National Open

In Darlene Bolletino’s opinion, swinging open the doors of a house for anyone who wants to look inside is a case-by-case decision.

The Miler Properties agent is choosing to do so in one instance this weekend, for a two-story home on Legends Oaks Golf Club west of Summerville.

In this case, the homeowner is moving back to Minnesota and is looking to increase traffic through the handsome home, Bolletino says. “I felt with this situation, the newspaper promoting it, we’ll get a good weekend,” she says. Who knows, maybe someone will be interested enough to buy the house, located at 155 Legend Oaks Way.

The Legend Oaks house will one of many single-family homes, condos and townhomes on the market that will be open for public inspection at least some of the time this weekend.

National Realtor groups are sponsoring an open house weekend across the country today and Sunday. Offered in conjunction will be the Lowcountry Open House Weekend. More than 190 homes are signed to take part, says Brenda Jaicks, real estate and automotive advertising manager for The Post and Courier.

“There is an incredible range of property participating in this weekend, at a variety of price points,” says Jeremy Willits, 2010 president of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. A searchable list of participating homes is available at www.LowcountryOpenHouseWeekend.com.

Lowcountry Open House Weekend is a partner in the Nationwide Open House Weekend, which is a collaborative effort sponsored by Realtor associations around the nation. Realtors from more than 20 states plan to take part in the special open house weekend.

Willits says that the local real estate market is benefiting from interest rates remaining at historically low levels and median home prices holding steady at affordable levels.

Homebuyers still have time to take advantage of one-time tax incentives. For qualified buyers, there is an $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time buyers, and a $6,500 credit for current homeowners. To be eligible, buyers must enter into a contract to purchase a home by April 30.

“This weekend is an excellent opportunity for potential homebuyers and current homeowners interested in a new home to take a look at what their options are and potentially benefit from the homebuyer tax credit,” Willits says.

Real estate agents and home sellers are participating from all over Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston counties and in nearby areas.

One open house example: a two-story brick house on James Island with crown molding, high ceilings and a decorative well along the front walkway. The four-bedroom 2,584-square foot house, with two full baths and two half baths, is priced at $515,000. It is at 934 Compass Point in Stiles Point Plantation.

Ursula Erichsen, a Realtor with Carolina One Real Estate, is the listing agent. She is participating in this open house weekend “to showcase her clients' home to as many potential buyers as possible,” says Kim Young, also with Carolina One. Erichsen will be hosting the open house Saturday and Sunday 2-5 p.m.

Bolletino, meanwhile, is hoping for a solid turnout at 155 Legend Oaks Way, which is about a block past the neighborhood clubhouse and the pro shop for the golf course. She can be reached at www.homesbydarlene.com or at (843) 209-8955.

The three-bedroom 2,500-square-foot house, priced at $339,500, is located on a third-acre lot. Constructed in 2002 by national builder Saussy Burbank, the house has a vaulted ceiling in the family room and a full complement of kitchen appliances.

“It’s beautiful back here,” she says.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com