Mortgage Calculators

Planning on refinancing, buying a new home, or just curious of how much you pay in interest each year?  Online calculators can help you get quick answers.  All that you need to do is supply the information and run the numbers.  Keep in mind that if your numbers don’t match the figures on the calculators below then you probably have one of your variables wrong.  Interest Rates and Annual Percentage Rates (APR) are common miscalculations.  You also need to know when your first payment begins.   On every property detail, from your search results, you will find a "Mortgage" button.  Just click on this button for a quick reference for your payments.

  If you are fairly g...

Free PDF Software

If you are frequently sending and receiving files online it is important to know that your recipient has gotten your file correctly.  I have found that in the real estate business I am constantly sending listing sheets, tax maps, contracts, plats, and disclosures to clients.  Even other real estate agents expect a clean copy of a document when selling a home or land.   In any business that involves online document transfers you should have the basic tools to send a clear legible document through email.  Adobe Acrobat Reader has become the standard for viewing information online.  It is free software that can be used on any computer and is compatible with Apple and Windo...

Specialists in Land for Manufactured Homes

  If you’re looking for land for sale for a manufactured home there is no better place to look than with Hunt and Associates.  So sit tight and read about our services and vast inventory.

Our company was based on land sales and land development.  Our land specialists have a minimum of 10 years of experience dealing with land sales in Columbia, Elgin, Camden, Lugoff, Bethune, Chesterfield, Sumter, Aiken, Lexington, Ridgeway, Winnsboro, Blythewood, Chapin, Little Mountain…ok, I think you get the point.

  What this means to you, the buyer, is that we are comfortable with our routine of land sales and naturally notice the pros and cons of property.  I...

Mills Grove at Cobblestone Park in Blythewood SC

  Mills Grove is a section of Cobblestone Park that fronts on the west by Syrup Mill Road, Blythewood, and the south by Cobblestone Park’s initial phase named  Longstreet Place.  Entering from the main gate on Blythewood Road (just off of I-77 exit 27) you will take your 1st left and pass through Settlement Point, then through Longstreet Place before entering into Mills Grove.   Mills Grove is a promising section for new home construction in the 700-acre resort style development.  Mainly, because all of the lots are improved with sewer, water, cable, gas, underground electrical, and the second of the three entry gates enter directly into M...

Columbia SC named 1 of 10 Top Places to Retire

  Since I’ve lived in Columbia I’ve always wondered where all of the new residents are coming from.  With raving blog articles like the reputable Top Colleges Blog,  it is no wonder that home sales in Columbia SC are still fairly consistent in this time of crisis.  The University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson, and the Capital of the State of SC brings visitors from all over.  Most people find their way back into Columbia for extended periods after discovering the beautiful weather and the supportive communities.  The southern charm of historical homes in Columbia and the busy streets of Five Points and the Vista create a warming welco...

Blythewood Town Hall - Historic Homes

The Blythewood Town Hall is located on Langford road just off of Highway 21 in the Town of Blythewood. The George P. Hoffman House, known today as the "Hoffman House", is the oldest building in the town. It was included into the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and has undergone many preservation projects since its construction in 1855. Today it is maintained as a government office and Blythewood's central place of business.

Blythewood is popular throughout the midlands as an escape from the city. The City of Columbia is easily accessible from I-77, and Charlotte is about 1 hour north of Blythewood. Real estate development has also b...

Debutary Pointe Lake Wateree

Debutary Pointe is a 30 Lot subdivision located on the northern part of the Lake Wateree River in the township of Great Falls, SC. It is approximately 7 miles off of I-77 (t mile marker 46) and just below the Rocky Creek Dam. Travel time to Columbia and Charlotte is about 45 minutes respectively. The property is filled with hardwoods, waterfrontage and the rolling topography presents a mountain-like setting. There is a 60+ acre conservation easement on the west side of Living Waters Drive. For more information on Debutary Pointe or other Lake Wateree real estate please contact one of our Columbia SC Real Estate Agents.

103 Living Waters Drive - Lot 1...

Forbes Ranks Columbia SC No. 12 for Affordability

  Yes, you've heard the rumors and here is the proof. Forbes ranked Columbia SC Metro area as number 12 of the top 100 metro areas across the US for affordable places to live in their "Bang for the Buck" rankings. This ranking was based on several factors including home prices, real estate taxes, job growth, unemployment rates and foreclosure rates. This reinforces the 2009 market conditions in Columbia SC with the credibility of a well-respected publisher such as Forbes. Although Columbia has suffered some of the backlash of real estate conditions across the world, it remains in an elite class of prosperity for the Carolinas. Othe...

Information on Palmetto Place at Lake Wateree on Dutchmans Creek

  Palmetto Place is a 12-lot waterfront subdivision on Lake Wateree that has 3 story homes about 3200 Square Feet in size. These Lake Wateree waterfront homes are located on Dutchman's Creek next to Dutchman's Creek Marina across from the Lake Wateree Fire Department. Each of the 12 homes has about 100 feet of Lake Frontage on Dutchman's Creek with the water view to the west looking out towards Plantation Point. These newly constructed homes on Lake Wateree are vinyl sided with the faux cedar shake appearance. They all have a 2 car garage, an elevator shaft, covered porches, a master suite looking out across the water, ...

Not sure if a website is safe? There are many websites that are geared to hacking, phishing and stealing your personal information. If you don't have an internet security program running on your computer, you can always use an online tool such as McAfee's Site Advisor or Norton's Safe Web. Both of these sites are free and reliable. Our Columbia SC Real Estate website has always been safe and ethical. If you ever see anything suspicious, please let us know.

There are also lots of free tools available for your use.  I know several people that swear by AVG's anti-virus software.

Having trouble logging into our Columbia SC real estate site?  We usually get about 1% of our visitors that have a problem signing into our site after they have been away for a few days. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using our Columbia SC real estate website.

1. The username and passwords are case sensitive. This means that if you accidentally hit the "Caps Lock" button you may have trouble signing in. Try unlocking the "caps lock" and try again. Or reset your password.
2. Deleting Cookies on your browser may cause your password and username not to appear on the screen as you saved it before. If you have cleared your cookies, then your computer doesn't recognize our site a...

Appealing South Carolina Property Tax Values

  If you own real estate in South Carolina you inevitably get a tax bill every year. Some people choose to have their property taxes and insurance escrowed (into their mortgage payment) so that they cover all of their required annual expenses into their monthly mortgage payment. Often when this is done, the property owner loses track of their annual tax bill. Once you receive your tax bill make sure that you understand what you are looking at and if it seems incorrect you should immediately file for an appeal. In Richland County you have up until January 15th to appeal your tax bill for the previous year. I am recommending that all of my...

Blythewood SC Neighborhoods

Looking for homes for sale in Blythewood? Here is a list and a map that shows some of the popular Blythewood subdivisions and a link to homes for sale in each.  Just point your mouse over the number on the map for a quick link to the Blythewood 'for sale' information.  We've added additional subdivisions with detailed information on our Blythewood Subdivisions page

Here is a 2015 updated map of Blythewood neighborhoods. Below this map is the original post.

1. Cedar Lakes, Blythewood is a subdivision that offers lots for sale in Blythewood that are larger in size. This subdivision is in Fairfie...

SCE&G Offers an In Home Energy Inspection

   Lets face it.... Green Homes are now leading the way to an environmental revolution by using green products in new home construction. Similar to the gas-guzzlers that were so popular in the mid-20th century being junked for sleek higher MPG cars and hybrids, a green revolution is now taking over the way homes are built. It's so evident that even the local power company, SCE&G, is offering FREE energy audits to help train customers to conserve energy. There's also the SCE&G's "Value Visit" which gives homeowners an opportunity to decide how to improve their homes envelope by sending a representative from the utility company to your home to...

What is an Energy Star home?

  An ENERGY STAR home is determined by a set of guidelines established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (or the EPA) as a standard for energy efficient homes.  ENERGY STAR is on the forefront for consumers and home builders as a way to begin incorporating green home products into the home.  Even if you don't completely understand what ENERGY STAR homes are, you should be familiar with the blue ENERGY STAR symbol that is tagged all over electronics, appliances, windows and other home products. 

These products contribute to an ENERGY STAR home as well as other components including, but not limited to:

• An Energy Efficient Envelope -  An "Envelope"...

What is the Environments for Living Certified Green® Program?

     Environments for Living® Program offers builders a strategic plan and definitive standard for energy efficient homes to exceed conventional residential building codes. Builders in Columbia SC, such as Shumaker Homes, participate in the Certified Green Program® to offer homeowners a little more for their money. Framing techniques, window selection and HVAC choice are a few of the variables that are used with this hands-on program so that a home is builders maximize cost and efficiency in green homes. Residential building code primarily focuses on safety and structural integrity and not so much energy efficiency. The En...

What does LEED - H mean?  | Green Homes Columbia SC

LEED - H is an abbreviation that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes.  It is awarded by the Green Building Rating System(GBRS), which is a division of the US Green Building Council (USGBC).  It may more difficult and confusing to understand the abbreviations of each of these organizations than the designation itself.

  Basically, the homeowner and/or builder must apply for this designation for inclusion.  It is similar to the other Green Building designations but regulated on a larger scale.  Rather than having a local or regional designation, such as an EarthCraft Home designation or Build Green Greater Co...

What is an EarthCraft House?

An EarthCraft House is an organizational standard, established in 1999, to develop green home building . The theory behind this type of construction is one that molds a new home into natural elements of the property.  It also brings innovative energy efficient products and concepts available in today's market into the construction process to conserve energy.  Many new homes are looking toward green construction in South Carolina as a marketing benefit and a way to offset pollution.

The builder has a checklist of variables that determine the quality of the home's efficiency. Each home is inspected by an EarthCraft inspector several times throughout the const...

What's LOVE Fest 2010 Columbia SC Art

GET TICKETS HERE!

or visit http://www.palmettoluna.org/

Over 40 visual and performance artists showing You the Love!
701 Whaley
SAT. FEBRUARY 13th
7pm-midnight
SUN. FEBRUARY 14th
2pm-5pm

What's LOVE Fest 2010 - February 13 & 14, 2010
701 Whaley St. in the Grand Hall Columbia, SC

The past few  years of Columbia SC's "What's love got to do with it" art show was so successful the founders have decided to once again bring it back to Columbia for the fourth time.  Below is an Open Call for all artists that would like to submit contributions.  This year the festival will be a 2 day event with all types of art including music, visual arts, and performanc...

Recycling, Conserving  and Reusing products

Although I'm not the best role model for reusing and recycling products I try to do my best. It occurred to me one day when I was driving down I-20 toward Columbia just out side of Elgin when I looked across the horizon and saw a huge swell on the landscape growing and growing with each trip home(Landfill Pictured to Right). It was then that I realized that we take advantage of the garbage man coming each week to pick up the green "hurby-curby" full of trash each week.  Here's a challenge...try going a month without using the garbage man.  It's then that you will understand why recycling is important. Trash doesn't just vanish and we mu...