columbia sc: Revitalizing Columbia’s Main Street - 07/25/11 09:57 AM
Columbia SC    
I waited a couple of months for the grand opening hoopla to subside and chose a random Sunday afternoon to visit the new Mast General Store to see how business was going.  Mast moved into the historic Lourie’s Building at 1601 Main Street in late May.  Located at the corner of Main and Taylor Streets in downtown Columbia the building has housed retail operations since 1884.  Columbia is the ninth location for Mast.
 

The store sells traditional mercantile goods ranging from penny candy and bird houses to cast iron skillets and rocking chairs, along with clothing on … (1 comments)

columbia sc: Our National Debt Has Been Growing Since 1790 - 07/22/11 05:00 AM
While doing some research on the lingering causes of our National Debt I found out the Bureau of the Public Debt announced last week that it will no longer issue paper bonds starting next year and is moving to electronic bonds that are automatically redeemed when they mature.  More than $16 billion in unredeemed Savings Bonds are circulating and no longer earning interest.
The bondholders, us, our parents and grandparents, haven't redeemed matured bonds. Many were most likely lost over the years, or they may be stuffed in an envelope in dresser drawers and not opened in decades.  I imagine a … (3 comments)

columbia sc: Employment Figures Improve Modestly - 07/03/11 05:53 AM
Columbia SC     The latest quarterly South Carolina employment data is a mixture of good news/bad news.  Unfortunately over 71,000 employees were laid off by businesses that could not afford to keep them.  Another 14,000 people lost their jobs due to businesses shutting down completely.  These figures do not take into account the number of out of work independent contractors who are issued a 1099 rather than a W-2.  
 On the positive side a number of brand new businesses in the state have opened and hired 15,800 employees.  The economic recovery is working for some businesses because existing companies added over … (0 comments)

columbia sc: 165 Acre Complex Sold in Downtown Columbia SC - 06/16/11 07:36 AM
Columbia SC     Real estate developer Bob Hughes has received final approval to purchase the 165 acre State Mental Hospital complex in downtown Columbia.  This is one of the largest land sales to ever occur inside the city limits.
The State Budget and Control Board approved the $15 Million sale this week.  Plans are to sell the property in small parcels to independent developers.  A 2005 design for the property consists of close to one million feet of retail and office space and more than 1,200 homes to be built.
165 Acre Complex Sold in Downtown Columbia SC
Columbia SC Real Estate … (0 comments)

columbia sc: Columbia's New Downtown Parking Garage - 06/09/11 05:59 AM
COLUMBIA, S.C.     Construction will soon begin on a six-story downtown parking garage that will supply an additional 530 parking spaces at the corner of Taylor and Sumter streets.  A lighted walkway will lead around the corner to Main Street on the block with the new Mast General Store and The Nickelodeon theater.
The parking garage will also house a new city bus shelter and several bike racks.  An exciting sign of the new times will be the 10 electric vehicle charging stations in the garage.  I hope the designers are planning for the expansion of more charging stations because in the … (1 comments)

columbia sc: Young Home Buyers Realizing Opportunities of Housing Bust - 05/12/11 01:35 AM
Columbia SC     Not only have the prices of existing homes dropped in the last three years but falling real estate values have also affected new homes.  The local builders are building smaller, less embellished homes.  Young buyers are looking for more kitchen cabinets and larger closets vs. granite countertops and Jacuzzis. 

The Upside of the Housing Bust
First time home buyers are entering today's housing market at bargain prices.  The National Association of Realtors publishes the housing affordability index and the latest numbers show existing homes for sale are the most affordable since NAR began publishing the report in 1970.  The … (3 comments)

columbia sc: How To Lock In A 4% Mortgage Rate For 10 Years - 05/05/11 07:23 AM
Columbia SC     I have never been a big fan of adjustable rate mortgages....until this week. 
A large mortgage bank in the midlands has just announced an ARM with a locked in rate of just 4.0% for 10 years that provides a great opportunity for home buyers who will only be in their homes for a limited period of time!  On average, most first time home buyers live in their first house for 5 to 7 years.  With home prices at their lowest levels in 4 years what a great way to begin building your financial stability for the future.

 
Some … (0 comments)

columbia sc: How Columbia Rolled in 1930 - 05/04/11 03:56 AM
Columbia SC     Check out this black and white film footage of the grand opening of Owens Field and the Curtiss Wright hangar in Columbia, SC in 1930.  Bi-planes, aerial views of Columbia and the State House, and one of the first Goodyear Blimps are all packed in to this silent newsreel.
Gotta love it      http://library.sc.edu/mirc/playVideo.html?i=45
 
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columbia sc: Verizon Joins T-Mobile With 4G Service To Columbia Area - 04/20/11 04:23 AM
Columbia SC     Verizon Wireless will join T-Mobile this week as Columbia's fastest 4G network service providers for smartphones and tablets.   4G service, which is short for 4th generation, is several times faster than 3G technology and will cut the download time of large files like books and movies drastically.  As always your 3G phones are not compatible with the new 4G service and Verizon will have over a half dozen 4G devices available later this year.  Data plans start around $50 a month.
 
Terry Edwards     New & Existing Home Sales
803 920 5327     tedwards@sc.rr.com
www.FeaturedColumbia Homes.com
 
Columbia SC Real … (0 comments)

columbia sc: Rosewood Homes For Sale in Columbia SC 29205 - 04/13/11 01:00 PM
Columbia SC     Spring has popped out all over Columbia and the home sales in the Rosewood area are picking up.  Rosewood is centrally located and is only five minutes from 5 Points and USC and about 10 minutes from The Vista, Fort Jackson and the VA Medical Center. 
There are currently 99 homes listed for sale in the Rosewood area ranging in price from $91,500 to $270,000.  There is a good selection of several different styles ranging from two bedroom townhomes to a completely remodeled 3BR/3BA home with 2200 square feet of heated space.


So far this spring nine homes have sold … (0 comments)

columbia sc: Award Winning Township Auditorium Turns 80 - 04/10/11 07:56 AM
Columbia SC     Last year $12 million was spent to renovate the Township Auditorium on Taylor Street in Downtown Columbia.  It is now being honored with the 2011 New Construction in Historic Context award given by Columbia's Historic Foundation.  The new glass front of the building and the lobby are beautiful, transforming the 80 year old architecture into the next century. 
Over the years the Township has hosted a wide range of entertainers such as Pink Floyd, Gallagher, Marshall Tucker Band, David Copperfield and Alice Cooper.  The acoustics in the arena are probably the best in town and the seating arrangements make for great views … (0 comments)

columbia sc: Heathwood Neighborhood Celebrates 100th Anniversary With Zoning Changes - 04/06/11 03:37 AM
Columbia SC    Tuesday evening Columbia City Council approved new zoning changes for Heathwood, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.  After a developer recently tore down an old house in the Heathwood neighborhood and subdivided the land into home sites, stricter zoning standards have been adopted.
Heathwood homeowners will now need to get approval from Columbia's Design/Development Review Commission for all new construction.  All new additions or enclosures visible from the road, including driveway work and demolitions, will now require approval.  Permission by the Review Commission for general maintenance and repair work not visible from the road is not required.
The Whaley, Sherwood … (1 comments)

columbia sc: New and Existing Home Sales Update - 04/01/11 05:55 AM
Columbia SC     A shift in consumer psychology has hurt new home sales in just the past two years.  Pre-recession, buyers expected stainless kitchen appliances and granite countertops.  The buyers I've worked with recently are mostly concerned about a home that's cheaper to heat and cool.  For many buyers, that includes smaller rooms with the old 8' standard ceiling. A 10' ceiling looks nice, but it adds 25% to the cubic volume of the air space and zero % to the living space.   

According to the National Association of Realtors new homes are currently 29% more expensive than existing homes due … (18 comments)

columbia sc: Coastal Biodiesel to Open Columbia Facility - 03/29/11 06:59 AM
Columbia SC     Coastal Biodiesel plans to open a grease-processing facility at the intersection of Beltline and Shop Road. The company collects used cooking oil from restaurants for conversion into biodiesel fuel. Their process separates and processes restaurant grease that can clog sewer systems.
Coastal Biodiesel recently completed an environmental assessment of the property for the State Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Coastal Biodiesel currently has operations in the Myrtle Beach and Charleston areas and plans to employ about 25 people at the Columbia location.
 
Coastal Biodiesel to Open Columbia Facility
Columbia SC Real Estate & Business Report
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columbia sc: Columbia SC Proudly Turns 225 - 03/25/11 04:43 AM
March of 2011 marks the 225th birthday for South Carolina's capitol and largest city.  One of the first planned cities of the original 13 colonies, Columbia was chosen in 1786 for the centralized location within the state and ease of access to river travel.  The latest census numbers released this week show we have now topped 129,000 residents, up 11% from ten years ago.
See How Columbia Rolled    

South Carolina's total population has now grown to 4.6 million (just a few more people than in the greater Atlanta area) and Richland County now has over 384,000 residents, a 20% increase … (1 comments)

columbia sc: Columbia Home and Garden Show is This Weekend - 03/12/11 07:02 AM
Columbia SC     Columbia's spring home and garden show this year will feature over 250 exhibits spread over the State Fairgrounds.  Everything hot and fashionable for today's home will be on display, from the latest in kitchen and bath remodeling ideas to swimming pools and stone work.
This is the 45th year for the Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show, which is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia.  The exhibits will be open Saturday from 10 to 8 and Sunday from 11 to 6.  This year a Seniors Pavilion has been added for displaying convenience upgrades for seasoned citizens.
… (0 comments)

columbia sc: Mortgage Applications at Highest Level in 3 Months - 03/09/11 08:28 AM
Columbia SC     The Mortgage Bankers Association said its index of mortgage application activity rose 15.5 percent in the week ended March 4.  Applications for home mortgages jumped to the highest level in three months last week, buoyed by improvements in the job market.
"An improving job market is beginning to pave the way for an improving housing market," Michael Fratantoni, MBA's vice president of research and economics, said in a statement.
Current home mortgage rates in Columbia are just under 5% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage.

I just completed an MLS search for active listings of 3 bedroom/2 … (0 comments)

columbia sc: $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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columbia sc: 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)

columbia sc: 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)