Clean Air in Your Home

How's the air in YOUR home?

Research has found that in homes across America, the quality of indoor air can be worse than outdoor air. Problems can arise from moisture, insects, pets, appliances, radon, materials used in household products and furnishings, smoke, and other sources. Effects range from minor annoyances to major health risks. Remedies include ventilation, cleaning, moisture control, inspections, and following manufacturers' directions when using appliances and products.

Click Here for Mel's Home Clean Air website

Changing AC & furnace air filters in your home is probably the easiest and most effective way to have clean air in your home. I see way too many dirty air filters in homes that I show to prospective home buyers. I highly recommend buying premium filters. Basic and inexpensive fiberglass filters should be changed every 1-2 months and premium filters can ususally be changed every 3 months. Do you know your filter size(s) and when was the last time you changed your filter?

Dirty Filters I've seen lately (I see plenty of this!)

The Coker's Change Filters Quarterly!

Click Here to Buy Quality Air Filters at LOW prices

Radon is a significant contaminant that affects indoor air quality worldwide.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is NOT typically a problem in central South Carolina (Lexington, Richland, Newberry, and Kershaw counties). However, The US EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and National Safety Council recommend testing your home for radon because testing is the only way to know your home's radon levels.

Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive. You can do it yourself with a short-term test kit. These kits typcially include the lab analysis as part of the cost.

I did the testing in my Lexington County (SC) home this week. I ordered one kit from the National Safety Council and another kit (First Alert) from Amazon. Both kits arrived within about one week. The kits are less than $13 each and include analysis after the kit is mailed back. One kit was out for 2 nights and the other kit was out in my home for 3 nights. I mailed the kits back on Monday and Tuesday of this week and both had results posted online today (Thursday, September 24th). My results were 1.1 and 1.2 pCi/L. The Lexington County average test result from radon.com is 1.6 and the USA national average is 1.3. So my results were very low. A test result above 4.0 pCi/L would indicate a need for radon remediation. If the radon level in your home is between 2.0 and 4.0 pCi/L, the EPA recommends that you consider
correcting the problem in your home.

Go to my Clean Air web page to order your radon test kit.

For more home clean air information, tips, and links, please view my NEW Home Clean Air website. It covers air filters, radon, mold, moisture, Home Tour potential problem areas, and much more.

Click Here for Mel's Home Clean Air webpage

NEXT Blog... Take a Myrtle Beach vacation (at a great price!)

Mel Coker

Save Money On Home Improvement

Ready to start a Home Improvement Project? I may be able to help! (at least with helping you save some money)

I am an affiliate member of Carolina Wholesale Floors. This company offers excellent products and service out of a very nice showroom in Columbia. You can only get in with a card from a member. I offer, upon request, a FREE admission card to this awesome showroom. On most products, the discount is 40% off of the listed price in the showroom.

Carolina Wholesale Floors has the following products available and on display: carpet, hardwood floors, ceramic and porcelain tile, stone, area rugs, laminate or vinyl.

Call or email Mel Coker for your FREE member referral card. I will mail this to you (or stop by my office). Visit my webpage for more information.

I'm also a member of the Lowe's Realtor Benefits program. As a member, I can offer real benefits to my clients and friends. Visit this webpage to request a FREE 10% off coupon (on up to $5000 with limited exclusions). I can also send you my HGTV/Lowe's email with access to helpful videos and a 10% off coupon. Just send me an email with your name and email address.

Also, please request my FREE Lowe's Client "Inside-Out" E-Newsletter. Just send me an email with your name and email address. I'll set you up for the FREE monthly email newsletter. This newsletter will contain helpful hints and tips, new and innovative products and projects, and periodic money-saving coupons at Lowe’s. It's FREE and with NO obligation of any kind... be sure to request this!

Ready to buy or sell real estate in Columbia, SC? Be sure to contact Mel Coker.

Click here for Mel's Real Estate website or call (803) 749-5800

NOW is the Time for First-Time Homebuyers!

Opportunity of a lifetime for first-time homebuyers? Maybe so!

NOW is a Great time to buy a home for anyone... and, now especially so for first-time homebuyers.

Reasons to BUY NOW: Build equity (increase net worth)... deduct mortgage interest and property taxes on federal and state tax returns... lots of home inventory... LOW interest rates... prices in general have slowed or remain steady and now Congress has enacted a law to encourage home ownership for first-time homebuyers (The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008).

Quick Facts About NEW Law Provisions for First-time Homebuyers:

• The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only. (anyone who has not bought a home for the last three years is eligible)
• The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
• The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period (it's an interest-free loan!).
• The home owner does not have to begin making repayments on the credit until two years after the credit is claimed.
• If or when the home is sold, the remaining credit amount would be due from the profit on the home sale. If there was insufficient profit, then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven. (THIS provision is BIG... it's almost a guarantee or protection that the home value will increase during the period of the tax credit payback)

More information:

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - National Association of Home Builders

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Summary - National Association of Realtors

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit FAQ - National Association of Realtors

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - About.com

I have created a special website: First-time Homebuyers Guide

This covers home-buying benefits and 9 steps to buying your first home. I have also created a RENT vs. BUY comparison that shows the huge savings when you BUY a home. CLICK HERE for the rent vs. buy comparison

Home Buying = Wealth Building!

Ready to BUY a home in Columbia, South Carolina? Contact Mel Coker.

Columbia, South Carolina Real Estate

Call (803) 749-5800

South Carolina's Military Bases

The Miltary has a very strong & beneficial presence in South Carolina...

The State of South Carolina has a long and significant military tradition from the Revolutinary War to the present war on terror. Our state also has a signifcant presence of military bases which provides a strong economic impact for the state and local communities. Many military retirees also choose to live in South Carolina for retirement. In fact, per capita, South Carolina has more military retirees living in our state than any other state in the United States!

In South Carolina, we have the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and a Joint National Guard Base. Did you know?

• A total of $7.3 billion in sales accrues annually to South Carolina businesses because of the military’s overall presence in the state
• Across South Carolina, a total of nearly 142,000 jobs are directly or indirectly supported by the presence of the military (or, approximately 8% of total employment in SC)

I have created a "Military Bases in South Carolina" web page at my Columbia "A to Z" website. CLICK HERE to visit this webpage and to learn about each military base/depot in South Carolina.

Also on this web page are summaries and links for several excellent miliatry museums in South Carolina including: Patriot's Point in Charleston, Medal of Honor Museum at Patriot's Point and the South Carolina Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia. I highly recommend all of these fine museums!

Mel Coker's "Military Bases in South Carolina" website

Ready to BUY or SELL a home in the Columbia area? Contact Mel Coker at RE/MAX Metro. Call (803) 749-5800 and ask for Mel Coker.

School Bells Ring!

Columbia, SC schools start this week...
Schools have started in the Greater Columbia area this week. Please be sure to drive carefully in the vicinity of schools and school buses. Slow down and observe lower speed limits near schools (the cops are watching) and remember to NOT pass a stopped school bus.

I have a "School Districts Links" page at my Columbia "A to Z" website with Columbia area school district links and much more. Click Here to visit.

On this web page you will find the following informational links:

• Columbia area public school districts
• Columbia area private schools
• S.C. Department of Education links
• "Cool" Homework assistance/Other educational links
• Links to "529 Plan" info, including the S.C. Future Scholar
  College Savings Plan, and South Carolian LIFE and HOPE scholarship programs

UPROMISE COLLEGE SAVINGS

If you're a parent of a child (especially very young child), you SHOULD investigate UPROMISE. Very simply, this FREE program turns your everyday spending into college savings for your child or children. Hundreds of companies (Amazon, Sears, Best Buy, Exxon, CVS, Publix, Piggly Wiggly and many more) will contribute to your FREE account when you make a purchase (some only with online purchases). Earn by registering your credit cards and grocery cards in your free online account or by shopping online. You can also get others registered in your account (like grandparents or others without their own children using Upromise) to help accumulate money for your child's college account. NOW is a great time to sign-up as UPROMISE has a $100,000 College Dream Sweepstakes effective through September 30, 2008. Visit my schools web page and click on UPROMISE to get started.

Ready to BUY or SELL a home in Columbia, SC?
Call (803) 749-5800 or email Mel Coker
Visit Mel Coker's Columbia Real Estate website

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!