What Do You Want And Need In A New Home? - 02/28/11 04:27 AM
Finding a new home can be exciting.  But deciding want you really want and need (and can afford) is the kicker.  Almost every homebuyer will face several trade-offs.

Do you prefer a home with a large yard, or a townhome or condo with almost all maintenance performed by an outside agency?  Basic needs include the number of bedrooms and baths.  Are an office and garage needs or wants?  How about the age of a home?  New homes should be mostly maintenance free for a few years while existing homes in established neighborhoods will require more frequent repairs.
Another decision will be the commuting time … (1 comments)

$5 Million Richland County Road Paving Project - 02/28/11 03:45 AM
Columbia, SC   Richland County Council will decide this week whether to pave several lightly used dirt roads and to repave some heavier traveled existing roads.  $4.5 million of state gas tax money is at stake along with an additional 1/2 million dollars of county money for a test project for paving the dirt roads.  This project would allow light usage roads to be paved with asphalt that is not as thick and will have narrower lanes.
 
Columbia Real Estate & Business Report
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USC Plans To Establish Aerospace Engineering Degree Program - 02/27/11 07:37 AM
Columbia, SC     The University of South Carolina is looking to expand into the Aerospace Engineering field.  The House Ways and Means Committee recently approved $5 million to create centers for Multiphysics of Multi-Functional Heterogeneous Materials, and In-Process Nondestructive Monitoring of Structural Composites.  Graduates would be in a prime position to work at the new Boeing plant in Charleston which manufactures the latest 787 Dreamliners.
The 787 uses light-weight composites for the main body and wings, replacing the metals of previous generation aircraft.  The two new USC programs will concentrate on the manufacturing and testing of materials used in the design and … (0 comments)

Zillow's Monthly Real Estate Report for Columbia, SC - 02/22/11 05:23 AM
Columbia, SC   According to Zillow's Real Estate Market Report for December 2010, Columbia home values were down 2.4% compared to December 2009.  While this statement is in the ball park, I find some of Zillow's local data to be laughable.  In some instances I have seen their estimates on home values to be off by $40,000.  If you really want an accurate local market valuation for a home, the property has to be compared to other similar properties.  Comparing it to the rental houses that were trashed in the neighborhood a half mile down the road doesn't work.  A good local … (2 comments)

A Sleepless Sunday Night - 02/21/11 04:05 AM
I have cycled thru all 600 channels of glorious HD several times now and between infomercials and 24 hour news shows I have come up with a current Bucket List:
- Go sailing off the Somalia coast- Go hiking on the Iran/Iraq border- Climb Mount Hood in late December- Get high and tease the tigers at the zoo- Hang out with Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen
 
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SCBT Buying Habersham Bank - 02/20/11 03:53 AM
Columbia SC     South Carolina Bank & Trust announced Friday it has an agreement to take over Habersham Bank of Clarkesville, Ga.  Habersham operates eight locations in six Georgia counties and brings SCBT's network to 83 locations in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.  Habersham Bank has been open for business for 106 years.  
SCBT's financial health has allowed it to be among the first in the nation to pay back its federal bank bailout loan, totaling over $64 million.
SCBT grew by nearly 50 percent last February when it bought Community Bank & Trust of Cornelia - then Georgia's seventh-largest … (0 comments)

204 Saddlemount Drive Hopkins SC 29061 Home For Sale - 02/11/11 07:01 AM
204 Saddlemount Drive   Hopkins SC 29061    Home For Sale

This secluded brick ranch home on 1 acre of land in Hopkins is located near Horrell Hill Elementary School and Southeastern Middle School

This is the view of the spacious living room from the front entrance.   

Moving on into the dining area with the French doors and the sunroom


The sun-filled kitchen has a huge pantry with a smooth top range and microwave oven.  The washer and dryer are located behind the doors to the left.



The home has a split design with the master … (3 comments)