Charleston Real Estate Market

     Want to make a difference? Give something better than money, your time. Charleston Volunteers for Literacy are launching “Book Buddies” a one-on-one program to help our first graders learn to read. This is so important. The informational meeting will be at the Charleston Library, 75 Calhoun on the 4th from 7-8:30pm. Think about it.

Filed under: Around Town, Life Tips, Lowcountry Lifestyle on November 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »

 We’ve gotten some good news and some bad news from the lending department today. Read more »

Filed under: Business News, Life Tips, Real Estate News on April 4th, 2008 | No Comments »

Thinking of selling your home?  One look up and down the street will tell you there’s more competition than ever. Here are a few tips we came up with today on caravan that will make a good impression when the time comes without costing an arm and a leg.  Read more »

Filed under: Life Tips, Real Estate News on April 4th, 2008 | No Comments »

I’m no accountant but it’s nice to know ahead of time that some things will save you money and some things are going to cost you.

10 Tax Changes for the Next Tax Year –  2008 from Realtor magazine* Read more »

Filed under: Business News, Life Tips on April 2nd, 2008 | 1 Comment »

I have shared this story before but I’ve had lots of requests for it.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.”

“If I hold it a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

He continued, “And that’s the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.” Read more »

Filed under: Life Tips on March 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

1. Consider instead of signing the back of your credit card, write PHOTO ID REQUIRED instead.
2. Do not put full account number in the memo section of your checks when paying a bill. Just use the last four digits.
3. Take everything that is normally in your wallet and/or your card case and copy both sides on a copy machine. Also when traveling make a copy of your passport. Keep these safe and separate. You will know the numbers to call if your cards are stolen plus the numbers of your cards.
4. Be sure to file a police report in the jurisdiction where your cards were stolen.
5. Call the three major credit bureaus and put a fraud alert on your accounts:

Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 888-397-3742
Trans Union: 800-680-7289
Also, alert the social security fraud line.
SSA Fraud Line: 800-269-0271

Filed under: Life Tips on February 28th, 2008 | No Comments »