I went by the Sandhill Farmers Market in Columbia South Carolina yesterday and picked up some fresh fruit and vegetables. It is conveniently located on Clemson Road across the street from the premier shopping center of the NE, the Village at Sandhill.
The market is open each Tuesday afternoon, from 3:30-7:00 pm, starting in late April and continuing through Thanksgiving week. Farmers are from around the midlands counties. Items available include fresh local produce, meat, poultry, eggs, butter, milk, cheese, honey, plants, flowers, shrubs, and baked goods. Many products are organic. An "Ask a Master Gardener Booth" is available for anyone with questions on lawn and garden problems.
Located at Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center at 900 Clemson Rd, across from the Village. Enter the Clemson property and follow the signs to the market.
You should come on by every Tuesday and stock up on local, fresh produce. See you there!
Looking for a new home in the Columbia South Carolina real estate market? Visit my website, http://www.GreaterColumbiaHomes.com.
You and your family only have two more weekends to check out the Rhythm on the River free concert series. The series is sponsored by the city of West Columbia. The concerts start the next two Saturdays at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Trust me, it is a beautiful river side location. It is also right next door to the New Orleans restaurant. So you could even enjoy dinner on their deck and listen to the music. This Saturday, June 20th, the Black Bottom Biscuits will be performing with the Sugarloaf Mountain Boys. Next Saturday will be Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band.
Visit the Rhythm on the River website here.
Enjoy Free Columbia!
Your fellow free lover, Adrian La Fosse - Asset Realty, Inc.
Columbia SC Real Estate
According to MarketWatch, a subsidiary of the Wall Street Journal, U.S. housing starts bounced back with a vengeance in May, rising 17.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 532,000 after plunging 12.9% in April to a postwar low, the Commerce Department estimated Tuesday. This was a surprising increase. It was led by a 62% gain in new construction of multifamily dwellings such as apartment complexes. But never fear, starts of single-family homes also rose 7.5% to a 401,000 rate, which was the highest since November of 2008. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected an increase to 485,000. Building permits rose 4% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 518,000. Permits for single-family homes rose 7.9% to a 408,000 annual rate, the highest since November 2008 as well. This boweds well for further increases in new construction home building.
Looking for a new construction home in the Columbia South Carolina real estate market? Visit my website, http://www.GreaterColumbiaHomes.com.
Source material: MarketWatch.com
I love free stuff! Don't you? Yes, I know the old axiom that nothing's for free. Sure, their is your time. Maybe the gas to go somewhere to get the item but still...
If you are looking for some quality time with the family outside watching feel good movies, you should consider joining the good people at Columbia Crossroads Downtown for a FREE movie, popcorn and drinks at Finley Park. Activities start at 8 p.m. every Friday between June 12th and August 14th. Movies include Hotel for Dogs, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Monsters vs. Aliens. For more details, please the visit the Free Columbia SC Movies website here.
Enjoy Free Columbia!
Your fellow free lover, Adrian La Fosse - Asset Realty, Inc.
Columbia SC Real Estate
Best Townhome in the Irmo/Harbison area!
• 1,600 sq. ft., 3 bath, 3 bdrm single story - 
MLS® $162,900
Windstone, Columbia - Best Townhome community in the Irmo/Harbison area. Full Harbison community amenities including recreation center with pool and security patrol. Harbison Lake is right out the front door. This home has a lot of upgrades including rare gas stove, granite counter tops, gas fireplace, tall ceilings and more. Harbison/Columbiana shopping is with-in walking distance. All exterior maintenance included. Worry free living! Move-in ready condition.
Property information
When looking at homes in the Columbia SC real estate market, one is tempted to buy the best home in a neighborhood. Should you buy the most expensive home on the block? No.
Think Long-Term
Assume you fall in love with the masterpiece home in a particular neighborhood. It has everything you could dream of: an incredible kitchen, top of the line windows, stunning brick work and so on. The sellers obviously put a lot of time, effort and money into the home. Accordingly, it stands out as the pearl on the block. Why wouldn’t you want to snap it up immediately?
Before you start signing documents, take a look at the sales prices of comparable homes, “comps”, in the neighborhood. If you compare the comp prices to the dream home, you should notice a pretty significant price difference. This difference should act as a metaphorical slap in the face or pouring of cold water over your head. The dream home is undoubtedly selling for a price range far beyond the comps. Warning lights should be going off at this point.
You are going to have a problem if you give into temptation and purchase the most expensive home on the block. In fact, you are going to have two problems.
The first problem is the appreciation of the value of the home in the Columbia SC real estate market. The appreciation on the best home in a neighborhood is always going to be dragged down by the structures around it. If you take a $900,000 home from a private community and put it on a block of $250,000 track homes, the $900,000 value is going to come down a lot because the neighborhood will not support it. When you eventually sell, buyers are going to look at the comps in the neighborhood and laugh at a $900,000 asking price.
The second problem is “hemming.” Since you own the most expensive house in the neighborhood, your appreciation potential is already limited. This becomes a bigger problem if you want to remodel or add on to the home. Taking such action would typically add to the value of a home. With the most expensive home, not only will it not add value, it may cut into your equity. Why? If you do a $50,000 remodel, you may see a $10,000 gain for your $50,000 cost. You just lost $40,000.
To avoid buying the most expensive house in the neighborhood, using the services of well qualified Buyer’s Agent who is knowledgeable in the types of houses and neighborhoods that interest you. If you show or tell your agent what you are looking for in a new house, they should be able to find it for you in a neighborhood that has many other houses very similar to it in amenities and price points. This will keep you from making the mistake of buying the most expensive house in a neighborhood in the Columbia SC real estate market.
It's not an easy job to selling a house in the Columbia SC Real Estate market. It's a process. You just don't list your house, meet a buyer, negotiate and sell it, but there is a checklist and steps to sell your house. This home selling checklists includes some procedures you must do when home selling.
- Decide whether you pay an agent to sell your house or you just do it by yourself. Paying a real estate agent gives you a little effort for you to sell your house. An agent will carry out all of business in correlation of your home selling checklist. You just hire an agent and pay him. But it will spend costs of course. So, it's up to you to pay a little effort or bigger one.
- Be a communicative and informed seller. It is correlated with your promotion strategic. You can use media to promote your home, such as newspaper, pamphlet, DVD, or websites. Don't forget to put the reasonable and proper price for your house.
- Get your house ready to sell by doing some preparations for your house exterior, interior, and appliances.
- Decide whether you pay for a professional to do pre-listing house inspection or not.
- Decluttering your house of unnecessary furniture, appliances, do-dads and personal items. Home buyers want to imagine themselves in the house, not you.
- Get familiar with financing terms, such as mortgage financing (fixed, adjustable, seller financing, assumable loans), pre-qualified, pre-approved, commitment
- Get familiar with negotiating instruments and terminology such as a contract, offer, deal, etc. You should learn to do some offer approaching and all correlated with a legal transaction process.
- Know about what you can and should improve or not in your house, what you can improve such as interior, exterior and what you can not improve such as location, style, etc.
- Decide whether you will put a home warranty to your house or not.
- Find some tips to buy a new house while you have sold your old one.
- Decide if you want to assist the buyer with closing or settlement costs.
- Make your moving plans.
The home selling checklist above shows us that there are some involvements to sell a house. You should pay attention to this home selling checklist and do the steps rightly. But if you decide to pay a real estate agent to organize your home selling business, just let them carry out the points above. And your involvements in home selling will be decreased.
For a free consultation on how to sell your house fast and for top dollar, visit the Columbia South Carolina Real Estate number one home selling website. Following the link will lead to a happy and less stressful home selling adventure.
A week doesn’t go by here in Columbia, SC without being asked, “What is a FROG?”
I am almost tempted to not to write this blog. Hey, I am a salesperson I want people to have a reason to call and consult me. My sly side wants to make up some hokey acronym. Okay, enough stalling. The answer is…
Finished Room Over Garage!
In the Columbia market an extra living space over the garage is called a FROG. It is also an alternative to basements, which are very uncommon for our market. That is for another blog to explain the reason.
FROGs are usually larger than a secondary bedroom, sometimes substantively. They can be 12’ x 14’, 14’ x 15’, 14’ x 18’ or larger. They sometimes have different “subsections” as well. They often do not have a closet but if they do, they can be considered a bedroom. Part of the ceiling line is actually the roof line. Usually the roof line starts about 4 or 5 feet above the floor. They can be in one and two story houses. They are part of the house and included in the square footage because they are heated and cooled.
If a house has a FROG, it will be listing in the house details. It is also known as a bonus room. Well now the mysterious FROG has been revealed!
When you are ready to find a house with (or without) a FROG please visit www.GreaterColumbiaHomes.com.
Your Columbia South Carolina New Home Specialist, Adrian La Fosse
I just received an email from a Bank of America loan officer. They are one of the few lenders I suggest doing business with. Contact me for a free, no obligation consultation on which lender may best for you. You may also call me toll free at 1-800-620-1323 x7.
Take look at what Bank of America has to say:
October 2007 vs. October 2008
Then: 100% financing available on conventional loans
Now: 100% financing available for veterans, 97% financing available on FHA loans, 95% financing available on conventional loans
Then: Down payment assistance programs available
Now: Down payment assistance available up to 3% from gift funds
Then: Minimum credit score of 560 required on an FHA loan
Now: Minimum credit score of 560 required on an FHA loan
Then: Borrowers Protection Plan available on No Fee Mortgage PLUS loans only
Now: Borrowers Protection Plan available on all conventional loans
In summary, it may take a minimal down payment to purchase a house if you are not in the military, but loans are still being made. It does not take perfect credit to acquire a home loan, as evidence by a 560 minimum credit score. If you have issues with your credit, loan officers will advise you on what changes are needed to get you set up for a home loan. Those changes are not always self evident.
By the way… not a thing has changed with VA home loan financing. It is very easy to qualify for. And it is still with NO down payment. The interest rate is typically at whatever the going interest rate is for someone with top notch credit even if the veteran’s credit is not.
Loan officers will consult with you for free. You can click here to request to speak with a reputable loan officer in the Columbia, SC real estate market. If you are in the military and PCSing to Fort Jackson, please click here.
To sign up for an up-to-date full list of available new construction homes in the Columbia area that meet the needs of your family, please visit http://www.FindMyColumbiaHome.com
Your Columbia South Carolina New Home Specialist, Adrian La Fosse
Before searching for your new home in Columbia, SC it is good to get to know the area.
Here are some fun facts, videos and web links about Columbia, SC.
Here's a nice video about Columbia. You can skip the first 2 minutes if you like as it is an advertisement for the local convention center.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXULEO_-z8k
For more videos of the Columbia area http://www.greatercolumbiahomes.com/Videos/page_1469047.html
Population:
South Carolina – 4,321,249
Greater Columbia Area (Richland, Lexington & Kershaw Counties) – 607,995
High/Low average temperatures for the Columbia SC area
Month | Average low | Average high | Average precip | Record low | Record high |
January | 34° | 55° | 4.66 in | -1° (1985) | 84° (1975) |
February | 36° | 60° | 3.84 in | 5° (1973) | 84° (1997) |
March | 44° | 67° | 4.59 in | 4° (1980) | 91° (1974) |
April | 51° | 76° | 2.98 in | 26° (1983) | 94° (1986) |
May | 60° | 83° | 3.17 in | 34° (1963) | 101° (2000) |
June | 68° | 89° | 4.99 in | 44° (1984) | 107° (1954) |
July | 72° | 92° | 5.54 in | 54° (1951) | 107° (1952) |
August | 71° | 90° | 5.41 in | 53° (1969) | 107° (1983) |
September | 65° | 85° | 3.94 in | 40° (1967) | 101° (1954) |
October | 51° | 76° | 2.89 in | 23° (1952) | 101° (1954) |
November | 43° | 67° | 2.88 in | 12° (1970) | 90° (1961) |
December | 36° | 58° | 3.38 in | 4° (1958) | 83° (1978) |
If you are moving to NE Columbia, these are the most important roads to learn:
Interstate 20, Interstate 77, Two Notch Road, Clemson Road, Hard Scrabble Road and North Brickyard Road. 90% of everything you’ll need is on these roads or only one road removed from these main roads. Easy.
Yes, grass does grow on sand!
Most popular school districts:
Richland 2 (NE Columbia) http://www.richland2.org/
Lexington 1 (Lexington) http://www.lexington1.net/
Lexington/Richland 5 (Irmo/St. Andrews) http://www.lex5.k12.sc.us/
If PCSing to Fort Jackson, what is the most popular area to move to:
NE Columbia, zip codes 29223 and 29229
Great schools, affordable and elite housing, new shopping, all the amenities and 12 to 22 minutes to post
Ready to buy a new home for your family in the Columbia SC real estate market:
http://www.FindMyColumbiaHome.com
Most popular shopping areas:
NE Columbia - Village at Sandhill http://www.villageatsandhill.com
Irmo – Columbiana Centre http://www.columbianacentre.com
The area’s largest private employers:
- Palmetto Health 8,606
- BlueCross BlueShield of S.C. 6,607
- Lexington Medical Center 3,280
- SCANA (Utility) 2,421
- UPS 2,100
Fort Jackson Facts:
50 percent of all U.S. soldiers receive basic combat training at Fort Jackson
Total fort Acreage is 52,000
There are 3,900 active-duty soldiers assigned to the post
There are 5,200 civilians employed by the post
The annual estimated impact on the Midlands economy: $2.6 billion
Click here to email me with any questions or set an appointment to start looking for your new home in the Columbia, SC real estate market. You may also call me toll free at 1-800-620-1323 x7.
To sign up for an up-to-date full list of available new homes in the Columbia SC real estate market that meet the needs of your family, please visit http://www.FindMyColumbiaHome.com
Your Columbia South Carolina New Home Specialist, Adrian La Fosse
As a specialist of assisting buyers in their purchase of new homes in the Columbia, SC real estate market, I am often asked: “If I receive all the new home warranties when buying a new home, why would I have a professional inspection done?”
That is a very good question. Let me break it down for you.
As the house is being built, the county may inspect the house 5 to 8 times. They are looking for code violations, not necessarily workmanship or functionally issues. These inspections and professional home inspections are not comparable.
During construction the home builder’s site or neighborhood superintendent has been inspecting behind contractors as each phase of construction is done. Again, nice to know that there is some quality control going on during construction.
Typically a week or less before closing on a new house, the building superintendant will meet with the future homeowner to give a new home orientation and allow them to point out concerns or issues. This includes cosmetic issues as well. I attend these meetings to be another set of eyes on the house as well. Any items of concern that come up from this meeting are taken care of before closing 99% of time. Occasionally a part or contractor may not be available and the issue is resolved at the convenience of the new owner after closing.
On the day of closing we go by the house to confirm that the work has been done. After closing, the new home warranty kicks in. All is well and good, right? Most times yes.
I would say little less then half of my new home buyers have a professional home inspection done. The cost is about $250 to $300 depending on the size of the house. The inspector goes through the property as the future homeowner’s advocate checking behind the builder. Are terrible issues found from these inspections? Well here’s a list of major items that inspections on new construction homes I’ve seen caught by a professional: Dryer return vent not properly connected, missing insulation, scratched appliances and tubs, damaged flooring, missing floor or roofing framing. Now this is not all in one house. Most inspections on new houses find relatively minor items.
So the question remains, “Why would I have an inspection done on my new home?” INSURANCE, that’s why. If you were buying an existing home, 100% of the time you would have a professional home inspection done because after you close on the property, the house for all purposes is now “AS-IS”. If the plumbing breaks right after closing, it is on you. In a new construction home, the builder or the plumbing contractor takes care of it.
Insurance covers your risk and it just depends on your aversion to risk if a new home inspection is the way to go. Because the house came with a warranty, you may be the type that wants to save the expense knowing the likelihood of a major issue coming up in a new construction is much rarer than an existing house. Or you may be the type that can sleep better at night knowing that you may have caught potential issues right in their tracks before they became a problem.
Me personally, I’ve purchased 2 new construction homes and had both professional inspected. It just helps me sleep better at night. A few issues I never would have found were caught by the inspector.
In general, I’ve usually been impressed by the condition of the property as it is handed over by the builder to the new homeowner. When you work with me in the purchase of your new home, we’ll discuss your choice of having a professional home inspection on your new home as the time arises.
Click here to email me with any questions or set an appointment to start looking for your new home in the Columbia, SC real estate market. You may also call me toll free at 1-800-620-1323 x7.
To sign up for an up-to-date full list of available new construction homes in the Columbia area that meet the needs of your family, please visit www.FindMyColumbiaHome.com.
Your Columbia South Carolina New Home Construction Specialist, Adrian La Fosse
Save now, save every month! Holiday Builders is offering $7500 off all move-in ready new construction homes in their SE Columbia neighborhood Chandler Hall.
Additionally, the builder is offering a fixed interest rate of 5.75%. That is about 1% lower than the current rate. That would equal a savings of about $150 per month on your mortgage payment on a $150,000 house. That is nothing to sneeze at. :)
Houses are priced between the $140’s and $190’s with square footage from 1472 to 2485. All houses include 2 car garages and 30 year architectural shingles. There are currently 7 houses available for closing within 30 days or less.
The Chandler Hall neighborhood is located in SE Columbia which makes it a suburban neighborhood just minutes from downtown Columbia and 5 minutes from Fort Jackson’s gate number five.
Follow this link: $7500 off/5.75% Interest Rate
Click on Express Move-In for available houses. To view the floorplan of each house, click on the plan name.
Click here to email me with any questions or to set up an appointment to view the homes. You may also call me toll free at 1-800-620-1323 x7.
Your Columbia South Carolina New Construction Home Specialist, Adrian La Fosse
National home builder Beazer Homes has discontinued building homes in the Columbia SC real estate market and is slashing prices of completed new construction homes. Just reduced to $169,990 is a new 2300 square foot home in the Lexington area. Highlights of this home are the 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, loft on the second floor, 2 car garage, large eat in kitchen, 42" cabinets, gas stove, refrigerator, and blinds throughout home. Also included are hardwood floors and a gas fireplace. The spacious master suite with deluxe bath is located on the first floor!
Click here for an interactive floorplan of this house.
Click here to email me with any questions or to set up an appointment to view the homes. You may also call me toll free at 1-800-620-1323 x7.
Your Columbia South Carolina New Construction Home Specialist, Adrian La Fosse
National home builder KB Homes has announced a Secret Sale at their three Columbia SC real estate market neighborhoods. How secret? Unless you happen to stumble upon their website or are a Realtor on their email list, this blog post may be the only way to know about this sale until Saturday morning at the earliest.
KB Homes says its Quick-move-in homes are at prices too amazing to reveal. Smart values (discounts) on homes Built to OrderTM. How big of a discount? My guess would be at least $10,000 off on most homes, probably more.
This builder has three new neighborhoods in the Columbia, SC market. The NE Columbia gated neighborhood Spears Creek has houses at 1740 square feet starting at the low $130's. The Lexington neighborhood of Millstream Crossing has houses from the $140's to the low $200's. The Lake Murray neighborhood of Settlers Pointe at Lake Murray has move-in ready new homes in the low $200's.
Click here to email me with any questions or to reserve your spot at this event. You may also call me toll free at 1-800-620-1323 x7.
To sign up for an up-to-date full list of available new construction homes in the Columbia area that meet the needs of your family, visit www.FindMyColumbiaHome.com.
Your Columbia South Carolina New Construction Home Specialist, Adrian La Fosse