Michael J. Johnson's Blog-Carolina One Real Estate-Goose Creek Real Estate; Charleston SC Real Estate;

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Wordless Wednesday - 18 Nov 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:40:16 -0600

Wordless Wednesday - Coastal Carolina Fair 2009.

Photo taken by a close personal friend - Rickey Gregg.

Recent Blogs:

Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

Goose Creek Real Estate Stats - Oct 2009

Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

Charleston SC - A City of Firsts

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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My Top 10 Favorite Videos Games of All Time

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:59:19 -0600

I grew up in the 80's during which time video games sprung on the scene. I can remember days of going to our small town's local arcade with a few dollars, buying a pack of Now-or-Laters for 10 cents, and using the rest of the money playing Donkey Kong and Pac-man. I remember getting my first Atari 2600 when I was around 6 or 7 and playing games like Combat, Pong, and Pitfall. The memories of heading to the skating rink on Friday night and playing Defender while waiting for a better song to be played. Needless to say I have loved video games from a young age. I think it allows me to both escape and get a sense of accomplishment (yeah...I know, its just a game).

Now at the age of 35 I am still a "gamer." Just got a PS3 about 6 months ago and I love both being alone to unwind with a sports game, or playing something like Guitar Hero with my family. It is good entertainment.

I have complied a list of my top 10 favorite games of all time. Some are not critically acclaimed and a few may be controversial but these are the games I have enjoyed escaping into the most:

10. Donkey Kong- got to love one the original Donkey Kong. I lost more quarters trying to save that princess than I care to admit. A good documentary to check out that will make you feel like a winner in the face of so many loosers is the documentary "King of Kong." Console- Atari

9. Contra - one of the first great two player war games. Console - Nintendo

8. Tiger Woods Golf (on the Wii) - An amazing game that lets you actually swing the golf club in accordance with your onscreen character. Console - Wii

7. Tecmo Bowl - One of the first great football games. Bo Jackson was ridiculously too fast on this game. Console - Nintendo

6. Super Mario Brothers - Many, many sleepless nights with my cousin trying to conquer this game. The worst part was that there was no memory card so you had to leave the console on so you would not have to start over. Console - Nintendo

5. The Sims - Warning! This game is verrryyy addictive. It is amazing the different perspective you get on life when you watch and interact with these little life simulators. Console - PC

4. Final Fantasy VII - you have to like the storyline games genre to enjoy this game and this series of games. I do alot! It was not uncommon for me in my early 20's (before kids) to play this 4 or 5 hours at a time and not even know that the time had passed. Console - PS2

3. Sim City 3000 - I love games in which I am able to manage something. This game gives you the controls of starting, developing, and maintaining a city. It is very educational and very addictive. I still play it today, although there are some later versions available. Console - PC

2. Madden Football series - I love football!! This game has progressivly gotten better ever year it has been released since 1989. I usually buy a new version every two years or so, but have played every years release. The madden series allows you to enjoy playing football against someone else, or enjoy playing the cpu in a franchise mode. Console- nearly every console imaginable.

1. Grand Theft Auto 3 (San Andreas) - First let me say from the outset...Do not let your kids play this game! It is an adult game with adult themes. My wife has asked me on occasion why I like to play this sort of game. My only response is that it is a means of escape to a world that allows you to be a deviant if you choose to be. Console - PS2 and XBox

My fellow gamers, it is OK to take off the mask and admit you are a gamer. What are some of your favorite games?

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Understanding the Title Search

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:11:57 -0600

Understanding the Title Search

Among the many areas of due diligence in buying a home, a title search, or sometimes called a title examination, is one of the most important. The title is a document that gives evidence of an individual's ownership of property. The title search is usually performed by an attorney (usually the closing attorney) in an effort to ensure that the title on a particular house is free of encumbrances. An encumbrance is any lien, liability, or charge against a property. The attorney performing the title search will be looking for many things including:

Mortgages - looks for 2nd and 3rd mortgages that may affect the closing.

Life Estates

Right of Ways

Judgment liens

Special assessment liens

Current leases

Deed restrictions

Easements

Tax liens

Mechanic liens.

It is important to note that if a buyers is securing a loan from a lending institution, that lending institution will require a title search to be performed to assure the seller is conveying a good and marketable title. Upon completion of the title search, the attorney will most likely offer the buyer Title Insurance.

What is Title Insurance? Title insurance normally covers defects which do not appear in public records. Title insurance indicates only that title is insurable and not that it is without defects. If no defect is found it is considered Marketable Title, which means that it is a title that an ordinary person in an ordinary market would accept. This is based on the concept that no title is completely free of all defects. There are two type of title insurance policies. Mortgagee Policies are policies that would cover the amount of the mortgage only. Owners Policy are policies that would cover the owner's equity plus the mortgage if there were one.

Recent Blogs:

Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

What is Earnest Money?

Goose Creek Real Estate Stats - Oct 2009

Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 11 Nov 09, Veterans Day

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:21:12 -0600

"This is not peace. It is an armistice for 20 years." – French Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Allied Commander during World War I, upon seeing the final draft of the Treaty of Versailles

"More than any other war in history, this war has been an array of the forces of evil against those of righteousness. It had to have its leaders and it had to be won-but no matter what the sacrifice, no matter what the suffering of population, no matter what the cost, the war had to be won." - Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower (1945 in Frankfurt).

"It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it." - Gen Douglas MacArthur (July 1952)

HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO ALL OF MY MILITARY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD!

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:14:33 -0600

Buying real estate is a a great long term investment. After all, as Mark Twain once put it, "Buy land, they're not making any more." When getting involved in real estate it is important to make the distinction between the two major types of property and the rights involved in each. The two types of property are Real Property and Personal Property.

What is Real Estate? Generally speaking, real estate is defined as any interest in land. Note that interest in this case is defined as one's rights, powers, privileges, and/or immunities in real estate. Land is best described as the surface of the earth extending downward to the center of the earth and upward to infinity, including things put there by nature such as trees and water. This is mostly associated with real property.

What is Real Property? Real property is the land plus things permanently attached to it either by nature or by man. For example, the lot plus the house, fence, trees, bushes, and/or a well would be considered real property. Real Property comes with three property rights:

Mineral Rights - the property owner usually owns the mineral rights below the surface since land ownership extends downward to the center of the earth. The right to mine the property or sell the mineral rights usually comes with ownership.
Air Rights - Because ownership of land extends upward to infinity land rights include the air space above the land. The government most often will supersede and restrict these rights with zoning restrictions and by allowing aircraft to use the airspace above your land.
Water Rights - Water rights vary by state and usually fall into one of two categories: Riparian Rights and Littoral Rights. Riparian Rights deal with ownership of property along bodies of water that flow (rivers and creeks) and property lines depend on local laws. In South Carolina Riparian property rights hinge on if the stream is navigable or non-navigable. Property owners along navigable rivers and streams property rights extend only to the water's edge. Those along non-navigable rivers and streams could own the land under the stream to the center of the stream. Littoral Rights deal with ownership along large lakes, seas, and oceans affected by tide currents. Ownership here usually extends to the mean high water mark.

What is Personal Property? All property that does not fit the definition of real property is usually classified as personal property. Personable Property is usually movable. Historically Personal Property has been called (and is still called this in some areas of the country) personalty or chattel property. Types of Personal Property include:

Emblements - Emblements are annual growing crops (must be replaced each year). Examples include corn, wheat, and tobacco.
Trade Fixtures - these are fixtures used in a trade or business by a tenant. These include store shelves or restaurant equipment.
Chattel Real - this is usually paperwork that displays an personal property interest in the real property. This includes leases, mortgages, and land contracts.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 9 Nov 09, The Berlin Wall

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:38:35 -0600

These are quotes from today's 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall:

"The remembrance of Nov. 9, 1989, not to mention the remembrance of the horrific proceedings of the (Kristallnacht) pogrom on Nov. 9, 1938, unmistakably teaches us: Walls — whether real or in the heads and hearts of people — walls do not solve any problems." — Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of Germany's Bishop's Conference.

"The wall was an edifice of fear. On Nov. 9, 20 years ago, it became a place of joy. For 28 years, East Germans could not even approach it. On Nov. 9, 1989, people danced on it — and the world looked different afterward" — German President Horst Koehler.

"The whole world is proud of you. You tore down the wall and you changed the world; you tore down the wall that for a third of a century had imprisoned half a city, half a country, half a continent and half the world; and because of your courage two Berlins are one, two Germanies are one, and now two Europes are one." — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, addressing the people of Berlin.

photo courtesy of wavemagazine.net

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Equal Opportunity Housing

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Home for Sale in Ladson SC

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:55:17 -0600

Michael J. Johnson | Carolina One Real Estate | 843-817-5299

4492 Garwood Drive, Goose Creek, SC

Excellent starter home with a large wooded lot.

3BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $95,000

Year Built	1972
Sq Footage	1,088
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	.23 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Attractive all-brick home with a large backyard that backs up to woodlands. The home owner has taken pride in the maintenance of the home and the upkeep of the yard. A new roof was installed on the home last year. The kitchen features a nice size pantry and all major appliances convey with the home including the washer and dryer. Seller is offering a one year home warranty with an acceptable offer.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Family room
- Dining room	- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven	- Washer	- Dryer
- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Family Room
Kitchen	Master Bedroom

Contact info:

Michael J. Johnson

Carolina One Real Estate

843-817-5299

For sale by agent/broker

Posted: Nov 5, 2009, 12:39pm PST

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 5 Nov 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:29:15 -0600

"I had rather starve and rot and keep the privilege of speaking the truth as I see it, then of holding all the offices that capital has to give from the presidency down." Brook Adams, The Degredation of Democratic Dogma, 1919

"Every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Truth like-like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold.....Y-Y-You push it, stretch it, it'll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it'll never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying t-to the moment we leave dying, it'll just cover your face as you wail and cry and scream." - fictional character Todd Anderson from Dead Poet's Society

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 30 Oct 09 (Halloween)

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:42:59 -0500

"Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title." - Shaggy from Scobby-Doo.

"One need not be a chamber to be haunted;
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place."
~Emily Dickinson

"...and dread to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! and how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scourings! --Washington Irving - From "The Legend of Sleep Hollow"

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 28 Oct 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:25:07 -0500

"It is a very lonely life that a man leads, who becomes aware of truths before their time." - Thomas Brackett Reed

"An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all." - Elbert Hubbard

"In imagination, not in perception, lies the substance of experience, while knowledge and reason are but its chastened and ultimate form." - George Santayana

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - Calvin & Hobbes

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:22:01 -0500

“People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world.” - Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes)

“Who was the first guy that looked at a cow and said," I think that I'll drink whatever comes out of those things when I squeeze them?” - Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes)

“Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success, flat stretches of boring routine, and valleys of frustration and failure.” - Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes)

Note: Calvin & Hobbes are fictional characters from the comic series created by Bill Watterson.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 23 Oct 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:45:10 -0500

"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair." - George Burns

"The taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back!" - Will Rogers

"If all the economists in the world were laid end to end, they wouldn’t reach any conclusion." - George Bernard Shaw

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 21 Oct 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:42:40 -0500

“It’s absolutely stupid that we live without an ozone layer. We have men, we’ve got rockets, we’ve got saran wrap – FIX IT!!!” - Lewis Black

"I guess the real reason that my wife and I had children is the same reason that Napoleon had for invading Russia: it seemed like a good idea at the time." - Bill Cosby

"Scientists say because of global warming they expect the world's oceans to rise four and a half feet. The scientists say this can mean only one thing - Gary Coleman is going to drown." - Conan Obrian

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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What is Earnest Money?

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:31:55 -0500

Most people who are not involved in real estate day in and day out often get confused with the industry terminology that Realtors routinely use. It can be a confusing barrage of lingo that frustrates buyers and sellers. One of these terms is Earnest Money.

What is Earnest Money? - Earnest money in real estate is "good faith money," or as I like to call it serious money. This is the money that a buyer usually puts up to show the seller that he/she is serious about buying a house. This is often necessary in the mind of the seller because buying a house usually takes about 30 days (depending on the situation) from the time the buyer and seller ratify a contract until the time of the closing. The earnest money from the buyer is put is an escrow account and held by one of the involved real estate brokerages until the closing. If all goes according to plan and the buyer buys the house from the seller, then the earnest money is credited to the buyer at closing. But, in the event that the buyer backs out of the contract, without proper cause within the contract, the earnest money goes to the seller and the seller must then put the house/property back on the market in hopes of finding another buyer.

How Much Earnest Money? - It is important to note that in South Carolina there is no law requiring earnest money nor is there a law determining how much money should be put in escrow for any given price range. But, most sellers will not consider an offer without the earnest money being part of the offer. Why? Because the seller is taking a risk. You see once the seller accepts an offer on their home, the home is taken off of the "active" listings on the market. The seller usually secures a new place to live and begins the process of moving his/her household goods into another home or storage. The earnest money ensures that if the buyer backs out (apart from what is allowed in the contract) the seller is compensated for the risk of any potential buyers that were lost as well as their time and trouble involved.

So how much is required? I know many places around the country have an unwritten rule of 3%-5%. The only time you will see that around Charleston is with some new construction builders and with some bank owned properties. In the Charleston SC market, anything under 125K usually calls for an earnest money deposit between $500-$1000 (unless otherwise specified from the seller). Anything from 125K-250K usually calls for an earnest money deposit of $1000-$1500. Anything from 250K-500K usually calls for earnest money between the amounts of $1500 and $2500. Anything above that is usually specified by the seller. Just like anything else in real estate, earnest money is usually negotiable.

The key thing to remember about earnest money is that is should be used to strenghthen the offer of the buyer. A solid offer, a preapproval letter, and a reasonable sum of earnest money can go a long way in convincing the seller to accept the offer of a buyer.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 15 Oct 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:28:25 -0500

"It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness." - Thomas Jefferson (1788)

"Debt is the slavery of the free." Publilius Syrus (1st century BC)

"What the vast majority of American children need is to stop being pampered, stop being indulged, stop being chauffeured, stop being catered to. In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings." - Ann Landers

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - Success

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:11:39 -0500

"Achievement, n. The death of endeavor and the birth of disgust." - Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1906

"Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value." - Albert Einstein (1955)

"All success consists of this: You are doing something for somebody - benefiting humanity - and the felling of success comes from the consciousness of this." - Elbert Hubbard (1923)

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Charleston Book Sale 2009

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:26:04 -0500

Do you like books? I do! That's why I love going to the annual Charleston County library book sale. It is a great time to go through some used books and get a great deal on them. Don't miss this year's event going on this weekend at the Gailliard Auditorium. It is going on today Saturday, 10 Oct 2009, from 9am-7pm, and on Sunday, 11 Oct 09 from 10am-3pm. Go check it out.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - Individuality

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:36:20 -0500

"Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order and the rights of others, the institutions render him truly a free man. He is left to pursue his means of happiness in his own manner." - James Fenimore Cooper (1838)

"Any power must be an enemy of mankind which enslaves the individual by terror and force, whether it arises under the Fascist or the Communist flag. All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded to the individual." - Albert Einstein (1933)

"Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that it is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate." - Henry David Thoreau

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Top 25 Countries to Live In.....According to the UN

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:34:47 -0500

Our good friends at the UN have recently come out with their top places to live in the world based upon the "Human Develpoment Report." According to the website:

"The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrollment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income)."

Here is the list of the countries that made the list this year:

You saw right! The US is number 13. What? 13?

I've been to many of these countries and even lived in one (Germany) for three years. Most of these are nice places but there are not many, if any, I would put above the US as the best place to live. Take away the US and many of these countries would not even survive. Why? The US spends billions in the protection of itself as well as most of these countries (our allies).

If you really want to know where the best place on earth to live is, look at the emigration (migration from native country to another; moving out) and immigration (moving to a country that is not your own; moving in). The US is near dead last for people leaving its country to go to another. On the other hand it is number 1 in the world for people leaving their country to come to the US. I think the overwhelming majority of people like their life in the US and more than any other country, people want to move here. Below is a table of worldwide migration patterns:

Table 3: Emigrants
Origin of migrants	Emigration rate (%)	Major continent of destination for migrants	(%)
1. Antigua and Barbuda	45.3	Asia	46.6
20. Ireland	20.0	Europe	69.2
129. France	2.9	Europe	54.5
145. Australia	2.2	Europe	46.9
172. United States	0.8	Latin America and the Caribbean	32.2
174. Japan	0.7	Northern America	59.5
181. Mongolia	0.3	Europe	40.7
Global aggregates
OECD	3.9	Northern America	41.2
Very high human development	3.4	Europe	39.2
World	3.0	Europe	33.4

Table 4: Immigrants
Destination of migrants	Immigrant stock (thousands)	Destination of migrants	Immigrants as a share of population (%) 2005
1. United States	39,266.5	1. Qatar	80.5
		4. Andorra	63.1
		29. Ireland	14.8
		31. Austria	14.0
1. United States	39,266.5	34. United States	13.0
3. Germany	10,597.9	35. Germany	12.9
4. France	6,478.6	37. Sweden	12.3
164. Liechtenstein	11.9	129. Japan	1.6
182. Vanuatu	1.0	182. China	0.0
Global aggregates
OECD	97,622.8	OECD	8.4
Very high human development	107,625.9	Very high human development	11.1
World	195,245.4	World	3.0

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - Nature

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:28:10 -0500

"Of all man's works of art, a cathedral is greatest. A vast and majestic tree is greater than that." -Henry Ward Beecher (1870)

"To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a hoe, to plant seeds, and watch the renewal of life - this is the commonest delight of the race, the most satisfactory thing a man can do." - Charles Dudley Warner (1870)

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. - Henry David Thoreau

Hein Van Den Heuvel

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Goose Creek Real Estate Stats - Oct 2009

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:12:40 -0500

Goose Creek South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston SC, has a real estate market that continues to sell amidst the market decline. The number of homes sold are not what they were a year ago but Goose Creek real estate remains steady nonetheless. In September of 2009 50 homes sold in Goose Creek. There are currently just over 400 homes on the market in Goose Creek.

The following is a graph of the top selling neighborhoods in Goose Creek in September. Note that what is mostly selling in Brickhope Plantation and Brickhope Greens is new construction.

In the overall market of the Charleston SC Metro, Goose Creek ranked number five on the list of cities with the most homes sold in September as demonstrated in the graph below.

Recent Blogs

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

Charleston SC - A City of Firsts

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

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Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:30:40 -0500

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy that promotes energy-efficient products and practices.

On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." The bill extended tax credits for energy efficient home improvements to include windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). The residential tax credit is available for the aforementioned improvements made and placed in service in 2009 & 2010.

According to the government website, tax credits are available at 30% of the cost up to $1500 for existing homes only (new construction does not qualify). The website goes on to explain the rules:

Tax credits are now available for home improvements:

must be "placed in service" from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010
must be for taxpayer's principal residence, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, and small wind energy systems (where second homes qualify)
$1,500 is the maximum total amount that can be claimed for all products placed in service in 2009 & 2010 for most home improvements, EXCEPT for geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems which are not subject to this cap, and are in effect through 2016
must have a Manufacturer Certification Statement to qualify
for record keeping, save your receipts and the Manufacturer Certification Statement
improvements made in 2009 will be claimed on your 2009 taxes (filed by April 15, 2010) — use IRS Tax Form 5695 (2009 version) — it will be available late 2009 or early 2010
If you are building a new home, you can qualify for the tax credit for geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaics, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells, but not the tax credits for windows, doors, insulation, roofs, HVAC, or non-solar water heaters. More.

Recent Blogs

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

Charleston SC - A City of Firsts

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

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Quotes of the Day - 1 Oct 09

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:02:08 -0500

"The soul is healed by being with children." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the know to the unknown." Author Unknown

"Once abolish the God and the government becomes the God." G.K. Chesterton

Recent Blogs

Tanner Plantation

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate, Goose Creek SC

Real Estate in Charleston SC

Charleston SC - A City of Firsts

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

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Tanner Plantation

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:45:44 -0500

Tanner Plantation is a newer subdivision located in Hanahan SC, just north of the Goose Creek reservoir.

Tanner Plantation includes the subsections of Tanner Hall, Mossy Creek, The Gardens, Amberglen, Sweetgrass, Ibis Glade. Eagle Bluff, The Commons, South Cove, and Edgewood Trace.

View Tanner Plantation in a larger map

The following is a numerical breakdown of homes sold and currently on the market per subsection with additional information on each:

Tanner Hall - Tanner Hall is the priciest of the homes and all the homes are custom built. Three homes have sold thus far this year and seven are currently on the market with prices ranging from 486K to nearly 1.5 million dollars.

Mossy Creek - This subsection currently only has two homes built in it, one of which is for sale. The lots are being sold separately with the expectatation of a custom built home being place on the lot.

The Gardens - The Gardens has sold 4 homes this year thus far. Current home prices range from 167K to 210K. Most of the homes for sale are new construction built by KB Homes.

Amberglen - Amberglen has sold only one home this year and currently has three on the market with prices ranging from 229K to 255K.

Sweetgrass - Sweetgrass sold 10 thus far in 2009. There are currently six homes on the market with prices ranging from 170K-229K.

Ibis Glade - Ibis Glade has been selling like hotcakes this year and is probably one of the most popular neighborhoods in the subdivision. To date this year, 21 homes have been sold and seven are currently on the market with prices ranging from 167K - 268K. There are both brand new homes still being built by Beazer Homes as well as resale homes.

Eagle Bluff - Eagle Bluff is a small subsection and has sold two homes this year. There are currently two on the market ranging from 240K - 253K.

Edgewood Trace - Edgewood Trace sits on the edge of Tanner Plantation and has sold six homes this year. There are three on the market ranging from 224K - 259K.

South Cove - South Cove is the newest of the neighborhoods and pershaps also its most unique. Old style Charleston homes are built in this neighborhood. Nine have been sold this year. Seven homes are currently on the market with prices ranging from 154K-199K.

The Commons - a duplex style neighborhood that offers the convenience of a home as well as that of not having to worry about yard maintenance. An additional regime fee is required. Three homes have been sold this year and two are currently on the market at 130K each.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299