Saint Simons Island, GA

With the 2^nd Quarter 2009 recently ending, I have come up with the following comparisons from our local Glynn County MLS system for single family home sales on St. Simons Island, GA as follows:

For the 2^nd Quarter, there were 35 sold transactions recorded in our local MLS system with an average asking price of $499,312. The average sold price for those 35 sales was $452,712 or approximately 91% to list.

At the end of 1^st Quarter 2009, there were only 12 recorded single family sold transactions with an average asking price of $493,082 and average sales price of $432,825. To compare the 2^nd Quarter 2009 sales statistics to 2^nd Quarter 2008, the numbers show a marked decline in the number of transactions closed. At the 2^nd Quarter 2008, our MLS recorded a total 56 single family sales (compared to 2^nd Qtr. 2009 - 35) with an average list price of $674,589 (compared to 2^nd Qtr. 2009 - $499,312) and an average closed price for the 56 closings of $630,138 (compared to 2^nd Qtr. 2009 - $452,712).

Certainly we are seeing more activity and hopefully a start to some upturn, albeit I must say that some of the transactions closed out of our system this quarter were foreclosures /bank owned properties that were sold "as is." But definitely even though foreclosures are catastrophic to the individuals or families involved personally, I believe we will not see a recovery until inventory is diminished and the "desperation" factor isn't so central to the equation.

The Tim Miller Band will be playing tonight Saturday 20, 2009 @ 10pm @ Gnat's Landing on Saint Simons Island!! Come out drink a cold beer, hear some good music and beat the heat!!!

Anyone Care to Dance in Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia?

The Golden Isles Dancers are Wendy Carrell and John Melancon shown below.

Here are your opportunities to Dance with The Golden Isles Dancers

Tuesdays

Swing Lessons during the month of June

July August and September are Cha-cha-cha, Rumba and Samba

Ziggy's on St. Simons Island, Georgia

Time: 5pm

Singles and couples welcome

$5 per person for one hour

Wednesdays

Salsa Dancing during the month of June

Bennies Red Barn on Frederica Road on Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Time: 7:30pm

Singles and couples welcome

$5 per person for one hour

Fridays

Smooth Ballroom Dancing

Location: YWCA on Scranton Connector in Brunswick, Georgia

Time: 6:30 pm

Learn a new dance each month

Future dances include Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango

$40 per person per month

(Golden Isles Dancers Wendy and John)

Third Sunday Every Month

Dance Party with live music, pot luck supper, prizes

Free dance lessons on 3600 square foot dance foot

BYOB and an appetizer to share pot luck style

Location: Brunswick Shrine Club on Highway 17 in Brunswick, Georgia

Time: 5:30 - 9 pm

$25 in advance and $30 at the door

Private and semi-private lessons available by appointment. These lessons can be in any dance at a convenient time to the student. (ideal for wedding couples too).

For more information visit the website at www.dancegoldenisles.com

or e-mail wendydancer@comcast.net or call (912) 634-8219.

Learn more about Coastal Georgia Living and Events at Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia Blog

A special thanks to Golden Isles Dancer's webmaster Jim Karantinos for all of his help.

I obviously love the village area of St. Simons Island as our real estate office, the buggie rental store and also our Beachcomber Snow company are all found there. Now there is even more reason to make the Village and Pier area of St. Simons Island a must see to visitors to Glynn County. The newly enhanced oceanside pool, mini putt-putt golf course and playground area are now open for business in Neptune Park. The St. Simons Island Casino is a popular gathering place for visitors to take a break in one of the rockers and watch the boats and ocean traffic go by or visit the island library and gather brochures and area info from the Visitors Information Center. Many weddings and receptions choose this lovely venue to enjoy the breathtaking ocean view and balmy breezes.

This island public park bears an interesting story of how it got the name, Neptune Park. Neptune Small was born as a slave on Thomas Butler King's Retreat Plantation which is currently the site of the Sea Island Golf Course. Neptune Small accompanied his master's son, Lord, to the Battle of Fredericksburg where Lord was killed in battle. The body was returned to Retreat for burial in Christ Church cemetery. Small insisted on returning to the battlefields with Lord's brother, Cuyler. At war's end, Thomas King gave Neptune beachfront land at the southern end of the island to build a home. Even after Emancipation, Small worked for the King family as a free man until his death in 1907 and was buried on Retreat Plantation. His property became one of St. Simons' most valuable parcels and the park adjoining the pier was named in his honor.

Welcome to Saint Simons Island and The Golden Isles for this weekend's SEC Men's Golf Championship at Frederica Golf Club on Saint Simons Island! For the second straight year the Championship is being played at Frederica Golf Club. Sea Island Company Inc has hosted the Championship for the past several years at the Sea Island Golf Club on the world famous Seaside Course before moving to Frederica Golf Club (which is owned and operated by Sea Island Company Inc.)

This annual Championship brings a nice economic boast to The Golden Isles. This boast is through hotel room rentals for teams and patrons, increased restaurant sales, shopping sales and much more. Enjoy your stay on Saint Simons Island and The Golden Isles this weekend and enjoy some great golf.

The SEC Men's Golf Championship at Frederica Golf Club is OPEN to the public. Come out and watch some future PGA players and maybe even the next Tiger Woods!