Watermark -- A New Address in Mount Pleasant

If you're looking for something new in Mount Pleasant and something interesting to do this weekend, you might check out this new neighborhood on Saturday. Visit each show house, enjoy free refreshments and register to win a stainless steel grill!

"At Watermark, exceptional amenities await. Kayak and fish the 33-acre lake, run and bike along lakeside trails, or just relax in one of many intimate parks and open spaces. There is an exclusive amenity center for single-family residents that includes an open-air pavilion, pool and more. And for apartment homes, offerings include a resort-quality pool, Club Room, fitness center and game lawn.

Watermark is one of the last new neighborhoods in the heart of Mount Pleasant, and it offers all the advantages of a traditional town – friendly people, cherished ways and a sense that life should be enjoyed without rush or bother. It gives you quick access to everything that makes the Charleston area one of the country’s most rewarding places to live – sandy beaches, pristine rivers, famed golf courses, a lavish calendar of festivals and events, superb shopping and dining, and the romance of Charleston’s Historic District."

For the Watermark website: http://www.watermarksc.com/index.aspx

HGTV Green Home

For those who enter to win the HGTV Dream Home every year, they've come up with another sweepstakes to fill your daydreams into the summer! Perhaps not quite as fabulous, only an $850,000 grand prize package, but then again, that might just mean you can afford to keep it! Have fun!

"One lucky person will win a new GMC Yukon Hybrid and this beautifully furnished eco-friendly home in Tradition Hilton Head, S.C. It could be you!"

For the HGTV Green Home Giveaway: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/green_home/

Spoleto Is Coming!

With temperatures dipping into the 30s tonight it doesn't feel quite like it, but it's that time of year again . . . Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto tickets are on sale! Closer to the May 23rd opening of the Festivals I might give a rundown of my favorite events for the 2008 season, but for today I just couldn't resist sharing the discussion below, which expounds the rightness of Charleston as host. "How true! How true!" I say and nod, gratified. It's funny how Charleston takes people like that; so many people whether born here or "grafted in" as they say take the city very personally.

"With its long and rich history of culture, its natural beauty and the inspiration it has provided to artists over the years, Charleston, South Carolina, is perhaps the most appropriate place in the United States to stage a festival that celebrates the arts.

Charleston claims many cultural firsts. The very first performance of an opera in the American colonies took place in the city during the first half of the 18th century. While the English Ballad opera Flora or Hob in the Well is no longer performed, Porgy and Bess – which has often been called the greatest American opera – was written in Charleston some two hundred years later. By the end of 18th century, the southern city boasted the first resident ballet company in addition to regular performances by English and French-language theater companies. The first theater built specifically for public performances in the American colonies, the Dock Street Theatre, was built in Charleston in 1734. (The original theater burned down two years later and was eventually rebuilt.) Over the next two hundred and fifty years, many other theaters said to rival the best in Europe were built in Charleston. Today, Charleston is a city of well-preserved stately homes, lofty churches and numerous historical sites. Theaters are within walking distance from one another, and a stroll is often rewarded with the glimpse of a lavish garden or of a previously unnoticed architectural detail. Award-winning restaurants and boutique shops add to the city’s eclectic character."

For the full Spoleto website (from which the above is excerpted): http://www.spoletousa.org/

For the Piccolo Spoleto website: http://www.piccolospoleto.com/home/default.aspx

Urban Infill Offers Downtown Growth

Urban infill is sort of the opposite of building in the suburbs. Instead of moving out of the city onto a nice, big lot with room for a nice, big house, one finds a bit of "extra" space in the heart of things and squeezes the most out of every inch inside and out. Many people want to loudly declare one better than the other. As a realtor I see it more as a question of preference and think it's all to the good for Charleston to offer a broader range of choice – new homes, downtown with off-street parking! Who would have thought?

"Graham Powell’s Spring Street residence has two features that are hard to find in the historic Holy City: new construction and that most coveted of amenities, off-street parking. Powell, an attorney who works downtown, said he was looking for something unique on the peninsula when he learned of a developer’s plans to build four new residences behind a circa-1840 home.

'When I saw the initial plan for it, it just looked unique but at the same time, it was in downtown Charleston,' Powell said. 'That is kind of hard to pull off.'

Powell also liked the idea of buying into an urban infill project. 'It’s good — sort of the antithesis of sprawl,' he said, adding that he also liked the new construction. 'There are (new) developments and building techniques (that were) important to me. I would like to be downtown, but I don’t want something that’s old and leaks.'

Developer Patrick Pernell, a landscape architect, and his partner Jim Sloggett collaborated on the project with architect Luda Sobchuk of SGA Architecture. Pernell was drawn to the property because of the undeveloped land behind the main house. Still, the biggest challenge was space.

'It’s only about a quarter-acre and there are now six units,” Pernell said. “It’s a lot to get five houses with two parking spaces each, with private gardens, on a quarter-acre.'

Meeting the height, scale and mass requirements of the Board of Architectural Review was another challenge, Pernell said, since the new homes could not be taller than the older, historic home. All but one of the homes have been sold, and the last one is listed for $485,000."

Powell’s three-story home has three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a fireplace. It is clustered with three new two-bedroom homes and barely visible behind the historic home in front, which currently comprises two apartments that will be renovated into two condominiums."

For the full Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/pub/14_6/news/11604-1.html

SC Virtual Charter Schools Gearing Up

As this and other school choice programs grow it will be very interesting to see how home-buying choices change. When people do not have to consider so heavily the quality of a particular school district, will demographics be less geographically homogeneous? If you could live anywhere in the Lowcountry and know that your children's education wouldn't suffer, where would you go?

"The South Carolina Virtual Charter School (SCVCS) Charter Committee announced that its new online public school will open in August 2008. It is expected to be the largest K-12 online public school in South Carolina serving up to 1,000students across the state. The school intends to use the nationally acclaimed curriculum, technology and academic services provided by K12 Inc., a technology-based education company and leading national provider of high-quality curriculum and online learning programs.

SCVCS will provide students across the state with the opportunity to receive an excellent public education regardless of their geographic, financial, or demographic circumstances. SCVCS students will learn outside the classroom and receive instruction, direction and oversight from state-certified teachers. Younger students will work alongside a learning coach -- a parent or responsible adult -- who will provide guidance and assistance. Students will be required to meet accountability standards,including academic and attendance requirements, and must participate in state assessments in a proctored setting.

Every student enrolled in SCVCS will receive an individualized learning program using K12 courses in math, English/language arts, science, history, art, music, along with a complete menu of high school courses, including AP and honors-level courses, electives, and foreign language offerings. Students will access the web-based lessons through the innovative K12 Online School and use other K12 education materials (textbooks,workbooks, math and science supplies, hands-on projects, and much more) that will be shipped directly to each student. Because SCVCS is a public school, it is tuition free and open to all students who reside within South Carolina."

For the full PRNewswire release: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-17-2008/0004775153&EDATEACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-17-2008/0004775153&EDATE=

For SC virtual charter schools: http://www.k12.com/
http://www.connectionsacademy.com/
http://www.blueoceancharter.org/

Vacation Homes and 1031 Exchange

Whether you have (or would like to have) a vacation home on the ocean or at the lake or tucked away in the mountains somewhere, this ruling could be very significant for your future plans!

"The Internal Revenue Service recently issued a Revenue Procedure ruling that spells out how vacation properties can qualify for 1031 exchanges, which involve the exchange of investment properties. The guidance aims to clear up the debate about whether vacation homes are investment or personal use properties.

The ruling states that the property must be held by the taxpayer for 24 months. The holding period is broken into 12-month blocks, and during each the property must be rented at the fair market rate for no less than 14 days. Additionally, the owner can use the property for 14 days or 10 percent of the days rented, whichever is greater, plus a 'reasonable' number of days devoted to maintenance tasks.

Because it is a safe harbor ruling, experts say failing to comply with all the rules does not mean the exchange will be denied or an audit will automatically occur. However, they underscore the importance of keeping good records of the property's rental history and the dates the property was occupied by the owner for maintenance." Source: Realty Times, Gary Gorman (03/06/08)

For the Realtor Magazine Online article: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008031003?OpenDocument

Sandlapper Classic Results Are In!

Congratulations to all of the runners in the Sandlapper Classic!

I love being part of an

organization making

young people and community a real priority

by putting on events like this!

For a full account of the meet: http://www.sandlapperclassic.com/

For video: http://www.charlestonevents.tv/

Bring In Your Architect Early

Especially here in the Lowcountry where tricky issues range from views to stormwater runoff and legally protected trees, early involvement of the architect just makes sense.

"Buyers searching for land to build a home on may find involving a residential architect early on to be a wise move, according to the American Institute of Architects. The architect can help evaluate the pros and cons of a location that an inexperienced buyer might overlook, such as whether a site is big enough to accommodate the home they want or whether a neighbor’s right-to-a-view will preclude building 12-foot ceilings. Here are some tips for getting the most out of the decision to involve an architect:

• Choose an architect who listens. If the architect doesn’t appear to be paying attention during the initial interactions, find somebody else.


• Bring visuals. Showing the architect pictures from books and magazines is more effective than trying to explain.


• Talk money upfront. Most architects charge by the hour in the concept stage and then a percentage of building costs. Flat fees are only appropriate for very small projects. For projects costing $1.5 million plus, expect fees to range from 12 percent to 18 percent, says James P. Cramer, chair of Greenway Group, a design-industry consulting firm.


• Consider hiring the architect to supervise the project. This can be expensive, but it can also prevent a lot of headaches later." Source: The Wall Street Journal, Sara Lin (01/25/2008)

For the Realtor Magazine Online article: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008031206?OpenDocument

Life Is Good for SCs in SC!

The aging baby-boomers continue to make the plight of senior citizens, the "SCs" of the title, an important element in making communities attractive and livable for people of all ages. Whether you are nearing sixty yourself or caring for your parents or grandparents, knowing that the help you need is nearby makes all the difference in the world!

"No this isn't some sort of secret code – SC's (as in senior citizens) have plenty of reasons to enjoy life in SC. To highlight some of the special opportunities and programs for senior citizens, SCIway has developed a Senior Citizen Resource Guide.

The guide is organized by location and features links to senior activities, social centers, business groups, and helpful non-profit organizations. It also connects to the SC Access Database, a helpful directory of finding aging and disability resources.
Return to school and skip straight to the "senior" year! A little known state law provides tuition exemption for residents 60 and older to take classes at state colleges. Visit SCIway.net's guide to Senior Citizen Education to explore these opportunities.

Many organizations work to keep South Carolinians mobile. If you or someone you know needs help getting around your part of SC, there are many public and private SC senior transportation services available."

For the full March SCIway News: http://www.sciway.net/sn/53.html#4

SC -- The Wonderful Iodine State!

Who knew?! I think I've found a new conversation starter . . .

"In the late 1920s, the SC Natural Resources Commission began a campaign to draw attention to the high levels of iodine in our state's soil and produce. The campaign warned people from the West and Midwest (where iodine was not as prevalent) about the dangers of iodine deficiency – 'including sterility, dwarfism, and idiocy.' The commission hoped to increase the market for our fruits and vegetables around the country. To help the campaign along, South Carolina even printed 'The Iodine State' on our license plates!

Now, today you and I might take iodine for granted, but back then it was serious business. In its extreme form, a lack of this essential element causes cretinism – severely stunted physical and mental growth. In its lesser form, iodine deficiency manifests itself in a disease called goiter. Goiter is a swelling of the thyroid gland which causes a large bump on the front or side of the neck. During World War I, this swelling disqualified more men from service than anything else, and in Michigan alone 30% of draftees were afflicted by it.The relationship between iodine and goiter was discovered in Switzerland in 1821, but for various reasons it wasn't acted upon here in America until 1924, when finally a major public health movement prompted the salt industry to begin adding iodine to table salt. This simple step helped eliminate goiters in America, but it also took away the impetus for South Carolina's iodine campaign. We do have one lasting reminder of iodine’s importance in our state however. The call letters for WIS-TV in Columbia (which began as WIS Radio in 1930) stand for 'Wonderful Iodine State.'"

For the full SCIway newsletter article: http://www.sciway.net/sn/53.html#8

Upcoming Charleston County Comprehensive Plan

As a realtor I have an obvious interest in all of the details of the upcoming Charleston County Comprehensive Plan, but one fact really highlights the significance of what they're doing: "the county expects to need around 42,000 new living units by 2020, about 70% of which would be single-family dwellings." Where will these houses be built? Where will they NOT be built? What will they look like? Where will their owners shop? Drive? Go to school?

Now's the time to influence these decisions! What an exciting time to live in the Lowcountry!

"Residents, developers or anyone interested can search land-use plans by neighborhood under Charleston County’s upcoming comprehensive plan. It’s part of the county’s goal to make the document more reader-friendly, said Dan Pennick, director of the Charleston County Planning Department. The plan identifies where growth will occur and what types of development are appropriate for certain areas, said Jamie Greene, a principal with ACP Visioning & Planning, an Ohio-based planning consultant hired to assist the county’s efforts.

Architecture will be an important part of that discussion, Greene said. 'People here are really concerned about the character,' he said. State law requires counties and municipalities to update their comprehensive plans at least once every 10 years, and Charleston County began that 14-month process with public workshops last fall.
The comprehensive plan will focus on nine elements of growth:
• Population.
• Economy.
• Natural resources.
• Cultural resources.
• Housing.
• Community facilities.
• Land use.
• Transportation.
• Priority investment.

The county expects population to grow about 1.8% a year through the next decade. By 2020, the population is expected to be about 430,000. That’s a 30% increase from the estimated 2006 population of 332,000, according to estimates from the U.S. Census.

Because of that growth, the county expects to need around 42,000 new living units by 2020, about 70% of which would be single-family dwellings. The county needs to determine where that growth should occur.

'A lot of the effort will be looking at where the infrastructure is now,' Pennick said.
Based on a series of public workshops last fall, county residents want to curb sprawl, preserve historic and rural character, limit density in rural areas and provide public space in new developments."

To view the Charleston Regional Business Journal article: http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/current/14_5/news/11481-1.html

To view the upcoming Comprehensive Plan website: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/index2.asp?p=/departments/Planning/CompPlanUpdate/CompPlanUpdate.htm

Smart Time to Buy!

Experienced homebuyers agree that this is one of the best buyers' markets in decades!

"Despite all of the negative commentary about the housing and credit markets, 64% of Americans believe that for those with good credit and a down payment 'this is an ideal time to buy a home,' according to a study commissioned by Beazer Homes, one of the country’s top-10 homebuilders. Perhaps with an eye toward the future, 24% of survey respondents-from Gen Y to Baby Boomers-say they plan to buy a new home in the next two years either as a primary residence or second/vacation home.

'We know the American consumer believes with great conviction that home ownership is a smart investment over the long term,' said Ian McCarthy, president and CEO of Beazer Homes. 'Savvy consumers realize that housing is a cyclical industry and some appear to be waking up to the opportunities that do exist in today’s marketplace. Whether they act on this conviction remains to be seen, but the underlying sentiment bodes well for the industry.'

Indeed, 65% of survey respondents agree that given the current supply of homes for sale and special incentives this is 'truly a buyer’s market.' And, 39% believe that tentative buyers who are waiting for home prices to go lower risk 'missing out on one of the greatest home-buying markets in recent history.'

As in most areas, experience brings additional confidence. The survey found 70% of experienced home buyers-those who have purchased at least one home-urging renters to purchase a home as soon as he or she is financially able to do so."

For the full RISMedia Real Estate News article: http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-02-13/experienced-home-buyers-say-‘smart-time-to-buy-sentiment-prevails/