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