Insurance Industry Strong in Columbia, SC

Did you know that Columbia (SC) has become a world leader in Insurance Technology and Processing?
It's true.  Recently, THE STATE NEWSPAPER published a nice article on this. CLICK HERE for a link to the article

BlueCross BlueShield Corporate Office in Columbia, SC

There are over 20 insurance companies in the Greater Columbia area and over 14,000 insurance jobs in South Carolina with the majority in the Columbia area.   BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina currently handles 75% of all insurance claims for United States military personnel and retirees.   The company also handles a significant amount of Medicare claims and other health care claims.   The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina data/technology center is one of the largest in the world.
BlueCross Blue Shield of South Carolina JOBS

Other large insurance companies in Columbia include Colonial Life and Seibels Bruce.  Colonial Life is the nation's second largest supplemental insurance company.  Aflac, the number 1 supplemental insurance company, is also moving into the Columbia area with a strong presence.

Looking for a job in the Columbia area?  Consider the insurance industry.

Looking for a home in the Greater Columbia area?  Contact Mel Coker, Columbia Realtor:
(803) 223-6214  |  Columbia, SC Real Estate website  |  Columbia MLS Search

Mel Coker

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NEW RE/MAX MOBILE APP

The most user-friendly real estate search app out there is NOW available from RE/MAX!

As an example of the efficiency and usefulness of mobile apps... My wife and I were looking for a beach vacation home back in 2010 and we identified the home and details for the home we eventually bought initially with a mobile app while driving near the home in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.

The best feature?  Get instant access to nearby homes for sale along with many other useful features such as photos, turn-by-turn directions and more.



Link For YouTube Video for RE/MAX Mobile App
Or, Search on RE/MAX  for your SmartPhone Apps


Ready to BUY?  Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011 or email Mel Coker.

Mel Coker

RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214  Office
Mel Coker Real Estate Website
Columbia, SC MLS Search

Featured NEW Home Community: Peachtree Place

Looking for a NEW home in a GREAT community at an EXCELLENT price?

Let Mel Coker help you buy your home in PEACHTREE PLACE.

Located in Lexington between I-20 Exit 51 and U.S. Highway 1

Peachtree Place features homes built by Essex Homes.    Homes feature vinyl construction, some with stone or brick fronts, and some feature granite counter-tops.  All homes have 9 foot ceilings and offer excellent value.  Prices range from mid-160s to around $200,000.   An example of a current listing:  4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, granite counter-tops and 2575 square feet at $174,900.   That is only $67.92 per square foot!

The community is conveniently located off near Interstate 20, downtown Lexington and an easy drive to downtown Columbia and Columbia Metropolitan Airport.   Excellent Lexington District 1 schools are nearby (Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill Middle and Lexington High).

Mel Coker

READY TO BUY A NEW HOME IN PEACHTREE PLACE?
Call Mel Coker at (803) 318-2007. ( or email: melcoker@remax.net )
Let Mel Coker be your buyer's agent (no fee for client representation), mention this blog article and get a $500 Lowe's Gift Certificate at closing in addition to the great pricing offered in this community by Essex Homes.  Or, call the on-site Essex Homes agent, Ray Ange (803-513-5402) and mention that you saw Mel Coker's blog article.

Relocation?  First-time home buyer?  NOW is the time to buy with great value on new home pricing AND historically low mortgage interest rates.

Call Mel Coker to buy in Peachtree Place  (803) 318-2007

Note:  Mel Coker is not listing agent, but, has permission to publicize.  Mel Coker offers free buyer representation.

An Example of Bad Real Estate Marketing

An EXAMPLE OF BAD MARKETING FOR A HOME FOR SALE IN THE GREATER COLUMBIA AREA:

I've been away for a period of time from my normal blogging activities. Seeing a REALLY BAD listing in the MLS today is bringing me back. I had a client request MLS listing sheets for several properties. One of these currently ACTIVE listings featured the following picture as the FIRST and primary photo in the listing:

I've deleted listing info to protect the inept agent



THIS is terrible marketing by an agent that has been in the business a long time. Looks like his primary objective is to sell  azaleas or some other bush. This primary picture is sometimes the only photo that will show in other real estate websites as the MLS listing is shared through IDX sharing technology.    This is unbelievably bad service by this agent to a client.   I bet the client has not seen this.   And, it's not like the bushes are so close to the home that another photo opportunity is unavailable. Picture #14 of 14 shows this view:

Want GREAT marketing to have the best opportunity to get your home SOLD? (I even email the final listing sheet to the homeowner/seller for review and so they can see what is out on the Internet for agents and prospective buyers.)
Contact MEL COKER at RE/MAX Metro Associates:
Office: (803) 223-6214
email: melcoker@remax.net
Internet:
www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.com/homes
www.MelCoker.com
www.MelCoker.remax.net
www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.us
www.melcoker.wesellhouses.com

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Best Places for Retirement: Columbia, SC

The Greater Columbia (SC) area is a GREAT place for retirement!

There are many reasons to consider retiring to the Columbia, South Carolina area, but, one is the overall tax burden is easier in South Carolina.  Kiplinger recently named South Carolina as one of ten states with the lowest overall tax burden for retirees.  Here is what they had to say about South Carolina being a "tax friendly" state:  The state does not tax Social Security benefits and provides a generous retirement-income deduction when calculating state income tax. State income-tax rates are reasonable, and property taxes are very low. Taxes are based on 4% of the market value of the home (then applied against local millage rate), and senior homeowners qualify for a homestead exemption.
CLICK HERE to read more

  

The Greater Columbia area includes: Irmo, Lexington, Northeast Columbia and the Lake Murray area.  Life-long Columbia resident and Realtor Mel Coker can be your Columbia retirement relocation Realtor.  Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011 or email.

  

Other important reasons to consider Columbia, SC for your retirement:

• Excellent medical care facilities (5 hospitals - includes Dorn VA hospital and 2 heart specialization hospitals)
• Nice year-round weather (snow is relatively rare)
• Friendly people
• Lots of activity possibilities (museums, parks, activity centers)
• Reasonably priced golf courses and golf community homes
• Boating and recreation on beautiful Lake Murray
• Reasonable real estate taxes (and a $50,000 exclusion against taxable assessment at age 65)
• Convenience to fun places: other travel in the Southeast, mountains of South and North Carolina, Historic Charleston, and the beaches in South Carolina to include Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island.
• Reasonable Home Prices! 

 

Examples of average home pricing in the Columbia area:

(closed single family homes; min. 1000 sf; min 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms - as of March 2012)

Overall Columbia area: app. $155,000

Lexington area:  $203,094

Irmo/Dutch Fork/Chapin area: $164,130

Lake Murray waterfront: $497,521

 CLICK HERE: More Columbia Retirement Information from Mel Coker

Ready to Get Started with a SMART Retirement Move?

Contact Mel Coker

Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES

RE/MAX Metro Associates - Columbia, SC

(803) 388-8011

Internet  |  email

A Better Home Page?

What is your home page?  How much really useful info is there?

(the default page that comes up when you start your Internet browser)
It's probably set to the default that your web browser wants you to see.
 Here is a link to the Mel Coker Home Page



I created my own "home page" in the early days of the Internet... way back on September 24, 1995!  It's still out there, but, much improved over the years.  I have all of the best and coolest links for you.  Make my home page YOUR HOME PAGE!

What's on the Mel Coker home page? 

• links to MY websites, including Columbia real estate, Columbia websites, and Lake Murray websites
• Google and other search engine inquiry boxes (Wikipedia, BING, Yahoo)
• The best links for news, weather, sports, financial, investing, travel, health, fitness and much more
• Direct link to Amazon for the best in Internet Shopping

 Just today, I added a new category: Retirement  - since I am getting  really close to retirement, I've found some really great websites.  These links are great for everyone wanting to plan and anticipate for retirement.

There are more really cool links, especially for computers: links for cleaning and making your PC faster, OpenOffice, DropBox, anti-virus, and more.  Almost all of these great services are FREE!

So, I invite you to make MY homepage YOUR homepage.
CLICK HERE for Mel Coker's Home Page
(if you like it, you can click on the PLUS ONE on the webpage!)

Below is a partial view of the Mel Coker Home Page

Mel Coker's Home Page (partial)