Like most things in 2020, the start of a new school year looks a little different this year for the students at Coastal Carolina University. Unlike previous years, the freshmen class will move onto campus without an official orientation, which showcases many of the school's significant highlights. As a Coastal alumnus, I've put together a list of my favorite spots to check out around campus. Click here for a map of the campus to guide you around to each of my favorite spots.

Last week on Living Local Carolina, we dove into Carolina Trust's Auto Loan options. As people are beginning to go back to work and school, we know that obtaining a means for transportation is becoming more prevalent, and we're here to help!

Purchasing a home is a huge milestone in many people's lives. It can be intimidating; I know it definitely was for me as I first began the process. Luckily, with the help of the mortgage team at Carolina Trust, I was able to put my worries aside and enjoy embarking on the journey of house hunting and purchasing my first home. 

Everyday people secure home improvement loans for a wide variety of reasons. Some feel they need to upgrade rooms or build an addition for resale value purposes. Others want to improve the quality of life experience of living in the space. The different goals make it nearly impossible for someone to definitively say that one way or another is the best way to utilize home improvement loans. That’s because it really comes down to maximizing the benefit you want. But for argument's sake, let’s consider two tracts about “best” uses — lifestyle and return on investment (ROI).

At its core, the concept behind home equity is a simple one. It’s a term that describes the difference between the fair market or “appraised” value and the outstanding balance of any and all loans that you may still owe. If your home was worth $200,000 and you still owed $100,000, for example, the equity on your home would be $100,000.

If you are dreaming of owning a home of your own, but are intimated by the home-buying process, don’t be! While there is a lot of paperwork and verification involved, it really is not as difficult as you may think. In fact, if you work with the right team of real estate professionals, including an experienced realtor and a reputable credit union or bank, the home-buying process is really a breeze! 

As you may know, Carolina Trust has recently partnered with WBTW News 13's Living Local Carolina show for a Financial Friday segment. During one of our recent Financial Fridays, we had the opportunity to visit one of our members' beautiful home in Murrells Inlet, SC and talk about Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit with our Mortgage Loan Officer, Kelly Rowland. 

Your home-buying experience should be an exciting time, yet the process ahead is not without its drawbacks and potential problems. For many home-buyers, failing to do enough research at the beginning of the process can lead to problems down the road, and in real estate those problems can be costly.

Planning for hurricane season and other potential natural disasters can be stressful, and doing so during the COVID-19 Pandemic adds new levels of preparation to consider. In these stressful circumstances, having quick access to supplies, finances, insurance, medical, and other personal records is crucial for quickly and efficiently, starting the process of recovery. Collecting and securing these items now will give you peace of mind in the event of an emergency. It will ensure that you have everything you need to start the recovery process without delay. With two tropical storms, Arthur and Bertha, emerging before hurricane season even begins, we want to make sure you have the information that you need to be prepared. Here are a few tips to get you started: