New Homes Oct 2009 Issue

Online Magazine

$ Priceless $

Articles: Finding A Green Home Advantages For Town Home Living 10 Tips For Buying Smart

Contents

Buy Local Carolina Girl Gear Time To Refinance Or Buy!? Home Is Not Where You Live Finding A Green Home Home Is A Place You Grow Up Wanting To Leave He Is Happist...Who Finds Peace In His Home A House Is Made Of Walls And Beams Advantages For Town Home Living In South Carolina May The Roof Above Us Never Fall In Home Is Where You Can Say Anything You Please 10 Tips For Buying Smart There’s Nothing Half So Pleasant As Coming Home Again Golf and Waterfront Communites Home Is An Invintion No One Has Yet To Improve 10 Reasons To Plant Trees...Now! Home Is Where The House Is Neighborhoods Home Is THe Most Popular...Of All Earthly Establishments About Mt. Pleasant Where We Love Is Home Moving To South Carolina Can Be A Do It Yourself Buying In A Crazy Market

5 10 12 13 16 20 22 24 26 32 35 38 44 46 51 53 56 58 60 61 63 64 67

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From The Editor Buy Local Promoting local business is as simple as having other company’s business cards or brochures posted on a board in your store. In an effort to promote your area, we are distributing decals that say “Check us out at www.NewHomes.sc,” in hopes that local shoppers will visit the site to find local restaurants, clothing, specials, coupons and more. We are doing our part, so please join us, and promote your local merchants, and everyone will benefit!

Buy

Top Ten reasons to Think Local Local - Be Local – Help Local Businesses

1. Buy Local -- Support yourself and South Carolina. Many studies have revealed when you buy from an independent, locally owned business in the your own area, rather than a nationally owned businesses, considerably more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses. Local businesses continue to strengthen the economic base of the local community. These include case studies showing that local local owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.

2.Support Local Area Community Groups:

Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller area business owners than they do from large companies.

3. Keep Your Area Unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind local businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character. Local tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust.

4. Reduce Environmental Impact: Locally owned businesses in your area can make more local purchases requiring less transportation. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

5. Create Additional Jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in the community, provide the most jobs to local residents. 6. Receive Better Service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products and services they offer, and take more time to get to know customers. Cont. next page www.NewHomes.sc Online Magazine | 2009 5

7.Invest in Your Community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, and they are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future. 8. Put

your

Taxes

to

Good Use:

Local businesses require a relatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering your area.

9. Buy What you Want, Not What Big Advertising Budgets Want you to Buy: A South Carolina marketplace comprised of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products and services based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, promises a much broader range of product choices.

10. Promote Local Prosperity: An escalating body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. Larry Local Editor in Chief

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CEO Dennis Stewart Editor In Chief Larry Local Creative Director Daniel Holliday Art Director Amy Coats Web Developers Matthew Coats Administration & Marketing Vivi Morillo Angie Woods

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carolina media SERVICES

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Copyright © 2009 Carolina Media Services. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. 3290 Ashley Phosphate Road Charleston, SC 29418 Toll Free: (843)720-9604 Fax: (843)725-4734 [email protected] www.NewHomes.sc

Get Your Carolina Girl Gear!

rate with the tax advantages of a mortgage, and you have an incredibly cheap way to build wealth, but you better act now.

Time to Refinance Buy !?

or

Right now, mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1971. Think about that. Twenty-five years ago, homeowners were paying as much as 18% on a 30-year fixed. Today it’s just a little over 5%.Combine that

Real estate guru Barbara Corcoran has already seen a tremendous surge in refinance applications – more than triple the average – and the number of people getting approved is astronomically higher as well, she says. But that doesn’t mean the low rates are a panacea for the ills of the housing market. It is only once home prices start to go up that we will finally see a light at the end of tunnel, Corcoran says. Until that happens, we are still going to have to crawl out of this mess. “[Low interest rates are] a not a lifesaver,” Corcoran says. “This is just a helping hand.”

David Kittle, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, has this advice to homeowners looking to refinance: Do it. Don’t get greedy searching for another quarter-point. Lock in rates now. He is seeing applications soar over 125% just since Thanksgiving due to the low rates. Of course, you should only refinance if it saves you at least 3/8 on the rate and if you plan on staying in your home for at least four years, Kittle says. Along with good credit, proof of income and money by means of a down payment or equity in the home, there are certain things every homeowner needs regardless of interest rate levels.

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Finding a Green Home Where can you find a brand new Green Home? The first step may be to ask your real estate agent for information on green builders. Green homes incorporate intelligent design, the latest green technology, construction and maintenance elements to help drastically reduce the negative impact on the environment and improve the living conditions on the inside of the home. Less allergies, asthma and mold problems. The options are limitless! Owning a Green Home can certainly be rewarding in the long run for you, your family, and your pocketbook. Check out www.EnergyStar.gov for information about green homes. Their many tips point out which energy is being wasted and where and how to avoid it. The on line site offers great advice on how to live green and how to continue to build green. Also, The government offers great

incentives and rebates for green homeowners, not to mention Tax Breaks.

Finding a used Green Home.

The first step is to get good and reliable help. Not many years ago, long ago, if you would have told your realtor that you were looking for a green house, they would have thought you meant the color of the house. Today, with increased eco-awareness and energy prices going through the roof, everyone is knowledgeable about things like indoor air quality and energy efficiency. When screening potential realtors, ask them how much they know about home energy performance and other environmental issues that matter to you. Once you have found some homes to look at, have an energy audit done. You can tell a lot just by taking a careful look around. Check out the heating and

cooling systems carefully and make sure they are in good working order and sized appropriately. Take a look at the windows, and check if they’re single or double-paned, and at the doors, to see if you feel a draft coming through around the edges. Be on the lookout for missing or inadequate insulation, or signs of mold. To get really thorough information, it is always recommend that you hire a professional for your audit. They will use things like infrared cameras and special fans to pressurize your house and determine how leaky it is; this will help you determine if your potential new house needs any big efficiency upgrades, and if something like new insulation will make sense. In today’s market and economy, small really is the new big, and less is the new more. The smaller your living space, the less energy is needed to heat and light it, and the less you have to spend on utilities too. With some thoughtful, careful interior design, you can create beautiful living environments out of some surprisingly small spaces. You should also look into multi-functional and transformer furniture to help you get the most out of your living space.

Even if you have found the “perfect green home” it is worth thinking about commuting distances, proximity of local facilities, and how you are going to get around. Visit local restaurants, parks, grocers and other businesses and amenities to find the distances to your possible future home. Ask neighbors where the best places are to taking leisurely strolls. If you have children, pay attention to where the schools are. Don’t let the color Green put you in the Red, by choosing the wrong location for you and your family needs. Unless you really luck out, your new home will almost certainly require a few aesthetic and maybe even a few structural changes. So be sure to “kick the tires” of the houses you’re looking at, so you can get an idea of the changes you’ll want or need to make to create a greener, healthier home.

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2140 Beckenham Drive, Mt. Pleasant

Community: Park West Bed: 5 Bath: 3.5 SqFt: 3,864 Price: $792,361

Beautiful from start to finish - driveway and landscaping pull you into this low county home. The dock and water views will make you stay and continue inside. See the second picture on media - breathtaking. Enter the home on full front porch with gas lantern and you will not the built-ins in the study with pocket door leading to the owner’s suite on your left, dining with bar on the right and wood stairs leading to wood landing on second floor. If you don’t want to take the stairs, use the elevator. Large laundry off of big open gourmet kitchen with granite top and big bar area that looks into the very large great room with built-ins. Windows and patio door plank the back with the large screen porch and deck over the looking the water. Covered concrete patio underneath extend the great outdoor living possibilities. The upstairs features four bedrooms and two full baths and large upstairs loft and deck complete this wonderful floor plan.

He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home

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Advantages for Town Home Living in South Carolina For many years everyone dreamed of owning the stand-alone, single-family home with the big back yard and the white picket fence. In the last 20 years things have changed in the South Carolina Real Estate Market, and buyers have a wide choice of life styles, and housing to match their taste. One alternative to buying a single-family home is to purchase a townhome. There are many advantages to townhome living that might make it the perfect option for you whether you are looking in Charleston, Columbia, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, or the Upstate in South Carolina. A townhome is also known as a townhouse or sometimes even a rowhouse. It is different from a condominium because usually a condominium has part or all of one unit located above another unit. Town

homes are generally more than one story is attached to other town homes on one or both sides, and generally has many amenities that is shared by all town home owners in the development. There are many benefits to town home ownership.

Less Exterior Maintenance.

Most town homes in South Carolina are taken care of by an association. Because a townhome is attached to other town homes, the amount of exterior maintenance is sometimes drastically reduced. If you only have to deal with stucco or siding on the front and back of the unit, that takes a lot of burden off your budget. Your landscaping is generally done by your association, and because your front and back yard are likely to be very small, you won’t have much yard work to do. You may not even need to own a lawnmower - for some yards, a weed whacker will do. And if you add a deck or a patio onto the back of your townhome, you’ll have even less yard to take care of.

Better Security.

Because neighbors are close by, it’s more difficult for a burglar to break into your townhome. A would be robber can’t really case your townhome without someone in the neighborhood knowing. The proximity of townhomes brings neighbors together to protect each other.

Community Amenities.

Typically, in a townhome community of any size, neighbors pool together home owner association fees to pay for tennis courts, pools, fitness centers, golf courses, and more. This could save you a lot of money at the gym, or give you more fitness and entertainment options than your budget would normally allow.

More Home for the Money.

If price and square footage is important to you, you will generally be able to afford more of it in a town home than you would in a similarly located single-family home. The reason for this is the small amount of actual property your townhome occupies. Because townhomes are three, sometimes even four stories tall, builders are able to fit a lot of living space between those four walls. Town home builders now design compact stairways and efficient hallways to give you the most square footage possible. The end result is usually a much more convenient, open, and spacious living space. When considering whether to buy that townhome, talk to neighbors, and visit the area at different times of the day. Go there on a weekend to see how busy the pool or other recreation area is. Make sure that you will be comfortable having the new neighbors in the community.

May the roof above us never fall in And may we good companions beneath it never fall out.

Home is where you can say anything you please, because nobody pays any attention to you anyway

10 Tips for Buying

Smart There are many things you need to think about before you buy a house. Some are obvious, some are not. Having a list to work from will help you to stay on track and complete all your tasks making the process work to your advantage. Below is a list of the top ten things to help you before you buy.

1. Get Mortgage Loan Approved ahead of time.

This way you will know how much house you can afford before you start looking. It helps you define what you will want to see, according to the amount of the mortgage loan for which you will qualify.

2. Identify good neighborhoods.

Know the school district(s) and is it a good one if you have kids attending. Is shopping convenient? Is the area growing and can you look forward to appreciation on your house? What’s the area like? Are you next to vacant land that could become your worst nightmare?

3. Track.

Keep track of your visits to potential houses. Sounds silly, but after you look at several, it can get confusing later on. Write down advantages and disadvantages of each house. Even draw a simple layout sketch to refresh your memory.

4. Money.

How much more is your house going to cost than just your house payment? Taxes and Insurance. And if you are new home buyer and don’t have a huge down payment (20%) then add in mortgage

ortgage with your m rate. Realtors k c e h C . e c insuran you the osts. ey can give h T . y n a ese added c p th m u co o y ll te ve to forget to You also ha t. n e m sometimes y a to p your real ould be hard w it ly in This will be a rt ties. And ce inting or look at utili ithout repa w se u brand new o h a unless it is , g move into in th e m g or so wallpaperin of course.

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There’s nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.

Golf and Waterfront Communities With today’s planned lifestyle communities, golf and boating enthusiasts have an opportunity to purchase the home of their dreams just a chip shot away from the green or stone’s throw from the marina. In addition to an ideal home setting, golf and waterfront community residents enjoy an active and diversified lifestyle experience complete with first-class golf courses, marinas, beaches, spas, clubhouses, recreation areas, fine dining and countless other amenities. Making sense of all the options can be complicated. If you are thinking about relocating to one of these golf or waterfront communities, it is imperative to be able to distinguish one community from the next and more importantly, know what to look for before you buy. In the past, golf and waterfront master planned communities catered to distinct segments of the housing market, namely middle to upper income empty nesters and retirees. Things have changed. Today, golf course and waterfront developments are designed to accommodate budgets of all levels and generally fall into one of two categories: multi-generational and age restricted.

The construction of multi-generational communities represents a recent trend in planned community home building. The underlying idea is to attract a diverse population of families including retirees and young professionals of varying income levels and backgrounds in order to establish a robust and vibrant community. After decades of building age restricted communities, builders and developers have recognized that the traditional elements of planned community living such as security, on-site amenities and low maintenance housing appeal to home buyers of all ages. Conversely, age restricted planned communities are developed for the +55 home owner with amenities and facilities for today’s discerning empty nester and retiree. Typically, the age restriction requires one household resident to be at least 55 in order to qualify for home ownership. Over the last decade, an evolution has occurred with the age restricted community model of yesteryear making way for contemporary activity based developments complete with lavish amenities and world-class recreation areas, not to mention the conventional facilities required by the +55 demographic.

The undisputed leader in age restricted master planned community development is Del Webb. Since the 1960s, Del Webb has constructed numerous age restricted golf and waterfront communities across the United States. Del Webb’s Sun City developments are arguably the most recognizable line of age restricted communities stretching from coast to coast with Sun City Hilton Head in North Carolina and Sun City Lincoln Hill in California.

Once you have settled on a geographic location, the next area to focus on is amenities. These can vary greatly from one golf and waterfront development to the next. Typically, these expanded ‘goodies’ fall into two categories: conveniences and lifestyle enhancements. Conveniences include such things as security services, home maintenance, gardening services, concierge service, on-site retail and office space, cable television and high-speed internet.

The most important criterion in selecting a traditional home is location and the same is true when deciding on a golf and waterfront community. The old adage “location, location, location” aside, one has to consider whether the new property will serve as a primary residence, second home getaway or retirement abode. The final location decision is generally based on three primary factors: home use, surrounding area and local weather.

Lifestyle enhancements relate to recreation activities and rest and relaxation befitting an enhanced life of leisure. One can find a mix of facilities at planned communities which support numerous activities like tennis, hunting, boating, skiing, and hiking. To balance the rigors of recreation, planned communities provide residents with rest and relaxation amenities such as spas, clubhouses, wilderness preserves, pools, beaches and fine dining.

The location decision is a bit more complicated and not as clear cut when one considers purchasing a second home retreat or retirement residence. In this situation, other factors come in to play such as the activity and cultural richness of the immediate area and of course, local weather. If you are looking for a second home, would you like to be nestled in the woods away from the hustle and bustle of the city, located in a more suburban area or some in between?

With real estate opportunities for every budget, isn’t it about time you looked into moving to a golf and waterfront community that offers unbelievable vistas, year round activities, low maintenance living and first-class amenities?

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FEATURED COMMUNITY:

“Oak Hampton”

~ WELCOME TO OAK HAMPTON Where you can enjoy AFFORDABLE living at the Beach! Our concept to be able to build high quality cottage style homes at an extremely affordable price, has been greeted with open arms. We have had very positive feedback and great success in launching this amazing community. We have several custom built models to choose from, or you can secure your lot of choice now and build later. All lots are priced at 64,900 and lot home packages start at 189,900.00. FEATURES: ~ metal roofs ~ hardie-plank siding ~ brick paver driveways ~ granite countertops ~ tile in the bathrooms and kitchen ~ Stainless steel appliances ~ fully landscaped yards including sod & irrigation

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL

Shoreline Real Estate LLC ( 843) 651-5050

W W W. S H O R E L I N E L I V I N G . C O M

Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved.

“Music Creates Memorable Dining Since 1976”

World-Class Cuisine Superb Service Romantic Ambiance

5 Course Dinner with Wine Pairings Live Pianist and Vocalist

182 East Bay St. Historic Charleston

(843) 577-7565

www.robertsofcharleston.com R29-60554

www.NewHomes.sc Online Magazine | 2009 53

MARY FIGURA, Broker/Owner of Horizon Realty Group, entered the real estate business in 1991 when she joined Hugh Dugan Real Estate in northeastern Pennsylvania, where she specialized in general brokerage sales. Her current designations include ABR, e-Pro, and Real Estate Marketing Specialist. She has taken several classes towards her GRI. Figura grew up in Pennsylvania. Besides working in the real estate profession, she has worked in education. She has a BS from Bloomsburg University, a Master’s Of Education from Kutztown University, Elementary Principal certification from Penn State University and Superintendent certification from Temple University. She currently resides in Longs, with her husband, Dave and daughters, Leah and Anna. She belongs to the North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club. The members of Horizon Realty Group are eager to form new relationships in the greater Myrtle Beach area and look forward to becoming more involved with the community. Because of the increase of listing volume, sales and walk-in traffic, Figura said she plans to add other agents to her staff. BILLIE ANN FIGURA Horizon Realty Group welcomes Billie Ann Figura to their team. She has been in marketing and sales for the past ten years. Her career began in Pennsylvania working for a group of radio stations. Her primary duties were to sell clients on the benefits of radio and create their total marketing plan utilizing broadcast media. She quickly became the leading account manager of her county. Billie Ann relocated to the Myrtle Beach area with her husband five years ago and quickly found her place with Qantum Radio, the leading revenue producing radio group in Myrtle Beach. Realizing the great opportunity and challenges for real estate in this market, she obtained her license and worked as a project sales agent. Now as the sales and marketing director for Horizon Realty Group, she can share her knowledge with a forward thinking company. She recently branched into general brokerage and is enjoying all aspects of real estate; project sales, land, and resales. The projects that she manages consist of Sun Colony, Island Club, Pelican Bay, and Red Bluff Village. Her primary focus for general brokerage is North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove, Little River, and Longs. Billie Ann explains that her vision is to expand Horizon Realty Group by marketing more communities and growing the team of agents to 10. She resides in Longs with her husband, Chris, and their two children; Eric 16 and Mallory 3. As a family they attend Barefoot Community Church where she is an active volunteer. HARRY KNAPP Having been born in Charleston, SC and raised in Greensboro, NC, Harry has many fond memories of the South Carolina beaches from early on in life. So it only seemed natural, after graduating from Western Carolina University in the mountains of North Carolina, that he would want to smell that salt air again. In 1986, he moved back to the beach and began a career in the vacation time share industry with Peppertree Resorts. He received his real estate license in 1992. He is licensed as a Broker with experience in all facets of real estate. He lives in Cherry Grove with his wife, Gina and their two children, Harry, Jr., 11 and Isabella, 5.

ALICE YERKES Alice has been involved in Real Estate since 1998. She began her experience by working for a very large developer in Bucks County, PA. She started out in the field, and worked up to the sales and marketing department. She can honestly say she has worked from the blue prints, straight through the construction process, to the completion of single family homes, town houses and condos. Her husband retired in January 2007, and that’s when she made her move to the Myrtle Beach area. She thoroughly enjoyed her part in the sales and marketing process in Pennsylvania, and wanted to continue in the real estate field. She received her South Carolina Real Estate license, and now specializes in new construction. She is excited about working as a General Brokerage Agent, as well as project sales and new construction. Making the move to Horizon Realty Group was just like being at home. Her geographical areas of knowledge are Little River, North Myrtle Beach, Longs, Conway, Carolina Forest, and Aynor. Alice is a Neshaminy High School graduate in Langhorne, PA. She has attended Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA as an accounting major, and the Wharton Business School in Philadelphia, PA, where she received an Entrepreneur certificate. She is certified as a Parent Educator through Penn State University in Abington, PA. She is married with 3 grown children. While in Pennsylvania, she participated in Extreme Home Makeover, the Neshaminy Education Foundation, Dance del bello, and the Neshaminy Parent Teacher Organization. Her hobbies include riding a Harley Davidson Motorcycle and gourmet cooking. Alice feels that being a Realtor is a truly a rewarding profession. She understands what it takes to help clients purchase a home, and how important it is to have a smooth transition from one home to the other. She is able to coordinate the smallest detail (placement of light switch) to the most monumental (when the moving truck can unload). She knows that buying a house from the starting point to the ending should be a pleasant experience. The oldest (boy) is a motorcycle mechanic. The middle child (girl) is a professional ballet dancer and instructor. The youngest (boy) works for a computer security firm. We have rescued birds. We currently have a cockatiel and a blue and gold Amazon parrot. BOB SHAHAN, has been an on-site new home specialist on the north end of the beach for the past seven years. He has worked selling new homes at Long Bay Club, and at the Lakes at Plantation Pines. He has found a new home with Horizon Realty Group, selling pre-construction for Horizon Homes at Sun Colony, the Island Club, Pelican Bay and Red Bluff Village. Additionally, Bob has continued to work general brokerage and all aspects of real estate. Bob loves what he does and prides himself in the fact that he has sold his customers great homes at affordable prices and will continue to do so. His motivation, service and experience help others find the home of their dreams.

Home is where the house is.

FEATURED COMMUNITY:

“Rivers Reach” ~

Coastal Living at its finest. River’s Reach is a new Cottage style community located in Myrtle Beach, SC. Our mission is provide high quality Cottage style homes at an affordable price. We offer a range of custom built floor plans to choose from, or you can secure a lot of your choice and build at a later time. Our community offers the opportunity for owners to have boats and RV’s at their residences and we are centrally located to both Heron Point Golf Course and Enterprise boat launch with access to the Intracoastal Waterway. ots are available. A dream for both boat lovers and golf enthusiasts alike. Lot/Home packages start at $199,900. FEATURES: ~ metal roofs ~ hardie-plank siding ~ brick paver driveways ~ granite countertops ~ tongue and groove pine ceilings on porches ~ tile in the bathrooms and kitchen ~ 3 1/2 inch wood baseboard ~ fully landscaped yards including sod, irrigation, 15 shrubs, and 3 palmetto palm trees. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL

Shoreline Real Estate LLC ( 843) 651-5050

W W W. S H O R E L I N E L I V I N G . C O M

Neighborhoods 1. Neighborhoods are where we all grew up a long time ago. Today, because of golf courses, shopping areas, subdivisions, jobs, schools, and a transient society, a neighborhood means different things to different folks. 2. Neighborhoods can be as small as a dozen or so houses, and be as many as thousands of homes. 3. Neighborhoods are common, and perhaps close to universal, since most people in urbanized areas would probably consider themselves to be living in one. 4. Neighborhoods are convenient, and always accessible, since you are already in your neighborhood when you walk out your door. 5. Successful neighborhood action frequently requires little specialized technical skill, and often little or no money. Action may call for an investment of time, but material costs are often low. 6. With neighborhood action, compared to activity on larger scales, results are more likely to be visible and quickly forthcoming. The streets are generally

cleaner; the crosswalks are painted; the trees are planted; a festival draws a crowd. 7. Visible and swift results are indicators of success; and since success is reinforcing, the probability of subsequent neighborhood action is increased 8. Because neighborhood action usually involves others, such actions create or strengthen connections and relationships with other neighbors, leading in turn to a variety of potentially positive effects, often hard to predict. 9. Over and above these community advantages, neighborhood activity may simply be enjoyable and fun for those taking part. But in addition to these benefits, considerable research indicates that strong and cohesive neighborhoods and communities are linked – quite possibly causally linked – to decreases in crime, better outcomes for children, and improved physical and mental health. The social support that a strong neighborhood may provide can serve as a buffer against various forms of adversity. Sometimes a neighborhood isn’t a neighborhood until an event occurs, which draws people together, to become “neighbors”.

Home is the most popular, and will be the most enduring of all earthly establishments

About Mt. Pleasant South Carolina

Originally occupied by the Sewee Indians, Mount Pleasant’s first white settlers arrived from England on July 6, 1680 under the leadership of Captain Florentia O’Sullivan. Captain O’Sullivan had been granted 2,340 acres which included not only the island that bears his name, but also the land that was to become Mount Pleasant. On the earliest map of the time this area was called “North Point.” In 1696, 51 new settlers arrived. Each family was allotted several hundred acres in the area that became known as Christ Church parish. In 1706 the Province of Carolina withstood several attacks by the Spanish and the French and were victorious in defeating French invaders in an area known as Hobcow Plantation. Hobcaw Plantation, located between Shem Creek and the Wando River. Later, it was also known as Shipyard Plantation because its deep water and abundance of good timber made it ideal for a shipbuilding. On September 24, 1860 a public meeting was held in Mount Pleasant that produced the first secession resolution of the state. With the advent of the Civil War, Battery Gary and an adjacent floating battery between Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island were instrumental in defense of the town, as well as attacks on Fort Sumter. The town was also defended by a line of fortifications from Elliot’s Creek at Boone Hall to Copahee Sound. Mount Pleasant was also the secret training ground for the nine-man crew of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley. It was from Breach Inlet in 1864 that this small vessel was launched to attack and sink the USS Housatonic. Mount Pleasant is separated from Charleston by the Cooper River. For many years it was primarily populated seasonally by Charleston residents wealthy enough to afford summer homes across the river from the Charleston peninsula. The population of Mount Pleasant was centered in an area of the town now known as “The Old Village.” On July 16, 2005, the eight-lane Arthur Ravenel Bridge opened for traffic, replacing the two aging bridges. A week before the new bridge, one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the western hemisphere, officially opened, pedestrians were allowed to cross the bridge, and commemorative coins were distributed. Also, a fireworks display was a part of the ceremonies leading up to the actual opening of the bridge. Several cars from the same time period as the Grace Memorial Bridge, including several restored Model A Fords, made a final crossing of the old bridges. The remaining portions of the old bridges were demolished. Local residents watched as the bridges were blown up in spectacular shows.

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Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.

Moving In South Carolina Can Be A Do-It-Yourself Project Many people in South Carolina find themselves having to make a move for many reasons during the course of a career, marriage or retirement. The need to move can be to find a bigger home, a different job or relocating to enjoy the beach or the mountains. Whatever the reason, though, the decision everyone has to face when moving is: hire professionals or do it yourself? Although the thought of lifting and carrying heavy furniture, books and appliances may dispel some people, the idea of a hefty invoice from the moving company may concern others. If the decision is made, however, to move it without professional help, there are certain things everyone can do to make the job easier. People moving in South Carolina may be undertaking the task for the first time in their lives or maybe have done it many times over the years. No matter the experiences or the novelty of the idea, though, everyone who moves themselves should

consider careful planning, careful packing and most importantly not doing more than physically able.

Hiring A Professional Mover

The most important first step in deciding to make a self move is deciding how to move. Many people in South Carolina have access to a pickup truck or maybe a trailer. Others may have large vans and station wagons. Any of these vehicles, though, may not be able to transport large pieces of furniture. Some sort of large rental truck will be needed. There are many sizes of trucks and of course the bigger the more expensive. Consider the size of what’s being moved and if more than one trip is necessary. Also, consider the truck’s access. Most rental truck have roll-on ramps, but many also have lift elevators to get the goods onboard. As with any such situation, many hands make light work. If there are only two or three adults, however, available to do the work, a lift truck could make all the difference.

Another matter to consider is packing boxes. The tendency for most people is to acquire large cardboard boxes and load with as much material as it will hold. What might be a more comfortable alternative, though, is to load more small boxes with less items. It may mean a few more walks to get everything on the truck, but less strain will be a benefit in the long run.

Rent Needed Mechanical Aids

Finally, consider also renting a few items to help move boxes and other loads. Hand trucks are ideally suited for moving a large stack of loaded containers. Again, loading a few more smaller boxes on the hand truck

and wheeling it in or out is easier than trying to lift and carry one large box. Roller dollies and packing blankets can also help save a large piece of furniture from serious damage. No matter how many people help move a large piece of furniture, mechanical assistance makes the job easier. Also, don’t forget every piece of furniture in a home was delivered through the same door where the furniture is now trying to leave. Disassemble tables, chairs or large bookcases if possible. Label the pieces with non-marring masking tape for easier reassembly. Again, making every piece lighter moved to the truck, transported and unloaded makes the move easier and less stressful.

Buying in a Crazy Market Welcome to the South Carolina home buying market! This is an exceptional time to be purchasing a house, condo or townhouse, with an array of new and used homes coming onto the market these is some exceptional value to be found. All it takes is a little time and attempt in looking and you can acquire your dream home for a dream price. But you should always be a smart buyer. There are those out there that will take advantage of someone who is eager to purchase so, if you do your homework. Having finance in hand always helps while buying a home. You need to get organized with all background work done to get mortgage before you start looking. You really do need to be pre-approved fully, this is different from a pre-qualification in that a pre-qualification does not “secure” you any amount of money, it is purely a judgment of whether or not you qualify to pick up a mortgage. With time frames getting longer for getting pre-approved, if you are going to be a serious buyer, you should start this early in your process.

Get a realtor involved to start with the evaluation of homes. Good Your Realtors work for you, and they know the shortcuts to finding a lot of information. Discuss with your realtor and make a list about the things required in your home search. This list includes the mandatory things and the things you would like to have in the home. With these lists ready , it is time to start looking at homes. Your realtor should be able to provide you with a whole list of homes that fit your criteria, and some that come close. Also, they will be able to lead you to properties that fit your pre-approved mortgage amount. After finding a home or homes that suit you make sure to have a professional inspector take a thorough look through the home. Make sure the inspector has checked for mold, and consider an energy audit. You may want to consider having the inspection done before making your initial offer, so that you do not have to try and renegotiate the price of the house after the contract is signed. This is especially true when you are looking at “short-sales” or foreclosed properties. If there are major renovations or repairs needed, this can also can be an issue with your financing. Make sure you have your own contractor to estimate the estimates for the repairs. Do not fall in love with the home until you have done your homework. As an anxious buyer, you may not be able to negotiate. Let your Realtor do the negotiating for you. They are trained to bargain on your behalf. If there are special reason why you want a particular house, let your Realtor know that the price may not be the most important factor, because there may be others looking at the same house.

Final Words

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. Author Unknown

www.MtPleasant.sc Online Magazine | 2009 70