New Columbia Homeowners!



Ready to sign closing papers - Notice RE/MAX billboard!



Congratulations to the Collins family on closing on their new home in the Columbia area yesterday!   They relocated from Utah and found their Columbia Realtor, Mel Coker, online.  When you are ready to buy in Columbia, SC, be sure to contact Mel Coker.



Signing Closing Papers with Attorney Tom Anderson





Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011.

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Real Estate
RE/MAX Metro Associates

Mel Coker, Columbia, SC Realtor

Call Mel Coker (803) 388-8011

Mel sells Columbia real estate, including: Lake Murray, downtown Columbia, Irmo, Chapin, Lexington and Northeast Columbia.  NOW is the time to buy: lower home prices, excellent NEW home deals, LOW mortgage interest rates.

www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.com/homes

Mel Coker

RE/MAX Metro Associates





Buying or Selling in Columbia, SC?

When you are ready to BUY or SELL in Greater Columbia, contact Mel Coker.

Mel is a life-long Columbia area resident and currently lives  in the Chapin area.  Mel knows Columbia  real estate.  CLICK HERE to view Mel's Columbia, SC website.

RE/MAX is #1 in real estate sales in the USA and internationally.
Mel Coker strives to provide the BEST real estate service in the Greater Columbia area.
Mel is the ONLY professional Realtor in Greater Columbia that holds all of these important real estate designations: CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO.

Call Mel Coker (803) 388-8011
ColumbiaSouthCarolina Real Estate

 

First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance

   
First Time Homebuyer in Columbia, SC?
The Great Foundations mortgage program may be just right for you! 

Great Foundations is a program available to first time homebuyers in the Greater Columbia area that matches your down payment funds when purchasing a home.  Homeowners Mortgage will match your funds at a 4:1 ratio - for example, you put down $1000 and it's matched with $4000 for a total of $5000.   Your have to act FAST as only a limited amount of matching funds are available and the funds will not last too long.  NOW is a great time to buy a home - call Mel Coker at RE/MAX and mention the Great Foundations program.

Program details: assistance can be used for down payment and/or closing costs; maximum match not to exceed $7500 for a total of $9375; income restrictions apply.

Ready to get started?  Contact:

Mel Coker, Columbia Realtor  (803) 318-2007   melcoker@remax.net

Mike Wetzel, Homeowners Mortgage Loan Officer  (803) 765-7282  mwetzel@homeownersmtg.com

CLICK HERE for Great Foundations Brochure
            

Home Ownership DOES Matter

BUYING Your Home Is The Smart Financial Move!
•Historically, home owners’ net worth has ranged from 31 to 46 times that of renters.
•A fixed-rate mortgage will not change for up to 30 years; rent typically increases 3% per year.
•Every home purchased pumps $60,000 into the economy.

Ready to buy a home in the Greater Columbia, SC area?  Contact Mel Coker - a lifelong Columbia area resident.

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC real estate website
(803) 388-8011
RE/MAX Metro Associates


Read more: http://buyandsell.houselogic.com/
  

U.S. Home Prices Decline for Eighth Straight Month

U.S. home prices, including distressed sales, fell 7.5 percent in March from a year ago, marking the eighth straight month of home price declines, according to CoreLogic. This follows a 5.8 percent annual decline in February. Excluding distressed sales, home prices slipped 0.96 percent in March. Of the 100 markets surveyed, 92 posted year-over-year declines in home prices.

Including distressed sales, the five states with the highest depreciation rates were Idaho, Arizona, Michigan, Florida and Illinois. Meanwhile, West Virginia, North Dakota, New York, Alaska and Maine had the highest appreciation.

Of course, all markets are really "local" and market conditions vary from one city to another.  In a  future post, I will provide a detailed analysis of Greater Columbia real estate market conditions.

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214
Columbia SC Real Estate

First Time Home Buyer?

Columbia, SC First Time Home Buyer?
Mel Coker will guide you through the process!

Homebuying is still an important key to financial success.   Think about it... Do people of higher net worth generally rent or buy homes?  They BUY their own home!  You can too and it's an easy process.   NOW is a great time to buy:  LOW mortgage rates and a great inventory of homes at great values.

Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011
Mel's Columbia SC Real Estate website



Call Mel Coker to Buy a Columbia Area Home
(803) 388-8011 or email: melcoker@remax.net

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia SC Real Estate website
Columbia, SC
Each office is independently owned & operated

Columbia SC Real Estate

Out of this world REAL ESTATE service in Columbia, South Carolina!

Call or email MEL COKER at RE/MAX Metro Associates
Call:  (803) 388-8011
Click:  Website

Designations/Awards/Memberships:
Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
Cyberstars (exclusive in Columbia, SC)
RE/MAX Hall of Fame






Calling (Scanning) for Mel Coker!



Ready to Move to Columbia, SC?

Columbia, SC...
A Great Place to Live!   Snow really is rare in Columbia (although we had 5-6 inches last Sunday).





Columbia, SC Real Estate

Contact Mel Coker

(803) 388-8011

RE/MAX Metro Associates

All offices are independently owned & operated

Columbia, SC

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Mel Coker in Columbia, South Carolina!

Mel & Barbara at Brookgreen Gardens

2010 was a very good year for me in Columbia real estate sales.  I had 30 closings in 2010.  That's a 30.4% increase from 2009.   Soon, I will post several blog articles on my analysis of real estate activity in the Greater Columbia area.  Watch for these articles soon.

In 2011, I will be promoting NEW home sales.  New homes offer excellent value and builders have become much more competitive with pricing and built-in amenities.   Already for 2011, I have 4 new homes closed or under contract for closing.   Watch for more information coming soon.

In 2011, I will continue to post articles about Columbia area real estate, Lake Murray, home improvement, energy savings ideas, Columbia happenings and much more.   If you want to get my articles as they are posted, please email me and ask for a FREE subscription to my blog and you will get my posts immediately by email.

Barbara and I greatly enjoy vacationing and I will post some articles about our Surfside Beach rental and other vacation ideas, including our favorite destination: Cancun.   Now may be the right time for you to consider buying a beach vacation/rental home.  If so, I know the right contacts, so give me a call.   Congratulations to my buddy, Steve Borden, on the acquisition of his new Myrtle Beach property last year!

My Lake Murray websites are popular with Lake Murray residents, visitors and those interested in Lake Murray real estate.  I will continue to post items of current interest in my Lake Murray blog.
Lake Murray Website
Lake Murray Blog

Please have a safe and healthy New Year.   Call me for any Greater Columbia area real estate need that you may have.

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
All offices are independently owned & operated
(803) 223-6214
email
Internet

West Columbia NEW Home Community: Parrish Plantation

NEW Homes, GREAT deals in Parrish Plantation
West Columbia, SC

Ready for a NEW home at a GREAT price in 2011?  Call Mel Coker, your Greater Columbia new home relocation specialist.  Call Mel at (803) 318-2007.



4 BR; over 4000 square feet; priced at $254,900

 This new home, built by D.R. Horton, is the Murray III-F model with 4200 square feet.  The home features a spacious kitchen with maple cabinets, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and a bonus room makes up the entire third floor.  All of this on a nice sized lot for only $254,900.  This home has been reduced over $41,000 for a quick sale.

Parrish Plantation is located in the West Columbia area between off U.S. Highway 1 and between Interstates 26 and 20.   It's conveniently located to Columbia Metropolitan Airport, downtown Columbia, Lexington Medical Center and even Fort Jackson is an easy drive by Interstates 26 and 77.   Parrish Plantation has a nice community pool overlooking a pond and a low annual HOA fee.

SPECIAL:  Call Mel Coker for FREE buyer representation and Buy a NEW home with Mel Coker as your buyer's agent, close by March 31, 2011 and receive a $500 Lowe's Gift Card at closing.

To buy this home or any other NEW home in the Greater Columbia area, call Mel Coker now.

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011
email  |  Internet

BUY NOW! It's the Smart Choice.

It's a GREAT time to buy a home in the Greater Columbia area.  I can assist you with homes in: downtown Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Chapin, Lake Murray, Blythewood and Northeast Columbia.

When you're ready to BUY a home, contact MEL COKER:

email

Internet

Telephone: (803) 388-8011

Columbia, SC Real Estate Update

Columbia, SC Real Estate Update: 1st in a Series



Columbia, SC Housing Report

 Home sales in the Columbia area are down the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period last year.   This was also the subject of an article in THE STATE newspaper yesterday.   CLICK HERE to read the article.    I will provide more details in this blog article and plan to have two more blogs coming soon with more detail.   Get your best update and snapshot of the Columbia real estate market by reading my blog posts!

The 3rd quarter was a really bad quarter for the Columbia real estate market.   Sales were down 29.4% in the 3rd quarter of 2010 compared to the 3rd quarter in 2009.    Average prices were up a modest 2.09%.

For year-to-date in 2010 (thru September 2010), sales are down 4.3%.  Average prices are up a modest 1.89%.    Obviously the year-to-date stats were helped by the first time homebuyer tax credit that was in effect for contracts written and accepted by April 30, 2010.

Personally, my stats are a little different.   My closings thru September 2010 were up 20% compared to the same nine month period last year.   And, I've got 4 closings scheduled for October.   But, there is no doubt that our market is still down and in "erratic" mode.   But, it's a GREAT TIME TO BUY A HOME!  Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011 to buy your home in Greater Columbia.

More stats:   At the end of September 2010, there were 8396 properties for sale.  This compares to 7217 as of the end of September 2009, an increase of 16.3%.   And there is enough inventory (based on sales rate compared to remaining inventory) to last 13.09 months.   This is an increase of 21.7% over the same period last year.   Normal market inventory accumulation would be in the range of 6 months.

The last positive growth period in Columbia real estate sales was the 1st nine months in 2007.    During this period, there were 9304 closings compared to the 5773 closings in the same period this year.  That's a 38.0% drop.   Also, during this nine month period in 2007, the inventory accumulation was 7.69 months.   Average prices have dropped since then by 6.95%.

Coming in future blog posts:  further detail on the above stats, including specifics in the most popular areas of Columbia real esate (Irmo/Dutch Fork; Lexington and Northeast Columbia); Lake Murray real estate update.   Be sure to read (or subscribe to my blog posts) for the most detail about what's happening in the Columbia real estate market.

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC
(803) 223-6214  (office)
Columbia SC real estate website

Mortgage Calculations

Mortgage Calculators Provided by Mel Coker

Mortgage rates are at historical lows!  Yesterday I got a rate quote for a client at 4.25% for a 30 year mortgage.   This is ridiculously low... NOW is the time to buy a home in Columbia, SC.   Call Mel Coker to buy your next home:  Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011.

A house is the largest purchase most of us will ever make so it's important to calculate what your payment will be and how much you can afford. The mortgage calculator will show you how much your monthly payment will be.  

The link below is the best mortgage calculator I have found online - it shows an amortization table and it will allow you to calculate the effect of: a.) adding an extra payment monthly, b.) adding an extra yearly payment, c.) adding a one-time extra payment.

Click Here: Mortgage Calculator

Click Here:  Mel's Recommended Columbia Mortgage Professionals

Mel Coker - Columbia's RE/MAX Internet Realtor!

Nobody Sells More Real Estate Than RE/MAX!

In Columbia, to BUY or SELL, Contact Mel Coker.

Call: (803) 388-8011

email: melcoker@remax.net

Columbia Real Estate website

Real Estate Credentials Matter!

Credentials Really Matter in a Tough Real Estate Market!

Mel Coker is the ONLY Realtor to hold all of the following important real estate designations in the Columbia area:  CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-Pro
Mel is also the exclusive CyberStars Realtor for Columbia, SC.  

Call Mel Coker when you are ready to BUY or SELL in Greater Columbia, SC (includes: Irmo, Chapin, Lake Murray, Lexington, Northeast Columbia).  Call (803) 388-8011.
CLICK HERE to visit my website

NOW is the Time to Buy a Home!

Call Mel Coker

(803) 318-2007

email:  melcoker@remax.net

It's Time To BUY A Home!

Columbia, SC real estate

NOW is the time to BUY a home in the Columbia, SC area.  Great Reasons: Stabilized (or lower) prices; LOW mortgage rates, excellent inventory and the Federal Tax Credit.  Add in pride of ownership and the importance of equity accumulation for your net worth and you'll know that NOW is the time to buy a home!

Call Mel Coker to buy your Columbia area home.  Call (803) 388-8011

WANTED! Columbia, SC Home Buyers

WANTED!

Columbia, SC Home Buyers

Now is really the time to BUY a home.  Here are the reasons:

• Incredibly low mortgage interest rates
• Federal Tax Credit Has been extended and EXPANDED
• Home prices have moderated and/or decreased
• Home ownership is always a smart financial move

 View my NEW website that explains all of the Tax Credit rebates - first time homebuyer rebate of $8000 and the move-up/repeat homebuyer rebate of $6500.  There have been other changes too that are beneficial.

Also, ready about the Mel Coker stimulus rebate!

CLICK HERE to see the Mel Coker Homebuyer Tax Rebate website

More info: Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes

Mel Coker

RE/MAX Metro Associates
www.MelCoker.com
Columbia, SC
(803) 223-6214

FHA Loans - A GREAT Financing Option for Your Home Purchase

Low home prices. Historic interest rates. Tax credits. Stimulus packages. Bailouts. There's a lot of chatter about how these factors affect the real estate market, but not enough talk about a no-brainer financing option... FHA Loans.

Key Points About FHA Loans:

• The borrower must meet standard FHA credit qualifications (there's no set credit score barometer, but a borrower's debt-to-income ratio is heavily considered).
  
• The borrower is able to finance the upfront mortgage insurance premium into the loan. The borrower will be responsible for paying an annual premium.
  
• The FHA mortgage requires a low 3.5-percent down payment, and that money can come from a variety of sources, including parent gifts and HUD downpayment assistance grants.
  
• Closing costs are also low - typically 3 percent of the total purchase price - and may be covered by the seller in today's market. They can also be incorporated into monthly payments.
  
• Eligible properties are one-to-four unit structures, and each state has a purchase price limit (as high as $400,000) for FHA loans.
  
• If a buyer finds a fixer-upper, the FHA 203(k) program can help the person purchase or refinance the property, with the cost of repairs and improvements included in the loan.
  
• FHA home mortgages aren't just for first-time homebuyers. FHA refinance loans can help people get out of toxic debt situations caused by subprime mortgages with high interest rates.
  

CLICK for more Info: Why Should I Consider an FHA Loan


Ready to buy a home in Columbia, SC? 


Contact MEL COKER
Internet:  www.MelCoker.com
Telephone: (803) 388-8011
email:  melcoker@remax.net