Fake Seller/Fake Buyer Scam Alert – Sale of Vacant Lots

The South Carolina Real Estate Commission has made us aware of a rise in fraudulent sales and mortgages, most commonly associated with vacant lots.

The scam targets unencumbered, vacant lots owned by persons out of state.

If you know of someone who has been a victim of an attempt to sell their property without their consent, please contact the FBI to report the fraudulent activities and get assistance in stopping the perpetrator.

More information regarding contacting the FBI can be found at the following link: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety.

Charleston SC Becomes a Brewing Paradise!

Who Can Operate a Golf Cart in South Carolina?

by Inspector Chip Googe, Mount Pleasant Police Department

Summer is on the way so we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the golf cart laws for the State of South Carolina. If you wish to read the full law, it is listed below:

• The driver must be at least 16 and have a valid driver’s license.

• Golf Cart must be insured.

• Must be registered with the DMV, and have permit.

• Operate on a secondary road where posted speed limit is
35mph or less and within 4 miles of the registered address.

• Can only cross a primary road to get to another secondary
road.

• Can only operate during daylight hours, regardless of...

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY AT THE PUMP

Faye Dubois of Carolina First Bank sent me this interesting article she received from someone in CA, on how to save some money at the pump:

"I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are paying up to $3.75 to $4.10 per gallon. My line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon:

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a ...

My friend Chris Bavosa of East Cooper Termite and Pest Control sent me this article he wrote about rodent infestation, which I thought would be interesting to share...

---------------------------------

Summer is coming to an end. The weather will soon turn colder and the days will grow shorter. East Cooper residents have sent their children back to school. All these mean one thing to East Cooper Termite and Pest Solutions…RODENTS. These furry little friends will start looking for places to stay warm during the winter. Insulated crawlspaces, attics, garages, and wall voids may become a residence for the Norway or Roof rat. The white footed mouse may show up close to Halloween and nibbl...

So, Are We Better Off in Healthcare Now?

Yes, I know that for some people getting a snowfall is not news. But for Charleston, it is a once-in-a-decade event! And we did get 2-3 inches this weekend!

Needless to say, parents, children, friends and dogs frolicked in the snow and got their creative and playful juices going. I went around taking pictures of some of the snowmen in Mt Pleasant. 

And then I decided to upload them and make a POPULARITY CONTEST...

If you wish to see about 100 snowmen and cast your vote CLICK HERE.

Roper St. Francis Hospital and East Cooper Hospital Expansion Nearing Completion in Mt. Pleasant

Work on the new Roper St. Francis Hospital being built on Highway 17 North in Carolina Park across from Charleston National is advancing fast. Completion is expected for later this year. This 200,000 sq. ft. facility built on 78 acres of land will have 85 inpatient beds, 24-hour emergency, inpatient and outpatient surgery, womens' clinic, imaging, laboratory and pharmacy.

Also, the new wing for East Cooper Hospital is being finished on Mathis Ferry and Von Kolnitz. This wing will more than double the size of their current facility and includes 130 private patient rooms, 10 neonatal nursery b...

Station 22, 2205 Middle St., Sullivan's Island

(843) 883-3355

February Special

--Appetizer--Entrée--Wine--Dessert-

CHOOSE THREE for $25.00

1-Appetizer 

station 22’s she crab soup  served with a dash of sherry

quickly fried calamari   with a tangy, ginger citrus sauce

fried green tomatoes

layered with pimento cheese, sweet corn relish, and fire roasted pepper coulis

warm spinach salad with herb fried goat cheese

tossed in hot bacon dressing with toasted walnuts, wild mushrooms

carrots, and grape tomatoes

2-Entrée

vidalia encrusted salmon filet

pan seared atlantic salmon with a sweet vidalia crust whipped idaho potatoes

 baby green beans and red pepp...

Mt. Pleasant, SC Market Update – Jan. 2010

Summary

There is light at the end of the tunnel! Inventory in Mt Pleasant continues a downward trend (albeit a slow reduction) and monthly sales are back above 100 a month. Distressed homes (short sales and lender-owned) homes are still appearing in most neighborhoods and have placed additional stress on appraisers.

Inventory and Absorption                       

We can still observe traditional seasonality in our home inventory in Mt. Pleasant. Comparing 2009 with the two previous years, we can definitely see a trend toward inventory reduction: Each peak has been lower than the previous one, and each low has also been lower. From January un...

Daily Real Estate News | December 28, 2009 

Misuse of Home Buyer Tax Credit Reported

A report earlier this month from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration estimates that 73,799 taxpayers have incorrectly claimed the first-time home buyer tax credit. The report concludes: "The IRS is unable to verify eligibility for the majority of Recovery Act benefits at the time a tax return is processed."

The IRS didn't dispute the claim, but said it was studying the matter further. Some have suggested that this report and others will encourage Congress to put some safeguards in place before more claims result from the extension and expansion of the tax credit.

Source: The New Yo...

Charleston Magazine is sponsoring this "before-and-after" remodeling contest. Have you remodeled your home? Maybe you can win it and be featured in this magazine!

TBC - Charleston Area & Rockefeller

This week's announcement that TBC Corporation (the nation's largest marketer of tires for the automotive replacement market) had chosen Berkeley County to set up a new 1.1 million square feet distribution center at the I-26/Jedburg Road new 400-acre Industrial Park and Foreign Trade Zone (being developed by the Rockefeller Group and MeadWestVaco) is a real vote of confidence in this area, and a much needed boost for the Port of Charleston to reverse their throughput decline of the last few years.

The center is said to bring at least 100 direct jobs to the area and TBC is set to become the Port's 4th largest customer. Great news!

The Charleston Regional Business Journal reported today:

"AirTran leaving Charleston in early December

Charleston's only low-cost carrier will end service in early December. An AirTran spokesman said the airline did not have enough business travelers in Charleston to sustain its operations here. With the departure, officials expect an increase in fares among other airlines serving Charleston."

This is not good news for Charleston, I hope that they reverse their decision - we are waiting for two big announcements regarding new companies coming to the Charleston area. Although authorities have been tight-lipped, one of these is supposed to be a Chinese tire manufacturer coming to set up ...

OktoberFest Returns to Blackbaud Stadium

On Sunday, October 25th from noon to 5 pm Blackbaud Stadium will be transformed into a Bavarian-stule beer hall to celebrate Oktoberfest.

Come drink some German beer, listen to Oompah Music (The Roger Gootman Sauerkraut Band) and bring the kids! There are a multitude of activities planned including authentic German dancers, children's events like mini-soccer games, a mountain slide, a Hot-Shot Power-Kick game and a jump castle. A variety of German food will be available.  

Partykomers (Oktoberfesters) are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn-chairs. This event will benefit local charities including Debi's Kids and The Salvation Army Angel Tree....

If you are trying to sell your home, you will know how hard is to generate enough showing traffic.

Well, count yourself lucky! The Chicago Tribune reported that President Barack Obama's next door neighbors in Chicago are trying to sell their home, which they bought back in 1973 for $35,000. The listing agent said that the selling price will ultimately be defined by the "Obama Factor", but homes in the area are selling for between $1 million and $2.5 million.

However, how's this for a damper on showings? In order to SCHEDULE A SHOWING for this home, any prospective buyer will have to prove that he/she can afford to pay at least $1.5 million AND will have to be vetted by the SECRET SERVIC...

I found this website to check out homes anywhere in the U.S.

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Only 9 Weeks Left!

If you are a first time home buyer and want to be eligible for the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit when you purchase a primary home, there are just 8 weeks left to CLOSE the transaction!! (unless Congress extends the deadline, this tax credit expires on December 1st, 2009). This means you better get cracking! You will need to find a home, negotiate a contract, do your buyer's due diligence and get your loan approved before you can close!!

If you are in this situation and need to buy a home urgently - please contact me ASAP! We can still do it....