Busy week in the Ville

Love the costume at the Summerville tree lighting

     My family and I were able to make it out to the Tree Lighting which was so much fun.  I could not believe all the people and it just goes to show that Summerville is one of the fastest growing areas in South Carolina.  It was wall to wall people but everyone was in a great mood and enjoying the festivities.  I was entertained by young children singing Christmas music, I got full eating free cookies (I always enjoy free cookies), enjoyed seeing some costumes, and checked out all the tents and booths.  There were also some great Christmas trees that were well decorated.  This is what's great about living in a small/medium town.  It's not too large to do these fun events, you always see people you know and yet it's not so huge you are miserable being there.  The only drawback was finding a parking spot.  Afterwards we enjoyed some Kickin Chickin.
    I hope some of you are going to the Parade on 12/12.  Go early to get a parking spot.  Here are some pics of the Tree Lighting.

They do a great job in Summerville for Christmas

the Free Cookies

                            Merry Christmas
                            Summerville, SC

             Easy on the Egg Nog

Tis' the Season - for Real Estate!!!!

Summerville, SC Christmas Tree

The holiday season is upon us here in the Holy City.  We had 70 degree temps and beautiful weather for Thanksgiving.  It’s often the same for Christmas, but there’s always a chance for a cold snap.  There will be all sorts of holiday parades and Christmas tree lighting's.  And of course the James Island County Park’s 26th Annual Festival of Lights has already started and will run through New Year’s Day.  The Gaillard Auditorium has been completely renovated and they say the acoustics are world class.  Here is a list of December events in Summerville and around town:

December Events:

1: Summerville Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:00

3-5:  A Living Christmas Story at Bethany United (Summerville)

2-20: A Christmas Story, Dock Street Theatre

4-6: Christmas Candlelight Services, Citadel’s Summerall Chapel, 7:30pm

4-20: Miracle on 34th Street, Footlight Players Playhouse

5-6: Nutcracker Ballet, Gaillard

5-20: Charleston Christmas Special, Music Hall

5: Tree lighting, Marion Square

5: 15th Annual Christmas Concert, Ashley River Baptist Church

6: Christmas at the Sotille with Charleston Men’s Chorus, 44 George St

6: 35th Annual Charleston Christmas Parade, 2pm Marion Square

6: Christmas Concert by CSO Brass Ensemble, St Thomas Episcopal

6: David Sanborn, N Chas PAC

8: Jill Scott, N Chas PAC

10-12: Handel’s Messiah by CSO, Gaillard

12: Folly Beach Christmas Parade

12: Parade of Boats, Maritime Center

12: 25th Annual Reindeer Run

12: 38th Annual Kiawah Marathon

13: Summerville Christmas Parade at 2:00

13: Mt Pleasant tree lighting and parade

17: HipHop Nutcracker, N Chas PAC

17: Summerville Third Thursday

17: Country Unplugged, Gaillard

18: Christmas with the Charlestones(a cappella), St Matthews Lutheran

19: Nexton's Cocoa Cup 5K

2: Judy Collins, Chas Music Hall

22-23: Elf the Musical, N Chas PAC

24: Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker, N Chas PAC

27: Blue Dogs, Chas Music Hall

31: Edwin McCain, Chas Music Hall

31: Viennese New Years Eve Ball, Black tie Gaillard

Our real estate market continues to set records each week for buying activity for this time of year.  We always have a seasonal slow down starting some time in October and usually lasting through February.  While we have slowed down from the incredible summer pace, we are still far ahead of years past for this time of year.  We are up 14% in terms of number of transactions  over 2014 YTD and will likely surpass 15k residential units sold by the end of 2015.  That will be our 3rd busiest year ever.  Low mortgage rates continue to encourage buyers to move forward.  And median sales price is up about 5.2% and is pretty stable right now around $230k-$235k.  New construction makes up about 40% of what we currently have under contract.  It is much higher than that in specific areas like Goose Creek, Johns Island, and north Mt Pleasant.  Short sales and foreclosures percentages are now low enough that they are not really relevant anymore.

As always please allow me to your Realtor and Real Estate consultant and have a great December and Merry Christmas.  Call me at 843.696.8627

A true story of a Summerville Scam

How do I know this is a true story?  It happened to me this week when I went to the Meineke at the Car Pros Plaza located on Trolley Rd.  A few months ago they had a deal that I pay one price and I get 4 oil changes which at the time sounded like a good deal and a way to save money.  My first trip there I figured was a fluke because I arrived and 2 hours later I left with an oil change.  It was a long time and they never came out to communicate with me why it took so long but I am a person willing to give a second chance - that came this week.

I called the day before to schedule an 8:30 oil change and I arrived on time. They took it immediately back and about 45 minutes later that technician (I wish I knew his name) came out to say my FRONT brakes were very bad and needed changed. I asked how much time were left on the front brakes and he said less than a month and went on to say that front brakes get replaced twice as often as rear brakes.  I am not a car guy so I took him at his word and he said it would only take 25-30 minutes to replace.  After two hours I inquired as to why my car was not done and nobody and given me any information why it was taking so long. The lady at the front desk walked back and when she returned she told me, "they are wrapping it up now."  I was slightly irritated at this point and said "fine."  Thirty minutes later I walked around the building and into the garage and asked the same technician why my car is not done yet. He made up some excuse about the ordering the wrong front brake pads and he was about to do it.  I thought this strange because my tires were still on the car which means they had not even started it.  I told him he had 10 minutes to get my car to me and walked out. Thirty minutes later my car was driven around to the front and the service manager Paul told me that my 2011 front brakes really needed 2012 pads which is why they could not do it.  Not one person came and spoke to me in the 3 hours and 45 minutes I was there. During my time they continued to lie to me and fabricate stories and I still did not have front brakes.

Skip to the next day I when I dropped off my car to Geralds Tire on Dorchester Rd (near Ladson).  I dropped it off and put on the after hours form I need new front brake pads.  The next day they called and said it was done and I picked it up. As I was waiting for to pick up my daughter at school I looked at the receipt and it said they replaced the REAR brakes. I called Michael at Geralds and asked why he did the rear brakes.  He informed me my FRONT brakes had over 1/2 of the pad on it and in no way needed replaced but the REAR brakes were relatively nonexistent.  When I told him what Meineke said his response was, "I have no idea why they would tell you that."  I realized at that point the Meineke - Car Pros Place tried to scam me.

DO NOT GO TO THE CAR PROS PLAZA ON TROLLEY ROAD UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.  Please share this post with everyone you know. After posting this story on my personal Facebook page I had numerous stories of very similar issues.  Don't forget to share this story with all your friends.

Avoid this place - They are scammers and will lie to you!

Life's stress

     Wow, it's been busy around here lately.  Do you ever find yourself with too many things to do and not enough time?  If you are a parent, homeowner, spouse, employee, business owner or a human you just answered that question with a resounding YES!  For me personally I'm busy getting new clients, working with old clients, being a dad and husband, and trying mentally to prepare myself for what's to come - Holidays!  Last night I forced my wife to accompany me to the fair so I could hear a couple bands I like but to be honest I wanted the food. It was a night away from chaos, home repairs, and a teenage daughter (whom I love dearly).
     As I had ACE Chimney here this morning inspecting my chimney and fireplace I thought what are some stressful things.  Here are my top 4.

1. Parenting - whether you have a newborn, toddler, teen or adult I'm pretty sure this ranks up there as high stress.  Each new phase of life brings with it new stressors and as I realized with a teen-aged driver those stressors go up with each developmental milestone.
2. Marriage - This can one of two ways. I am blessed to not have a stress-filled marriage but many people do. I'll rank this as the #2 most stressful situation but ONLY if you marry the wrong person. Marriage was formed to be a blessing but as many of you know often times it's the opposite. Want a great marriage - put the other first!
3. Home ownership - It never ENDS!  As I mentioned today we had a chimney company come and inspect our chimney/fireplace because I have no idea if it worked and I have no interest in burning down our new home. Yeah - it works fine and now is clean (or I guess as clean as a chimney can be - I did not do the white glove test on it).  Home ownership is full of chores, projects, honey-do lists, caulking, plumbing, hanging lights, cleaning out garages, washing windows, installing windows, vacuuming, pressure-washing, landscaping, mowing, etc, etc, etc... Sometimes it be downright aggravating and exhausting.
4. Finances - The number one reason for divorce usually is due to finances or at least tied to it.  I could probably write a book how finances tie into the first 3 of these life positions because it really does seep into all facets of our life.  Unless you live South of Broad you are probably not born into a huge supply of money and therefore you are forced to live within the restraints of your budget/checking account.  (I think I'll do my next post on real estate finances - exciting stuff).

There you have it.  Right before the holidays I give you life's greatest stressors.  I hope that as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach (remember - these are times of reflection and periods in our life to reflect on the positive) you and I can re-focus and see the positive.  It's there but sometimes you have to be creative to find it.

-Jason

Update on Mayoral Election

Collins vs Johnson
Summerville, SC Mayoral debate

Have you ever watched a debate on TV? The most recent one was the Democratic Debate on CNN where the argument still persists over who won, Hillary or Bernie.  I'll leave my own political agenda and ideas out of this for now but I do notice one BIG theme in every debate - there is always more than one candidate.  It's very difficult to debate oneself.  Unfortunately, for the residents of Summerville, this may be the case on October 21st during our Mayoral debate because our current mayor, Bill Collins, has decided due to his hectic schedule he cannot make it.  Do any of you find this ironic?  I ask because his opponent, Wiley Johnson, did not make an appearance for the Chamber Forum a couple weeks ago but he did provide a reason, whether you agree with it or not.  Wiley opted out because he did not feel he could clearly make his point and provide reasons why Mayor Collins has not done a good job over the last 4 years because the Chamber was not going to allow any questions regarding his last 4 years in office. See my last post for an interview I had with Wiley Johnson.  SIDENOTE - I did reach out to Bill Collins via email (per his request) with a list of questions but I have not received a response yet.    Wiley wanted an opportunity to showcase his reasons and ways that Collins did not provide the transparent leadership the townspeople deserve but he was going to be denied that opportunity.  So why can't Bill Collins show up to debate Wiley Johnson?  I don't know but in a time of transition and I feel residents should demand a level of transparency  and I for one am disappointed not to see both in action during the debate.

Bill Collins -if you are reading this please be a part of the debate against Wiley Johnson?  We the people tend to assume the worst when politicians do not show up.

If you live within the city limits of Summerville you can vote on 11/3. Not sure if you reside in the limits, click HERE.

Wiley Johnson - Mayoral Candidate

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet Wiley Johnson and sit down with him at Coastal Coffee to discuss the upcoming Mayoral Election.  Wiley exudes confidence in his chances of winning and looks forward to the November 3rd election so he can instill some positive changes into our great "little" town.  Of course our "little" town is the 7th largest city in South Carolina and if you drive down our roads you won't call us little.  Actually, there is a strong chance you'll use other words as you sit on Main Street through multiple red lights.

Disclaimer - I am not endorsing any candidate nor will I. I am here to report what I read and what I hear. 

As I got to know Mr. Johnson the word that kept coming to me was "transparency."  As a resident of Summerville for over 20 years, and his wife born and raised here, they are committed to our town and feel they have the majority of residents supporting their platform.  The boutique hotel/condo/parking garage/retail, known as the Dorchester, and Wiley's opposition to it is what prompted this non-politician to enter into the world of politics because he feels he will make a difference.  He is frustrated by what he refers to "behinds closed door" meetings where many of the town decisions are made without the residents (tax-payers) knowledge and he insists that when he is mayor those doors will remain open for all to hear and even be televised.  Wiley discussed the Redevelopment Corporation (RDC) that is responsible for many of the decisions of the town (such as the Dorchester) and that committee is made up on the Town Council and the Mayor which as he feels goes against the heir of transparency and trust from the town.  One rumor going around is that he will decrease police wages but insists there is nothing farther from the truth. He says the Summerville Police are one of the lowest paid in the area and feels this needs to be improved upon. One thing he does not understand is why the town is spending $35,000 for two Harley Davidson motorcycles for "crowd control" when that money could be better used elsewhere.  A very important issue for Wiley is keeping our "grand old trees" in town and especially in the Historic District.  He feels we need to add sidewalks and crosswalks, have better lighting, place utilities underground and overall improve our infrastructure.  We are growing so fast we can't keep up and we are 20 years behind on our infrastructure needs.  Wiley discussed the sidewalks that Mayor Collins boasts about and says those were paid for by a HUD grant (to be used on low-income areas) but the sidewalks were not built in a low-income area of town.  Mayor Collins had the downtown area declared a low-income area so he could use HUD funds to refurbish Hutchinson Square.  One big part of his platform, he is insistent on, is that the town hire a qualified and experienced town administrator and that position not be filled by the Mayor.  When asked what will be the first thing he'll do as mayor he said he will "inspect all aspects of the town operations."  Wiley wants to weed out inefficiencies and duplication of effort.  Another issue at the forefront of our town is the sheep island exchange.  The current council and mayor want for a road to be place directly through the subdivision of Weatherstone and the residents are against that.  This would be a part of the new interchange off of I-26 but Wiley said why not just expand Sheep Island Rd so children are not crossing a major road to go next door.

Wiley has the passion to run our town because he is invested in it and has been for years.  He and his wife ( a retired teacher) enjoy going to the Continental Corner for dinner or Palmetto Flats and strolling beneath the old trees in town.  He pushes for transparency in our local government and does not feel we have been informed of the entire truth regarding many issues.  Some folks in town believe we are run by a "good-old-boy" network and that needs some rearranging.  Wiley served our country for many years in the air force, was a commercial pilot, and now wants to run our town with a renewed energy and willingness to consult the town before making decisions that will cost the tax-payers.

I am appreciative of Mr. Johnson taking time out of his very busy schedule to meet with me and I hope you, the residents of Summerville, find this helpful. Please make sure you get out there and vote on November 3rd.  Last election period only 4,000 (give or take) residents voted and we are close to 50,000 in town.  Your vote makes a difference and in my opinion you cannot complain if you do not vote.  For more information on Wiley and his campaign go to https://onecmc.com/wileyformayor or his Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Wiley-For-Mayor.

-Jason

The Summerville Mayoral race

Who will be the next Mayor of Summerville?

     Have you been following this?  It seems we have a pretty good race between Mayor Collins and Wiley Johnson.  I am very disappointed because I registered to be at the Chamber of Commerce forum tomorrow night (Tuesday, the 13th) but I just read on Wiley's Facebook page he will not be attending because the Chamber is not allowing questions about the last 4 years of Mayor Collins reign.  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  If I were running for a political position I would take every opportunity to be seen and heard but if Mayor Collins is unwilling to address his last 4 years that should spark some concern as well.  It looks like there could be a debate on 10/21 in the council chambers off Cedar Street but at this point who knows who will show up.

     I'm very interested in hearing what Wiley and Bill have to say about our great town of Summerville. Yes, we have some issues that need addressed such as the hotel, traffic, lighting, and some infrastructure issues but we need to hear from both candidates in a neutral setting and one that allows for honesty and true debate.  I've reached out to both candidates to meet with me so I can post their vision and plans on this site.  Hopefully they're willing to meet and I'll get you the most updated information on them.  Be an informed voter!

     Wiley has been a resident of Summerville since 1975 according to the Post and Courier article linked here - (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150511/PC16/150519860/wiley-johnson-to-challenge-bill-collins-for-summerville-mayor).  He feels the town is going in the wrong direction and you can see his plans below for our town.

According to Collins4mayor.com here are his accomplishments:

Paid off the bonds on the existing parking garage that saved taxpayers over $500,000 in interest payments;

Purchased 53 new police cars, hired five new officers, put in an $800,000 communications system and replaced the air-conditioning system in the police headquarters

Purchased a new fire engine, built a new fire station, employed eight new firemen and began renovating yet another fire station;

Built a new office and maintenance facility for the Parks and Playgrounds Department, renovated the interior of the Cuthbert Community Center, opened two new parks — the skate park and Oakbrook Nature Trail, started a cricket team (the Summerville Sandlappers), refurbished the boardwalk at Jessen Boat Landing, resurfaced tennis courts in Azalea Park and on Laurel Street, beautified two quadrants at I-26 and Exit 199, and developed a new plan for renovation of Hutchinson Square and renovation of the old armory on Hickory Street;

Spent $5 million resurfacing roads in Pine Forest, Gahagan, Marlin Estates, Robynwyn, Newington, Corey Woods, Brownsville, old Summerville, Parish Park and Oakbrook;

Built new sidewalks on W. 1st North Street, E. Richardson Avenue, South Gum Street, Parkwood Drive, Wassamassaw Road, Woodward Boulevard and North Magnolia;

Began movies in the park at Gahagan ball fields;

Annexed Colonial Dorchester on the Ashley River;

Synchronized traffic signals on Main Street;

Expanded the Farmers’ Market;

Staged four annual Summerville Cares Days of Service that brought hundreds of volunteers out to work on projects all over town;

Worked with 500 of our citizens who came out to give us their ideas for Summerville’s next 25 years as council developed a vision plan for our future;

Established free WiFi in downtown Summerville;

Moved Municipal Court from the police station to town hall and hired new judges who are all attorneys;

Created permits to allow sidewalk dining and citizens to bring coolers to events in our parks.

From some of the letters to the editor, one might think Summerville is in chaos.

According to Mr. Johnson and his site https://onecmc.com/wileyformayor here are his plans for our town:

• Our traffic is the number one problem that needs attention. Of course, pedestrian safety with ease of circulation is an important consideration.

• The Town should hire a professional and experienced Town Administrator. Part of this can be paid for by a reduction of the Mayor’s salary from $45,000 to the 2011 level of $15,000.

• We need increased citizen participation in major decisions and spending, not decisions made by a few behind closed doors. Stop spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on unnecessary consultant fees.

• The Town needs a top-to-bottom assessment to weed out inefficiencies and duplication of effort.

• We need increased transparency in our government, with televised public meetings, and increased disclosures on the Town’s web site.

• The Town infrastructure should be well maintained with our current tax millage remaining at the same level or lower. We should not raise taxes for pet projects without taxpayer consent. Growth should pay for itself without raising taxes.

• The Town should develop and follow proper procedures for awarding bids. Our system now is flawed. We will get rid of the Good-Old-Boy system of awarding bids!

• Our downtown and Historic areas should be preserved and polished not modified beyond recognition. No high density development in Downtown! No high-rise buildings in Downtown.

Why is my home not selling?

Need your home sold?

If you've ever tried to sell your house either FSBO (this is a whole other blog) or with a Listing agent (like myself) you may have asked this question. I was previewing homes this morning for some of my buyers on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and I noticed a lot of homes near me that are just not selling.  Of course, because I'm human, I jumped to conclusions as to potential reasons for this such as bad pictures on the MLS, no video, no pics at all, bad description, no marketing, etc and I came across a conclusion.  Most of the homes I looked at that are not selling look pretty good on the MLS.  It's amazing what a professional photographer can do versus your cell phone.  It pays to get professional pics for the MLS because it takes the average person about 3-5 seconds to decide if they want to take a further look at your home and that 3-5 seconds are based on the pictures you have.  If your Realtor/agent is using their cell phone maybe you need a different agent!

Here is my conclusion.  We have a great market here and if your home is not selling you gotta ask yourself why.  Here are my top 3 reasons your home may not be sold yet:

1. Unprofessional or bad pics on the MLS,  Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc
2. Your agent listed your home on the MLS and then forgot about you.  There has been no additional marketing, your home may or may not be listed on other social media sites, and they are not acting on your behalf (and this includes weekly communication).  When I list a home I go above and beyond to make sure everyone knows about your home for sale.  A good Realtor will pay for marketing, do social media blasts, let their colleagues know about your home, make videos, get great pictures, post signs, hold open houses, etc.
3. If you have a good Realtor (a Realtor is different than a real estate agent) then maybe you are not listening to them and their advice.  We are trained to read the market, understand comps, and list your home at a competitive price but if you signed your listing agreement then the Realtor works for you and maybe you are stubborn, hard headed and think you know best.  If your home is not selling maybe it's not staged well, maybe it smells or is dirty, maybe you need to upgrade the carpet and maybe - just maybe you need to lower the price.

If you have any interest in selling your home I'd suggest you give me a call or email me at Jason.Gregg@kw.com and I'll go over my 12 step marketing plan to get your home sold!

-Jason (and yes - I'm a Realtor)
Keller Williams Realty
843.696.8627

"Windows" to the soul? No...Just windows!

Who know there is so much to consider when buying windows?  It seems that as technology improves, energy efficiency rises, and creativity inspires this does not only apply to most things in life but also to windows.  After we moved in and we realized that every time it's windy outside our blinds and curtains move and maybe we should get some estimates on new and improved windows.

This week we are obtaining 3 estimates, 2 local companies and one big box store.  So far the 2 companies have come in neck and neck and tomorrow we get the big box quote.  During this process I have learned a lot about windows and realized there is a lot more to learn. The salesman today told me that with new windows and their improved technology they estimate a 30% efficiency improvement in my home which correlates to better savings.  That's significant.  At around $400.00/window on average they should pay themselves off over the years but it makes me think how much am I losing due to my 23 year old, non-efficient, broken windows?

I learned that one of the biggest changes in technology is the Low-E glass which basically means greater efficiency. This glass is created by applying a microscopic, undetectable metallic coating to the glass which helps it to block heat which is key here in South Carolina.  It appears that pretty much any reputable glass company now uses this glass and along with the vinyl, double hung and argon gases in-between the panes it makes for better comfort and monetary savings.

Top 10 reasons to install new replacement windows:

1. Curb Appeal- Older windows on your home may look outdated or unattractive. Changing out the windows with new replacement windows will help give your home the look you are aiming for and improve the curb appeal.
2. Ease of Use- New windows are easier to clean because most are built with a tilt-in feature. This allows you to tilt the window in to quickly wash the exterior of the window instead of doing so from the outside of the home.
3. Safety- Many older windows become very difficult to open and close over time. This can also lead to the windows not being able to remain open and falling shut.
4. Noise Control- New windows provide better noise control from the outside commotion. If you live close to a main road or have noisy neighbors, new replacement windows could make for a world of difference!
5. Energy Efficient- Replacement Windows will offer improved energy efficiency for your home. Older windows tends to have air leaks and let drafts into the home. The improved efficiency can help cut costs on heating and cooling bills!
6. Value- New replacement windows will not only make your house look more appealing, but they are an investment that will add to the total value.
7. Maintenance Free- Windows now come with great low maintenance features – including no painting!
8. Comfort- A certain comfort can be brought to your home by replacing the windows. It can assist in  providing a warmer environment, and you can also move furniture closer to windows to help expanding your living area.
9. Window Security- New windows can also aid in easing fears of break ins and intruders. Double locks and interlocks double strength glass for high impact resistance.
10. Enjoying the View- Your old windows may have become foggy, scratched or dirty over time. Installing new windows with new glass can help give you a clearer view of the outside world!

 http://pennywindowstl.com/replacement-window-reasons/

Ready to move? Call me today

Jason

843.696.8627

I went...I conquered...I enjoyed

Yesterday my friend Greg and I went to the Flowertown Funky Firken Fest and had a great time.  The weather was perfect, the people were nice and beer was great.  This was my first beer festival and I am hooked.  It was well organized and nobody there was acting like a drunk fool.  I met some really nice people who were there to enjoy the atmosphere and the beer.  One such couple was out enjoying their first date out in 10 months due to a recent addition to their family.  If David is reading this, Hi!  The vendors were from all over the state, although my bias was drawn to the more local ones and I really enjoyed the crafts by Frothy Beard and Greg enjoyed the Holy City brew made with chocolate and bananas.  Yes, you read that right. I loved the creativity the vendors brought to the festival as there was so much diversity in taste.

Than you to all who made this event happen and allowed Summerville to continue to have that "cool" factor that we have finally achieved.  My wife and I typically prefer to go downtown the 'Ville for a date night versus that big city of Charleston.

Funky Firken Fest in Summerville

Until next time,

-Jason

Fall or Autumn?

Can you smell it?  Can you feel it?  It's a little cooler out there in the mornings and it feels so good.  If you live here in South Carolina where we often reach triple digits then you know just how great morning temps in the 60's are? I love it.  I texted my friend Jenn B. last night and said, "Do you know what time it is?"  Her response was 6:55.  She was accurate but the better answer was, "Time for pumpkin rolls" b/c she makes some good ones.

Do you call it Fall or Autumn? Odds are you call it fall and I did a little research into the difference. Why?  Because I'm just a little bit of a nerd.  The period from late September to December was originally known as Harvest which reflects the time of bringing in the crops.  The word Fall comes from the old english word feallan which means "to fall or to die."  This got changed to "fall of the leaf" because as we know the leaves change into glorious colors and fall from the tree. Hence - we get the word Fall.  Autumn has Latin roots and comes from the latin word autumnus which also means to fall.

So get out there and enjoy Harvet/Fall/Autumn and you can start tonight in downtown Summerville at the Harvest Festival between 5-8:00. Hope to see you there.

There - you are a fall/autumn expert now!

If you see these 2 fantastic ladies in or around Summerville make sure you wish them a Congrats on winning the paintings from the Summerville Farmer's Market Saturday.  Roxie (left) and Amanda (Right) are the two winners.  LiveinSummerville.com is happy to give them these amazing paintings by Brian Lariviere (a local painter) and encourages everyone to check out www.liveinsummerville.com at least weekly for updates and event information.

Farmer's Market Fun

Tomorrow I am hosting the Corporate Table at the Summerville Farmer's Market and I'm really excited.  My purpose and goal in this is to get the word out about  this site, www.liveinsummerville.com.  I hope to make this the one stop shop for residents and visitors of Summerville.  Actually, you can help me by coming to visit me tomorrow, spreading the word about the site and checking it often.  Also, if you stop by my table and see me you can sign up to win one of these awesome sweet tea paintings done by Summerville resident Brian Lariviere.  I'll be raffling these off, giving out free water, giving away drawstring backpacks and talking about real estate needs if you have any.  I hope to see you there!

come win this sweet tea painting

If you have never visited the local Farmer's
Market you are really missing out. We love to
shop here and load up on local fruits and 
veggies and sometimes arts and crafts.

Don't miss this weeks!

Summerville, SC Sweet Tea

PSA - Palmetto State Armory

I'm not sure if having a shooting range is a controversial issue in Summerville or not. I find the topic of guns, gun ownership and gun control can be very divisive which is why I usually keep that opinion to myself.  But, the Journal Scene reports that the Palmetto Armory is under way with it's 30,000 sq ft building that'll have 18 shooting lanes.  I've been to the one in Mt. Pleasant and it's a gun owners paradise but no shooting ranges.  It'll be nice to have this open by June 2016 so the Heritage eyesore will finally be gone.  I don't understand how Earth Fare was build to quickly and PSA has taken 2 years just to begin.  Politics?  Slow Government?  What do you think?

Shooting Range coming soon to Summerville, SC

Funky Firken Fest - Say that 3x fast

     Once again Summerville is getting cooler.  Not only do we now have our own brewery (Oak Road) and Homegrown and Accent on Wine but now we are getting out very own craft brew festival.  It's called the Flowertown Funky Firken Fest and I can't wait. I dare you to say that 3 times fast at church!

     I was speaking with a bartender at Homegrown about this Firken Fest and he said it's going to be amazing.  With over 20 craft breweries and unlimited sampling it's a beer lover's paradise.  The Breweries are focusing on sour, barrel aged and wild brews (no idea what that even is) but it sounds good.  Brad, owner of Coastal said they are shutting down the street that Coastal and Oak Road are located on which is pretty cool and there will be food trucks.  I don't know what it is about food trucks but their food always tastes great.  I can only assume the food trucks are there to help absorb the alcohol from the unlimited tasting that will be going on.  The cost of this event is $55.00 which may sound a bit steep but the bartender told me these are one time brews that will not be made again so it's a pretty unique situation. I know I'm going to try and be there.  What's not to love? I love craft beer and food trucks!

Here's the Link to more information - LINK

Come out to the Funky Firken Fest for some of these!

Golfing in August

           

     Today was one of those days I could have made a better decision but because I am relationship driven I chose people over comfort.  I believe most Realtors do that every day because in general we are outspoken and community oriented which is why we try and help people find the right community.
      Today my brother, myself, Roy and Lou went out to play 18 holes in the close to triple digit temperatures and we had a great time.  Unfortunately, my back 9 was pretty horrific and I completely fell apart but as a minor league hacker I was not too upset.  How can I be upset with my golf score when  on average I play 2-3x/year.
     Because I am not actually a golfer but a hacker I tend to look for the best (aka cheapest) deals around but I also enjoy a decent course. This rational way of thinking led me to Pine Forest Country Club located in Summerville.  We got a great deal at $18.00/pp and this included the cart.  My 2 hot-dogs and a Gatorade cost me over 1/2 of my greens fee.      It was a beautiful, and hot, day and the course was in pretty good shape. The greens started to really show down around 12:00 but overall they were in good condition. The fairways were cut short but the longer grass on the sides was pretty challenging to hit out of.  I would say most of the holes have bunkers and water (yeah - I lost quite a few balls today) which does not make this course easy but still challenging enough for me and the typical golfer. Have a little accuracy here is important b/c of all the man made water holes and bunkers and they tend to lie in front of the greens.  On the greens, as mentioned are a little slow, but they do run true.  It's pretty tough to find a green that is flat which means you may have a lot of balls roll right past the hole.
     Overall I give this course a 8/10. If you have not played it I highly recommend it. It's a pretty course but watch out for those houses that lines most of the holes. Also, make sure you have a few extra balls in the bag because you're gonna need them.

-Jason

Pine Forest golf course view in Summerville