Shawna Woodward

Shawna Woodward

Best of Real Talk Real Estate: Homeowners Insurance Woes

In recent months, I’ve noticed some concerning trends affecting homeowners across the country. You may have faced increasing difficulties in obtaining and retaining your own homeowner’s insurance. These challenges have become particularly pronounced, affecting both new and existing homeowners. After witnessing the rising insurance costs firsthand, I felt we could all use an update on what to expect moving forward. One of the primary issues homeowners face is the rising cost of insurance premiums. Several factors have contributed to this increase, including, a rise in natural disasters, a rise in

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Consumer Stories

Real Talk Real Estate: Inside Scoop: Custom-Built Homes on Acreage in Appling, GA

Are you yearning for a little piece of land in a great area that you can build your own customized home on? Tired of dealing with your HOA and living a sneeze-shot away from your neighbors? Well, I have the scoop on a few great off-market options owned by Greenhead Homes. Let’s explore why you would consider moving to Appling. Appling offers a unique blend of rural charm and convenient access to amenities. It’s a community where you can enjoy the great outdoors, whether it’s boating on Clarks Hill Lake

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Shawna Woodward

Best of Real Talk Real Estate: Navigating the Home Inspection: A Guide for Buyers

The home inspection is a crucial part of the home-buying process, impacting both buyers and sellers. While it can be one of the more stressful steps, especially after the physical demands of moving, it’s essential for ensuring that your new home is safe and sound. In my 20 years of experience, I’ve never seen a home inspection that didn’t uncover something. Understanding the terminology and the process will help you make informed decisions without unnecessary worry. When you receive your inspection report, you’ll see terms like defective, deferred maintenance, monitor,

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Consumer Stories

Real Talk Real Estate: Unlocking Real Estate Secrets: 3 Top Googled Questions Answered

We all do it, take all our questions about real estate to the infamous Google! Initially, they mostly revolve around the same topic everyone is curious about: “When is the housing market going to crash?” Frankly, I’m a bit tired of that one, so let’s talk about a few other commonly searched questions. Can You Sell a Property After Probate? This is a common question, but not one many people are familiar with. Probate is the legal process of settling a deceased person’s assets and debts. Depending on whether there’s

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: How School Choice and Ratings Influence Your Home-Buying Decision

When buying a home, specific needs often narrow down the selection. Key factors include community amenities, the home’s size, proximity to work, and features like a garage or yard. One often underestimated element that significantly impacts property values and choices is school zoning. School choice and school ratings profoundly influence lifestyle choices, purchase locations, and homeowner happiness. Since back-to-school posts are flooding our feeds right now, I thought we could talk about how compelling this factor is when it comes to buying a home. Homebuyers are no longer merely checking

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Shawna Woodward

Best of Real Talk Real Estate: Accelerate Your Equity: Smart Strategies to Pay Off Your Mortgage Quickly

Congratulations to all those owners out there who still have super-low interest rates! You have managed to survive this crazy real estate market unscathed, but why stop there when you can leverage this opportunity to build equity rapidly and position yourself for future financial gains? In this article, we’ll explore savvy strategies to pay off your mortgage loan quickly, maximize your equity, and prepare for a potential surge in home sales and prices when interest rates inevitably come back down. Let’s start with the obvious, making extra payments towards the

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Homeowners Insurance Woes

In recent months, I’ve noticed some concerning trends affecting homeowners across the country. You may have faced increasing difficulties in obtaining and retaining your own homeowner’s insurance. These challenges have become particularly pronounced, affecting both new and existing homeowners. After witnessing the rising insurance costs firsthand, I felt we could all use an update on what to expect moving forward. One of the primary issues homeowners face is the rising cost of insurance premiums. Several factors have contributed to this increase, including, a rise in natural disasters, a rise in

Read More »
Shawna Woodward

Best of Real Talk Real Estate: Selling a home with pets

I hope that we all share the love of a beloved pet or two. I can admit I am fully pet-crazed and love my fur babies like they are my children. My friends affectionately refer to me as the crazy cat lady! When I am helping buyers and sellers, pets often take center stage with their needs. Those who have pets want to buy a home with a fenced yard for the dogs or a screened porch for the cats. If you are a seller, you are concerned with what

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: CSRA Market Update

As of mid-July, the real estate market in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) is showing intriguing trends that are essential for buyers and sellers to understand. Current Market Snapshot Homes for Sale: 1,868 Homes Pending Sale: 1,168 Average Days on Market: 100 days for closed sales from April to June Percentage of Asking Price Received: 98.59% Sales Trends The first quarter of 2024 saw a robust 4,115 homes sold. However, the second quarter experienced a noticeable slowdown with only 2,378 homes sold, signaling a deceleration in spring sales. The

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Consumer Stories

Real Talk Real Estate: Rental Fraud: A True Story

Editor’s Note: It seems there is hardly a week that goes by that ABD isn’t writing about a new business starting up in the CSRA. Some of those employees are looking to buy a home and others are seeking rental properties. This seemed an appropriate time to feature a previous column written by Shawna’s daughter who had a rental experience worth sharing. Hi, Augusta Business Daily! My name is Leanna Woodward, yes Woodward, you read that right. I am the daughter of your favorite CSRA realtor and the usual writer

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