Linda Gordon Online

An Opportunity You Shouldn’t Miss!

Linda — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:33:02 +0000

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!

Thank You for visiting 108 Live Oak Drive!

Linda — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:19:25 +0000

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!

Preparing for a Hurricane on SC’s Shores

Linda — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:49:06 +0000

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!

Save the Date!

Linda — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:54:09 +0000

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!

Isle of Palms Sales Since January

Linda — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:29:48 +0000

Sales and Inventory Report
Category - Residential Statistics for Entire MLS from 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
Area:[44]CHS-Isle of Palms
Month	Year	Monthly Sales	Avg List $	Avg Sale $	Avg $/Sqft	Median Sold $	Avg DOM	% Sold/List	Current Inventory	Months Inventory
January	2008	2	$1,372,500	$1,133,250	$364	$1,133,250	187.50	82.56%	263	131.50
February	2008	2	$2,349,000	$1,999,999	$525	$1,999,999	112.00	85.14%	266	133.00
March	2008	1	$899,000	$892,000	$593	$892,000	168.00	99.22%	272	272.00
April	2008	4	$1,464,750	$1,311,250	$414	$1,115,000	269.50	89.52%	264	66.00
May	2008	3	$1,644,998	$1,600,000	$537	$750,000	89.33	97.26%	273	91.00
June	2008	3	$844,333	$760,000	$386	$550,000	632.66	90.01%	284	94.66
July	2008	4	$2,116,225	$1,927,975	$538	$1,956,000	411.25	91.10%	292	73.00
August	2008	3	$374,933	$336,666	$467	$145,000	259.33	89.79%	299	99.66
September	2008	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00%	301	0.00
October	2008	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00%	301	0.00
November	2008	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00%	301	0.00
December	2008	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00%	301	0.00
Annual:		22	$1,420,849	$1,282,063	$470	$871,000	292	90.23%	316	0.00

Annual:	2008 - 2008	22	$1,420,849	$1,282,063	$470	$871,000	292	90.23%	316	0.83
Note: The “Current Inventory” column(s) reflect the number of active and contingent (on market) listings on the 16th day of each month. The “Months Inventory” column(s) value(s) equal “Current Inventory” divided by “Monthly Sales”. This reflects how many months it would take to sell out of inventory at the current month’s rate of sale.

–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.

Please note that this does NOT include Wild Dunes!

July Existing Home Sales Show Gain Nationally

Linda — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:25:59 +0000

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).

Don’t Forget to Sign up for Soccer!

Linda — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:22:46 +0000

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

Stately Cainhoy Landing Home Back on the Market!

Linda — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:20:57 +0000

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.

Sale! Call about These Eco-Block Homes!

Linda — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:42:48 +0000

Click the link for the video:

http://client.imprev.net/34/13234/180929

Green Building in South Carolina

Linda — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:55:38 +0000

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!