The Zoning Regulation is a tool used by a county or local government to restrict the use of property.  Although "Restrict" is commonly dressed up with the term "Controlled Growth", to me it means the same.  These regulations are different from "Restrictive Covenants" which are placed on a property by the land owner, previous land owner, or developer.  Zoning Regulations are usually buried deep into the county website.  I constantly have to search through their websites looking for a specific use of a property.  So, as a shortcut I thought that I'd post and continue to update the Zoning Regulations for different counties around the Midlands of South Carolina.  If you happen to know of an u...

What is a perk test?

  When buying raw land it is important to know what you are getting.  In many rural areas and suburban neighborhoods around Columbia SC it is necessary to have a perk test (also called a perc test or percolation test) to determine if your land is suitable for a septic tank and drain field. This is determined by several factors including the water table, soil type and topography of your property.  Ideally, you are looking for a sandy soil with a high elevation and moderate (or no) slope.  There are several types of septic tank systems and some are more expensive than others.  The price will vary depending on the amount of drain field, the size of the tank, and if there ...

  On December 8th, Blythewood contributed to the eco-friendly and popular 'green revolution' with a demonstration of an electric charging station for electric fueled vehicles. The event began in Columbia, at the State House, before traveling to Sharpe’s BP Gas Station in Blythewood just off of Interstate 77 (Exit 27 on Blythewood Road).  Blythewood is now a part of a progressive statewide Electric Vehicle(EV) charging network being fueled by a non-profit organization under the name of ‘Plug In Carolina’. Blythewood will begin with 3 charging stations and there are expected to be dozens of these charging stations along the major highways and interstates.  Blythewood is part of the first st...

"What is my school district for Lexington County SC?" is a question that I often answer for clients buying real estate in Lexington County SC.  I usually end up calling Lexington 1, Lexington 2, Lexington 3, Lexington 4, or Lexington 5 school district offices for the answer.  But today I found a Lexington County School District Map (Update:  Here is a very specific school search by address) that really helped answer my questions. Well, its not exactly a map, but you can search for your address and find out which district to call.

If you decide that you want land or houses for sale in Lexington you can always search the Search the MLS by School on our free Columbia SC MLS site.

Neighborhoods Near Fort Jackson

  The area directly below the Columbia Northeast is known as the Dentsville Area.  There are many military personnel that buy homes in this area because it is so close to Fort Jackson.  Fort Jackson is a huge economic influence for Columbia’s housing market.  If you are stationed at Ft. Jackson... then you probably qualify to buy an affordable home near Ft. Jackson.  There are several nice established neighborhoods just outside the gates of Fort Jackson.  Many of them are older neighborhoods from the 1960's-1980's.

  In this era of home building's simplicity and quality peaked.  Houses were built as "homes" and not so much as a "unit".  The majority of th...

The Columbia Northeast

  The Columbia Northeast is primarily the 29229 zip code.  It is the area bordered between I-20 E and I-77 N and bisected by Clemson Road.  Some consider Blythewood as a part of the Columbia Northeast, but locals separate the Blythewood subdivisions from the Northeast Columbia subdivisions because of the different zip codes.  The 29229 zip code(Columbia NE) and 29016 zip code (Blythewood) border each other at The Longcreek Plantation neighborhood.  There are plenty of different styles of homes to choose from in each area.  Most of the houses for sale in the Columbia Northeast are new construction or built in the past 15-20 years.  Blythewood also has new home const...

Neighborhoods in Columbia SC

  Searching for an ideal area or best neighborhoods in Columbia, South Carolina can take hours of research.  Some buyers want to be close to Fort Jackson, others may want to have a home with acreage, and some just want to be “right in the thick of it”.   Many of the newer subdivisions in Columbia incorporate activities such as golf, swimming, fishing, and other recreational sports.  Most of these are in the suburbs of The Columbia Northeast, Blythewood, or Irmo.  Here is a shortlist of some of the areas around Columbia and the ages of the homes for sale.

  Did I miss a great neighborhood?  Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

  Neighborhoods an...

Screened porches

  Ahhh… the setting that a screened porch creates is unmatched by any southern architectural feature.  This feature is often overlooked by a home buyer, but I can tell you that this may be the biggest value-add for a southern home.  A screened in porch is a perfect flex space to bring the indoors out and the outdoors in.  There’s nothing better than relaxing in the shade with the sounds of nature all around you while avoiding the annoying elements of nature such as mosquitoes, wasps, and gnats.  In the south, particularly with waterfront homes, these annoyances can drive you indoors and keep you away from the serenity of the sounds, smells, and sights that nature has ...

  Planning on moving soon or rearranging your furniture?  Redecorating and moving furniture can take hours of your time.  Getting a virtual layout to the scale of your space is a great idea.  I’ve used Arrange-A-Room(now requires registration) to move my vintage 1950’s mahogany desk and filing cabinet from one room to another.  Not only did it save me from moving this heavy desk around the house but it also gave me an idea of measurements for open walking space around the room. For comfort and safety it’s always a good idea to make sure that there is ample walking space in the room before you place your furniture.  Even if you aren’t much of a planner, give this software a chance so that ...

  Many people in the past 10 years have decided to join the real estate revolution by investing in lots and acreage in South Carolina.  But this can be a hard-nosed business…and quite a risky one.  It doesn’t take any special licenses, degrees, or educational requirements to develop a neighborhood, but it will take some capital and knowledge of the area.  With any business you should know the market before you decide to take a dive into real estate investment on a scale this large.  There are several factors that can ruin your vision and most of them are out of your control.

  I’ve known very successful businessmen and real estate developers in Columbia that have unknowingly pushed themsel...

Geothermal Heat Pumps

  The use of Geothermal Heat Pumps(or GHP’s) date back to the early to mid 20th century.   A GHP uses the constant temperature from the earth as a source for conditioning air inside your home rather than converting the exterior air temperature around your home.  This allows the heat pump system to be extremely energy efficient because the starting temperature point that your heat pump is converting is closer to the desired temperature within your home.  Subterrain ground temperatures in Columbia SC are somewhere around 68° F, whereas the outside air temperature can vary from around 100°F in the summer and 30°F in the winter.  Heat pumps are very complex but the prin...

What is a Transom Window?

  A Transom Window is the window above the door which is often found in the interior of the home.  Sometimes you will find transom windows that are located on an exterior door but they are often fixed and unable to open.   Recently, transom windows have been used as an accent and sometimes made of stained glass although they are mostly constructed of a transparent glass.

  Interior transom windows are an architectural feature that can be found in many historic homes in Columbia SC.  Their purpose was to open and close in order to distribute conditioned air throughout a home when the interior doors are closed.  They also allow natural light into other areas of the...

The Official Free Credit Report Site

  I’m sure just about everyone has seen the credit report commercials all over the internet and television.  Many of these sites require payment information to get this report except for Annualcreditreport.com.  This is THE OFFICIAL free credit report site, that pulls your credit history from Experion, TransUnion, and Equifax.   Keep in mind that this does NOT have your Beacon Score number.

  A credit score (or beacon score) is pulled from the three above companies.  Equifax seems to be the one that most people associate with a credit history, but all of these weigh in on the factors of your score.  Many times a credit score inquiry pulls information f...

Carolina Walk Park Parking Diagram for Gamecock Football

  Since USC Gamecock tailgating is such a huge part of South Carolina Gamecock football season, I thought that it would be a nice addition to post a layout of Carolina Walk Park so that you would be able to find your parking space.  If nothing else, it is a good reference for those looking to buy a tailgate spot in Carolina Walk Park.  Currently the regime fees for Carolina Walk Park is $275 per year and all of the spaces offer electrical connections.  For more information please visit our USC Gamecock Tailgating for Sale (Pop-up) page or inquire through email.

Beware of a real estate Addendum!

  Making an offer on a home or land?  One thing that most buyers and sellers do not know is the importance of dating documents and which document supersedes the other.  Most real estate agents in Columbia use one of several contracts.  This is a good practice because most agents are familiar with the contents of the contract such as inspection periods, closing date extensions, etc.

  Many times agents will not edit a contract after it has been ratified but will create an addendum to the contract.  An addendum is when a buyer, seller, or principal is changing the terms of the contract.  One of the most common is a repair addendum.  Once an inspection is...

What is a BPO?

  A BPO or a Broker Price Opinion is similar to an appraisal but is not an official report by a licensed appraiser.  A BPO is sometimes be used by a mortgage company to bypass the cost of a full-blown appraisal report.  A BPO is done by a real estate broker (usually that has negotiated contracts in a certain area) and an opinion of value is determined to suggest the marketable value of a property.  In many cases a mortgage company will order a BPO (for a short sale) to determine if the mortgage amount is less than the marketable value.  Many people believe that BPO’s will soon replace appraisals.

  Traditionally, an appraiser gets the offer to purchase contract when an appr...

Top Neighborhoods in Columbia SC

Looking for a new home in Columbia SC?  Here is a list that I compiled of some great neighborhoods in the Columbia SC.  Most of them are in the urban areas but a few are outside the City of Columbia. (Also, this Columbia Neighborhood Guide may also help. It's an ongoing project for us.)

Urban Neighborhoods

Melrose Heights – Located downtown between Millwood and Gervais.  These homes are mostly bungalows that were built in the mid 20th century.

Cottontown- a neighborhood in the heart of downtown Columbia with some historic homes, bungalows and traditional homes.  Cottontown is flanked by Bull Street, N. Main, and Elmwood Avenue.  It’s close to just about ever...

All about Clemson Road

  Clemson Road is a main thoroughfare through the Northeast Columbia region, which is commonly referred to as “The Northeast”.  The Northeast is primarily enclosed within Hwy 321 or I-77 (running North and South) on the West, and I-20 (running East and West) on the Southern side.  Our Columbia MLS system distinguishes this area as Area 4.  Clemson Road is the main thoroughfare between these two highways and with the fairly recent Clemson Road extension you can travel directly from I-20 to I-77 without making any turns.   From I-77 you will notice that Clemson Road is referred to as Killian Road.  This is because Killian Road was rerouted into Clemson Road.

  Clemson...

Looking for new windows?

  Windows can offer a variety of different functions, styles and forms.  With all of the tax credit incentives now may be a good time to take advantage of upgrades for your home.  Below are a few things that you may want to know about windows.

First you may want to research the Federal Tax Credit incentives for new doors and windows to see if  you are eligible to get up to 30% tax credit.  This will come in handy if you are buying a new home or rehabilitating an existing or historical home.  As always, you should also check with your tax advisor to confirm the latest requirements.

Types of windows

There are basically 4 types of windows. Double hung, sliding, fixed, ...

Winderemere Subdivision Blythewood South Carolina

The Windermere neighborhood is located in Longcreek Plantation in the Columbia Northeast area.  Homes for sale in Winderemere are mostly built with ‘southern home’ architectural features.  In Windermere you will find wooded lots, screened porches, swimming pools and wrought iron fences.  The majority, if not all, of the homes built in Windermere are of masonry construction.  Stucco and brick homes are popular in this neighborhood, but you may also find wood-sided homes scattered sparsely across the neighborhood.  Although we don’t have a copy of the restrictive covenants that state a square footage minimum,  Homes for sale in Windermere usu...