Open houses (Columbia, Lexington: neighborhoods, buy, school districts) - Columbia - Lexington - Irmo - City-Data Forum

JEJA · 06-23-2008, 10:17 AM

We will be in Columbia July 19th or July 20th. I was wondering is there any source to find open houses that are available in the Richland 2 and Lexington/Richland 5 school districts? I have also heard Lexington 1 was good too.

I don't want to take a realtor's time up driving us from house to house since we are still in "if" we move stage. However, we are going to be in the area so we figured we should check the area out and us just going to open houses would a way to see what is available. We want to get an idea what the area is like, nothing like checking it out in the middle of summer

and what type of house we could get. We would be looking for a house in the $170,000 - $220,000 range with at least 4 bedrooms.

Also any areas that we should check out please let me know!

Thanks.

waccamatt · 06-23-2008, 12:29 PM

You might check The State Newsaper's website to see if any open houses are listed that weekend. You might also drive around areas that might interest you and look for open house signs.

ranger17 · 06-24-2008, 11:51 AM

we're actually planinng on doing the same thing during our visit in Sept; not for any specifics but to see how homes in SC compare to what we have here. Plus see in fact what our $$ could buy us. I've actually been on the paper's site, and it does look to be helpful. And I agree on not using a realtor-yet. If we know Columbia is the place we wanna be, and can narrow down the timeframe ( ie after the first hint of snow up here! ), then we'd go thru the process of finding a realtor to help us out.
thx

Brandon Hoffman · 06-24-2008, 02:46 PM

The State newspaper is the best source. Pick up a copy on Sunday and they'll be there.

JEJA · 06-24-2008, 10:35 PM

Thanks for the information. I guess we will go on Sunday since it seems that would be the day.

Would it be possible to tell what school districts the homes would be in or should we just be looking at certain communities?

ranger17 · 06-25-2008, 12:28 PM

JEJA--if possible, please post all your results..... especially if any have add'l garage space for a boat..... the legwork is appreciated!!

JK, good luck down there.

Brandon Hoffman · 06-25-2008, 04:48 PM

I appreciate you not wanting to waste an agents time but I'd actually say you should do the opposite. My professional opinion is just go ahead and contact a couple of agents and see who you click with.

The agent can give you a quick tour including showing a handful of homes in a handful of neighborhoods. The agents will be familiar with the area and can help you focus on neighborhoods as well as give you a little history on the area. Open houses are always a crapshoot in that you never know what you'll get and agents can handpick good homes to show you since your time is limited. It will be a chance also for you to give an agent a test run to make sure you click with them where you can start to build a relationship with them.

Just be upfront that you aren't sure if and when you're moving but that if you click you'll commit to working with them when you do move. As an agent, I'd much rather do that and have done that in the past.