Breakeven Horizon

Renting vs. buying - a dilemma for many interested in entering the housing market for the first time.  Zillow has compiled an index that calculates how long a person would need to live in a purchased home before buying it would make more financial sense than renting.  For people planning on staying in the same location for a few years - this is an important figure to understand.

According to the Zillow report, living in a home for at least 1.9 years would make it more financially advantageous to buy rather than rent. This number, the "Breakeven Horizon" of 1.9 years has remained unchanged since the end of 2014.

Out of the top 35 housing markets in the country - the longest Breakeven Horizon is 4.5 years in Washington D.C. and the shortest is 1.3 years in Dallas, Texas.

To read the full report and understand more about the Breakeven Horizon visit HERE

Upstate Receives Good Economic News

Dr. Joseph Von Nessen spoke to over 100 members and guests of the Western Upstate Association of Realtors on March 17th, providing and outlook on the South Carolina economy for 2016.

"If you liked 2015, you'll really like 2016," said Von Nessen.

Von Nessen shared information on the uniqueness of the South Carolina economy and it's increasing momentum.

For more information read coverage of the event by the Anderson Independent Mail HERE

Join Us This Thursday!

Join the Western Upstate Association of REALTORS this Thursday, March 17th for their quarterly meeting. Special guest Dr. Joseph Von Nessen will be giving a forecast of the 2016 housing market.

The forecast will cover:

• Recent statewide economic trends, regional growth patterns, and national statistics that impact South Carolina.
• South Carolina’s economic forecast for 2016 along with an assessment of the state's strengths and weaknesses.
• A review and forecast of the housing market in South Carolina
• Important indicators to be watching throughout the year as well as potential threats that may change the current outlook.

The meeting will be at Tucker's Restaurant on Clemson Blvd in Anderson from 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

If you would like to attend click HERE

Preparing for Tomorrow's Workforce

The future of South Carolina's economic growth depends on having an educated and trained workforce prepared to fill the positions that new industry brings to the state.  The University of South Carolina conducted a study on where current gaps are in the workforce and where they will be in 20 years.

According to Dr. Joseph Von Nessen, “Cluster development and a diverse economy are important components in helping to bring good jobs to South Carolina, and identifying any existing mismatch between the educational requirements of these jobs and the current educational profile of the workforce is a necessary first step towards ensuring that South Carolinians are equipped with the necessary skill sets for these jobs."

To read the full article visit the link below.

Filling the Gaps