More than 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year. This holiday season don't toss yours in the dumpster. Instead, consider organizing a recycling program in your community. Although some community groups raise money by asking for a donation when they pick up trees for recycling, the big payoff of "treecycling" is keeping discarded trees from taking up landfill space.
There are more than 4,000 treecycling programs throughout the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association (http://www.christmastree.org). If your community doesn't have one, starting one isn't as difficult as you might think, especially if you partner with local and state recycling programs and organizations such as Earth911 (http://earth911.com/).
The community volunteers who run the treecycling program at The New Hope Borough Recycling Committee (http://www.newhopeborough.org/waste.htm) in Pennsylvania spent about 20 hours each helping to organize and promote the activity. A landscape contractor donates time and equipment to pick up about 100 trees curbside and turn them into chips for mulch.
How to start a treecycle program
If you want to start a treecycling program in your area, begin by finding neighbors, small businesses, and members of local environmental groups who'd like to join your cause.
Starting a program without any community support or resources would be costly and time-consuming, and far more effort than most people would be willing to undertake, so secure support and partners first before embarking on this project.
Once you've located partners, get everyone together for a meeting to decide how you want to recycle your trees.
Evaluate recycling options
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, trees can be reused and recycled (http://www.christmastree.org/recycle.cfm) in many different ways, from being turned into mulch to being left whole and used as nesting habitats for herons and egrets. The most common recycling method is chipping, which requires special equipment as well as a qualified operator with liability insurance. Renting the equipment and getting licensed can be time consuming and expensive, so partnering with a local department of parks and recreation, private landscaping business, or tree service company is your best bet if you want to mulch the trees. An alternative to chipping is to donate whole Christmas trees to a variety of conservation efforts such as wildlife restoration and dune and wetland rebuilding. Once you have a tree recycling partner, your biggest investment will be the time spent organizing volunteers and partners, which will take about 40 hours over the course of a few weeks.
Assign a volunteer to outline and execute a plan to promote your program starting at least a month in advance. Have the volunteer come up with marketing materials such as a press release and fliers explaining the program. The volunteers doing major tasks such as promotion or working with a landscape company should expect to spend roughly 20 hours on the program. Volunteers who staff the drop off location could spend 10 to 15 hours doing shifts over the course of a week. The person in charge of the event could spend up to 40 hours overseeing the volunteers and troubleshooting.
Schedule tree collection
After you've decided how the trees will be recycled, you'll need to determine how and when to collect them. According to Earth911 (http://earth911.com/christmas-trees/how-to-start-a-christmas-tree-recycling-program-part-one/), options include short-term drop off, long-term drop off, and curbside pick up. If you elect to do drop off, you'll need to find a location to store the trees until they're recycled. If you do a pick-up program, you'll need trucks and crews to collect the trees. The best collection times range from the day after Christmas to the middle of January. If you are doing a short-term drop-off, the week after New Year's is best. Be sure to put tree requirements on promotional materials so that trees are free of ornaments, lights, tinsel, and tree stands before they're dropped off or collected.
Starting a Christmas tree recycling program in your community is a great way to begin the New Year a little greener. Just make sure that you have community support and recycling resources to help make your program a success.Sacha Cohen is a Washington, D.C.-based writer and founder of DCGoingGreen.net and grassfed media (http://www.grassfedmediadc.com). She has written about sustainable travel, green buildings, and green communities for such outlets as The Washington Post and Planet Green.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Source: www.HouseLogic.com
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Holiday Lighting Checklist
Before you plug in and light up for the holidays, run your decorations through this quick safety check. Lights, inside and out, are a beautiful part of the holiday season. But as with all electrical devices, you need to take special precautions. Before you deck the halls, run through this checklist to keep your holidays merry and bright.
Inspect light strings. Discard any that are damaged. Frayed or cracked electrical cords or broken sockets are leading fire hazards.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for connecting multiple strings. The general limit is three strings. Light strings with stacked plugs can usually accommodate greater lengths than end-to-end connections.
Replace burned-out bulbs promptly. Empty sockets can cause the entire string to overheat.
Make sure outdoor lighting is UL-rated for exterior use. Exterior lights, unlike those used inside the house, need to be weather-resistant. The same goes for any extension cords used outdoors.
Don't use outdoor lights indoors. They're too hot for interior use. For the coolest bulbs and greatest energy efficiency, try LED lights, which come in a wide range of styles and colors.
Don't attach light strings with nails or staples. They can cut through the wire insulation and create a fire hazard. Only use UL-approved hangers.
Take exterior lights down within 90 days. The longer they stay up, the more likely they are to suffer damage from weather and critters chewing on them.
Store lights safely. Tangled lights can lead to damaged cords and broken sockets. After the holidays, coil each string loosely around a stiff piece of cardboard, wrap it in paper or fabric to protect the bulbs, and store in a sturdy container until next year.
Pat Curry is a former senior editor at BUILDER, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated.
Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idlemanhttp://www.carolinajoe.com
Article From HouseLogic.com
Inspect light strings. Discard any that are damaged. Frayed or cracked electrical cords or broken sockets are leading fire hazards.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for connecting multiple strings. The general limit is three strings. Light strings with stacked plugs can usually accommodate greater lengths than end-to-end connections.
Replace burned-out bulbs promptly. Empty sockets can cause the entire string to overheat.
Make sure outdoor lighting is UL-rated for exterior use. Exterior lights, unlike those used inside the house, need to be weather-resistant. The same goes for any extension cords used outdoors.
Don't use outdoor lights indoors. They're too hot for interior use. For the coolest bulbs and greatest energy efficiency, try LED lights, which come in a wide range of styles and colors.
Don't attach light strings with nails or staples. They can cut through the wire insulation and create a fire hazard. Only use UL-approved hangers.
Take exterior lights down within 90 days. The longer they stay up, the more likely they are to suffer damage from weather and critters chewing on them.
Store lights safely. Tangled lights can lead to damaged cords and broken sockets. After the holidays, coil each string loosely around a stiff piece of cardboard, wrap it in paper or fabric to protect the bulbs, and store in a sturdy container until next year.
Pat Curry is a former senior editor at BUILDER, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated.
Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idlemanhttp://www.carolinajoe.com
Article From HouseLogic.com
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Charleston-Area Residential Real Estate Sales Soar in November
Charleston County Home Sales Double Over 2008 Levels, Leads Regional Recovery
The Charleston-area residential real estate market continues to show signs of a strong recovery. Led by incredibly strong sales in Charleston County, preliminary data from the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® showed 783 closed transactions in November, with a median sale price of $173,000.
As of December 10, 2008, 435 properties were sold at a median price of $185,503. This month’s numbers reflect an unprecedented 80% increase in sales and the third consecutive month of increases.
This type of activity is uncharacteristic for November, and likely attributable to the passing of the original homebuyer tax credit deadline, which was November 30. The tax credit deadline has been extended to April 30, 2010 and expanded to include provisions for existing homeowners inventory sits at this year’s lowest level, with 9,429 properties listed as “active” with the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service, as of November 30, 2009.
To learn more about the tax credit check out this article in my blog: http://www.carolinajoe.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/11/12/HOMEBUYER-TAX-CREDIT-SUMMARY
BERKELEY COUNTY
Home sales in Berkeley County were up 65% in November, with 196 sales at a median price of $154,700, compared to November 2008’s 119 sales at $170,000.
CHARLESTON COUNTY
Charleston County showed the greatest gains in the region during the month. Sales doubled over last year, and median prices are within 1%of 2008 levels. 361 properties changed hands in November at a median price of $225,000, in stark contrast to 2008’s 170 sales at a median price of $227,738.
DORCHESTER COUNTY
Sales continued to be strong in Dorchester County, up 42% year-over-year. 199 properties sold at a median price of $150,000 this month, compared to 140 properties at a median price of $169,995 in 2008.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
The Charleston-area residential real estate market continues to show signs of a strong recovery. Led by incredibly strong sales in Charleston County, preliminary data from the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® showed 783 closed transactions in November, with a median sale price of $173,000.
As of December 10, 2008, 435 properties were sold at a median price of $185,503. This month’s numbers reflect an unprecedented 80% increase in sales and the third consecutive month of increases.
This type of activity is uncharacteristic for November, and likely attributable to the passing of the original homebuyer tax credit deadline, which was November 30. The tax credit deadline has been extended to April 30, 2010 and expanded to include provisions for existing homeowners inventory sits at this year’s lowest level, with 9,429 properties listed as “active” with the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service, as of November 30, 2009.
To learn more about the tax credit check out this article in my blog: http://www.carolinajoe.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/11/12/HOMEBUYER-TAX-CREDIT-SUMMARY
BERKELEY COUNTY
Home sales in Berkeley County were up 65% in November, with 196 sales at a median price of $154,700, compared to November 2008’s 119 sales at $170,000.
CHARLESTON COUNTY
Charleston County showed the greatest gains in the region during the month. Sales doubled over last year, and median prices are within 1%of 2008 levels. 361 properties changed hands in November at a median price of $225,000, in stark contrast to 2008’s 170 sales at a median price of $227,738.
DORCHESTER COUNTY
Sales continued to be strong in Dorchester County, up 42% year-over-year. 199 properties sold at a median price of $150,000 this month, compared to 140 properties at a median price of $169,995 in 2008.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Friday, December 11, 2009
Making Home Affordable, the federal program aimed at aiding struggling homeowners, offers two options: refinancing and loan modification. A homeowner who is behind on mortgage payments and at risk of foreclosure could benefit from the modification option, which pays lenders to re-work loan terms and lower monthly payments.
Don't expect to breeze through the Making Home Affordable qualifying process. You'll need a lot of documentation and patience. With so many homeowners looking for help, lenders are scrambling to keep up with demand. To speed up the loan process, have your paperwork in order before applying for a loan modification.
Qualifying for a loan modification
Making Home Affordable modification option
(http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/modification_eligibility.html) is known as the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP. It's designed for homeowners who are likely to lose their homes because they can't keep up with mortgage payments. Even if you aren't behind on payments yet, you can qualify for help if you can demonstrate that you will fall behind soon.
To qualify for HAMP, the home must be your primary residence and you must owe $729,750 or less on a first mortgage that was originated on or before Jan. 1, 2009. Your monthly payment on your first mortgage must be greater than 31% of your monthly gross income. Second mortgages and home equity lines of credit don't count. You must also demonstrate financial hardship such as a jump in mortgage payments or a drop in income.
A loan modification makes sense if you can't afford your current mortgage payment but could manage to stay current if that monthly payment is lowered. Second homes, which include vacation homes and rentals, don't qualify for the program. Homes of up to four units are eligible, with higher loan limits, as long as you occupy one of the units. HAMP is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012.
How to get started
HAMP begins with a trial phase. Contact your lender to initiate the process, or call 1-888-995-HOPE to get free assistance from a housing counsellor approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The lender will calculate a lower monthly payment, which you must make on time for at least three months. After successfully completing the trial phase, your lender should make the loan modification permanent.
While lenders may accept some undocumented information up front to begin the process, eventually you'll need to file detailed paperwork to earn a permanent modification. It's better to get your documentation in order in advance. HAMP administrators say the leading reason trial modifications fail to be made permanent is missing paperwork.
First gather information on your income (pay stubs), expenses (mortgage statements, tax and insurance bills, debt balances), and assets (bank and non-retirement savings statements). You'll need that information to fill out the Request for Modification and Affidavit (http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/docs/RMA%20Interactive%20-%20Updated%2011.10.09.pdf). Also complete IRS form 4506T-EZ (http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf), which allows your lender to review your income tax returns. File a Hardship Affidavit (http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/docs/hamphardshipaffidavit.pdf) as well. If possible, send all of the documents at once by certified mail to your lender to lessen the likelihood of lost paperwork and delays, says Nicole Hall, editor of LendingTree.com.
Lowering your monthly payments
A lender can modify a mortgage in several ways: lower your interest rate, reduce your principal, or extend the term of the loan. The basic goal is to use one or more of these approaches to get your monthly mortgage payment, including real estate taxes and homeowners insurance premiums, down to a more affordable 31% or less of gross (pre-tax) income. Lenders are allowed to cut your interest rate to as low as 2%, if necessary. The average HAMP modification has reduced monthly payments by $640.
To get a ballpark figure of how much a modification might lower you monthly payment, run the numbers (http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/payment_reduction_estimator.html) for yourself. If, for example, your current mortgage payment is $2,000 and your monthly gross income is $4,000, then you're paying 50% of your pre-tax income toward the home loan. A typical modification to bring that figure down to 31% would reduce the payment to $1,240, a savings of $760 a month.
Alternatives to foreclosure
Even if you're facing foreclosure, HAMP is worth a shot. The foreclosure process is suspended while you're in the trial phase of the modification. Foreclosure can be avoided altogether if you can demonstrate the ability to keep up with the new, lower payment and graduate to a permanent modification. Keep in mind that the foreclosure process can resume if you miss payments during the trial phase or fail to get approved for a permanent modification.
Some owners won't be able to stay in their homes, even with a mortgage modification. To avoid foreclosure, look into the federal Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/docs/news/hampupdate113009.pdf) program. HAFA offers lenders financial incentives to opt for a short sale or deed-in-lieu rather than a foreclosure. Although the program doesn't officially go into effect until April 5, 2010, some lenders may initiate it early.
In a short sale, a borrower sells a home for less than the outstanding mortgage, and the lender takes the proceeds and considers the debt paid off. In a deed-in-lieu, the homeowner turns over the home to the lender, and the mortgage is closed. Although neither option is ideal, either can make sense if a loan modification isn't attainable or sufficient.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Article from HouseLogic.com
Don't expect to breeze through the Making Home Affordable qualifying process. You'll need a lot of documentation and patience. With so many homeowners looking for help, lenders are scrambling to keep up with demand. To speed up the loan process, have your paperwork in order before applying for a loan modification.
Qualifying for a loan modification
Making Home Affordable modification option
(http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/modification_eligibility.html) is known as the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP. It's designed for homeowners who are likely to lose their homes because they can't keep up with mortgage payments. Even if you aren't behind on payments yet, you can qualify for help if you can demonstrate that you will fall behind soon.
To qualify for HAMP, the home must be your primary residence and you must owe $729,750 or less on a first mortgage that was originated on or before Jan. 1, 2009. Your monthly payment on your first mortgage must be greater than 31% of your monthly gross income. Second mortgages and home equity lines of credit don't count. You must also demonstrate financial hardship such as a jump in mortgage payments or a drop in income.
A loan modification makes sense if you can't afford your current mortgage payment but could manage to stay current if that monthly payment is lowered. Second homes, which include vacation homes and rentals, don't qualify for the program. Homes of up to four units are eligible, with higher loan limits, as long as you occupy one of the units. HAMP is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012.
How to get started
HAMP begins with a trial phase. Contact your lender to initiate the process, or call 1-888-995-HOPE to get free assistance from a housing counsellor approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The lender will calculate a lower monthly payment, which you must make on time for at least three months. After successfully completing the trial phase, your lender should make the loan modification permanent.
While lenders may accept some undocumented information up front to begin the process, eventually you'll need to file detailed paperwork to earn a permanent modification. It's better to get your documentation in order in advance. HAMP administrators say the leading reason trial modifications fail to be made permanent is missing paperwork.
First gather information on your income (pay stubs), expenses (mortgage statements, tax and insurance bills, debt balances), and assets (bank and non-retirement savings statements). You'll need that information to fill out the Request for Modification and Affidavit (http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/docs/RMA%20Interactive%20-%20Updated%2011.10.09.pdf). Also complete IRS form 4506T-EZ (http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf), which allows your lender to review your income tax returns. File a Hardship Affidavit (http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/docs/hamphardshipaffidavit.pdf) as well. If possible, send all of the documents at once by certified mail to your lender to lessen the likelihood of lost paperwork and delays, says Nicole Hall, editor of LendingTree.com.
Lowering your monthly payments
A lender can modify a mortgage in several ways: lower your interest rate, reduce your principal, or extend the term of the loan. The basic goal is to use one or more of these approaches to get your monthly mortgage payment, including real estate taxes and homeowners insurance premiums, down to a more affordable 31% or less of gross (pre-tax) income. Lenders are allowed to cut your interest rate to as low as 2%, if necessary. The average HAMP modification has reduced monthly payments by $640.
To get a ballpark figure of how much a modification might lower you monthly payment, run the numbers (http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/payment_reduction_estimator.html) for yourself. If, for example, your current mortgage payment is $2,000 and your monthly gross income is $4,000, then you're paying 50% of your pre-tax income toward the home loan. A typical modification to bring that figure down to 31% would reduce the payment to $1,240, a savings of $760 a month.
Alternatives to foreclosure
Even if you're facing foreclosure, HAMP is worth a shot. The foreclosure process is suspended while you're in the trial phase of the modification. Foreclosure can be avoided altogether if you can demonstrate the ability to keep up with the new, lower payment and graduate to a permanent modification. Keep in mind that the foreclosure process can resume if you miss payments during the trial phase or fail to get approved for a permanent modification.
Some owners won't be able to stay in their homes, even with a mortgage modification. To avoid foreclosure, look into the federal Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (https://www.hmpadmin.com/portal/docs/news/hampupdate113009.pdf) program. HAFA offers lenders financial incentives to opt for a short sale or deed-in-lieu rather than a foreclosure. Although the program doesn't officially go into effect until April 5, 2010, some lenders may initiate it early.
In a short sale, a borrower sells a home for less than the outstanding mortgage, and the lender takes the proceeds and considers the debt paid off. In a deed-in-lieu, the homeowner turns over the home to the lender, and the mortgage is closed. Although neither option is ideal, either can make sense if a loan modification isn't attainable or sufficient.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Article from HouseLogic.com
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Let’s learn a Little about Edisto Island and Edisto Beach, South Carolina
Edisto Island is situated in both Charleston and Colleton counties, with Edisto Beach being entirely in Colleton County. For the purposes of this article I will refer to both as Edisto Island.
Edisto Island's historical legacy began with the imprint of the Edistow Indians, its first known occupants. The Spanish arrived in the 1500's, followed by English settlers in the 1600's. The English remained, first living off the sea, then cultivating money crops of rice and indigo. By 1790, planters turned to a long staple cotton, known as Sea Island cotton-one of the finest cottons ever produced. It was this crop that brought the great wealth to Edisto Islanders. Many of the elegant houses and plantations remaining today are reminders of that affluent age. These sites are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These private homes are put on tour once a year by the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society.
Edisto Island may be one of South Carolina’s best-kept secrets. Edisto is the ultimate family oriented vacation destination. Come rent a beach cottage, or stay in a Bed and Breakfast. You can throw a cast net for shrimp, dip your toes in the surf, or build a sandcastle or eat at a fine restaurant. Experience the perfect combination of oceanfront beaches, saltwater marshes and Lowcountry oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Points of interest include many Bed and Breakfasts homes, Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island Serpentarium, Edisto Beach public beach, Edisto Island Museum, and the nearby ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge Area.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Edisto Island's historical legacy began with the imprint of the Edistow Indians, its first known occupants. The Spanish arrived in the 1500's, followed by English settlers in the 1600's. The English remained, first living off the sea, then cultivating money crops of rice and indigo. By 1790, planters turned to a long staple cotton, known as Sea Island cotton-one of the finest cottons ever produced. It was this crop that brought the great wealth to Edisto Islanders. Many of the elegant houses and plantations remaining today are reminders of that affluent age. These sites are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These private homes are put on tour once a year by the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society.
Edisto Island may be one of South Carolina’s best-kept secrets. Edisto is the ultimate family oriented vacation destination. Come rent a beach cottage, or stay in a Bed and Breakfast. You can throw a cast net for shrimp, dip your toes in the surf, or build a sandcastle or eat at a fine restaurant. Experience the perfect combination of oceanfront beaches, saltwater marshes and Lowcountry oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Points of interest include many Bed and Breakfasts homes, Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island Serpentarium, Edisto Beach public beach, Edisto Island Museum, and the nearby ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge Area.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
How Baby Boomers are Reigniting the Housing Market
The battered housing market is getting some help from an unlikely source: retirees. Baby boomers on the cusp of collecting Social Security are bringing some much-needed vitality to the real-estate sector as they capitalize on reduced prices and low mortgage rates by lining up their next homes a few years early.
Before the crash, older home-buyers were already big players in the real-estate market, and now their influence is growing. According to the National Association of Realtors, people over 55 bought 21 percent of the homes that were sold in 2008, up from 13 percent in 2001. Now, roughly one out of every four baby boomers owns either a vacation home, land, or a rental property in addition to the home that they live in. And some shoppers are looking for transitional homes that they can vacation in now and settle into when they are ready to retire.
"That's a trend that will continue," says NAR's Walter Molony. While many repeat buyers took a breather to rebuild the savings and home equity they lost over the past couple of years, Molony expects retirees to buy their way back into the market as the economy recovers. "This can be a terrific time to buy that retirement home, but buyers have to have the resources to float [multiple homes] for a while," says Rich Arzaga, a San Ramon, Calif., financial planner. He points out that the carrying costs of holding two properties can be unexpectedly high, and include the costs of finding tenants, making repairs, and managing the property.
Baby-boom retirees and pre-retirees who are in the market seem to be considering the effort and expense involved in managing a property. They are looking for something different their second and third time around. They want single-story houses, smaller floor plans, and some amenities aimed at older home purchasers, such as nonslip floors, larger medicine cabinets, and lower kitchen cabinets, according to recent surveys by the National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute. They don't seem to care as much as builders for much-hyped universal design features like lever-handle doorknobs and wider doors and hallways, perhaps because they are concerned about costs, or in typical baby-boomer fashion, they are resistant to seeing themselves as aged or infirm. That may also be why today's newest retirees also seem less likely to prefer age-restricted communities than their already-retired predecessors.
Pre-retirees looking at the housing market face more challenges in financing their purchases than they did a few years ago. Then, many buyers bought second homes with cash-out refinances of their primary homes. Now, with less equity available in their primary homes, they are seeking mortgages for their second homes. Second-home mortgages are more broadly available than they were a decade ago, but do require high credit scores and down payments as high as 20 percent.
People with significant assets in their individual retirement accounts can tap that cash to invest in a retirement home, but there are many complexities involved. They have to establish a self-directed IRA with an independent trust company such as Pensco Trust and the Entrust Group. They have to treat the home as an investment, so they can't use it as a vacation home or rent it out at below-market rates to friends and relatives. When it is time to retire and they want to start using the home, they have to pull it out of the IRA, and if it's been held in a tax-deductible IRA that would force them to pay income taxes on the entire value of the house. That makes it far preferable to use a Roth IRA (from which withdrawals will not be taxed) to buy real estate.
Older investors who have been buying into the market may turn into net sellers once they actually retire, as it can eat up a lot of that monthly Social Security check to run two homes. Arzaga tells his clients that once they've made the decision to move, they should put their older homes on the market and not wait for better prices that could be years down the road. Selling sooner rather than later could protect their cash flow and provide better housing deals that could pull a younger generation of buyers into the market.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Source: Linda Stern Newsweek Web Exclusive
Before the crash, older home-buyers were already big players in the real-estate market, and now their influence is growing. According to the National Association of Realtors, people over 55 bought 21 percent of the homes that were sold in 2008, up from 13 percent in 2001. Now, roughly one out of every four baby boomers owns either a vacation home, land, or a rental property in addition to the home that they live in. And some shoppers are looking for transitional homes that they can vacation in now and settle into when they are ready to retire.
"That's a trend that will continue," says NAR's Walter Molony. While many repeat buyers took a breather to rebuild the savings and home equity they lost over the past couple of years, Molony expects retirees to buy their way back into the market as the economy recovers. "This can be a terrific time to buy that retirement home, but buyers have to have the resources to float [multiple homes] for a while," says Rich Arzaga, a San Ramon, Calif., financial planner. He points out that the carrying costs of holding two properties can be unexpectedly high, and include the costs of finding tenants, making repairs, and managing the property.
Baby-boom retirees and pre-retirees who are in the market seem to be considering the effort and expense involved in managing a property. They are looking for something different their second and third time around. They want single-story houses, smaller floor plans, and some amenities aimed at older home purchasers, such as nonslip floors, larger medicine cabinets, and lower kitchen cabinets, according to recent surveys by the National Association of Home Builders and the MetLife Mature Market Institute. They don't seem to care as much as builders for much-hyped universal design features like lever-handle doorknobs and wider doors and hallways, perhaps because they are concerned about costs, or in typical baby-boomer fashion, they are resistant to seeing themselves as aged or infirm. That may also be why today's newest retirees also seem less likely to prefer age-restricted communities than their already-retired predecessors.
Pre-retirees looking at the housing market face more challenges in financing their purchases than they did a few years ago. Then, many buyers bought second homes with cash-out refinances of their primary homes. Now, with less equity available in their primary homes, they are seeking mortgages for their second homes. Second-home mortgages are more broadly available than they were a decade ago, but do require high credit scores and down payments as high as 20 percent.
People with significant assets in their individual retirement accounts can tap that cash to invest in a retirement home, but there are many complexities involved. They have to establish a self-directed IRA with an independent trust company such as Pensco Trust and the Entrust Group. They have to treat the home as an investment, so they can't use it as a vacation home or rent it out at below-market rates to friends and relatives. When it is time to retire and they want to start using the home, they have to pull it out of the IRA, and if it's been held in a tax-deductible IRA that would force them to pay income taxes on the entire value of the house. That makes it far preferable to use a Roth IRA (from which withdrawals will not be taxed) to buy real estate.
Older investors who have been buying into the market may turn into net sellers once they actually retire, as it can eat up a lot of that monthly Social Security check to run two homes. Arzaga tells his clients that once they've made the decision to move, they should put their older homes on the market and not wait for better prices that could be years down the road. Selling sooner rather than later could protect their cash flow and provide better housing deals that could pull a younger generation of buyers into the market.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Source: Linda Stern Newsweek Web Exclusive
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Government Announces Short Sales Guidelines
The U.S. Treasury Department announced new guidelines this week designed to make short sales go more smoothly.
To qualify under these new guidelines:
1. The property must be the home owner’s principal residence.
2. The home owner must be delinquent on the mortgage or close to defaulting.
3. The loan must have been made before Jan. 1, 2009, and be for less than $729,750.
4. The borrowers’ total monthly mortgage payment must exceed 31 percent of their before-tax income.
Under the plan, borrowers will receive $1,500 from the government for selling homes for less than the amount of their mortgages. Mortgage-servicing companies will get $1,000 for each completed short sale. Second-mortgage holders can receive up to $3,000 of the sales proceeds in exchange for releasing their liens. Investors who hold the first mortgage can collect up to $1,000 from the government for allowing the payments.
Borrowers who complete a short sale under the program must be "fully released" from future liability for the debt, according to the guidelines.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com/
Source: Associated Press, J.W. Elphinstone (11/01/2009) and The Wall Street Journal, Ruth Simon (11/01/2009)
To qualify under these new guidelines:
1. The property must be the home owner’s principal residence.
2. The home owner must be delinquent on the mortgage or close to defaulting.
3. The loan must have been made before Jan. 1, 2009, and be for less than $729,750.
4. The borrowers’ total monthly mortgage payment must exceed 31 percent of their before-tax income.
Under the plan, borrowers will receive $1,500 from the government for selling homes for less than the amount of their mortgages. Mortgage-servicing companies will get $1,000 for each completed short sale. Second-mortgage holders can receive up to $3,000 of the sales proceeds in exchange for releasing their liens. Investors who hold the first mortgage can collect up to $1,000 from the government for allowing the payments.
Borrowers who complete a short sale under the program must be "fully released" from future liability for the debt, according to the guidelines.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com/
Source: Associated Press, J.W. Elphinstone (11/01/2009) and The Wall Street Journal, Ruth Simon (11/01/2009)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Nine Consecutive Gains for Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales have risen for nine months in a row, a first for the series of the index since its inception in 2001, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 3.7 percent to 114.1 from 110.0 in September, and is 31.8 percent above October 2008 when it was 86.6. The rise from a year ago is the biggest annual increase ever recorded for the index, which is at the highest level since March 2006 when it was 115.2.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales are experiencing a pendulum swing. “Keep in mind that housing had been underperforming over most of the past year. Based on the demographics of our growing population, existing-home sales should be in the range of 5.5 million to 6.0 million annually, but we were well below the 5-million mark before the home buyer tax credit stimulus,” he said. “This means the tax credit is helping unleash a pent-up demand from a large pool of financially qualified renters, much more than borrowing sales from the future.”
By Region
1. Pending sales in the Northeast surged 19.9 percent to 100.2 in October and is 44.2 percent above a year ago.
2. In the Midwest, the index rose 11.6 percent to 109.6 and is 36.6 percent higher than October 2008.
3. Sales in the South increased 5.4 percent to an index of 115.4, which is 31.6 percent above a year ago.
4. In the West, the index fell 11.2 percent to 127.7 but is 21.9 percent above October 2008.
Not Out of the Woods Yet
Yun cautioned that home sales could dip in the months ahead. “The expanded tax credit has only been available for the past three weeks, but the time between when buyers start looking at homes until they close on a sale can take anywhere from three to five months. Given the lag time, we could see a temporary decline in closed existing-home sales from December until early spring when we get another surge, but the weak job market remains a major concern and could slow the recovery process.
“Still, as inventories continue to decline and balance is gradually restored between buyers and sellers, we should reach self-sustaining housing conditions and firming home prices in most areas around the middle of 2010. That would mean broad wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families,” Yun said.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/ .
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Source: NAR
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 3.7 percent to 114.1 from 110.0 in September, and is 31.8 percent above October 2008 when it was 86.6. The rise from a year ago is the biggest annual increase ever recorded for the index, which is at the highest level since March 2006 when it was 115.2.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales are experiencing a pendulum swing. “Keep in mind that housing had been underperforming over most of the past year. Based on the demographics of our growing population, existing-home sales should be in the range of 5.5 million to 6.0 million annually, but we were well below the 5-million mark before the home buyer tax credit stimulus,” he said. “This means the tax credit is helping unleash a pent-up demand from a large pool of financially qualified renters, much more than borrowing sales from the future.”
By Region
1. Pending sales in the Northeast surged 19.9 percent to 100.2 in October and is 44.2 percent above a year ago.
2. In the Midwest, the index rose 11.6 percent to 109.6 and is 36.6 percent higher than October 2008.
3. Sales in the South increased 5.4 percent to an index of 115.4, which is 31.6 percent above a year ago.
4. In the West, the index fell 11.2 percent to 127.7 but is 21.9 percent above October 2008.
Not Out of the Woods Yet
Yun cautioned that home sales could dip in the months ahead. “The expanded tax credit has only been available for the past three weeks, but the time between when buyers start looking at homes until they close on a sale can take anywhere from three to five months. Given the lag time, we could see a temporary decline in closed existing-home sales from December until early spring when we get another surge, but the weak job market remains a major concern and could slow the recovery process.
“Still, as inventories continue to decline and balance is gradually restored between buyers and sellers, we should reach self-sustaining housing conditions and firming home prices in most areas around the middle of 2010. That would mean broad wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families,” Yun said.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/ .
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Source: NAR
Friday, December 4, 2009
Let's learn a Little About Moncks Corner, SC
Moncks Corner is the county seat of Berkeley County, South Carolina with a population just over 6,000. Moncks Corner was, during colonial time, a major settlement area of French Protestant Huguenots who came to South Carolina as a result of persecution in Europe. Many Berkeley and adjacent county surnames today evidence this French influence. The Town of Moncks Corner, named for landowner Thomas Monck, dates back to 1728. It began as a trading post with a few taverns and stores. The Northeastern Railroad laid its tracks in 1856 and the train depot became the center of a new Town of Moncks Corner. Today Moncks Corner is a thriving community located adjacent to Lake Moultrie and along the Cooper River with several new subdivisions within its city limits.
Local subdivisions include, but not limited to, Pimlico, Spring Grove Plantation, Berkeley Country Club, Conifer Hall, Moss Grove, Fox Bank Plantation, Cypress Ridge, Blackstone, Oakley Point and Fairlawn Barony.
Local points of interest include Lake Moultrie, Tail Race Canal, Lyons Beach, Cypress Gardens, Mepkin Abbey, and the Old Canal State Park.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com/
Local subdivisions include, but not limited to, Pimlico, Spring Grove Plantation, Berkeley Country Club, Conifer Hall, Moss Grove, Fox Bank Plantation, Cypress Ridge, Blackstone, Oakley Point and Fairlawn Barony.
Local points of interest include Lake Moultrie, Tail Race Canal, Lyons Beach, Cypress Gardens, Mepkin Abbey, and the Old Canal State Park.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com/
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Let’s Learn about Summerville, South Carolina
Summerville is a town in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties with a population of nearly 50,000. Summerville has enjoyed the reputation as a relaxed, friendly community since pre-Civil War times, when Charlestonian’s would escape summer mosquitoes and coastal humidity with retreats to this pleasant landscape. Summerville’s physical attraction included the healthful effect of dry air infused with derivatives of turpentine from surrounding pines that earned it an international reputation for cure of lung and throat disorders. But a major part of the town’s attraction has been and is now visual, as the rich sandy loam soil of the Summerville area is ideal for gardening, and annually blooms boom. Dogwood, camellia and magnolia grace Summerville throughout the year, but the signature spring flower of the town is the azalea indica, a hybrid plant introduced to America by local plantation owner George Grimke Drayton in 1840. The hearty evergreen blooms in stunning abundance of whites, pinks and reds from every garden, park and green space in Summerville, which has hosted the popular Flowertown Festival each April since 1972. More than 100,000 people flock to this celebration of folk arts, crafts, and music, where nature’s colorful show is the major draw.
You will find a great selection of homes for sale in Summerville with sales prices that are much less than other areas around Charleston! Located about 40 minutes west of the Charleston Peninsula, Summerville is ideal for people who want to live near Charleston but don't want the high home prices that come with living in Charleston. Buyers will spend approximately 30% less for a home in Summerville than they would for the same home in Mt. Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, or West Ashley.
Some subdivisions include, but are not limited to, Lakes of Summerville, Buckshire, Wescott Plantation, Kings Grant, Bridges of Summerville , Quail Harbor, Legend Oaks Plantation, Briarwood, Ashboro, White Gables, Sangaree, Flowertown, Knightsville, Pine Forest Counrty Club, Summerville, and Greenhurst.
Some points of interest are Summerville Azalea Park,Flowertown Azalea Festival, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, historic downtown shops, and golfing.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/ .
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
You will find a great selection of homes for sale in Summerville with sales prices that are much less than other areas around Charleston! Located about 40 minutes west of the Charleston Peninsula, Summerville is ideal for people who want to live near Charleston but don't want the high home prices that come with living in Charleston. Buyers will spend approximately 30% less for a home in Summerville than they would for the same home in Mt. Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, or West Ashley.
Some subdivisions include, but are not limited to, Lakes of Summerville, Buckshire, Wescott Plantation, Kings Grant, Bridges of Summerville , Quail Harbor, Legend Oaks Plantation, Briarwood, Ashboro, White Gables, Sangaree, Flowertown, Knightsville, Pine Forest Counrty Club, Summerville, and Greenhurst.
Some points of interest are Summerville Azalea Park,Flowertown Azalea Festival, Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, historic downtown shops, and golfing.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/ .
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
October New Homes Sales Gain on Rise in South
U.S. new home sales rose 6.2% in October on strong results in the South, the Commerce Department estimated Wednesday. The rise in new-home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 430,000 was well above the 390,000 pace expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Sales rose 23.2% in the South. Sales fell 20% in the Midwest, and 5.1% in both the Northeast and the West. The pace of new-home sales in September was revised slightly higher to a level of 405,000. New-home sales are up 5.1% compared with a year ago. The supply of homes on the market fell to 239,000 in October, representing a 6.7-month supply. The median sales price in October hit $212,200, compared with $213,200 in the prior year.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/ .
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/ .
View my entire inventory of VisualTours at http://www.visualtour.com/inventory.asp?U=182210
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Existing Home Sales Record Big Gain
Existing-home sales surged 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.10 million units in October from a downwardly revised pace of 5.54 million in September, and are 23.5 percent above the 4.94 million-unit level in October 2008. Sales activity is at the highest pace since February 2007 when it hit 6.55 million.
Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 3.7 percent to 3.57 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 7.0-month supply at the current sales pace, down from an 8.0-month supply in September. Unsold inventory totals are 14.9 percent below a year ago.
The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $173,100 in October, down 7.1 percent from October 2008. Distressed properties, which accounted for 30 percent of sales in October, continue to downwardly distort the median price because they usually sell at a discount relative to traditional homes in the same area.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions. To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 3.7 percent to 3.57 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 7.0-month supply at the current sales pace, down from an 8.0-month supply in September. Unsold inventory totals are 14.9 percent below a year ago.
The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $173,100 in October, down 7.1 percent from October 2008. Distressed properties, which accounted for 30 percent of sales in October, continue to downwardly distort the median price because they usually sell at a discount relative to traditional homes in the same area.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions. To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Let’s Learn About Hanahan, South Carolina
Hanahan is located on the very south end of Berkeley County, and its city limits on the west and south sides are contiguous with the county line between Berkeley and Charleston Counties and a population of just over 14,000. It was incorporated as a city in 1972. Hanahan is bordered on the west and south by the city of North Charleston. To the east is the old Naval Weapons Station. A very small portion of this federal base is actually in Hanahan’s city limits. Among other uses of the former submarine base, the Naval Consolidated Brig is there, as is the Navy’s Nuclear Power School. To the north is an unincorporated portion of Berkeley County. Most areas of Hanahan are located within a 10-15 minute drive of the major shopping areas, including The Northwoods Mall (in North Charleston), in what is known locally as the “North Area.” Also within a short drive are Interstate 26 and Interstate 526, as well as U.S. Highway 52. The public schools in Hanahan are considered to be some of the best in the Tri-County Area (consisting of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties).
Local subdivisions include, but are not limited to Yemann’s Park, Charleston Farms, Otranto, Belvedere Estates, Beverly Hills, Eagle Landing, Eagle Point, Tanner Plantation, and The Reserve.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Local subdivisions include, but are not limited to Yemann’s Park, Charleston Farms, Otranto, Belvedere Estates, Beverly Hills, Eagle Landing, Eagle Point, Tanner Plantation, and The Reserve.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions.
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Let’s Learn a Little about Isle of Palms South Carolina
The island remained without permanent inhabitants until the late 19th century when the island became recognized by locals of the area as a refuge from the summer heat and tempo of Charleston. The island was purchased in 1899 by J.S. Lawrence, who renamed it the Isle of Palms. Isle of Palms is located just 20 minutes north of downtown Charleston, on the Atlantic Ocean side of Mt. Pleasant. In the 1970's the rest of the world discovered the joys of the Isle of Palms, and real estate development blossomed. In 1975, the Sea Pines Co., one of the major developers of Hilton Head Island, established a similar resort enterprise on 900 acres of land at the northeast end of the island. Originally named The Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club it was renamed The Wild Dunes Beach and Racquet Club in 1984 and today is simply called Wild Dunes. With nationally recognized golf courses and other resort amenities, Wild Dunes has become a major vacation locale on the South Carolina coast. In spite of the changes wrought over the last 20 years, with its six miles of white, sandy beaches, the Isle of Palms remains a place of beautiful serenity for residents and visitors today
Points of interest include, Isle of Palms County Park, Whirling Waters Water Park, Public Beaches, Wild dunes Resort, Isle of Palms Marina, and great golfing.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions. To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Points of interest include, Isle of Palms County Park, Whirling Waters Water Park, Public Beaches, Wild dunes Resort, Isle of Palms Marina, and great golfing.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions. To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Let’s Learn a Little About Sullivans Island
Sullivans Island is an island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. The population was 1,911 at the 2000 census. It is also the site of a major battle of the American Revolution at Fort Sullivan now Fort Moultrie on June 28, 1776.
The island was known as O’Charley’s Island because of Captain Florence O’Sullivan, who was stationed here as a lighthouse keeper in the late seventeenth century. O’Sullivan was Captain of one of the ships in the first fleet to establish English and Irish settlement at Charleston. In 1671 he became Surveyor General. He appears in the earliest record of Irish immigration to the Carolinas, mentioned as being taken on “at Kingsayle (Kinsale) in Ireland”.
Sullivan’s Island was the disembarkation port for over 40% (4-8 million) of the slaves traded to the British Colonies making it the largest slave port in North America. It is estimated that nearly half of all African Americans had ancestors that passed through Sullivan’s Island. On 28 June, 1776, a makeshift log fort was held by colonial forces against an onslaught by the British under Cornwallis who attempted to enter Charleston harbor. The palmetto logs used in the construction of the fort proved to be remarkably spongy and deflected the cannon balls. The Battle of Fort Moultrie was commemorated by the addition of a white palmetto tree to the flag of South Carolina. The victory is celebrated and June 28 is known as Carolina Day. The history of the island has been dominated by Fort Moultrie, which, until its closure in the late 1940s, served as the base of command for the defense of the City of Charleston.
Local points of interest include Sullivans Island Beach, Fort Sumter National Monument, Fort Moultrie National Monument, Seminole Chief Osceola’s Grave, The New Charleston Lighthouse, Wild Dunes Resort, abundant wildlife, and downtown Charleston attractions.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions. To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
The island was known as O’Charley’s Island because of Captain Florence O’Sullivan, who was stationed here as a lighthouse keeper in the late seventeenth century. O’Sullivan was Captain of one of the ships in the first fleet to establish English and Irish settlement at Charleston. In 1671 he became Surveyor General. He appears in the earliest record of Irish immigration to the Carolinas, mentioned as being taken on “at Kingsayle (Kinsale) in Ireland”.
Sullivan’s Island was the disembarkation port for over 40% (4-8 million) of the slaves traded to the British Colonies making it the largest slave port in North America. It is estimated that nearly half of all African Americans had ancestors that passed through Sullivan’s Island. On 28 June, 1776, a makeshift log fort was held by colonial forces against an onslaught by the British under Cornwallis who attempted to enter Charleston harbor. The palmetto logs used in the construction of the fort proved to be remarkably spongy and deflected the cannon balls. The Battle of Fort Moultrie was commemorated by the addition of a white palmetto tree to the flag of South Carolina. The victory is celebrated and June 28 is known as Carolina Day. The history of the island has been dominated by Fort Moultrie, which, until its closure in the late 1940s, served as the base of command for the defense of the City of Charleston.
Local points of interest include Sullivans Island Beach, Fort Sumter National Monument, Fort Moultrie National Monument, Seminole Chief Osceola’s Grave, The New Charleston Lighthouse, Wild Dunes Resort, abundant wildlife, and downtown Charleston attractions.
As always, your thoughts, questions, or comments are greatly appreciated. Let me know if I can help with any of your Charleston SC real estate needs or questions. To look for homes anywhere in the tri-county area go to my website at http://www.carolinajoe.com/mls/
Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.carolinajoe.com
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