sumter: 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)

sumter: 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)

sumter: 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)

sumter: Compare and Contrast.... - 04/29/11 06:33 AM
The office puppy is again in residence today.  Compare last blog entry's photos to this, and see how she's growing!

 

Good dog!
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sumter: 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.
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sumter: 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)

sumter: 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.
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sumter: 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)

sumter: 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.

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sumter: 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.
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sumter: 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)

sumter: 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)

sumter: 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)

sumter: Wellness and Spa Day at the Sumter Board of Realtors® - 12/09/10 12:29 PM
Last Friday we held a Wellness and Spa Day here at the Board office.  We had representatives from Tuomey here taking blood samples to do cholesterol and blood glucose checks, taking blood pressure, and handing out nutrition information.  A local chiropractor came to do free screenings.  A photographer from Columbia came and took photos and spiffied them up on site for new business cards and other marketing materials (I watched him do one, it was very cool).  We had healthy snacks and nibbles and gave away lots of door prizes.  We even had a masseuse (however that's spelled).
It was very … (0 comments)

sumter: In Sumter, SC We Love Our Veterans - 11/12/10 03:28 AM
Sumter, SC is home to Shaw Air Force Base. It's been said you can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a veteran. And it's true.
Yesterday was Veterans Day. I hear in other parts of the country it's not a big deal. It's a very big deal around here. There was a ceremony at the county courthouse yesterday morning, you can read about it here. I did not attend; I was at work. But it's nice to know there are people who appreciate the work and sacrifices involved in keeping our country free.
There was also a free concert … (0 comments)

sumter: Things to Do in Sumter: Sip & Stroll - 11/08/10 04:20 AM
Sumter, SC has one of the most well developed cultural communities I've ever lived in, especially for a town this size.  There's always something to do, something to see.  Last Friday we participated in the annual Sip & Stroll, the first of three events in the 2010-2011 Sumter Winefest.  There were 13 participants downtown, offering samples of wines and nibbles, all thankfully provided by Market Place Spirits (the wines) and New Beginning Catering Service (the nibbles).
Our offering was "California Trendy", which if you knew us personally you'd appreciate how ironic that is. I looked up the vintner's website, and found … (2 comments)

sumter: Halloween at the Sumter Board of Realtors® - 10/29/10 03:29 AM
Happy Halloween!
 

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sumter: 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)

sumter: Sumter County Storm Water Utility Ordinance Passes - 09/16/10 10:18 AM
The federally mandated storm water runoff utility -- unfunded, I might add, meaning it's a tax -- has been a topic for discussion here in Sumter County lately.  The biggest bone of contention was how much residents were going to have to pay to fund it.  Not whether we wanted to, you understand. We didn't have a choice.
Sumter County Council had a meeting Tuesday night and the ordinance was finally passed after its third and final reading.  Not that they had much choice -- if it hadn't been passed Sumter County would have been fined $1 million. Which the taxpayers … (0 comments)

sumter: Local News Article: Home Sales Fall -- They Quoted Us and Someone's P****d - 08/20/10 11:20 AM
The link to the news article, which appeared this morning in the local paper, is here, and it's probably perishable so I have no idea how long it'll stay active.
My boss/co-worker got several phone calls and e-mails yesterday from the reporter who wrote that article.  One of the comments he made was that he had a deadline, he needed us to answer the questions he had immediately and so on.  So we did the best we could; it's in everybody's best interests to try to get as much information out to the world about the real estate market, and especially … (0 comments)