Well, today it’s cold! It’s currently 45 degrees as I write this blog!  I’m actually happy about this, because I like when it’s cold over Thanksgiving- it’s a great excuse to snuggle up inside after the big meal!

It’s supposed to be 29 degrees tonight, so bring the pets and plants inside!

Did you know that there’s a widget on my website on the bottom left corner with up to the minute weather info?  It shows the current time and temperature, but if you click the widget, it takes you to www.wunderground.com. This is a great site- it gives forecasts, weather advisories, even the weather history for a particular location.

My family and I usually go skiing in Utah each year, and this site is great for checking snowfall and ski conditions! You can search by city, state, airport code or country- great for checking on travel conditions!

Bundle up Charleston! 

I have a great opportunity for you in Awendaw- a lovely 2500 square foot home on 10.5 acres! Beautiful wooded land, quiet area- perfect for horses or just enjoying the tranquility and only a short drive to Mt. Pleasant!

Some of you may not know anything about Awendaw or where the name came from.  Here is info taken from the official Awendaw website, www.awendawsc.org:

The Town of Awendaw was named for the Sewee Indian Tribe that once lived in the area.  This
bountiful area has been inhabited for more than 4,000 years.  Awendaw is a community
located 15 miles north of Mt. Pleasant on Highway 17.  In 1709 the Sewee Barony, later
renamed the Awendaw Barony, was created from approximately 12,000 acres of the area and
made into a plantation.  George Washington visited the plantation during his Southern Tour in
1791.  The Francis Marion National Forest and the Buck Hall Recreational Area have
preserved much of the area and its rich history.  The 1999 Comprehensive Plan for the Town
of Awendaw offers an extensive history of the Town.  

The courtship of the Town of Awendaw began in November 1988.  During the four-year
courtship, Awendaw withstood many trials.  A community-wide meeting was held at the Old
Porcher Elementary School, with hardly any standing room.  An organizational structure was
initiated and community cohesiveness, never before experienced, developed during the
subsequent months.  Monthly meetings were held for information and public input.  During this
process there were many ups and downs.  To incorporate, rules and regulations of the Justice
Department had to be followed.  Feasibility studies had to be completed and the ideas must be
sold to a majority of the property owners.

Interrupted by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the process was revived in the summer of 1990.  Two
incorporation attempts were unsuccessful, but the citizens never gave up.  The third and final
try met the approval of the Secretary of State and the Justice Department.  The certificate of
Incorporation was received May 15, 1992.  The election process soon followed.  

The magic day finally arrived.  On August 18, 1992, the Town of Awendaw was established.

Since the original annexation, the town has grown steadily and as of January, 200 the
population of the incorporated limits has increased to 1,200.  

The Town’s more recent history can be observed in the historic buildings, churches and
cemeteries.  These structures are an important part of the Town’s charm and should be
preserved in order to maintain the small town, rural character of Awendaw.  

Each fall the Town of Awendaw holds the Blue Crab Festival, which features local blue crabs
caught in the waters of the Town.  The festival draws seafood lovers from the entire state to
the Town to enjoy steamed or deep-fried blue crabs and other Lowcountry favorites, such as
Frogmore Stew.  The profits from the festival go toward college scholarships for local high
school students.
   

And here’s a photo of the listing at 1416 Cedar Plantation Lane-

Let me know if I can offer more information on this property or any in the Charleston area!

Linda Gordon (843)324-3476 www.lindagordononline.com      lgordon@carolinaone.com

Thanks to those of you that stopped by 3607 Hartnett Blvd yesterday.  Open houses are a great way to view homes of possible interest- there’s no obligation, no pressure and you get to see what a home looks like on the inside before ever calling a realtor.

It can be time consuming however, to go from one open house to another, or to wait for a particular house to be “open”.   A great way to get a first look is by checking on the MLS and looking for photos/virtual tours.  Also, if you are an interested buyer, my services to you are “free”, as most of the time, realtor commissions are paid by the seller. 

If you don’t find the house of your dreams at an open house, let me help you with your search!  Call me at (843)324-3476 or email me at lgordon@carolinaone.com.

Remember that you can get a MARKET SNAPSHOT as a buyer or seller, and look for homes in a particular neighborhood.

Please visit 3607 Hartnett Blvd on this Sunday, November 17th,  anytime between 1pm and 2:30pm for a peek at this lovely home.  Beautiful well maintained yard…..bright sunny home with hardwood floors and renovated kitchen….perfect island home….only two blocks to the beach….Free Kayaks with purchase of home to enjoy the surf and the waterways!

Call for details-Linda Gordon (843)324-3476 lgordon@carolinaone.com

There are currently 54 properties for sale on Sullivan’s Island, ranging in price from $299,000 for a one bedroom condo to $5,249,000 for a gorgeous oceanfront home on 1.4 acres.  This does not include homes that are for sale by owner, such as the spectacular home at 1851 Ion priced at $5,880,000.   So there’s a wide variety from which to choose in a large price range.

From Nov 06 to Nov 07, 23 properties sold on SI for an average sales price of $2,283,293.  From Nov 07 through today, 18 homes have sold for an average sales price of $1,719,756.    So the number of sales is down, as well as the average sales price.

If you purchased real estate for short term gain, this 2006 to 2008 time period has not been kind, as prices were down throughout the Charleston area.  However, in looking at the past ten years, from 1998 to 2007, median sales prices on the islands, including Sullivan’s Island, Wild Dunes and Isle of Palms, increased 246%.

Carolina One is the top agency with sales on Sullivan’s Island over $1million. Click the link below to see a bar graph:

  1mclosed43.pdf

Call me with your real estate questions at any time-Linda Gordon (843)324-3476 or lgordon@carolinaone.com

I mentioned 108 Cainhoy Landing Rd in an earlier blog- this is a fabulous house that begs for a large family to enjoy the spacious rooms, huge kitchen and backyard with a pool and outdoor kitchen.  Take a look:

Call me for more information-Linda Gordon (843)324-3476 lgordon@carolinaone.com

I wrote a blog a few days ago about Charleston and our waterways, rivers, etc., but I failed to mention a new sport that is catching on- paddleboarding!  I remember the first time I saw someone paddleboarding- I was on a boat with my family, motoring down the Intracoastal Waterway, and I looked over towards Hamlin Creek and saw a guy standing on what looked like a surfboard, paddling along.  It looked like something you’d see in Hawaii.  My kids thought it looked really cool, and so did I, except my first thought was “How does he balance like that?”

There is a shop now on Isle of Palms called Oli Nah- opened by Dan Floyd and specializing in paddleboarding, kiteboarding and windsurfing.  An article appeared in the Post and Courier a couple of months ago.  I included it here so that you can see photos and get the contact info for Oli Nah:

Walking on water

Paddleboarding offers good workout, connection with great outdoors

By David Quick

The Post and Courier

Thursday, August 28, 2008

David Quick
The Post and Courier

Floyd gives (from left) Chappell and Mary Catherine Snyder a few tips on paddling before heading out for their first stand-up paddleboard trip on Sullivan’s Island.

David Quick
The Post and Courier

Molly Chappell balances on her first stand-up paddleboard trip during a lesson with instructor Dan Floyd.

Whether you’re a surfer wanting a new challenge or someone just wanting a good core workout, stand-up paddleboarding is building a wave of enthusiasm in the Lowcountry.

Until recently, you either needed to shell out more than a grand or know someone with one of the behemoth boards — which are 10-14 feet long, 27-29 inches wide and 3-4 inches thick — who was willing to loan it out.

But longtime local surfer Dan Floyd started offering lessons and renting boards this summer as part of his new business, Oli Nah, a store specializing in paddleboarding, kiteboarding and windsurfing on the Isle of Palms. (Oli Nah was derived from the names of his daughters, Olivia and Hannah.)

Floyd says those seeking lessons from him, so far, include both board fanatics and people wanting a good workout outside.

“It’s interesting how a workout will sneak up on you while you’re out there trying to balance the board and paddle. … Paddleboarding helps you care for your body without going to the gym and connect with nature at the same time,” says the 46-year-old Floyd, a James Island native who grew up surfing at Folly Beach and later branched out to windsurfing and kiteboarding.

While those sports are dependent on weather conditions and locations, Floyd likes paddleboarding because of its versatility. He can take it into or beyond the waves, or just paddle it on the flat water of local creeks.

But he admits being initially skeptical.

“At first, I thought it (paddleboarding) was ridiculous — just more garage furniture,” recalls Floyd, who worked at Half-Moon Outfitters until 2006 when he moved to Miami and connected with paddleboarding.

“When I was down there, it was harder to get to the surf because of traffic, so I’d take my daughter out on the paddleboard on Biscayne Bay,” says Floyd. “It gave me another way to get on the water, no matter what the surf (conditions are).”

Floyd hopes to pass on his love of paddleboarding by offering lessons designed to give beginners a chance to experience it safely and without suffering from “unnecessary dues.” Lessons cost $75 for an individual or $100 for two people, and include a half-hour of instruction and an hour of supervised paddling.

On Monday, two first-timers, friends Mary Catherine Snyder and Molly Chappell, enjoyed lessons on a relatively windless morning near Station 30 on Sullivan’s Island. Both say they plan to try it again. Neither fell off the board, as so many do, as they headed toward a sandbar.

However, once they came across some current, it was a different story.

“We bit it,” says the 24-year-old Snyder. “But we got right back up on the boards.”

Chappell, 34, admitted that she actually walked off the back of the board, noting, “It was hilarious.” She says paddleboarding was a soulful experience.

Floyd also hopes to foster paddleboarding by renting the boards and organizing weekly group paddles.

The cost to rent is $50 for a half-day, $75 for a full day or $100 to keep the board overnight. Group paddles will start around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Locations will depend on the weather and tides. Call Oli Nah for more information at 886-2723 or 696-0174.
 

Have you ever sat at home wondering “What’s going on in Charleston this weekend?”- The Charleston Regional Business Journal has a great little email that comes out every Thursday called “10 Ways to Play”.   You’ll find info on all sorts of events in the Charleston area.  You can also submit your event for inclusion in this email.  For more info, here’s the link:  http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/resources/new 

And why not live where you play?  I’ll help you find the home that fits your lifestyle! Linda Gordon (843)324-3476   lgordon@carolinaone.com 

The following article appeared in the Wall Street Journal, written by June Fletcher:

What if You Don’t Qualify? 

On Tuesday the Federal Housing Finance Agency — noting that foreclosures have increased 150% over the last two years — announced a new streamlined plan to try to staunch the “downward spiral” of foreclosures by modifying loan payments for millions of borrowers. (”Fannie, Freddie Unveil Plan to Modify Loans“)

The program, is an extension of the Hope Now alliance, and follows similar efforts by large lenders such as Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., to stem foreclosures. It will be implemented in mid-December, the agency says.

But not everyone who is feeling the pinch will get help. (See “Who’s Eligible“) Just because your house may have dropped in value since you bought it, lenders aren’t going to give you a break — the latest terms apply only to those who can’t pay due to hardship and are at imminent risk for losing their homes to foreclosure.

But if you’re in financial trouble and don’t qualify under the rules — for instance, if you can’t pay the mortgage on your vacation home rather than your primary residence — you still have options.

Who’s Eligible for Help?

Getty Images

Under the FHA plan, lenders will modify interest rates or forgive a portion of the principal, to bring the ratio of mortgage payments, including homeowners’ association dues, to 38% of income. Among the requirements for borrowers:

• Must have a loan on a primary residence that was made before Jan. 1, 2008.
• Must contact loan servicers and cooperate on supplying need information.
• Must be at least 90 days behind on payments.
• Must not have filed for bankruptcy protection.
• Must certify that a hardship, such as job loss or illness, has affected their ability to repay, and that they did not purposely default to get a loan modification.

Here are some suggestions:

• Contact a reputable credit counseling agency to see what your options are besides foreclosure. The Department of Housing and Urban Development links to free or low-cost counselors. The non-profit National Foundation for Credit Counseling has an online tool for locating members nearest your home.
• Call your loan servicer to see who owns your loan; then call the lender to try to work out a deal. FHFA says that borrowers who don’t meet the requirements for the new streamlined process can still be considered for loan modifications customized to their personal circumstances.
• Sell a family car, take a second job, ask relatives for help or do whatever else you can to raise enough cash to pay the mortgage until the housing market improves. If zoning laws allow it, think about renting out rooms or a finished basement.
• Consider a short sale, where a lender agrees to take less than the balance of the loan. You avoid foreclosure, though you may have to pay taxes on the shortfall. While short sales have become common in places where home prices have fallen precipitously, bear in mind that you must find a patient buyer, since many lenders are overwhelmed by short sales and are slow to respond to offers.
• If you cannot come to an agreement with your lender, ask about transferring title in return for the cancellation of your debt, known as “deed in lieu of foreclosure.” (This may not be possible if your property secures other debts.) Although you’ll lose whatever equity you might have in the home, your credit won’t be as damaged as it would be if you go into foreclosure.
• If all else fails, look into filing for bankruptcy. While it will be a black mark on your credit for as long as a decade, under certain circumstances, you may be able to work out a payment plan that allows you to keep the house. For more information, visit the Department of Justice’s Web site.

 For mortgage loan information, I would suggest calling Jen Morris at Daniel Island Mortgage- (843)375-1234. If you have real estate questions, please contact me directly at (843)324-3476 or email lgordon@carolinaone.com.

The Dow closed today at 8851. In October of last year, the Dow had reached a milestone of over 14,000.  Many people, myself included, open mutual fund statements with great trepidation…in fact, I haven’t even looked at statements over the past couple of months, as we are in for the long haul and expect ups and downs in the market.  It’s just too bad that this down is so  far “down”. In today’s news alone, Circuit City has filed for bankruptcy, AIG is getting a $150billion bailout and DHL is cutting jobs.  Automakers are on shaky ground, banks are being bailed out…..the list goes on and on.

Some people are panicking and pulling their money out of the stock market. People are buying T-bills, gold or looking to real estate investment.  Interested in investing in real estate?

First, let me say that I am NOT a financial advisor, so before making any investment decisions, talk with your FA, accountant or tax attorney. 

Click the following link to see appreciation rates in the Charleston area:

realestateforreal.pdf

I read an interesting article on Forbes.com about Buying Real Estate- They interviewed Spencer Rascoff of Zillow.com, Michael Feder of Radar Logic, Donald Trump Jr. of the Trump Organization and Peter Slatin of Real Capital Analytics.  For the full article click here:  http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/04/intelligent-investing-real-estate-lending-stocks-panel.html

Housing prices are down. If sellers price realistically, their homes will sell.  Buyers looking for a deal may find it in this buyers market.  And if they can hold it for the long term, they may make good returns. Here’s a little insight from Mr. Feder, taken from the Forbes article-

“Feder: Stocks, bonds and real estate are like apples and oranges. Rental buildings are, of course, cash-flow models. If demand for rentals pushes rates up, that model is going to look a lot more attractive than a heavy manufacturer’s bond at 8%. So, respectfully, as Don says, it depends. Short term, financial assets are more liquid and may be better “trades.” Longer term, real estate has done pretty well. It’s certainly competitive with other assets. The evolution of property derivatives should add to the asset’s liquidity. Whatever else, the next few years will be very interesting.”