If you want to get a good laugh The Have Nots will be performing at Theater 99  at 8pm on Saturday, August 28th, followed by New York commedien Kenny Z at 10 pm.

Saturday, August 28 from 12-9pm and Sunday, August 29 from 12-9pm , The Beach Music and Shag Preservation Society present the 57th Annual Charleston Beach Music and Shag Festival. For more information go to Pivots Beach Club.

Charleston Battery vs Richmond Kickers for the USL-2 2010 Championship at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday, August 28th.  To purchase tickets go to www.charlestonbattery.com.

On Saturday, June 18, Woodlands Inn  in Summerville is grilling out (and dad doesn’t have to man the tongs, like at home) with their Beer and BBQ Tasting with Palmetto Brewery. It’s $55 (plus tax and gratuity), which covers four courses: grilled shrimp, togarashi, pickled watermelon rind, and cucumber; Carolina-style smoked chicken and pulled pork with Anson Mills grits; a main course of Moroccan spiced Lamb, tangine, and saffron couscous; and a dessert of warm chocolate and espresso cake with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. Of course, there’s also beer pairings with each course, and dad even gets an after-dinner cigar and bourbon. Reservations are required.

On Sunday, June 20, there will be a Father’s Day Brunch buffet style featuring BBQ Benedict, Red-eye gravy, shrimp and grits and much more.  Cost $55.  There will also be a kids menu for kids (4-12).

If you want t dine in a more casual venue you can grab a steak at Outback and dad has a chance to win FREE Outback for a year! The special goes from June 18-June 20.

SC Aquarium  has free admission for fathers with a paying guest or child. Sunday, June 20 from 9am to 6pm.

If your dad is the outdoors type, take him on a k ayaking trip with Sea Kayak  Carolina. The tour begins at 7:30 am to the launch point at Battery Island and goes to Sandy Point on Kiawah Island. Rental kayaks are $30.  You can bring your own kayak

If you want to give dad a different gift for Father’s Day because you are tired of giving him the same old things, check out Bellezza Buzz spa and give dad a relaxing treatment.

Friday June 4

Friday, June 4, Piccolo Spoleto Beach Party in Downtown Charleston at the US Custom House from 7pm-11pm.  Free!

Friday, June 4,  Hazelnut Hang - Enjoy the music of Sister Hazel at the Windjammer  on the Isle of Palms. Cost $25.00

Saturday, June 5, Annual Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival 10:00 am – 8:00pm at Waterfront Memorial Park in Mt. Pleasant.    There will be several mini-events and activities with crafters, quilters, gospel singers, Gullah storytellers, the ADANDE African Drum and Dance Group, and much more.

Sunday, June 6, Daughtry will be at the North Charleston Colliseum with special guests Lifehouse & Cavo. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

FOR THE KIDS

If you’re looking for a place to take the kids go to the Joe Riley Stadium.The Riverdogs will be home all weekend.  Remember that Fridays there’s fireworks after the game. Saturdays there are free giveaways and on Sundays there’s free parking and kids eat for free. 

Another fun thing to do outdoors with the kids is climbing the wall at the James Island County Park.  South Carolina’s tallest outdoor climbing facility. It’s open 7 days a week, from Noon to 8pm on weekdays and from 9am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great weekend!

Initially  the festival started in the acient city of Spoleto, Italy in the provence of Perugia founded by Gian Carlo Minotti.  Named Festival dei Due Mondi which means Festival of Two Worlds, the  intentionwas to have the worlds of American and European culture facing each other in his event; this concept would then be strengthened by the fact that it was held in conjunction with its “twin”, the Spoleto USA Festival. 

I have been fortunate enough to attend a concert by Frank Emilio Flynn, a Cuban jazz piano player as well as a production of Mamba’s Daughters, at the Dock Street Theater.  Both performances were outstanding.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, you can to www.spoletousa.org. 

 If you would like to take advantage of the Spoleto experience but are a little tight on cash, you might want to check out the events of Piccolo Spoleto.  Launched in 1979, Piccolo Spoleto was designed to offer the Spoleto experience to everyone regardless of their economic, social or physical circumstance. 

Whatever you decide to do, just get out there and enjoy Charleston!

April 30-May 2, 2010 – Gourmet & Grapes – Kiawah Island Enjoy the second annual weekend of fine food & wine as the country’s finest culinary’s and winemakers are assembled for three days of Gourmet & Grapes. For more information go to http://www.kiawahresort.com

May 1, 11 a.m. and Sun., May 2, 10 a.m. Rugby South Championships at Ansonborough Field Concord St. and Washington St.
The best rugby teams in the South will travel to Charleston to compete for the USA Rugby South Division II and III Championships and a bid to the USA National Championship Final 16.

May 1, 2010 – Charleston Riverdogs Vs Hickory Crawdads at the Joe Riley Stadium.  Free Webkinz giveaways to the first 1,000 fans.

May 1, 2010 – Cinco de Mayo Festival - Charleston’s fifth annual Cinco de Mayo Festival, where there will be local Mexican cuisine, margharitas and Mexican beer.  There will also be a salsa competition.  Amateurs and professional dancers will be able to participate.  The winner will receive $200.00  For more information go to this site. http://www.charlestoncinco.com

May 1, 2010 –  Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse Open House - .  The event takes place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds of the U.S. Coast Guard Historic District at 1815 I’On Avenue on Sullivan’s Island

May 7-9, 2010 –  Charleston Greek Festival - Enjoy traditional Greek food, live Greek music, folk dancing and more at the Greek Orthodox Church
of the Holy Trinity.  For more information call (843) 577-2063.

Conveniently for me, when I was growing up, there was a candy store located on the opposite corner of my apartment building in New York City.  When I used to go there, which was quite frequently, to buy my candy or some of the other goodies in there, to the right of the register on the counter was an easel card with slots where people would fill with  dimes.  At that young age I had no clue what that was.  Now I know it was to raise money for the March of Dimes.

On Saturday, April 24, many people, came out to walk in the March for Babies which helps to raise money for the March of Dimes.  Some of us from Carolina One Real Estate went to Cannon Park to walk and others went to prepare food for all of the walkers.   Since 1970 people have been walking and have raised $1.8 billion to give hope to babies born prematurely and to help expecting mothers have healthy full-term pregnancy. 

While I helped with the preparation of the food, I also had the opportunity to people watch.  It was great to see people of all ages out supporting this charity.  Some walkers had small children in strollers and others brought their dogs.  The kids had a great time as there was a booth with face painting, balloons and more.  A great day for a great cause.

•CU    See you           RFD  Request for discussion             

YW     Your welcome

OTP   On the phone

The above abbreviations for texting are just a few of so many. Being from the older generation it’s very difficult to understand all of the text language when I receive text messages.  I do believe, however, in today’s market we have to ask our clients which way they prefer us to communicate with them, for short quick messages, many will say text me. For the longer detailed correspondence they prefer email or a phone call.

I’ve always quoted the saying ” Change is inevitable, Growth is optional.” And to be Honest, I’m quite proud of the way I have adapted over the years to  the changes I have had to make, so we could continue giving the excellent service  our clients deserve.  Plus the agents in my office deserve a broker who keeps up with the market changes and any new developments which might effect their business.  I am fortunate to be able to learn so much from my agents who are so multi-talented in today’s market, and I believe some of the smartest technologically-inclined agents in our area. They learn from my thirty- two years in the business and I certainly learn from them.  A Win Win situation for all of us.

“Could anyone guess how many were FHA Sales. (Goverment Lending).” A great deal of numbers were thrown out,  some of the agents came pretty close. The answer were 127 and they were selling at 96.74% list price to sales price. The next question was, “How many were  Conventional?”  The answer was 394 although they were selling at 91.84% list price to sales price.  Approximately 5% lower.

Next came “How many VA?”  (Veteran  Loans).” 65 were VA financing with 97.34% list price to sales price.

The Surprise to everyone, was the next question.  “How many were Cash?” The answer was 168 list price to sales price 86.12% This was a surprise as I don’t think any of the agents expected it to be as high as it was.  Which does tell us that there are cash buyers out there looking for good deal.There were a couple with Farmers Home, some listed as Other,which I can only assume was rent with the option to buy and some were owner financing.  Owner financing is a good option for the seller as he makes money with the interest rate, however, my caution is, you can only offer owner financing if you do not have a mortgage, or have the permission of the bank who is holding the mortgage to allow a second mortgage to be held by the seller.

These Graphs are showing the Charleston  Tri-County Real Estate Market. Sales and Listings in 2009 & also in 2005 to show you the comparisons.  The one on the left is the market in the year 2009 if you click on the graph it will enlarge so you can see the numbers.  The pink is the number of homes on the market in the different price ranges.  The blue is the sales in the different price ranges.  As you can see even though the market has slowed down homes were still selling. The difference is the amount of homes on the market, this is a buyers market, it’s all about supply and demand. On the right(above) is the market as it was in 2005 when the there was not as many houses on the market. It was definitely a seller’s market. Plenty of buyers, which turned into a great deal of multiple offers on houses.  Therefore the prices increased and appreciation doubled and tripled.  This could not continue, the market had to balance out.  Although, now house prices have dropped dramatically forcing many sellers into short sales and many foreclosures.  I do think it is important to show the comparisons to our clients, to help them understand what has happened in the market place.

Entrance way notice the pine floors.

Family Room view from the kitchen

The sunroom overlooks the Swimming pool with Pergoda and an additional lot.

Living room prior to remodeling

Pool before remodeling

This gives you an idea what you can do with remodeling, you can buy a lemon and make it into Lemonade.