A Republican Presidential debate will be held In Myrtle Beach on January 10th.

The republican debate will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to be followed by the Republican Primary on January 19th

  Myrtle Beach will also hold a Democratic Presidential debate on January 21st which will be broadcast by CNN.

The event will be held at the Palace Theater followed by the Democratic primary on January 26th.

     In order to protect consumers from the "caveat Emptor" mentality in our free enterprise system, laws were passed that attempt to protect consumers from shady practices. Is a lie still a lie if it is committed through omission? What we don't say sometimes screams out loudly when it becomes apparent at a future date.

In the case of Real Estate dealings, a document prepared by the seller has to be given the prospective buyer stating all known material defects on a property prior to the sale. If a seller does not fully disclose "known material defects" then the buyer has full legal recourse against the seller should defects crop up after the closing.

The defense used by sellers usually comes about in the following manner.... " Duh... I didn't know that...."

Ok... the buyer now has to prove that the seller was fully aware of conditions and failed to disclose them.

What happens when a Real estate Agency gets thrown into the mix?

What if the Realtor, is aware of problems that are not documented on the Property disclosure Forms?

Read all about it.

Worse yet..... what if the Realtor did not know, thought they were covered by other professional reports, and yet the Jury finds against the Realtor. 

I conducted an inspection this weekend on a condo unit. As I approached, the first thing I noticed were the construction trailers around this particular building. The second thing I noticed was the scaffolding erected at the rear of the building.

Mind you, a condo inspection only includes what is on the inside of the unit ( paint to paint) however, as an informational aside, I tell my client about anything that I find in the common areas that might impact his ownership such as broken sidewalks, problems with stairways, mold in the hallways... etc.

As I walked around the building, a gentleman wearing a tie came up to me and asked me what I was doing taking pictures of the building. I explained what I was contracted to do and he then introduced himself as an attorney involved in a lawsuit with the HOA.   RED FLAG.... "Danger, Will Robinson, Danger, Danger...."

As I proceeded onto the stairway, there was a notice stapled to a post informing the building residents about a meeting in a court house to inform everyone about the progression of the lawsuit.

I then overheard two gentlemen discussing some of the work going on. They appeared to be residents, so, I approached them told them what I was doing there,and asked if they'd be willing to tell me what was going on.

The two gentlemen were more than happy to vent. Apparently, to make a long story short, The buildings had been erected with sub-standard materials, Rot had appeared on the supports for walkways, and moisture had infiltrated some units causing mold and mildew conditions.

I asked if the HOA had issued a "special assessment" for repairs, and was told in 6 years there were 2 "special Assessments" to the owners, one being used to cover higher insurance rates. But, they wouldn't discuss the second assessment.   RED FLAG.

When My client ( Young man, first property) showed up, I told him about what I had found out. He was aware of some of the situation, but, had been assured by the seller that the lawsuit was over and done with.

Having informed him, I felt that my responsibility had been discharged. He still wanted the inspection, which I concluded, and he stated, after I pointed out the stapled notice, that he didn't know about the meeting, but was now planning on attending.

The moral of the story:

If you are buying a property that involves a HOA, there are some points to consider. ie:

How much are the HOA fees and when are payments due?

What do the HOA fees cover?

What don't he HOA fees cover?

What procedures are in place to collect delinquent HOA fees?

How often can the HOA fees increase and by how much?

How does the HOA's annual budget compare to similar communities?

Does the communities HOA have a viable reserve fund?

Have special assessments been levied?

Are there restrictions on renting property?

Do the architectural guidelines suit your preferences? (can you paint your unit yellow?)

Is the community age-restricted?

Are there simmering issues between homeowners and the HOA board?

What are the rules with respect to pets, flags, outside antennas, satellite dishes, clotheslines, fences, patios, parking and home businesses?

Are HOA board meetings open to all residents?

Be informed, be prepared.............

     You've seen numerous homes, You and your agent are now so familiar, you've found out that you have relatives in common, (Third cousins four times removed on your great Aunt's side of the family)

You have finally arrived at the place you'd hoped to be. You found your new home. Congratulations.

You've given an earnest money deposit along with your offer.

Your offer was accepted.

You're happy.   Your agent is happy.   The seller is happy.   Their agent is happy....

Closing is tentatively set 3 weeks from now......

GET A HOME INSPECTION.

No kidding... get one.

How long did you really spend looking over the property of your dreams?

From the time you entered the front door, walked through the living room, looked in the kitchen, maybe peeked into the pantry, walked into the bedrooms, looked in the closets, walked into the garage, walked around the exterior.......

How much time did you spend looking over this purchase, thats going to impact you for the next 30 years?

 And.... what is your EXPERTize regarding the many components that make up a structure?

Were You looking over the home with a CRITICAL eye, or an EMOTIONAL heart?

Most Home inspections will find minor items that can be easily corrected, giving you the peace of mind that you need, in order to concentrate on what matters, Earning that money to pay that mortgage.

However, sometimes, a Home Inspection brings reality to the forefront.

Be Smart, be careful, be protected, be informed...... GET A HOME INSPECTION

I conducted an inspection on a brand new home this last tuesday and this ommission sort of stood up and slapped my face.

This was a first for me and set me to wondering "what else did the builder forget?"

Below is the picture with the omission.

There is a prize to the first person that can identify the missing item.

That's right...... NO Insulation.......

OOps... gave it away.... I retract the offer of a prize.

Finally, we have a slight reprieve. It rained last night. With lightning so intense that it's a no wonder that spirits long at rest were awakened and getting ready for a nights haunting coming up on the 31st.

Still, with all the rain we had, it is not enough to slake the thirst of those close to empty reservoirs.

Conditions are still severe in many areas, with strict restrictions placed upon water consumption.

Myrtle Beach's water supply is still adequate, and, no restrictions have been enacted. Fortunately these drought conditions came about after our tourist season and demand for water has dropped significantly.

Our supply is being closely monitored and some warning signs have gone up. We just hope that the river system that brings us our water doesn't drop low enough to allow salt water intrursion.

Stay tuned.......

I just posted a blog about the danger of a chimney fire and the need to have your chimney cleaned before the heating season.   http://activerain.com/blogsview/230455/Clean-that-chimney

After posting that, I thought that I should place a more comprehensive list of things to do as Autumn rolls along.

If you're a home owner, don't forget to.....

• Close fireplace damper when not in use

• Fix leaky faucets                               

• Unclog slow-running drains

• Inspect and replace filters as necessary

• Clean/vacuum coils of both the compressor (outside) and Air Handler (inside) of your heat pump

• Clean/vacuum heating ducts, grills, and registers

• walk around the house exterior to check general condition

• Replace smoke and fire alarm batteries (at least twice per year)

• Inspect and clean fireplace and chimney

• Clean upper-story windows (twice per year)

• Inspect window screens and insulation, and install storm windows

• Inspect weather-stripping around doors and replace as needed.

• Cut back any trees or shrubs touching the roof or exterior (twice per year)

• Clean gutters and inspect downspouts (twice per year)

• Trim, cover, or bring in outdoor plants as needed

• Perform seasonal pest control (quarterly)

AAAAAhhhhhh.. the Joys of Home Ownership.........

These and other tips may be found on my web site http://home2spec.com/home_maintenance_checklist.htm

Stay safe....

There is a proposal coming up before the Horry County Planning Commission to build up to 18,000 homes on more than 6,200 acres in the Longs area of the County.

The International Paper company owns the land and is proposing to develop it with a mix of single and multi-family homes along with businesses.

The project, to be named Carolina Station, will stretch out for an estimated 30 year time span, with sewer lines going in a s early as the end of 2008.

The main concerns are the impact on the present infrastructure, and the destruction of the 6,200 acres of woodland that the project will encompass.

International Paper is proposing installing an 800 acre lake and set asides for parks, schools, fire and police stations and churches.

Unclear is, who would develop these ancillary structures, and who would pay for them

Apparently the current market conditions are not a factor in this project due to expectations of a market turn around in a couple of years.

Today, the Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke stated that the housing fiasco is creating a "significant drag" on the nation's general economy.

     US Treasury Secretary Paulson warns us that the damage is yet to come and that the housing downturn will "adversely impact our economy" while stating that the actions of some mortgage market participants is "shameful"

     There is blame going around and around with everyone's fingers getting stiff from all the pointing.

It's my turn.

     1   In 2004 the Federal government called for increasing available affordable housing by 7 Million units by    the year 2014

     2.   In 2004 the Federal Government called for  lower taxes and less burdensome regulations        on entrepreneurs; and policies to eliminate barriers to homeownership.

     3.   In 2004 The President proposed supporting low-income families who are saving for a down payment,            and ensuring that good financing options are available.

     4.   In 2004 The President proposed Regulatory reforms in order to open doors for millions of American    families who want to buy or rent an affordable home in the community of their choice

     5.   In 2004 President Bush "Challenged" the private sector by calling upon the housing industry, including the, Federal Home Loan Banks, the homebuilders, and the mortgage and finance industry to join with Federal, State, and local governments to help America meet the goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing.

     6.   In 2002 The President announced the "American Dream Down payment Initiative."

       7.   In 2005 The President proposed the "Zero-Down payment Initiative"

Ok.... I'm getting tired of looking up these references but, I guess that a pattern is beginning to emerge....

What EXACTLY did Our leaders think was going to happen when you give people with NO credit history, BAD credit history NO money for a down payment even... what ammounts to carte blanche in joining the millions of responsible home owners that got theirs the "old fashioned way"

I think that it's time that the fingers started pointing inwardly.

Referenced from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040902-5.html

This morning, GMA ran a story about a potentially deadly problem covering about 2 million homes in The US.

The problem stems from the usage of a "new" type of gas line being used called Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing, or CSST, which is used to bring Propane into the home for use in Fireplaces, water heaters, stoves, dryers , furnaces and any other appliance that uses propane gas.

The problem as reported is the thin wall construction and improper grounding of the pipe. The energy released by an indirect lightning strike can easily rupture the pipe, creating a leak, and an explosive situation.

This Newspaper article gives you some of the story.

A class action lawsuit has been settled without the manufacturer admitting culpability.However, more lawsuits are sure to follow.

The gas pipe in question can be identified by its yellow plastic covering and the manufacturers name (WardFlex)imprinted on it,