Believe SOME Of The Hype. It’s True…

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If you’ve heard or read about an uptick in the real estate market, believe it – a lot of it, anyway.  While we’re not likely to ever see the likes of 2005 again (and that’s OK), homes are fetching contracts in downtown Columbia.

The pics above represent some of our inventory that currently enjoy the coveted “Pending Contract” label.   While I couldn’t put every listing on this post, you get the idea.  Rosebank, Wilmot, Girardeau, Thames, Devereaux, Shandon St, Linwood, Devereaux, Adger, and Congaree are a good snapshot of what’s moving in downtown Columbia, South Carolina.  This quick collection of homes are located within a small geographic proximity of each other which includes The Hamptons, Shandon, Forest Hills, Heathwood, and Wales Garden ranging in price levels of $175,000 – $950,000, respectively.

I don’t want to paint too rosy of a picture here, as the real estate world is far from perfect.  That said, if you’re thinking of putting a move-in ready home on the market, this may be the time to pull the trigger.  To illustrate, we have three families renting at 42 Magnolia and 1 family renting in Forest Hills that are all searching for their perfect four bedroom home in certain school zones.   This glut in the market is a whole ‘nother blog post, but now that I’ve put it out there please call 447-8683 if you know of anything coming to market!

Congratulations to the collection of sellers above.  Hopefully we can turn the “Pending Contract” signs riders into shiny red ones that read “CLOSED!”

FJ

Welcome To The Midlands, Trader Joe’s!

traderjoesFriday is apparently a big day for Columbia and Forest Acres, South Carolina. If you haven’t heard, Trader Joe’s opens its doors on Forest Drive at 8:00AM.

I’ve never been to a Trader Joe’s, but the buzz about this Grand Opening is rivaling the epic PR campaigns of Whole Foods at CrossHill Market and Mast General Store on Main Street.

Here’s what Trader Joes’s is all about:
Our Story:
It all started in the 50s… Would you believe we started out as a small chain of convenience stores? It’s true. Way back in 1958. We were called Pronto Markets. In ’67, our founder, the original Trader Joe, changed our name (yes, to Trader Joe’s) and the way we do business.

We made the stores bigger (if you can imagine), decked the walls with cedar planks and donned our crew in cool Hawaiian shirts. Most importantly, we started putting innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods in the “Trader Joe’s” name. That cut our costs and saved you money. Still does.

And that’s important, because “Value” is a concept we take very seriously. And by value we mean great everyday prices on all of our great products — no sales, no gimmicks, no clubs to join, no special cards to swipe… How do we do it?
We buy direct from suppliers whenever possible, we bargain hard to get the best price, and then pass the savings on to you.
If an item doesn’t pull its weight in our stores, it goes away to gangway for something else.
We buy in volume and contract early to get the best prices.
Most grocers charge their suppliers fees for putting an item on the shelf. This results in higher prices… so we don’t do it.
We keep our costs low — because every penny we save is a penny you save.

It’s not complicated. We just focus on what matters — great food + great prices = Value.

Okay, we skipped over a few milestones, but you can catch them in the Trader Joe’s Timeline. It’s a trip.”

Impressively, Trader Joe’s is a private company and boasts almost 400 stores, half of which are in California.

If I owned EarthFare, The Fresh Market, Bi-Lo, or Publix, I’d be a little miffed at the free media Columbia’s newest grocery store has fetched. That said, I guess that’s part of the game as hype and branding matter.

I’ve been wondering when Trader Joe’s was scheduled to open it’s doors. I’m on Forest Drive pretty much every day, and have noticed the 100ish buggies lined up the length of the storefront for over a week. Apparently, Friday is the day.

Personally typing – Welcome to Columbia, Trader Joe’s! The Midlands is ready for you and I’m sure our family will be cruising your aisles this weekend!

FJ

Columbia’s Newest Real Estate HotSheet

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Newest Real Estate Listings In Downtown Columbia, South Carolina
As you know from previous posts, I’m attempting to bring The Hotsheet (ALL the latest listings to hit the market) back to the blog. This is proving to be a work in progress as I want to make it as easy as possible for readers to browse.

Again, I’ll get it right and in time, make it as smooth as possible for everyone. In the meantime, this edition of The Hotsheet includes the new listings in 29204, 29205, 29206, and 29209 from $150,000 – $10,000,000 within the last two weeks. If the site asks for a Username or Name, just type in “Blog,” (or whatever you want) and you will be good to go.

The market looks to be heating up as there are 68 new properties on the list as opposed to 43 on the last HotSheet.

Thank you!

FJ

Columbia’s Newest Real Estate Listings

hotsheetNewest Listings For Sale @ Downtown Columbia, SC

As you know from previous posts, I’m attempting to bring The Hotsheet (the latest listings to hit the market) back to the blog.  This is proving to be a work in progress as I want to make it as easy as possible for readers to browse.

Here’s the thing.  Rules of the industry make it such that I can’t blast all of the listings on this blog, as it gives the perception they’re all mine.  While all I’ve ever done is use The Hotsheet as a reporting mechanism, this blog is obviously a marketing medium.

Again, ‘putting them all out there’ gives the general public the perception that all the listings are mine.  This isn’t the case, obviously, but I still have to deal with it.  Further, the term ‘medium’ is being intensly dissected in large form by REALTOR Associations around the country.  It’s touchy.  For example, if I want to “Tweet” someone elses cool new listing, do I need to attach the listing agents name to the Tweet?  I dunno, and I’m not sure they do either.

I’ll get it right and in time, make it as smooth as possible for everyone. In the meantime, this edition of The Hotsheet includes the new listings in 29204, 29205, 29206, and 29209 from $150,000 – $10,000,000 within the last two weeks.  If the site asks for a Username or Name, just type in “Blog,” (or whatever you want) and you will be good to go.   Looks like there are 43 new properties on the list.

Thank you!

FJ

Sharp, Polished 4/5 BR Home @ 29206.

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macgregorkitchenTuesday afternoon the awesome home at 3812 Macgregor Drive hit Columbia’s real estate market.  While we’re still finishing up some of the photos (it was rainy yesterday), I thought readers might enjoy “the jump” on this new downtown listing.

Here’s the MLS write-up of this 3,136 square foot Heathwood home: Spacious all-brick 4 or 5 BR home in popular downtown neighborhood. Features include HW floors, smooth ceilings, recessed lighting, 3′ plantation shutters, moldings, and tankless water heater system. Kitchen is filled with beautiful cabinetry, stainless appliances, and granite slab counter tops/peninsula which flows into a keeping area. Owners’ suite contains a private, custom-built bathroom. Downstairs contains a stellar family room w/built-ins, wet bar, & BR5/playroom/bonus. Large, level, fully-fenced bkyd is ready for sunny afternoons & entertaining. This is a polished home zoned for award winning schools and 5 minutes to anything downtown or Forest Acres.

I’ll post more as the syndicated websites pick up the information. In the meantime, if you or anyone you know would like more information or to schedule a showing, please call 803-758-1669 or email fjones@cbunited.com or amandaqpayne@live.com . As you can tell from he address and the remarks above, we’re never more than a few minutes away from this awesome home.

This is a sharp house.

Thank you!

FJ

Different Look: The “HotSheet” Is Back!

SpotlightDowntown Columbia, SC’s Newest Listings: February 1-14, 2013
For almost four years, as many of you know, I regularly posted what I deemed “The HotSheet” on this blog.  If you’re new to the site, “The HotSheet” was a collection of the newest listings to hit the downtown Columbia, SC real estate market.

Turns out, however, I was breaking some rule within our local MLS board.  Something that has to do with the direct feed and how I was projecting it to the public via a public blog. Apparently the direct feed is for individual buyer clients only, and not the public at large. I don’t see what the big whoop was but “OK.”  Either way, I shut it down.

After months of blogging without the benefit of my most popular subject matter, “The HotSheet” is back!  Given the info must come from my company’s feed and not directly from MLS, The HotSheet has a different look and feel.  That said, I’m now in full compliance.

The link is a list of the newest listings to the Columbia market in 29201, 29204, 29205, 29206, and 29209, between $150,000 and $1 Fafillion.  I’ll add areas, zip codes, design, and functionality as we move forward.  Baby steps.

I have to admit, without being able to use The Hotsheet as an informative post, blogging has become more difficult.  As you can imagine, coming up with subject matter every other day is no easy task.  That said, I think we’re back!

If you or anyone you know would like more info about any of Columbia’s newest listings, please call 803-758-1669 or email fjones@cbunited.com or amandaqpayne@live.com .

Happy clicking, and feel free to share!

Thank you!

FJ

New Whittaker Dr. Listing Hits Tomorrow

While I don’t have all the details handy, when it comes to downtown real estate I want readers of this blog to know what’s going on first. That said, the cute house in the pic above on an uber popular street, Whittaker Drive, will be hitting the market Monday morning. At the topographical top of Lake Katherine neighborhood, Whittaker is a low traveled street that connects Kilbourne with Trenholm. Further, Whittaker is just across Kilbourne and Devereaux away from popular Brennan Elementary School.

This good looking, all brick home has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The interior looks great and the backyard features a large elevated deck that overlooks a large, level, fully fenced lawn. More pics to come.

Be on the lookout for details as this listing will hit sometime Monday morning. I’ll be sure to blog with more detail in the next few days.

Thank you!

FJ

Quality Closings Going On @Columbia

As I see folks around town I hear time and again how laser focused we seem to be on King’s Grant, Heathwood, and Shandon. From recent blog posts I can see how readers would come to such a conclusion. Not true!

In the last six business days we’ve closed two homes in Forest Acres, and one in Lexington, respectively. The pics above are of a top shelf home at 112 Glenbrooke Circle in Forest Glen, a townhome at 112 Carlyle Circle in ‘The Laureate’ (Forest Drive), and 128 Circleview Drive – Woodcreek in Lexington.

While I blog about Forest Acres, etc. at the same frequency as Shandon, Heathwood, and King’s Grant, it’s interesting to experience how blogging, perception, and reality mix. Interestingly, many friends would bet money I live in King’s Grant. I’ve heard this assumption more than 10 times in the last year, including today at a listing appointment down Leesburg Rd. The homeowner couldn’t believe I didn’t live in KG.

I only bring this up to squash any perception that we only care about a few areas. To the contrary, we are all over the Midlands and proudly treat every seller/listing the same. Equal www.Zillow.com  presence, equal www.Realtor.com presence, equal time/money time invested (notwithstanding a few videos).

All three of the closings above enjoy top dollar from their respective neighborhoods. Appraisers have already inquired about all three sales in an attempt to use them for nearby sales and refi opportunities. Sidenote: I love it when appraisers do this.

This all said, if you or anyone you know is thinking of or ready to put their home on the market, anywhere in the Midlands, please call 803-758-1669 or email fjones@cbunited.com .

Thank you!

FJ

Owner’s Suite, Waterfront, Satchel Ford!

Yesterday we put a goodie on the market. 351 Laurel Springs Road has a lot of good things, and a little bit of everything.

I’ll write another blog post after the syndicated websites pick up the listing, and include more photos. In the meantime, readers of this blog will have a little heads up of what’s inside. Here’s a quick list: Hardwoods, smooth ceilings, tankless water heater, granite slab kitchen, three living spaces (den, family room, etc), four bedrooms, a new owner’s suite with large bath/closet, finished basement/office/playroom, wet bar, two space carport, circular drive, huge backyard, screened porch and large elevated patio/deck overlooking a Forest Lake pond, and Satchel Ford/Crayton/A.C. Flora school zone. Boom. How bout all that!?

Call or email fjones@cbunited.com or amandaqpayne@live.com if you’d like to more info, or to set up a showing.

Thank you!

Franklin