John March, Broker/Realtor Low Country Home Buyer Services

Hey guys, its not too late! But, it’s almost Valentine’s Day. It is the perfect opportunity to show her you love her and you can go on a Valentine’s Day dinner date without leaving your Sun City Hilton Head Home! This is not only inexpensive but it is a meaningful way to do something we men don’t do often enough.

Why Not Put Together A Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner

I am going to make this real easy—you won’t have to prepare all the food, or even use the over—microwave is all you need. If you want to use the oven, that’s OK. All you’ll need to do is just shop for the best prepared and tasty frozen dishes—but you have to carefully prepare the meal, present it as if you were at a restaurant and make it look great in the plate (I said this would be inexpensive but it will take some effort-- take a look at some cookbooks to get ideas)

[Photo is one of the many Valentine's Day Flags which can be seen hanging outside of Sun City Hilton Head Homes]

Here are some suggestions that are fast, easy and inexpensive which can make your dinner date a winner:

· For starters prepared spinach dip with soft Italian bread (cut up the bread into bite size pieces)

· Prepared Caesar Salad with Crotons and dressing

· Chicken Parmesan or other prepared main dish

· Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae Desert—with a heart shaped candy on top

· Wine or Sparkling Juice

· Use your best china and tableware

· Put a clean white table cloth on your dining table

· Flowers for the centerpiece

· Wine glasses (even if you don’t drink wine) add a touch of elegance

All you need to do is get out a couple of red candles and place them strategically on the table and you’re almost good to go. Add some dinner music. What kind of music might she enjoy with dinner? Let it play in the background.

After Dinner Go to a Movie at home instead of going out, rent a movie.

If you don’t live here and would like to know more about A Sun City Hilton Head Home I can help. Call me at 843-368-9146 or email me at john@j-march.com. Maybe next year, you’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day here.

Rose Hill, Bluffton South Carolina, sits on 2000 acres in Bluffton, South Carolina. It is has two separate security gates, one for each half of the community on either side of Highway 278. One side is commonly called The "golf side" and other the "estate or equestrian side" There are about 1000 homes in Rose Hill.

Both sides are gated with 24 hour security. As you'd imagine the estate side has larger lots, starting at 1 acre and up to 3. There are some homes that have views of the Colleton River.

Equestrian Amenities: There are 3 Separate paddocks that are directly adjacent to Rose Hill's 7 miles of equestrian trails. There is also a state-of-the-art 32-barn Equestrian Center with polo fields Rose Hill Plantation holds anannual Equestrian Expo which includes a parade of horse breeds, and various competitions ,barrel racing demonstration, sidesaddle riding and a demonstration polo match. All of the proceeds of the go to charities like Ronald McDonald house, and the American Cancer Society as well as the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society.

Besides Rose Hill, there are other gated communities which offer equestrian centers as an amenity including Moss Creek, Oldfield and Rose Dhu Creek. If you'd be interested in exploring these, I will be happy to chat with about your needs and desires.

Golf: The Country Club side contains the golf courses and the Estates side with the equestrian center and Colleton River as well as many of the larger estate homes. Though Rose Hill has two golf courses, the premium equestrian center is one of its main attractions.

Rose Hill 2 Course
9 hole regulation length course
Public golf course
Bermuda grass

Rose Hill Golf Club
18 total holes

Golf Only facility
16 tees driving range
18 regulation holes

Rose Hill does have a POA fee of $1500 per year. There is also an initial $3500 Golf assessment plus, $500 per year dues that applies to all residents.

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

The local news promotes one thing. Bad news. Bad news creates bad attitudes and causes us to fear--if we choose to listen, Now is the time to turn off the news and focus on What matters most to you.

Here are four thought-starters for fighting the negative news and surviving the economic cycle.

1. Manage Money Much Better. Brainstorm ways to save money. What can you cut out. Look for ways to supplement your income--a home based business may be ideal (here's one I recommend)

2. Prioritize how you spend time. spending more time with family, with people who are important to you doesn't have to cost money.You place of worship has activities which can involve the whole family, do that instead of going out to a restaurant ot a movie.

3. If you lost your job, never, ever give up looking. Learn how to do job search. Here is a a book I recommend...and it will lead you into a new direction

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers

4. Use Prayer and Affirmations. Get a little bible promise book--pray the promises you read and use them as affirmations God's Promises For Your Every Need

Take action. This is the best medicine for overcoming the fears that bad news incites in us. And keep a smile on your face.

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.