Myrtle Beach Real Estate News

Myrtle Beach Real Estate Auction Thursday

2009-06-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

This Thursday, June 25th, will bring a big bank-owned real estate auction in Myrtle Beach.

According to the announcement in the local paper, there will be fifteen properties auctioned, including North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach condos, and some single family homes in Georgetown, Longs, and Shallotte, North Carolina. Shallotte is about 35 miles north of the state line in Little River, straight up Highway 17. Located in Brunswick County, it's convenient to Ocean Isle, Holden, and Sunset Beaches on the NC coast.

Prospective buyers should come early to view the properties before the auction, and will need $2500 in cash or certified check to buy. The sales will close between 30 to 45 days from the sale, according to a firm spokesperson.

This week is bringing around 120 foreclosed homes to auction in both Carolinas, with the majority of them in Charlotte (26) and Raleigh NC. (24)

Also included in the auctions are Charleston, Hilton Head, and Greenville. SC.

Myrtle Beach foreclosures are starting to level off, and the time to buy for the best deals is quickly running out.

For representation and more information on the Myrtle Beach real estate auctions, contact Richard Brooks at 843-333-0470.

Greenville home buyers can contact Lee Cunningham at 864-679-0707.

The Perils of Condo HOA's

2009-05-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Having gone through my own trials and tribulations with the HOA of the condo complex I bought into, I can sympathize with this story anyway. But in this case, with the media getting this into the public eye, this is one HOA president that is likely to be very sorry he let his power go to his head.

I've seen problems come up repeatedly with condo boards. It seems no matter how well-meaning each board starts out, something comes up that is ridiculous to most people, but there will be one or two board members that feel strongly about it, or just find the need to prove they have the ability to pick on somebody. Like kids on a playground, it is inevitable. But this one really pushes the wrong buttons at the wrong time.

A Dallas HOA president sent a notice to one Frank Larison, a disabled veteran with more than 14 years of service, that the Marine Corp decals on his SUV represented advertisements, which was against their bylaws. He's been instructed to remove them, or face a fine and the vehicle being removed from the property by a tow truck.

Fox 4 reports that "Otherwise, the homeowners association for The Woodlands II on The Creek -- where Larison has lived for eight years --- says in a letter it will tow the car at Larison's expense. The board also threatens to fine him $50 for any future incident."

I would not want to be in this board member's shoes after this gets out. And he deserves whatever he gets, too. Watch the video.

Let our Myrtle Beach real estate experts help you choose the right condo for your vacation needs.

Real Estate Mortgage Help for Homeowners

2009-04-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Mortgage fraud and bad practices have become such a problem in South Carolina that the SC Dept of Consumer Affairs has opened a hotline to handle complaints and investigate shady companies for those struggling to repay a difficult mortgage.

Not only have the ARM loans gone up to ridiculous rates with people who often never should have been approved for the amount of home they bought, but it seems that often times the mortgage companies themselves have closed offices and are not responding to borrowers who are desperately trying to negotiate and keep their homes.

Charles Knight, an attorney with Consumer Affairs advises that our Attorney General, Henry McMaster has set up, staffed, and funded an investigative unit for mortgage company consumer problems.

More information can be found at the Mortgage Fraud Hotline.

Keep up with Myrtle Beach Real Estate news with the Myrtle Beach Condo Store website.

10 Real Estate Trends That Buyers Like to See

2009-02-23T20:28:00.000-08:00

Builder's Magazine had an interesting article about trends that prospective buyers either look for or appreciate enough that it makes them choose to buy a home. They interviewed builders, architects, real estate agents, and interior designers across the nation, and created a top 10 list.

1. Increased ceiling heights from 8 to 9 feet, and moving to more upstairs bedrooms instead of large, hard to heat and cool great rooms.

2. Low-maintenance exteriors and interiors such as brick, tile floors, and little exposed wood. Alternatives are homes in a sub-division that provides home upkeep in the maintenance agreements.

3. Large laundry rooms with space to move around, fold clothes, and even use as storage. According to the article, a larger laundry room is the number one request in America. Wow!

4. Natural materials used for exterior and interior. Granite countertops, ceramic tile flooring, hardwood floors, brick exteriors, tile bathrooms and similar things are preferable now to man-made materials. and carpeting. Surprisingly, wooden porches attract and evoke childhood memories which tend to make a property sell better.

5. Special rooms and nooks for privacy in the home, such as a computer room, library, or personal space.

6. Replacing a formal living room with a den, study, gameroom, or family room.

7. Advanced technology is demanded these days, such as wireless internet, surround-sound across the home, keyless entry, lighting controls, and kitchen gadgetry. Computerized security systems are very popular.

8. Outdoor entertainment areas such as porches and gazebos that can be used for sleeping and parties. Outdoor fireplaces, large pools, jacuzzis and other extras are now demanded instead of being considered a rarity.

9. Master-planned communities which include homes, condos, clubhouses, and other buildings that get rid of the "Pleasant Valley Sunday" look of the 70's 80's and 90's.

10. Having larger garage buildings and putting them behind the house to free up the window views and improve the street appearance of the homes is proving to be a big seller.

With Myrtle Beach real estate sales proving a little more difficult, and vacation homes in Myrtle Beach competing with so many luxurious oceanfront condos, adding extras to the outdoor space could make a huge difference in deciding between the two.

Many of the Myrtle Beach golf communities have thought about extras such as granite, tile, and mixing homes and condos in the same neighborhoods. Fireplaces are more common now in our newer developments, although we probably don't have enough cold weather to give them proper usage.

My friend in Las Vegas lives in a neighborhood that refuses to allow palm trees and the "Florida" look, instead, going with the traditional brick homes. Of course all the desert states like Nevada and Arizona consider pools a backyard necessity, too.

The trendy small towns in states like Texas are big on 2 story stone houses with high ceilings, along with backyard garages with cultured and landscaped yards. Denton, Frisco, and Flower Mound TX homes and communities have gorgeous neighborhoods whose houses include many of the featured trends. Anxious sellers everywhere would do well to think about adding some of these features that get their homes more attention.
###

The National Board of Realtors tells us that the number of vacation homes being turned into rental properties is on the rise... Myrtle Beach Vacation Homes.

The Trump Team Offers Solution for Real Estate Woes

2009-01-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Brett Carmen, a seasoned veteran in the real estate industry for over 17 years, and a member of Donald Trump's team of experts, posted a blog on the Trump U site today offering his ideas for solving the real estate crisis. He holds active licenses in real estate, mortgage finance, and property & casualty insurance, so he knows the business from all aspects. I think they would be wise to listen to him. Obama would be damn smart to get some of Trump's people on his panel of advisors, for that matter.

He worries that the people responsible for the problem (and the ones able to correct it) are too concerned with blaming everyone else and need to get over it and work on a fix, instead of passing the buck.

His ideas are:

1. Create jobs
2. Keep interest rates low
3. Stop the banks from making mortgage requirements that keep the majority from purchasing.

Brett agrees that the requirements were too slack before, but now they have over-compensated and that is just adding to the problem. I know this is true for Myrtle Beach real estate. Our Realtors tell us that when they get a customer who is finally ready to buy, they can't qualify them anywhere for the mortgage.

Brett also says that many of the banks are trying to eliminate mortgage brokers entirely, and this would be a huge mistake. He says that brokers did 70% of the loans several years ago, and are an important part of our country's business market. They didn't create the faulty loans either, although the banks want to blame them. All they did was follow the requirements the banks set forth. Like the doctor blaming the nurse for giving the medicine he prescribed, this is not only unfair, but simply untrue.

His final advice is to lower the debt-to-income ratio for the time being so that the majority of America can still own a home, but they don't over-extend themselves in the process.
The Trump Blog is a great read, and everyone should listen to the guys that know real estate more than anybody.
###

Other really good real estate resources include the Cunningham team and homes for sale in Greenville SC, and my friend Jack Ragsdale who is an expert in Flower Mound Texas real estate and Frisco Texas real estate.

Retirement Location, Location, Location

2008-11-15T00:14:00.000-08:00

This week's Bottom Line newsletter featured an interview with David Savageau, author of Retirement Places Rated: What You Need to Know to Plan the Retirement You Deserve.

In his book, Savageau reports that many of today's retirees are looking for homes outside of the resort areas, preferring culture amenities, lower prices, and a sense of history and old fashioned values instead of the usual golf and beach atmosphere.

College towns are high on the list of alternatives. while a temperate climate is still a priority, areas located close to art centers, the best medical facilities, and good theatre and entertainment opportunities are winning out over walking on the beach.

In addition to college hubs, what he calls "Blue Collar Towns" are becoming attractive to retirees because of lower prices, the small-town atmosphere, and more affordable housing. Cities are creating "urban villages" around downtown areas that offer shops, restaurants, and recreation. One such urban village defines Greenville SC's downtown condos such as the Brownstones which have the unusual and neat feature of having individual parking garages with private elevators for each unit. The elevators run in the condo as well going to each of the three floors in the townhome condo and down to the parking garage.

The Bookends also have designer thirteen foot ceilings and outdoor terraces with a view of downtown. Seniors do not need to walk through empty parking garages and ride in public elevators. With the Reedy River adding to the atmosphere, prospective buyers will fall in love with the old south charm, temperate climate, and low cost of living this upstate South Carolina town. Greenville SC Real Estate is quietly becoming a favored secret landing place for baby boomers.

Another retirement city that boasts a southern charm and great climate is Flower Mound, Texas. With assisted living communities like Autumn Leaves, which caters to victims and families of Alzheimers Disease, retirees are finding a way to weather the problems that age brings, and their loved ones can make the best of this devastating problem.

Flower Mound also offers golf course condos, always popular with seniors, and retirement communities such as Pinewood Hills. This landscaped and scenic neighborhood offers community amenities like a learning/business center, restaurants, arts and crafts, interest groups, planned activities, a fitness Center, and access to Public Transit. For retirement living, Flower Mound Texas real estate is an attractive alternative to expensive and traditional Las Vegas and Arizona retirement choices.

For those that do want the salt air and seagulls, consider the much less expensive Myrtle Beach, SC. With an extra low cost of living standard for a resort area, low taxes, endless restaurants and theatres, the one hundred plus golf courses make it the perfect place to escape cold northern winters and spend the "golden years" in relative luxury.

Myrtle Beach is going through a complete renovation and will increasingly target retirees with urban villages such as Market Commons, Brightwood, and Lakeside Crossing. Myrtle Beach real estate offers more bang for the buck than Florida and is quickly becoming the beach retirement choice.

The baby boomer generation has come into its own, and the southern states are going to be the happy recipients of those who crave better weather, friendlier neighbors, less crime, and a happier retirement.

Moreno Valley: One man's wild ride on cycles of boom and bust

2008-09-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

Bob Chiordi at the home he is about to lose in Moreno Valley — his second home loss there because of the city’s cycles of boom and bust. While admitting he doesn’t like having this happen twice, “You have to keep going forward,” he said.
__________________________________________________________________

In the Inland Empire city, Bob Chiordi achieves the American Dream of homeownership -- and loses it -- twice

By Peter H. King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer September 15, 2008

MORENO VALLEY -- It's an axiom of growth, Southern California-style: Suburbs that arise on the far edges of the metropolis in a boom, more often than not, will recede in a bust. After the down times end, as they always seem to do, the bulldozers and house framers return. And the next cycle begins.

The good people of Moreno Valley know this pattern all too well. Since sprouting out of the desert lands beyond Riverside in the mid-1980s, the city has lurched from outsized boom to neighborhood-gutting recession and back to boom, only to find itself battered yet again by the calamity known as the mortgage crisis.

Bob Chiordi has bobbed through every sea change. A 54-year-old father of two, Chiordi moved here in the '80s, part of a modern-day land rush that for a time would make Moreno Valley the nation's fastest-growing city.

It was a classic suburban trade-off: Chiordi was willing to endure a death-march commute into Long Beach, where he worked as a structural mechanic for McDonnell Douglas, in exchange for an opportunity to own his own house. The American Dream, it's often called -- when it all works out.

Chiordi now toils in the auto service department at Wal-Mart for $10.25 an hour, while scouring the Southland for a job more in line with his background. Moreover, for the second time since moving here, he is about to walk away from his home to foreclosure -- unable to keep up with the payments.

"I don't really like the fact that I lost two houses in my life," he said last week, sitting in the conference room of the Palm Canyon Community Church, where he volunteers as a youth counselor. "But you have to keep going forward."

He told his story in a detached monotone, and at times it seemed he could barely believe what was happening to him. Again.

Chiordi first heard about Moreno Valley from a friend in the mid-'80s. Priced out of the red-hot Los Angeles and Orange County housing markets, he joined the caravans of first-time home buyers rushing east into the so-called Inland Empire.

"This was like the cheap place to move to," Chiordi recalled. "We were able to buy a real nice house for under $100,000. And, if you wanted a really, really nice house, you could get one for $150,000."

In a decade, the population of what would become Moreno Valley -- it incorporated in 1985 -- grew from 30,219 to 118,779, according to the 1990 U.S. Census. Yes, there was a strangeness to this new city on the metropolitan fringe.

"A larval city," a Times columnist called it, after a visit in 1989. " . . . no formal city hall, no courthouses have been built here, no covered malls. . . . Like a warm sea, the subdivisions seem to be waiting for the bones of their community to be built."

But there were churches, tiny churches, tucked into strip malls and abandoned taco stands and tract homes. The precursor to Palm Canyon church, where Chiordi worships, was located in a strip mall just north of Highway 60. The storefront currently houses a discount auto insurance office, with a sign beckoning the auto world's disenfranchised: "Multi-tickets/DUI's/Accidents/Young Drivers/Suspended License. No problem."

The church pastor, Tom De Vries, described back then the strains that long commutes and "frontier nothingness" were placing on Moreno Valley residents. There were problems with latchkey children, with spouses who rarely saw one another during the week. Chiordi himself did not last long as a rush hour commuter. After two months he switched to swing and night shifts, which allowed him to make the 65-mile drive at less crowded times:

"The last day I worked the first shift, a plane landed on the 91 Freeway," he said. "It took me 4 1/2 hours to get home. I said, 'That's it.' "

By the early '90s, he and his family had settled in. He started a cleaning business on the side, and it grew to the point where he could quit McDonnell Douglas and the commute for good. And then, with recession and base closures, California fell into hard times. Moreno Valley, and Bob Chiordi, fell harder.

Real estate values plunged, and houses by the thousands were repossessed, boarded up, abandoned. Gangs grabbed a foothold. March Air Force Base -- aside from housing construction, the city's lone economic stalwart -- was downsized. Moreno Valley's fledgling city government was overwhelmed.

"We had a city council at the time," recalled council member Bonnie Flickinger, "which had very little experience or history on which to base some decisions. And mistakes were made."

The biggest was to bank on the notion that the boom would never end. Fees charged to developers were used to underwrite the city's operating expenses. When construction stalled, so did the city.

Chiordi soon discovered he owed far more on his house than what it was worth, and so, he said, "I just walked away." He moved his family and his steam-cleaning business into a rental, and began the long climb back up. It was at this point he discovered the Palm Canyon church.

As it happened, the first Sunday that Chiordi attended Palm Canyon was the final one for the founding pastor. Before he moved on to a new assignment, Tom De Vries handed out racing batons and read a passage from First Corinthians:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

Moreno Valley and Chiordi both stayed in the race. And quietly, the cycle turned. A new medical center opened. An indoor shopping mall was built. Department stores and chain restaurants began to pop up. City Hall opened, and council members no longer had to hold office hours in a strip mall food court. The bedroom community of the 1980s was beginning to feel more like a real city:

"The first time I really realized it," recalled Sally Baden, a Palm Canyon member, "was when the Burger King was going in. I said, 'Wow, we are getting big!' "

In time Moreno Valley would add 50,000 more residents and many, many jobs. The city dedicated new parks and other amenities, financed in part through a utility tax passed amid the panic of the first bust. By 2002 the Riverside Press-Enterprise was editorializing about the "Moreno Valley Comeback."

Chiordi rode this tide up. He sold his business, went to work as a branch manager at an auto dealership, bought a new house and, as real estate values soared, refinanced it twice, taking out money to pay down old debts and for a family vacation. He had purchased the house for $160,000. It was now worth $420,000, at least on paper.

"I had the feeling that it was a good economic time again," he said, "and that it was going to last for a while."It didn't.

The mortgage crisis has swept through all California, of course, but the effect seems worse, again, out here on the edge. In the second quarter of 2008 alone, 1,182 California foreclosures were reported in Moreno Valley, according to DataQuick Information Services, a clearinghouse of real estate data.

By comparison, in the same period, Pasadena and Monrovia, with a combined population equal to that of this city, reported 101 foreclosures. Long Beach, with a population of about half a million, reported 263. Compton, roughly 100,000 in population, 239.

The numbers don't do justice to what can be seen at street level. Rare is the block in Moreno Valley that does not have at least one vacant house. Many have four or five. They are easy to spot. The lawns have turned brown and blinds have been removed, revealing a forlorn emptiness within.

Chiordi held on as long as he could. A year ago, he left his job at the auto dealership and started another new business, setting up Internet sites for auto dealers. He felt that was what the Lord wanted him to do. The idea might have been sound. The timing was not.

"Just because you believe God is leading you in that direction," he said, "doesn't mean it is going to be easy. And that was my downfall, thinking that it was going to be easy."

Chiordi managed to drum up only a few clients. By December he found himself unable to make his mortgage payments. He tried to paddle his way through, sending out more than 100 resumes, citing his experience in the aircraft industry, auto sales, computers, church youth groups.

"It's frustrating," he said. "It doesn't seem like anybody is interested in hiring a 54-year-old who doesn't have a college degree, despite my experience."

So far the best he has been able to do is Wal-Mart.

"I sell oil changes for a living now," Chiordi said flatly.

In June, with the bank moving to seize his home, Chiordi filed for bankruptcy. Maybe he had overreached -- putting his faith in the boom, pushing hard for a better life -- but his were not uncommon mistakes in this time and place.

Still, he said, "I hate the idea of not paying my bills. The first time, I didn't have God in my life. This time I did, and that makes all the difference. The Scripture says if you have got bills, you have got to pay them. I feel like I sinned. But I will be forgiven. My faith in God is stronger than ever, and I'm letting him guide me."

Despite the onslaught of foreclosures, many people around Moreno Valley believe this slump won't be as severe as the first. Some development projects have stalled, but others go forward. When the tide rolls back in, most everybody agrees, the city will renew its march across the desert floor, advancing toward a population of 300,000. It's just a matter of hanging on.

With financial help from his extended family, Chiordi will be moving this month with his wife, two grown children and two grandchildren into a house they've bought on a hill in the eastern corner of town. It's a tidy beige structure, built only four years ago, with a terra cotta roof and a backyard view of Moreno Valley spread out below.

It had fallen into foreclosure last April, and the price was right.

peter.king@latimes.com

For information about real estate all around the US, see Myrtle Beach Condos , Flower Mound Texas Real Estate, Frisco Texas Real Estate, Greenville SC Real Estate and Homes for sale in Greenville SC

Conway Bank Targeted by Internet Scammers

2008-06-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

Just a heads up for anyone who might be banking with Conway National Bank. They are in the middle of a phishing scam attack and emails are going out by the hundreds or thousands, disguised to look like it's coming from the bank.

I've seen several different themes of the emails. Some say that your account has been compromised and the bank is blocking it (click here to reconfirm). Some say there's a mistake and your account has been credited for $XX dollars...(click here to receive money). Some just said to visit the website and confirm login. They all look very convincing.

I talked to someone at the bank this morning and they are aware of it and trying to get it stopped. I also found out that they are calling people, out of the yellow pages perhaps? and leaving recorded messages with an 800 number to call. This is to get you to punch your passwords and things into the telephone, I would assume. I had gotten one of those calls Sunday, and assumed it was Conway Bank security calling me because I was sending them the emails.

The emails are coming from numerous addresses, but most of the ones I've seen were coming from places in Korea (the email address header reads like scammer@conwaybank.com.kr ) It's likely the email addresses are fake anyway. The point to the scam is to get you to click the link in the email and type in your user name and password.

Paypal and Ebay and other large banks have suffered from these "phishing" schemes for years now. Seems odd that they would target a small South Carolina bank like Conway Bank.

At any case, it is so important that we all remember NEVER EVER to click on any link from an email and login to anything. Very few banks or accounts will ever send you an email that asks you to, but even if you think it's legit, it's better to go directly to the website and not take the chance. Sometimes the links will go to websites that have embedded viruses or worms as well.

Always be suspicious when dealing with an email from someone other than friends or family.

And sometimes you can be fooled there as well.

Visit our website to learn about Myrtle Beach real estate, and see www.MyrtleBeachCondos.net to search the MLS for Myrtle Beach condos.

Real Estate Stock Investment Picks from Forbes

2008-06-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

From the Forbes Guru Roundtable
Best Investment Ideas for 2008-2009

According to Forbes Guru Peter Slatin, these are 7 real estate stock investments he recommends for the next 12 months. Peter is the editor of the Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report.

He opens his report to say that even as real estate investment trusts have declined since last fall, some RES's still show strength and offer investors a very good rate of return. The lowered prices offer investment opportunity even while they increase concerns about interest rates, inflation, and other economic problems happening now.

The report is quoted as stating:
"Picking winners and losers in an arena where companies rise and fall with cyclical regularity means knowing who the players are - and, especially in real estate - which ones play by the rules."

His seven real estate stock recommendations are:

Brookfield Asset Management (nyse:BAM)
Capitaland Ltd. (Singapore:C31.SI)
Gafisa SA (nyse:GFA)
Homex Development (nyse:HXM)
Kimco Realty (nyse:KIM)

And for short term:

RAIT Financial Trust (nyse:RAS)
Gramercy Capital (nyse: GKK)

A complete report may be found by signing up for the Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report.

Look for Myrtle Beach real estate and condos for sale at any of our websites, or find 1031 Exchange information.

Coming soon, a site to find CHEAP oceanfront property. For those just interested in Myrtle Beach as a vacation hotspot, a new website for families and kids is on the horizon - Myrtle Beach Amusement Parks

Myrtle Beach Life - Chickens Can Help Local Shrimpers Survive

2008-06-11T00:45:00.000-07:00

Rising costs of gas and diesel are causing South Carolina's shrimpers to park the boats, increasing the dependence on imported shrimp in restaurants and grocery stores.

Wild American Shrimp, a nonprofit group dedicated to the shrimping community, has partnered with several other SC groups to help promote and preserve our shrimpers and the wild shrimp they provide.

Billboards will be appearing throughout Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head with the message of "buying local", and the grocery chains of Harris Teeter and Kroger have agreed to sell and distribute information about the economic and health benefits of fresh-caught shrimp over the often frozen imports.Where do most shrimp that we eat come from? Hold your cookies... China, Vietnam, and South America! Don't you know that's some fresh seafood? Yuck!

And now to the title of this article - how are chickens involved?

More and more shrimp boats are shutting down due to high fuel costs and having to compete with the (as usual) unrealistically cheap prices of the overseas competition. But there is an answer or at least help for the problem of fuel...Bio-Diesel.

Biodiesel is made from chicken fat, soybean, corn or vegetable oil. One Bluffton shrimper reports that it lessens the motor power by about 5 to 10 percent, which isn't a big deal, but says you can mix it with regular diesel to lessen any problems. He says the motor runs fine unless it gets too chilly - under 60 degrees and tends to "gel" in the lines.

One provider of the fuel is in Charlestown, and they actually deliver to the boats. It's not the answer to a prayer...only about 50 cents per gallon cheaper than regular diesel. When you use 3000 gallons of fuel every two weeks, as shrimpers often do, it can certainly help.

I don't think we'll be seeing chickens replacing those cows in the commercials that hold up signs saying "Eat Mor Shrimps", now that they've found yet another use for America's favorite meat.

This was off-topic for a Myrtle Beach Real Estate blog, I know, but I thought it was interesting enough to share!

Brought to you by the Myrtle Beach Condo Store. Ask us about a 1031 Exchange!

Real Estate in Myrtle Beach Picks Up

2008-06-06T02:39:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email with some statistics put out by Certifax Appraisals, one of the most respected real estate appraisal companies in coastal North and South Carolina.

In their appraisal orders, they are reporting improved numbers and market condition in April and May, reflecting more activity, shorter time on the market, and even some price increases.
Here are some of the Myrtl Beach condos and neighborhoods they are reporting on specifically...

The Gardens at Cypress Bay- A 2 bedroom condo at this beautiful golf resort actually had a bidding war that pushed the selling price 3% higher than the price it was listed for. THAT is impressive.

Shipwatch Point II- A penthouse unit there sold 4 days after being listed, and brought 94% of the list price.

Arcadian Dunes- One of these condos sold after 45 days of listing, and brought 96% of the asking price.

Island Vista- Several of these units increased in price from $239K in 2006 to $300K during the beginning of 2008 up to April.

Laguna Keys- One of these luxurious condos sold 46 days after listing, for $499,000, or 91% of the asking price.

Market Commons- Although it's been rumored that sales at Market Commons have been very sluggish and disappointing, Certifax reports that several units have been contracted in May for prices that were 3% higher than in December.

In regular Myrtle Beach real estate, Certifax reports six or more single family homes have sold from 39-94 days after being listed, and have all gotten 93% or better of the listing price, along with some price increases since 2005.

This is promising news for the market along the Grand Strand, and hopefully we'll see more of it!

Visit our websites for information on 1031 Exchange, Myrtle Beach Foreclosures, and even deals on cheap oceanfront property!

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Donald Trump Blogs Real Estate Now!

2008-05-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

I found a marvelous blog tonight that I promptly subscribed to in my email.

What is it? No other than Donald Trump himself!

One of his websites, TrumpUniversity.com offers The Trump Blog.

As always, when I run across one of the Donald's websites, it makes me positively TWITCH to get ahold of it and apply some SEO magic. The man is gold, and just hasn't gotten the hang of using the search engines to further line his pockets.

The Trump U is no exception. His title reflects the phrase Trump University - Online Real Estate & Business Course.

When you look in Google for "online business course" he should be right at the top. Who is better than Donald Trump? But no, he's not there, and the site itself is a hefty PR5.

For those who don't know Google-speak, I won't go into details about the PR5 comment. Suffice it to say he ought to own every keyword phrase about investment and real estate that exists.

Ah...the man absolutely fascinates me.

Anyway, he posted on his blog...can you imagine Donald Trump blogging? I love it! He posted on his blog a nice uplifting post about now being the time to buy real estate. This was very similar sentiment to his interview last year with Larry King, in fact.

Donald says that it's no surprise that the majority of Americans say they do NOT plan to buy a home anytime soon, and that more of a quarter million homeowners worry that their home will lose value over the next few years. One in seven, he says, are afraid they won't be able to meet their mortgage in the next six months. Foreclosure is on everyone's mind these days.

However, he advises, if you are one of the lucky ones who are looking to BUY, you could hardly be in a better position. He says to shop around, make an offer, and the chances are that any good deal will be accepted and with decent credit you can get a mortgage.

He ends with saying he thinks the housing market is going to get better, and fairly quickly. When the market is in a slump, he advises, that is when you should buy, and buy NOW.

Cute as can be, he ends with,

"But that's just my opinion. After all, what does Donald Trump know about real estate!"

What, indeed? :-) Find me, Donald. You're the king of real estate and I know real estate search engine optimization better than anything. We're a billion dollar team!
###

Check out Myrtle Beach real estate. Condos in Myrtle Beach are there for the picking!

Myrtle Beach Among the Fastest Growing Cities

2008-04-28T01:20:00.000-07:00

With all the whining I hear about how bad the market for real estate in Myrtle Beach is right now, I was rather surprised to find that according to Realtor.com, we were in a list of the fastest growing populations around.

Palm Coast Florida (wherever that is) was the fasting growing, at 7.2%.

St George, Utah was 2nd, at 5.1%. I don't doubt that. I have a Mormon realtor friend there and that is some kind of a beautiful place to live...even for a non-Mormon...:-)

Raleigh, North Carolina is the biggie for the south. I have been hearing this for months now. There must be something there that wasn't there 15 years ago when I went through it. Like Greensboro and other Triad areas, all I saw was ugly factories and industry...and a lot of Kudzu growing everywhere. I was born and raised in High Point and Greensboro. No thanks to that now!

Gainesville, Georgia is next at 4.5%. Not sure about that area, but I think it's very cheap to live there. Could be wrong. It's relatively close to Atlanta, too.

Austin Texas is next. Si Senor'. Wonder how much of their growth is in Mexicans...legal or illegal? It's big, though. I've got a couple of realtor friends there and they are slammed to the walls in business right now.

MYRTLE BEACH is number 6 on the fastest growing cities in the US!!! We come in at 4.2%. We're attracting a nice selection of retirees from up north who recognize our value compared to the inflated Florida prices. We've always gotten a large amount of residents from North Carolina and oddly, West Virginia. We have bars here that are gathering places for W. Virginians. Half the people I know and have worked with are from there. I'm not sure why...except that I would not want to live in West Virginia...:-)

Next up is Charlotte, NC. I think they are on a slight decline. This time last year their real estate was as hot as Raleigh, but it's dwindling just a tad now, so my friends there tell me. They are the same as Myrtle Beach at 4.2%.

New Orleans and nearby Metairie are growing due to rebuilding after the wrath of Katrina. At 4% growth, let's hope somebody is doing something to protect from that happening again. Whatever goes up there now is your (and my) tax money at work to replace.

Grand Junction, CO is next. I know nothing about that area. It's at 3.7%. Too high up and cold for me!

Clarksville, Tennessee is last at 3.7%. Take the last train to Clarksville, my Monkee boys used to sing. I got a smile out of this one!

I am looking forward to our Myrtle Beach real estate market returning to normal. This place to too close to paradise to be suffering from slow sales and buyers putting off owning something that they will enjoy forever. Foreclosures in Myrtle Beach are starting to increase, and with short-sales, this is the best time ever to find the oceanfront condo for sale that you can get for a song! Cheap oceanfront property abounds everywhere!

See our other Real Estate Blog !

Cheap Oceanfront Property

2008-04-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

I just finished a brand new website to try and promote foreclosures, short-sales, and distressed real estate on all the East Coast, Gulf Coast, and West Coast. Hopefully there will be some owners interested in selling, and buyers interesting in finding...:-)

Visit Cheap Oceanfront Property and see it. Got a ways to go to finish it, but it's up!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate News

2008-04-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Myrtle Beach Real Estate News. This blog will be mostly about new developments and MLS listings that I find to talk about. I'll try to keep it light and interesting!