One might think that when you buy a Columbia SC home, your property taxes will be what the previous owner paid, right? WRONG!
When buying a Columbia SC home, your taxes will most likely be higher than what the seller of that house was paying.
Why Taxes May Be Higher on Your New Columbia SC Home:
When you buy a Columbia SC home, your new taxes will be based on the sales price. It’s common sense if you think about it. The sellers of the property probably paid a lot less for the house than you just did whenever they bought it (unless they bought it a year or two ago). Their taxes were based on that price, plus whatever the legally allowable annual raises in taxes were.
Once the city/county assessors office gets the paperwork on the new sales price of your home, the taxable value is adjusted and your taxes will likely go up.
Don’t rely on the current taxes advertised on a house to set your budget. Know what your taxes will be after you buy and you’ll be all set. How do you do that?
Try going to Google or Bing and finding your city or state’s property tax estimator. Try searching for “Columbia SC estimated property taxes.” If that doesn’t get you any results, try to search for a more specific query such as “Columbia SC estimated property tax” or “Columbia SC property tax estimator.” Keep trying, you’ll find it eventually.
Finding the correct property taxes you’ll be paying when you move into your new Columbia SC home is important. If all else fails, call the local Columbia SC assessor’s office and ask what your taxes will be based on the value you’re buying your home for.
If you’re our client and we’re helping you find the perfect Columbia SC home, we’ll assist you in determining what your new property tax rate will be. Just ask us. The last thing we want for you is to have budget shock when you get a property tax bill that is much higher than what you may see listed for taxes for a particular property.
There are many things potential buyers need to consider when they are ready to invest in Columbia SC real estate. For one thing, they have to consider whether this purchase will interfere with their current lifestyle because of the high payments that could come through mortgage payments, insurance coverage, taxes and so on. Furthermore, it’s important for the potential buyers to be open-minded in comparing buying a condo versus a single family house because there are differences.
First of all, ownership of any type of property can easily cause a lot of stress because of the various payments required of the buyer. They surpass the living expenses of a rental in most cases and the property will also bring on added responsibility. Some simply aren’t prepared for all these changes and stressful situations that can ensue.
Moreover, condo living is quite different from a single-family home in that the former is much like living in an apartment, sharing the space to some extent with other owners. In the case a single-family home, one has their own designated space that no one else has the right to.
Buying a condo is the right move for anyone who isn’t interested in any kind of maintenance whatsoever except for being responsible for their interior space, or their own apartment. Everything else is the responsibility of the entire group of owners.
Additionally, a buyer has to consider that there are fees involved in living in such apartments that are individually owned. These fees are for the maintenance whereby the funds are divided accordingly for the various tasks, maintenance and repairs to the building and the surrounding property.
Sometimes, these fees can be quite excessive depending on the services or privileges provided by the building, such as a pool, a gym, and so on. Upscale condos can have fees that can seem much like another mortgage payment whereas the smaller buildings without elevators can start from about $100 and go up. With the high fees, it’s important for the buyer to consider them before committing to purchasing a condo.
With regards to single-family homes, people are more at liberty to do what they want, how they want and when they want. While this is something many people aim for, there is a downside to it as well. For instance, they are responsible for the maintenance of the property such as mowing the lawn, pruning the trees and shrubbery, and so on. They are also responsible for roof repairs and any other type of repairs and maintenance for their own structure.
This can become quite costly especially when there is an emergency situation arises. Costs can be excessive.
When comparing the two, its obvious that condo living can be easier than owning a single family home, but it isn’t for everyone. In order to make the decision, simply look at the type of person you are, and how much time and effort you are willing to invest in your home.
Historical Columbia SC homes can be fascinating. The ones that have survived for many years can hold secrets and stories passed down for generations. One may decide to buy a historical house for many different reasons, from personal living to renovating for historical tours. When choosing a historical home for any reason, there are some things you should be aware of.
Some dwellings of this type can be too run down to renovate. If they are infested with pests, this could take major renovations and not be worth the cost or time to fix. The building could be so ancient that it will be impossible to bring up to modern day regulations. Investing in a home of this degree can be costly.
These old buildings sometimes will have no previous electricity and running water. Completely remodeling a house like this would be very time consuming and expensive. Of course you can pull this off if you are knowledgeable in extensive building or home improvements. Older homes were not built like newer homes today. Foundations may need to be completely redone to meet today’s codes and regulations. Hiring someone who specializes in renovations may be your best bet.
Another thing to consider is the planning and any city licenses you will need before beginning your renovations. Do you have the time and energy to plan all the reconstruction? You must have documents and sketches of what needs to be done. The whole process will be time consuming. Before buying the house take notes on any major repairs that will need to be done. Price these and calculate how much time and money this will cost. Decide on whether you can do the job yourself or if you need to hire a specialized contractor. What will fit in your budget? Maybe you can do some of the work while hiring a contractor for other projects. Also, a building planner or architect might be a good choice to consult.
Research the permits and zoning laws for this type of project. They differ in every county. The last thing you want to do is purchase a home that restricts you from renovations. There may be some sanctions against doing everything you have in mind. You need to be cautious of property taxes and the cost of permits and licensing for renovations. Check to see if any historical group has a lein on your new home. This may restrain you from performing the remodeling you would like to do. Historical groups can also require that a certain home be used for a particular purpose.
Learn the history of the house you hope to purchase. Learning more about the previous owners and what the house was previously used for can give you an idea for future uses. Many older homes will have an interesting story to tell. Do not get caught up in a home that may not be suitable because of its background. If the home you are considering has an unfavorable history you may want to reconsider purchasing this particular house. Perhaps the history is so compelling there is reason to consider turning it into a museum or another kind of landmark. When exploring the history of the home, you may find some facts that do not appeal to your family. Will this be a concern if you are purchasing the house as a family residence?
Choosing the correct structure to accomplish what you have in mind for the home is an important step. There are many different types of older dwellings. These include Victorian style homes, farmhouses on acres of land, and even older style business buildings. Look into several types before deciding how to proceed. Older homes can be found in town or out in the country. A long forgotten Mom and Pop shop or a soda jerk business may be just what you’re looking for. When searching for a place to restore and make workable once again choose the place that interests you the most.
For a residence, newer homes may not be your forte. Older homes with time and effort may be well worth the price and time needed. Many people disagree on the best way to restore older homes. The only way you can be absolutely be sure this is the step you would like to take is to study and research different methods. Historical Columbia SC homes can be revived into beautiful structures.