If you are looking at the many new homes in Sumter, SC, you may have noticed that new home construction is in demand as home buyers wake up to the benefits of owning a new home. People these days have enough to worry about. They don’t need to add home repairs to the list.

New construction offers a number of benefits. Unlike historic homes—which are beautiful and nostalgic—new homes don’t require significant upkeep and constant repair. They are built using the most up-to-date construction technology, meaning there’s less chance of costly repairs. Not to mention, new homes can be just as whimsical and authentic looking as a real historic home.

New homes are also more energy efficien...

Finding a prime South Carolina investment property is the latest trend in investment options. As the market continues to be unpredictable, more and more people are looking into investing in something tangible, something that they can see and know won't lose value within months of owning it.

But what is considered an investment property? Investment properties are usually pieces of real estate that are not occupied by the owner, such as a home, an apartment building, or a store front, and brings profits or income through rent or resale.

Buying one of these properties is a great way to generate passive income. Many investment property owners make a quick buck by improving the propert...

There are lots of South Carolina farms for sale right now. This is great news because everyone dreams of living on a beautiful South Carolina farm. Yet, many people give up on this dream because they think they can’t afford a farm in South Carolina or they don’t know how to find the right farm for them.

 Finding a farm to purchase and making it your own is easy when you have the right agent. The majority of agents specialize in residential real estate in urban or suburban areas. When you’re looking for a farm, you need an agent that specializes in rural land properties instead. Luckily, Hilton and Company does it all. We can help you find a beautiful southern home in a picturesque town...

The real estate market is primed for those looking to invest in South Carolina land for sale. The list of reasons to invest in this available land just continues to grow and the savviest investors aren’t willing to let this opportunity pass them by. However, some still need a little nudge in the right direction.

Reason #1: Land Values are Affordable

Right now, rookie investors should definitely take advantage of land prices. A market like this one may not resurface for a long time. Not to mention, when you purchase land at a low price, your potential profit is automatically increased. If you invest in a slow market, all you have to do is wait for it to recover in order to turn a prof...

Suburban life isn’t for everyone. That’s why so many home buyers want Lancaster, SC land for sale—or whatever their choice location—so that they create a dream home away from the hustle and bustle of town.

How is that possible? Because land is more affordable right now. People want to live closer to their activities and conveniences as gas prices continue to rise. As a result, there’s less demand for real estate outside city limits.

But just because you live in a more rural setting, doesn’t mean that you have to live in the dark ages. You can build a beautiful custom home on your new lot and you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a high class suburban neighborhood. You just won’t have...

The amount of Cherokee, SC land for sale is diminishing by the minute. Why? Because hundreds of business savvy buyers around the state are taking advantage of this exciting time in real estate to make a big land purchase. If you’ve always dreamed about owning land, now could be the time to make your move.

However, lots of people dream about owning land. But they don’t follow through on it because they wouldn't know how to manage all of the acreage if they had it. After a few weeks of ownership, most land owners don’t want to explore every inch of their wilderness for a second time. And when you’re putting hard earned money into something, it’s best if you can get a little bit of money ou...

Developing an acreage in South Carolina is a pretty overwhelming task for many land owners. Developing land—whether for commercial, personal, or industrial use—can be costly and time consuming. However, the finished results can be very rewarding.

Anything that’s worth doing is worth doing well.  Developing an acreage doesn’t have to be an all-consuming endeavor. The way to make land development successful, efficient, and affordable is to work with professionals that are experienced and great at what they do.

Hilton and Company can help you find the acreage you need for a development project. But our involvement doesn’t have to stop there. We have found a very rewarding niche in consulti...

Looking for Clarendon, SC land for sale? Finding land is easy. But finding the piece of land that’s perfect for you is another story. If you’re looking to purchase land in Clarendon, you need to follow these simple steps to simplify your search and find the perfect piece of land fast.

First, find an agent that knows the area and is experienced in land sales. Many agents have their individual areas of expertise and you’ll want to work with one that knows the ropes when purchasing land specifically in Clarendon.

Second, you need to determine your budget and wish list for your land purchase. Discuss these items with your agent to learn if your budget is adequate to achieve all of the point...

Many buyers believe that they’ll be better off if they skip the agent or broker and dive into their land search alone. In fact, there are numerous benefits of working with South Carolina land brokers when you decide you want to purchase acreage for yourself. It’s their job to make your life easier and your land search a success.

South Carolina land brokers know the business of buying and selling land better than anyone. They know how to find the type of land you’re looking for—even if you don’t know yet! They make the searching process more efficient and effective. After all, there are thousands of acres out there that you could potentially purchase. It would take a lifetime to hunt thro...

With so many houses on the market, many buyers might think it’s silly to build a new home. But many families are still building new homes in Sumter, SC. Just because the economy is suffering and the housing market is in a slump, you shouldn’t have to settle for anything less than exactly what you want. If you can’t find your dream home among the houses on the market: build it.

Many potential home owners are concerned about the costs associated with building their home from scratch. However, the cost of building a home varies widely depending on the kind of home you want. Materials, size, style, and countless other elements can influence the cost of your new home. But as materials become ...

If you’re looking for timber or timberland, you’ve come to the right place. Those looking for South Carolina timber for sale have a friend in Hilton and Company. We know everything you need to know about purchasing South Carolina timber or purchasing your own land to get in on the timber business.

Timber is an important industry in South Carolina. This beautiful state has some of the best pine forests in the country and for years, it has been a way for locals to support themselves and their community. However, the South Carolina timber industry becomes more commercialized every year and those who wish to preserve this rustic profession for the locals are getting in on the business.

Timb...

Most buyers think that land is expensive and that you have to be rich to own lots of acreage. In fact, it’s easy to get cheap land in South Carolina. Buying and owning cheap land is all about location, location, location.

In certain parts of the country, land is more valuable than the houses people build on them. In California, for example, premium land can cost millions for just a few acres. And this land doesn’t have any magic powers. This isn’t the gold rush.

It’s all about supply and demand and that is exactly why living in the American south is ideal for land owners. Lots of available land means that costs stay low. South Carolina is a beautiful state with a diverse landscape and a...

13 Documents You Should Have Before Buying Country Property

By Curtis Seltzer on April 17, 2008

1. Copy of the seller's deed with the boundary description.
This description may be found in an earlier deed, which is referenced in the seller's deed. The deed may include the price the seller paid for the property, or tax notations, such as deed stamps, that would allow you to calculate the price.

2. Topographic map with boundary lines drawn on it, taken from seller's deed description.
Use this map to locate boundaries on the ground and find your way around unfamiliar terrain. If a recorded survey is available, make a copy for your files.

3. Recorded documents, in addition to seller's deed....

Should you buy property without legal access?

By Curtis Seltzer on October 27, 2009

I learned this week about 150 acres that was priced at about $300/A. It seems to have a lot of merchantable timber, more than enough to cover the cost of acquisition. But I haven't had a chance yet to confirm that prospect. It did have two problems.

First, it came burdened with a conservation easement that prohibited any residential construction. I could live with that in a timberland investment. Second, however, was disclosure that it had no legal access. Is being landlocked a deal-killer?

Well, like so many other things, it depends on the particulars. These no-access deals can be winners or absolute ...

Fourteen Numbers You Need to Know Before Buying Country Property

By Curtis Seltzer on March 18, 2008

1.  Acres.
How many acres will the seller convey to you, physically on the ground and legally in his deed?  These numbers should be the same, but are often different.

A surveyor can plot the seller's deed description on a topographical map that you can use in the field. The plotting will determine exactly how many acres the seller can convey to you by deed and whether the deed description closes.  If the drawn boundary does not close, there's an error in the description. It's not uncommon to find either more or less acreage on the ground than in the deed.

2.  Tax-assessed value.
What is ...

Timberland investing: Different ways to make a future buck

By Curtis Seltzer on November 17, 2009

It's been almost impossible not to make money in timberland for the last 100 years. Whatever type you bought, the only trick you had to know was to hold it for a long time. The trees grew, increasing the volume of valuable timber. The trees upgraded themselves from small-diameters tosawtimber diameters, and when this "in-growth" threshold was cross it multiplied a tree's value per unit of volume many times over. You could cut some trees at the top of the stumpage cycle if you needed cash. And, finally, the dirt itself - often called "bare land" - appreciated as our population grew.

The "st...

Get-in price is key to making money in land when the future is uncertain

By Curtis Seltzer on November 10, 2009

During football season, we are bombarded with "analysts" telling us that the key to victory for one team or another is the offensive line, or "making plays," or winning a match up, or controlling turnovers, or remembering that the "other team puts its pants on one leg at a time just like us."

Only one factor determines a winner in football-which team scores the most points. One analyst summed up his insight into a game between two low-scoring NFL teams: "Points are going to count in this one." Can't quarrel with that. This commentator appears to be paid real dollars for his w...

Three cheap ways for land sellers to improve their marketing

By Curtis Seltzer on October 18, 2008

The devaluation in real-estate values that began in metropolitan areas in 2007 with over-valued residential properties is starting to roll into the country. Sales seem to be slowing.

Sellers lower their asking prices to move their properties in a market that's turned against them.

A cut in price will have more impact on buyers if it's packaged with three trust-building gestures that position them to make a deal.

1. Provide complete property information.

I advise sellers to put together a packet that includes the following:

• Seller's deed with boundary description. If the seller did a...

Browse: Home / Land Investing / Funding Your Land Investment

Funding Your Land Investment

By Robert King on September 10, 2009

How will I fund a land investment?
Those beginning the process of purchasing land usually have a general idea of how they plan to pay for the investment. However, I have seen many buyers change their method of funding because they became educated on an option that was previously unknown to them and offered them some distinct advantage. Some may simply not understand the process or what they can afford. Following is a brief explanation of the most commonly used methods to fund land transactions.

Cash - Most land transactions that I work with are cash transaction...

By Curtis Seltzer on July 14, 2009

LandThink posted my weekly "Country Real Estate" column last week that discussed a low-cost, low-tech approach to estimating a property's current market value using, what I call, tax-assessed value (TAV) analysis.

This approach adjusts a property's TAV up or down in light of recent sales for similar properties to find current market value. TAV analysis is not an appraisal or a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA). It doesn't try to find a target property's value by tweaking the specifics of recent comparable sales.

It starts with a base-line valuation (provided free via periodic reassessments for tax purposes) and calculates an adjustment factor based on...