real estate: I'm Back. Did You Miss Me? - 06/13/12 08:06 AM
Well no, of course you didn't.
I got fired from the Board office last September.  That's what happens when you piss the boss off.  There's a lot more to that story, of course, but I won't be sharing it here -- for several reasons.  Personal opinion -- I made a stupid mistake, but I shouldn't have been fired for it.  I'm hardly objective, so make of that what you will.
I'm now working for the agency I worked for right after I got my license in 2005.  Not selling real estate, I only hemorrhaged money for five years doing that, can't … (1 comments)

real estate: Sumter Microbrew Festival, 2011 - 05/10/11 07:50 AM
The Sumter Board of Realtors® participated in Sumter's Microbrew Festival again this year.  Last year wasn't the first year the Board participated, it was just the first time I participated.  We had a blast, so we were really looking forward to it.
The weather was grim for most of the day, raining all day, occasionally coming down in buckets -- or as a former commander of mine used to put it, "raining like a cow p*****g on a flat rock." By two the rain had stopped, the weather radar indicated no storms approaching, the temperature was cool and comfortable. And we got quite a … (0 comments)

real estate: You Can't Always Get What You Want.... - 04/29/11 09:57 AM
A few years ago a developer had a plan for what was said would be a garbage dump located near Shaw Air Force Base, in the area zoned to prevent residential encroachment on the base. That's the sort of thing that gets bases closed, and we don't want the base to close. Turned out it wasn't going to be a trash dump, but a place to collect construction waste - asphalt, sand, etc. And a few weeks ago in the local paper there was an article saying that earlier this year the developer came at the problem again, saying he was proposing a sand mine … (0 comments)

real estate: Sometimes Work Isn't All Work - 02/14/11 02:42 PM
Today one of my co-workers brought a lab puppy in she's thinking about buying.  Yes, thinking.  That's a foreign concept to me.  But then it takes me about 30 seconds to bond with a critter, so taking a puppy home for the purpose of thinking about whether you want to keep him or her -- does not compute.
Here she is. Isn't she the cutest thing ever?

 

 

 

 
We spent the day (in between real work, of course) trying to decide what her name is.
 
We do work.  Really.
… (3 comments)

real estate: Beach Forest Subdivision, Sumter, SC - 01/30/11 01:07 PM
Beach Forest is a subdivision of upscale brick homes right outside Sumter, SC that was originally intended to be a stand-alone community.  It was to have shops and recreation and very nice homes, some on watefront, all within a short drive of Sumter's amenities.  And it may yet have all that, it's just taking a tad bit longer to complete than the developers had in mind.  Not that it's a bad place to be, oh no.  The homes there are beautiful.
There have been 12 sales there in the past six months.  Average list price was $217,383; average sales price was … (0 comments)

real estate: Williamsburg Subdivision, Sumter, SC - 01/30/11 11:24 AM
Williamsburg is a subdivision of brick homes located between Sumter, SC and Shaw Air Force Base.  It's been out there about five years, give or take.  There were two sales out there in the past six months.  Average list price was $153,450; average sales price was $152,150 (99.18%).  Average days on market was 128 and average price per square foot was $94.82.
That information was gleaned from the Sumter Board of Realtors® / MLS on January 30, 2011.
Here's a video of Williamsburg that I took yesterday while driving around.  Enjoy.
… (0 comments)

real estate: Beckwood Shires Subdivision, Sumter, SC - 01/30/11 10:53 AM
Beckwood Shires is a subdivision of brick homes located between Sumter and Dalzell, SC. It's been out there for the past four years, give or take.   I had thought to discuss sales in the past six months, but there weren't any -- ouch.  So I went back a year.  There were four.  Average list price was $175,219; average sales price was $175,344 (100.08%).  Average days on market was 129 and average price per square foot was $96.62.  There are, as of the time of this writing, 6 homes for sale there.
That information was gleaned from the Sumter Board of … (0 comments)

real estate: Hunter's Crossing Subdivision, Sumter, SC - 01/30/11 10:27 AM
Hunter's Crossing is a subdivision of two-story vinyl-sided homes located between Sumter and Shaw Air Force Base.  It's convenient to both areas.  Over the past six months there have been 16 sales there.  Average list price was $124,807; average sales price was $122,937 (98.47%).  Average days on market was 126 and average price per square foot was $68.59. At the moment, there are 14 homes for sale there.
That information was gleaned from the Sumter Board of Realtors® / MLS, by the way, on January 30, 2011.
Here's a video I took yesterday while driving around.  Enjoy.

… (0 comments)

real estate: South Carolina Homeownership and Employment Lending Program (HELP) - 01/21/11 02:52 AM
The South Carolina Housing Authority is taking their foreclosure assistance program statewide to help people in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.  Almost $300 million is available to help responsible but struggling homeowners in South Carolina. Several programs are available depending on the homeowners' situation. Threshhold requirements have to be met.
More information is available at their website: http://www.scmortgagehelp.com/ .  Or you can go straight to the .pdf --  http://www.scmortgagehelp.com/Documents/Release_1_19_11.pdf .
Check it out -- somone you know probably needs help.  Pass it along.
… (2 comments)

real estate: Sales Info, Or How Are We Doing, Really? - 01/16/11 11:43 AM
Been awhile since I've posted any sales information.  As I'm not selling real estate anymore I've found it better to leave those posts to people who are actually in the trenches.
But, I thought maybe I'd take a quick look at how last year went, compared to the three years before.  Are we better? Worse? About the same?  Well, here goes...
The usual caveats apply.  This information addresses only residential properties.  I did not look at commercial or land.  These properties were in and around the Sumter area (Sumter, Lee and Clarendon Counties, for the most part).
This chart depicts solds, … (2 comments)

real estate: Does Everything Have to Go on Facebook? - 12/13/10 05:13 AM
Facebook is a fine thing.  It's a great tool.  It allows you to keep up with people, contact friends (and even relatives) you've lost contact with over the years.  It keeps you abreast of what's going on in the lives of the people you know -- and sometimes people you don't know. You can publicize your listings, and your open houses.  It's quite convenient.  And it's free.
It can also give out more information than anyone needs.  Some people seem to think we're all waiting on tenterhooks for an update on their latest life decision.
I've never understood the rationale people have … (3 comments)

real estate: The State Newspaper Gets It Wrong -- Again - 12/11/10 06:25 AM
I got to read the papers later than usual today - had things to do this morning and sat down a little while ago to read - and found this. In which The State newspaper manages to totally misrepresent a situation.
Seriously - did they not get the whole story? Did they get the whole story and only quoted the part that let them slant the situation the way the editors wanted to? Are they stupid?
Suffice it to say I know what the rationale is, and I can't discuss it. I'm sorry, I know that sounds like I'm grandstanding, but it's … (0 comments)

real estate: H. R. 5028 - 09/23/10 04:41 AM
Saw this mentioned on Facebook this morning, went and checked it out. 
The blog entry is here. The text of the bill is here.

If you’re looking for how the housing market double-dip will be created, here’s the answer. Never mind the endless taxpayer-backed money-pits of FHA, Fannie and Freddie: Here comes a proposal to grant defaulting homeowners the “right” to rent their homes for five years.

It’s called H.R. 5028 and it’s no joke. The "Right to Rent" bill drafted before Congress meets with the approval of the Center of Economic Policy and Research, a think-tank … (3 comments)

real estate: Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure -- That Was Supposed to Be the Deal - 07/18/10 12:07 PM
The other day I was reading the classified section of our local paper, going through the legal notices.  They're interesting.  Sometimes you find out things you wouldn't otherwise.
One of the foreclosure notices was for the house of a former client of mine.  She was a young woman, new to the area when she contacted me about buying her first home.  The house she chose was an older home, built in 1910 and very well maintained.  Hardwood floors, fireplaces (don't know if any of them worked), high ceilings.  It was just lovely -- but I'm partial to the older homes so … (7 comments)

real estate: Home Sales in Sumter, Lee and Clarendon Counties, June 1-15, 2010 - 06/20/10 03:45 PM
Home Sales Data, June 1-15, 2010 Sumter and surrounding areas, SC
This information includes residences only; I did not include land or commercial properties.  I looked only at Sumter and the surrounding area.
For the period June 1-15, 2010, there were 109 new listings placed on the market.  Lowest list price was $8,500 for a 60-year-old bank-owned duplex.  Highest list price was $699,000 for a 12-year-old bi-level custom-built waterfront home in a gated community.  Twelve of the new listings are new construction, one is a condo/townhouse and two are duplexes. Two of the new listings were withdrawn - one after being on … (0 comments)

real estate: Video: Patriot Landing Subdivision, Sumter, SC - 03/07/10 01:30 PM
At the moment there are four homes listed in the MLS in this subdivision. This subdivision is just off Patriot Parkway, aka Hwy 441 until it gets to the intersection of the highway and Loring Mill Road, at which point it turns into Wise Drive.  Streets do that here -- cross an intersection, you're on a different street.  Takes some getting used to. All four homes are two-story vinyl, ranging from a little over 2,300 square feet to a little over 2,800 square feet.  One of the homes for sale is the model. They range in price from $160,125 to $289,500.  … (0 comments)

real estate: Video: Robinwood Subdivision, Sumter, SC - 03/05/10 03:05 PM
At the moment there are two homes listed in the MLS in this subdivision.  There are also two FSBO's, last time I drove through there.  Which was Saturday, the 27th of February. This subdivision is right across Patriot Parkway from Banbury subdivision, so it's also about 8 minutes' drive to Shaw Air Force Base and about 15 minutes to downtown Sumter. These lots are also about an acre and nice homes.  Both of the homes in the MLS now are over 2,500 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.
In the past six months, one home has sold.  Not … (4 comments)

real estate: Video: Banbury Subdivision - 02/28/10 01:13 PM
I filmed this one yesterday. 
At the moment there are three homes available in this subdivision, which is about 8 minutes' drive from Shaw Air Force Base's main gate and about fifteen minutes, depending on traffic, to downtown Sumter.  The prices range from $299,850 to $349,900.  These are all brick homes, the lots are all about one acre, and they're really nice homes.  Four and five bedrooms, granite countertops, ceramic tile, hardwood floors, gas log fireplaces (at least one listing has two fireplaces), jacuzzi tubs.  Nice houses.  They've been on the market for awhile (one of them is on its third … (0 comments)

real estate: Home Sales Data for Sumter, SC January 16-31, 2010 - 02/10/10 06:57 AM
Home Sales Data, January 16-31, 2010 Sumter, SCThis information was for residences only; I did not include land or commercial properties.  I looked only at Sumter and the surrounding area.For the period January 16-31, 2010, there were 87 new listings placed on the market (one was withdrawn after 6 days when it was rented rather than sold; another was withdrawn after being on the market a grand smashing total of 36 days, under two different MLS numbers, no idea why). Lowest list price was $7,350 for a 12-year-old bank-owned mobile home that sold for $7,350 cash after being on the market … (2 comments)

real estate: My First Webcam Video - 01/20/10 11:28 AM
Me, in my natural habitat.
 
 


Yes, I know. It's brilliant, isn't it? Well, what did your first self-video look like? … (7 comments)