Tag: #realestate

How God Moved Us Back to Rock Hill, South Carolina

On By Team Carter FamilyIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Where’s Rock Hill? The South Carolina side of Charlotte, NC. It is a charming small town, only thirty minutes from a booming metropolis.

We used to live here for a little over a year with family, when our first daughter was born. We were two weeks out of buying a house and settling down here. Then that deal fell through and we had to walk away. Turns out, God had other plans for us and told us to move to Charleston, SC. (For the third, yes third time).

Charleston was a good, growing season. We lived near family. Saw old friends. Made new friends. Probably the biggest transitions for us in this season was adding two more kids into our family and David started his career in real estate. That is a testimony to God of how someone with zero sales and marketing experience and zero real estate experience (but with the confidence that God told him to walk into it and with a determined attitude and work ethic). Out of hundreds of applicants, he was one of the few that got the job with Jeff Cook Real Estate. It was amazing to watch him (as his wife and cheerleader) to see him progress from zero to being a top producer in the company in three years. Three years. That’s favor from following what God told him to do!

We were thankful to have had that season in Charleston, but the last year and a half or so, we felt like transition was coming for our family. We could’t articulate the where or why because we couldn’t see it yet.

At first, a job opportunity with the same company opened up in the upstate of South Carolina. We really, really wanted to say “Yes!” We drove up there twice that year to drive around, pray and meet with friends who were already living up there. We had friends. We had a job opportunity waiting on us. We had a church picked out. We would be 45 minutes from the mountains and our beloved Clemson. And still we felt God saying, “No.”

So we didn’t.

Instead, we welcomed our son into the world. We did the newborn season again and were so sleep deprived and busy we couldn’t do much else. It was wonderfully hard. So we gave up the dream of living in Greenville. Just gave it up to God. At the same time, we also didn’t feel peace about putting down roots in Charleston. We were in this weird transition place.

Then David says to me one night, “That’s so weird that Greenville isn’t lining up! I don’t know what God is up to, but I want to go work for my friend (at JCRE) and get some experience from him, so that I can pitch it to the boss in a five or so years: “Hey man, I’ve got all of this managerial experience now. So can I open up a branch for you in Rock Hill?”

Fast forward a few months.

We are driving to Rock Hill for Thanksgiving 2018 and as we are pulling off of the interstate to go to David’s parent’s house, we get a phone call from Mr. Jeff Cook, himself. He says, “I’m thinking about opening up a branch in Rock Hill…and I want you to be the guy.” (something to that effect).

So he/we of course say “YES!” to that question. We didn’t have to really think about it. God blew up our plans and suddenly provided the answer. Suddenly, after three short years, David found himself in a management position. In the next few months he transferred offices to gain some experience as the assistant manager of a branch. While that was taking place, a family member in Rock Hill had an opportunity open up for us to rent their rental property. Of course, these things coincided with when Jeff was planning to launch the Rock Hill branch. This meant that we could all move together as a family.

It was such a suprise blessing to see all of the pieces quickly line up after we said “Yes!” to where our peace was. Point being: GOD WILL MAKE A WAY, even if there seems to be no way. Just keep seeking Him and He will deliver, in His time and you will be exactly where He wants you to be.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” -Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV-

downtown Rock Hill at sunset (taken from the former JCRE Rock Hill Office, above Amelie’s) taken by yours truly

As an update, in Summer 2023, we are still growing and thriving in beautiful Rock Hill! How can we serve your family this year?

https://cartersellsthecarolinas.com/

New is Scary. Do It Anyway!

On By Team Carter FamilyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

He is making all things NEW.

New is different. New is scary. New is embracing change. New is exciting. New is “We’ve never been here before.” New is “Will this work out?” New is daring. New will never be the same. New is moving forward.

Since our last blog post (in woah, 2018! whoops…) there has been a lot of new going on around here.

New seasons. New job (same job, different place, different position). David is now the general manager of Jeff Cook Real Estate Company’s branch in Rock Hill. I will have to write about how God orchestrated all of that HERE (stay tuned) because it’s an awesome story of provision!

Watching the downtown Rock Hill Christmasville parade with the office, from the office 2019

Grady is now a toddler, running at full speed. Woah. I blinked and now the boy is 2! When people say, “the years go by so fast…” believe them, because it does.

In addition to a new job, new-ish town (things change so much in a short time-span of 5 years, but we are excited to be back in Rock Hill), new friendships and a new house! This house is so special and such a testimony to the Lord because it is the FIRST house we have ever bought. Ever. This house also fulfills a timely prophetic word that was given to us in May 2012, by Richard and Melanie Knight when they came to visit Charleston, South Carolina and it is spot-on what they told us so many years ago. Thank you for such encouragement back then Richard and Melanie! Here is the fruit of that word:

We closed Thanksgiving 2019

Then 2020 happened. That was all new. I don’t think I even have to cover what all has been going on there, but the Lord has given our family such PEACE. Peace over our home, relationship with neighbors, continuing friendships and for the first time in 20 years, ALL of David’s family is together again, all living in Rock Hill. For such a time as this.

So whatever your “NEW” is in this new, ever-changing, some would dare say crazy year we’ve had, step into it full-force! God will never leave you, or forsake you. He loves you, just where you are at. He sees you. He hears you. He’s not finished with you. He is faithful until the end!

” So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.” -Romans 8:28 (The Passion Translation)

And an added word of encouragement from Pastor Kris Vallottin: “and if it ain’t good, then He’s not finished with you yet!” (from a Bethel podcast sermon of the week).

We are rooting for you! Love, Team Carter

How can we help you buy or sell your home in South Carolina, or North Carolina? https://cartersellsthecarolinas.com

It’s A Christmas Miracle, the story of our second vehicle!

On By David CarterIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ever since David started his real-estate journey, approximately fourteen months ago, we have been a one-car family. Actually, upon reflection, we have not owned two vehicles since 2012. (His work van did not count as “ours”, although it was a blessing to have to commute with). Seeing that number of months is crazy to wrap my head around. I don’t know how we did it with two littles and two very different schedules. David and I have prayed for the provision of a second vehicle since October 2016. I suppose we are picky, because we couldn’t drive a clunker (not in the real estate business). It became a frequent saying of David’s because he had so much favor this year in real estate, he would tell his coworkers, “Hey man, if I can sell houses in a mini-van, what’s your excuse?” And the Honda Odyssey was (and is) serving us well. Our requirements for a second car were: it had to be big enough to fit 3 car seats (in case the Honda is ever out of commission in the shop) and it had to be new enough and reliable for David’s work commute and presentable to go to appointments. Also, David has a thing for Toyota 4Runners. We are also still making car payments on the Honda, so for our family, it didn’t make sense to take out a second car loan. Going into more debt just didn’t seem like the best option for us. No, we were not picky in the least…

Opportunities would come up to look for a car, or maybe put a down payment on something, but we kept hearing “wait…”

I am so grateful over the past fourteen months to have had rides from family and friends who were willing to take us to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store and run errands for us throughout that “waiting period.” I am thankful that we live a mile away from a CVS and Harris Teeter and two gas stations and a bank (if I needed to walk, I could). It made me exercise and get the kids outside. I am so thankful for our double stroller that enabled us to make those walks. I am thankful that there is a playground in our neighborhood and plenty of walking space to get us out of the house. I’m thankful for the mommies and littles of “The Mommy Group” who came to my house to entertain us weekly and help me keep my sanity. Most of all, I’m so thankful that God has given David an incredible work-ethic and an amazing job that has enabled us to put a down payment on a friend’s 2003, Toyota 4Runner and pay it off fully by Spring.

Many thanks to our generous friends who are letting us buy their Toyota, it is going to be such a blessing to us! Y’all have championed us while we lamented and dreamed of a second vehicle. You are awesome friends, who saw our need as a family. Now they are being blessed with a third car (and wanted to bless someone else with their Toyota) and they said they thought of us. We are so thankful for their generosity and friendship!

I’m telling you guys, the year is not over yet and God is still working! We didn’t have the money anymore for a down payment, when they proposed the idea of selling their car to us. I had no clue how we were going to save up again to find something at a dealership. I just figured we would have to “make due” and somehow I was hoping God would provide before the baby arrived. (Y’all, he’s coming in 2.5 months….that is crazy!)

To our wonderful Christmas surprise, family gave us money for Christmas and these friends blessed us with a great deal of a car! THANK YOU LORD! We have wanted this for so long!! And thank you, friends, who have stood by us in prayer for this last year as we were waiting and praying to find the “right car.”

We are thankful for so many things from 2017. Lots of things happened this year, but it was truly a year of “repayment for things that had been lost.” It was repayment and growth from 2011 when we gave up so much to “say Yes!” to volunteer missions. God has given us everything back and more that we “gave up.” And the best part? HE HAS EVEN MORE TO GIVE OUT. Not just to us, but to everyone who obeys what He says to do, in every season. In this instance, David gave up his green 4Runner back in 2010. Faith came “full circle” this Christmas and he now has another (even newer) one! We are still in shock…

So, are you ready for the blessings God will give you in 2018? We are. We hope that this year is YOUR BEST YEAR, YET!

With so much love, joy and hope, Team Carter

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