Columbia area BBQ

One thing that the south is known for, is their barbeque. Whether you are new to the area or have lived here for years and want to try something that you haven’t tried before in the area, or even if you are a visitor, the following is a list of delicious bbq restaurants in tthe greater columbia area. These restaurants have everything from ribs to pulled pork to hash and rice, fried chicken, pigs feet, fried fish, and much much more! You must check these places out, you will definitely be satisfied!

• Palmetto Pig                       Columbia, Irmo
• Maurices BBQ                     all over SC
• Farm Boys BBQ                  Chapin
• Little Pigs BBQ                    Columbia
• Hudson’s BBQ                     Lexington, Columbia
• Granny’s Carolina BBQ        Columbia
• Boars Nest BBQ                  Irmo           803-732-2272
• Dukes BBQ                        Orangeburg 803-356-4488
• Cannon’s BBQ&more          Ltl. Mountain 803-945-1080
• Belly’s BBQ                        Lexington    803-356-8284
• Shealy’s BBQ                     Leesville
• Big T’s BBQ                        Gadsen
• Piggie Shack                      Columbia   803- 691-4406

Exit Midlands Realty your Chapin SC Real Estate Network; We are your real estate experts for the Chapin, Newberry, Irmo and Columbia SC areas. Providing you the most comprehensive real estate site for all of Chapin and surrounding communities is our goal! (803) 345-6124. Brandon Liles – Broker Chapin Real Estate  [Web Integration provided by Real Estate Web Trainer.]

Columbia SC Real Estate for Sale

Columbia SC Entry Level Homes [under $125K]	Columbia SC Median Homes [$125K ~ $275K]	Columbia SC Upscale Homes [$275k ~ $550K]
Columbia SC Luxury Homes [$550K ~ $1M]	Columbia SC Million Dollar Homes	Columbia Homesites and Acreage for Sale
Columbia Real Estate; Homes for Sale in Columbia South Carolina. You have access to additional Property Searches such as, Columbia Entry Level Homes, Columbia Median Homes, Columbia Upscale Homes, Columbia Luxury Homes, Columbia Million Dollar Homes, and Columbia Homesites and Acreage in Columbia SC. Exit Midlands Realty also offers you access to Chapin SC, Columbia SC, Lake Murray SC, Irmo SC, Lexington SC, West Columbia SC, Ft Jackson SC, Forest Acres SC, Shandon SC, Newberry SC, Prosperity SC, and Saluda South Carolina. Call us for more information at (803) 345-6124.

56 Crystal Springs Drive Lexington SC 29073 – Home for Sale – Falcon Ranches Real Estate  

56 Crystal Springs Drive is located in the Falcon Ranches subdivision in Lexington SC.  This is a beautifully landscaped non-restricted 2 acre lot which has a country living feel yet it is close to all conveniences including 5 miles to the new Wal-mart on Hwy-6. 56 Crystal Springs Drive is currently zoned for award winning Lexington One School District. Spacious 3 bedroom 2 bath well-maintained home features molding throughout, Master Bedroom has a private bath with a walk-in closet, the other two bedrooms share a hallway bathroom. Extra large Living Room provides many options to arrange your furniture or have a separate area for an office. Separate dining area has glass sliding doors that open to the 24×11 screened porch with newly installed berber carpet.  This porch is perfect for entertaining or enjoying the peace and quiet of this great home.  20 X 12 wired and studded shed; 12X16 workshop, carport.

Many of the systems in this home have been updated including a new septic tank and lines in 2005, propane water heater and new roof installed in 2002; new AC/Heating unit system installed in 2001. In addition, a Home warranty is being provided for your peace of mind. Seasonally maintained riding lawn mower conveys w/property.

Property qualifies for 100% Rural Housing Financing.  Call Luz Bouleris at 803.210.9595 or Jim Bouleris at 803.807.8093 for more details! 

Search Lexington Homes   

Luz Bouleris – Columbia, Irmo, and Lexington, SC Realtor I specialize in Columbia, SC staging and digital marketing of homes as well as in Irmo and Lexington, SC resulting in faster and more lucrative sales.  I also specialize in guiding Lexington first time home buyers through the home-buying process.  I’m fluent in Spanish and I actively invest in real estate. Call me 803.210.9595 and let’s discuss how I can help sell or purchase your home.  Read some of my client’s testimonials

Recently I wrote a blog entry about the Sudbury Community Food Pantry and how those who are interested can help those who are in need helping make ends meet. Today I saw an interesting article in the WickedLocal.com entitled, “Sudbury coffee house show to benefit local food pantries”.

According to this article, the Women’s Alliance of First Parish Sudbury will be hosting a Coffee House and Open Mic on Saturday March 7 at 7:30 p.m. to benefit our local community food pantries. New England Weather and Terry Lockhart will be the featured performers for the evening.

New England Weather ins a Boston-based band and gets its name from the unpredictability of New England’s weather patterns. New England Weather is an accomplished band that covers a broad range of genres and styles during their show.

Terry Lockhart is a baritone soloist who forms part of both the First Parish Choir and the Halalisa Singers World Ensemble. With Steve Campbell on the piano, Terry is scheduled to perform a set of Cole Porter songs.

The Coffee House and Open Mike will be held at the First Parish of Sudbury, located at 327 Concord Road. This event will feature wheelchair accessibility as well as accessibility for the hearing impaired. The price of general admission is $12 and there will be refreshments starting at 7 p.m.

If you love live music, his is a great way to get out for a night of entertainment while helping our local food pantries.

To find out more about this event please call 978-443-2043 or visit the First Parish of Sudbury’s website at fpsudbury.org.

Click to read this article in its entirety at WickedLocal.com.

I was just wandering around online a little when I noticed that the Flatbread Conpany in Bedford, Massachusetts will be holding a fundraiser for Save A Dog. Save A Dog is a local all-volunteer, all-breed, canine rescue group dedicated to helping find homes for friendly dogs.

The Flatbread Company will be donating a portion of all their proceeds from pizza sales between 5 p.m. And 9 p.m. On Tuesday, February 17^th to Save A Dog. They encourage everyone to come on out and enjoy a delicios pizza to help benefit a good cause. There will also be a raffle as well as a Save A Dog retail table where attendees can shop.

Shirley Moore and her husband David Bernier founded Save A Dog in 1999, but it wasn not until last year that they were able to find a place from where they could run this all-volunteer organization dedicated to finding good homes for stray and unwanted dogs. Before they found their new locale at 604 Boston Post Road, they ran their operations from their home.

It’s good to see an organization that is not funded by tax dollars helping to reduce our stray dog population here in Sudbury and it is even better knowing that these dogs are not being euthanized, but rather, are finding great homes with local dog lovers who will love and caref or them.

I hope tha anyone reading this will be interested enough to visit the Save A Dog website to find out more about this worthy organization and maybe even donate some money or time to helping their cause.

Please click to visit the Save A Dog website and find out more about how you can help.

Please click to visit the Save A Dog store.

Exit Realtors from Columbia to Lexington SC gain an edge to compete Online – South Carolina Brokers facilitate Real Estate Web Strategy Training…

Exit Broker Craig Summerall joined by Ed Flowers, Brandon Liles, and Joe B. Nester held an Internet Strategy Training for their Real Estate Professionals in Columbia South Carolina. The training was enthusiastically attended by 25 Agents: Craig Augenstein, Julia Ayers, Ed Flowers, Evelyn Gibson, Tonya D. Graves, Mark Ilderton, Holly Kearse-Jolley, Brandon Liles, Meg Liles, Bill McCarter, Betsy S. Nagel, Ed Neeley, Ellyn Nester, Joe B. Nester, Joseph Piccinini, Nancy Pitts, Cathie Saucier, Paul Saucier, Lisa Sills, Renay Stewart, Mary M. Stuckey, Craig Summerall, Cat Thornton, Jean Toney, and Derrell W. Wells.

Real Estate and Internet Strategy are concepts walled-off by ignorance…; the 6-hour training, Real Estate Web Strategy, drives the essential idea that Realtors must create the conditions of organic connectivity with and for their clients wherever they happen to be… Success is driven by Real Estate Agencies that re-arrange their business model to such interactions.

	“Thank you for an unbelievable class yesterday! I have been “somewhat” in touch with technology over the years but you really showed me how far behind I have fallen. Your class was excellent and precisely what is needed to be competitive in today’s real estate market. The depth of knowledge and ideas you shared were priceless! Also, the specific plan of action to implement these ideas really sets you apart from all the other trainers. You have truly empowered me to get my real estate web strategy back on track!” – Ed Flowers.
	“Wow, does not begin to describe the high intensity learning experience you will receive by attending Key Yessaad’s web strategy training. This is the type of information that can be intimidating for agents and brokers alike. Key’s incredible knowledge and entertaining teaching style will break it down into small bites that everyone will be able to digest.” – Joe Nester.
	“The information was nothing short of astounding! I am consistently amazed at the progression technology makes and even better how we utilize these tools for our clients benefit. I know that all of the agents who participated, left the seminar more knowledgeable about how we can help our clients and increase our business! Thanks Key (again) for giving us a peek behind the web curtain!” – Brandon Liles.
	“Key, as promised your seminar today was great. As you know this is the second time I have attended this training and it was even more beneficial the second time around. It was great to see the excitement on the faces of the attendees and know that they are being empowered to move their career forward. I know I speak for my office when I say we can’t wait to have you back in March.” – Craig Summerall.
	“Thank you so much for yesterday! It was a really great session, and I told my husband last night that three hours with you flew by!! Thank you for keeping it interesting and fun. I got your message. I’m on the way out the door to meet with a client, but I do want to chat with you. I feel like I have a lot to digest. I’ve begun working on my bio, and I want to spend the next few days working on my “assignment” from you and reviewing the notes from your training session.” – Katherine Mappus.
	“Thank you for your enthusiasm and insight into the enigmatic world of web design. We look forward to putting in place a long term web strategy to increase our sales and Internet presence and will most assuredly enlist your expertise.” – Joseph (JP) Piccinini.
“I just wanted to e-mail you and let you know that I enjoyed your class yesterday. I have already started to work on all the information you gave us. I am so glad I had the opportunity to be there. I would highly recommend your class to any real estate agent that is serious about being successful in this modern market. I was totally confused about web sites until your class, and as you spoke it was like someone turned on the lights.” It clicked”. I now have a plan and will be busy implementing it. I just want to say again, Thanks for the knowledge that you shared with us, and for your willingness to even stay later than planned to share more. Thanks and May God Bless You in all you do Sincerely,” – Derrell Wells.
“Key – What a treat! Thank you! Thank you! So glad I attended! I left with the feeling I could reach the top of Mt Everest with my web page! Can’t wait till we meet again! Thankfully,” – Holly Jolley.

About the Trainer: Key Yessaad – Real Estate Web Trainer. To train, inspire, and coach Real Estate Professionals succeed is my passion. I have a niche area of expertise which is the combination of Real Estate Web Strategy, Consulting, and Systems Implementation… Inquire about the various Real Estate Training Seminars.

Lexington / Columbia SC MLS Search Pages Launched

Exit Real Estate Consultants, led by Craig Summerall, launches targeted MLS Search in the Lexington / Columbia region of South Carolina. The ease of access to all the properties for sale in the Columbia / Lexington is the driving force behind this major undertaking. The MLS Search allows Home Buyers to target their Home Search with the help of Maps and Criteria relevant to the needs of the Home Buyer. Visitors Can create accounts and save search Criteria and Properties that match their needs and share them with family and friends… just click on the links provided and start Search Homes for Sale from Lexington to Columbia South Carolina and everything town and community in between. We welcome your thoughts and comments…

Lexington SC MLS Search

Lexington SC Real Estate – Homes for Sale in Lexington SC. You will also find the following home searches, Lexington SC Entry Level Homes, Lexington SC Median Homes, Lexington SC Upscale Homes, Lexington SC Luxury Homes, and Lexington SC Lots and Land for Sale in Lexington SC. Other popular towns and areas for search: Lexington, Lake Murray, Irmo, West Columbia, Chapin, Gaston, Gilbert, and Columbia SC. Exit of Lexington SC. Call us for more details (803) 665-9516.

Lexington SC Entry Level Homes [less than $125K]	Lexington SC Median Homes [$125K ~ $300K]	Lexington SC Upscale Homes [$300k ~ $600K]
Lexington SC Luxury Homes [over $600K]	Lexington SC Lots and Land for Sale	Columbia Real Estate for Sale

Columbia SC MLS Search

Columbia Real Estate – Homes for Sale in Columbia SC. You will also find the following home searches, Columbia Entry Level Homes, Columbia Median Homes, Columbia Upscale Homes, Columbia Luxury Homes, Columbia Million Dollar Homes, and Columbia Lots and Land for Sale in Columbia SC. Other popular towns and areas for search: Lexington, Lake Murray, Irmo, West Columbia, Chapin, Gaston, Gilbert, and Columbia SC. Exit of Lexington SC. Call us for more details (803) 665-9516.

Columbia SC Entry Level Homes [less than $125K]	Columbia SC Median Homes [$125K ~ $300K]	Columbia SC Upscale Homes [$300k ~ $600K]
Columbia SC Luxury Homes [$600K ~ $1M]	Columbia SC Million Dollar Homes	Columbia SC Lots and Land for Sale

Irmo SC MLS Search

Irmo Real Estate – Homes for Sale in Irmo SC. You will also find the following home searches, Irmo Entry Level Homes, Irmo Median Homes, Irmo Upscale Homes, Irmo Luxury Homes, and Irmo Lots and Land for Sale in Irmo SC. Other popular towns and areas for search: Lexington, Lake Murray, Irmo, West Columbia, Chapin, Gaston, Gilbert, and Columbia SC. Exit of Lexington SC. Call us for more details (803) 665-9516.

Irmo SC Entry Level Homes [less than $125K]	Irmo SC Median Homes [$125K ~ $250K]	Irmo SC Upscale Homes [$250k ~ $500K]
Irmo SC Luxury Homes [over $500K]	Irmo SC Lots and Land for Sale	Lexington SC Real Estate for Sale

Lake Murray SC MLS Search

Lake Murray Real Estate – Upscale Homes for Sale over $300,000 in Lake Murray Lexington SC. You will also find the following home searches, Lake Murray Lexington Homes, Lake Murray Irmo/Chapin Homes, Lake Murray Newberry Homes, and Lake Murray Saluda Homes for Sale in Lake Murray SC. Other popular towns and areas for search: Lexington, Lake Murray, Irmo, West Columbia, Chapin, Gaston, Gilbert, and Columbia SC. Exit of Lexington SC. Call us for more details (803) 665-9516.

Lake Murray Lexington SC Homes for Sale	Lake Murray Irmo/Chapin SC Homes for Sale	Lake Murray Newberry SC Homes for Sale
Lake Murray Saluda SC Homes for Sale	Lexington SC Real Estate for Sale	Columbia Real Estate for Sale

West Columbia SC MLS Search

West Columbia Real Estate – Homes for Sale in West Columbia SC. You will also find the following home searches, West Columbia Entry Level Homes, West Columbia Median Homes, West Columbia Upscale Homes, West Columbia Luxury Homes, and West Columbia Lots and Land for Sale in West Columbia SC. Other popular towns and areas for search: Lexington, Lake Murray, Irmo, West Columbia, Chapin, Gaston, Gilbert, and Columbia SC. Exit of Lexington SC. Call us for more details (803) 665-9516.

West Columbia SC Entry Level Homes [less than $125K]	West Columbia SC Median Homes [$125K ~ $250K]	West Columbia SC Upscale Homes [$250k ~ $500K]
West Columbia SC Luxury Homes [over $500K]	West Columbia SC Lots and Land for Sale	Lexington SC Real Estate for Sale

About the Integrator: Key Yessaad – Real Estate Web Trainer. To train, inspire, and coach Real Estate Professionals succeed is my passion. I have a niche area of expertise which is the combination of Real Estate Web Strategy, Consulting, and Systems Implementation… Inquire about the various Real Estate Training Seminars.

According to an article that I have just read in wickedlocal.com, the Middlesex County, Massachusetts communities of Sudbury and Wayland are looking into ways that can help them to save some money. Two boards of selectmen and town executive officers met at Sky Restaurant last week to discuss some cost-cutting initiatives. The main topic of discussion turned out to be a new concept aimed at helping the two cities cut overhead costs, regionalization. Regionalization is a means for neighboring cities to share services and pool resources in hopes of cutting down on overall operating costs.

This article entitled, “Wayland and Sudbury look at areas where the two towns can share services” goes on to mention some of the services which could be shared by the two towns. Some of the short-term ideas discussed at this meeting were combining the transfer station operations of the two towns as well as sharing library services and recreation department administration programs and equipment. For the long term, Sudbury and Wayland would seek to develop alternative energy resources, share police services and collaborate on GIS data-gathering and Council on Aging services. Other potential services that the two cities would share in the future include sharing equipment, pre-season preparationof playing fields and coordinating summer programs. Some of these initiatives could potentially be financed by state or Federal grants.

There are those who think this would be a great way to help both cities save some of their budgets during these especially difficult economic times and of course there are detractors. I am sure that this would be welcomed by residents of both towns if, in fact, it can help them save some money on their property taxes, foer example. What do you think, would regionalization be a good idea for these two towns or should “business as usual” be the order of the day?

Please click to read this article in its entirety at wicked local.com.

]]> http://sudburyrealestate.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/sudbury-community-food-pantry/ Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:17:25 +0000 virtualresources http://sudburyrealestate.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/sudbury-community-food-pantry/

The current economic situation across the nation has affected many Americans.  Record foreclosures and a slowing real estate market have made for tough times for some of us.  Unemployment numbers are up and many are finding it hard to make ends meet.  Some folks have even had to resort to receiving support from places like the Sudbury Community Food Pantry.

For those who are not aware, the Sudbury Community Food Pantry has been helping those in need since 1990.  Their mission is to provide free food to anyone who needs it.  The food pantry is open to all who need food without prerequisites such as letters of referral or needs tests.  Folks who need a little extra support in order to make ends meet can stop by the food pantry located in the basement of Our lady of Fatima Church located on 160 Concord road and get a variety of different food stuffs and supplies at no charge.  Aside from Sudbury residents, the food pantry also serves more than twelve other towns nearby.

The Sudbury Community Food Pantry is a 100% volunteer organization and has never compensated any volunteers for their time or expenses.  Currently, there are approximately 75 active volunteers in the Food Pantry.

The Food Pantry receives donations from local schools, churches, synagogues, businesses and organizations that provide services.  It is open for food distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. are always accepting donations

These are indeed trying times for many and it is times like these that test the mettle of any community.  These are times when we come together in order to overcome obstacles and prosper as a community, together.

If you are interested in donating food, please contact Ed Gottman, the Sudbury Community Food Pantry Director by calling (978) 443-9233 or you can send an e-mail to riddlered@aol.com.  The Food Pantry will pick up donations at your home or office for those who are not able to drop them off personally.  The Food Pantry also accepts cash donations as well.  You can also contact Ed Gottman if you are interested in volunteering to help the Sudbury Community Food Pantry.

Great Lexington SC home for sale

REMARKABLE! All brick home in great condition in unique Wise Ferry Plantation subdivision. Wonderful master suite is located on the first floor and has trey ceilings, walk in closet, and a whirlpool! Lovely hardwood floors in the formal dining room, great room, and entrance. The cozy Florida room is heated and cooled! The back yard is fenced and ready for a new family! This home is a MUST see! $ 232,500.00 2372 Sq FT with 4 bedroom 2.5 baths

Directions are Hwy 378 west, Right on Wise Ferry, Right into Wise Ferry Plantation, Right on Blaine Lane.

This community was built with mint tulips in mind on a hot summer afternoon. All the lots are spacious and most ot the homes (not all) have in ground pools. There is a shared pond. The feel is just right. Tucked away close to Lexington and Great Lexington One schools.

The prices range from 232,500.00 to 249,900.00 currently per MLS. Historical values dont show anything but great appreciation.

My Daughters friend lives in here and they have play dates regularly. So I am in and out of this great community weekly. Everyone always smiles and waves and the children are always playing in the drives. I know my daughter loves it there (they have a pool).

Contact me to look at this or some of the other great Lexington SC homes for sale.

More reviews here.

Gilbert SC homes for sale. Gilbert SC lots for sale

Enjoy your wrap-around porch on 1.99 ACRES near dining, shopping, & schools! Quality new construction home by local builder in Lexington 1 school district! Many upgrades include GRANITE counters in kitchen & all baths, smooth top stove with microwave built-in, granite surround fireplace, energy efficient windows, stone accents on exterior and walk in closets in ALL bedrooms. Come see & customize today! Listed at 182,900.00 with 1949 Square feet 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. Per CMLS on 8/22/08

More Reviews are here

While reading CNNMoney I ran across their “2008 Top 100 Best Places to Live” ranking.  As it turns out, Franklin Township in Somerset County, New Jersey has ranked number five out of the 100 best small cities in America.  That is a very impressive standing in this important ranking.  So what factors helped Franklin Township rank so highly?  Affordable housing, great schools, plentiful job opportunities, low crime rates, median household income and overall quality of life.

Franklin Township has a wonderful school system.  Whereas the average school in the U.S. spends an average of $6,058 per student*, Schools in Franklin spend an average $9,511 per student*.  Approximately 95% of Franklin Township students graduate High School.  There are a total of 86 colleges, universities and professional schools within 30 miles of Franklin Township as well as 27 junior colleges and technical institutions.

Unemployment in Franklin is approximately 3.10% and job growth is positive at 16.06%.  Employers in the area include high tech, pharmaceutical, research and development companies as well as several educational institutions such as Princeton and Johnson Medical School.

The average household income in Franklin Township is $98,066, considerably higher than the Best Places average as well as the national average.  This is more than enough to afford the average priced home in Franklin ($319,000).

Overall, Franklin Township is a great place to live.  There are plenty of green and open spaces including a 65-acre “primeval old-growth forest”.  It is a great place to raise children and I am glad to see it in Money’s list of America’s best small cities.

Congratulation Franklin Township and Franklin Township residents for having fared so well in this year’s Top 100 Best Places to Live.

Click to read this article in CNNMoney.com

* Figures from Sperling’s Best Places

 Lexington SC Homes for sale

WOW! WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!!!!!!

I have friends that live here as well and I enjoy there social party’s. There home is a revolving door of neighborhoods children. Everybody knows everybody! If you are looking for and executive style community this is it. Gated, Community pool and large lots boast this wonderful Lexington neighborhood.

Lexington SC homes for sale

There are currently 9 homes listed on 7/23/08 with a price range from 315,000 to 479,000.

Historical data show sales have been strong and the sales prices are around $100-$125 Per square

Price ranges from 135,000 to tops of 194,000 and no current listings.

Nice little community if you are lucky enough to find a sleeper here for sale.

Current as published at 379,000.00 Elegant brick home on a cul-de-sac in a very established community – quality built by Barry Davis in 1994 – 4BR plus FROG – extensive hardwood & tile floors – huge formal DR – columns between formal LR & DR – beautiful private lot w/many HW trees.

When thinking of selling, obviously the price of your Columbia SC Real Estate house will come into question and come into your mind. People will first think that they should price their house a little high so there is a bit of ‘wiggle room’ in your Columbia SC Real Estate home. That trick is old, has been played completely, and these days, buyer’s have too many options to play.

If you still decide to price your house above current market value, here is an idea of some of the pitfalls you may face in selling your Columbia SC Real Estate home.

Fewer Offers on your Columbia SC Real Estate home:

Overpriced properties tend to discourage buyers from making an offer. The difference between market value and your list price tends to discourage buyers from making an offer. They believe you are less likely to negotiate and will move on to the next property.

Fewer Showings on your Columbia SC Real Estate Home:

We all know that showings are the bread and butter of selling your home. Without showings, you will have no offers, and you will not sell your Columbia SC Real Estate. If the house is over priced, why would someone look at it? Would you?

Loss of Prospects from Advertising:

Buyers that learn of your property from Advertising, the sign, etc will be discouraged when they believe your Columbia SC Real Estate home is over priced. This leads to a decrease in interest, and a home that wont sell.

Financing Problems on your Columbia SC Real Estate Home

If someone does actually buy your house above market value, you better hope they are using all cash. A lender will not lend money on a house that is worth less than their buyer is paying for it. At that point, you’ll have to bring the house down to market value.

Price Reductions on your Columbia SC Real Estate Home

The more time your home sits on the market, the more likely you’ll be to have to reduce the price. Reduction in price just shows buyers you are desperate. So why do it? List your Columbia SC Real Estate home properly and have it sold!

Less for YOU on your Columbia SC Real Estate home

As your home sits on the market, longer and longer, the more likely you will be to take any price on the home just to get rid of it. Your spirit will be broken. Not to mention, those months of payments you have been making, the interest, taxes, insurance you have been paying. It all adds up after a while.

If you are thinking of selling your Columbia SC Real Estate home, be smart, list it at a price that will sell the house. Don’t get greedy thinking that you will get more. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on pricing your Columbia SC Real Estate.

I have spoken about foreclosed Columbia SC Real Estate Property before. Many times. I have spoken of some Great Investments in Columbia SC Real Estate.

However, I want to put it in plain English.

Buyers, I have deals on Columbia SC Real Estate!

There, I said it. I have deals. I don’t know how else to put it.

I had Columbia SC Real Estate Buyers purchase a piece of Irmo Property for $105,000. It is worth $180,000 after they do about $10,000 worth of work. I had a buyer purchase a Quail Valley property for $130,000 worth $184,000 after they put in an air conditioning unit. These are just 2 of the NORMAL deals my buyers are getting.

Are you in the market for a house? Now is the time to buy. We have never had this much inventory on the market as we do now. Banks are slashing prices, owner occupants are slashing prices on Columbia SC Real Estate.

I am not trying to sound like a used car commercial. Believe me. That is the last thing I want to do. I want people to know that they can get Columbia SC Real Estate at a steal right now.

Whether you are a normal, owner occupant purchaser, investor, or a mix of the two, now is the time to purchase Columbia SC Real Estate.

We all know about the theory of Supply and Demand. This is what the Columbia SC Real Estate Market is going through right now. Currently, there are more houses on the market than the demand for the houses. Therefore, the prices are being decreased to the point at which they will sell.

Not only are we seeing this with bank properties (Columbia SC Real Estate Foreclosures). We are seeing this in owner occupant homes as I said above.

So what are you waiting for?

Columbia SC Real Estate

I will probably ruffle some feathers with some of my colleagues on this one, but hey, that is good sometimes!

So, you have this great piece of Columbia SC Real Estate and you decided to sell it. You opened up Google, asked a friend, or looked in the phone book and found a Columbia SC Real Estate Agent. They came over, stroked your ego a bit, listed your house, threw a sign in the ground, and went back to work at Red Lobster.

Does this sound familiar? When was the last time you saw your Columbia SC Real Estate Agent? Got a phone call? An email? An offer?

Things are different. No longer can you throw a sign in the yard of Columbia SC Real Estate and expect it to sell with the MLS alone. It takes some elbow grease.

Well, now you are in a contract…What do you do?

There are a couple things to do.

As a side note, any client who hires me can fire me at any time if they feel I am not up to par. I have had no one fire me yet. I even write it in the contract!

First off, tell the Columbia SC Real Estate agent, “You’re Fired”. You have now become Donald Trump, congrats!

That agent may say something like, “Oh, but we have a contract good until 2020!”

At this point, I would contact a Columbia Real Estate attorney. I am not an attorney and am not giving legal advice. See if you can legally cancel the contract you have with the agent without their express permission.

If you are having problem getting through the agent’s hard head, contact their Columbia SC Real Estate broker. In South Carolina, the broker owns the listing, not the agent. Explain the problem, see if they will cancel the listing agreement.

IF no avail, withdraw the listing off the CMLS. This will stop them from advertising the property for sale. It will still be listed by them, but not be on the CMLS.

Finally, do what you must do. Contact the attorney again, have a letter sent…this should do a job. Nobody likes to sue anyone, but people like to be sued less.

Selling Columbia SC Real Estate takes more than just throwing a sign in the ground and putting the house on the MLS these days, it takes an agent with a marketing plan. It takes a Columbia SC Real Estate agent working. Imagine that, some agents work!

First and foremost, ask the agent to write in the contract language that allows you to cancel the listing at any time. I allow it. I do not want to work with someone who is not happy with my performance.

There are many great agents out there, it is up to you to make sure you find the best Columbia SC Real Estate agent for your needs!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

I am sure you noticed.  It is HOT AS HECK out here in the Columbia SC Real Estate Market.  With the temperatures hitting 100 or better, there are some things you need to be doing!

I am sure by now, SCE&G is smiling because you are running your Air Conditioner non stop trying to keep cool while the oven outside is ever lasting.   With these thoughts in mind, I have some energy saving tips.

First off comes your Air Conditioner.  That thing here in Columbia SC Real Estate we call a necessity, or a gift from God.  Have your coils cleaned and your freon levels checked.  If need be, have a couple pounds of freon.  This alone could save you a decent amount on that power bill.  Along the same guidelines, turn the air warmer.  Keep it 75-78 when your home, and turn it up when you leave.

Nothing is better than coming home from work after a long day and drinking a nice cold drink.  I completely agree!  However, do you need that extra refrigerator in the garage?  If you really do not need it, turn that thing off!  It could save you up to $150 a year!

Adding window shading, whether better blinds, curtains, or tint can save you up to 5% over a years period by keeping your house cooler.  What about those doors that you leave open so the dogs can go in and out?  Close them!

Weatherstripping around any doors and windows in which you can see light will keep your Columbia SC Real Estate running efficiently.  If you have single pane windows, think about switching them over to double pane.  While this is costly, not only will it save you money, but when you decide to sell your Columbia SC Real Estate, it will make your house worth more money!

These are just some simple tips to keep your bills down and value up!

What I have found out, it is not important to be first in Columbia SC Real Estate. Don’t take me wrong, being first is great, but it isn’t everything.  The most important thing is learning.  Learning new things, bringing it to your clients to better their houses, etc.

Today I was reading the Real Estate Radio USA Blog where I am a Columbia SC Real Estate contributor, and I saw a blog post by a great friend of mine, a Boston Real Estate Agent by the name of Mike Lefebvre, or as we like to call him, Mickey Fever.  Mike wrote about a great new tool that YouTube has put out, an annotation tool.

Here is a video to show you it in action:

There are a lot of great applications for this.  It reminds me a lot of “Pop Up Video” VH1.

Well, some ideas for Columbia SC Real Estate marketing come to mind first.  Not only can it make my virtual tours more fun, but it can provide useful information.

By now, most of you realize I love Columbia SC Real Estate Foreclosures and other investment deals.  I have clients all across America interested in many of the deals, as well as many in the Columbia SC Real Estate market.

I am big into wasting no ones time.  Some of you have seen my videos of houses that I do for some of my buyer clients.  If you want me to take video of a house before you see it, I do it.  It won’t look great, but it helps weed out the ones you are not interested in saving YOU and me time.

Well how about this: In the video I can now annotate what needs to be done to an investment purchase.  Ie: Has a “Brady Bunch Kitchen”, needs new floors, hole in wall etc.  Also, I can point out the features in videos on Columbia SC Real Estate listings, ie: beautiful Brazilian Cherry Floors, granite counter tops, tile bath.  Things you may not notice.

All in all, the annotation tool is a great thing which will save time for you and many buyers when purchasing a piece of Columbia SC Real Estate , not to mention, its just fun as well.

A friend of mine just had foreclosure action filed against them. Their names and address will not be added to these posts.

Unfortunately in Columbia SC Real Estate, there are a lot of people in the same boat. New proceedings filed every day. Some I feel sorry for. This is one of them.

They called me to set up a meeting. We spoke and I advised them of the best action, a Columbia SC Real Estate Short Sale.

They are working with me very well. I had them get all their financial documents, hardship letters, histories, bills, etc together. I contacted their bank with permission to act on their behalf. Their bank is willing to work with us, which is definitely a great thing.

Tomorrow I will show their house to a prospective investor. This house has nearly $40k in equity in it to be had by a smart investor. Better yet, the clients are interested in renting their Columbia SC Real Estate back, and purchasing it back when times are better.

They will not have a foreclosure on their credit. Why you may ask? They asked for help from an experienced Columbia SC Real Estate Agent.

These clients do not want to give up and just turn their house back to the bank after a foreclosure sale. They are willing to stand up, and help the bank get some of their money back instead of creating more Jingle Mail for the bank. This is a great thing.

I will be writing about this as it goes.

I realize that this is a tough time for many people within the Columbia SC Real Estate Market. Having financial stress just adds to that. I understand it is embarassing to say the least. Ask for help before it is too late. I am NOT trying to sound like one of those commercials for a personal injury lawyer. I am being completely honest.

IF you are in a hard spot with your Columbia SC Real Estate, do not hesitate to contact me.

I was just reading Wicked Local Sudbury online and I saw an interesting article entitled, “Combating purple loosestrife“.  According to this article, Curtis middle school students who attend Paula Feynman’s 6^th grade science class are attempting to bring some balance to the area’s wetlands by reducing the number of purple loosestrife therein.  Using monies from grants and an award, students are undertaking a biocontrol project to help reduce the number of purple loosestrife in our wetlands.  Paula Feynman received a Sudbury Education Resource Fund (SERF) grant in 2006 and is using it to fund the “Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project.

Students, with the help of landscape designer, Sue Roth and Andrea Kozol, who is doing her doctoral thesis on raising beetles, have set up a simulated wetland site in order to experiment with galerucella beetles.  Both Sue Roth and Andrea Kozol are parents of students who attend Curtis Middle School.

Other grants Feynman received went towards teacher training in incorporating technology in the classroom and purchasing a computer-modeling program the student would use to create a model of their simulated wetlands.

The Department of Coastal Zone Management had to approve research site for this experiment and students had to receive permission from the school, their parents, the Conservation Commission and the Sudbury Water District had to approve the land use for the experiment.

Parents volunteered by helping to dig up the loosestrife bulbs in the simulated wetlands and helped sew netting together that would be strewn over the plants so the beetles would not escape.  Once the beetles were more mature they were taken with the bulbs to the wetlands where the netting was taken off.  The goal of this project is to create a balance between the beetles and loosestrife.

I thought this was an ambitious project undertaken by our adolescent citizenry that will serve to help all of our great community.

Click here you would like to read this article in its entirety.

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Let’s take a look, by area, at the Current market stats for Columbia SC Real Estate. The info listed is from March of 2008 and is compared to March of 2007. The below is for single family homes.

Irmo (MLS Area 1)

Total Units Sold: 108 -27.1%

Average Price: $170,000 +1.2%

Units on Market: 660 +51.9%

synopsis: Values rose slightly, more than 25% less in sales, twice as many homes on the market currently. 6 Months of inventory on market.

Lexington (MLS Area 11)

Total Units Sold: 122 -31%

Average Price: $177,000 -4.5%

Units on Market: 782 +48.9%

synopsis: The Lexington market is down in value and units sold and has nearly twice the number of single family houses available over last year. 6 months of inventory on market.

Northeast Columbia (MLS Area 4)

Total Units Sold: 189 -32.1%

Average Price: $180,000 +.16%

Units on Market: 1273 +53.4%

synopsis: Less homes sold, slight increase in value, more than twice the houses available on the market.

These cover the 3 prime areas of Columbia and will give you a good idea of what is going on in The Greater Columbia, SC Area.

In my opinion, what is going to drive your house to sell is Pricing and Marketing. With obviously A TON of houses on the Market in Each General Area, there is more need to get your house in front of people.

First off, this post celebrates one month of My Real Estate Blog for the Columbia SC area.

We all remember the great story of the Tortoise and the Hare. At least, that is if you were paying attention in pre-school.

Pretty much in a quick synopsis, the Hare (rabbit) thinks he can win through finesse…while the tortoise thinks he can win through a good hard try. In the end, the tortoise wins.

Now most of you believe that tortoises are slow…they aren’t. Put some food at the end of the race…and they are fast as heck! (I keep tortoises).

So which one are you? Which one is your Real Estate Agent?

I pondered this all day….do I try to win by finesse or a steady approach? I do both I believe.

In this digital world, we have to know what is going on at each minute. I am constantly connected through my Blackberry, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Active Rain, blah blah blah. I am connected.

Also, I am the hare when it comes to marketing. I will market your house digitally to the rest of the world. That is how buyers find houses!

The tortoise is more intriguing to me. He wins in Aesop’s Fable, but did he do it the best way? If the Tortoise and the Hare teamed up…what would happen. This would happen! Everything would come together, the clouds would open, the perfect storm would happen, and your house would be sold quick and for the amount.

Long are the days gone when a sign in your yard will sell the house. Web 2.0 will sell your house, technology will sell your house.

If you are intersted in what other Real Estate Agents believe is technology…take a look at the video. (No, I am not Realtor bashing, I would never do that…this is just an Idea of what the Tortoise or the Hare will do alone).

NO…really. An All in One printer, computers, and Type Writers. What happened to Social Media Marketing…PDF Email formats etc….

This is why you hire a Real Estate Agent which is a combined figure of the proverbial “Tortoise and Hare”

Wow, are we lucky. Believe me, this market, this city, this town is extremely lucky.

Columbia, SC, as I have stated before, has never been a Boom market. We have not been hurt by the way of a massive dump of foreclosed properties, your property values are still rising. The one problem that we do have is the massive amount of inventory on the market. We are no where like Florida, California, or many of the other places which are being hurt…but we do have a lot of inventory on the market.

This creates a GREAT opportunity for many buyers, which we call investors. If you are an investor, you can skip this paragraph. Investors, which you have seen on programs like “Flip This House”, “The Real Estate Pros”, etc are people who purchase a house to make money by selling it or ‘flipping’ it. There are a couple of people in Columbia that do this, but not that many.

Housing investments can be very lucrative, but at the same time they can kill you financially. Below I am going to put some investment tips and ideas on whether you can invest in homes.

Obviously, when it comes to anything you are purchasing, “cash is king”. Many investors use cash, loans, HELOC’s, or Unsecured lines of credit to purchase homes. Many of the homes they purchase are foreclosures or short sales.

Most everybody knows what a foreclosure is. Many people in Columbia, Lexington, Chapin, and Kershaw are loosing their houses to foreclosure. While I believe this is very very sad, it presents and opportunity for investors to make money. Here is a past post about foreclosure and investments I have written.

Distressed properties tend to be less expensive than their competition because the banks want them gone…they are not in the property ownership business, but are in the business to lend money…therefore they want to get rid of these houses to get the money back to lend more.

What to look at if you are a first time investor (very simply put):

First, do you have access to the money to make the purchase? If yes, go to step two.

Second, do you have access to the money to Rehabilitate the property. Most foreclosures are sold ‘as is’ and will need some work. This may be minor, this may be major.

Third, can you afford to sit on the house? This is usually termed “carrying costs”. This can include the mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and anything else that you have to pay for while the house sits.

Fourth, is there enough money to turn a property…does the property cash flow? If not, why would you do it unless you are planning to live in it? Does it cash flow after Realtor fees, rehab fees, carrying costs?

The above thoughts are very very basic and rudimentary. There are many more things to ask yourself, talk with your Agent about, and consult your financial advisers about. One must look at more than just the money….especially time. How long, if you are flipping, will the house sit on the market? How long, if you are renting, will the house take to be rented? How long will it take to rehab the house?

When making an offer, there are also many other items to ponder such as: How long has the house been on the market. This goes with all houses. For example, at Wal Mart…they have a ‘widget’ on the shelf for 3 months at regular price. Soon they will put it on sale and take less. After 6 months, this ‘widget’ will be cheaper…and so on and so on until it is sold. Many times below the cost that Wal Mart pays for the item.

In Columbia, SC there are deals to be made! Currently (as of today) there are 21 houses available from HUD and the VA. This is not many at all and includes the Greater Columbia, SC Area (Columbia, Chapin, Lexington, West Columbia, and Irmo). Our community is very lucky.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Since I began Real Estate, 43% of my transactions have dealt with REO and investment properties.