Everything Greenville SC BLOG

Current Events Greenville SC Jan. 21st

To view the full text of this newsletter online go to:  http://Newsletter.GreenvilleSCRealEstate.Net

Greenville SC Real Estate Newsletter   January 21st Foreclosure Edition Greenville Foreclosures According to Realtytracs report on the national foreclosure market, December of 2008 saw a surge in overall foreclosures.  The national numbers were up 17% from the previous month and 41% over December of 2007.  For the year, 2008 had 81% more foreclosures than 2007 and 1.84% of all U.S. houses had at least one foreclosure filing.  The Greenville market for these properties took a big jump in 2008 and ended up having 1.17% of all homes see a foreclosure filing and placed number 67 on Realtytracs list.  Topping their list was Stockton, CA, touting 9.46% of homes with a foreclosure. We will probably see more of these distressed homes hit the Greenville market in the coming months, but I estimate there to be about 150-200 current homes on the market as foreclosures.  At least half of these are under $100,000…for more see the on-line newsletter.   Greenville Home Values Appreciate Despite the increase in local foreclosures, there has been good news for overall values in the Upstate.  In Zillows recent home value report of 163 metropolitan areas through the third quarter of 2008, the Upstate of South Carolina held its own against the rest of the nation.  Nationally, home values plunged 9.7% in the past year, but the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson areas made the top ten for most appreciation.  Greenville (7th) came in at a 2.8% gain…(Greenville SC Homes) Table Rock Cabins Renovated During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps created a lot of state parks as part of FDRs New Deal program to help stem unemployment.  Table Rock State Park was one of these and the sought after cabins at the park are undergoing renovation that will bring them up to historical standards. The park service has employed a crew with historic restoration experience and is consulting with the park’s historian to ensure that updates and furniture are appropriate to reflect the area... Christmas reservations usually fill up about a year in advance...(Table Rock Renovations)   Cliffs Mountain Park Gary Player Offices Now Open Gary Player has officially opened its operations office at the new Village at Mountain Park, one of the new Cliffs communities in the northern part of Greenville County.  The office is a central feature in the exclusive golf community and will house events, the real estate and design divisions, and also contain a trophy room and merchandise shop. The theme for this office is A Taste of Africa in tribute to Gary Players heritage in South Africa…(Golf and Waterfront Communities South Carolina) Upstate Weather There was a slight  snow dusting on Sunday in Northern Greenville County and another dusting Monday. So far the snow has not stayed on the ground. It will be a bit cold with the lows in the 30s and highs in the 50s.  If we’re fortunate, we Might get 2-4 inches of rain that will help fill up the local reservoirs.   Select Greenville SC Foreclosure Properties      702 Austin Woods Ct. $159,900 MLS# 1170045 Last sold price: $207,000  on 6/12/07           Ben Taylor Rd $129,900 MLS # 1166515 Last sold price: $180,000  on 4/26/06             63 Birdsong Lane $112,900 MLS # 1171998 Last sold price: $154,000 on 8/28/06     For more information on these properties click here or Call 864.679.0707 Lee Cunningham   CALL ANYTIME 864.679.0707   Quick Links... Greenville SC Real Estate Search for Homes About Us Sources: Greenville News, Greenville Journal, GSA Business Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Homes for Sale Greenville South Carolina If you are planning a visit to the Upstate, please give us a call at least two weeks prior to your arrival so we can be fully prepared to assist you.  Make it an awesome week, Lee Cunningham GRI, ABR, CRS, SRES, E-Pro The Cunningham Team RE/MAX Realty Professionals

Asbestos Prevention Important for South Carolina Citizens

One of the hardest hit states in regards to asbestos is South Carolina. Several mining and shipping industries call the state their home and were responsible for the manufacturing of asbestos due to the natural deposits found in South Carolina. One of the hardest hit sectors is the shipping industry. Asbestos was utilized to avoid fires because of its flame resistant qualities. Used throughout the 20th century, homes, buildings and public facilities may still contain large amount of asbestos. If you are a potential homebuyer, remodeling or foreclosing an older home, citizens of South Carolina should be aware that asbestos exposure can cause many significant health problems. Due to asbestos being used as a main material in building insulation, it is important to take the proper removal methods to take out any toxic materials which could severely harm people’s health. Frequent exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can cause a severe form of asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma Most asbestos used in the United States was imported from other countries although it has been mined in South Carolina. Mesothelioma treatment is limited to a handful of options. Lifespan can vary from patient to patient depending on the age of diagnosis, latency period and quantity of cigarette smoking. With the current economic downturn, home foreclosures in Greenville, South Carolina, and throughout the country are occurring at a high level. Removing asbestos by a licensed professional is worth the expense and time. Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors. These contractors are trained in handling dangerous materials and are licensed in their appropriate state. It is strongly recommended for individuals not to disturb any suspected asbestos as it can release fibers into the air. One the removal is complete, healthy options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene. Not only can these Eco-friendly alternatives produce a healthy lifestyle, free of damaging materials, they can significantly improve your carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. The United Nations Environmental Program demonstrates that lycnene foam can cut costs by 35 percent annually.

Real Estate Sales Find a Heartbeat in 2009

Check out the press release we did with 4 other realtors across the country on real estate sales in January 2009. Looks like things are looking up despite what economists are saying, at least it is for these top realtors. See what Lee says at... Greenville SC Real Estate where Sales Find a Heartbeat in 2009. While Greenville's market is one of the top 5 to ride out the recession in according to Forbes it has still seen a noticable slow down over the past year. In November of 2008 only 200 homes sold in all of Greenville County. Fortunatly, The Cunningham Team was one of the realtors that had a sale that month.

Foreclosures are on the rise in Greenville. In January there were about 150. If you are looking at around $100,000 to $150,000 you can find some awesome real estate buys that are not in need of too many repairs. See our Foreclosure newsletter at Greenville Real Estate for more information on the current state of foreclosures in greenville and several really hot deals that Lee found. He includes the previous purchase price so you can see how much equity you will be walking into by buying one of these Greenville homes for sale.

Clemson University a Smart College Investment

According to Smart Money magazine, the Upstate’s Clemson University ranked number 8 in the average payback a graduate makes compared to the cost of tuition and fees.  Clemson had a payback of 201% based on what a graduate would make in their early to mid-careers.  Other notable southeastern universities in the top ten include # 1 University of Georgia (338%), , #4 Georgia Tech (263%), #10 Univ. of N.C. Chapel Hill (190%).  Princetont opped the Ivy League schools at 132%.

Just as a education at Clemson University is a good investment so is Greenville SC Real Estate especially in these tough economic times. Homes for Sale in Greenville SC have continued to appreciate despite economic hardships around the country.

Greenville SC is Weathering Economic Downturn

Forbes.com recently compiled a list of counties that are regarded as the best places to weather an economic downturn and Greenvillemade the list at number five.  The results were based on the county’s affordability, property taxes, and job growth based on 2007 data. The affordability score is based on an index of 100 indicating that a family earning the median income could purchase a median price home in that area.  A higher score indicates more affordability and Greenville came in at 150.  A median price home at the end of 2007 was about $150,000.  The current median price at the end of 2008 is about $155,000; that’s up 3% in one of the worst national housing markets in history.

Median residential property taxes were about $984, which is very favorable compared to neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia.  Low corporate taxes are also beneficial to businesses. KPMG, an international account firm, listed the Greenville-Spartanburg area as the fourth least expensive mid-sized locations for businesses.  According to The Greenville Area Development Council, who recruit new businesses to the area, the competitive labor costs along with low building and transportation costs also make the area attractive.Greenville South Carolina Real Estate is still a great investment.