Live Happy in Greater Columbia, SC

Do you live in an UNHAPPY CITY?  The U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research just released a study with a listing of the unhappiest metro areas with a population of over one million.   Weather is a big factor in being happy and many of the 10 unhappiest areas have really cold and hard winters.  Another factor for stress in the unhappiest cities are high housing costs.  Some of the cities have severe economic struggles and are losing population.

The Top Ten Unhappiest Metro Areas:

"Top of Rock Cropped" by Dschwen - English Wikipedia.  Used with permission

1. New York, NY
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Louisville, KY
4. Milwaukee, WI
5. Detroit, MI
6. Indianapolis, IN
7. St. Louis, MO
8. Las Vegas, NV
9. Buffalo, NY
10. Philadelphia, PA



Mel's suggestion for a HAPPY PLACE TO LIVE:  Greater Columbia, SC

Home on Lake Murray

Friendly people, reasonable home values and taxes, nice weather with mild winters (usually NO snow), highly rated school districts, good employment opportunities, exciting recreational opportunities, beautiful Lake Murray, fun retirement living.

Ready to move?  Contact MEL COKER.
Mel Coker - Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO
RE/MAX Real Estate Consultants
(803) 318-2007
Columbia & Lake Murray MLS Search

Lake Murray

Lake Murray Update:

Want to know what's happening at Lake Murray and with Lake Murray home prices? Be sure to visit my Lake Murray website and Lake Murray blog. On my latest blog, I provide stats on home price changes over the past 5 years along with other market conditions. Check out my Lake Murray website, blog and eBook for the best Lake Murray information online.

Lake Murray Blog

Lake Murray Website

Lake Murray eBook!

Open publication - Free publishing - More lake murray sc

Lake Murray Sales Report

Lake Murray Sales Update

I've put together the most complete Lake Murray sales update you will find anywhere. My family has enjoyed living on Lake Murray for 6 years now. We bought a lot on Lake Murray in the Chapin area in 2001, built one year later and moved in during August 2002. We love Lake Murray living!

Lake Murray is one of the finest lakes in all of the South. The lake is approximatley 41 miles long and has over 640 miles of shoreline. The lake has fantastic fishing and is a great place for boating and water sports. We enjoy going out for lunch or dinner by boat.

More information:

Mel Coker's Lake Murray website

Mel's Lake Murray Blog

Sales Report as of February 26, 2009:

Current waterfront homes for sale on Lake Murray:

#195

Average Price: $742,221

Avg. square feet: 3280

Avg. $/s.f.: $226.45

Avg. Days on Market (DOM): est. 218 *

*Avg. DOM: the MLS provides a DOM number, but, this does not include homes listed for sale and never sold, and homes listed and withdrawn from market and re-listed and those listed that expired and were re-listed. My previous analysis of such situations reveal on average a number that is in the range of 25% higher for DOM. So, my DOM figures includes this 25% upward adjustment.

The current average listing price is higher than expected or normal due to the somewhat higher number of Million dollar listings currently active on Lake Murray. Currently, there are 35 homes for sale on Lake Murray listed at $1,000,000 or more. In fact, the average price of these 35 homes is $1,648,676 with an average dollars per square foot of $299.83. The average DOM is at least 231 days. The bad news is the fact that only 4 million dollar homes sold on Lake Murray in 2008 (only 3 sold in 2007). Consequently, there is enough current inventory to last over 8 years. If you are in the market for a really expensive home or million dollar home, you're in luck because there is great selection of such homes and pricing may be very good. It's definitely a buyer's market for such homes.

Excluding the million dollar homes reveals a market analysis of active homes for sale that is in much closer proximity to the actual closed results in 2008:

Active homes for sale on Lake Murray (excluding Million dollar homes):
#160
Average Price: $543,934
Avg. square feet: 2795
Avg. $/s.f.: $194.61
Avg. Days on Market (DOM): est. 216

Closed waterfront homes on Lake Murray in 2008:
#98
Average Price: $545,431
Avg. S.F.: 2884
Avg. $/S.F.: $189.10
Avg. DOM: 144

Further analysis of Lake Murray waterfront home sales over the past 5 years:

2004: (over the previous year)
Number of sales: UP 19.8%
Avg. Price ($/S.F.): UP 19.4%

2005:
Number of sales: UP 10.1%
Avg. Price: UP 6.9%

2006:
Number of sales: DOWN 11.1%
Avg. Price: UP 13.1%

2007:
Number of sales: DOWN 3.7%
Avg. Price: UP 4.7%

2008:
Number of sales: DOWN 25.2%
Avg. Price: DOWN 5.2%

Lake Murray is still the water playground for central South Carolina! When you're ready to buy or sell on Lake Murray, contact Mel Coker.

Mel Coker
http://www.melcoker.info/
Columbia SC real estate

Lake Murray Home Sales Update

What's happening with Lake Murray home sales?
The summary answer is: number of sales down somewhat, prices are stable overall, lots of current inventory with an especially large number of million dollar homes for sale.

I analyzed home sales over the current year and past 2 years (sales through September 30th of each year). Significant findings:

• Number of sales down 18.9%
• Average and median prices UP slightly 4.87% - 6.0%
• Avg. Days on Market for closed transactions has remained stable over the 3 years at around 100 days
• The Avg. $ per square foot for closed transactions has remained stable over the 3 years at around $188 to $193 per square foot
  

Regarding "average" prices, a property with a significantly better home and/or lot will demand a much higher price than average.

For current homes for sale at Lake Murray:

• Lots of inventory (208)
• Average "asking" prices somewhat higher than past year's actual closed results

Another interesting fact: There are currently 38 homes for sale over $1 million. In each of the past 2 years, there were only 3 sales per year of million dollar homes. So, lots of these homes will not sell or will be on the market for a long-time. Certainly, there should be real buying opportunities with these homes!

For my complete Lake Murray home sales analysis in PDF format, CLICK HERE.

When you are ready to complete a Lake Murray real estate transaction, be sure to contact Mel Coker. I can assist you with buying an existing home or waterfront lot. Also, I offer the best marketing program to get your home sold in this very competitive market, along with a very competitive commission rate.

Watch for my Columbia real estate sales report coming soon.

Mel Coker
Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI
(803) 749-5800
www.ColumbiaSouthCarolina.com/homes
http://www.lakemurray-sc.com/

Lake Murray... Fishing and Living

Lake Murray is happening! I have lived on Lake Murray the past 5 years. It's a great place to live, fish and have fun.

The BIGGEST fishing event in the WORLD is on Lake Murray from August 14-17, 2008... the Forrest Wood Cup Championship. You can participate by attending one of the following: daily weigh-ins, family fun zone, concerts and an outdoor show.

“The Forrest Wood Cup is the crown jewel of professional fishing and the biggest sporting event of any kind held in South Carolina this year,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans.

The top 77 professionals and 77 co-anglers in the world will compete for a $1 million top award in the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol. This is bass fishing's world championship!

The “Best Damn Sports Show Period” will tape a show Aug. 16 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Colonial Center, and country music fans will be treated to a free Tracy Byrd concert hosted by WCOS-97.5 FM at the Colonial Center Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. Admission to all activities is free, and participants in the Ranger boat drawing must be present during the Aug. 17 weigh-in at 5 p.m. to win. Forrest Wood Cup contenders will launch at 7 each morning from Lake Murray Marina and Yacht Club located at 1600 Marina Rd., in Irmo, S.C. Additionally, Fox Sports Net will film the fishing event for broadcast in late September.

Click Here for Forrest Wood Cup information and Schedule of Events

Click Here for the Press Release

The movie "Cast" documents professional bass fishing! On sale at the host site.

Want to live at Lake Murray? I've got two homes in a very nice Lake Murray community, Night Harbor, for sale. Both homes have a boat slip that comes with the home. These homes have been drastically reduced in price (as of August 6th) for a quick sale. Both homes are all brick and quality built by a long time Columbia builder. These hoomes feature other amenities such as hardwood floors, granite counters in kitchen, quality kitchen appliances and a screened porch.

Click for more information:

221 Daymark Drive -- reduced $17,000 to $351,850

309 Lighthouse Lane -- reduced $20,000 to $356,450

Ready to view or buy? When you're ready to buy or sell at Lake Murray, call Mel Coker at (803) 749-5800. I'll also be very happy to provide a Lake Murray tour by pontoon boat!