Just wanted to let everyone know that the price at 145 Memes Way has been reduced to $2Million!!! This is a steal, considering that this property appraised for $4million and the property next door sold for over $3million last year!
Please visit MLS 2725079 to see multiple photos and get details. Call me directly for appointments at (843)324-3476!
To all of you that visited 108 Live Oak Drive during today’s Old Village Tour of Homes, I extend a warm thank you! This was a large event that allowed folks to see some wonderful homes for sale in Mt. Pleasant’s Old Village-26 in all! At 108 Live Oak, we had the pleasure of displaying original works of art by local artists from the Mt. Pleasant area. A special thank you to Candy Solyan, Janice Waring and Vicki Robinson - these artists took the time to arrive early, set up easels to display their works and they stayed during the entire open house at 108 Live Oak to answer any questions about their artwork. I will soon display some photos of their paintings on this blog with contact information so stay tuned!
If I can answer any further questions about 108 Live Oak Drive, please call me directly at (843)324-3476.
Visit MLS 2712023 to see details on this exquisite home!
As we all nervously watch the news to see if Hanna is coming our way, we realize that preparation is key. The folks in Louisiana were well prepared this time around, and even though Gustav was weaker than initially predicted, it’s easy to see that knowing where a hurricane will come ashore and how strong it will be is not an exact science. Even though we have “Viper”, doppler and all sorts of high tech weather equipment, we’re still dealing with unpredictable Mother Nature……
Since Hugo in 1989, we have had a few close calls (Bertha, Floyd) that caused evacuations. If you live east of Hwy 17 in the Charleston area, which includes Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island and many neighborhoods in Mt. Pleasant, you need to be thinking of your plans.
Numerous local websites have hurricane preparation tips: these include charleston.net, and local news stations have good updates- live5news.com, counton2.com and wciv.com.
From my own experience, take a walk around your yard and try to move things inside your garage or under your house. Flower pots, bird feeders, lawn chairs, etc. can become projectiles in strong winds. If you have to evacuate, take a file of important documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, passports, insurance information, a bank statement, ….basically any financial or insurance info for which you would need account numbers. Throw photos/videos into a big bin and take them all- they can’t be replaced! If your pictures are on your computer, download to a disc and take it with you. Make sure you have needed medications for yourself/family members. And don’t forget about pet arrangements, as a lot of hotels and shelters do not allow pets. Don’t forget to shut off the water valve and the breakers!
Please join me and other realtors for an Old Village Open House Tour. It’s on Sunday, September 7th, from 4pm until 7pm. There will be hor d’oeuvres, drinks and displays of art, jewelry, and other fine items, as well as being able to tour 26 beautiful homes!
Maps will be available at the Pitt Street Pharmacy. You’ll see green balloons in front of the houses on tour. Also, there is a gift card drawing- if you visit at least 14 homes, you’ll be eligible to win!
Please call me for more information- Linda Gordon (843)324-3476 and I hope to see you at 108 Live Oak Drive in Mt. Pleasant!
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–Information on this report is not guaranteed. There is no express or implied warranty by MLS of the accuracy of information which should be independently verified.– Copyright: 2008 by the Charleston Area MLS, Inc. |
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Please note that this does NOT include Wild Dunes!
WASHINGTON, August 25, 2008
Existing-home sales rose in July to the highest level in five months, although sales have hovered in a relatively narrow range over the past 11 months, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate¹ of 5.00 million units in July from a downwardly revised level of 4.85 million in June, but are 13.2 percent lower than the 5.76 million-unit pace in July 2007.
NAR President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said the up-and-down pattern may break soon. “We hope the new tools in the hands of home buyers from the recently enacted housing stimulus package will spark a sustained sales uptrend in the months ahead,” he said. “Buyers who’ve been on the sidelines should take a closer look at what’s available to them now in terms of financing and incentives. Given some of the inventory on the market, we also strongly encourage buyers to get a professional home inspection.”
The national median existing-home price3 for all housing types was $212,400 in July, down 7.1 percent from a year ago when the median was $228,600.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home prices in some regions could soon increase. “Sales have picked up significantly in several Florida and California markets. Home prices generally follow sales trends after a few months of lag time,” he said. “Still, inventory remains high in many parts of the country and will require time to fully absorb. We expect more balanced conditions in 2009 and will eventually return to normal long-term appreciation patterns.” info from Walter Molony at the National Association of Realtors (appears on Realtor.org website).
Isle of Palms Youth Soccer registration is going on right now- Island residents can register through the 8th, then non-residents from August 11th until full.
Click the link below for details:
http://www.iop.net/Departments/Recreation_YouthSports_Soccer.aspx
112 Cainhoy Landing Road is back- Priced below market at $2,850,000, this exceptional Eco-Block home boasts over 9000 square feet of living space between the main house and the guest house. Dock permit in hand! View the MLS, number 2717342 for all the details.
Click the link for the video:
With all of the talk about going green, there is a way to be ecologically
friendly when building a home. Use Eco-Block Insulating Concrete
Forms!
ECO-Block is good for the environment, good for your health, and good for your pocketbook.
ECO-BLOCK SAVINGS
Energy Efficiencies - ECO-Block buildings consistently save 25- 50% in monthly utilitycosts
1over the life span of the structure, translating into fewer resources consumed for the
creation of energy. Beyond the insulating qualities of the foam block (R-22), the thermal
mass of the concrete acts as an energy reservoir, which helps maintain an even indoor
temperature. Consequently, the HVAC system can be scaled down by up to 35%, offering
another added cost savings.
Environmental Benefits - An average 2,000ft² home built with ECO-Block can save up to
47 trees, which would have been cut for creating lumber.
ECO-BLOCK AS A “GREEN” BUILDING MATERIALRaw Materials Acquisition, Processing and Manufacturing - There is no use of CFC or
HCFC blowing agents that would escape into the atmosphere. This means ZERO Ozone
Depletion Potential (O.D.P.). Since Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is expanded to
approximately 50 times its original volume, it is a very efficient and economical use of basic
raw material. ECO-Block uses recycled material whenever possible. All of the embedded
webbing and a percentage of the connectors are manufactured from 100% post-industrial
recycled copolymer polypropylene. Concrete itself is inert, non-toxic, and produced from
natural and recycled materials.
Product Packaging - ECO-Block is 50% more efficient to ship and handle than other
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) since it is sold in flat panels that pack tightly, thereby
shipping virtually no air space. A minimal plastic wrap is used to contain a bundle of panels.
Product Distribution - ECO-Block is manufactured in several strategic locations
throughout North America, generally within about 500 miles of any job site. Concrete is
always sourced locally. This both supports the local economy and saves on transportation
costs.
1 Portland Cement Association Study, www.concretehomes.com 25 - 50%
Lubbock, Texas Affordable Housing Program, 33.6%; Ritchie Corp, Hayesville, Kansas 58.2%.
Product Installation, Use and Maintenance - The ECO-Block construction method
involves minimal waste and all residual pieces can be recycled or reused in future projects.
A structure built with ECO-Block and concrete is more likely to withstand the ravages of
fire, high winds, driving rains and earthquake. There is no wood rot or rodent damage and
termites can’t eat concrete; hence there is little maintenance or need to rebuild, improving the
cost efficiency of the product over the lifetime of the building.
Disposal, Reuse and Recycling - Up to 5% (maximum allowable for structural stability) of
the EPS foam is recycled material. Manufacturing waste is kept to less than 3%, which is
generated in the set-up of the forms. This material is reground and reused in other EPS foam
products. In the expanded form, the foam material is recyclable, depending on cleanliness of
the material and availability of recycling facilities.
ECO-BLOCK AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY Improving the Quality of Building -. The ECO-Block building system does not contain
CFCs, HCFCs, formaldehyde, asbestos or fiberglass. The EPS used in the ECO-Block
forms is completely stable and inert, and it will NOT break down over time.
Improving the Quality of the Interior Air - ECO-Block foam is hypoallergenic, which can be very important for those with sensitive skin.2 It does NOT produce any fumes or
gasses once installed.
Improving the Control of Air Quality - Building with ECO-Block greatly reduces the air
infiltration into a structure, thereby allowing for greater control of the quality of the interior
air. There are no drafts or cold spots.
ECO-BLOCK AND INDOOR SOUND QUALITYImproving the Sound Barrier - ECO-Block can achieve a Sound Transmission Class
(STC) rating of 50 or more, and has become an efficient building system for movie theaters.
Homes are now being designed with media rooms, using ECO-Block in the surrounding
walls to isolate the sound.
ECO-BLOCK AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT MORTGAGES (EEM)
The FHA has devised an Energy -Efficient Mortgage (EEM) program to help achieve national
energy-efficiency goals (and reduce pollution) and provide better housing for people who might
not otherwise be able to afford it. By considering the savings on monthly utility bills when
determining how large a mortgage the household can afford, as many as 250,000 more new
home buyers could qualify per year, according to a 1986 study by the Joint Center for Housing
Studies. Although EEM’s have been available in some States since 1980, they have been little
understood or marketed.
2 Huntsman Chemical Corporation, www.huntsman.com
There are three components to this system. The Energy Rating System employs an independent
auditor to rate the energy efficiency of the home. The home is then awarded points, or stars to
possibly earn the Energy Star Rating, which qualifies the home for an Energy Efficient
Mortgage (EEM).
Energy Rating System - A Home Energy Rating System increases affordable housing
opportunities by:
Reducing utility bills
Increasing home resale value
Expanding a family’s range of home ownership choices
Qualifying more families for Energy Efficient Mortgages
Similar to the EPA rating that is given to vehicles stating the estimated miles a car can go on
a gallon of gas (mpg), the EPA measures how efficiently a home uses energy for its heating
and cooling purposes. Unlike an energy audit, or a house inspection, a Home Energy Rating
evaluates the energy efficiency of a house (not the occupants, nor just the structure of the
dwelling). The criterion is that the home exceeds the current building codes by 30%. The
Home Energy Rating is meant to stand over time and to be transferable to subsequent
occupants of the home. An independent third-party verification by a certified Energy Auditor
is needed for this rating.
Energy Star Home - EPA Energy Star Homes have passed stringent energy efficiency
guidelines established by the EPA Energy Star Homes program and verified by third party
energy auditors. EPA Energy Star Home builders are committed to building comfortable,
high quality, energy efficient homes that enable you to buy more house for the money, while
enhancing your home’s value.
The Home Energy Rating system awards stars on a scale of 1 to 5, equivalent to points from
1 to 100. To gain five stars, the home must have scored a minimum of 86 points. This rating
qualifies buyers for an Energy Efficient Mortgage.
Energy-Efficient Mortgages (EEM) - This program allow buyers of energy efficient homes
to qualify for up to a 5% stretch in their debt-to-income ratio because of their lowered
monthly utility costs. EEM is one of many FHA programs that insure mortgage loans. This
encourages lenders to make mortgage credit available to borrowers, such as first-time home
buyers, who would not otherwise qualify for conventional loans on affordable terms and to
residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods, where mortgages may be hard to get.
FHA-approved lending institutions-which include many banks, savings and loan
associations, and mortgage companies-can make loans covered by EEM insurance3
ECO-Block as a Major Contributor - Building with ECO-Block is a big step towardgaining the 5 star rating. The R-value of the ECO-Block forms alone is R-22, easily 30%
above the minimum standard for the current energy code. In addition, air infiltration is
greatly restricted, which allows for scaling down up to 35% of the HVAC system. These
factors, combined with a reasonably energy efficient window, door and roofing system will
make a 5 star rating easy to achieve.
For more information on Eco-Block Insulating Concrete Forms, visit www.eco-block.com. or a local builder at www.engineered-concrete.com.
Also, I represent the sellers of several Eco-Block homes, so take a look under the listings tab to see these marvelous creations!
