New Year's Day - Take the Polar Bear Plunge!

What better way to jump-start the new year than by taking a dip in the chilly Atlantic? Two polar bear groups are taking the dive at 2 p.m. Thursday, one at Sullivan's Island and one at Folly Beach. At Sullivan's Island, the Dunleavy family organizes the event, which benefits the Special Olympics. Snapper Jack's on Folly hosts the plunge there to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank. Crazy costumes are encouraged. There is no charge, but donations to the causes are gladly accepted. For more information about the Sullivan's Island dip, call 843-883-9646. For more information about the Folly Beach plunge, call 843-588-2362.

New Years Eve, Charleston! Alcohol free family events

Here are a few of the family-friendly, alcohol free options for celebrating New Years Eve.

Happy New Year, Charleston! 4pm-10:30pm and will centered around Marion Square in downtown. There will be a "KidsFest Tent" along with lots of live music, arts&crafts and food vendors. Some of the highlight events and other downtown alcohol free venues are below:

Marion Square - Main Stage
4-4:30 - Drum Circle, Opening Ceremonies, Ballerina event
6:30-7:20 - Adande African drum & dance
7:30-8:45 - Blue Dogs
8:45-9:15 - Electric Company
9:15-10:30 - Blue Dogs

Kids Fest Events
4:30-8 - Arts & Crafts, Face & Body art
4:30-5:20 - Music & Sing-a-longs
5:30-6:15 - Electric Company
6:20-7:15 - Dancers/Drummers and Music/sing-a-longs
7:15-9 - Electric Company

Under the Tent
4:30-5:30 - Great Horns of Charleston
5:30-6:45 - Clay Ross Trio
6:45-8 - Great Horns and Charleston Singleton

Second Presbyterian Church - 342 Meeting Street
4:30-5:10 - Family concert
7:35-8:15 - Chamber music
9-9:45 - Brass concert

Citadel Square Baptist Church - 328 Meeting Street
4:45-5:45 & 6:30-7:30- Voices of Deliverance

Theatre 99 - 280 Meeting Street
7-7:30 - Improv Riot
7:45-8:15 - The Have Nots!
8:30-9 - Improv Riots
9:-9:45 - The Have Nots!

For more info, call 843-724-7305

Recycle your Christmas Tree

Charleston County Residents can recycle their trees and get something in return!

With the assistance of County residents, Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department will be recycling real – not artificial – Christmas trees and turning them into compost for residents to use for gardening this spring.

Christmas trees can be dropped off at the Bee’s Ferry Landfill (1344 Bee's Ferry Road in West Ashley) to be recycled. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m - 3:30 p.m.

All tinsel and ornaments need to be removed before a Christmas tree is brought to the Bee’s Ferry Landfill or placed on the curb for pick-up.

In order to encourage tree recycling, residents who bring their tree to the Bees Ferry Landfill between January 3 and 10 will receive a free bag of compost in return. In addition to receiving a free bag of compost, Charleston County residents can purchase compost for just $10 per ton at the Bee’s Ferry Landfill. Residents can bring buckets to fill or for a large amount, drive in a pick-up truck to have it loaded.

Charleston County residents who live within a municipality can recycle their trees without going to the Bees Ferry Landfill. These residents can put their Christmas tree on the curb for their municipality’s yard waste pick-up. The municipality’s haulers will then take the trees and other yard waste to Charleston County's Bee's Ferry Landfill, where it is composted by Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department.

Residents should check with their municipality to find out their yard waste pick-up day and other requirements.

Great Reasons to Move to Charleston, South Carolina

Below are a list of awards and recognition that Charleston, SC received during 2008. These are just the tip of the iceberg on why you would want to live in Charleston.


-Travel + Leisure magazine names Charlestonians the friendliest people in America and ranked us #4 in its "World's Best Awards"
-Conde Nast named Charleston the #2 travel destination in the US and ranked Kiawah Island as the #2 island in the US
-Parade magazine names us one of the give Great American Cities
-Luxury travel expert Andrew Harper put us in the top 10 Places in America to see before you die
-Yahoo.com ranked us the #3 spot to see before you die
-Southern Living made us their top spring vacation destination
-Orbitz.com said we are the 6th fastest growing city in the US for a winter get-away
-Golf World Readers's Choice awards named Kiawah Island Golf Resort the best resort course in the US and it ranked Kiawah as the #1 golf destination in North American and Europe
-Charlotte Parent magazine named us the best weekend get-away
-American Style magazine ranked us the #6 best arts destination among mid-sized cities


If you want to check out living in Charleston, SC, go to my website to view available homes, http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com/ or give me a call at 843-209-9667

Great Reasons to Move to Charleston, South Carolina

Below are a list of awards and recognition that Charleston, SC received during 2008. These are just the tip of the iceberg on why you would want to live in Charleston.

-Travel + Leisure magazine names Charlestonians the friendliest people in America and ranked us #4 in its "World's Best Awards"
-Conde Nast named Charleston the #2 travel destination in the US and ranked Kiawah Island as the #2 island in the US
-Parade magazine names us one of the give Great American Cities
-Luxury travel expert Andrew Harper put us in the top 10 Places in America to see before you die
-Yahoo.com ranked us the #3 spot to see before you die
-Southern Living made us their top spring vacation destination
-Orbitz.com said we are the 6th fastest growing city in the US for a winter get-away
Golf World Readers's Choice awards named Kiawah Island Golf Resort the best resort course in the US and it ranked Kiawah as the #1 golf destination in North American and Europe
-Charlotte Parent magazine named us the best weekend get-away
-American Style magazine ranked us the #6 best arts destination among mid-sized cities

If you want to check out living in Charleston, SC, go to my website to view available homes, http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com or give me a call at 843-209-9667

Happy Holidays to All!

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com

Serving Charleston & Folly Beach, South Carolina

http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Preferred Lender Contact List

With rates at an all-time low, many people are buying now or re-financing their current home. The general rule of thumb is that you need to shave 1 percentage point off your current mortgage for it to be worth re-financing.

Here are some of our preferred lenders:

Carolina One Mortgage - Joel Greer, 843-327-1575, joelgreer@gbmail.com, http://www.joelgreerloans.com/

Carolina One Mortgage - Leah Odom, 843-813-0123, leah.odom@gmail.com, http://www.leahodom.com/

First Federal - Ted Honney, 843-708-0250, thonney@firstfederal.com, http://www.tedhonney.com/

New South Mortgage, Greg Schoonover, 843-708-3776, gschoonover@newsouthmtg.com, http://www.newsouthmtg.com/

Goodmortgage.com, Keith Luedeman, 704-523-3886, ext. 201, keith@goodmortgage.com, http://www.goodmortgage.com/

Feel free to call any of the above lenders and they will help you with buying or re-financing.

Happy Holidays,

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com/

Check out the new Website

Make sure you check out our new website for Charleston, SC real estate:http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

You can search the entire Charleston MLS or just look at listings for certain areas or neighborhoods. There is also general info about the areas where we specialize in real estate buying and selling for our clients.I hope you check it out and please send any feedback. The site is just starting out and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Randall

Randall Sandin is a professional Realtor in Charleston, SC.
He can be reached at 843-209-9667 or via email at rsandin@carolinaone.com
View his website at http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com
Check out his blog at http://www.RandallSandin.com

Charleston Port loses biggest customer

Charleston just lost the biggest customer of the local port which will have an impact on the local shipping business. Hopefully they will be able to resolve this and keep Maersk in Charleston. Below is the article from the Charleston Regional Business Journal on the situation.

Maersk Line, the S.C. State Ports Authority's largest shipping customer, just announced that it will leave the Port of Charleston when its contract expires at the end of 2010.

The Danish company said it will begin ramping down its business with Charleston in early 2009. Maersk makes more than 400 ship calls here every year and represents about 20% of the port's container business. Its decision to leave is likely to have a profound impact on the local maritime industry and related businesses across the state, including trucking companies and commercial developers.

Its South Atlantic Express service, which calls on Charleston twice a week, will be moved to other nearby ports starting in January. That means the Port of Charleston, which has already been hammered by declining world trade, will lose 104 ship calls next year.
MaerskMaersk has a license agreement with the SPA to operate its own dedicat
ed terminal, largely with labor supplied by the International Longshoremen's Association. Earlier this year, the company said it would take the SPA up on its offer to move to a common-user gate that is operated by SPA employees, which would be a less-expensive alternative for Maersk.

But such a move requires the permission of the three local ILA chapters representing longshoremen, checkers and clerks. They collectively voted against that move last week.
In its statement, Maersk said it could no longer bear the cost disadvantage between the Port of Charleston and its competitors operating out of the common-user gate.

"It would be unfair to our shareholders, customers and our employees to continue to operate in this environment," Maersk spokesman Dana Magliola said.

ILA Local 1422 President Ken Riley did not immediately return a phone call this afternoon. But he said earlier that Maersk's request would be "in violation of an international contract" between labor and shipping companies.

"This is national law," he said. "It would actually jeopardize the relationships between Maersk and the ILA up and down the coast."

He accused the SPA of trying to squeeze out labor and said the quasi-state agency could offer to lower the company's costs in other ways.

SPA spokesman Byron Miller said port executives would issue a comment on the situation later today.

For its part, Maersk blamed the ILA's unwillingness to cooperate.

The SPA offered a "workable solution," Magliola said, but "the local ILA refused to consent, and so we are forced to move."

Do not miss "The Festival of Lights" on James Island

I posted this event earlier but wanted to make sure everyone saw it and did not miss the event. My family drove through the other night and it was fantastic. More lights and themes then you can imagine along with Santa's workshop where kids can see Santa, you can roast marshmellows, see life size greeting cards and a huge sand castle of Santa. Food is inexpensive and is only $10 per car and you can loop through as many times as you like.

Dec. 1 - Jan. 4: Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park - Magic is the discovery of the extraordinary, a moment when everything else is forgotten, and when wonderment is shared. Magic embraces and connects us. Find your magic in the millions of sparkling lights and hundreds of displays at the Holiday Festival of Lights. Event Website

For all your real estate needs, contact Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com

Wow on the current mortgage rates!

Wow is all I can say with the 4.75% rate on the 30 year fixed!! If you are lookign to buy, it cannot get much better than this and what a great time to re-finance. If you need a contact for a qualified lender, please let me know and I can refer you to one of my trusted lender partners.

Happy holidays!
Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Reasons to Hire a Leading Real Estate Company

For your biggest asset, make sure you are using&trusting someone with the tools to get the job done in today's challenging market. Here are some things to look for with a market leading company such as Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, South Carolina.

-Education, experience and longevity that show a track record of success.
-Service providers that can assist during the process such as lenders, relocation specialists, etc.
-Price guidance from current information and trends.
-Professional networking among fellow company agents to bring a buyer faster.
-Up-to-date market condition analysis and information.
-Seasoned, professional and experienced agents who can handle the transaction from start to finish and sometimes beyond.

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com, http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Custom Home on Johns Island redcued to $400,000

Just reduced to $400,000 - call Randall to schedule at showing today at 843-209-9667.

This custom built Lowcountry home in The Villages at St. Johns Woods features an open floor plan with Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, Anderson windows&doors, double crown molding throughout, 10 foot ceilings on the first floor and a solid mahogany front door. The kitchen has high quality cabinets, stainless steel appliances, gas stove and granite countertops. The spacious master opens up to a screened porch and the master bath has a large jetted tub, separate shower, dual sinks and a walk-in closet. This home is full of light due the oversized windows throughout the home. There is a full front porch and large screened porch in the rear. The rear porch has a natural gas hook-up for your grill. The fenced in backyard gives plenty of privacy to this home and is the perfect space for pets and gardening. The garage has an oversized 18 foot wide garage door that easily fits two large vehicles and there is enough space to add a storage room or workshop above the garage. The Villages at St. Johns Woods is Lowcountry living at its finest with sidewalks, walking trails and a community pool.

Forclosures declining in South Carolina

South Carolina’s foreclosure rate keeps falling. In November, the rate dropped 0.49% from October, to 2,021 properties. Nationwide, foreclosures in November were down 7%.

That’s significant, according to RealtyTrac, a national tracking firm whose data also is used by The Wall Street Journal to follow foreclosure trends. Foreclosure notices went from one for every 452 homes in the U.S. in October to one for every 488 homes in November. In September, the ratio was slightly higher, at one in every 475 homes.

RealtyTrac is forecasting that the trend will increase in the first few months of 2009.
“Foreclosure activity in November hit the lowest level we’ve seen since June, thanks in part to recently enacted laws that have extended the foreclosure process in some states, along with more aggressive loan modification programs and self-imposed holiday foreclosure moratoriums introduced by some lenders,” RealtyTrac CEO James J. Saccacio said.

The state had 2,021 properties in some state of foreclosure in November, compared with 2,031 in October. The October number was a 7.7% drop from September’s numbers.

Those figures put South Carolina at 24th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The states with the highest foreclosure rates were the ones industry watchers have come to expect: Arizona, Florida and Nevada. For comparison, Nevada had 13,962 foreclosures for the month.
But the foreclosure help that some homeowners received after the subprime mortgage market collapsed wasn’t a permanent fix for many homeowners.
The U.S. Office of Thrift Supervisions reports that more than half of homeowners who received mortgage help during the first part of the year are delinquent with their current loans.

For more info, call Randall Sandin with Carolina One Real Estate at 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com

Google Street Maps now in Charleston, South Carolina

Google has opened Charleston’s streets to the world. But only virtual traffic should increase.

The Web search engine launched Street View imagery of the Holy City in its maps function on Tuesday. With a few clicks, users can get a street-level view of shops — and pedestrians — on King Street, law offices on Broad Street or the Custom House.

Street View maps are available throughout the area, but the database is far from a complete compendium of the Lowcountry. The maps stop short of the intersection of Broad and East Bay streets, for example, and go up King Street no farther than Spring Street.

Users who look on U.S. Highway 52 can see the turn-off to the Mt. Holly Commerce Park, where Google recently opened one of its newest data centers, but you won’t find Street View images of the data center. Google has limited access to its data center, citing competitive and privacy concerns.

Look up your business.

Charleston SC homes selling faster but for less money

Homes in the Charleston area are selling for less but are moving more quickly off the market.

Median home prices took a 7% dive in November compared with the same month last year.
The median price of homes sold last month was $185,503, compared with $200,000 in November 2007, according to figures released Wednesday by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors multiple listing service.

The average number of days on the market for homes sold last month was 105, the lowest all year. The average number of days on the market in October was 129. In November, 128 homes moved in less than a month; 117 homes that closed that month took more than 121 days to sell

The year-to-date median price of homes sold is off 3% from last year’s number. The median price of homes sold between January and November 2007 was $209,718, compared with $202,702 this year.

A total 435 transactions closed last month. The majority of those homes, 13%, fell in the $200,000-$249,000 price range.

The residential market in Berkeley County continued to show signs of improvement in November. For the third consecutive month, median sale prices increased and average sale prices are at their highest level, $237,671, since peaking during the summer of 2007. Charleston County sales totals and prices fell slightly, while Dorchester County remained steady.

The current inventory of homes on the market as of Dec. 10 is 10,462.

Holiday Events in Charleston, SC

Here are some great holiday events going on in December.

Christmas on King Street through 12/31/08 - King Street in Charleston is one of the most charming and exclusive shopping districts in the country. We're also one of the most culturally diverse, artistically gifted cities anywhere. This holiday season we're launching a special tradition, "Christmas on King Street." Sign up for our newsletter on our website and you'll hear about our historic shopping, fabulous dining and hotel packages during the holiday season. The possibilities are endless. It's Christmas on King Street, and we're making the Holidays a magic time for all. Event Website

Dec. 7-23: Holiday Entertainment & Santa at Marion Square - Children's choirs, church choirs, gospel, classical, folk, storytelling and other entertainment dazzle audiences at Marion Square. Bring your Christmas wish lists to the North Pole Mailbox and visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their Elf assistants in the magically decorated park. Admission is free! Mondays-Fridays: 10am-6pm; Saturdays and Sundays: 10am-4pm. Event Website

Dec. 1 - Jan. 4: Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park - Magic is the discovery of the extraordinary, a moment when everything else is forgotten, and when wonderment is shared. Magic embraces and connects us. Find your magic in the millions of sparkling lights and hundreds of displays at the Holiday Festival of Lights. Event Website

Charleston named a Great Place to spend Christmas

Charleston, SC was just named one of the "10 Great Place to Spend Christmas" by Travel + Leisure magazine along with Bali, New Zealand, Boston, Puerto Rico, Edinburgh, Montreal, Munich, Park City (Utah), and Santa Cruz (CA).

The magazine recommended that visitors indulge on roasted pecans, adult eggnog and choir performances at Drayton Hall; reserve a room at Wentworth Mansion or dine on a rack of lamb at the Peninsula Grill.

Need a Lowe's 10% off certificate for the holidays?

Please let me know if you need a 10% off certificate to Lowe's for your home and holiday needs. Just email me your name, full address and email and I will get it sent out to you within a week. Please note that if you have already received one, Lowe's will not send out a second certificate.

Thanks, Randall