Community Spotlight - Wellesley

Your next home... Wellesley in Lexington , SC

I recently visited Wellesley in the Lexington area. This is a NEW home community with homes currently being built by Shumaker Homes. Homes (spec or build your home) are currently in the price range of about $170,000 to $225,000. Plans are for 1 and 2 story homes with 3-4 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms.

The homes...
Quaility built by Shumaker Homes, a quality Columbia builder since 1965. Various architectural styles and floorplans are available. Standard features are extensive and there are a wide array of optional features available for upgrade. What's really different here?? ALL homes are certifed green homes! GREEN standard features include: high efficiency HVAC systems, framing efficiencies, EnergyStar appliances, low-e windows, 3rd party performance inspections and much more. Each home is enrolled in the "Environments for Living Certified Green" program.
Click here for examples of current inventory - available for quick move-in

The community... a really convenient location near the intersection of U.S. Highway 378 and I-20. Located just minutes from I-26, U.S. Highway 1, and downtown Columbia or Lexington. Your children will attend Lexington School District One schools. This district is in the top 3 school districts in all of South Carolina. Designed with the family in mind, Wellesley will feature a large multi-purpose swimming pool, a summer kitchen, an Adventure PlayLand and an activity field.
Click for Community website

Mel Coker, your Columbia Realtor, knows Wellesley and about any and all specials available (such as all allowable closing costs paid by builder if using approved lender and closing attorney). Call Mel Coker NOW for a free and no-obligation tour of Wellesley . You'll be impressed! If you decide to BUY a home in Wellesley with Mel Coker as your buyer's representative (free representation), I will provide a $250 Lowe's shopping certificate at closing. Call Mel Coker at (803) 318-2007, or if you stop by Wellesley , please be sure to tell Jimmy Maddaloni or the on-site agent that Realtor Mel Coker sent you out.
Mel's Columbia, SC real estate website
Call (803) 318-2007

10 Tips to Sell Your Home in a Buyer's Market

HOME SELLING 101:

Selling in a buyer's market, with an oversupply of homes and/or falling home values, does not occur often, but certainly presents challenges. My top ten tips listed here should help you and most tips are applicable in any home selling environment.

1. Prepare Yourself for Market Conditions
2. Make a Good First Impression
3. Prepare Your Home for Showing
4. Hire an inspector
5. Make repairs
6. Special touches inside the home
7. Select the Best Selling Agent
8. Set a Competitive Price
9. Offer a Home Warranty
10. Be Flexible and patient

Click Here for my Home Selling Tips webpage with all of the tips above more fully explained. I also have a link (with my membership in the Lowe's Realtors Benefits group) to allow you to receive a 10% off coupon at Lowe's.

Ready to discuss selling your home? Call Mel Coker at (803) 749-5800. I will be happy to discuss my marketing plan and very competitive commission structure. Mel Coker is the exclusive CyberStars Realtor for Columbia, South Carolina real estate.

CLICK for Columbia, SC real estate

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!

Ready to Blog Again!

I got busy and a little lazy since my last blog on April 30th. Now, I'm back and ready to blog. New blogs coming soon will include:

• An update on my "schools" webpage with some really cool links
• A new webpage discussing the significant military presence in South Carolina
• An update on real estate activity in the Columbia area
• A brand new and really significant new tax law break for first time homebuyers
• A return of my "Featured Home Community"

Real estate activity was very good for me in May and June and this resulted in 8 closings in July (my best single month since July 2006).

Ready to buy or sell in Columbia, South Carolina? Call Mel Coker at (803) 749-5800. Visit my website at ColumbiaSouthCarolina.com .

Keep viewing my blog or, subscribe to it!

Hilton Head Island Real Estate - Time to Invest?

NOW may be the time to buy that 2nd home or investment property at the Beach!

My wife and I have owned a condo at Hilton Head Island for approximately 12 years and have been very satisfied with our getaway at a lovely beach destination. We do our own rental program and our rental income has been very good. Our condo is located at Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort. The resort is an oceanfront resort and our condo has an excellent ocean view. The resort has excellent amenities including an oceanfront pool and a nice tennis complex.

Mel & Barbara's Hilton Head Island condo rental

Mel's HiltonHead Island website

Now is a great time to buy as prices have not been lower than in the last 3-5 several years. Inventory is plentiful and sellers are ready to negotiate prices. For example, prices at our resort, start in the low $100s for a one bedroom condo. Also available: 1 bedroom oceanfront and oceanview, 2 bedroom oceanfront and oceanview and 2 bedroom "tennis" villas.

Click here for sample listings

My Hilton Head Island real estate buddies, Johnny & Mary Hiers, are available for real estate consultation for ANY real estate on Hilton Head Island (or off island such as Bluffton and Sun City). We have personally found Hilton Head Island to be a wonderfully relaxing beach getaway destination! Call Johnny at (800) 717-7886 or visit his website at: http://www.thehiersteam.com/ . Be sure to let Johnny know that Mel Coker sent you.

Hilton Head Island MLS access

If you have questions about my experience with beach investment ownership or wish to investigate other areas (such as Myrtle Beach), please call Mel Coker at: (803) 749-5800.

Community Spotlight - Belmont Townes

I recently visited Belmont Townes in the West Columbia area. Belmont Townes is a new and very nice townhome community with a short commute to Lexington or Columbia.

These homes are affordable and quality built by Hallmark Homes. Homes are currently priced between $116,500 and $120,000. It's SMART to buy your own home rather than pay rent!

Belmont Townes is conveniently located about half way between Lexington and downtown Columbia. Also located within 7 minutes of Blemont Townes: 2 Interstates (I-26 and I-20), Lexington Pavilion (includes Target), Lexington Medical Center, Congaree Vista, Wal-Mart Supercenter, and Columbia Metropolitan Airport. This great community has a great location!

Features include: dual owner's suites with private baths and closets, study/office, gas fireplace, 9 foot smooth ceilings on main level, and a private patio. A very reasonable $45 per month regime fee includes all of your landscaping maintenance. These new townhomes are energy efficient too.

BUY a Belmont Townes home and SAVE (build equity with significant tax benefits), SAVE (gasoline) and SAVE (electric bills).

Call Mel Coker NOW for a free and no-obligation tour of Belmont Townes. You'll be impressed! If you decide to BUY with Mel Coker as your buyer's representative (free representation), I will provide a $200 Lowe's shopping certificate at closing. Call Mel Coker at (803) 318-2007, or if you stop by Belmont Townes, please be sure to tell Jordan Hammond that Realtor Mel Coker sent you out.

Belmont Townes: Site Plan Floor Plan

Mel's Columbia, SC real estate

First Time Homebuyer Guide from Mel Coker

Mel Coker's Websites

A Recap of Mel Coker's Websites!

I've been writing my own HTML and owning my own domains since September 1995. That's almost the frontier days of the Internet. My websites have won recognition from various Realtor magazines, including a feature in REALTOR magazine in April 2000. Also, my real estate websites have led to 210 Internet related real estate closings. THANK YOU to my Internet referred clients!

Columbia Real Estate:

Mel's Primary Columbia, SC real estate website - launched in January 1998

Click here for Mel Coker's RE/MAX website - HomeFinder MLS search feature

MelCoker.com * Meet Mel Coker Virtual Tour * About Mel Coker * All Real Estate Agents Are Not The Same

Columbia, SC:

Columbia "A to Z" * Lake Murray * Columbia weather * Mel's Home Page (great links and Internet search features) * Fort Jackson

Vacations:

We own a rental condo at Hilton Head Island and can offer assistance and suggestions for other vacations including Myrtle Beach and Cancun. Just contact us!

Our Hilton Head Island condo * Hilton Head Island * Myrtle Beach * Best Caribbean.info

Mel Coker starts CFL / Energy Savings Initiative

Use Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Bulbs to Save Money and Help the Environment!

I have started a local/national energy savings initiative involving compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. CFL bulbs save money on electric utility bills and are good for the environment. It will also help reduce our energy dependency on other countries and on fossil fuels.

Benefits of using ENERGY STAR CFL BULBS:

• Use 66-80% LESS energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer
• Save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime
• Generate 70 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

I have personally replaced 14 old fashioned standard incandescent bulbs in my home with new technology CFL's. A 60 watt incandescent bulb can be replaced with a 13 watt CFL. I bought about 3 dozen bulbs at Sam's. Wal-Mart also has great prices on these bulbs in multi-packs.

Recently, I started the first “One Billion Bulbs” group in South Carolina. The One Billion Bulbs initiative has a worldwide goal of replacing one billion standard incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Join myOne Billion Bulbs group to learn more about CFL energy savings and register your light bulb replacements. It's FREE! Group reporting encourages participation!

Sign-up today to record your energy savings and let’s compete with North Carolina and Georgia. Both states have much higher levels of membership and recorded savings. North Carolina has 14 "One Billion Bulbs" groups; 106 members and 1215 bulb replacements. Georgia has 10 groups; 104 members and 2924 bulb replacements. South Carolina ONLY has 3 groups (mine is one of these and the first in the state); 5 members and 32 bulb replacements. Please help by signing up in my group.

Anyone (from Richland, Lexington, Saluda and Newberry counties) that signs up in my group through December 25th is automatically eligible for a drawing in December for 2 $25 dinner certificates to be given away.

Mel's One Billion Bulbs Group - Click to sign-up free

Learn more: Mel's CFL web page * Press release to media for Mel's CFL Initiative