Cold Stunned Sea Turtles May Appear Dead

Cold stunned sea turtles are turning up all along the shores of the East Coast and may appear dead. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center rescued four turtles in just one day, the New England Aquarium has rescued more than 160, and dozens upon dozens have been flown to SeaWorld in Florida for rehabilitation.

These turtles may appear to be dead but many can be saved. If you spot a sea turtle floating in the ocean or washed up on the shore, contact a local aquarium or wildlife rescue service right away. Several emergency contact numbers are listed at the end of this blog.

Cold stunned sea turtles may appear to be dead.

This video from the North Carolina Aquarium gives a quick overview of how they help rehabilitate cold stunned turtles that have become stranded:

Sea turtles have been swimming in the ocean since dinosaurs roamed the earth, but now they are facing extinction. Tens of thousands of sea turtles are caught in fishing nets and thrown away as waste. Sea turtles are killed and sold for food, exotic oils, leather purses and other luxury items. Eggs are harvested as a delicacy. Plastic bags and trash are mistaken for jellyfish and consumed, and coastal development encroaches on their nesting habitat. All of these factors are taking their toll on the population of these gentle creatures.

Saving just one turtle makes a difference!

Sea turtles are cold-blooded reptiles and many migrate to warmer waters in the winter. Those turtles that don't migrate start having problems when water temperatures drop into the 50's and their bodily functions start shutting down, making them appear lifeless. This state of hypothermia renders them helpless and they lose the ability to swim. Many aquariums have emergency response teams on standby during the winter months to help rescue and rehabilitate these vulnerable creatures.

On his way to rehab!

If you catch sight of a sea turtle on the beach or floating in the water, contact the local aquarium immediately or another wildlife rescue service. They will slowly warm the turtle and treat them for hypothermia, then make sure they haven't developed pneumonia or another secondary infection. The next steps are to hydrate and feed the turtles. Once they are well enough, the turtles will be returned to their original habitat when water temperatures are safe again.

I'm feeling better and going home! 

Here are some contact numbers of aquariums and rescue organizations along the east coast:

• South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program & South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (800) 922-5431
• North Myrtle Beach Sea Turtle Patrol (843) 283-6670
• Ripleys Myrtle Beach Aquarium (843) 916-0888
• North Carolina Aquariums (800) 832-3474
• Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Standing Response Team 24-Hour Hotline (757) 385-7575 or (757) 385-7576
• National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD (410) 373-0083
• New Jersey Marine Mammal Stranding Center (609) 266-0538
• Riverhead, NY Stranding Response Team 24-Hour Hotline (631) 369-9829
• New England Aquarium 24-Hour Marine Animal Hotline (617) 973-5247
• Northeast Region Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Network
  (866) 755-6622

Mit Tressler / Guest Blogger 

Myrtle Beach in the Winter?

It has been so warm lately it's hard to believe it's only a couple of weeks till Christmas. If this is global warming, it sure will be enjoyable until the bad stuff starts. Pretty soon we're going to be as year-round as northern Florida.  The Picture above was taken a few days ago by my friend Melissa, out walking her dogs at Vereen's Garden near Calabash.

And how Myrtle Beach goes out for decorating at Christmas!  If you've never been down here in December, you owe it to yourself to take a long weekend and visit.  You can stay in the finest oceanfront hotels for pennies on the dollar compared to summer...and just to see everything in town twinkling and sparkly is enough to raise anybody's spirits.  All the theatres have Christmas shows going.  The malls, as well as the fantastic shopping complexes we have...Market Common, Broadway at the Beach, and Barefoot Landing are just amazing during Christmas.  And it's a great time to bring your pet to Myrtle Beach! 

Come and visit us. If you want some suggestions of a place to stay, feel free to ask!



Myrtle Beach Real Estate - Guest Blog

Today's blog is an article from Greg Harrelson with the C21 Harrelson Group about the market in Myrtle Beach during the fall and winter. Comes with a good video, too!

When To Sell a Myrtle Beach Home

Now that summer is over and the crowds have left Myrtle Beach, property owners are wondering if there are still buyers looking in our market this time of year, as well as when and how to sell a condo or home. Let me explain what happens in the Myrtle Beach market throughout the year.

Selling Season #1:

Winter is the first selling season of the year. The buyers that are in Myrtle Beach during the Winter are typically snow birds who have strong financials and many of them pay cash for their investments. There are fewer buyers during the Winter yet a higher percentage of the buyers are qualified and know what they want. We love these buyers because they can make decisions and act fast when needed. Winter can sometimes be a good time to sell your house.

Selling Season #2:

Spring is the selling season that we start showing properties to golfers who are looking to invest in Myrtle Beach real estate. Similar to the snow birds, these buyers are typically well qualified and know what they want. They have cash though they tend to finance with larger down payments. Banks love to work with them because their credit is typically very good. Spring can be a very good time to sell property in Myrtle Beach.

Selling Season #3:

Summer is when we have the largest number of buyers in town. This is what most would call our best selling season of the year. Though this is the time when we see the most buyers, this is also the time when we see more buyers failing to qualify and often deals never closing. Don’t get me wrong, we love the summer season yet the difference between this and the other seasons is Quantity versus Quality. Summer is possibly the best time to sell your house, home, or property.

Selling Season #4

Fall is the final season before we start the cycle all over again. The Fall is very similar to the Spring selling season. Golfers are in town and they are qualified to purchase. We start to get the first wave of snow birds during this time also which adds to our pool of buyers. This is the time where the market starts to shift from quantity back to quality. As of now, we have many buyer appointments already set for buyers coming to the beach during this season. If you have a condo or house to sell, fall is also a great time to do it.

When Should I List my Property?

As you can see above, every season can be good to sell your home in Myrtle Beach. The most important factor is that your agent must understand this cycle and know what type of buyer is in town at the time. Each selling season requires a little different marketing strategy and once this is understood, your property is likely to sell.

It is your goal for your investment that dictates when you sell. How long you can carry negative cash flow, or how long you can delay moving your family? These are the questions that will likely determine your decision. The time of year should never determine the decision. Think about it, no matter what selling season we were in, the market declined over the past 4 years. And, the same could be said about the hot market…it increased in every season.

If you are would like additional information on the market or would like to discuss any aspect of real estate in Myrtle Beach then please send me an email or give me a call.

Contributed by Greg Harrelson

Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Resource





Greg Harrelson +

Myrtle Beach Townhouses Gaining in Popularity

We are noticing a surge in sales for Myrtle Beach townhouses and patio homes. Of course, Myrtle Beach is most known as a condo community by vacationers yet interested buyers are starting to learn the difference between a townhouse and a condo. Most people do not know the difference between a townhouse and a condo. As a matter of fact, the two descriptions are used interchangeably. Below is a list of differences that you must consider before making a purchase.

1. In a townhouse, you usually own the land. The land is always owned by the Homeowners Association if it is a condo.

2. Financing a townhouse is similar to a single family home. Financing a condo usually requires a questionnaire to to be answered by the association. This is used to determine if the condo is FHA approved and meets the guidelines of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. All of this will determine the interest rate that a bank can offer you for the purchase.

3. Both will have a property owners fee yet the townhouse fee is typically less because the association does not own the land and the entire structure.

4. Both options offer low maintenance living and shared amenities.

5. The townhouse is separated by a wall yet the condo can be separated by a wall, floor or ceiling.

6. Property owners monthly fees are usually a lower in a townhouse versus a condo.

So, what is better? Both!

The differences between a townhome or a Myrtle Beach condo is not about good, bad, right, or wrong. You have to determine what style of living you feel most comfortable with and then move forward with the purchase.

We are starting to notice a surge in townhouse sales in Myrtle Beach due to the lower association dues. Purchasers seem to be watching every penny and this is one way to keep the monthly expenses to a minimum.

If you are confused as to if you are looking at a condo or a townhouse, contact us through our website at www.c21TheHarrelsonGroup.com or call us, and we will foward you the information.

Greg Harrelson+

Kids on the Beach - If You Get Separated

What to do if you lose a kid or two...

Our local television station WBTW had an excellent article on what to do if you are separated from your kids in Myrtle Beach, and some tips to prepare and prevent such an event from becoming traumatic. We have expanded on these tips and included theirs as well. Visit their page for more, and a video to illustrate. Meanwhile, below are the best things to do if your kids get separated from you on the vast sandy beach we call the Grand Strand.

1. Upon arriving, tell your kids the name of the hotel until they can remember it and quote it back to you.

2. Point out landmarks near your hotel on the beach entrance. Maybe there is a sign, a colorful chair or umbrella, or some other object they can look for.

3. Show them the lifeguards and tell them to go to a lifeguard first if they get lost.

4. Show them the trucks that you see on the beach, which are city trucks. Tell them these are people they can safely approach for help.

5. Take them to the front desk of the hotel and introduce them to the staff, to show the kids these are people who will help.

6. Don't drink alcohol on the beach which could make you get sleepy and doze off while the kids are playing in the sand.

7. Tell them if they are approached by any stranger to run straight to you and never to let a stranger touch them.

Kids love the beach, the sand, and the ocean. But they need constant and vigilant supervision while you are here on your Myrtle Beach vacation. If you have small children you might want to choose more of a kid-friendly hotel - with lots of pools, lazy rivers, and things to do that will attract them even more. Some great places to choose are Baywatch Resort in North Myrtle Beach, and the Sands Resort or Anderson Ocean Club in Myrtle Beach. Ask us about other ideas on kid-friendly condos and hotels for pets before you come down!

For more kids' stuff, visit our Myrtle Beach Attractions Facebook page.