Derek's Blog

Derek Heppe of RE/MAX Beach & Country Earns

Real Estate's Premier Residential Construction Certification 

Andreas Zink/RE/MAX Beach & Country is proud to announce that Derek Heppe has completed the real estate industry's most comprehensive residential construction course to earn his national certification as a Residential Construction Certified^TM professional. With this certification, he joins a group dedicated to providing the highest level of professionalism and service. 

"This course is recognized as one of the very best ever offered in real estate," explains Mr. Heppe. "The training covered architectural design and planning, blueprint reading, topography, building site design, evaluating quality construction, materials, methods, construction terminology and scheduling. I'll be able to do a much better job of assisting anyone interested in a brand new or existing home." 

"I'm excited to have more of our associates earning this certification," explained Andreas Zink of RE/MAX Beach & Country. "This knowledge provides a foundation that allows them to communicate more confidently and professionally with buyers, sellers, appraisers, inspectors, lenders, designers, engineers and construction professionals. This expertise positions them to better help their customers make their best decisions." 

Completion of the Residential Construction Certified^TM training involves over 10 hours of interactive computer-based course work, successful completion of a workbook and a 90% or better score on the certification test. The course was created by Dennis Walsh, CNHS, CSP, who is recognized internationally as a leading authority in all aspects of new home sales and residential construction. 

Mr. Derek Heppe is active in real estate and works in the Myrtle Beach & Surrounding areas of the Grand Strand. He also holds designations including GREEN (Specializing in Green Real Estate and Existing Home Retrofitting), CREN (Certified Real Estate Negotiator), has earned a CRS scholarship and is recognized as a leading sales producer. He can be reached at (843)655-5777 or you can visit his website at http://DerekHeppe.com

When shopping for a home in the real estate market many buyers and sellers are confused about short sales.  Many buyers are seeing very low  listing prices and make an offer only to find out later that the home actually wasn't able to be sold for the listing price.  Short sales have to be approved by the mortgage company even after the seller accepts an offer from a buyer.   The short sale process can take between 30-90 days to close on a property and many times the offer price will be countered by the bank prior to acceptance of the offer later on in the process. 

Many times you can get a good deal buying a short sale property. But you have to be willing to wait out the process and be prepared that you may not get the property.  There are ways to avoid short sales that are not "Lender Approved". Talk to your real estate professional and ask the right questions...for example:  "Is this short sale Lender Approved?" (meaning the bank has agreed that the property can be sold as a short sale).   Work with a company who has dealt with short sales and someone who can help you through the short sale process.

If you would like additional information concerning short sales, please contact me at (843)655-5777 or email me at derek.heppe@remax.net.  I am proud to say that RE/MAX Beach & Country handles and specializes in short sales and foreclosures and that our broker holds the Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation  as well as the REO Designation. 

There has never been a better time to get more bang for your buck when it comes to buying Myrtle Beach Luxury Homes.  Some Luxury Homes have even been purchased for .50 cents on the dollar!  Real Estate tends to run in a ten year cycle...7 years up three years down. Eventually every market goes up again and usually exceeds the prior cycle.  Guess where we are in the Real Estate cycle in Myrtle Beach?  Yes, you guessed it, in the third straight year of a declining market!  What does this mean for people who can't afford a Million Dollar home?  It means they don't have to have a Million Dollars to purchase Million Dollar Myrtle Beach Luxury Homes.  For example:

This property located in the Grand Dunes, is a high end, Myrtle Beach Luxury Home valued at $1,181,300.00 but is currently listed for $795,000.00.

             


Another property located in the Grand Dunes was sold in 2007 for $859,565.00.  It's now listed at $569,000.00!   With the quality workmanship and classy surroundings, this Myrtle Beach Luxury Home will have incredible value when the market recovers.

            

For Grand Dunes and Myrtle Beach Luxury Homes information: http://derekheppe.com/Myrtle_Beach_Luxury_Home.php

No one knows how long the market will remain in it's current state, but if history holds true, we will be on our way back up soon.  Interests rates are still incredibly low so it's a great time to make a move on one of these high end, Myrtle Beach Luxury Homes.

In addition to homes, I have seen Luxury Condo's in Myrtle Beach sell at very low prices as well.  One example is a property I was trying to help a client obtain that was purchased for $650,000+.  It was a short sale(which can take 30-90 days to close), but the bank finally made a counter offer of $350,000.00.  Talk about built in value! 

Anyway, if you are thinking about buying a "piece of the beach," contact me anytime.  We will be glad to help you with all of your real estate needs.  If you want to search for some of these great deals you can also search the MLS and Myrtle Beach Luxury Homes at my website at http://DerekHeppe.com.  You can add as little or as much as you want to your search criteria.  Once you find a property that looks interesting...call or email me and I will happy to provide you with additional details.  When you are ready to start looking at a few, I will be glad to set up showing appointments and we can begin narrowing your search.

If you don't have time to search for one of these properties yourself, send me a few specifics and I can help you narrow your search.

-Derek Heppe
 RE/MAX Beach & Country

As a Realtor, one of most common questions I'm asked is, "How much are my Mortgage Payment and Closing Costs going to be?" One of the most important steps in purchasing a home is getting pre-qualified and finding out how much you can afford to pay before you begin looking at homes. This will give you the general price range that you need to stay within and give you confidence knowing that you qualify to buy a home.  Additionally it will speed up the buying process and many times can help you get a better deal on your new home.  How so?  Because if a seller is able to see that you are already qualified they may be more willing to accept  a lower price feeling more confident that the sale will go through.  No one likes their home being off the market for 30+ days only to find out the buyer couldn't qualify for the loan. 

Why else can this step important?  If you are interested in investment properties, many times banks who sell foreclosures require a pre-qualification letter or proof of funds to be submitted along with the offer.  

There are a few banks that still have interest rates below 4.85 % with only 10% down, even on a second home or investment property.  On FHA Loans interest rates starting at 4.5 % with 3.5% down and a relative can contribute towards the down payment and closing costs up to 6%.

If you would like addition information, please contact Derek Heppe at derek.heppe@remax.net.  You can also find other buyer and seller information at my websites:  DerekHeppe.com

Derek Heppe
RE/MAX Beach & Country
Direct Line: (843)655-5777

Derek Heppe of RE/MAX Beach & Country Earns

Real Estate's Premier New Home Sales Certification 

Andreas Zink of RE/MAX Beach & Country is proud to announce that Derek Heppe has completed the real estate industry's most comprehensive new home sales course to earn his national certification as a Certified New Home Specialist^TM. With this certification, he joins a group dedicated to providing the highest level of professionalism and service to builders and new home buyers. 

"This course is recognized as one of the very best ever offered in real estate," explains Mr. Heppe. "The training covered architectural design and planning, blueprint reading, topography, building site design, evaluating quality construction, materials, methods, construction terminology and scheduling. We also studied successful buyer/builder relations, all aspects of customer service and the use of various organizational tools and systems. I'll be able to do a much better job of assisting anyone interested in a brand new or existing home."

 "I'm excited to have more of our associates earning this certification," explained Andreas Zink, of RE/MAX Beach & Country. "Knowledge is power, and I believe this training really sets our people apart when it comes to helping builders market new homes and home buyers make their best decisions."

Completion of the Certified New Home Specialist^TM training involves a total of over 20 hours of interactive computer-based course work and a 90% or better score on the certification test. The course was created by Dennis Walsh, CNHS, CSP, who is recognized internationally as a leading authority in all aspects of new home sales and marketing.

Mr. Derek Heppe is active in real estate sales and works in the Myrtle Beach & Grand Strand areas.  He also holds designations such as GREEN, CREN & RCC, has earned a CRS scholarship and is recognized as a leading sales producer. He can be reached at (843)655-5777 or view his website at http://DerekHeppe.com .

RE/MAX Beach & Country

2310 Hwy 9 E, Suite 201, Longs, SC 29568

Weatherstrip and caulk your windows- 

By doing this you will decrease the amount of heat loss that escapes through these unsealed sections.  It can make a dramatic difference in your energy bill.

Change out your light bulbs to CFL or LED light bulbs-                                          

CFL and LED light bulbs last a lot longer and can reduce your electric bill.

Insulate your hot water heater and exposed pipes-

A lot of heat is lost outside of the walls of your hot water heater.  By insulating it and the hot water pipes leading out of it, you will save money because your hot water heater wont have to work as hard.

Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators-

This will reduce your water bill significantly as less water is wasted.  Another thing to keep in mind is to shut off the water while brushing your teeth.

Start a compost pile-

Instead of throwing everything in the trash, make a compost pile somewhere in your yard.  You can use this for future use around plants and gardens.  

Paint using low or no VOC paint-

Many paints contain compounds that release harmful gases into the air even after the paint is dry.  By using low or no VOC paints you can reduce or eliminate these harmful volatile organic compounds(VOC). By doing this you will have better Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and can possibly improve your family's health.

Collect Rainwater to water plants-                                                   

You can collect rainwater easily from your gutters by putting a barrel at the bottom of your liters.  Then you can put a spicket at the bottom of the barrel to use the water.  There are other methods of collecting water as well.

Strategically Plant Trees-

Tree's contribute to better air quality and can also provide shade which can reduce heating costs.

This is the first of a series of articles on ways to live a greener lifestyle.

Find out more energy saving tips and information on Green Real Estate at http://Green30.net

What a pleasure it was to attend the first National Association of REALTORS, Core Green Designation Course In Orlando Florida.

Living a greener lifestyle is essential to preserving our environment.  And one of the best thing about it is the fact that there are so many benefits.  There are tax benefits, special loan programs, reduction in energy costs, health benefits and much more.

For builders, buyers are willing to pay more for a Green Home, because of the long term savings created.  In the long run they end up saving money.

I look forward to becoming the Myrtle Beach and Surrounding Area's agent of choice when it comes to purchasing a Green Home or property with "sustainable" features.

Although the Myrtle Beach area does not have as many Green Homes as some other area's, the number of builders who are are planning on building green homes and communities is increasing. I look forward to helping our area stand out when it comes to Green building and education.

If you have a moment please visit my website http://DerekHeppe.com/, for more information on ways to live a greener lifestyle or for help in finding Green Real Estate in Myrtle Beach or the Grand Strand Area.

Remember, always work with a Realtor who is a qualified, Green professional who has been educated if you are in the market for a green home. 

Carriage Lakes is a hidden gem in Little River just outside of North Myrtle Beach. 

This community features a large catch and release fishing lake for the homeowners. If you are looking for a well kept community right outside of North Myrtle Beach this is a great option. The Playground is great for the kids.

The Pool Area is well thought out.  It overlooks the lake and has ample space for lounging.  It features showers & bathrooms.   

I currently have a listing in Carriage Lake, it is MLS #819890.  It has 4 Bedrooms and 3 Full Baths and is listed at $250,000.00. It has a lot to offer: A Carolina Room, Vaulted Ceilings, Security, Irrigation, Patio, Garden Tub and Separate Shower, a Two Car Garage, an Open Floor Plan and more.

Take a look at the following Virtual Tour:

http://marketing.remaxdesigncenter.com/05/62805/682116/

Feel free to contact me any time if you would like additional information concerning Carriage Lakes.

Purchase A Home With The Heppe Team And A Contribution Is Made To Children's Miracle Nework.

Children's Miracle Network is the alliance of premier children's hospitals. Every year, Children's Miracle Network hospitals treat 17 million children for every disease and injury imaginable. Children's Miracle Network hospitals impact the lives of more children than any other children's organization in the world. Children's hospitals provide state-of-the-art care, life-saving research and preventative education for children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is a Children's Miracle Network hospital dedicated to serving children in every community across the United States and Canada. These hospitals are committed to providing the best care for children when they need it.

Your support of Children's Miracle Network helps ensure that children have the specialized care they need and deserve.

If you would like further information about the Children's Miracle Network visit:

http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org/index.php

If you would like to purchase a home through The Heppe Team, please visit my websites:

http://TheHeppeTeam.com/  and http://DerekHeppe.com/

Thank you for your visit.  Come again soon!