Beaufort, SC

Yea, yea, he is kinda cute, talks at the speed of light and has an eternal tan, but he isn't my guy. Well for starters, he isn't here in Beaufort, SC offering his time and experience for peanuts ( peanut butter would be better).

My guy is pretty much OCD (obsessive compulsive). Sometimes that makes my days a bit (extremely, totally, mind boggling difficult, almost impossible) tough but when it comes to educating new homeowners it is a wonderful gift.

It occurred to me during one of our final walk-through's that maybe we aren't doing enough to educate buyers on what it really takes to maintain a home. Heck y'all, I learned something new and I have owned for years.

I am beginning to realize the need for taking the time to explain, educate, and enlightenon matters of home ownership. There are so many things a homeowner can do without going to the expense of calling backup!

SOOOO.....Ty Pennington, you keep on making me cry during those darn Extreme Makeovers (actually I call them make up removers....the mascara flows!) but we are going to make sure to pass on valuable information to those who want to take full advantage of their investment.

My Carolina Village Builder and I are offering FREE (well you do have to donate 2 canned goods)home ownership classes. It will be tons of fun, and not to mention help make a difference at our local food banks. Everything from the roof to the toilet will be covered. No doubt there will be laughs, "a ha's" and maybe even a "wow" or two.

So email me today to reserve your spot:)

Ahhh yes. Today is the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps. I don't think it's any coincidence that the Corps started in a bar, do you?

Whether you call them gyrenes, jarheads, leathernecks, devildogs, husband/wife, son/daughter or boyfriend/girlfriend, they are devastatingly good looking in their dress blues, no?

Now, the Marine Corps has many traditions and the one most closely associated with THE BIRTHDAY is the Birthday Ball.

I have attended plenty of Birthday balls and although these fetes start off as formal, they don't end that way. I could make the post about Ball antics, but I would like to refrain.

Even if there is no Birthday Ball, there is always a cake cutting ceremony. The oldest and the youngest Marines in attendance receive the first two pieces.

Marines greet each other on this day with a hearty "Happy Birthday" as if it were their own and in a very real way, it is.

I suppose I could go on and on about why I love working with so many of these amazing people, why I love the traditions of the Corps, why I love their loyalty to their fellow Marines, and why I love each one I have had the honor of calling friend.

Maybe another day...

Today, I'll just say,"Happy Birthday" to the Marines and the people who love them.

Posted by robbie@robbiebunting.com

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Associates ~

At this time of year, Islanders reclaim the Island. This week we found several links we use at this time of year on Hilton Head Island. These include gym memberships, restaurants that are great off season choices, our painter,our pool guy, a play and our pool guy. Of course, if you are looking to make a move this winter, we have some great properties at www.robbiebunting.com.

Get in Shape in Style!
The WestinWORKOUT® Gym facilities on Hilton Head are designed to accommodate a full range of activities including: Running, Jogging, Walking, Bicycling, Weightlifting, Calisthenics, Swimming(heated indoor and outdoor), Yoga, Pilates, Water Aerobics, BodySculpting, and Stretch & Tone. They offer 1 day, 30 day or annual memberships for Islanders...check it out by calling (843) 681-1040. Click here to see the photos of the gym.

Go to an Early Bird or happy hour!
During the busy season this is hard to do, but at this time of year we can go visit our old favorites and even hit an early bird with out too much of a wait. The Old Oyster Factory offers the best sunset dining on the Island. Enjoy superb, innovative seafood and steaks while taking in one of the Low Country's best panoramic views of Broad Creek. While there check out the rowing club underneath. Click for their happy hours and dining specials.

Learn to Row!
Located beneath the Old Oyster Factory is Palmetto Rowing Club. This group loves to be on the water and offers membership and instruction that will take you from a tub to a shell. Don't worry about equipment as your membership will get you use of their small fleet. They had me rowing in less than two months. It is a wonderful sport and the people are great. Call John at (843)842.6984 or e-mail: palmetto_rowing@yahoo.com or visit there website at www.palmettorowingclub.com/index.asp

See a Show!
With only eight shows the Nutcracker is an Island tradition. The dates are 11/7-15/09 performed by the Hilton Head Dance Theatre. This is a full length, classical ballet at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina! Tickets 843-842-2787 http://www.hhdt.org

Get ready for 2010!
Do you want a pool? Audrey and Dan Geoffroy run this family owned pool company. When we finally decided to build our pool our goal was to recreate a pool that we enjoy in Costa Rico. Not only did Dan help us with this in our very challenging space, he also made it a saltwater pool like the pool we loved. Coastal pools offers a free design and consultation for anyone even thinking of someday adding a pool...but why wait because the price is right. They can be reached at (843)683-4812 or danyg@aol.com

We hope that these contacts serve you well. If you have a company or know of a company that you would like to submit to us for our Islander Links email robbie@robbiebunting.com. If you do visit or contact any of the above friends or services, please be sure to mention to that you found their contact information on www.bloghiltonheadrealtor.com Thank you.

From a great Island with great things to do in Winter~

WE ARE~

Robbie Bunting and Jane Hyers

robbie@robbiebunting.com

Trash In = $$$ Out - Investor Pain - Beaufort, SC

Well, Halloween is over but the candy isn't! A couple of weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure of sitting in on my two oldest son's orthodontist screening for braces. I am also excited to announce that both of them are winners of a program that will give them a new and improved "grill". What is great about all of this was that they started the process on October 30^th the day before Halloween. They were pretty disappointed to say the least when they heard the candy and food options begin to dwindle. Halloween didn't seem to sound as if it would be much fun for them and their faces showed it. It was already appearing to be painful.

I took a closer look at this and how some real estate investors whether they were misguided, misinformed or uncaring have looks of pain right now. Don't get me wrong there are quite a few investors smiling too. Let's for just a minute compare a house to our teeth. As children we often overlook the importance of taking care of our teeth by watching what we put in our mouth and how we take care of the "toxic waste" that accumulates and destroys our tooth structure and foundation. Well, it's just like an investment property.

There are many reasons as to why property investors fail to carry quality rental properties. They have often been caught up in the excitement, sometimes overleveraged, poor landlords and I could go on. But where the costly mistake is made often occurs by who they allow in to their property. There is no doubt that you are always taking a chance but as an investor if you do not screen the clients properly and manage them and the property correctly or hire a true professional to do it for you it often ends in disaster. Now the cost of the property skyrockets and the pain begins.

Now for most of us we watch what we eat, we brush and floss as we are supposed to and visit out dentist routinely. Shouldn't we manage our investments the same way? By having a proper screening process which includes "reading the labels" (credit reports, background) of our property occupants and make sure we are putting in place the adequate check-ups hopefully the pain you feel when it is time to make those repairs and improvements won't be like buying braces every time!

So, Austin and Charles lay off the Doritos and the Snickers for a while and take some Tylenol for the pressure and pain and everything will turn out just fine. And as real estate investors, let's watch what we put in our house so it's easier to take care of our foundation and structures and hopefully going to the contractor or in other terms "dentist" doesn't cost as much as a new "grill" for the kids and isn't as scary as Halloween . You will still need the Tylenol though!

Beaufort, SC Foreclosure Real Estate for Sale
David Thompson, Foreclosure Specialist and his REO Masters Team offers expertise in identifying, evaluating and assisting clients in purchasing and liquidating foreclosure and short sale properties in the Beaufort and Bluffton, SC area. (843) 812-5214