Well, the holiday weekend is finally here. Labor Day Weekend typically marks the end of summer, but here in South Carolina there will be plenty of hot weather through September. I hope everyone has had a good summer and is adjusting to being back at school.  I am planning to take a day off to go Georgia to see the Byrnes High School Rebels play football against North Gwinnett High School.  I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend and if you can try to take a break from the phone and the laptop and spend some time with your family and friends. Have a great weekend! Ginger Ryals Keller Williams Realty 08/29/2008

If you're approaching retirement or just have too much house now that all the children are grown and on their own you may be thinking about selling the family home.  Before you do, you should ask yourself these few simple questions? Do you need the equity from your home?  If you've owned your home for a while you've probably built some equity.  If this is your main source of retirement money, than selling could be the right choice for you.  It would be wise to consult your accountant or financial planner in this case. Do you have more house than you can handle?  The maintenance on a large home, both inside and out can be costly, as can utilities and taxes.  If you have too much room and want to cut some expenses a move to a smaller home with little or no maintenance may be a good move. ... 08/28/2008

And to move to. It seems this is really what is keeping our economy in South Carolina and our Real Estate Market prosperous especially here in the upstate. As a matter of fact, I have 3 current Buyer clients that are all from out of state. I'm talking New York, Florida, and not too distant North Carolina. It appears that the weather, the scenery, (such as the mountains, lakes and the ocean not too far) and the lower than national average home prices are drawing people from all over. I think this is wonderful and there's still plenty of room.... and homes for many more. It REALLY is beautiful here!!! Let's keep the Upstate growing!!! Warm Regards, Nance Burdette Keller Williams Realty, Spartanburg 864-580-9604 nance@nanceburdette.com www.NanceBurdette.com   08/28/2008

We are having a major dilemma in our subdivision. Our subdivision has just been completed and the developer/builder has turned the HOA over to the community. We have elected our Board Members, who have agreed to handle this very time consuming and sometimes grueling task.  After much research, the Board Members decided it was in the best interest of the subdivision to have the HOA managed by an outside source. Our by-laws allow the Board Members to make these decisions and that is why we elected them.  The Board Members will remain active and the management company will handle the business end of running a HOA and report to our Board.  The catch is our dues will go up $5 per month.  Well as you may have guessed, the uproar is ridiculous.  There are "For Sale By Owner: signs in several y... 08/28/2008

Makes one wonder.... Guess it's just one of the  many hats one wears when being a successful agent. (And it's always good for future referral business!!!) You see I really enjoy helping new home buyers with making them feel comfortable and showing them a few highlights of your city, or where the closest shopping or hospital may be. Moving to a new city can be very intimidating, especially if you have children. Got to have groceries and know where the schools are!!!  Previously being from the Orlando Florida market it just came without saying that while trying to find that perfect new home, we had to make the rounds by the attraction areas or they wanted to know the proximty of there new home to Disney.  The bottom line is your making a good and lasting impression with someone and this i... 08/27/2008

Yesterday, while I was working as an onsite agent, I was given a reminder from a potential buyer client. He came into the model home and the first thing he said very sternly  was "I just walked out on another Realtor for not hearing me out". Of course my defenses automatically went up, but then I stepped back and let him explain. He had some very specific needs that had to be met and the other Realtor was not hearing his needs. I am not trying to throw this other Realtor in the creek because I along with most every other Realtor have been guilty of listening but not hearing.  It was just a gentle reminder to always listen, hear and understand the specific needs of your client and to never judge a book by its cover.   The good news is I was able to help this buyer client by asking him so... 08/27/2008

There are two treatments that many patients have to go through while under the supervision of their physicians, Chemo therapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy the cancer cells by impeding their growth and reproduction. Chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously, by injection or by mouth or by having an Implantable Port implanted into the patient's chest. Chemotherapy is often used alone, or in conjunction with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy can have many unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss and mouth sores.  Radiation therapy is one of the three traditional primary forms of medical treatment used by the experts at Cancer Treatment Centers to treat your cancer, and for relief of symptoms. It may be used al... 08/27/2008

Breast Cancer Stage I & II  Stages I and II: Early stages of breast cancer. In stage I the cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast. In stage II, one of the following has occurred: the tumor is less than 1 inch across and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm; the tumor is between 1 and 2 inches across with or without spreading to the lymph nodes under the arm. Breast Cancer Stage III Stage III, or locally advanced cancer, means that the tumor in the breast is more than 2 inches across and the cancer is extensive in the underarm lymph nodes or has spread to other lymph nodes or tissues near the breast. Many patients with stage III breast cancer will have both local and systemic treatment to remove the cancer and stop it from spreading. The treatment may include surgery as we... 08/27/2008

Guess in todays marketplace it pays to be diverse. You might say it's slim pickins. although there does seem to be more Listings than Buyers lately. I don't feel that I'm "MISS GOODY TWO SHOES" not to take to take any type of listing that comes my way.  After all, It's somebodies home,  whether it be 14 foot wide or 150 foot wide. I realize that we as agents are here to service each individual with their real estate needs. That makes my heart feel good. Sincerely, Nance Burdette Keller Williams Realty, 864-580-9604 nance@nanceburdette.com www.NanceBurdette.com     08/26/2008

Are you having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments? Have you received a notice from your lender asking you to contact them? Don't ignore the letters, Always call them back to find out what can be done to save your home. If you are unable to make your mortgage payment: Here are some tips to try to save your home. 1. Don't ignore the problem. 2. Contact your lender as soon as you realize that you have a problem. 3. Open and respond to all mail from your lender. 4. Know your mortgage rights. 5. Understand foreclosure prevention options. 6. Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor. 7. Prioritize your spending. 8. Use your assets.   9. Avoid foreclosure prevention companies. 10. Don't lose your house to foreclosure recovery scams! 08/26/2008

I am feeling so blessed to be part of such a wonderful group of people at Keller Williams Spartanburg, South Carolina. Several members of our team have been experiencing some very difficult circumstances lately and it is just amazing to see the outpouring of generosity, care and love.  It is comforting to know that if you need help, KW Spartanburg team has your back.  I hope all of you fellow realtors can say the same thing about your team, if you can't find a team that will!!    Ginger Ryals Keller Williams Spartanburg 08/25/2008

The search engine local advertising market is booming, and it is only going to get larger and more important in the future as search engines learn how to better organize local listings, and 10 lb. phone books go the way of the dodo.So, what can you do about this boom in local searches? Get listed of course! I will start with Google as it is by far the most important, and serves more searches than any other service combined.Get Listed on Google Local1. First, you will need to get a Google account. You can do that HERE2. Second, login to your new account and go the Google Local Business Center Page: HERE3. After you Type in all the information for your business, you will need to wait until you get a card in the mail from Google. This will confirm that your business is physically at the ad... 08/25/2008

No matter what type of job you have. I hope this rings true for you. It's Sunday evening and I'm just taking poll of the day. Yes... today caught me working. I realize Sunday is most commonly known as a day for church and a day of rest and in this area of the country many folks consider it just that. It's a time for family get togethers and big dinners. I always have time for Sunday morning church but since I don't have a large family and my children are out of state; (and my husband is on the road) I may as well make good use of my afternoon. But because I enjoy what I do, I really don't consider it "work"...and quite often people need my assistance on the only day they have free,  Mind you I don't put in 8 hours every Sunday, and when time allows I do manage to squeeze in some down ti... 08/24/2008

Reasons to hire an appraiser!   Real estate appraising is an evaluation of property including the land, dwellings and all features on it. Although everyone knows it is necessary to appraise real estate to sell it, there are several other reasons people would contact a real estate appraiser. 1. Establish value to buy insurance. 2. Settle insurance claims. 3. Establish market value to sell a home or buy new property. 4. Establish market value to refinance or use for collateral on another loan. 5. Assess current value to get rid of obligation to buy property mortgage insurance. 6. Reduce property taxes. 7. Estate settlement 8. Division of assets to establish market value in case of divorce, dissolutions of partnerships, etc. 9. Conduct a write-away or easement appraisal. 10. Business appra... 08/23/2008

And have them work effectively. I am certainly not the biggest dog on the block!!! and don't plan on being either.  Granted, technology is not my forte', so I don't consider myself an expert on this subject. (and probably couldn't handle more than one or two sites at the most.)  But I'm just curious if having more than ONE website (even two) is beneficial. Am I correct in assuming that if you have it marketed correctly, and linked properly what would be the need? Lately I have been investigating internet website marketing companies and who can do a decent job and have it affordable. They made mention for me to be thinking of another domain name. Not quite sure if this will be the best way. I have been advertising my current website for approx. 5 years or longer.  Unfortunately my budget... 08/23/2008

You should be on the look out for any major problems which may cause you significant problems and money later on down the line! It's a good idea to do your homework when you're looking to purchase an existing home or any home you may be considering. You want to know what you should be looking for? Well consider some of these tips and information while you're shopping for an existing home:1) Consider having a home inspection done on the property you're thinking about purchasing. This is very important! By having a home inspection, you will be provided with valuable information about the condition of the home you want to purchase by an independent expert. You can find a certified home inspector via the American Society of Home Inspectors(ASHI) www.ashi.org. You�ll be glad that you hired a... 08/23/2008

Good question! It's a good idea to think about what you should look for when you purchase a new home before you actually sign on the dotted line and pay. Buying a new home can be a rewarding experience if you do it right. Just make sure you protect yourself from any surprises down the line. You want to know some of the ways you can? Well, you may want to consider these tips before purchasing your new home:1) Make sure you select a reputable builder when you purchase your new home! Do your research on the builder to find out about their past work. You can find out the type of work a builder has previously done by getting the names of the home communities established by the builder. Go to those particular communities and ask some of the homeowners if they have had any problems with that p... 08/23/2008

It might seem like a wise, cost effective solution on the surface, but selling your home yourself can be quite a taxing exercise in more ways then one.While the numerous home selling shows and magazines might depict it in an exciting and attractive light, in reality selling a home yourself is not all that fun. Ask anyone who has ever gone through the stressful experience of selling a home alone and they will tell you that it is a time in your life, which is anything but fun. In fact, it is far from it. Apart from the time and demand that it commands from you and your family, selling your home yourself can be a very expensive option. What's more it is only when you are midway through the process of selling your home yourself do you start to discover those hidden costs you were not aware ... 08/23/2008

Just wondering.....Do ready, willing, and able BUYERS really pay attention to what Brokers name or which agents name is on the "FOR SALE" sign in the front yard? I recently had a seller tell me (at the end of the listing appointment) that they wanted "the other company's sign in their front yard because "this company" was better known in the area, and that particular agent has lived here longer!!! Is this for real??? I tried explaining and convincing my way to securing this listing but to no avail. Maybe this was all an excuse... guess I'll never know. Sincerely, Nance Burdette Keller Williams Realty 864-580-9604 nance@nanceburdette.com www.NanceBurdette.com 08/22/2008

Yes, that's what I seem to be telling all my clients now days, especially my seller clients. You might say this has always been true, but it seems imperative in todays market that you have your home in the best possible condition and "looking good" if you want those continued scheduled showings and a contract in hand. A most important factor is to have it priced fairly. Make it just a little better than the one down the street. Everyone is looking for a good deal, so make yours on the top of their list. And...as I say to all my Buyer clients: I'm in the market to "finding you the best home that your dollar can buy". Pure and simple!!! Sincerely, Nance Burdette Keller Williams Realty 864-580-9604 nance@nanceburdette.com www.NanceBurdette.com 08/22/2008