Happy New Year!

Happy New Year - 2008! Get out your new calendars, remember to write 2008 for all dates AND be sure to make some new year's resolutions! Enjoy your black-eyed peas, hog jowls, hoppin' john and ham and collard greens on New Year's Day.

I've compiled Mel Coker's TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS based on my extensive research (not necessarily my personal resolutions):

1. Lose weight
2. Get in better physical shape
3. Spend more quality time with family and friends
4. Reduce or eliminate debt
5. Set a budget and/or reduce expenses
6. Quit smoking
7. Learn something new / develop a new talent or skill
8. Drink less alcohol / quit drinking
9. Find a better job
10. Get better organized

Tips for making (and completing) effective New Year's Resolutions: set only 1-3 realistic goals; write down your goals; take baby steps (break goals into tasks with deadlines); go public (tell others about your goals); track your progress; reward yourself; if you slip up, recommit!

Great links:

Hoppin' John

Blackeyed Peas and Collard Greens

USA.gov New Year's Resolutions and and helpful links

Wikipedia New Year's Day

Fun Facts and Figures from the Goals Guy

101 Resolutions

Tips for Making New Year's Resolutions: MyGoals.com * eHow.com * For Kids & Teenagers

Please keep reading my blog in 2008... I'll have interesting blogs on Columbia real estate, Columbia stuff, cool vacations, prize give-aways and much more.

Click here for a FREE subscription to immediate blog updates thru my FeedBurner.

Mel Coker

http://www.melcoker.com/

Chapin Girls Basketball Wins Holiday Tournament!

Congratulations to the Chapin High School girls varsity basketball team for winning the Newberry Classic basketball tournament this past week at Newberry High School. My daughter, Kelly, plays guard on the team. Game victories included: 60-32 over Woodruff on Wednesday; 47-32 over Clinton on Thursday; and, 59-25 over Newberry in the championship game on Friday night.

Grace Kemp (from Chapin) was the tournament MVP and on the all-tournament team along with Layla Neal. Team members (and tournament scoring totals above 20 points): Grace Kemp (35), Ashlee Wilson (33); Amy Lepper (26); Layla Neal (25); Kelly Coker (23); Kelli Carr; Savannah Frick; Becca Gilligan; Haleigh Hipp; Noel Holmes; Lauren Lorick; Stephanie Moose.

The team is coached by Mark Shelley and the team record now stands at 10-3. The Chapin Lady Eagles played in the first round of the state 3A playoffs last season and hope to advance further this season in the state playoffs. Go Lady Eagles!

Click here for Chapin Lady Eagles schedule and results

Another team pic

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Coker family in Chapin, South Carolina!

We hope you will have a wonderful Christmas day and we offer the very best wishes for a new year in 2008.

Interesting Christmas links:
The Real Story - a new website from the Bible Society
Christmas Story Quiz - 25 questions
Christmas Worldwide
Nativity Art
Top 25 Christmas Songs - ASCAP
Top Selling Christmas Albums

Please keep watching my blog in 2008 for interesting blogs and some cool stuff!

Mel Coker

Online Shopping!

I've recently done some of my Christmas shopping online. I was able to get great pricing and FREE shipping at Amazon.com . With over 7 Internet domains, I am an authorized affiliate for some of the biggest names in online shopping including: Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Carnival Cruises, Dell, GoDaddy, Kodak Gallery, Sony, Staples, Zappos and more.

www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.com/shop

Also, check out my Best Deals at Amazon Store - Click Here!

I've also got a webpage up that lists all Columbia area shopping malls and shopping areas with links to their websites: www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.com/shopping.html

Community Spotlight - Stoney Pointe / Turkey Pointe

TWO Chapin communities are in the spotlight this time... Stoney Pointe & Turkey Pointe. Turkey Pointe is in Chapin, located just behind the Food Lion shopping area, and Stoney Pointe is located across the road from Chapin Elementary School and adjacent to the shores of Lake Murray.

Both communites currently have NEW homes being built by local builder Rymarc Homes. The motto of Rymarc Homes is "Making the American Dream Affordable." In both Stoney Pointe and Turkey Pointe this is certainly the case. All homes are "build" jobs which allow for a homebuyer to build with base features which are very nice or upgrade with a very nice list of amenities. Both communities feature about 19 floor plans with prices in the $115,000 to $160,000 range. Stoney Pointe features a community center with swimming pool and playground area and a community pond for fishing and a walking trail around the pond.

SPECIAL DEALS... in December only: write a build contract and get $10,000 off all floor plans in Stoney Pointe or Turkey Pointe AND $2150 paid by the Seller towards closing costs. These incentives available only with the use of the approved lender (NVR Mortgage) or cash. Your Realtor, Mel Coker, will also provide a $300 Lowe's shopping certificate with his buyer representation (incentive at closing).

NOW is a great time to buy a NEW home.... Incredible builder incentives, a special incentive when Mel Coker represents you in buying a home and really low mortgage rates. I f you are renting a home, NOW is the time to OWN your home. Call Mel Coker at (803) 318-2007 to discuss these communities or to make an appointment. email

BuyNowBuildNowColumbia!