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Susan Ochsner

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Scam being perpetrated in South Carolina - protect your listings - from SCREALTORS

07-24-09
Susan Ochsner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2009

NEW NIGERIAN SCHEME UTILIZING "CRAIGSLIST" Scam being perpetrated in South Carolina

David A. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in South Carolina, advises homeowners and/or prospective renters in South Carolina to be cautious of a new scheme being perpetrated by Nigerians utilizing "Craigslist".

Homeowners list their homes for sale with realtors, who will list the homes for sale in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and also with public search sites on the Internet. Public search sites allow individuals to query homes for sale via the Internet. Nigerian scammers are finding homes listed for sale on these public search sites, copy the pictures and listings verbatim, and then post the information onto www.craigslist.com under available housing rentals, without the consent or knowledge of Craigslist, who have been notified.

After the posting is listed, unsuspecting individuals contact the poster, who is Nigerian, for more information on the "rental". The Nigerian scammer will state that they had to leave the country very quickly to do missionary or contract work in Africa and were unable to rent their house before leaving, therefore they have to take care of this remotely. The "homeowner" sends the prospective renter an application and tells them to send them first and last month's rent to the Nigerian scammer via Western Union. The prospective renter is further told if they "qualify", they will send them the keys for their house. Once the money is wired to the scammer, they show up at the house, see the home is actually for sale, are unable to access the property and their money is gone.

This type of Nigerian scam is becoming more prevalent nationwide and recent reports indicate this scam being perpetrated locally in Charleston, Columbia and Hilton Head, South Carolina. The S.C. Association of REALTORS® provided information to the FBI on this scam.

David A. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbia office of the FBI is requesting that individuals that have complaints similar to this to file an internet crime complaint on www.ic3.govwith the Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure the extent of this scheme can be accurately evaluated.

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Captain's Walk becomes egret walk

06-01-09
Susan Ochsner

Photo of Egret crossing the steet towards Villas Captain's Walk in PD

I was previwing property for clients and shot this photo out of my car window: An egret was walking across the

street towards the Captains Walk in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island! We sure live in a beautiful island and

the birds seem to concur! (Squirrels too!)

Hope everyone reading this is doing well. Best wishes always, SUSAN OCHSNER

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Live Oak and other Trees - who gets to decide?

03-04-09
Susan Ochsner
The Beaufort County Planning Commission voted Monday against increased regulation of tree removal on private property, saying only some live oaks should be protected. The commission's six members unanimously voted to send a tree ordinance to the Beaufort County Council, but they recommended stripping language that protects anything other than live oaks with a diameter of 18 inches or more. The current tree ordinance has come under fire because owners of homes built since 1999 have to get a permit to remove any tree, while owners of homes built before 1999 only need a permit to remove a live oak 12 inches or more in diameter. The county is trying to create language that applies equally to all homeowners in unincorporated parts of Beaufort County. The planning commission also recommended the County Council craft an exception in the new ordinance that allows homeowners to cut trees in imminent danger of falling on a house. The language the planning commission says should be removed from the proposal would require homeowners in unincorporated areas to get permits to take down "significant" trees, which are defined as: • Live oaks, black walnuts and longleaf pines with diameters of 24 inches or more • Loblolly pines, slash pines and shortleaf pines with diameters of 36 inches or more • All other native, noninvasive trees with diameters of 30 inches or more The planning commission's vote to remove the language is only a recommendation. The County Council still can adopt language protecting a wider variety of trees. Chris Marsh, executive director of the environmental group The LowCountry Institute, disagreed with the planning commission's recommendation to water down the ordinance.He said the county needs to get beyond the idea that only live oaks are important."One of the key concerns of professionals in urban forestry is that communities rely on just one species of tree," Marsh said.He added that if a disease "were to devastate live oaks, it'd leave us treeless, just like Dutch elm disease left Philadelphia treeless." David Tedder, an area lawyer who owns two acres on Lady's Island, said he's against more regulation on what kinds of trees can be cut down on private property."I have over 100 trees on my lot," Tedder said. "Why do you need to be coming and messing with me when I want to clear an area for a patio?" The council's Land Management Committee will next consider the issue. The above situation as always, has two sides. What remains agreed upon is that trees are what makes the Lowcountry unique and desirable.I love to sit in my sunroom and watch the squirrels scurrying up and down the tree trunks and limbs. The trees is what makes Hilton Head Island so special - that is for certain! Whether someone on private property has a right to do what they please depends on whether they are thinking for themselves or for the community although I too think strictness can be overdone! Respectfully submitted, SUSAN OCHSNER http://www.yourhiltonheadagent.com source: The Island Packet, March 3, 2009
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Information on introduced South Carolina Bill H.3408

02-25-09
Susan Ochsner

Reduce Taxes For Owners Who Rent Their Homes Less than 90 Days
Richard Chalk has recently introduced a bill (H.3408) into legislation that will reduce the tax burden for owners of rental property who lease their home for 90 days or less each year, by preserving the 4% assessment.
If passed, this new legislation could have a positive impact on our local Hilton Head Island economy because it allows many part-time residents to live here 9 months of the year and rent their home during the summer while benefiting from the lower tax rate of full time residents.
This will have a positive impact for our northern friends trying to get down here.
Respectfully Submitted,
SUSAN OCHSNER
http://www.yourhiltonheadagent.com
70 Arrow Road, Suite 3
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 816-6388

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Hilton Head Tax Bill

02-05-09
Susan Ochsner

Yesterday there was a bill discussed by a state legislative panel that could change the way counties collect property taxes after a sale.

Beaufort County's legislative delegation in the state House of Representatives is behind the bill to change the "point-of-sale" provision, which taxes property at its sales price in the year that it is sold. Under the bill, counties would still reassess purchased properties based on their sales prices, but new tax values wouldn't kick in until a regular countywide reassessment occurs. Beaufort County's reassessment is scheduled for this year.

The bill is still before a Ways and Means subcommittee, which discussed but did not vote on it Wednesday.

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