Living the Charleston Coast Lifestyle with Jennifer O'Brien

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/03/01/white-point-garden/

Did you know the park that surrounds The Battery in Charleston gets its name from oyster shells? Let me tell you all about it!

The park is named White Point Garden - the story goes that the shore was covered in bright white oyster shells that sailors identified it as White Point.

Now it is a grand waterfront park that remains a popular spot for both locals and visitors.

The park features numerous Revolutionary and Civil War-era cannons. One of the Revolutionary War cannons is a fake, made in 1933 and placed in the park as a joke. It is a popular game for park visitors to try to spot the bogus cannon.

​​The park also features a gazebo-like bandstand known as the Williams Music Pavilion. The gazebo is a popular location for weddings!

There are many monuments in the park, including one commemorating the notorious pirate Stede Bonnet.

Personally, I enjoy grabbing a sandwich from Brown Dog Deli and walking to the park to enjoy a picnic under the oak trees.

If you get a chance to visit, let me know your favorite part of White Point Garden!

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/25/pre-foreclosure-what-does-that-mean/

Hi y’all my name is Jennifer O’Brien and I am a real estate agent with Dunes Properties in the Charleston area.

I want to talk about Pre-Foreclosure and what that means. 

Often buyers reach out to me about a home they saw on the internet  listed as Pre-Foreclosure.

In South Carolina, pre-foreclosure is inaccurate and misleading. Because, Foreclosures in South Carolina are judicial, which means a court handles the process. The lender must file a lawsuit to foreclose the home. Which is a LONG process. 

Pre-foreclosure could mean a few things, the owners have missed a payment, or made a late payment and the lender has started the foreclosure process, of filing paperwork and reporting them to the credit bureaus. It could also mean the owner has missed an HOA payment or has a construction lien against the home.

Generally, these properties are not for sale and typically the owner has already corrected the missed payments and the pre-foreclosure on the internet is no longer accurate.

If you are interested in a home listed as pre-foreclosure, reach out to your real estate professional.

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/22/266-old-house-lane/

You can have this view, one acre of land. Only 45 minutes outside of Charleston for under 70,000. Let me tell you all about it.

266 Old House Lane is one acre on Dewees Island. Your home will Overlook the Dewees Creek. That you can see right here Marsh and the intercostal. You also have a great buffer from the road with a Wetlands that in the fall gets these beautiful pink and purple flowers.

Currently we are standing on a tower on the adjacent lot lot 119, but this gives you a great idea of the expansive water and Marsh views, you'll get from lot 120. 

You're only one property away from this community dock. It's a perfect place for fishing swimming and paddleboarding. The sellers have a survey from 2018 that does show 0.76 of your acreage is all High Ground. Let's go check that out.

That survey shows this great little peninsula here on this property that comes out into the marsh land where you could definitely get peekaboo views of the sunset.

There are several beautiful live Oaks that you should incorporate into your home design. Take advantage of that Spanish moss blowing in the breeze and the nesting birds we have on this amazing Island. 

Here we are on an elevated spot of this property. You can see how much further down those trees are towards the marsh. So this would be a great spot to support your home.

Once you remove these pine trees you're going to have a wide open view of the marsh, the creek and the Intercoastal Waterway. Here's a glimpse of that wetland that's a fantastic buffer between the road and your home. You can see there's the nearest neighbor. You won't be any closer than 50 feet, this wetland in the fall is covered in marshmallow flowers, which are beautiful, pink, and purple. 

Y’all we are still in the high ground of this lot and you can see that's the back of the neighbor's house. You'll actually probably position your home about where we're standing and you can see the great buffer of trees and bushes that you have between them where you'll never see your neighbor. You can see here looks out over the marsh, once you get through these trees.

You are one lot away from community dock. Let's go check that out.

Y'all, you can see it is low tide right now, so let's go see if you can keep a boat here. Hard to tell without measuring the depth, but the great thing is I don't see mud, so at a minimum you could certainly keep a Jon Boat here and you just pop in your boat and enjoy the creek and head out to the Intercoastal Waterway.

There's a few things that I really like about this lot. I love The High Ground on it. 0.76 Acres of high ground that is a lot for the Charleston area to get marsh views and water views. I love its proximity to the community, dock here. Super easy to hop in the water and enjoy a day, getting some sun, some fishing, and just having a great time and it's very close to the ferry. You could really leave probably with three minutes before the ferry launches and still make it in time. 

If you're interested in living 45 minutes outside of Charleston on the water, give me a call, let me show you 266 Old House Lane.

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/18/firefly-distillery/

Have you tried Sweet Tea Vodka? Let me share with you one of my favorite Charleston destinations!

Firefly Distillery has 2 locations in the Charleston area. I recently visited their Park Circle location with some friends.

Firefly holds events every Saturday and we were lucky to be there for a pop-up artisanal market.

They have a tasting every 30 minutes and they are first come, first served on Saturdays. While we waited for our tasting to start we wandered their gift shop and their history center.

The tastings are great! For $10 you get 6 samples of some of the liquor that Firefly makes.

After the tasting you have an opportunity to shop your favorite flavors!

Firefly Distillery is just one of many great attractions that Charleston has to offer! If you’re thinking about moving here, give me a call. Let’s discuss the attractions you want to live near and develop a plan to find it!

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/15/what-is-tabby/

If I asked you what Tabby was, would you instantly think of a cat? In the lowcountry it’s something completely different! Stay tuned and I’ll tell you all about it.

Ever wonder how people built homes, churches and other buildings before bricks and concrete? In the South Carolina Lowcountry, they used what they had, which included oyster shells and sand.

Tabby, also known as coastal concrete, is made from a mixture of lime, sand, water and oyster shells. This is why tabby contains the shell pieces that give it a unique appearance. While nobody is exactly sure how long tabby has been around, it's believed to have been used by the Spanish explorers in Florida in the 16th Century and the British in South Carolina and Georgia around 1700.

Some remnants of historic Tabby remain today, especially in Beaufort County, which is believed to have the largest number of tabby ruins in the US.

You can see Tabby in modern coastal homes. It’s an ideal surface solution for pool decks, patios, porches, and architectural elements.

Interested in seeing some for yourself? Let me know, I have several recommendations for historic sites to visit in the Lowcountry!

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/11/404-a-summer-house-isle-of-palms/

Hey y'all.

We have an Oceanfront completely remodeled, condo behind the gate in the Wild Dunes Resort. That's projected to bring an $87,000 a year. In rental income, stay tuned for a tour but first, check out this ocean view.

Y'all the sellers completely took this condo down to the studs. There used to be a wall right here. And in a whole wall of mirrors there. They opened it up to take advantage of the ocean view from everywhere in the condo. As you all know, the kitchen is the center point in any home. You can see here. They've got new shaker-style cabinets, new stone countertops. And since we're at the beach they did an amazing Beach style glass backsplash. They really upgrade it here in the living room. Put shiplap on the ceiling. There are LVP floors throughout the entire condo and it's furnished with pieces from Steven shell and pottery barn. The master bedroom has a king-size bed. And if you can just imagine waking up to the sunrise right out here, over the water. 

The attention to detail was meticulous. We have a barn style door into the master bath. Brand new double vanity brand new shower. Again a barn style glass door here with the sea glass style tiles on the wall and Penny tiles on the floor. There is another pop of shiplap here at the counter. Perfect spot to add additional seating with some bar stools. I love the upgraded doors for the bedrooms. And now we are entering the second bedroom. This is a Pottery Barn, sleeper chair, that will open up, perfect to sleep a single. And then we also have another king size bed. Guest bathroom also has a brand-new vanity brand-new toilet brand new floors, right off of the hallway and connects to that guest bedroom. There is a covered balcony, which you can get to from the master bedroom, or the way that we are going in through the living room. And you can see there's plenty of space here for any furniture that you like and we just have this amazing view. So this is in the summer house complex behind the gate in the Wild Dunes Resort. This complex has its own pool. And you have your own walkways out to the beach. Super convenient, especially if you have chairs and kids and dogs. 

The sellers updated everything in this condo. It's going to be super easy to start booking rentals immediately. And I personally think that $ 87,000 projection per year in rental income is going to be on the low side. I see this condo being booked with 100% occupancy. 

Another amazing thing is that these folks redid this condo and furnished it for their own use. They never rented it. So you're going to have very little wear and tear on the floors and all of the Steven shell and Pottery Barn Furnishings. Don't wait to book your tour. I don't expect this one to be on the market very long. 

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/08/south-of-broad-in-historic-charleston/

Have you seen images of Charleston - stately mansions overlooking the harbour, bright colorful homes, delightful gardens? What if I told you that these scenes are accessible with a leisurely walk? Stay tuned and let me tell you about the historic neighborhood, South of Broad!

As its name suggests, South of Broad is located south of Broad Street, at the southernmost tip of the peninsula. Arguably the most famous Charleston neighborhood, it is also home to Rainbow Row, one of the most famous streets in all of Charleston.

Considered the most exclusive and affluent of the downtown neighborhoods, South of Broad is also one of it’s oldest with residences dating back to 1721. While a variety of architectural styles exist, most homes were built by wealthy plantation owners or merchants in the Georgian-Palladian style.

One such home, located on one of the most picturesque streets south of Broad, The Sword Gate House (located at 32 Legare Street), is named after the distinctive “Sword Gates” that stand guard at the entrance to the property.

Famous for its lush gardens and detailed iron gate-work, South of Broad is best explored on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. Admire the flourishing window boxes and peak into the private gardens. Look for urban alleyways like Stoll’s Alley, Philadelphia Alley or Price’s Alley, each offering an intimate view and journey back in time.

I love to grab a bite from Goat.Sheep.Cow or Brown Dog Deli and enjoy a picnic at White Point Gardens.

If you find yourself wandering through one of the most beautiful areas of downtown, be sure to reach out and let me know what you enjoyed most!

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/04/254-old-house-lane-dewees-island/

Looking for your Island Getaway? Let me show you one of the most affordable home sites on the entire East Coast!!

So behind me we have to 254 Old House Lane, a 1 acre home site overlooking the creek that runs behind Dewees, the Intercoastal Waterway and Mount Pleasant. You could also get little peekaboo views of the sunset from this home site. Let's take a look at it!

Here's an overview of the front of the lot. This pathway here, that is Old House Lane. You can see you do have a neighbor on either side, right there, and on this side.But you’re going to have a really great spacing in between them and then right here behind this little hedge of bushes is actually an adorable little wetlands that has stunning marshmallow flowers in it in the fall.

This could be your driveway to your new home. I love to show you here, as you can see, how the land slopes up. So your house would really sit up here on this high ridge. Let's go check that out!

Here we are on the high ridge and you can see there's the marsh and the creek, and the Intercoastal Waterway that way. And let’s take a view here, there's the nearest neighbor on that side. Cute little Marsh or Wetlands right here in the front of your lot, gives you a great buffer from the roadway. Where your driveway could be, and your nearest neighbor on that side!

Here is the marsh view and it's hard to see from this low point, but the creek is right there, then the intercoastal, and those little dots way in the distance, that's Mount Pleasant.

Zoom in a little here you can see right there, those little peaks, that is the Ravenel Bridge. In the summer the sun is going to set over the Ravenel Bridge and you’ll get really great peekaboo views of the sunset from this lot

Walking back up through this home site from the wetlands just to give you an idea and you can hear how very loud it is out here.

One of the really great things about this home site is its proximity to everything that you need on Dewees. Right behind me we have what we really use as a helicopter landing field in case you have an emergency that requires a quick exit, it’s also our soccer field and it's also our Trunk-or-Treat field.

And then on the other side this is where you'll take your garbage and recycling. All of your Necessities for Dewees are located just across the street.

You’re only three homesites away from a community dock. Let’s go check that out!

Here we are at the Big Bend Dock on the creek and you could see how stunning this absolutely is. Pull your boat up here, go fishing, crabbing or just sit and relax. We do a creek float for the community every once in a while and this is the dock we end up on. I have to say it’s one of the most fun events that we do!

Just to give you another view of the community dock that's just a few home sites down from yours. This waterway will lead you out to the Dewees Inlet and the intercoastal.

Another great feature of this home site is its proximity to the ferry! Very easy to get construction equipment back here and easy for you to get to the ferry in case you're running late. Let me show you!

We are at The Landings building but I wanted to show you this view because it can be very similar to that lot. This would be your first livable floor space, so probably bedroom level. Then you can get up one more floor to really take advantage of the view of the Intercoastal Waterway. Then here is the creek that you'll also be able to see right off of your home site.

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/02/01/valentines-day-in-charleston/

Looking for some romance this Valentine's Day? Charleston has something to offer every couple, whether it’s your first date or your wedding anniversary. Stay tuned!

For those looking for a unique and memorable fine dining experience, look no further than Circa 1886. Located in the original carriage house of the historic Wentworth Mansion in downtown Charleston, Circa 1886 has long reigned as one of Charleston’s finest restaurants - a romantic backdrop for any occasion

If a quiet night is what you desire - you can curate the perfect meal by visiting one of Charleston's many butchers, seafood stands and wine shops. My favorite stop for a unique charcuterie board is Goat, Sheep, Cow. Call ahead and their mongers will create a custom board for you. and I would grab fresh oysters and fish from Abundant Seafood! They are locally owned and use the sustainable fishing method of a rod and reel.

Now After a busy day of romance, what better way to end it than to retire to one of the local hotels or inns? Even if you live here in town, a romantic evening may be just what you need. Some of the best places to stay in Charleston, include: a romantic luxury bed and breakfast like the John Rutledge House Inn. You could also select from the best boutique hotels in downtown Charleston, such as Zero George, the Vendue, or the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Much larger hotels in Charleston are also an option, including the Belmond Charleston Place.

If you’re looking for a spa retreat - I recommend the Spa at Charleston Place! They have two couples massage rooms! And a great relaxation lounge.

Let me know how you like to spend your Valentine's Day!

View the Video version of this Episode at: https://www.jenniferobrienhomes.com/2022/01/28/why-i-recommend-staging-to-sell-your-luxury-home/

Realtors who know how to sell million dollar homes must market them to a small pool of potential buyers, who are happy to wait until their perfect home hits the market or construct one that suits their needs.

The combination of staged room and professional photos really connect with potential buyers online. In fact, there are many folks “considering” a move but won’t pull the trigger till they see the right home online.

Staging is the process of preparing a property to sell. It involves using furniture and decorative items to convey the lifestyle a home’s potential purchaser can attain.

The goal is to show off a property’s most desirable features, dazzle potential buyers and leave them with a positive emotional impression. People buy on emotion and being able to “see” your family living in the space is essential!

I collaborate with staging experts to emphasize a home’s positive features and downplay its less desirable ones using these effective techniques.

We Remove Window Obstructions

Staging experts avoid obstructing windows with furniture and remove window treatments to ensure buyers appreciate the view's full impact.

We Promote a Lifestyle

Staging experts consider the entire package they want to sell when selecting furnishings and arranging them to suit purchaser's requirements.

Families with young children may appreciate a home with a cozy eat-in kitchen and pint-sized nook that looks out onto a sprawling, enclosed backyard characteristic of many homes in the community.

Alternatively, a business executive may respond well to a house that has a large outdoor patio with a comfortable dining table and striking city views, along with a soundproof private office that can accommodate advanced technology and in-person meetings.

We turn Negatives into Positives

Professionals who know how to sell million-dollar homes are masters as helping buyers see the potential in any home

A talented stager can distract clients from noticing the size of a small master bedroom by enticing them with a luxuriously conceived napping room situated off the bedroom or a balcony with a spectacular city and ocean views

We avoid over personalization

When it comes to staging a home, real estate professionals help potential buyers to envision themselves living in it by not leaving too many of a seller’s private possessions on display

Competition can be stiff and luxury buyers have very high expectations! The key to competing is professional staging because it creates online presentation, drives buyer traffic to the home and brings in offers!