Anderson County SC Roads Will See Improvements and Repairs

Despite the tough economy, Anderson County recently approved bid awards for the 2010 Paving Contract and the 2010 Full Depth Patching Package. The Anderson County Purchasing Department releases bid packages for all the County’s paving and patching needs on an annual basis. By soliciting bulk bids, the County is able to secure better pricing. The list of roadways is compiled and reviewed by county staff and submitted to County Council for review and approval. Once the Council approves the priority list, staff seek funding from any available sources, which include council district paving funds and C-Funds administered by the Anderson County Transportation Committee.

It is great to see Anderson County is working to improve the infrastructure and plan on future growth. Because believe me there are plenty of people looking to move here!

If you would like to see homes or real estate for sale in Anderson County be sure to use this website to  see not just my company's listings but to search the MLS!

Adopt-A-Highway in South Carolina

Adopt A Highway is a South Carolina Department of Transportation program that has been around since 1988. Groups sign up to pick up litter on a specific highway or road in the county. This involves at least two miles of the highway, and the group must participate in at least four clean-ups a year. The group is committed for a two year period.

Businesses, churches, schools, civic organizations, Boy Scout or Girl Scout Troops, sororities or fraternities or any other group of the sort may participate in Adopt a Highway. The SCDOT will post a sign to recognize the groups for their efforts to keep the highways clean.

To find out more about how you can help keep South Carolina beautiful please visit SCDOT Adopt-a-Highway!

According to this articleOconee County is applying for a federal grant that could fund up to 80 percent of the costs of building dependable loops linking all the schools, libraries and public safety services in the county, among other sites, and bring broadband access to areas that private providers don’t serve.

Since many companies look at broadband capability when considering a site to locate, it is great to see the Oconee County Council is being pro active on this issue. It can only help us in the years to come with future growth and economic opportunity!

The basic plan would help to ensure continuity of broadband access and also allow service in areas where private providers now don’t find it profitable to serve. And we all know how important broadband has become and how it will become even more important to the growth of Oconee County in the future.

Oconee County keeps pushing to grow and since so many people are wanting to move to enjoy the wonderful beauty of Oconee County, we need to plan for that growth now. I am glad to see this pro active work taking place now.

If you would like to see homes, land and real estate in Oconee County please use my handy MLS search!

Problem Gambling Awareness Week in South Carolina

The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) is pleased to join with communities nationwide in recognizing March 7-13 as “National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.” Promoting responsible play is important to the Lottery. SCEL in conjunction with the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) kicked off a statewide campaign beginning March 1 to recognize not just the week but designating the entire month of March as “Play Responsibly Month.”

Year round, SCEL and DAODAS strive to raise awareness of the warning signs of problem gambling and to educate the public about the local resources available for individuals and family members whose lives have been disrupted by problem gambling.  With few recognizable symptoms, problem gambling is easy to hide.  Family and friends may become aware of the problem before the gambler. In South Carolina 1 percent to 2 percent of the population is struggling with a gambling problem, yet few people seek treatment. Treatment for problem gambling is available for South Carolinians and has proven effective in improving the lives of problem gamblers and their families. When a problem gambler’s family or friends decide to get help for themselves, the likelihood the gambler will seek assistance increases.

SCEL provides marketing support for the S.C. Gambling Helpline, a service operated by DAODAS.  The helpline provides confidential referral to local treatment services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Calling the Helpline is the first step to receiving effective treatment.  Please call 1-877-452-5155 if you or someone you know needs assistance with problem gambling or if you simply want to ask a question,” said Christopher Reid, DAODAS Gambling Services Specialist.

The South Carolina Education Lottery consistently seeks to promote responsible play and increase public awareness of problem gambling through education via the PlayResponsiblySC.com website, by way of radio and television public service announcements and through information available at our retailers and on all lottery products.  In addition, lottery net proceeds from the Education Lottery Account are devoted to this mission by the General Assembly.  From January 7, 2002 through June 30, 2010, $1.5 million has been utilized for problem gambling treatment services.

Palmetto Heroes Program

I am pleased to pass on the great news that the SC State Housing Authority has just announced the 2010 PALMETTO HEROES PROGRAM. The Heroes selected for the 2010 initiative are “Police Officers – Fire Fighters – EMS - Teachers”. 

The borrower(s) must meet SC State Housing's first-time home buyer requirements. The program features a reduced mortgage interest rate and down payment assistance is available. The funding will be limited to $40 million. Loans are available on a first-come first-served basis and borrowers must have an accepted sales contract on a home prior to reserving funds. All SC State Housing loan policies and procedures will be in affect for this program. See our program guides and manual for specific loan details. 

Police Officers – Borrower must be a full-time police officer with state or local government agency including correctional officers with the South Carolina State Department of Corrections

Fire Fighters and EMS - Borrower must be a full-time or volunteer fire fighter or EMS with a state or local government agency

Teachers - Borrower must have a South Carolina Teachers Certification and be employed as a classroom teacher or have a contract to receive a paycheck begin teaching within 60 days of closing on the home.

INTEREST RATE –The fixed interest rate will be 5.125 
                        
DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE included

The first step to take advantage of this offer is to contact a participating lending partner. For a listing of SC Housing Authority lending partners, click here

PUBLIC INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAIL GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

Clemson University and Anderson County invite the public to review and offer comment on an application for Recreational Trail Program funding during a public meeting at 1 pm on Wednesday, March 10th. The meeting will be held in the 2nd floor conference room at the Anderson County Historic Courthouse, 101 South Main Street, Anderson, SC.

This competitive grant is administered by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The Fants Grove trail system is used by horse riders, hikers and mountain bikers. The grant money will be used to make improvements to the trailhead for Fants Grove trail system, located on Woodburn Road adjacent to Garrison Arena. Approved funds will be used to provide improved parking facilities for the purpose of public safety, access, and convenience.”

Documents related to the grant application will be made available online at www.andersoncountysc.org. For questions, please send email to AndersonCountyGrants@gmail.com, or call 260-4701.

March 12, 13 14 at the Clemson Little Theatre at the Pendleton Playhouse, 214 S Mechanic Street Pendleton SC

Clemson Area Youth Theatre proudly presents Professor Zuccini and his merry company of traveling players who are famous throughout the land for animating ancient folktales for the amusement and teaching of young and old alike.  The band of players is most famous for its intricate weavings of three wise old stories: The Flower Sisters, who with their mother match wits with the devil; The Pasta Brothers (Vermicelli and Rigatoni) who match wits with themselves; and the Proud Prince, who must learn humililty to find a bride.  These tales have brought hope and joy and laughter and tears to the people for ages, and soon Professor Zuccini's Traveling Tales will roll its wagon up to our door to amaze you and amuse you, if you but meet them at our stage in the Spring.  Ancient lessons and wisdom await.  Evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. 

Call 864-646-8100 for reservations!

Be sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 8:00p.m because The Anderson Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will present The ASO Pop Variety Show in the Rainey Fine Arts Center on the campus of Anderson University. It will feature light classics, bluegrass, Celtic and even a little disco, this promises to be an evening of fun entertainment for the whole family!

Tickets for The ASO Pop Variety Show are priced at $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for students. Tickets for the Sunday at the Masters drawing are also available. This performance is presented by the Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium (GAMAC) with generous support from Bank of Anderson and Clemson Downs Retirement Center.

To purchase tickets please call (864) 231-6147!

I just read an article about someone that in my opinion deserves so much more recognition than just an article in the newspaper! 

You see, people like Kay Hiott are shaping the future by teaching our youth! It is such an important job and one that often does not get the recognition it deserves!

So if you live in Easley, have children at EHS or maybe you know Kay, be sure to tell her thank you! It is because of people like Kay that America continues to be the greatest country in the world, and Upstate South Carolina is the best of the best!

It is almost time again for the Spring Jubilee in Pendleton SC! For 33 years this wonderful event has been a rite of spring and an excellent way to shake off those pesky winter blues! Please make plans to attend!

The Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee has earned respect through the last thirty years by being twice named the BEST FESTIVAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN A COMMUNITY OF LESS THAN 3000, a TOP 100 EVENT by the American Bus Association and multi-winner of the TOP TWENTY EVENTS IN THE SOUTHEAST by the Southeast Tourism Society.

The 33rd Annual Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee will be held on
Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, 2010
on the Village Green in Historic Pendleton, South Carolina.

Spring Jubilee Hours
Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm to 6:00pm

The Hejaz Shrine Circus is coming to Anderson South Carolina!

March 19th, 2010 - March 21st, 2010

  Civic Center Arena in Anderson SC

5 Big Shows!

Show times are at 7 p.m. on Friday; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Doors open one hour prior to each show.

Presented by Fuddrucker's The Civic Center Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (864) 233-2525, or on-line at www.TicketMaster.com. Advance tickets are $11.00 each for children under-12, and $12.00 each for adults. Day of show ticket prices will increase by $1.00 per ticket. Look for free children’s tickets, ages 3-12, at various retail outlets across the area. Children 2-under are admitted free without a coupon.

Be sure to make plans to attend The Dixie Swim Club at the Foothills Playhouse in Easley SC!

This play sounds more like something my wife would enjoy but considering the reputation that the Foothills Playhouse has for putting on tremendous theatrical presentations, it would be wrong of me to not spread the word!

The Dixie Swim Club is about 5 women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team. They set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives.  As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them. And when fate throws a wrench into one of their lives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduring power of "teamwork," rally ‘round their own with the strength and love that takes this comedy in a poignant and surprising direction. THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB is the story of these five unforgettable women—a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever…

March 19, 20, 26, 27 at  8:00 pm
Sunday Matinees: March 21, 28 at 3:00pm

Preshow entertainment will begin at 7:30

For tickets please visit the Foothills Playhouse website!

I read an interesting article about how BAD Zillow is when it comes to being accurate on the values for a home. If you would like to read the article you can find it here.  And while I use Zillow to advertise, in general I dislike the  inaccurate data that is often on Zillow. And especially since they think that somehow they can take the place of an agent who actually lives in the area. For example just today a person asked a question on trulia. And again I like this site for advertising but it also has a serious problem with accurate up to date info. But how could this website know what I did?There is no way this website could have done what I have and that is actually know the home and its condition! Or know the local market and what is possible!

Selling or buying a home is a HUGE financial decision and you should not rely upon websites that do not always have up to date info or uses data that is plain wrong!

To find out the truth about real estate for sale in Upstate SC and then to know about what prices are high, low, crazy or a great deal you need the help of a local real estate professional. To me, there are 2 ways to determine the value of a home in Upstate South Carolina:

• An Appraisal
• A CMA

If you are considering selling your home in Anderson, Oconee or Pickens county and would like to find out the current market value then please check out how to get a Free CMA. Now it will not help you if you live outside the areas that I work in Upstate SC!

It is a beautiful sunny Sunday, with warm enough temps to go outside without a jacket. It made staying inside on the computer even harder but I was able to do my daily routine of posting ads, blogs and even add a new page to my Upstate South Carolina real estate website about 7 Tips to Save Money on Home Lighting. And I added a Twitter widget to constantly post updates about my day to day REALTOR adventures in Upstate South Carolina.

Pretty boring actually but I thought it was needed since Twitter has become one of my best sources of traffic to the site. And my website looks like it will average a little over 300 visits per day for Feb. Not only that but I checked the page rank or PR and it has gone from a 1 to a 4  since the relaunch. While the elusive front page of Google still eludes me, I have not started on SEO and SERP work to get better results. And once I do get front page, I want the site to look better and make sure there are not any glitches. So if you see any glitches then let me  know, and if you can tell me also which internet browser you are using so i can work on fixing the problem.

Well 96 laps to go and I am going to try to enjoy what is left of the weekend! Hope you had a great on!

Well it has been an exciting week and I have been very busy. I have got 3 new listings, all priced right and hopefully they will sell quickly. Especially a new one ove in Williamston. I mean $45000 for a 1700SF home on 0.8 acres with central HVAC and is actually livable is a HUGE deal in my opinion. Not only that this home for sale in WIlliamston is at the end of a dead end road!

I have also been adding quite a few more pages to the website this week and hope you will check them out for some great advice on saving money around your home:

Energy Audit for your Home  

Home Heating System Maintanence  

 How to Save Money by Upgrading Home Insulation  

8 Easy Ways to Seal Air Leaks Around Your Home  

Tax Credits for Adding or Replacing Insulation in your Home 

  Guide to Siding Options  

Tax Credits for Replacing Windows Doors and Skylights 

Tax Credits for Replacing Your Roof  

 And I got a home in Westminster under contract this week. it is contingent on inspection and appraisal so we shall see. Please say a little prayer for the sellers and buyers that this is the right thing for them.

While the new improved website has not really been up and going for very long it is already apparent that I am getting a boatload more visitors than the old site did. Yesterday there were 405 visitors! But I am confused as to why there could be that many visitors and not many people calling to schedule a time to look at a home or even just ask a question.

Maybe they are scared that I will be able to use some secret REALTOR / Jedi mind Control trick and force them to buy a home over the phone or via email. Sorry folks, even if I could that is not my style. I am more likely to tell you to be absolutely positively sure before you sign an offer. But I guess considering the behavior of some of my peers, it is to be expected that people are scared.

Just to prove my point look at this question that an innocent potential homebuyer asked on trulia. Notice I was one of the only agents to not say call me call me call me or visit my website. ME ME ME it is all about me and you buying something from me and putting money in my pocket.

I actually tried to point the person to a place that they might get realistic information without the barrage of sales pitches from agents. Sometimes the behavior of people disgusts me.

To change the topic, I made 2 new pages for the website today:

Chimney Maintenance

Cleaning and Caring for Siding

Be sure to check back often as I am going to try to add new content as often as possible and if these real estate articles were not of interest to you, maybe the next ones will be.

You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger- Buddha

In this market, it seems that many potential real estate buyers in Upstate South Carolina want to get the best possible deal and are too willing to ignore the sage advice of their REALTOR. And while it is admirable to get a good deal, submitting offers based upon what you feel instead of the comps is a good way to anger a seller.

 But should a seller ignore a lowball offer? I say never ignore any offer, even if the offer is so low and so unrealistic that it angers you. Do not bite your nose off to spite your face!

 Counter my fine friends! Counter and be willing to negotiate. I understand the annoyance of people submitting offers that are based upon fairy tales and wishful thinking. But at least it is a starting point for negotiations.

 Please do not think that a lowball offer should not anger you, and do not let your anger punish you by not countering a lowball offer. Instead realize your opponent in the negotiations just showed us their ignorance of Upstate South Carolina real estate market conditions and trends. We can use our knowledge to defeat them or at least send them scurrying away with their tail tucked between their legs when faced with the reality that you have the most powerful of allies: a REALTOR!

 Instead of refusing to counter, we can use this opportunity to sell your home at your price!