Q: How Did Shandon Become the Vibrant Community It Is Today?

Here’s a brief history of one of Columbia’s vibrant neighborhoods: Shandon. 

Shandon (named after Shandon, Ireland) is the first developed suburb in the Columbia area and remains a very popular neighborhood to this day.

In the late 19th century, what we now know as Shandond was nothing but rolling farmland, but development started in 1893 when three lots were established by the Columbia Land and Investment Company. In 1909, Shandon was incorporated as a town, and the next year a streetcar line was built, which spurred further growth.

Homes started sprouting up all over the palace as Shandon became popular, and many of these homes were owned multi-generationally. Parents passed them onto their children, who then passed them onto their children, and so on. By the time the Great Depression arrived, many homes were sectioned into multi-family rental properties, and in the 1950s, these properties became ideal housing among college students (mostly from USC).

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 Shandon is a vibrant multigenerational neighborhood with excellent property values. 

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During that last decade, Shandon was considered an older neighborhood—many residents were at or near retirement age. The close proximity to urban areas and amenities attracted young families, though, and as more and more of them moved into the area, they renovated houses, improved yards, etc.

Skip to the present day: Shandon is a vibrant multigenerational neighborhood with excellent property values. Some of those old duplexes and quadplexes are still there, ready and waiting for the next wave of college students.

Stay tuned for more videos where we’ll spotlight the history of the great city of Columbia. Remember, if you have any real estate questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.

Q: What’s Made Holly Cook’s Career Skyrocket Since Joining Us?

Agent Holly Cook’s experience working with our team.

Today I’m joined by Holly Cook, the newest agent on The Lance Woodley Team, for a wide-ranging interview about her experience working with us. We’ll talk about why she made the move from part-time to full-time and why she’s been so successful in the month and a half she’s been with us. We’ll also share the benefits of working for a team brokered by eXp Realty.

Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety, or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure:

1:01—Holly’s previous experience working as a part-time agent

1:38—Why she made the move to full-time

2:23—Why her first month on the team was so successful

3:32—Why she now has more free time and security

5:03—The rewards of working at eXp Realty, where agents help each other and opportunities abound

7:18—Wrapping things up

If you have questions about any of the topics we touched on during this discussion, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to help.

Q: What Do Real Estate Transactions Look Like in This Pandemic?

Here’s why COVID-19 may have helped change real estate forever. 

Even amid the pandemic, some people still need to buy and sell houses. Folks moving into our area for work need housing and folks who have similar motivations for leaving need to sell their properties quickly. It’s truly surprising how many transactions we’re doing right now; I initially expected things to come to a screeching halt.

The pandemic has pushed the future into the present. What do I mean by this? Well, we’re doing everything virtually, be it presentations, consultations, showings, or virtual tours. More and more buyers are becoming dependent on these virtual tours to quickly and effectively narrow down their options on the market, and some buyers are even buying online—excellent photos and a drive through the neighborhood are enough for some to put in an offer.

If you need to sell, we can set up a meeting via Zoom to help you determine the value of your house. Though it may not be a physical meeting, all of your questions can still be answered, and our ability to deliver professional insights remains the same. I don’t think this industry-wide shift into virtual operations will revert back once the pandemic ends. Simply put, the use of virtual platforms has made real estate transactions more efficient from top to bottom.

The pandemic has pushed the future into the present.

For instance, if you’re looking to buy, we can send you all of the houses that meet your parameters. We can discuss the terms you like, run a full comparative market analysis, and do our own little virtual appraisal of the house. As the process moves along and you decide to sign on a house, we can send you digital documents via DocuSign. Though we’d be happy to meet with you face-to-face once this health crisis subsides, my point is that everything can be done from the convenience of your home computer or laptop; the real estate game has changed. 

I’m assessing the market day by day and taking a very cautious approach. I can honestly say that the market is still doing very well, at least for us. Houses are selling quickly, some even generating multiple offers. There are a lot of buyers out there, all equally driven but each with their own motivations. 

If you’re thinking of buying or selling soon, or you have any questions about our market, please give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to hear about your unique situation, address your concerns, and get to work making your real estate dreams a reality.