $25 admin fee and 6 weeks for correction Fourth notification with a $50 fine and an 8-week window for correction Further infraction of the same issue may incur a bi-weekly $100 fine until correction. If the fines reach or exceed $1,000, the Board of Directors may decide to move forward with legal proceedings. Repeated violations of the same issue with the above process incur far less leeway before fines are assessed. So, is the Walnut Farms HOA strict or not? photo by Mikhail Nilov In the grand scheme of things, the Walnut Farms HOA is a fairly standard set of Bylaws, Rules, and Covenants. Most homebuyers interested in maintaining property values and keeping a consistent appearance and atmosphere in the community won't consider it strict. If you feel the Walnut Farms restrictions are too much, it's possible Walnut Farms isn't the neighborhood for you. You might even consider one of the many wonderful communities in the area without an HOA in place. Either way, we're sure we can find you a great place to call home. Check out the available Walnut Farms homes for sale in Summerville. The Family Real Estate Group | 843-609-5202 | chris.sotiroglou@gmail.com
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