Change Your Home Air Filters!

Is it time (or past time) for you to change your home HVAC air filters?   I change mine every 3 months and to keep it easy, I change on these dates: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31st.

I've seen dirty filters like this many times

Changing your home air filters may be the easiest and least inexpensive home maintenance chore that YOU can do yourself.  I see way too many dirty air filters in homes that I show to prospective home buyers (some have not been changed in years).  Changing your filter regularly will help in keeping clean air in your home AND protect your HVAC equipment.

I highly recommend buying premium filters. An electrostatic air filter with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of 11 or higher better protects your inside living environment and your HVAC equipment. A MERV number is used to help compare filters. The MERV efficiency rating is the filters ability to capture specific micron sized particles. A higher MERV rating indicates a better performing filter. A typcial $1 fiberglass filter will have a MERV rating of 1 or so.

Mel changing out a NordicPure Filter - EASY!

I buy premium NordicPure filters directly from the manufacturer and SAVE.  These are about 1/2 the price of similar filters in home improvement stores and are shipped FREE.  I change two filters each quarter in my home, so I buy 12 each time I have to re-order.

CLICK HERE to buy NordicPure filters at discount pricing with FREE shipping
TIP: enter 449600 in coupon code field on your first order and receive one FREE filter (offer may expire)

NordicPure filters arrive 6 to a box

Change your home air filters regularly!

Amazon Kindle Fire

Just Announced Today: Amazon's NEW Kindle FIRE!


Available NOW for pre-order.  Just CLICK HERE:
Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi


Ultra-fast web browsing, movies, apps, games, reading, music and more

Shipping starts November 15th - Orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis.  Order NOW for Christmas gifts!



Read about Amazon Silk web-browsing

  

Mel Coker - Selling White Houses!

OK, there's one White House I can't sell...

Estimated Value $292.5 Million; 132 rooms; large master bedroom; 16 guest rooms; 35 bathrooms; 3 kitchens; 3 elevators; 28 fireplaces; underground bunker and much more on 18 acres

But, I do sell white homes all over Greater Columbia.  See an example below:

Lexington area White Home for sale; 4 bedrooms, 2864 square feet; asking $221,798

Call Mel Coker to buy ANY color home in Greater Columbia.  Call (803) 223-6214

Columbia, SC real estate

Mel Coker

Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO





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 Knows Columbia Real Estate

I saw this t-shirt in Cancun, Mexico week before last... of course, I had to buy it.
CLICK for my Animoto Video for our vacation

But, I do know something about Columbia (SC) real estate, AND, Lake Murray, Irmo, Chapin, Lexington and Northeast Columbia.  When you need to relocate and buy in the Greater Columbia area, call Mel Coker.

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011
Columbia Real Estate

Home Ownership

More pictures and video from the National Association of Realtors Home Ownership Matters Bus Rally at the South Carolina Association of Realtors office in Columbia on Monday, September 19th.

Your vote matters next November 2012 - Congress is looking to reduce and/or eliminate various provisions of law that will hurt home ownership.   The housing market has suffered long enough.  We do not need more interference from the White House and Congress.  The housing recovery is KEY to an economic recovery.

Mel Coker attends the NAR Home Ownership Bus Rally in Columbia, SC on September 19th

Lake Murray

I know it and many other people know it... Lake Murray is a great place to live. Now, BOATING Magazine has placed Lake Murray in their recent list of 10 Best Places To Live and Boat.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE

Barbara and I have lived on Lake Murray for 9 years and we love Lake Murray living.
For up-to-date Lake Murray information, visit my two websites:
Lake Murray, SC
Lake Murray Blog

Mel's Lake Murray Video (ends with a splash!)
Lake Murray Animoto Tour
Lake Murray Guide in eBook format

Ready to BUY a home on Lake Murray?  Call Mel Coker!

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Lake Murray Realtor
(803) 388-8011

Click to enlarge or print

South Carolina is a GREAT Place For Business

South Carolina was named by Development Counsellors International as the third best state in the United State for business development.  A survey of corporate executives were surveyed and named South Carolina third behind Texas and North Carolina.   States named at the bottom with least favorable business climates were California, New York and Illinois.  

http://sccommerce.com//ceos-site-consultants-prospects/business-success/why-boeing-chose-sc

South Carolina has been known for many years to have a pro-business climate.

When you're ready to assist your employees with a relocation to the Greater Columbia area, contact  Mel Coker at RE/MAX Metro Associates.  melcoker@remax.net
  

Home Ownership Matters

I attended the National Association of Realtors Home Ownership Matters Bus Stop today in Columbia.  It was co-sponsored by the S.C. Association of Realtors.    Studies show that home ownership has a significant impact on net worth, educational achievement, civic participation, health and overall quality of life.  67% of American households are owner-occupied.  America is a nation of home owners.

Mel Coker at NAR Home Ownership Bus Tour Stop in Columbia on September 19, 2011

More important FACTS:  home owners’ net worth is typically 31 to 46 times that of renters; housing accounts for more than 15% of the national Gross Domestic Product; home owners pay 80% to 90% of federal income taxes.    An improvement in the housing market is critical to business and job growth in our economy.

Yet, home ownership is under assault by some kooks in Congress.   Some want to eliminate or reduce deduction of mortgage interest (something in place for almost 100 years); there are proposals for higher down payment requirements (as high as 20% down); some want to change FHA borrowing standards and there are provisions in place to place additional capital gains taxes on certain individuals starting in 2013 for real estate transactions (believe it or not, this is in the health care bill).   As a REALTOR member, I support the National Association of Realtors as they monitor and stay in touch with members of Congress related to important  housing and real estate issues.

You too need to be informed and know issues as the upcoming elections approach in 2012.   We need change in Washington!  Know the issues and vote!

Home Ownership Matters Links:
Home Ownership Matters - HouseLogic
The Field Guide to the Benefits of Home Ownership

Mel Coker
(above opinions are personal opinions of Mel Coker)
RE/MAX Metro Associates

Mel Coker's Columbia Real Estate Facebook Business Page

I've opened a FACEBOOK Business Page for Columbia & Lake Murray Real Estate. 

Please take a quick peek when you have a chance.  CLICK HERE to visit my Facebook business page and I would appreciate it very much if you will click the button on the page to "LIKE" my page.  Everyone that does this from Richland or Lexington counties in South Carolina will be in a contest to be eligible to win one of two $25 Longhorn Steakhouse gift cards (ends October 31, 2011).

Thank you.

Mel Coker
http://www.melcoker.com/
http://www.columbiasouthcarolina.us/
http://www.columbiasouthcarolina.us/

New Columbia Real Estate Website

Grand Opening Today:  www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.us
Just opening today is a NEW Columbia, S.C. real estate website that I have built over the past few days.  This new website is in addition to several websites that I have owned and maintained for many years.

This new website has many features and an easy-to-use "Search Properties" feature.  The "Quick Search" and "Search Properties" are both accessible from the front page of my new website.  Use this feature to search for homes in Columbia, Irmo, Chapin, Lexington, Northeast Columbia and at Lake Murray.  If you want me to customize a homes search for you, please call or email and provide me with your home search criteria.  I am a life-long Columbia resident and can use my experience to provide you with the best listings matching your needs.  Ready to buy or relocate?  Call Mel Coker today!

Mel Coker's new website:  http://www.columbiasouthcarolina.us/

CLICK HERE to visit my new Columbia real estate website:  http://www.columbiasouthcarolina.us/

Mel Coker
Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011

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





Mexico Vacation: Our 19th trip

We're back home this week from our 19th Mexico vacation last week.  This time, it was our 3rd stay in Playa del Carmen.   We had a great vacation... fun and safe.   Our Chapin next-door neighbors even accompanied us for this trip.  Playa del Carmen is a rapidly growing resort destination about 45 minutes South of Cancun.

On the beach between The Royal Haciendas Resort and Playa del Carmen

Ready to snorkel at Akumal beach

On this trip, we were really busy with fun side excursions, including: a cave snorkeling trip; a snorkeling trip to Akumal to see tortugas (turtles) and stingrays; day trip to Cancun; trip to see the Mayan ruins at Coba; a trip into Tulum pueblo to eat and shop; and fun shopping in Playa del Carmen and Cancun.   After getting a car rental at the Cancun airport, I drove approximately 480 miles in the Mayan Riviera.

We really like our Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum vacations.  If you have questions, or wish to get my suggestions, please feel free to contact me.   We're looking at a return trip in February 2012.  Join us!

CLICK HERE for my Animoto Video Slideshow

Coba's Main Pyramid: Nohoch Mul is 138 feet tall (a very steep climb!)

Watch the video:



 
 
Mel Coker
Columbia Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011
 

In Memory: September 11

On this day, I pause to remember the innocent victims that died 10 years ago today during these despicable attacks in our country. 

On this morning 10 years ago today, 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets.  The hijackers intentionally crashed two planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City; both towers collapsed within two hours.  Hijackers crashed the third plane, American Airlines Flight 77,  into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth jet, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to take control before it could reach the hijacker's intended target in Washington, D.C.  Nearly 3,000 died in the attacks.


National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
9/11 Interactive Timeline
The September 11 Digital Archive
September 11 Attacks - Wikipedia
National 9/11 Memorial and Museum - Wikipedia
Understanding 9/11 - A Television News Archive
Front Pages - September 12, 2001
THE STATE Newspaper (Columbia, SC) Remembers 9/11


My Favorite DVD to recap 9/11 Events:
National Geographic: Inside 9/11 (Commemorative Edition)




Our Visit to New York City in 2001 - Barbara on Brooklyn Bridge

 


View of World Trade Center from Statue of Liberty