The South Greenville Fair is turning 50 this year and is going to be held at the Simpsonville City Park. This is the only fair in the Upstate of South Carolina that shows goats, livestock and horses. South Greenville Fair is a nonprofit tax-exempt, all volunteer organization. Local Future Farmers of American and 4-H's will be participating. This event will educate and inspire community celebration of the science and technology of plant and animal production. The fair will host dairy cattle, beef cattle, meat goats, horse show, chicken show, art show and flower show. A petting zoo, antique tractor and engines, Roper Mountain Science Center Pioneer exhibit and entertainment will also be part of the fair. Best of all the event is FREE! So get ready to head over to Simpsonville City Park on... 08/27/2008

According to the latest Zillow Real Estate Market Report, home values in Simpsonville increased 1.40%% in the second quarter of 2008, compared to the second quarter of 2007. Nationally, home values decreased 9.9% during this same period.  Further proof all markets are local.  08/26/2008

The Ravenwood Community is conveniently located off Woodruff Rd near Five Forks. Craftsman Style Ranch & Two-Story Homes 3, 4, and 5 Bedroom Plans Swimming Pool with Cabana Convenient to Shopping & Dining Homes start in the $200's When complete there will be 124 homesites Located just minutes from I-85, I-385, And Greenville/Spartanburg Airport, Ravenwood is surrounded by Beautiful Simpsonville. Ravenwood is designed for families who want the most of everyday living. Romantic, craftsman style ranch and two story home plans with covered front porches line sunny streets. If you are interested in homes in this community, please call me for a tour.   08/25/2008

Whether you are considering a relocation or you are a Real estate investor seeking property in Simpsonville, SC we encourage you to give us a call! Whether you are seeking a quality Realtor to work with, an investment partner, foreclosures, multi-family units or if you'd just like to chat and learn more about this region, Van West Enterprises, LLC will be happy to help you! Whether you are looking to flip a property or buy and hold, we'd love to speak with you about your objectives. Speak with Van West Enterprises, LLC for all of your real estate investment property needs in Simpsonville, SC! Call or email us today! It would be our pleasure to serve you! Thanks so much! 08/23/2008

According to Realty Times, pending sales are way up!  It seems we may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  These new numbers should only improve as first time buyers may start to take advantage of the $7500 tax credit.  I have been sending this information to every renter I can find, as I am sure most are not aware this is available to them. From the Realty Times: On a national basis, the index jumped by 5.3 percent last month. But more importantly, it rose in every region of the country, suggesting that the turnaround underway is broad-based -- even if it's likely to proceed slowly and modestly in the months immediately ahead. The index -- which measures signed sale contracts that haven't yet gone to closing -- is a leading indicator of home sales for the coming two to three ... 08/21/2008

It's just not that easy to sell your home these days. Home staging, the art of making your home look neat, stylish and inviting to a potential home buyer, is the essential first step in selling your home. If your staging is successful you will leave a lasting impression on the home buyers and they will feel they can make your place a home. It may be anything from a little closet thinning and tidying up to a major furniture and design overhaul. Four simple techniques in home staging and help your home stand out amongst the crowd. Step 1 - Figure out what needs work. Step 2 - Clean up and home staging. Step 3 - Home staging wows home buyers.Step 4 - Sell it fast! 08/19/2008

This one is gonna be good. Here in Greenville we love to eat. We have several weekend festivals thruout the year and if they don't revolve around food, there is at least a whole bunch of it there. Well, September 11th-14th, downtown Greenville will be hosting Euphoria- which is a food, wine and music festival.    The party kicks off Thursday night at 8pm with a concert by grammy nominee Chris Isaak (wow!) at the Peace Center Grand Hall. On Friday, from 6:00-10:30 pm at the Peace center ampitheatre there is "Taste of the South" -a tasting of Southern dishes from several of the Upstate's finest restaurants. Wine, Beer and beverages will be provided and there will be live music by Greenville's own Edwin McCain, followed by an exclusive VIP party at the Lazy Goat. Saturday, from 10:30am-4:1... 08/19/2008

 First time home buyers! Now is the time to buy! It means a lot if you are in the market to be a first time homebuyer -- up to a $7,500 tax credit if you purchase before July 1, 2009. And there's more good news. First time homebuyers is defined as, "a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase." In order to receive the tax credit you must have purchased your home -- single-family detached, townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes, and houseboats -- between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009. Purchase being the closing date. You must also meet income requirements. But even if you are over the modified adjusted gross income level of $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married), you may be able to receive partial tax credits. And getting s... 08/19/2008

Bryson Crossing - a Meridian Homes Communtiy Conviently located off of Bryson Drive in Simpsonville, Bryson Crossing is just 2 short miles from I-385. Featuring single-family ranch and two-story homes with distinctive 3, 4, or 5 bedroom plans. Shopping, dining and family entertainment surround this cozy community. Heritage Park & Sports Complex are just minutes away offering 90 acres of fun for the whole family. This is the perfect place for your family to live and play. When completed, it will have 68 homesites. Homes starting in the 150's Public Schools Serving Bryson Crossing: Bryson Elementary Bryson Middle School Hillcrest High School I would be happy to assist you when looking at this community. 08/18/2008

I'm new to Active Rain, just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Aristotle Mendez all my friends call me " Aris " I have been doing Real Estate since 2001 in NYC as a Property Manager and buying & flipping millions of dollar apartment buildings for principal/ owners. Now, I'm practicing Real Estate in Greenville South Carolina and like most people I arrived in Greenville SC as a re locater over three years ago. I have seen a lot of movement and a lot of growth for the short amount of time that I've been here. I have learn the area very well and of course a good GPS system helps as well. I've been a Realtor for over two years now and I have help numerous people, re locaters themselves and residents of South Carolina obtain their "Dream Home". I have also help home owners sell their ho... 08/14/2008

 Congratulations to the Simpsonville Stars who just won the Little League World Series! Down to their last two outs, the Stars rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth inning and defeated the East 9-5 to win the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore. Simpsonville, representing the South, completed play in the World Series with a 6-0 record after handing the East -- from Robbinsville, N.J. -- its first loss. Way to go girls! 08/14/2008

It's no secret that President Bush signed a $300 billion housing bill into law last week. In addition to helping cash-strapped homeowners to avoid foreclosure, the law aims to help first-time home buyers to jump start their search in a tough economy.So if you're house hunting for the first time, the law can mean a BIG benefit. To boil it down to the basics: first-time home buyers get up to $7,500 tax credit. This basically means you get a 0% loan for 15 years if you buy a home between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009 in the form of tax credit.You are eligible if:1. You are a first time home buyer (meaning neither you nor your spouse has owned a principal residence (home, townhouse, condo, etc.) in the last 3 years.2. You purchased a home on or after April 9, 2008, and before July 1, 2009... 08/12/2008

Bright, airy hallways and gleaming floors will greet parents and students to Rudolph Gordon Elementary School on Scuffletown Road in Simpsonville. Further southwest, Ralph Chandler Middle School, 4231 Fork Shoals Road, Simpsonville, is set to open a state-of-the-art building that will help ease overcrowded Woodmont, Bryson and Hillcrest middle schools. Rudolph Gordon will pull students from Bell's Crossing and Bryson elementary schools and though Principal Jackie Parker expected to operate at less than half the school's capacity this year, she said enrollment has already exceeded expectations. "The projections that came out in late-February and early March were for about 360 (students)," Parker said. "As of today we have over 390 students enrolled." Directly inside the front doors of Ru... 08/11/2008

Keller Williams Greenville Central is having a Blood Drive with the Blood Connection on Tuesday August 19th from 1:15pm to 4:15pm. The bus will be at 421 SE Main Street in Simpsonville. All donors will receive a T-shirt! We have a sign-up sheet and if you would like a certain time, please let me know and  I will get you on the schedule. We are also going to take donations for Move America Forward. This organization sends care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our goal is to raise $900 to sponsor an entire company. If you can't give blood, but would like to give money to this cause, please email me at crystalcorr@charter.net and we will arrange to get your donation. I hope you will find it in your heart to make August 19th the day you helps someone by giving blood or giving... 08/11/2008

Real estate investors seeking property in Simpsonville, SC are encouraged to give us a call! Whether you are seeking a quality Realtor to work with, an investment partner, foreclosures, multi-family units or if you'd just like to chat and learn more about Simpsonville, Van West Enterprises, LLC will be happy to help you! Whether you are looking to flip a property or buy and hold, we'd love to speak with you about your objectives. Speak with Van West Enterprises, LLC for all of your real estate investment property needs in Simpsonville, SC! Call or email us today!   08/09/2008

Real estate investors seeking property in Simpsonville, SC are encouraged to give us a call! Whether you are seeking a quality Realtor to work with, an investment partner, foreclosures, multi-family units or if you'd just like to chat and learn more about Simpsonville, Van West Enterprises, LLC will be happy to help you! Whether you are looking to flip a property or buy and hold, we'd love to speak with you about your objectives. Speak with Van West Enterprises, LLC for all of your real estate investment property needs in Simpsonville, SC! Call or email us today! 08/09/2008

Want to know more about how you can avoid foreclosure. Well Greenville is offering a free workshop for Upstate homeowners on Tuesday Aug. 12 and Monday, Aug. 25.  The Homeownership Resource Center, a division of the South Carolina nonprofit Family Services Inc will be hosting the workshop. These are HUD-approved workshops and are designed to assist homeowners having trouble paying their mortgage. For more info on where and when call 1-888-320-0350 or visit www.ForeclosureHelpforSC.org You will also need to register for the workshop and that can also be done with the above numbers and website. 08/08/2008

Simpsonville is received more than $187,000 in state grants for different city wide improvements. $4000 for planting flowers and shrubbery in the new medians in downtown Main Street. $80,000 for Heritage Park infrastructure improvements. The city is also getting a narcotics officer with some of the grants and will also use some of the money for traffic enforcement. And the public works department for a used oil heater. This is a solution to reuse recycled oil. So this is just another example of how great Simpsonville is and what the state does for it cities. Thanks South Carolina and Simpsonville for making sure this is a great place. 08/08/2008

I thought I would share a Peach Cobbler Recipe. It is one of my favorite deserts and nothing brings you back to Grandma's kitchen like it. The perfect end to a good old fashioned fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn and sweet tea dinner if you ask me. The only way to improve on Peach Cobbler is to as some homemade vanilla ice cream...or peach ice cream if you want to go crazy! Here it is: Grilled Peach Cobbler 8 Peaches, peeled, pitted and halved 1 (11.3 oz) can of peach nectar 1/4 cup good peach schnapps 1/2 cup butter 2 cups of biscuit mix 2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups half & half Vanilla Ice Cream In a large resealable plastic bag combine peaches, peach nectar and peach schnapps. Seal bag and marinate peaches for 1 hour. Remove peaches from marinade, reserving liquid. Grill peaches over me... 08/07/2008

On August 5th Simpsonville, Fountain Inn and Mauldin are planning activities for National Night Out. Each of the city's police departments are planning to be involved to increase communication with people in the community. They will focus on crime prevention and strengthening police-community relations. Fountain Inn will shut down Main Street in the downtown area to hold a block party from 6-9 pm. There will be hot dogs, children's games, DJ's, DUI simulation ride and again the police department will be out to talk with the community. Mauldin will be from 6-8 pm at City Hall and will also feature food, drinks, entertainment, K-9 demonstrations, children games and activities. Simpsonville will gather at the Gateway Village Apartments and will fun and games for all. You can keep checking ... 08/02/2008