Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte

The Flip has been all the rage and I was going to buy it, but I didn't like a lot of things about it.  I wanted the memory card to be replaceable, and the flip did not provide that feature.  I also wanted more options like zooming and image stabilization, which the flip did not confer. 

I finally found all that I was looking for and more, in the new, adorable, little SANYO Xacti E1 camcorder.  Tiny, tiny and in a cool turquoise color (hey, don't laugh, I'm a girl and these things do matter to me!),this little wonder fits in the palm of my hand and it does the work that other bulky cameras can't even touch.  It zooms big time.  The images are sharp and clear.  It is extraordinarily easy to use.  It records everything on a standard flash disk that you can just pop right into your laptop without any cumbersome cables.  It doubles up as a normal camera for picture taking and it records my podcasts with great sound quality.  The beautiful thing about it is that it's waterproof too, which helps quite a bit, since I'm a bit of a klutz.

I used my little nano camcorder yesterday and I was so impressed with my very first videos.  Judge for yourself!  Here are some clips I took yesterday.  Remember that I've had no training on it (my better half just taught me how to turn it on and get access to the memory disk, that's all).  I figured out how to upload the videos on to YouTube (it's a no brainer - just click "upload").  Today I left my other camera at home; I think this little wonder will be my one and only from now on. 

I plan on videotaping all my listings and having them posted on YouTube(I'm "MyrtleBeachGuru" on YouTube) with a link on each one of my e-mails.  I will also embed them on the websites I've created for each one of my listings.  Not too shabby... 

I love my new NanoCamcorder!  The best part about it?  The cost:  right around $ 200 at Costco.  Amazing, but true! 

Myrtle Beach Homes by Mirela Monte                        Join the Optimist Group!

If a piece of real estate sells for more than $30 million these days, the buyer is probably an ARB: "Anonymous Russian Billionaire."

So starts the Wall Street Journal article in today's paper about the anonymous Russion gazillionaire who just plunked down $99 Million for a Townhouse in Moscow.

"The Buyer is an ‘active businessman' who is about 40 years old but not very well known. The 14,000-square-foot, seven-story home has five bedrooms, five full baths and three half-baths, along with an indoor swimming pool and rooftop winter garden. It's located in the ritzy development of Christie Prudy, which means ‘Clear Ponds' (transparency being a rare commodity in Moscow). The development, which is within walking distance of the Kremlin, features private security, a central water purification system, indoor pools, and gyms."

I guess it's time we learn a little Russian and start peddling our wares there... У меня есть большое океана кондо для продажи в Миртл Бич

Миртл Бич океана Condos по Мирела Монте

This two party system may have been adequate for previous centuries, but it is time for a new and improved Government 2.0 version, don't you agree?

Germany, France, UK, Belgium, Italy and many others all have multi-party systems. Some of these countries score higher than us on various quantifying tests, including the standard of living test.

Demolicans or Republicrats anyone?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection Join The Optimist Group!

Checking Oceanfront sales activity for the past six months revealed some interesting facts about value in the Myrtle Beach area.

While the under $300,000 price point used to buy you a nice 1Br. Oceanfront condo in 2005, the same money can now buy you a three bedroom condo instead. Here are some recent sales of 3Br. Oceanfront condos:

Br/Ba Location: Original Price Sold Price

3Br/2Ba Hyperion Towers $444,000 $240,000

3Br/2Ba The Palms $312,000 $237,000

3Br/2Ba Sand DunesIII $289,000 $252,500

3Br/2Ba WaterpointeI $349,900 $262,000

3Br/2Ba Pinnacle $289,870 $270,000

3Br/3Ba Breakers Boutique $429,900 $280,000

3Br/2Ba Crescent Tower II $325,000 $295,000

With an income of $ $35,788.98 in 2007, this 3Br/2Ba Oceanfront condo at Grande Shores sold in June for $287,000

Simply put: if you are a seller in this market you need to be realistic!

If you are lucky enough to receive an offer, treat it as the rarity that it is: try your best to work it out!

Several months ago my Seller received a $150,000 offer on a property priced at $ 289,900. The seller said: "No Way!" and did not even dignify the offer with a response. He called me this weekend asking me to track that buyer down. I did. He is now offering $ 110,000. What a difference a few months can make...

Hyperion Tower Breakers Boutique Myrtle Beach Oceanfront by Mirela Monte

1. Consistently pursue your Education. Our reality is changing so rapidly that education is not an option anymore, it is a necessity. To that end, Active Rain is instrumental. I also recommend daily reading of the Wall Street Journal, where one can obtain the same facts the big boys rely on, instead of the watered down version the rest of the media conveys. The various courses offered by NAR are to be taken seriously, for the benefits far outweigh the cost.

•2. Support our core organizations: NAR and AR. Making a concerted effort to support these two organizations with both time and money will strengthen our position as a whole. Contribute to R-PAC by donating more than the perfunctory amount and get involved within your local boards. Ensure that they are well managed and strong. Be aware of any new bills being introduced at state or federal level that will impact our profession. Contribute to AR by purchasing Localism spots or advertising on the site. If we all give a little, it goes a long way; there is strength in numbers. The one thing I can tell you for certain is that when you try to help someone else, you somehow end up helping yourself. Call it the universal law of attraction, or what have you, but it just works that way.

•3. Build good relationships with your fellow agents. Help each other, support each other, build each other up. Even if you are competitors, in essence you are both soldiers in the same army. Always keep that in mind! By being supportive in every way possible, you are in fact building up your real estate practice. Share your knowledge, give credit where credit is due and work hard to build a good network. If an agent thinks about you with a smile on his face, your listings will get shown more, you will receive more offers and you will be able to put more deals together, because let's face it, how your offer is presented has everything to do with its success, and when it comes to people, money is not the only motivator...

•4. Pay attention to your physical and emotional health. In this market it is easy to work innumerable hours. Control your time and put a cap on the amount spent in the trenches of real estate. Develop healthy habits of nutrition and exercise, allocate time for sleep and relaxation; nurture your relationship with family and friends. I recently saw a couple of agents I had not seen in a few years. They have become very successful in Real Estate, but they've aged about 20 years in 5. They've gained a lot of weight and just became old. Don't let Real Estate consume you! Your business is but a facet of your life; it is not your life!

•5. Learn to save money. If you make $4, don't spend $6! If you make $4, spend $.50. Yes, 50 cents! The rest needs to go into: paying your taxes, paying off debt, health insurance (don't leave yourself uncovered), retirement savings (IRA, SEP, etc.), savings for immediate needs and savings for long term needs. That's quite a chunk, I know, but without being aware of all these areas, you will have a perpetual and vicious cycle of nothing but emergencies...

•6. Make it fun! Why not make it into a game? There are so many unique opportunities inherent in this market that no one is talking about. You can only see them when you adopt a new attitude, one of curiosity and discovery. If you need an attitude adjustment, read my blog: Problems? What Problems? Reality Check and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life's short. Live it well!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte Join The Optimist Group!