Will you be traveling this holiday season, if so protect your castle from unwanted visitors i.e. burglars.  Take the time to make your abode a safe place during this holiday season.  Remember nine out of ten burglaries are indeed preventable, the prevalence of light, time, and noise make all the difference.   1. Keep your home well lit including exterior flood lights and indoor lights on a timer. 2. Keep doors and windows securely locked and install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.  Keeping intruders pre-occupied with entry will deter their aggression.  Also make it noisy to break into your home; install a burglar alarm, which by the way more than 90% of burglars would avoid a home with an alarm. 3.  Install strong doors.  The best locks in the world are no good if you have a weak ... 12/16/2008

The December Fed meeting got underway yesterday and today at 2:15pm a public statement is expected. This could be a huge day and we all need to pay close attention to what the Fed does. Most Wall Street firms are expecting a rate cut of .5% while some are forecasting as much as .75%. Remember, that is not referring to mortgage rates. We've had multiple Fed cuts this year and almost 100% of them have resulted in a short term spike in mortgage rates because it can create a rush into the stock market (out of the bond market) and it also has the ability to create inflationary fears which long term lending rates are not real fond of. So don't misunderstand what the rate cut may or may not be. However, the flip side of that coin is that now unlike previous rate cuts, it's the recession has tu... 12/16/2008

 There is no doubt that though out the nation today that real estate is having to say the very least a great deal of trouble. Real estate itself gets sick, but it never dies. So, if you consider the current market from this perspective, we are plagued by pneumonia. More and more people that have been thinking of making an investment in real estate have begun to shy away in the fear that these issues are contagious and will will cause there investment to contract the same illness that's running rampant.  There are several symptoms that currently affect investors and home owners in America today. They are easy to see and hard to ignore. All you have to do is read the paper or watch the news and you will see these symptoms discussed over and over again.  Falling prices- Due to a lack of bu... 12/15/2008

Columbia SC For the first time in a long time the total number of home sales in the Greater Columbia area dropped from the previous year.  Even though mortgage rates were below 6.5% the entire year Columbia's sales were off by more than 2,000 units.   The Columbia area sales of Condos and Patio Homes were also down over 20% while Townhome sales dipped only slightly.  The surprising number to me is the drop in patio home sales because the number of new patio home communities has really increased the last couple of years and I thought sales had been fairly brisk for the under $135K market. All sales figures used in this article are per Ron Bouknight, number cruncher extraordinaire. Terry Edwards     www.FeaturedColumbiaHomes.com   12/14/2008

Columbia, SC This nice 3 bedroom/2 bath home with over 1500 SF of heated space on a cul-de-sac was recently purchased by one of my clients for under $110,000 !!  The Waterbury neighborhood was established in the 1975 to 1985 building boom in SE Columbia.  The homes range from 1200 to 2200 square feet.  Waterbury is located off Leesburg Road and is in the Richland One school district.  It is served by Caughman Road Elementary School, Hopkins Middle School and Lower Richland High. Waterbury is located just minutes from town, near the Veterans Hospital and I-77.  Caughman Park is right around the corner and the busy shopping/restaurant area of Garners Ferry Road is just 5 minutes away. There are currently 8 homes for sale in the immediate area.  Contact me for a current list of homes for s... 12/13/2008

$425,000.00   "Make offer MOTIVATED" More Photos »   Acquire Realty       Laura Jefferson Email Laura   Phone: 803-233-7178 Cell: 803-206-4131 Fax: 803-753-4773 Green Built with all steel construction. Great estate! If you are looking for seclusion close in this is the one! 7 acres on the Congaree creek and wildlife abounds. Huge and upgraded! All Steel construction and brick exterior. Green built per seller.In law suite with private kitchen being finished. Lots of goodies and upgrades. 24 x 24 Workshop with power. Approved to be dreged for live pond in back yard. Once in a lifetime chance on this unique property. Call and see today its a special treat! Home is now in Pre foreclosure and taking all offers! 12/13/2008

Former Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors, Inc. Broker and Certified Residential Specialist David Patterson has been installed as Career Development Chairman on the Keller Williams Associate Leadership Council in Columbia. Since obtaining his license and launching The Patterson Group in March 2004, Patterson has received several accolades and been very involved in the development of many real estate careers. Patterson has been awarded the Certificate of Professionalism by the Central Carolina Association of Realtors which recognizes his participation in educational opportunities that offers the knowledge and skills necessary to provide clients with the best possible service.Patterson is licensed by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation as a licensed real estate instr... 12/13/2008

(Alternate Title -- Yes Virginia! It IS Better to Give [not take] - A Christmas Update) If you recall, I wrote a post about Black Friday and how Friday, November 28 2008 earned its name. Well...I am glad to post this story on my blog. I have no words to do this story justice. Therefore.......... JUST CLICK HERE......WATCH THE VIDEO and remember Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Merry Christmas to Every Little One of Us! 12/12/2008

  December 12 - December 18, 2008If you would like to receive this list every week via email, click here. © 2008 Gardener Publications • Gardener Guides.    Through Sunday, December 14. Evita. Trustus Theatre brings to its stage Argentina's controversial First Lady in this dynamic musical master piece. Driven by ambition and blessed with charisma, Evita was a starlet at twenty-one, the president's mistress at twenty-four, First Lady at twenty-seven and dead at thirty-three. Told through a compelling score that fuses haunting chorales with exuberant Latin, pop and jazz influences, EVITA creates an arresting theatrical portrait as compelling as the woman herself. EVITA will also be performed on January 7-17. Visit Trustus Theatre for more information.December 12-14 & 19-21. Nutcracker pre... 12/11/2008

Historically, December is always slow for me. I have just chalked it up to people don't want to buy a house during Christmas when they are needing to buy presents, going to parties, finishing Thanksgiving leftovers.... However, this year is different. I have received more mortgage applications this month than the last 2 combined. I was talking about this to one of my Realtors who sent me 3 Buyers last night and she said that it was the same for her -suddenly her phone is ringing and clients are wanting to look at houses this month more than previous months.   She said that it is as if people are starting to realize that no matter what the media says -the economy is going to get better and now is the time to take advantage of these low rates! Is you Housing Market Changing? For Better? F... 12/10/2008

This post is actually targeted at a non-member of the ActiveRain community. However, EVERYONE might be able to benefit from this information. This anonymous individual left the following comment on my When Co-Signing a Mortgage Goes Wrong II post... "My father in law told us that he co-signed a mortgage for a friend. We are now suspecting that the friend is in default on their payments.  What happens to and who is responsible for that mortgage when my father in law passes away. Does his estate, which will go to his two sons, become responsible for that mortgage?" I spoke with my personal real estate attorney Mark Thomas with Thomas Law Firm, LLC. (SIDE NOTE: If you aren't closing your Columbia, Lexington or Irmo real estate transactions with Mark, you might as well go to Vegas and roll ... 12/09/2008

  Relocating to Fort Jackson contact me today for all of your Real estate needs.           Military Service Requirements for VA Loan Eligibility:                        Note:  Applications involving other than honorable discharges will usually require further development by VA.  This is necessary to determine if the service was under other than dishonorable conditions. Wartime - Service During: WWII: 9/16/1940 to 7/25/1947 Korean: 6/27/1950 to 1/31/1955 Vietnam: 8/5/1964 to 5/7/1975 You must have at least 90 days on active duty and been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.  If you served less than 90 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service connected disability. Peacetime - Service during periods: 7/26/1947 to 6/26/1950 2/1/1955 to 8/4/1964 5/8/1975 to 9/7/... 12/08/2008

Joined the Changing Lives Christian Center Family and experience the Christmas Spirit Presented by Gospel Recording Artist, Wonda Barnes  Doors open at 6:00 pm event starts at 7:00 pm. Location: 438 Rabon RD, Columbia SC   For more information call 803-319-2703  12/08/2008

Columbia, SC    More store closings, layoffs and auto industry problems are grabbing all the headlines recently.  One silver lining in this recession is the number of larger homes that are selling for waaaaay less than just a year ago.  It's not uncommon to find 3,000 plus square foot homes like this one in Blythewood selling for under $75/SF.  !!!! With prices at bargain levels and 30 year fixed rate mortgages in the 5.5% range now could be an opportune time for those buyers with large families.  I believe the housing recovery will begin in neighborhoods near good schools. Terry Edwards, ABR     www.FeaturedColumbiaHomes.com   12/08/2008

This morning rates went down to 5.125% for a 30yr fixed Conventional 80%ltv Owner Occupied $160,000 loan with a 740 score (5.354% APR). I was doing my Happy Dance  when I saw this until I started contacting my watch list... I have been contacting everyone on my Watch list who has told me - "When rates drop to below 5.50% let me know so I can refinance or buy!" What I'm amazed at is how many people have been watching the news about the Treasury's announcement yesterday and think that the rates should be 4.50% or that they want to wait until the rates hit 4.5%. Folks, the headline says, "WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The Treasury Department is contemplating a proposal that would cut mortgage rates for new loans for homes, according to the Wall Street Journal. " Contemplating means they are t... 12/05/2008

When looking at homes in the Columbia SC real estate market, one is tempted to buy the best home in a neighborhood. Should you buy the most expensive home on the block?  No. Think Long-Term Assume you fall in love with the masterpiece home in a particular neighborhood. It has everything you could dream of:  an incredible kitchen, top of the line windows, stunning brick work and so on. The sellers obviously put a lot of time, effort and money into the home. Accordingly, it stands out as the pearl on the block. Why wouldn't you want to snap it up immediately? Before you start signing documents, take a look at the sales prices of comparable homes, "comps", in the neighborhood. If you compare the comp prices to the dream home, you should notice a pretty significant price difference.  This d... 12/05/2008

Governor's Mansion Holiday Open House WHAT: The  SC Governor's Mansion and the Lace House, decorated for the holidays, will be open to visitors. WHEN: 4-7 p.m. today ADMISSION: Free; no reservations needed LOCATION: 800 Richland St. DECOR: The Governor's Mansion is decorated for the holidays by the Columbia Garden Club with a natural theme. The Lace House is decorated with a children's theme. DON'T MISS: The mansion's new executive chef, Geoffrey D. Sandifer, has made a gingerbread replica of the S.C. State House that will be on display. Yummmmm So many great things to do in the Midlands of South Carolina. How is a girl to choose????? If you miss this dont fret Go to the website and book a tour. Its something you do want to do!   12/04/2008

The days are much shorter, the night air a little crisper, the smell of a fire, Christmas music piped into every grocery store and gas station you walk into, and Philly Fed President Charles Prosser confirming the Fed's expected move to purchase Fannie and Freddie Mortgage Bonds. Takes me right back to childhood Christmas memories! Not to mention the fact we're finally getting that significant rate drop I've been screaming about being on the horizon for almost 2 months now. I'm not crazy after all...... The FNMA 5.5% mortgage bond, our new bench mark, suffered a little bit of a setback today losing 47bp to close at $101.56 while the stock market shook itself awake after the slaughter that we witnessed yesterday and rebounded from the 4th worst performance in history. The drop in mortgag... 12/02/2008

Upon my return from measuring a new listing, I took a moment to make my Online Social Networking rounds. While reviewing my Direct Messages on Twitter, I came across a new "Thank You for the Follow" message from @andreajares. She is a real estate reporter for the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. While reviewing her profile, I noticed her last "tweet".............. "From CNN: The U.S. entered a recession in December 2007, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research." The date peaked my curiousity! It moved me to rub the WikiAnswers Crystal Ball. "All Knowing WikiAnswers Crystal Ball.........How long does the average recession last?" Just like the infamous Magic 8 Ball, it spat out something very concise. "Eight to Sixteen Months.....oh wise....... handsome...powerful Real Estate Broke... 12/01/2008

The opportunities are so great here in Columbia, SC!!  We have VERY good schools, a warm and friendly city, and beautiful subdivisions with plenty of shopping!  We are a family-oriented city, and value the standard traditions of family and faith.  All of these ingredients combine to make for a wonderful place to live! If you are being deployed here, you will surely want to capitalize on the opportunities offered in affordable housing!  Our average priced home in Columbia is around $165,000.  Our home values tend to hold pretty well, even when the rest of the country has seen as much as 18% loss in some areas.  HOWEVER, THE DEALS ARE STILL HERE!  The homes on the market this time of year are truly the ones with MOTIVATED SELLERS!  The "we don't have to move" sellers generally take theirs... 12/01/2008