Myrtle Beach Vacations Are Year Round

You might think that nobody comes to Myrtle Beach in the wintertime, but if you haven't spent Christmas or New Years in our sparkling city, you don't know what you're missing.

Yes, it can get chilly by Christmastime.  There are days that don't get out of the 50's, and some nights in the 20's.  By that same token, we've had several days this past week in the mid-70's, and here it is less than a week till Christmas day.

Our streets, stores, and hotels are decorated to the hilt with beautiful lights and Christmas trees. The restaurants are all still open, and guess what?  NO CROWDS! You don't have an hour wait to eat in the winter. The beautiful North Myrtle Beach resorts like Avista and Prince Resort have heated pools and offer the same stunning views of the ocean as they do in the summer.

Our live shows are all great at Christmas. Celebrate New Years like you've never seen it at Broadway at the Beach. Valentine's day is soooo romantic in Myrtle Beach. You can still get a heck of a suntan on those warm days, too!

Winter rates are super low and you might just have the best vacation you've ever thought about during the off-season in Myrtle Beach. Give it a try...it's so cheap you've got nothing to lose but a few days away from the snow and ice!

Can a second mortgage loan serve your purpose?

Do you want money to clear your debts or finance your child’s education or serve some other purposes?  Then a second mortgage loan can be the answer. Before you apply for it, you must make sure you have adequate funds to repay the loan; otherwise you may lose your home to a forced foreclosure.


There's basically two types of second mortgage loans - a closed end traditional home equity loan, or a a "home equity line of credit" which is an open end credit much like a bankline.

1. Home equity loan:

You can apply for a home equity loan by filling out an application form available online. To take out a home equity loan, you have to keep your existing home as a security. You can even use your non-residential property as a security for the approval of the loan if you are a licensed title holder and your land is free from legal dispute. You will get around (60-65) % of the actual value of your property used as security against the loan at a fixed rate of interest. However, you should check out the pros and cons before you apply for a home equity loan.
 
Benefits of a home equity loan:

• If you take out a home equity loan, you can pay off your credit card bills by consolidating all your debts into one monthly payment.
• The interest rates of a home equity loan will be lower than the interest charged on your credit cards.
• The interest that you pay towards the home equity loan is tax-deductible and therefore you can easily save a substantial amount of money on your taxes.  

Drawbacks of a home equity loan:

• If you use the loan amount to invest on certain items that immediately depreciates, then you may have to face financial crisis in the near future.
• If you’re unable to pay off your loan then the lender will foreclose your property used as collateral.

2. Home equity line of credit:
 
Like a home equity loan, here also you have to keep your home as security to take out a home equity line of credit. You will get this loan in the form of a credit card or a set of blank checks with a certain limit depending on your home equity. The more you pay down the balance, the more funds will become available to use in the future. A HELOC consists of both advantage and disadvantages:
 
Pros:

• Here, you don’t have to borrow the amount in a lump sum, rather you can withdraw the funds according to your needs.
• The interest rate of this loan is variable and is lower than the interest rate charged by most mortgage lenders.
• If your credit score is good, then you don’t have to pay a closing cost.
• At least for now, interest on an home equity line of credit is tax deductible. 

 Cons:

• According to the terms of this loan, you may have to withdraw a limited fund each time within a stipulated period of time.
• The cost of securing a HELOC can be high. You may have to pay a property appraisal fee, an application fee, closing costs and other possible charges that are included in your loan agreement. You may also have to pay the transaction fee every time you withdraw the money.  Most of these requirements are based on your credit and relationship with your bank.
• It's not easy to find the self-discipline to pay off a line of credit for many folks.

Opting for a second mortgage loan can be a useful strategy if you’re disciplined enough to use the funds for a dedicated purpose and are able to repay your loan on time. It can be the answer to investing in oceanfront real estate or beach condos that banks will no longer finance.

Ask a Realtor or your own banker for more information on second mortgage loans.

What is the next best thing to being there? Watching a Myrtle Beach Video!

I'm finally getting many of my clients to invest a little time and trouble into making short videos of the best neighborhoods for their respective real estate sales, and to me, if they are done right and in a classy way, they can go a long way towards selling a home.  By the same token, if they are done unprofessionally, with bad music in the background, or misspelled content, nothing is worse.  I'm happy to say my favorite Myrtle Beach real estate expert, Greg Harrelson has a most talented employee that is making some wonderful videos - Meridith Lien.  Here's a couple of her best ones!

Barefoot Resort Homes for Sale



Homes for Sale in Tidewater Plantation Myrtle Beach



Look for more of these because I'm going to insist that they do them on as many communities and condos as I can.

Allstate is Myrtle Beach Best Car Insurance

My best friend came down to visit last week and rear-ended somebody right before she got to her hotel.  She and I both have Allstate, mine through Scott Todd in North Myrtle Beach.

She called the police, and then her agent, and was disappointed to learn that she didn't have coverage for a rental car...in fact had told them she didn't need it because she has two cars.  Ha, that's not why you may need a rental car, is it?  Anyway, they did pay for a tow truck and recommended she take it to a local dealership for repairs, which I thought was mighty good.  I can remember dealing with State Farm many years ago and having them try to tell me to take my car to this body shop in town that was notorious for cheap work and shoddy results.

I also talked to Scott, and found out that I had neglected to add towing or a rental to my policy, which I have now added.  I am telling you that if you want to be "in good hands", you don't get any better than Myrtle Beach car insurance with Scott Todd at Allstate.

I saw in tonight's Consumer Affairs section of "What's on Your Mind" a complaint that Progressive Insurance's claim to fame customer service is not so hot.  Read the complaint HERE.  Specifically he says,

“My wife's car was hit by another vehicle and she called the police,” Otto said. “The other person was guilty and it was written in the police report. They don't care. Tomorrow is going to be a week since we called a Progressive representative and "there is nothing they can do at the moment". We left the car at the body shop because there is a noise in the front wheel but they can't even send the adjuster. They can't pay for the car rental either.”

I feel very lucky to have found Scott.  He's one of the best.  Look him up at www.CarolinaPolicies.com.

You know...I wonder.  Is an agent only as good as the company he represents, or is an insurance company only as good as the agent who represents them?  Any thoughts?

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Also see this site for Condo Insurance.

Myrtle Beach New Home Construction is on the Rise

New construction of Myrtle Beach homes is quietly on the rise. As you drive around in search of your very own piece of Myrtle Beach real estate, you may be starting to notice a few tractors moving land, a few laborers lifting up two-by-fours, or a roofer applying shingles to a new home. We all know these are signs of new homes being built.

Recently, the market for Myrtle Beach Homes for sale has increased according to the evidence listed in the MLS. Today, there are fewer homes listed for sale as well as more closings taking place on a monthly basis. Myrtle Beach Condos continue to have their challenges while we watch the housing market make it's move.

For those thinking of selling a home in Myrtle Beach, you may want to consider doing it now. There is a growing concern that new construction will create competition problems for those looking to sell a resale home. An example, Carolina Forest homes for sale have been moving. As the homes in Carolina Forest sell faster, builders start to build new homes to take advantage of the increased activity. When you ride through Carolina Forest today, you will see signs indicating that you can buy brand new home for the same price as those for sale in established communities. Again, the buyer has more options. The buyer was once buying a Myrtle Beach foreclosure listing, and now they are buying new construction at a greater pace.

The builders are making money again while existing owners are still hoping the market will turn around. We recently witnessed a buyer purchase a new home in Carolina Forest for less than they could have purchased the same home that was already built. The choice was obvious for the buyer and painful for the seller who has been waiting for over a year to sell.

The Cottages at North Beach Plantation are really going up now. It looks like there's around 30-40 already built and another 10 or 20 under construction. The prices of these homes for sale in North Beach Plantation are really low - as low as $180,000, and only steps to the beach. That's going to be some stiff competition to other North Myrtle Beach real estate, new and older homes. And even condos, for that matter.

According to the builders I have spoken with, they anticipate having a great next few years due to the low building costs as well as low prices on land.

Just when we thought it was going to get better the builders make their move. If I was thinking of selling any Myrtle Beach real estate in the next year, I would do it now.

~Greg Harrelson
Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Source

Prestwick Homes for Sale in Myrtle Beach

Prestwick Myrtle Beach Homes for Sale
Guest Blog from Greg Harrelson

I recently sold a home in Prestwick Country Club on Links Road that had been listed for sale with another agent for a long time. The home had about 3500 heated square feet as well as a pool. Located on the golf course,  it sold for $470,000, which has been the highest sales price of any homes in Prestwick to sell recently.

Then I did it again. I just listed a home in Prestwick and placed it under pending contract status within 21 days of putting it in the Myrtle Beach MLS. The key to selling these homes in Prestwick is marketing. When a Prestwick home for sale is marketed aggressively, it gets significantly more buyer traffic then those listings that are just entered into the MLS and left to sit there.

If I were looking to sell a home anywhere in the Grand Strand and I was in need of a Myrtle Beach real estate agent, then I would seek out an agent that knows the community - as well as one who can provide a written marketing plan. Prestwick Country Club homes in Myrtle Beach belong to a fantastic community, with properties ranging from $200,000 up to a million dollars.

I personally own a home in Prestwick. I understand the community, and how it needs to be marketed in order to get a property sold. I have already sold a few homes in Prestwick this year and would like yours to be next.

I market all Prestwick homes on my new website, http://www.prestwickmyrtlebeach.com/
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Greg Harrelson can be reached at (888) 874-2121 or through any of his websites.

SC Lake Front Property

SC Lakefront Property

Would you like to see and learn about all the lakes in South Carolina?  My friend who specializes in selling homes on Lake Greenwood has done a really good page about all the lakes in South Carolina.  Between the map, photos, and needed information, it is a really good reference for SC lake front property.

I never considered who owns lakes before.  Most are owned either by Duke Power, or in South Carolina, we have the Santee Cooper power company. All over the US, lakes are created and maintained by the US Army Corp of Engineers as well, and as with all federal government controlled land, it has to be freely public.  So there are few private boat docks, and a Corps owned barrier between the land and the lake.  Interesting, isn't it?

Visit www.lakegreenwoodproperty.com/sc-lake-front-property/ and see all the good information about South Carolina lakes.

Tips for Selling a Home in Myrtle Beach

Christine Ginsburg is a Home Stager in Morris County, NJ who recently posted an excellent article on Active Rain called The 10 Most Important Cost-Effective, Easy Fixes When Selling Your Home.  This was such a good article I wanted to present her ideas to our Myrtle Beach condos and home sellers and agents. I think anyone selling their home and any real estate agent across the country will benefit from these excellent points.

1. Make all the bedrooms and baths appeal to both men and women. That's an idea I had not thought about, and a good one. You don't want to limit the appeal to any one sex, race, or family type. Don't get too "girlie" with your paint, wallpaper, or even the furniture you have left as you are showing the home. Nor should you have rooms that are obviously "man-caves" if you can help it!

2. Open up the space in all rooms by removing excesss furniture and clutter. Your cute doilies or collection of Egyptian artifacts won't appeal to everyone.

3. Continuing with #2 above, rent a storage building and put your excess furniture and knick-knacks in it. As she points out, that will help when the time comes to move, too.

4. Keep the room colors in your home neutral. Resist the urge to add that bright orange wall because you saw it on a TV decorating show. Add color with accessories instead.

5. Use the decor of an five-star hotel to judge how a room should look. They are always uncluttered, classy, and have a renovated look. Don't try to sell a home that was remodeled in the 70's or 80's and not updated.

6. Keep your cabinets, attic, closets, and other storage areas neat and clean. Move excess stuff to that storage building so a potential buyer can judge the amount of room the home will offer for his own possessions.

7. Make sure your Myrtle Beach home is utterly spotless. I think this may be the most important point of all.

8. Christine advises to remove darkening window treatments and let as much natural light in as possible. I think here at the beach that's especially important. If you have a water view, it goes without saying to show it off.

9. Be sure all repairs are done. She mentions leaky faucets, broken screens, etc. I would add rusty or corrosive fixtures, stained cement driveways or sidewalks, and updated light fixtures to that.

10. Take GOOD photos, videos, and plenty of them for the MLS listing. Christine says to hire a photographer. Not a bad idea, but as a Realtor, you should have already invested in a good camera and should take the time to take the best photos of your listing as possible. If you're the homeowner, you can help too. Remember, about 80% of all home searches begin on the internet, and potential buyers are going to see that MLS listing over, and over, and over again. Be sure it's accurate, free of typos, and offers the best possible photos you can take. Doing a quick video of the property is icing on the cake and will add to the marketing potential.

These were some of the best tips I've seen lately. As you strive to be the best Myrtle Beach real estate agent you can be, learning these things from a home stager will prove to be invaluable.

Hawaii Kai and Oahu Real Estate Updates

For those interested in some Hawaii real estate news, Jeff Manson guest posts this one...

The Hawaii Kai real estate market, part of the larger Eastern Oahu and Honolulu housing markets, saw an increase in the number of home sales and a boost in median home prices over the latest tracking period. According to statistics provided by the Honolulu Board of Realtors, there were substantially more single family homes sold in the month of December 2010, mirroring a similar trend for the entire year.

Over 2010, there were about ten percent more home sales than in the previous year. This is an encouraging trend because in many other states the number of sales have been depressed compared to year-ago levels – at least partially because of the artificially boosted sales figures during the end of 2009. As reported by Pacific Business News, there were 306 single-family homes sold on the island of Oahu during December 2010, representing an increase of just less than thirteen percent compared to year-ago levels.

In 2010, there were more than 3,000 properties sold, marking an increase of about thirteen percent compared to 2009’s figures. In terms of median price, single family houses were approximately six percent more expensive in December 2010 relative to December 2009, rising from $550,000 to $587,000.

While there were more Hawaii Kai and Oahu homes sold in December 2010 compared to year-ago levels, there were slightly fewer condominiums purchased over the same period. According to the Honolulu Board of Realtors, there were three percent fewer condos (341) sold in December 2010, while there were 350 sold during the same month last year. On a brighter note, there were substantially more condominiums sold in the entirety of 2010 than during 2009. Median sales prices for condominiums remained relatively unchanged.

There were also more than two hundred pending sales moving into the first month of 2011, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors and Hawaii News Now. In terms of inventory, the average Oahu home for sale is projected to spend about five weeks on the market. Although some parts of Oahu, such as Makakilo, Kapahulu, Kakaako, and Kaneohe experienced price declines during the most recent tracking period, Hawaii Kai followed the positive trend seen by the majority of the island.
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Want more real estate info?  See Myrtle Beach Real Estate, Albuquerque Real Estate, and Lake Greenwood SC Property.

More About Real Estate Short Sales

The real estate short sale market has grown exponentially in the wake of the real estate crunch. Statistics from mortgage servicer Fannie Mae show that short sales and foreclosures have gone up steadily in the past four years, and with the new spate of foreclosures said to take hold later this year, distressed homes are expected to take up a much bigger portion of the market. Here are some recent statistics for a quick look at today’s real estate short sale market.

More Homes In Default

Of the 30.7 million mortgages held by Fannie Mae, 921,000 are over 60 days in default, and another 644,700 were 90 days or more behind. This was before the loan modification and short sale programs took effect, and the servicer then addressed the problem by enacting a foreclosure/eviction freeze. This was followed by a loan modification effort that resulted in 23,777 modified loans toward the end of the year. The short sale option offered today is expected to help prevent even more foreclosures.
 
Short Sale And Foreclosure Ratio

A 2008 report shows that for every successful short sale, eight other homes started foreclosure proceedings. To many experts, it’s a sign of the inefficiency of lenders when it comes to the short sale process. Many of them were ill-prepared for the wave of defaults and did not have adequate loan modification experience. So for much of 2008 and 2009, the helpful home-saving programs were an uphill climb for borrowers. Fortunately, both programs have since been largely improved.
 
Government Real Estate Short Sale Program

One thing that helped refine the process is Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA), the government’s own program and partner to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), a previous initiative focusing on loan modifications. HAFA allows homeowners who have been rejected for HAMP to pursue a short sale following a streamlined process. These efforts have since reached thousands of struggling homeowners and helped them steer clear of foreclosure.
 
Future Outlook for Homeowners

Lenders and government officials agree that the short-sales will play a vital role in market recovery in the years to come. Every sale means that a foreclosure has been prevented, and that losses have been curbed for both lender and borrower. As more borrowers seek alternatives in the coming foreclosure wave, there may be more demand for short sale solutions, and the government is making sure lenders are ready for it.
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This guest post was written by a professional short sale/ real estate agent experienced in 
helping distressed owners, or those who want to sell for any reason. People who are having difficulty but want to keep their home may find information that is useful on his website at .www.shortsalesafe.com.
 
 
For information on Myrtle Beach short-sales,  visit the C21 Harrelson Group website.
For Albuquerque short sales, visit the Albuquerque Real Estate Group's website.
Realtor Jan Bradshaw helps with Lake Greenwood SC foreclosures and short-sales.

A Home is a Home is a Home...maybe



Little River Inn Resort

Not too long ago I did a long, involved, and rather heavily researched blog on manufactured houses and modular homes.  I ended up with a much healthier respect for how this type of housing is built and to what standards they are held now.

The Sun News did an article last year about the market for these "mobile homes" (which is not the correct word for what they are talking about) saying that sales for manufactured homes in Myrtle Beach were actually UP recently in the Grand Strand. One local company reported a sales increase of 15% in 2010.

To quote a manufacturer of modular homes in Pennsylvania from my other blog, here's a description of the terms and how they are rated:

"Over our 40-year history, Riverview Homes has sold mobile homes, manufactured homes, modular homes, two stories, sectional homes, single-wides, trailers, double trailers, triple-wides, double-high, etc.", he begins. "In the end what we have really sold is either a home built to the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) building code or to a State building code. In Pennsylvania, we build single family homes to the IRC (International Residential Code). In Pennsylvania, modular homes are built to the IRC and manufactured homes or mobile homes are built to the HUD code."

Wikipedia defines a similar difference. It says that typically a modular home is built to local state or council code, so it can actually have a different construction standard depending on the state where it will be located. Modular homes built for final placement in a hurricane-prone area can have additional bracing built in to make it more safe. Surprisingly, it says that after FEMA studied the destruction done by Hurricane Andrew, they concluded that modular and masonry built homes fared better than any other construction.

The Sun News article suppositioned that the increase in Myrtle Beach real estate sales of manufactured housing was due to a price usually under 100K, and the new government incentives going on at the time. It applied to these homes as well as traditional "built on the spot" homes.

All this being said, I had a friend who was married to a guy who sold Clayton Homes here locally, and while the inside of it was nice, (it even had a fireplace) the outside somehow reminded me of a life-sized Barbie doll house. It had this underpinning that was supposed to look like rock, but was made from fiberglass or plastic and LOOKED exactly like what it was. I was not impressed.

And unless you buy the land 20 miles from the beach, you're still going to end up paying a good bit for that...or worse, renting the land itself.

I guess it's all what you were raised with. I'm partial to a condo for myself anyway, but I was raised in an older wood and brick home, with parents who very much disdained what everyone called a "trailer" back in the day. Modular homes back then were pictured as very small, one piece "cottages" which are very popular in Florida. I did always think I'd like one of them, but have never seen one up close...unless you count the "villas" they have in the campgrounds such as Pirateland.

Either way, and no matter what Wikipedia says, I wouldn't want to be sitting in one when there was a hurricane within about 200 miles from it. My Allstate agent in Myrtle Beach doesn't offer SC homeowners insurance on what they consider a mobile home, (having a title instead of a deed) or unless it is "frameless". You would almost certainly be in one of our wind zones - I don't know of any place inside the Myrtle Beach or NMB city limits that would allow one. So there would be even more cost for wind and hail insurance. I'll stick with my condo in Myrtle Beach.

Why Do Real Estate Careers End?

By Greg Harrelson
The business of selling real estate is not as easy as most would prefer yet is doesn't have to be as difficult as most people make it. Many realtors get in this business with the anticipation of making a lot of money and love the idea that this career offers total freedom over one's schedule.  Where else can you come to work whenever you want and do whatever you want with no boss looking over your shoulder?

I am the first to admit that I love my job. I enjoy coming to work each day and accepting the challenges that confront me. I enjoy helping the community make the right financial decisions with their investments, and I enjoy helping real estate agents build careers that are fulfilling and profitable.

So, why do agents fail?

One of the biggest challenges that leads to failure is having unrealistic expectations. The following is a list of unrealistic expectations that are common amongst agents that fail and agents that fail to reach their goals.

1. Agents have unrealistic expectations of how much effort they must put into their career. Any career that offers unlimited income potential will attract a lot of competition, and therefore require a lot of effort to realize a worthwhile goal. More effort doesn't always mean you have to work harder.  Often, working smarter will do.

2. Agents have unrealistic goals of how much planning they must do. Like any other business, having and using a business plan is critical. You cannot navigate though this career without a well thought-out plan. Plan your activities, plan your time and most importantly...plan your time OFF.

3. Agents have unrealistic expectations of how much coaching and guidance they will get. Too many agents expect that the industry will give them all the coaching they will ever need. Training and coaching is the agent's responsibilty. The agents who are coached are the agents that create successful careers. Request more coaching from your companies and they will likely respond. All great producers are guided by mentors and/or coaches.

4. Agents have unrealistic expectations of how much time it will take to reach their goals. So many agents want or need success overnight. In real estate, like other careers, great results don't appear so quickly. Success comes after the agents have written a business plan and then worked that plan for a period of time. A successful career is a planned career. We have to understand that success ALWAYS takes longer than we thought.

As you can see, you control your success. Don't let the above expectations lead you to disappointment in a career that offers so much opportunity. There is business taking place all around us and it is your turn to grab those opportunities and realize the success you have always wanted. Focus on increasing your efforts, plan your path, seek a mentor and understand that it will take a little more time.

*About the author: Greg Harrelson is the president of Century 21 The Harrelson Group, a Myrtle Beach Real Estate Agency, and a real estate career coach.

Short Sales In Myrtle Beach Becoming Easier

My friend and client, Greg Harrelson, was recently quoted in the Sun News in reference to the increasing tide of Myrtle Beach short sales. In the past several years with so many homes and condos being lost to foreclosure, short-sales have always been a part of the equation, but banks have made it so time-consuming and difficult that many agents will no longer represent one. My brother-in-law tried for a solid year to buy a condo at Bay Watch in North Myrtle Beach through a short sale. After months of delay and hold up by the bank involved, the foreign investor/owner finally found the funds to pay the loan up and the sale was stopped. So many of the transactions end up this way, all over the US, that most agents will not encourage a buyer to even try for one.

Greg feels like this trend will not continue. He says Myrtle Beach short sales will increase and are becoming more accepted and easier to close as banks are pressured to close their books on the mortgages.  Adva Saldinger with the Sun News quoted the following paragraphs from Greg:

"Greg Harrelson, the owner of Century 21 The Harrelson Group, who was also at the CDPE class earlier this week, said that the short sale segment of the local real estate market appears to be growing.

One trend he has noticed is that property owners seem to be more educated. He is fielding questions about how he might be able to help before any mortgage payments have been missed, not after foreclosure proceedings have started.

'We need to be ready for an increase in this area," he said. "I wanted to be educated enough to help these people.'

Harrelson said banks are looking to move these properties off their books and may consider improving short sale processes as one way to do that. In addition to helping property owners avoid foreclosure, short sales may also be better for the broader real estate market, he said.

'At the end of the day, hopefully the average short sale price will be above the average foreclosure price and hopefully that will stabilize the market a little bit,' Harrelson said."

The biggest problem with processing a short-sale, next to the bank's reluctance to accept a bid, is the immense quantity of paperwork that needs to be submitted at the beginning of the process. Repeatedly asking for more documents, or duplicate documents is frustrating to the seller as well as the buyer, and adds to the dis-satisfaction both feel towards the process.

One government organization called the Distressed Property Institute offers a 3 day course to Realtors to become "Certified Distressed Property Experts", which Greg has taken and is encouraging his team of agents to follow suit.  Greg says that one of the duties of a Realtor is to help the public, and if he can advise a property owner in trouble with mortgage payments to find a better solution than foreclosure, he feels obligated to help.  Short-sales have a less damaging effect on the seller's credit, and can help make it possible for him to buy another home sooner than when he is saddled with a foreclosure on his record.

If you are a distressed owner or looking to buy Myrtle Beach homes, Greg welcomes your call for advice. His website also has a full listing of short-sales in Myrtle Beach, as well as Myrtle Beach foreclosures. Contact him at 888-874-2121 (toll-free) or through the website.
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Other experts in the field are Virginia Horton-Lee who is certified with Buford GA short-sales, and Lee Cunningham who can offer advice with short sales in Greenville SC.

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Crime and the News

In the last few days, a debate of sorts has arisen over local news reporters and crime in Myrtle Beach. Traditionally, crime news has been very quietly reported by the local paper and television news stations, particularly in the summer. I've always felt like that was a good thing. Our crime is high in overall statistics, but much of it is contained in several areas that tourists seldom see. In fact, the only ones unfortunate enough to suffer from some of these neighborhoods are the people who live in them. I can sympathize, but it doesn't affect me, nor does it affect tourism. To my opinion, the less it is sensationalized, the better. In this era of social media, particularly Facebook, news spreads faster and further than ever before. The Sun News even spits out news clips on Twitter, and one of the television stations, WMBFNews.com has a huge following on Facebook. The more controversial the news articles, the more traffic they get.

The new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk officially opened in May, and it's one of the nicest attractions the Grand Strand has invested in for a long time. It somewhat replaces the emptiness left from losing the Pavilion, and is a wonderful way to enjoy the beach, for young and old, pet lovers, health nuts - even the handicapped. There is one small problem though...part of it is located in a really rough part of Myrtle Beach. The southern end of the Boardwalk meets the 2nd Ave Pier area at 2nd Ave South. Most all of the renovated rental condos are from 10th Ave North and up. The south end has a few, but for the most part kept a large number of old mom and pop hotels, and worse - the run-down old beach houses across from the beach and on the 2nd and 3rd row. Where avenues like 28th North up to 80th north are lined with fine residences or condos, the south end roads are still old and often delapidated hotels and rickety beach homes...usually catering to year-round or monthly rentals that are way below regular housing prices.

Like Atlantic Beach in North Myrtle, these streets have more than their share of drug dealers, prostitutes, pool halls, and crime. The big question - what can be done to change it? WMBF wrote an article about this, and has created a storm of debate, from those who congratulate them because they "let the cat out of the bag", to many others who think they are sensationalizing the news for their own benefit. To hear WMBF's defense, read their article called  Consider This - Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.

Short of finding a Donald Trump to buy up the houses and replace them with more condo resorts or expensive beach homes, the city of Myrtle Beach cannot force property owners to renovate an older home or dictate to whom they choose to rent. With the glut of oceanfront condos, 2nd and 3rd row streets won't support a luxury Myrtle Beach rental condos. That option is probably never going to work. It's always very hard to renovate and clean up a notoriously bad neighborhood anyway. People who know the area simply won't consider living in a neighborhood that's been known to be crime-ridden for years.

The Boardwalk makes a convenient place for the hookers, the intoxicated, the pan-handlers, and the drug dealers to walk on the better side. Where the beach used to be dark and uninviting, it's now brighter and enticing even to the bad elements. But where they go, trouble follows...so now the area is not safe for tourists and regular locals, at least in the later part of the evenings.

Yes, the city could hire another 100 or so policemen to do nothing but patrol the Boardwalk. But like every other city, Myrtle Beach is hurting in this economy too. If they spend the money for this, then the only way to do it is to increase the already too-high taxes. And if you think about it, walking along the Boardwalk seeing a uniformed policement every 50 feet is rather intimidating. So what is the answer?

How about a little common sense? If you go to New York City, are you going to stroll down a dark street downtown at 10-11 oclock at night safely? No, not unless you are foolishly fearless.

Enjoy our gorgeous new attraction during the day...the morning...the early evenings. If you rent a condo on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, enjoy the views of it safely from your balcony after 9 or 10pm. You've got a bigger problem if you stroll along the Florida oceanfront than you do in Myrtle Beach, but you still need to remember that there are dangers everywhere. Act a little more responsible for your own safety, and enjoy your vacation without worry.

USA Today Brags on Myrtle Beach Vacations

TV station WMBF reports that the popular USA Today Newspaper has named Myrtle Beach as one of the top five bargain destinations for 2010.

Local feature writer A.J. Ross says that USA Today used trends and sales patterns to choose the five winners, which also include Quebec City, the Bahamas, Ireland, and California state. (I didn't think anything in California was a bargain, but O well!)

Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce president Brad Dean says that it's always a great boon to the area when we reach a national publication like the newspaper. He says they constantly court freelance writers and journalists by bringing them to our beach and showing them what we have to offer. Although the Chamber spends a lot for paid advertising, free media exposure such as this article is "huge", and can often be more helpful than ads.

He adds that they meet with hundreds of travel writers during the year to entice them to write about Myrtle Beach, and that an article like this is the goal.

Vacation rental companies like Condolux certainly reap the rewards and they see a definite increase in reservations for Myrtle Beach condo rentals. Even niche websites like those for pet friendly hotels see an increase in traffic after this kind of publicity.
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Visit some local business websites!
Myrtle Beach Real Estate
Myrtle Beach Pool Builders
Myrtle Beach Car Stereo

Myrtle Beach Hopes Golfers and Families Pour In During May

CondoLux recently reported on a press release that Myrtle Beach golf packages were up this summer over 40% from early 2009.

The golf director, Craig Chinn, attributed the increases to additional direct flights in and out of the Grand Strand, and to more Myrtle Beach condo rental companies and hotels oiffering golf packages as incentives to vacationers. Check out their latest press release titled, Myrtle Beach Golf Company Reports Another Record Year.

The city of Myrtle Beach is spending big advertising bucks this year. attempting to promote tourism to make up for a still slow economy and the loss of Harley Biker week during May. The new motorcycle laws implemented by the city are still causing constant sniping and critique by commenters in the local online newspaper articles and news agencies. With the new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk now open and marketing for families increased, it should be interesting to see just how much is lost by the biker restrictions overwhelmingly supported by local residents.

North Myrtle Beach is still welcoming the black bikers during Memorial Day, and along with Surfside Beach, they are soliciting the Harley bikers to overlook the controversy and stay in those locations without restrictions. Right or wrong, Myrtle Beach wants to give the month of May back to families and couples, and change the area's reputation from the oft-quoted "redneck Riviera" to a more Boca-Raton-ish upscale image. With all the much higher priced resorts that require a higher vacation rental income, this is probably a wise course of action.

May is one of the months with the most gorgeous weather of the entire year, and especially suited for golfers and young children who don't particularly care for the extreme heat and sun of full summer. It would be a good thing to see a change in the type of tourism in the Grand Strand for this important month of the year. Good luck to all concerned during the upcoming Cinco De Mayo!

Myrtle Beach Condos - Good News and Bad

The Sun News spoke with the President of our local Board of Realtors recently, and reported his remarks about our real estate market, and in particular, Myrtle Beach foreclosures.

Tom Maeser says there was a 72 percent in sales of condos in Myrtle Beach, but they are almost exclusively foreclosures and short-sales. (actually 25% according to Tom - I think it's probably more like 75%!)

I don't think that comes as a surprise to anyone, and I don't see the point in his gloom...as he goes on to say that without those sales, regular condo sales are down lower than in 2009. Well, of course with all the foreclosures THEY are going to be the ones people buy. That's the same all over the US. My friend in Las Vegas, Diann Tonnesen, told me that her sales were booming too...and just about all foreclosures.

We've got to get through the foreclosures in order for the regular sales to begin again. So this is GREAT news! The faster they sell and get out of the way, the faster our prices will increase again and the market will return to normal.

This is also pretty amazing when you take into consideration that it's nearly impossible to finance an oceanfront condo in Myrtle Beach right now! That means there are enough buyers with CASH that it still makes a 72 percent increase in sales. Wow!

Rentals are booming with both CondoLux and Condo World for the summer. Other area businesses are doing well, also. My friend that does tree services in Myrtle Beach, Duncan McInnis, is being kept hopping. My Myrtle Beach car insurance agent, Scott Todd, is pleased with business and had a friend of his with Allstate in Conway talk to me about a website. Most all of the restaurants are doing better, and lines are actually forming already at the popular ones like TBonz and Olive Garden.

This week begins another SOS get-together, and soon the dreaded Memorial Day Bike Week will be happening (or not) They keep threatening to boycott...and we keep hoping they do...:-) Another summer in Myrtle Beach begins!

Myrtle Beach Boardwalk News

From: Mark Kruea, Public Information Officer, City of Myrtle Beach
Date: March 24, 2010
Re: Boardwalk opening…

We are excited that Myrtle Beach’s new oceanfront boardwalk is nearly complete! Officials today announced the ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremonies, to be held Saturday, May 15, in conjunction with the new Beach Music Festival that weekend. About three-quarters of the boardwalk – from just north of the 14th Avenue Pier to Fourth Avenue North – will be ready for public use by that date, and we are eager for everyone to see and enjoy it.

The remaining section of the new boardwalk project, from Fourth Avenue North to just south of the Second Avenue Pier, will take a little longer to be finished and won’t be quite ready by May 15. However, since all but about two blocks of the boardwalk will be ready for the Beach Music Festival, we did not want to delay the grand opening any longer than needed.

In case you missed today’s announcement, the Beach Music Festival will feature performances from eight groups, including Ben E. King, Billy Scott and the Party Prophets, Chairmen of the Board, The Coasters, Jim Quick and Coastline, and Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. The boardwalk grand opening ceremony will occur at 12:00 p.m. that Saturday. Other activities include creation of a giant cake shaped like a flip-flop by TLC’s “Cake Boss,” Buddy Valastro.

For more information, contact:
Mark Kruea, Public Information Officer, City of Myrtle Beach
(843) 918-1014 voice   (843) 450-1695 mobile
http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/

Photos and info on the New Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Spend your vacation in a condo near the new Myrtle Beach Boardwalk!

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expands to Florida

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expands Reach to South Florida
News Releases
March 1, 2010
New Franchisee Will Add More Than 300 Agents to Growing National Network

PARSIPPANY, N.J., and FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 1, 2010) — Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC today announced the addition of Florida 1st, a leading Ft. Lauderdale-based real estate brokerage, to its growing national franchise network. Florida 1st will now operate as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st. With this new affiliation, the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network now has more than 100 offices and 4,400 sales associates in 13 states.  Read Full Press Release...

I visited the Better Homes and Gardens website and was very impressed.  They've been a household authority for as long as I've been alive, but I was not aware they were dealing with real estate now.  I don't believe they are involved in Myrtle Beach condos yet.

In other news, the State of New Mexico is implementing a "Cash for Clunkers" program for appliances beginning in April.

The state is rebating $200 per washer, refrigerator, or energy saving furnace purchased when the program starts. Albuquerque's Bernalillo County Water Authority is also adding $100 rebate to that. Sounds like you can buy new appliances practically for free, doesn't it?

Save all that money and find a new Albuquerque home for sale while you're at it!

Is it a Good Time to Buy Real Estate as an Investment?

The economic bubble that burst and shattered a million dreams is still fresh in many hearts and minds, and the scars are deep and yet to heal. But if you were to believe the rumors and the buzz doing the rounds of the industry, you would start to think that the real estate field was starting to look up, and that prices are beginning to rise again.

And so you begin to think of buying a second home as an investment option; perhaps you could possibly rent it out and earn a steady monthly income. Even more tempting is the fact that some good homes are available at budget prices because their owners could not meet the monthly payments on their mortgage and are willing to sell at reasonable rates rather than see their homes foreclosed. But before you jump in to the real estate industry to invest your money, consider this:

• Second home mortages are usually higher than primary residence mortages. And mortgages payments are usually more expensive than what you can charge for rent. Unless the rent you hope to get on your second home is much more than the mortgage you’re paying each month, it may not be a good decision to buy the home. Also, unless you have a fixed rate mortgage, interest rates have a way of rising quickly. The rent you get may not increase proportionally. So unless you’re buying the house outright without borrowing money to finance it, buying a second home with the idea of renting it to meet the mortgage probably isn't feasible.
• Additional expenses add to your burden: Although you rent the home, you’re still the owner. You’re responsible for paying taxes,  homeowners insurance, and for looking after the general maintenance. All of these things make your costs add up. So you have to not only pay back a mortgage, you also have to pay much more by way of the house’s upkeep and additional costs. 
• Cost is not the only factor when buying a home: The house may be dirt cheap, but if it is in an area where most of the homes have been foreclosed, you’re not going to be able to find trustworthy people to rent it out to. You should be sure your renter can afford renters insurance as well.  Also, you don’t know the real reason the owner chose to opt for a foreclosure. It’s best you do your research thoroughly before jumping in and buying a home which you think is a bargain. Don’t believe middlemen you don’t know, and always check your facts more than once to ensure that you’re making the right decision.

This guest post is contributed by Nicole Adams.  She writes on the topic of Construction Management Degrees . She welcomes your comments at her email id: Nicole.Adams83@gmail.com
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Search the Albuquerque MLS with The Albuquerque Real Estate Group.

The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Becomes a Reality

WOW! New Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Sounds Fantastic!

Myrtle Beach is soon going to have a boardwalk to rival the famous ones up north and make this place a showcase of fun for the downtown tourists.

The new Boardwalk is going to run along the dune line from 2nd Ave Pier (south) to Pier 14 at 15th Ave North. At more than a mile long, that is more than anyone could have hoped for! There is a "boardwalk" of sorts in the pavilion area now, which will be changed to wood, I assume. They are supposed to begin with the stretch from 14th Ave North to about 11th Ave North (Mr. Joe White Ave. Then they will redo the central area with all the stores and bars to a much wider and busier boardwalk. To quote the official website,

"This section adjoins beachfront store and shots and invokes a carnival and nostalgia atmosphere with its sights, sounds and energy,"

The third part, called the South Promenade, will stretch from Eight Ave North to the 2nd Ave South Pier. It will be very peaceful and quiet with benches and natural landscaping.
Sounds like heaven!

I spent some time in Miami and Boca Raton several years ago, looking at the Florida oceanfront real estate market and trying to decide if I could move down there and work enough to make ends meet. The one thing I noticed in all the nicer areas was that there were so many restaurants and parks along the beach. Each city had its own kind of "boardwalk", whether it was a cement sidewalk or wooden. And it was such a pleasure to dine outside right on the beach edge. Other than a very few oceanfront restaurants like the Sea Captain's House, we really don't have that. And the ones that we have are mostly inside dining. That pretty much spoils the effect.

So if we end up with a mile of public area with restaurants and boutiques along it, this will really dress up Myrtle Beach and make it into more of a classy resort area. Hopefully we can one day shed that "Redneck Riviera" tag.

City Council is having ongoing meetings to decide on what will and won't be allowed along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. So far they have pretty much decided that they will have sidewalk cafes, and bicycles, and it will be a pet friendly accommodation with some restrictions. They say there will be no skateboards, skating, or rollerblading. The vending cart question is up in the air...with the bars and stores that already exist adamantly against it. Some say they don't want the carnival atmosphere. Others say that is exactly what they DO want.

In the middle of all of this, there is the 3-4 block span where the Pavilion rides used to be. It's now leveled and ready for Burroughs and Chapin or someone to build condos with access to the Boardwalk.

For a look at the renderings and to see news as it comes up on condos or hotels along the Boardwalk, see our page about Myrtle Beach Boardwalk Condos. We'll try to keep it updated about anything new in stores, restaurants, or Myrtle Beach hotels on the Boardwalk.

If you're in the market for insurance in Myrtle Beach, visit the local Allstate website. You'll find tips on lower the cost of SC car insurance, homeowners insurance, and renters insurance. You can find info on Florida condo insurance on our Condo Insurance website, too.

Will You Need Long-Term Care Insurance?

The National Real Estate Investor website reports that many seniors are having difficulties paying rent, even in housing that is specially for seniors.

According to the article, the mediun annual income for seniors is $18,000 to $20,000. The average cost of assisted living is $35,000. Also, seniors who remain in their own homes have higher mediun incomes, from $22,000 to $30,000, and a higher net worth. Still this is a shockingly low amount to live on with prices what they have become in the last few years.

For the first time, the continuing care communities which had huge upfront fees offer a better financial solution. They go on to say that it is unclear how the seniors are managing to make ends meet. Less than 8% receive help from their adult children.

Long-term care insurance has helped a number of them to survive, with 9 to 14% of of them paying all or part of their assisted living costs with it. This makes such an insurance policy very useful, and may be something to consider for us baby boomers as our time to be concerned about this is imminent.

For more information about Long Term care insurance, SC Homeowners insurance or car insurance for Myrtle Beach, visit www.carolinapolicies.com or contact Scott Todd's Allstate office in North Myrtle Beach.

Demand for Pet Friendly Condos and Hotels Increases

As more people buy vacation homes, and with more "snowbirds" coming down every year, the demand for pet friendly condos in Myrtle Beach has grown, too. Doggy parks are not as rare as they once were, and seldom can you look out on the beach without seeing several dogs enjoying the sand and water as much as their owners. Several of the Myrtle Beach car insurance companies are offering free pet coverage, and funeral homes now pick up beloved pets from the vet's office for cremation, complete with urns and sympathy. We love our pets dearly, and Myrtle Beach is aware of the fact.

The Sun News just printed an article about the dog parks that might interest anyone looking to vacation or retire in a pet friendly city...

Canine Cavorting in Myrtle Beach Area
Friday, Dec. 18, 2009
By Ashley Morris

If your four-legged pooch is your faithful travel companion, here are a few free, recreational dog park options in the Myrtle Beach area, including one in the works that may be available on your next trip.

Barc Parc Mallard Lake Drive, Myrtle Beach
This 11-acre outdoor park, located near The Market Common off Howard Parkway on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, opened in 2000. The fenced-in grounds are separated into a smaller dog area with structures such as ramps and hoops and a larger dog area that features a lake for some doggie aquatics fun. Shaded areas with picnic tables and benches are welcoming for pet owners. Hours are sunrise to sunset, daily (maintenance is performed a few days each quarter; dates are posted at the park). For additional info, call 918-2390

Barc Parc North 62nd Avenue North at the YMCA, Myrtle Beach
According to Matt Goyak with City of Myrtle Beach, this new 3-acre park is expected to open by the end of October, or in tandem with the grand opening of the neighboring YMCA. It's divided into a small and large dog area, with an actual small dog measurement at the small entrance to ensure dog size "compatibility." Features include dog fountains, lots of shade, trash receptacles and doggie doo-doo bag dispensers. Hours are sunrise to sunset, daily. For additional info, call 918-2390.

Dog Park in Surfside Beach North Pine Drive and Willow Avenue
Plans are in motion and the Surfside Beach Town Council gave approval for a 2-acre dog park to begin construction by the end of the year. Although it has received grant funding through S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the park's total budget park wasn't available at the time of this article's posting. For additional info, call 913-6111.

Myrtle Beach Condos and Homes Sell With Cash

The local Board of Realtors reports that October broke records for the numbers of Myrtle Beach oceanfront condos and real estate sold in cash transactions.

Agents all over the Strand have complained that getting a condo financed now is extremely difficult. Banks are so tight on investment-only purchases that resorts known more as "condo-hotels" are nearly impossible to sell except as a cash deal.

As foreclosures become less in numbers, HOA fees should stabilize, which may make rental income more adequate to pay expenses. This should help bring more investors in, even paying cash - if monthly expenses are met from vacation rentals.

The MLS statistics for October showed home sales had increase 8 percent for the month and 31% over October of 2008. These kinds of numbers are phenomenal for an off-season month as well. Cash purchases increased from the normal 15% to a whopping 41% of the total purchases for the month.

Prices for Myrtle Beach real estate have continued to drop, but only in the 10% range. Single-family home prices dropped another 12%. September saw prices dropping much less than last year, but again, that was the final month of summer tourism. The prices of Myrtle Beach oceanfront property is almost always higher during vacation season.

Buyers with a good credit record and bank relationship can usually get a home equity line on their primary homes when they want to buy an vacation condo, and with prices so low, they really should do it now. Intracoastal waterway condos in Myrtle Beach are going to be another best-bet for long-term investing, and SC homeowners insurance should be more reasonable for waterway property that isn't so vulnerable to hurricane damage.

Buyers everywhere are going to see some huge profits over the coming years as real estate prices return to a normal high, and those that can buy beachfront property now will be awfully happy they did!

Manufactured Home Nightmares? Where do you turn for help?

I ran across a website just now that almost made me chuckle, except for the fact that the people who made it were obviously quite serious, and it wasn't a joke. It's a situation that is presenting itself with several of the newest Myrtle Beach condo resorts that were "slapped up" during the condo boom several years ago.

What do you do when you buy a manufactured home, condo or single family housing, that is defective and shoddily built? Can you seek regress from the builder? What if the company has filed bankruptcy or gone out of business? Homeowners insurance likely will not cover it.

This guy is so frustrated with his unsatisfactory KB Home manufactured home that he has designed an elaborate website to voice his complaints. Titled "A KB Home Sucks" or http://www.akbhomesucks.com/, the website has a long list of his complaints, news about the company, a blog for other homeowners to add to the publicity, and all kinds of other information that should really make somebody at KB Home stand up and take notice.

Some of the complaints the homeowner mentions includes:

• Too many construction defects in the home
• Enormous number of repairs necessary
• Home not built to code
• Too many leaks
• Continual invasion of privacy from workmen and disruption of the home required for re-construction and repairs.
• Dampness and toxic fumes causing serious health problems
• Only two homes built on this phase when KB Home abandoned the sub-division.

And there were many more. They provide photos to back up the claims, and an amazing number of pages and effort to showcase the home they are so displeased with. I ran across the site from the same KB Homes Suck TWITTER page, when they invited me to follow them. Pretty amazing stuff!

In this day of the internet, it is becoming harder and harder for companies to take advantage of those who purchase the products, even though many times disgruntled customers unfairly post complaints about a service provider hoping to make money or just cause trouble. In this case, it appears they want KB Home to buy the house back and allow them to move on with their life. It may end up being the best solution for all concerned. ###


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