Robert Slick NRBA, RDCPro, Trident/CCAR MLS

Yes, we have cotton here in South Carolina. It was beautiful over the weekend as evidenced by these photos. We have had rain for the past 36 hours so I'm sure it's not high and dry anymore. It is so amazing when you see this incredible fiber growing right in front of your eyes. Soft, white as snow and just beautiful.

Call is Plantation at Winyah Bay, call it Harbor Club at Winyah Bay and you will be right both times. This is the vacant subdivision with two names and the most potential pitfalls and problems for everyone that has touched it. The land was sold to a developer, the developer subdivided and started selling lots before any roads were built, the economy went south and now the people that bought lots can't build because there is no infrastrucutre, the developer can't pay for the land, the original landowner can't collect, and now some lots are going back to lenders through foreclosure. What a mess.

Some lots are waterfront, but most are not and the original price per lot was $100,000 on average, maybe more. Now the comparables indicate that these lots may be worth as little as $6,900 on the open market. It's too late to turn back but the road ahead looks grim too. The developer is in bankruptcy and the original landowner, lot owners, and the City of Georgetown are suing the insurance company that issued the bond to cover infrastructure should the developer go bankrupt.

What is the future of Plantation at Winyah Bay or Harbor Club at Winyah Bay? Only time will tell.

South Island Plantation, hands down the most beautiful, mature, and viable new subdivision in Georgetown, SC is growing again! This time the growth will give owners direct water access on Winyah Bay via a marina, day docks and pier. Only South Island Plantation property owners will be allowed to purchase boat slips. These are among the closest boat slips to the Atlantic Ocean and are directly on a gorgeous stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway. With land prices as low as $9,900 buyers had better hurry.

After lowering the impact fees after one miserable year, it now appears that homeowners that paid the original $6,000 will get a partial reimbursement of approximately $1,600. This is really great. I never would have expected Georgetown County to give any of the money back. They could have easily taken a "tough luck" stance and been within their rights. I commend Georgetown County, SC for their demonstration of a spirit of fair play and goodwill. I hope there is no ulterior motive.

28 USDA homes in South Carolina are being autioned this week on the Terry Howe Auction site. www.terryhowe.com A lot of the homes are ending today so don't miss out if you enjoy buying homes at auction. Some of these homes have required repairs in the deed that must be completed before they can be occupied, so be sure to read the contract and guidelines for EACH home that may interest you. If you need local market advice, don't hesitate to call a Realtor here in South Carolina. My company can offer market data on the following cities included in the auction: Andrews, Awendaw, Hemingway, Walterboro.