I despise the Florida Gators. I'm a Georgia Bulldog, and the Gators have used my team as their personal whipping boy 15 of the last 18 years, including a humiliating 49-10 thumping this year. Yes, I loathe everything orange and blue. But the Gators will embarrass Oklahoma tonight. It's not what I want. It's what I think is going to happen. It's what I know is going to happen. But, remember, OU fans, our business is all about honesty. WE DON'T TAKE OVERPRICED LISTINGS, and we don't foolishly make our football picks with our hearts, instead of our heads. 42-14, Gators. Wish the Sooners and the Bulldogs better luck next year.    01/08/2009

    Beaufort SC Named #1 Small Town by Southern Living's Travel Readers' Choice Awards January 2009   To be named #1 Small Town is quite an honor but not surprising to those of us who call Beaufort SC home. We love our small town with its moss draped trees, historic homes, abundant waterways, pristine marshes and estuaries that provide habitat to a wide array of marine life, as well as mild winter temperatures such as today at 68 degrees. Those who love to fish, boat and golf can enjoy those activities most of the year. Hunting Island State Park offers a great beach with picnic facilities and an historic lighthouse which you can climb. Our community is made up of young families raising their children as well as transplanted retirees who come for our milder climate, golf and boating. Vo... 01/08/2009

This recorder is the bomb! Videos, pictures, combination of the two, doesn't matter. NO CORDS OR CHIPS, USB port right to the computer, now that's easy. I plan to do some neighborhood videos and when I get used to using it, I'll put together some listings video....yes I know it isn't "professionally done", but hey, the price is right!     01/08/2009

I am humbled that so many of you have noticed my recent absence. Thank you for the emails. I look forward to getting back to Active Rain soon. For now, the majority of my day is spent with my very sick, very scared best friend, Jackson. I have written many posts about him and his impact on my life. It is true, for some of you, he is "only a dog". This dog has been the one constant throughout my life. He has been slightly "off" for the past week. I thought it may be depression or moodiness because my job had become so demanding. Finally his dazed looked prompted me to take him to the vet. It seems as though his dog food was from a bad batch. They are still testing for exactly what has poisoned him. The night we went to the vet was by far the longest night of my life. All I could do was h... 01/07/2009

Hello, I'm Todd Covington with ERA Evergreen real estate in Beaufort South Carolina.  For the past two years I have been living part time in Beaufort and in Charleston.  In April, I made the move to Beaufort a permanent one.  I cannot tell you how much I love the Beaufort area.  Charleston had simply gotten too big for me.  Sure, my real estate business was going great in Charleston but a sense of community was missing.  The people here in Beaufort have been wonderful.  Everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I already feel like Beaufort is my home town.  Thanks to all of you who have been so inviting.  For 2 to 3 years I have known the move to Beaufort was coming.  For a couple years now, I have been picking the brains of some of the best agents in Charleston to find out the secret... 01/07/2009

01/07/2009

01/05/2009

It ended up being a quiet evening in Beaufort South Carolina for New Years Eve.  Chris and I had a NYE party at our home, then some of the younger folks went to Carolina Wings to ring the New Year in with Shark Rodeo.  I don't know how they do that late-night thing!  I must be getting old or something!   Gretchen Krapf and Cindy Young of RE/MAX Sea Island Realty. . Patrick and Maria Reber, Reber Construction, New York. Like Doug and Linda Thompson everyone should consider relocating to Beaufort South Carolina! Look at those happy faces!!! Tom and Joyce Tallmadge, Owners of It's All Natural (Health Food Store Beaufort SC). Jeannie Dial of Dial-A-Jeannie (Errand Services Beaufort SC). Patrice Moody, Cindy Young, Jeannie Dial, Michelle and Mike Sackman enjoy the Oyster Roast! Shark Rodeo (... 01/05/2009

In 2008, my friend Jay received his first command with the United States Marine Corps, at 29 Palms in California. Now a Lieutenant Colonel, Jay has more than 100 men and women under his command, and, as C.O. he is responsible for everything from run-of-the-mill dereliction of duty to allegations of spousal abuse. When I asked him how he can possibly handle all these responsibilities, he referred to his Sergeant Major, one of the highest-ranking enlisted men in the Corps. The Sgt. Major, Jay explained, is a C.O.'s eyes and ears within the command, an objective voice who will tell the commanding officer what he needs to hear, not just what he thinks the commanding officer wants to hear.  "So," I asked Jay, "the Sgt. Major has carte blanche to speak to you as openly and honestly as he sees... 01/04/2009

Logging in  to my AR account, I am shocked that my last blog entry was back in September!   I am saddened by my lack of commitment to blogging and then I realize that I am committed to so many things that it is dumb to beat myself up about it.  I have been so busy trying to keep a company alive, selling real estate, being a single mom, and trying to get healthy, that something had to give.  So last month I decided to sell my company.  It was a gut wrenching decision that looking back on,  I do not regret.  At the end of the day, my family, my wallet, and my health was suffering.  I lost myself in the last two years of developing a start up company.  I turned into a lunatic who worked non stop and who didn't know which direction to head next.  While doing so, I forgot about what was trul... 01/04/2009

I am pleased to announce that Larry Chase and Christy Diller have joined RE/MAX Sea Island Realty  in Beaufort South Carolina.  Larry and Christy are the members of The Chase/Diller Team.  To reach the Chase/Diller Team, call 843-263-1751 or email jcdiller@islc.net.  Please join me in welcoming these great real estate brokers to the REMAX Beaufort office! 01/03/2009

Stop Jackson. Sit Jackson. Don't sniff that Jackson. Jackson, did you eat the whole box of sweet tarts!?!?! That pretty closely sums up my New Years Day. At the mature age of 13, one would assume most of the undesirable habits were long gone. Not with Jackson. He is the one part of my life in which no matter what I do, I simply can't control or predict the next move. Thank goodness. He is just like his owner. Although, I tend to spend most of my time on only two legs, we are painstakingly similar: I am not fond of short leashes. I prefer my OWN pillow while sleeping. I will be loyal to my friends, even when they kick me. A quick run or walk will, in most cases, solve just about anything. I know within seconds if I like you or not.    Many times I reflect on my impulsive, loyal, "dog-lik... 01/02/2009

  LIST PRICE: SOLD PRICE: DOM: HIGH LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN TOTAL PRICE LISTING COUNT $5,995,000 $16,200 $552,235 $369,000 $640,041,254 1159 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 2243 0 221 150   ACTIVE, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES: Currently, there are 1159 active listings for Single Family Homes with the lowest priced home at $16,200 and the highest at $5,995,000.  The lowest priced single family home is a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home in Dale (near Beaufort) that is a REO property. The highest priced single family home is a family compound on the ultra-exclusive Spring Island. The median home price is $369,000 with 150 Days on the Market.   LIST PRICE: SOLD PRICE: DOM: HIGH LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN TOTAL PRICE LISTING COUNT $3,900,000 $17,900 $318,301 $220,450 $211,989,084 666 $3,300,000 $14,000 $299,859 $215,000 $199,706,438 1045... 01/02/2009

I don't know many of us whom would want to see another year like 2008, but did we not all learn a thing or two from the year that was? I won't presume to speak for anyone else, but I can speak for myself when I say I got a measure of perspective from 2008.  1)  I learned from 2008 that my beautiful, understanding wife and my six healthy children are much more important than the number of sales I close. Money comes and goes, but I've only got one chance with these guys to the left. 2) I learned from 2008 that keeping an eye on the outgoing cash-flow is as important, if not more important, as the amount of the incoming cash-flow. 3) I learned from 2008 that there is genuine opportunity for personal growth and reflection in a terrible real estate market.  With all that in mind, I'm ready f... 01/01/2009

12/31/2008

Well, it is almost 2009!  I wanted to share a few happenings in/around Beaufort South Carolina for New Years' Eve. Carolina Wings in Port Royal is hosting Shark Rodeo. Luthers in downtown Beaufort is hosting Groove Dawgs. Plums in downtown Beaufort is hosting Trey's Aliens. However, my favorite place to be on New Years Eve in Beaufort South Carolina is my home!  We are having a New Years Eve Party at our home on Lady's Island.  We have ordered 3 bussels of local Oysters and will start roasting them around 6:00 p.m. EST New Years Eve.  If you find yourself in Beaufort South Carolina on New Years' Eve, give us a call and come join the celebration! HAPPY NEW YEAR!  2009 HERE WE COME!!!! 12/30/2008

  The Miami Dolphins were the most inept team in the National Football League in 2007, winning but a single game. As of this morning, they have completed the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history, by winning 11 games and capturing the AFC Eastern Division title. Besides being a lifelong fan of the Dolphins, I find a tremendous amount of inspiration from this team, which has accomplished what was unimaginable just three months ago. If the Dolphins can buck the odds, can we not, as individual Realtors, buck the long odds and dire economic predictions everyone seems to have for 2009? You see, not only were the Dolphins far and away the worst team in the NFL in 2007, they started the 2008 campaign in miserable fashion. They lost a close game to the NY Jets in Week One, and then w... 12/29/2008

The days are winding down as we prepare our farewell to 2008. I slowly unbuckle my seat belt, wait for the bar to rise, and step off of the roller coaster ride not soon to be forgotten. Obviously, there was the housing market pogo stick, the financial meltdown, ridiculous gas prices, and weather that is best described as down right weird. Of course, I would be completely amiss if I failed to mention Tina Fey, I mean, Sarah Palin. As if all of that wasn't enough, my little corner of the world had some memorable events all of its own. Just a quick recap: 1. I found Active Rain and became a blogging fool. 2. I sold a house with only one door. No, really. 3. While walking backwards explaining the rise and fall of Beaufort's tides...I fell off a dock,in high heels. 4. I actually "ejected" a ... 12/28/2008

They say that Breaking Up is Hard to Do...now I know, I know that it is true. Real estate is a challenging career in and of itself, right? We spend our time and energy developing meaningful relationships. We become friends with clients, partners, coworkers, and their families. So when one party decides the relationship is over, someone is left to a Kleenex excursion of "why". The only thing in life that is constant is change. So why is it so difficult? Why do we have that little pain in the upper chest? Why is it our natural instinct to pout, eat ice cream, and wallow in the ever popular pity pool? It is simple, Breaking Up is Hard to Do.   No matter the type or origin of the relationship. As humans, we truly give of ourselves in any type of relationship. We give so much,  it actually h... 12/28/2008

2008 will long be remembered as a year of financial turmoil, one in which stalwart financial institutions vaporized into thin air, and venerable American institutions like General Motors sailed perilously close to the rocks. It is the year we saw friends, neighbors and relatives struggle to keep their homes amidst a real estate meltdown. But 2008 may have one more dubious distinction before it runs its course. There is a very good chance that by day's end, two teams will have reached the NFL playoffs with a .500 record.  So much for "earning" your way into the post-season. If the 7-8 San Diego Chargers beat the 8-7 Denver Broncos (a very good likelihood) this afternoon, the Chargers will reach the playoffs as an 8-8 team. Meanwhile, the free-falling Arizona Cardinals, losers of four of ... 12/28/2008