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, ...

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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.

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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...

Tax Credits for Energy Efficient Building Products

As of early 2009 (as a part of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009) there is a tax credit up to $1500, or 30 percent, for the cost of the products falling within a criteria for energy efficiency.  Many windows, glass doors and skylights will have an "ENERGY STAR" sticker to verify that your purchase is a 'green product' and will qualify for the tax credit.  If not, look to see if there is a manufacturer certification statement before checking out at the register.  Your local retailer should have more information on how to submit your receipts for the tax credit. As with any tax question we suggest speakin...

All About Blythewood Road

Blythewood Road is the main road that runs through Blythewood SC.  You can enter onto Blythewood road by taking exit 27 off of I-77 just north of Columbia SC.  Blythewood Road runs from "the stoplight" at the intersection of Wilson Blvd. (Highway 21) and ends at Highway 321 (known as Winnsboro and/or Fairfield Road).  Here you will find several commercial real estate developments and entrances to residential neighborhoods.

  Between I-77 and Highway 21 is where the majority of the commercial real estate can be found including several gas stations, The IGA Grocery Store, The USPS, Hotels, The Blythewood McDonalds, and a few other "fast food" chains.

On the opposi...

All about Harden Street

Harden Street Columbia SC

   Harden Street is a main thoroughfare running through old Columbia. It begins at Bull Street (at Palmetto Richland Hospital) and continues through Rosewood Drive splitting the historic neighborhoods of Shandon and Wales Garden (just beyond Five Points). Harden Street may be one of the most well known roads in Columbia because it is virtually impossible to get to Five Points without entering onto this road.

Beginning at Palmetto Richland Hospital on Bull Street, it intersects with most of the major streets including Farrow Road, Taylor Street, Gervais Street, Greene Street, Devine Street, Blossom Street and finally Rosewood Drive......

All about Rosewood Drive

Rosewood drive is the 4-lane stretch from Garners Ferry Road(near Fort Jackson) to Bluff Road(Near Olympia and The State Fairgrounds).  Rosewood drive is traveled heavily by students of Midlands Technical College and The University of South Carolina.  It is also a good route for Ft. Jackson soldiers to travel to favorite spots in downtown Columbia.  Rosewood Drive makes for a great alternate route to 5-Points(by turning on Harden Street), The Vista (By turning on Assembly Street), and of course Williams-Brice stadium at The State Fairgrounds.  You can jump on Rosewood drive by getting off of I-77 at the Fort Jackson exit.

Rosewood Drive also makes for a good phy...

The South Carolina State Fair

October 14th - October 25th 2009

Every October I look forward to the lights, rides, games, exhibits and food at the South Carolina State Fair.  This is the time of year when the leaves are falling from the trees and the chilly weather rolls into Columbia.  Cool nights and bright lights make for great fall outing.  This annual event draws thousands of people from around the state to Columbia, South Carolina.  This year there is a musical lineup that features country music legends The Charlie Daniels Band, Montgomery Gentry, and American Idol winner David Cook. There are also plenty of interesting exhibits and shows throughout the week. Download a map of the ...

A Legal Description

A legal description is the most important, accurate and reliable source of information when buying real estate in South Carolina.  A legal description is used in the deed when transferring title to real estate.  The deed will include a legal description along with the grantor, grantee, sales price and other pertinent information.  A legal description on your deed has more authority than the street address, TMS#, and the plat. When obtaining a plat of your property, a surveyor should use the legal description as a reference when drawing your plat, then the county will likely reference the plat (once recorded) to update the tax map information.  Always read this clos...

What is a Survey, Plat and/or Plot?

When buying land it is important to know where your property boundaries begin and end.   A survey is probably the most accurate illustration of property dimensions.  You will find angles, distances and witness identifiers for property corners on this drawing referred to as a "Plat".  A land survey should be easy to read on paper but more importantly identifiable on land.  Surveyors should cut your property lines, if you are on a wooded lot, and mark the lines with survey tape (or survey ribbon).  Many times we use a tax map number which is usually drawn from the land survey as a reference.  A survey can also include a plot plan which includes the exact...