Waterfront Home Hits Market @29206

August 1, 2013 by 1 Comment

WestshoreViewHow bout this extraordinary and creative home in the middle of the Forest Acres/Arcadia Lakes?!

‘Westshore’ has 3,358 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. There may be too many features to list, but a few include a HUGE family room with vaulted ceilings, uber modern/designer kitchen, and an owner’s suite complete with magical/aquarium designed bath and large closet.

While the living space of 6444 Westshore is awesome, the star of this property is the waterfront exposure. Located on one of the larger ‘Forest Lakes,’ this home has a luxurious ‘large water view’ which is very rare so close to downtown, Columbia, SC. The setting is primo, and sets up perfectly for entertaining and nightly enjoyment.

As a side note, 6444 Westshore is about 100 yards from popular ‘Rockbridge‘ which is one of Columbia’s most popular tennis and swim clubs. #PrettyCoolPerk

Neighbors include soaring ducks, bass, bream, a bunch of finchy/roadrunner looking birds, and an occasional blue heron (yes… the Litchfield/Pawleys type). I’m tellin’ ya, take your fishing pole!

If you or anyone you know would like to know more about this home, please call 803-447-8683 or email fjones@cbunited.com . This property is really fun to show.

Thank you!

Franklin

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The Only Closing I’ve Shed A Tear. :**|

June 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

AtascaderoThursday afternoon my wife, Jennifer Sparks Jones, posted this on Facebook; “End of an era for Franklin Jones … 1919 is ready for its new owner.” Of the hundreds of posts I’ve typed on this blog over the years, there has never been a more accurate statement.

For our Facebook friends who were perplexed by Jennifer’s post, here’s the deal. The house in the pic is where my late wife, Kinsey Black Jones, lived when we were married. What’s the big whoop, you may ask? Well, while we were only married 11 months, she passed away over 10 years ago. While my brother and I lived there a couple of years after she died, the house has been vacant all this time. I’ll let you do any mortgage/power/water/lawn maintenance/taxes math your mind can imagine. :/

Why did I keep the house? Truth told, I just liked having it. It’s the house I lived in with other fellas for a few years before Kinsey kicked them out; Michael Jones (brother), Scott Brown, Graem Clark, Adam Crosson, Trav Robertson, and a few others come to mind. 1919 Atascadero is where members of The Junior League of Columbia would pick Kinsey up so she could fulfill her shift schedule (she wasn’t allowed to drive after chemo treatments). It’s the house Mrs. Black (Kinsey’s mom) and I shared the last four months Kinsey was at Baptist Hospital. It’s where I lived when Jennifer and I began dating. It’s the house in which I ran the palmetto tree/collegiate mailbox flag business. It was in the driveway of Atascadero where Jennifer convinced me that I should become a REALTOR. Like my beautiful niece, Liz Black, “commented” on Jennifer’s post, “Sorry, it’s hard for me to be excited about this. My few memories of my aunt being healthy are in this house. :(” #Oof. #Bittersweet.

Fast forward to today. After all these years, why would I finally care about selling the house? A few reasons. 1) It’s the right thing to do. Duh… 2) Finley. 3) Twin girls on the way! In short, it’s ‘future time’ for our family, not ‘memory time’ for me.

Heart felt tugs to Jennifer for letting me be me, and lots of “Thank Yous” to friends like Amy Ackerman Cartin, Townes Denemark, Ginny Hairston, and Amanda Payne for having to hear about it and deal with it over the years.

Tonight Jennifer, Finley, and I cleaned out the last little bit of belongings that have been in the house since I moved out. This weekend I’ll go through Kinsey’s Hammond School bag she left at the house so many years ago. It will be interesting to see whose kids I know, and to wonder/find out where they are now.

Congratulations to the new owners of 1919 Atascadero Drive! I hope you’ll love the house as much as I do.

To Liz Black..Thank you, and please know I love you so much. This is a good thing, I promise. :**)

FJ

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Home For Sale @ Forest Acres: $189,900

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

CherryLaurelCherryLaurelLivingCherryLaurelKitchenCherryLaurelBackMonday afternoon we put 2007 Cherry Laurel Drive on the market.  Located just off of Forest Drive, this move in ready home is smack in the middle of popular Forest Acres.

Cherry Laurel has 1,704 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 and a half baths.  Here’s a portion of the MLS remarks:  “Beautiful updates and shining hardwood floors. Eat-in kitchen with stainless appliances. Huge family room with cork flooring, small kitchenette, and full bath. New siding. Fenced backyard with recently installed retaining wall/planter boxes that include drip lines; remodeled deck; full sprinkler system; storage shed; and patio area. HVAC ’10. 2 paved driveways plus 1-car garage w/workshop.”

As nice as some of the features are, three standout IMO: 1)  The large downstairs family room is awesome (not pictured above) .  This will serve someone well as a playroom, game room, over-sized man cave, or Wii Room.  It’s as large or larger than most FROGs of a $500,000 home. 2) The double driveway is cleverly done.  There’s enough room for multiple cars, trailers, and/or boats…or whatever.  Folks can comfortably store a boat and still not have to ‘tandem’ park.  3)  Satchel Ford Elementary school.

Physical features notwithstanding, the best quality is the location.  Cherry Laurel is two blocks from what I call the ‘Forest Drive Corridor’ and only blocks away from Gold’s Gym, Trader Joes, Bonefish, and Trenholm Plaza (Starbucks, Fresh Market, Café Caturra).  Further still, the property is only 5ish minutes to I-77, or anything downtown Columbia.

If you or anyone you know would like more info about this updated Forest Acres home, please call 803-758-1669 or email fjones@cbunited.com / amandaqpayne@live.com .   It’s a pleasure to show.

Thank you!

Franklin

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Inventory Is Moving In The Midlands…

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

BlossomBlueWorchesterMacgregorfront1

Mackays6CopperfieldWhittakerWhile I obviously post about real estate all the time, every now and then I like to break it down to a super local level. While MLS rules won’t let me report everything that’s closed, I can surely post what’s going on within our team. After all, every homeowner likes to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. Enter the pics above.

While we presently have a few dozen seller sides Pending Contract, 3215 Blossom St., 3 Worchester Court, 3812 Macgregor, 6 Mackays Point in King’s Grant, 11 Copperfield Ct., 1326 Whittaker Dr. are a good collection/snapshot of what’s happening in the downtown Columbia, SC real estate market. What am I getting at? If a home is in “move-in ready” condition and sports a fair asking price, you may want to start packing your stuff.

This all said, if you or anyone you know is thinking of selling please call 803-758-1669 or email fjones@cbunited.com. We’d love to provide you or any potential seller with a comparative market analysis. It’s what we do!

Thank you!

FJ

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Columbia, SC’s Newest MLS Hotsheet

April 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment

hotsheet

This weekend’s weather may have been on the cool side, but as far as real estate is concerned spring has sprung!…and this edition of The HotSheet has some good stuff.  71 properties have hit the Downtown/Forest Acres market since I published the last list.

This Hotsheet includes the newest listings that have come to Columbia’s market within the last 14 days (one of the ‘drop down’ time spans I can choose from) ranging from $150,000 – $1 babillion in the downtown Columbia, SC zip codes of 29201, 29204, 29205, 29206, and 29209.

As you know, if you or anyone you know would like more information or to view any of these properties please call 803-758-1669 or email fjones@cbunited.com or amandaqpayne@live.com .

Thank you, and have fun clicking!

FJ

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Welcome To The Midlands, Trader Joe’s!

March 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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

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Quality Closings Going On @Columbia

February 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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

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Owner’s Suite, Waterfront, Satchel Ford!

December 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

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

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Premier Home Hits Market @Columbia, SC

August 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

5.000 Feet, Top-Tier Materials, 3-Car Garage, Semi-Private Pond

Every now and then we come across a home that simply has too many features to mention. 17 Ashworth just may be one of those properties. Sales puff and descriptive fluff aside, this house is big, slick, clever, and replete with top shelf everything.

I can’t do it justice behind this keyboard, but 17 Ashworth features a hotel-style foyer, wide-plank pine floors, and a semi-open plan that somehow still features formal areas.

The professional-grade chef’s kitchen is full of commercial-level awesomeness, which spills into the formal wet bar and spacious breakfast area. Steps further is the “morning room.”  Nice!!

The owner’s suite is as well thought out as any in the Midlands. The grand master has a spacious bath area with dual closets (hers complete with vanity), and a private den that’s symmetrically-aligned with the aforementioned “morning room,” both of which overlook a semi-private pond. I’m telling you… it’s good.

I’m not sure I can think of a finer home to entertain. I’ve been to a few parties here and the “flow” is right on. All of the doorways are gracious, and each area flows into the other without friction or congestion.

The outdoor areas are just as fine. The three-car garage is primed for auto enthusiasts, and the grilling patio is one step off the kitchen. The back fully-covered patio is the dot in 17 Ashworth’s exclamation point, as it overlooks the semi-private pond and spray fountian. In short, there’s nothing here not to love.

If you or anyone you know might be interested in downtown Columbia, SC, at it’s best, call or email fjones@cbunited.com or amandaqpayne@live.com. 17 Ashworth is close to everything downtown, Forest Acres, Trenholm Plaza, and is a pleaure to show.

Remember, for larger images, click directly on the photo instead of the arrows on the MLS link.

Thank you!

FJ

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Snapshot of Inventory Under Contract

August 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

When folks ask me, “How’s the market?”, I give a conscious effort not to answer with a good ole’, “GREAT!”, or “Couldn’t be better!”  If you know me, you know full well that being salesman(y) is something I try to avoid.

Could I spin a huge spool of good news and awesomeness within a few sentences? Absolutely, but it’s just not me. After all, Amanda and I have a lot of active listings and a lot of work ahead of us to get them sold.

This all said, the blog gives me the opportunity to project a snapshot of what’s going on. The pics above are some examples of our listings “Under Contract” that you may otherwise not know about. A couple of interesting dynamics about the homes above: 1) They reflect different price levels ($249,000, $289,000, $389,000, $699,000) and 2) All four represent very different neighborhoods within downtown Columbia.

Circle Drive (Forest Acres), Somerton (King’s Grant), Blossom Street (Shandon), and Lincoln Street(Elmwood Park) are all at different stages of their respective due diligence periods. Appraisals and inspections have been ordered on a couple, while the other two haven’t navigated very far through the process. Even so, they’re Pending Contract, and that’s a good thing.

In sum, inventory is moving and I thought you might like a quick read of what’s going on in a few downtown Columbia, SC neighborhoods.

Thank you!  FJ

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