Mark Brian

I just read about a great chance to hear some good bluegrass and support a local charity at the same time. The Papa John Foster Memorial Music Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 at the Barn at Table Rock State Park. The festival has been moved to the indoor venue due to predicted thunderstorms Saturday.

Two things caught my eye: Funnel cakes and bluegrass. Then top that with finding out this will help local youth to get involved in something good and keep them out of trouble and I had to spread the word.

A group called Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music (POSAM) is sponsoring the concert, with all proceeds going to benefit the Young Appalachian Musicians program, which teaches young students to play bluegrass music.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and the music begins at 11 a.m. and will run until 6 p.m. or later.

The festival is named in memory of Papa John Foster, a great supporter of bluegrass music.

Foster, who until his wife's death traveled with her to bluegrass festivals all over the country, began traveling once more when his granddaughter expressed an interest in bluegrass and mountain music.
Foster's granddaughter keeps that tradition alive as a member of Oolenoy Valley, one of many groups that will appear.

Willow Creek Ranch is approximately 10 miles north of Easley. Take SC 135 from Easley and 2.9 miles north of the SC 186 crossroads turn right onto Dalton Road. The entrance to the festival is one-half mile on the right. In case of inclement weather the festival will be moved to the Barn at Table Rock State Park.


Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children under 12, and may be purchased at Horizon Records in Greenville, Music Maker in Easley, Jimmy Rogers House of Music in Seneca and Phil's Music In Greer, SC, and at Dacusville Tire.

Tickets will also be available at the gate for $10 and $5.

Concessions will include BBQ, hot dogs, funnel cakes, cakes and cookies, soft drinks and coffee. Bring your own chairs. No alcohol, no coolers, no pets allowed.

For further information about the festival call 864.878.4257 or email posam_info@yahoo.com

I need your help and support in to let your elected officials know how you feel about the Point of Sale tax laws in South Carolina. Check out this website about Unfair SC Tax Laws

H.3272, introduced by Representatives Cooper and Merrill, eliminates point of sale reassessments and includes a retroactive component for properties that transferred in 2007 and 2008, by providing that going forward the property tax bill will be based on the previous valuation before the property transfer occurred. The Ways and Means Committee will consider this vital legislation on Thursday afternoon and will have the opportunity to send the bill to the entire House for consideration, a vital step in ensuring that point of sale is addressed this year.

Please contact your Representatives immediately and urge them to support H.3272 and keep the bill moving forward. This is the single most important economic stimulus that the South Carolina General Assembly could provide for our state.

Well, now it is time to complete my series of market reports for the area I am proud to call home. Pickens County SC saw 23 Single Family Homes sold in February 2009 with an average of 176 Days on market at 90% of Original Price.

This is 1 more home as last month! Homes sold on much quicker this month compared to last month, 71 days quicker! And for the same average % of original price.

Let's compare this to February 2008: 39 Homes sold with an Average of 159 Days on Market at 90% of Original Price.

So 16 less homes sold in February 2009 when compared to 2008. Days on Market was 17 days longer. Also the % of original price was the same. But when we look at February 2009 compared to January 2009, less homes sold, with more DOM and a little less & of original price.

Please contact me to get your Free CMA to see how much you can expect a home such as yours to sell for!

I just posted the market statistics for Anderson County but now I am going to discuss Oconee County Single Family Homes that were sold in February 2009.

Last month in Oconee County, 31 Homes sold with an average of 174 Days on market at 86% of Original Price. This is 4 less homes as last month! Homes sold on average 16 days quicker last month and for 5% less than last month.

Let's Compare This To last year. In February 2008 there were 41 Homes sold with an Average of 178 Days on Market at 91% of Original Price in Oconee County.

So 10 more homes sold in February 2008 when compared to 2009. And Days on Market was a little longer but not much last year. Also the % of original price was lower this year when compared to last. But when we look at February 2009 compared to January 2009, less homes sold, with about the same DOM and a little less & of original price.

Please contact me to get your Free CMA to see how much you can expect a home such as yours to sell for!

If we look at the national statistics, sales of existing homes rose 5.1 percent from January to February, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.72 million units, the National Association of Realtors reported today.

Distressed sales accounted for 40 to 45 percent of transactions, and total housing inventory grew 5.2 percent, to 3.8 million existing homes for sale.

At the current pace of sales, that's a 9.7-month supply of homes, unchanged from January but down from the record of 11.2 months seen in July. A six-month supply of housing is generally seen as a healthy balance between supply and demand.

So that is the national story but what about Anderson County?

87 Homes sold with an average of 148 Days on market at 84% of Original Price in February. This is 32 more homes as last month! Homes sold on average 1 day quicker but for 4% less than January.

If we compare this to February 2008, when 127 Homes sold with an Average of 145 Days on Market at 91% of Original Price then we find that 40 fewer homes sold in February 2009 when compared to 2008. And DOM was a little longer but not much. Also the % of original price was lower this year when compared to last. But when we look at February 2009 compared to January 2009, we sold more homes, with about the same DOM and a little less & of original price.

Please contact me to get your Free CMA to see how much you can expect a home such as yours to sell for!