Bluffton, SC

With all that's going on in congress, with arguments over money and politics as usual, I thought this post would bring us back to how we remain free...

There are more Marine Corps Flags that adorn the front of homes then I can count—and the number of American Flags that wave along so many of our streets is wonderful to see.There are a lot of veterans in Sun City Hilton Head and the surrounding area. The Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot and The Marine Corps Air Station are our neighbors. Each Veterans day, the Marine Corps Band plays for the crowds that gather to honor our Vets.

I think we need to be reminded often, not just on Veterans day that there is a price for our freedom.

What follows below was sent to me by my brother-in-law who served in the Navy for 20 years, most of it on a carrier and so many deployments--more than his wife and daughters can count.

He received this from a Marine on active duty. The Marine is recommending a new movie which will be released on 21 February. He says, it really got to him:

Read what he wrote and then watch the movie trailer. http://www.hbo.com/events/takingchance/

"To My Fellow Service members, Present and Past; your Families and Friends:

This trailer alone got to me. That, and considering the studio and Kevin Bacon, this should be a 'home run' movie.

This movie has to be seen by everyone we can convince or cajole into going to the theater. Not just Marines but family, friends and the general public. Follow the link to a preview.

This one should be up for awards in 2009 and we can make that happen with outstanding levels of tickets at the box office ... spreading info on the internet and .... well, improvise, adapt and overcome!

This sequence is certainly not unique to Marines, and God bless all that have served and given their all. But here we have a chance to once again renew our pledge of Semper Fidelis, and honor our younger, very younger, brothers who took up the gauntlet and gave their all so family and friends don't have to. This Marine and all Marines live on forever.

All Marines die in the red flash of battle or the white cold of the nursing home. In the vigor of youth or the infirmity of age all will eventually die, but the Marine Corps lives on. Every Marine who ever lived is living still, in the Marines who claim the title today. It is that sense
of belonging to something that will outlive your

own mortality, which gives people a light to live by and a flame to mark their passing.”

http://www.hbo.com/events/takingchance/

The enthusiasm and dedication this Marine exudes is examplary and no matter the branch of service, so many of our young men and women in our armed forces serve this way, putting their lives on the line everyday, so we can be free.

Be sure to see this movie.

 Semper Fi

WHAT IT TAKES TO SELL A HOME TODAY

Getting a home sold today begins with a comprehensive Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) that explains exactly what will be done so that the home sells quickly and at the highest price possible. One of the most important parts of the CMA is determining what the listing price should be. It is usually computed and expressed as a price range in which the home should sell. Although it is not a difficult computation, it is extremely labor intensive and very comprehensive.

In today's buyer's market, where there are many homes available for sale and a lot less buyers around to buy them, it is crucial to price the home right. A real estate agent MUST know the competition and be able to show the seller an analysis of all the competing properties. One of the best ways to do this is through role playing, in which the seller see his or her home through the eyes of the buyer. As a matter of fact, this is one of the best ways to realistically price a home these days!

Once the price is right, make sure that the home is conditioned to be a top contender. It has to sparkle and shine, be in mint move-in condition, and be one of the best real estate values in town. With these three conditions covered, the home must then be aggressively marketed using traditional and innovative methods to procure a buyer and produce a sale. In these days, it's not good enough to rely on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and periodic newspaper and magazine advertisements to get the job done. Doing that will only account for about 50% of the marketing and promotion that must be undertaken to get the home SOLD.

Here are all the marketing and promotion methods that brokers and agents must utilize to get a home sold in a timely manner and for the highest price possible: 1. the home is listed in the MLS with description and photos that get both agent and buyer attention, 2. the home is listed on the #1 Realtor.com nation-wide web site, 3. the home is listed on other prominent Internet sites to enhance marketing efforts, 4. newspaper advertising is utilized to attract qualified buyers, 5. direct marketing to farm areas, referral networks, and prospect lists, 6. marketing for seasonal prospects, 7. special marketing to local and out-of-state buyers, 8. on-going real estate marketing to all area real estate agents and out-of-state agents as well, 9. marketing to relocation companies and prospects moving here, and 10. broker and customer open houses.

Please note that numbers 1 and 2 above account for 57% for producing a sale. This is how important the Internet and on-line marketing is these days for selling real estate. But don't ignore the other 43%. They must be part of the marketing strategy as well. The bottom line is that anything less than 100% is just not good enough to get a home sold today.

In addition to the above, broker and agents who get homes sold also word-of-mouth advertising, homes for sale announcements, classified advertising, attractive color flyers, smart email marketing, buyer incentives, neighborhood promotions, agent follow-up, detail feedback, and ongoing customer communication. These real estate professionals make sure that the homes they are marketing have continual and extensive exposure.

Using all of the above, that's what it takes to sell a home today!

Getting back to the CMA, here's where the marketing plan for selling the home should be (must be) included. Exactly what will be done and when will it be done to effectively market the home? Exactly what steps will we taken so that the home gets sold in a timely manner for the highest price and most proceeds to the seller? And what's the time frame for "getting to SOLD?" And what if the home does not sell within that time frame? What then?

In today's market is it possible that a home will not sell within a given time frame? The answer is yes, especially if it's not priced right and marketed correctly. Anything is possible these days and that is why a contingency plan has to be developed and ready to be implemented.

Marilyn Bush, real estate broker-owner of Applause Realty.

Here are just two major suggestions that can go a long way to helping home sellers reduce the days that their homes remain on the market.

(1) Price your home to sell, not sit.

In mid-December, I listed a home in Rivers End (Okatie). Rivers End is a small subdivision outside of Bluffton in Okatie, where there are about 200 homes. There is new construction north and south--5-7 miles from this home-- at price points that compete with anything in River's End. All along route 170 new construction abounds. Builders are giving all kinds of incentives. This is tough competition for resales.

This is what home sellers in Okatie and Bluffton are up against. Add to that, the fact that this month there are over 119 foreclosures in Beaufort County, South Carolina. That spells more competition for Buyer dollars.

In this particular subdivision, there hasn't been a sale in over 6 months. There are 6 homes for sale currently on our MLS and 3 or so listed on the Beaufort MLS. There are also three or more FSBO's--one has been on the market for over a year. These homes have been hanging around for one major reason. They are priced above market. In this market, home sellers will not get as much as they think. A Realtor must be a "broker of reality", and give home sellers the truth.

Home Sellers have to get real and be willing to price their homes at market, not at what they want. In addition, in today's environment, the selling prices of what sold 6 months ago doesn't mean as much as the asking prices of competing homes, now--since asking and selling prices continue to be under pressure. The discount off of asking prices is running about 6%.

(2) Make your home appealing inside and out: Paint it.

I cannot believe that some home sellers won't lift a finger and go buy a can of paint to brighten the inside and outside of their homes.

Paint is the lowest cost solution for making a home more appealing. If sellers do nothing else, this is one thing they should consider. Paint. It is amazing what a little paint can do. If you do just this, it will go a long way to helping buyers to buy.

Days on the Market: 40

The main reason our home sold quickly was because our pricing gave buyers a reason to look. Yes, it is a lovely home. Yes, we put our marketing plan into action, but buyers shop by what first? Price. We got an offer on this home before the ink was dry on the listing agreement. However, The buyer's financing fell through. After that, we got 2 calls on our sign, and just two showings and received another offer on January 17 and will close on February 17. Total days on the market from listing to this second contract was about 40 days.

Price it right. Paint it. Do those two things and maybe you won't need to watch all of those How to sell your home TV Shows.

If you have a home to sell in Bluffton or Okatie, call me for a no-obligation, free home selling consultation. If you have missed a mortage payment or two or are in danger of foreclosure, don't delay, we offer loan modification, pre-foreclosure, short sale assistance and offer free information on this subject.

Call me for a no-obligation, free consultation.

My cell number is: 843-368-9146.

Hampton Lake has once again been recognized for their inovative land planning and marketing skills. The development team of Hampton lakes has been highly successful in and around the Beaufort County area. They have also been doing well in a depressed market which is also a sign of their overall team from design to implementation to marketing. The Island Packet release a press release today about winning the "Best in American Living Awards ceremony, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders' Design Committee and Professional Builder magazine."

Last year Hampton Lake won the "Best Community Facility" this year Palmetto Bluff won the award for Wilson's Landing, both facilities built by my brother Joe's company Fraser Construction

http://fraser-construction.com/

My Blog about Last Years Award

http://hiltonheadrealestatenewsletter.blogspot.com/2008/02/hampton-lakes-lakeside-village-home.html

Below is the article from the Island Packet

Property of Charlie B Fraser 2009

Bluffton's Hampton Lake wins national award

By DON McLOUD
dmcloud@islandpacket.com 843-706-8139 Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009 <!-- Mycapture has changed their image location...commenting out for now

Enlarge Image

• Photo: Lakeside Village at Hampton Lake, as seen in this aerial photo, is one of the big attractions at the Bluffton community, which won a Best in American Living Award.
  Special to the Packet
  

Hampton Lake in Bluffton won a prestigious national award Monday, being named the Best Community with 151 Homes and Over in the country.

The lakefront community off U.S. 278 beat out developments from throughout the United States to receive the honor at the Best in American Living Awards ceremony, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders' Design Committee and Professional Builder magazine.

The awards are presented to outstanding builders, architects, designers, developers, land planners and interior designers nationwide in 36 categories.

Paul Deffenbaugh, editorial director for Professional Builder, said past winners of the award include companies of excellent international reputation. "It's quite prestigious," he said. "The kind of company Hampton Lake is keeping is very good."

Deffenbaugh said the judges look at a variety of criteria, including the quality of the land development, consideration of the environment, amenities and proximity to parkland.

The winner also must show success in marketing and sales. "If it doesn't sell, it doesn't win," he said.

Despite a slow economy, Hampton Lake has sold 450 properties since 2006, according to Gerrit Albert, president of Hampton Lake.

Albert, who is in Las Vegas at the International Builders' Show, said the other main contributing factor to the development's success is its amenities. The developer, Reed Development of Bluffton, conducted focus groups to determine what people wanted in a community and what they didn't want.

Because of those responses, Albert said Hampton Lake has property owners whose ages vary. "The majority of our owners are baby boomers, but we appeal to people in their 30s and 40s as well," he said.

The big draw is the Lakeside Village, built around a 165-acre freshwater lake. Amenities include a 340-acre nature preserve with nine miles of nature trails, a waterfront bar and grill, general store, nature center, spa and fitness center, resort-style pools, a boathouse and beach at the lake, an overnight camping island, a dog park and golf course. Tennis courts are being built.

"All of our amenities are clustered together," Albert said. "There's something to do for everyone."

Albert said he considered the award a testament to quality development occurring in the area, some of it as a continuation of the early development on Hilton Head Island by brothers Charles and Joe Fraser. Fraser Construction of Bluffton has done much of the major facilities construction in Hampton Lake, and John Reed worked with Fraser before forming his own development company.

"The legacy really does live on today," Albert said.

Other major players in Hampton Lake's development are Malphrus Construction of Hilton Head, PBG of Hardeeville and Wood+Partners of Hilton Head.

Other local winners

Other local winners of the 25th Annual Best in American Living Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders and Professional Builder magazine, are:

• Wilson's Landing at Palmetto Bluff won Best Community Facility (151 Units and Over). Hampton Lake's Lakeside Village won the same award last year. Both facilities were built by

Fraser Construction of Bluffton.

• Wayne Windham Architect, P.A., of Bluffton won the 2008 Home of the Year award for the design of a custom home in Palmetto Bluff. The firm also received an award for the Best One-of-a-Kind Home in the 4,000- to 6,500-square-foot category and the Best in Region Award.

• Erickson Home by Noro Co. of Port Royal won Best Single Family Detached Home (1,800 Square Feet and Below).

First time home buyers will find some welcome news in recently enacted federal housing legislation: you can get a $7,500 tax credit. Congress intends for the credit to make housing more affordable. But you need to hurry - the credit is only available for purchases before July 1, 2009.
Here's how the tax credit works

• There are income limits: $75,000 for single purchasers, $150,000 for couples.
• The credit is not made to the buyer in the form of a check.
• Instead, the credit is an itemized deduction on federal tax returns (your buyers should consult with their tax advisor).
• It effectively reduces the purchase price by $7,500.
• The credit is limited to first time buyers.
• The credit must be repaid (at no interest) at the rate of $500 per year for 15 years.
• However, if the home is sold, the seller will not repay more of the credit than they realized in profit.

As always, please contact me for any questions and recommendations for a lender that will have your best interest in mind.

www.MikeSackman.com

www.BeaufortSCMilitaryrelocation.com