Real Estate Scorecard | Breaking News

Community Update - Ladd Landing and Tennessee National on Watts Bar Lake

By Margie Casey — 2012-05-22 14:19

Notes from our April 2012 research trip...

LADD LANDING - KINGSTON TENNESSEE

Just west of Knoxville Tennessee, this master planned community on Watts Bar Lake offers beautiful long range views of the lake. I had the chance to tour this lake community with real estate developer Matt Caldwell. We visited the soon to be completed new clubhouse with wrap around porches, a stone fireplace and beautiful heated swimming pool. The grand opening of the clubhouse is planned for the summer of 2012. One new home was under construction and two new homes were in the process of architectural review. Ladd Landing’s architecture is particularly interesting as it reflects a combination of New Orleans, Victorian Row and Lowcountry embellishments. The $2.5 million dollar two mile biking and hiking trails were almost finished leading to the William B. Ladd Park on Watts Bar Lake and boat ramp.

The Kingston area suffered a setback in 2008 when the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant dike failed spilling coal ash into Watts Bar Lake threatening the water table. As of December 2010, the clean up was completed and things are now back to normal in Kingston. Developer Matt Caldwell was excited to share with me the renewed interest in Ladd Landing, a classic example of new urbanism. Within walking distance of his lake community, residents have access to a grocery store, hardware store, medical offices and restaurants. In September 2012, the Kingston City Hall is moving its headquarters to the former Kingston Medical Plaza at Ladd Landing. If you are searching for a Knoxville lake community, ask us about Ladd Landing’s welcoming Discovery Package - margie@realestatescorecard.com   

TENNESSEE NATIONAL - LOUDON TENNESSEE

A Greg Norman Signature masterpiece, this golf community on Watts Bar Lake continues to be one of the most beautifully maintained master planned communities in Eastern Tennessee. We’ve had our eye on Tennessee National over the years monitoring the staff changes and pending land tract sale to a new investment group. As of our visit in April 2012, the community as a whole had not changed hands although rumors are still in the air of a possible acquisition. In March 2012, the golf club began a campaign to increase golf club membership. For a limited time, the club is offering non-refundable memberships for $3,000 instead of $6,000.

Property owners we’ve tallied for scorecards expressed disappointment regarding the fizzled out plans of the community’s marina. Without a boat ramp and dockage, residents at Tennessee National have no way to access Watts Bar Lake within the gated entrance. While lakeview lots are property types offered at Tennessee National, the golf course lifestyle better defines community amenities at Tennessee National.

As with Ladd Landing, this golf community is about a long four iron from Interstate 75 and west Knoxville providing quick access to the famous Turkey Creek Shopping Complex, popular with the ladies. I believe once Tennessee National is under new ownership, we will see bulldozers breaking ground again pushing forward with development. According to David Woodard, the sales manager of Tennessee National, more than $ 6 million in property was purchased in 2011, 63 lots and 12 single family homes.   If you are interested in knowing more about Tennessee National, write me margie@realestatescorecard.com

Community Update - Fairfield Glade and Long Branch Lakes

By Margie Casey — 2012-05-15 16:39

Notes from our April 2012 research trip...

FAIRFIELD GLADE - CROSSVILLE TENNESSEE

I was greeted in Crossville by the long awaited road expansion of Peavine Road. When this four lane road is completed in 2018, the expansion will provide even quicker access to Fairfield Glade. This massive 12,000 acre master planned community in Tennessee is focused around golf and retirement lifestyle amenities. Almost 100 social clubs are actively engaged in fun activities at Fairfield Glade. Art clubs, pickleball, golf leagues and ballroom dancing groups, to name a few. I’m happy to share the full list with you.

In March 2012, Golfweek Magazine named Fairfield Glade’s Stonehenge golf course one of the top five golf courses in Tennessee, another feather in the community’s hat since its inception a few decades ago. Our contact at Fairfield Glade also shared with us the excitement of a new 30,000 square foot Cumberland Medical Center scheduled to break ground any day at Fairfield Glade, adjacent to the community’s wellness center. Buyer’s searching for where to retire in Tennessee, away from traffic, congestion and city noise, may Fairfield Glade one of the friendliest neighborhood choices in Eastern Tennessee. Just try to move in and not receive a warm apple pie from your neighbors. Home prices are also very affordable, ranging in the mid $100k’s to new cottage homes priced in the $300k’s. Ask us about Fairfield Glade’s Stay & Play Package, so you can try out the lifestyle this Tennessee golf community can offer you. At this time, Fairfield Glade is offering a special incentive to buyer’s purchasing lot home packages. Ask me for more info: margie@realestatescorecard.com.

LONG BRANCH LAKES - SPENCER TENNESSEE

Each time I visit this Tennessee equestrian community south of Cookeville, I’m torn between which of the community amenities I like best. Is it the two Bill Dance Signature lakes or the comprehensive Equestrian Center adjacent to Bledsoe Creek State Park? This year, Long Branch Lakes announced an alliance with Tennessee’s well known Horse Whisper - Mike Branch. Mike’s specialty is with wild mustangs although equestrian folks travel for miles to ask Mike for advice about all types of horses. Once a month, Mike Branch is scheduled to host instructional horse clinics at Long Branch Lakes Equestrian Center. The upcoming dates for Mike’s events are May 18-20, June 29-30, July 6-8 and August 3-5, 2012.

Long Branch Lakes recently added an additional 683 acres to their conservation easements, protecting more green space. Eight homes are currently under construction and seven more were recently approved after architectural review. At Long Branch Lakes, you have the flexibility to choose your own builder and obtain developer financing on your lot purchase. If you are exploring master planned communities in Eastern Tennessee, don’t miss seeing Long Branch Lakes in Spencer. Ask me to send you an information packet: margie@realestatescorecard.com

The Big Money Buys A Gem - Reynolds Planation Lake Oconee Georgia

By Margie Casey — 2012-05-14 16:27

When hedge funds such as MetLife invest millions of dollars in one of the best master planned communities in the Southeast, it’s worth taking notice and following suit. In fact over the last two years, we have watched a number of individuals and investment groups acquire trophy properties such as Balsam Mountain Preserve in Sylva, The Cliffs Communities in North and South Carolina, The Georgia Club in Athens and Southcliff in Asheville North Carolina.

I’ve had my eye on the Georgia golf community Reynolds Plantation, Achasta in Dahlonega, Lake Burton Club in Clayton Georgia and Blue Ridge Mountain Club in Blowing Rock North Carolina for years, waiting to see what would happen when the dust settled down after the ownership changed. Reynolds Development found themselves backed up against the wall when their lender refused to renew their bank financing and lines of credit. In fact, a number of real estate developments were hand cuffed by lenders as the credit market began to dry up in 2008. In an effort save the golf community from foreclosure, a proposal was submitted directly to the property owners of Reynolds Plantation, a suggestion to buy out the community amenities and take over control. This controversial issue caused a stalemate between property owners and the buy out fizzled. It was just a matter of time before a big money conglomerate with financial muscles and a deep checkbook would scoop up this award winning Georgia golf community. The question still lies if Reynolds Plantation’s soon to be new owner, MetLife, will bring unity back to this close knit vacation and second home community. We hope so. Reynolds Plantation is home to six championship golf courses, a lakeside Ritz-Carlton Lodge, swimming pools, wellness centers, lakeside marinas and more. Don’t be afraid to ask me for my personal analysis of this Georgia golf community.

Are you one of those buyer’s who are afraid to buy or seller’s afraid to sell even if you know it's the right thing to do to move forward with your life? Let me share with you a lesson I learned from my friend Frank McKinney, a well known real estate maverick in South Florida who builds million dollar beachfront spec homes for the rich and famous. I had the pleasure of touring Frank’s latest masterpiece in 2009, $29 million Acqua Liana which sold soon after in what some would consider the worst real estate market in history. In Frank’s book Burst This!, he discusses the six real estate cycles since the Great Depression of 1929 pointing out the causes and ways to bubble proof your investments. His book is very interesting. I’m too young to remember the Great Depression but do you remember when America fell flat on its face during these significant events in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s? I do.

Interest rates rose to over 17% in 1981
Gas shortages forced us to wait in line for gas on specific days of the week
Skyrocketing inflation and unemployment rates seemed impossible to fix
The Savings and Loan Crisis - more than 1,000 thrifts failed and our government had to bail them out
The Internet Bubble Burst in the late 1990’s plummeting 401k portfolios and savings including ours

The conclusion I gained - history repeats itself over and over again. To me, we are entering the fresh beginning of a new real estate investment cycle, both for the short term and long term. When 'big money' makes its move, it is worth noticing and following suit. Yes, it will take courage to ride the real estate rollercoaster after the beating we've all felt in the past 4 years. Stay positive and think about the laughter at the end of the ride and your smart accomplishment.

Finding undervalued quality communities which deliver pure bliss is how we help buyer’s in this real estate market. We are here to help. Send me your ‘wish list of lifestyle amenities and budget’ and I will send you back a list of places to consider and the details why. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Update Center Hill Lake and Lake Tansi Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2012-05-09 15:49

Tennessee continues to be one of the best states to retire in the Southeast because of the low cost of living and mild weather. Folks living on the eastern Seaboard more often than not ask about waterfront homes on Tennessee lakes. Up to this point, Tellico Lake, Norris Lake and Old Hickory Lake are the three lakes we focus on in Tennessee. Last month, we also visited Center Hill Lake and Lake Tansi to see if these two Tennessee lakes are worthy of sharing with our buyers. The answer is no and here’s why:

CENTER HILL LAKE:

Constructed in the late 1940’s, Center Hill Lake is an 18,220 acre lake located in Smithville Tennessee, about 50 miles west of Crossville and 65 miles southeast of Nashville. In January 2007, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers placed the Center Hill Lake Damn on a high risk alert for damn failure because of wall water seepage and begin repair work immediately. This repair work was originally scheduled to be complete in September 2013 and has now been delayed into 2014. During the damn repair, lake levels have been dropped between 13 and 18 feet depending on the season, effecting access to boat ramps and boat docks. These lower lake levels make it more difficult to access the lake.

There are seven marina’s on Center Hill Lake and from what we observed, they all seem to hanging in there during the damn repair. The marina’s are:

Center Hill Marina
Cookeville Boat Dock
Edgar Evins Marina
Hidden Harbor Marina
Hurricane Marina
Pates Ford Resort
Marina Sligo Marina

As we drove over the Center Hill Damn and toured the area, we noticed closed down businesses on the side of the lake closest to Interstate 40. Is the damn repair to blame? Although the lake has 415 miles of shoreline, development is restricted on Center Hill Lake by the Army Corp of Engineers so the area is still lush and forested. Is now the time to search for undervalued lakefront property on Center Hill Lake? Maybe, if you don’t mind a rural atmosphere. If you prefer being closer to modern conveniences, Tellico Lake and Norris Lake in Knoxville and Old Hickory Lake in Nashville are the more logical lake choices to me. We have more than a dozen quality communities worth taking a look bordering the best Tennessee lakes. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com and I will send you the list.

LAKE TANSI:

A neighborhood created almost 50 years ago, this 4,700 recreational lake community is located just south of Crossville Tennessee. Lake Tansi is a 625 acre lake with a golf course, restaurants, 15 acres of beach-style property, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, marina and lakefront vacation cottages. In 1977, the property owner’s association took over management of this lake community. According to locals, back 50 years ago, building restrictions were more lenient, if there were any building restrictions at all. Without code enforcement, home owners went ahead and built larger homes than their lots perked for septic and water. This is adding more sewage to Lake Tansi from septic drainfields than anticipated. Now 50 years later, this lake community is in a fierce legal battle over building a community sewer system which would impose a mandatory $4,500 to $7,500 utility tap fee to connect to the sewer system. Looking at the big picture, a community sewer system makes environmental sense but I don’t blame retirees living at Lake Tansi for being upset about this unexpected problem and expense.

I’ve seen this sewer issue before in Florida and unexpected assessments never go over well with property owners. I caution buyers considering purchasing property at Lake Tansi to perform due diligence understanding their financial exposure from the POA's litigation and the potential health hazards of Lake Tansi’s water quality. If rumors are true, it makes sense that the water quality may become a more serious health issue going forward if Lake Tansi’s pioneer home builders did not follow the bedroom and bath restrictions. I will keep my eye on Lake Tansi’s progress and invite you to leave a comment with your thoughts about this issue.

If you are searching for where to retire in Tennessee, why not consider the tried and true Fairfield Glade for Cookeville TN real estate. Fairfield Glade has two community lakes for boating along with five championship golf courses and many more amenities. Ask me to connect you with our colleague who can show you both Fairfield Glade and Lake Tansi. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Nashville - Another City in the Southeast Leading Market Recovery

By Margie Casey — 2012-04-28 08:38

Buyers considering Eastern Tennessee may find themselves asking why Nashville? I would respond, as a best college town and musically infused city, Nashville offers a high quality of life whether you decide the live in the heart of the city or in the surrounding Nashville neighborhoods. Retirees and job seekers can both find bliss in Nashville Tennessee. With no state income tax, the cost of living is reasonable and is about 5% less than the national average. Take a look at the best master planned communities in Nashville:

COMMUNITY NEWS

WESTHAVEN - FRANKLIN

One of the best examples of new urbanism, Westhaven is about 45 minutes south of downtown Nashville. A community with walkable neighborhoods framed out by park-like squares and great lawns, zero lot line homes with wide front porches and garages accessed from back alleyways. Pearre Creek Elementary School and the Westhaven Towncenter are part of Westhaven’s master plan and are open for business. Resident's were busy planning Porchfest 2012, Westhaven's first community music festival scheduled for Saturday June 16th.

In my opinion, families who move to Westhaven, choose the community because Franklin is part of Tennessee’s best school districts. As I talked with locals in Nashville about Westhaven, many refer to Westhaven as ‘being out there’. To me, the charming town of Franklin offers a plenty of shopping, restaurants and everyday conveniences removing the need for a daily commute into Nashville. My thoughts are shared about Franklin as this charming town is named one of America’s Most Beautiful Towns by Rand McNally.

Westhaven is one of Nashville’s fastest selling neighborhoods reporting 115 closed sales in 2011 at an average price of $526k. This is a slight increase over 2010. According to MLS, Westhaven had 79 closed sales. The Westhaven Golf Clubhouse is about 75% complete and is scheduled to open in August this year. Property owners of Westhaven are not required to join the golf club. Westhaven’s community amenities are well maintained and the curb appeal is undisputed. There were about two dozen homes under construction. If Westhaven sounds like the right place for you, ask me to connect you with our contact who lives at Westhaven to find out about their new homes starting at $269k. Call me at 866.384.1799 ext 1.

Westhaven property owner scorecards are available for members to read.

THE GOVERNORS CLUB - BRENTWOOD

Home to the rich and famous, you can easily find 10,000 square foot homes at The Governors Club exceeding $6 million. During our visit last week, I toured homes priced under $700k. I believe savvy buyer’s who understand the benefit of buying the lowest priced home in the best neighborhoods would be wise to explore The Governors Club. The main golf clubhouse, pool area and community entrance are well maintained. The second resident’s pool next to the tennis courts was waterless and appears abandoned. In reality, I see no need for two swimming pools anyway at The Governors Club. The Arnold Palmer Signature golf course is managed by Kemper Sports and a variety of types of golf membership are available.

In 2011, there 32 closed sales ranging from $598k to $2.9 million. There are currently 37 homes for sale ranging from $649k to over $6 million. I believe the majority of sales are due to corporate relocations moving away from Nashville. If you would like to explore The Governors Club, ask me to connect you with our colleague who lives at The Governors Club. Call me at 866.384.1799 ext 1.

The Governors Club property owner scorecards are available for members to read.

FAIRVUE PLANTATION - GALLATIN

Our come back kid, Fairvue Plantation was a refreshing surprise after the developer’s exodus due to bankruptcy. Buyer’s who prefer a quieter way of life yet want quick city access won’t want to miss considering homes at Fairvue Plantation, 30 minutes north of downtown Nashville. The European architecture and meticulous landscaping compliment the Bill Bergin championship golf course and rolling hills leading down to Old Hickory Lake. Lakefront homes with dockage are available at Fairvue Plantation.

Since KemperSports took over the golf club management in March 2011, club membership has increased from 550 members to over 700 members a testament to club member satisfaction. The club and golf course are independently owned. In 2012, the dining room was renovated and during my visit, the swimming pool was being resurfaced. I was informed no special assessments were expected for these amenity upgrades. One of Fairvue’s most popular builders, Phillips Builders reported a 50% increase in new construction in 2011 verses 2010. In 2011, there were 23 closed sales. There are currently 34 homes for sale at Fairvue Plantation ranging from $266k to lakefront homes priced over $4 million. Ask me to connect you with our colleague who lives at Fairvue Plantation. Call me at 866.384.1799 ext 1.

Fairvue Plantation property owner scorecards are available for members to read.

NEW APPROVED COMMUNITIES:

BURKITT PLACE - NOLENSVILLE:

Developed by CPS Land, Burkitt Place is a newer affordably priced master planned community with homes overlooking rolling hills and preserved green open spaces. Community amenities include a swimming pool, walking trail system and welcoming neighborhood parks. Builders include Celebration Homes, Drees Homes, Parkside Homes and Regent Homes. New home floor plans start in the low $200k’s.

PROVIDENCE - MOUNT JULIET

With quick access to Interstate 40, Providence’s location is one of the key attributes of this 1,000 acre master planned community. By train, the Music City Star stops in Mount Juliet providing public transportation into downtown Nashville. The Providence Marketplace with more than 70 brand name stores and a movie theater is biking distance from the Providence neighborhoods. Each of the eleven Providence neighborhood has its own architectural style from traditional Americana to soothing coastal cottages. Community amenities include walking trails and the resort-style Providence Swim Club. Home prices begin in the mid $100k’s.

THE HIGHLANDS AT LADD PARK - FRANKLIN

Just off Interstate 65, this master planned community has some of the best long range views of Nashville we've seen to date and the community borders the Harpeth River. About 150 homes have been built to date of the 1,000 planned at Ladd Park. On the drawing board, a community swimming pool, cabanas and 150 acre riverfront park. Home styles reflect American Craftsman and Lowcountry architecture. Lots for sale are not easy to find as new home buyer’s compete with builders for the best lot locations. Home prices begin in the low $300k’s.

THE ICON IN THE GULCH - NASHVILLE

Unquestionably the hippest redeveloped neighborhood in downtown Nashville, the Gulch is booming with new contemporary condominiums, retail shops and outdoor cafes. We found the Icon in the Gulch the most interesting of the bunch confirmed by buyer's interest as Icon in the Gulch set condominium sales records in 2010. The spa-like music, trendy color schemes and first class amenities have city dwellers competing for an Icon address and accessing this building isn’t easy. Empty nesters will find it hard to beat the price, location and lifestyle amenities of this best college town. The Icon in Gulch is also pet friendly. Only a handful of new condominiums are available starting in the mid $200k’s.

If you would like to be notified when our scorecards are released for these newly approved communities, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Declaration of Dependence - The Benefit of a Homeowner Association

By Margie Casey — 2012-04-23 12:14

As we search for the best master planned communities in the Southeast, I’m always taken back when I stumble across homes on highly visible roads which remind me of the A&E television show ‘Hoarders’. This reality show features the compulsive behavior of people who have a hard time parting with personal belongings, items which could be considered junk. For those of us with tidy type A personalities, having a neighbor’s yard cluttered with junk is a nightmare. While some folks don’t care for the rules and regulations of master planned communities, buyer’s would be prudent to consider the protection homeowner association’s provide for the common good. Buyer’s should consider worst case scenario's possible, when buying in rural areas.

According to the Community Associations Institute, approximately 25 million homes are governed by homeowners associations (HOA). The HOA provides a Board of Directors the enforcement power to maintain rules and regulations established by the majority of property owners such as exterior paint colors, boat/RV storage, noise, etc. A wise Board of Directors can improve living conditions in a neighborhood, making the quality of life even better. When comparing master planned communities, it is worth while to study the effectiveness, fiscal management and property owner satisfaction of an HOA before purchasing a home in a perspective community.

In the case of the home featured in our photo above, you would think the county and/or local municipality would demand this property owner clean up their mess. Who knows how long this residential property has been an outdoor junk yard. I caution city dwellers buying real estate in rural areas as your new next door neighbor might bring with them unpleasant surprises beyond junk car storage. What if your new neighbor has an affection for chickens, goats or a herd of barking dogs? Why chance it. Consider buying in a master planned community, whether the community is gated or not.

The benefits I see with successful HOA’s who understand interdependence:

DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE

Law of Interdependence - Property owners committing to living in harmony within the community, depending on each other for curb appeal and a friendly social connection.

Assurance of Conformity - Property owners conscious agreement to protect and preserve the natural beauty and man-made characteristics of the community.

Law of Fiscal Responsibility - Property owners proactively choosing a diligent Board of Director’s capable of managing the budget set forth by the property owners and avoiding unexpected special assessments, whenever possible.

Rights of Enforcement - Property owners dependence on the Homeowners Association (HOA) to take corrective action for the benefit of all property owners, when rules and regulations have been violated.

Could a rule happy HOA who’s behavior borderlines a dictatorship become a nuisance too? Absolutely. But which is the less of the two evils? From my research, I see plenty of happy master planned communities in the Southeast to consider. Property owner’s are quick in telling us the good, the bad and the ugly about their communities. Before you buy a home, be sure to become a member of Real Estate Scorecard to see what property owner’s are saying behind the scene about their community. This is how we help buyer’s in this market.

Feel free to call me at 866.384.1799 or write anytime: margie@realestatescorecard.com

Retirement Relocation - Rent a Home First or Buy?

By Margie Casey — 2012-04-16 08:42

As Baby Boomer’s consider moving away from the high cost of living cities in the Northeast, many are faced with the challenge of comparing new cities in the Southeast. Once Boomer's narrow their focus on where to retire, the confusion quickly becomes which neighborhood should they move into. For example, in Nashville Tennessee, there are suburbs all around the city in addition to the option of urban downtown living. The suburbs are all quite different. There are Nashville neighborhoods geared towards young families, lifestyle interests such as golf or neighborhoods with more elbow room and acreage.

Typically, buyer’s make 2 - 3 visits to a city before they decide where to purchase. Unless you have family or friends in the area, how will you know which neighborhood is right for you in the long run? I see buyer’s today toying with the decision of renting first, giving them time to learn more about the area before they buy. To me, this is smart and here’s why:

Although it may be a hassle and cost more to move again a year later, this may be the last home buying decision you will make as a Baby Boomer. Choosing the right neighborhood is an important decision at retirement. Renting a home allows you more time to explore all the suburbs in your chosen city. To discover where problems exist, those you would want to avoid such as traffic, crime and noise issues. To discover where social clubs are found such as garden clubs along with lifelong learning courses, community parks and things like that. You will also have the chance to visit open houses, meet builders and see more neighborhoods. While renting first makes emotional sense, financially it makes sense to buy because of the historical low home prices.

So what should we do? I suggest keeping things in perspective. I agree, it is a buyer’s market. However, it is also a renter’s market. Most rental homes in the market today were recently purchased by investors through a short sale or foreclosure and many paid cash. This allows the investor to rent the home for substantially less rent than the investor could have if they bought the home at the height of the market in 2006. The investor’s monthly costs are lower now which is how they can afford to do this.

If you rent a home first, will you watch the real estate market prices rise too far ahead in one year? No. Don’t get caught into the hype from sales people. Based on history, as the normal real estate market returns, home prices should increase about 3-5% per year. If predictions are right, 2013 will be labeled as a normal market thankfully, so we can sell our homes and move on with our lives. Don’t be afraid to ask me to connect you with our trusted broker in the city you desire for rental homes. Putting your toe in the water is just fine with me. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

3RD HOME Swaps - A Smart Vacation Club

By Margie Casey — 2012-04-12 07:17

Last year, I visited 3RD HOME’s corporate office in Nashville, to learn more about this luxury home swap club. Unlike cheap timeshares, second homes accepted into the 3RD HOME program are special, valued from $750k to over $4 million. 3RD HOME is actively involved in the screening process and is today’s trusted match maker for vacation home owners.

Take a look at the luxury homes in the program: 3RD HOME

People with luxury second homes can take advantage of this growing private reciprocal club and add value to their vacation home. 3RD HOME allows members to deposit weeks at their home in exchange for keys to travel to other members’ second homes for a transaction fee of only $495. 3RD HOME makes this ever growing collection of properties around the world extremely easy to reserve, watch and request time. Not only is 3RD HOME expanding and becoming more well known it is extremely user friendly when searching, reserving and communicating with 3RD HOME exchange coordinators.

The private reciprocal club is now in its third year and bigger than ever. 3RD HOME is growing in not only size with over 1,000 members and properties but in regards to awareness and popularity as well. Members now have the luxury of choosing from over 1,100 properties all over the world with destinations in 62 countries. The newest destinations include Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, the Philippines, Japan, Jamaica, and St. Maarten.

One new feature on their website is the “property search” interactive map, which allows members to customize their property search to find exactly what they are looking for. When a member visits the “Explore Properties” page under the “Search” tab, it brings them to a page with a world map. The map allows users to select a region of the world they would like to travel to in order to narrow the search results. Selecting a time of year the member wants to travel can also narrow the results or an activity the member wants the location to include. For example, a member can select the “ski” icon, then the USA region and the Rocky Mountains to get all properties that meet the search criteria.

For members to receive specials, they can sign up to be on the “Daily Alerts” list. In this case they would receive an email Monday through Friday with a special offer for a specific property. For example, there could be a five key vacation home that a member could book for three keys.

I still have free membership passes through this web link: 3RD HOME. Look on the top of the screen to find the drop down box to sign up for your free annual membership to 3RD HOME. I’ve written about 3RD HOME several times because I believe it is a smart idea if you enjoy global travel:

SECOND HOME PERKS WITH 3RD HOME

HOME EXCHANGES THROUGH 3RD HOME

Take a look at their most recent news:

Over $2.5 billion of luxury secondary real estate in the club 3RD HOME has 1000 members and over 1200 properties in 62 countries.

Partner offices in Singapore, and Noosa Heads, Australia 3RD HOME has partnered up with Elite Resorts of Asia Pacific and Lifestyle Realty in both of those countries respectively in order to provide a presence in Asia and Australasia.

Newest Countries with member properties Bulgaria, the Philippines, Hungary, Germany, Japan, Jamaica, and St. Maarten

If you own a qualifying second home, joining this program is a no brainer. If not, bookmark the thought in your mind for future use. This is an excellent way to leverage your second home opening up to gateway to vacation homes around the world similar to yours.

3RD HOME is a smart vacation club.

Florida - The Fountain of Youth

By Margie Casey — 2012-04-03 11:28

No snow to shovel and a lower cost of living in Florida provides a less stressful life during retirement. Sunny days, warm tropical weather and 825 miles of gorgeous beaches are natural amenities adding to our longevity. Flip flops and bathing suits replace boots and wool jackets as daily wear. Florida is nicknamed the Funshine State because living in this state is darn fun and is hardly the land of couch potato’s.

Between the tourist attractions, beautiful state parks and endless water sports, Florida has always been one of the best states to retire in the Southeast. Long summer days make the days feel endless. No matter what hobby you enjoy, be it golf, scuba diving Florida’s coral reefs, offshore deep sea fishing or a heated match of tennis, you will find Floridian’s of all ages are always busy having fun. Now with casino’s creeping their way into the state, the night life in Florida continues to become more exciting. Florida is the gateway to the Bahama’s and Caribbean Islands. For less than $50 and in less than 50 minutes, you can be walking on more unspoiled beaches in the Bahama’s. And one day soon, Cuba will welcome US travelers.

Like Californian’s, you will find most Floridian’s are health conscious folks watching their weight and may be dabbling into Botox. I’ll probably take a little heat for this next comment but I believe it to be true, generally speaking. If you don’t believe Florida is truly the fountain of youth, then take a look at two people the same age; one who has lived in Florida for 20 years and one who has lived in the midwest for 20 years. Assuming the Floridian didn’t bake themselves in the sun all day, my bet is the Floridian will look remarkably younger. Why? Possibly because the humidity moisturizes the skin and hydrates the body. You will be surprised at how quickly you can adapt to humidity. Whatever your age, it’s not too late to enjoy health benefits from living in Florida. The peer pressure here in Florida to look good is a good thing, keeping us on our toes.

So whether you’ve traveled here on vacation to see Walt Disney World or salsa the night away on South Beach, I imagine you are wondering where is the best place to retire in Florida? I have begun to share with you the coastal areas in Florida which offer a high quality of life at retirement. I will continue to do so over the next 12 months. Our state is huge. If you’re wondering how to compare a city like Palm Coast Florida to Delray Beach, just ask me. This is how I help buyer’s in this market. A local like myself can explain the history of the area and the differences between cities because I’ve lived in the state for more than 40 years and watched the state of Florida change. The choices of places to live in Florida are huge; from beachside towns to equestrian areas or fabulous golf course country clubs to neighborhoods near cold fresh water springs. The more you learn, the more you’ll want to know about Florida.

Did you know there are more than 7,700 lakes, 10,550 miles of river and 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline Florida? With birding now the fastest growing sport in Florida, the Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail offers 500 sites to see more than 500 bird species. From extraordinary wildlife and nature to advanced technology opportunities, Florida continues to attract the best of the best as Florida holds the trophy of being the best state to retire. We look forward to the day in Florida when passenger trains connect more cities in the state, making it easier for seniors to visit places of interest and that day is coming.

Discover the fountain of youth in Florida and claim your place in this beautiful paradise by buying a home in Florida during the bottom of the real estate market. I’m here to help. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com or call me at 866.384.1799.

Palm Coast Poised to Lead Florida Real Estate Market Recovery

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-28 12:41

Last week, I made my way up to Palm Coast Florida during the Parade of Homes to re-visit four master planned communities featured on our website. I continue to believe Palm Coast will lead the Florida real estate market recovery because of its small town charm and quick access to the busier cities of St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Below is a summary of what I observed in Palm Coast plus an introduction to three new communities we have added to our list of the best master planned communities.

If you are searching for Palm Coast homes, ask me to connect with you with one of the most knowledgable people I know and trust in Palm Coast Florida. I promise you'll thank me. I'm available anytime to help you by calling me at my toll free number 866-384-1799 or by writing margie@realestatescorecard.com

Here's what's happening:

HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT

The most popular vacation resort in Palm Coast Florida is back in the press. Bobby Ginn of Ginn Development Company built this oceanfront community in early 2000 before filing for bankruptcy in 2008 when the real estate market collapsed. Reynolds Signature Communities subsequently acquired the remaining developer lots which for the most part, have been re-sold. In 2011, Salamander Hotel & Resorts partnered with the project to manage this oceanfront resort. On March 12, 2012, the law firm Gilman Law LP filed class action lawsuit against Bobby Ginn, Ginn Development and Hammock Beach Resort’s owner Lubert-Alder LLP claiming mortgage and real estate fraud.

I wonder how this lawsuit will affect the financial wear with all of Lubert-Alder LP founded in 1997 by Ira Lubert and Dean Alder based in Philadelphia. According to their website, Lubert-Alder LP has invested $6.5 billion of equity into $16 billion in assets. We anticipate this will be a long arduous lawsuit as the Plaintiff attempts to prove these serious allegations. Buyer’s considering purchasing at Hammock Beach Resort should seek legal counsel and carefully review the resort’s financial reserves and annual funding of Lubert-Alder LP owned resort amenities.

HAMMOCK DUNES CLUB

I am to happy to hear the news about this private oceanfront golf community opening up 30 non-equity golf memberships along with adding new Legacy and Corporate Memberships to the club. This brings new excitement to an established golf club. The 30 Family & Friends Membership’s have a $20k non-refundable initiation fee and annual dues range from $ 6,625 - $ 9,805 per year, depending on the type of club membership. The new Legacy membership is available for the children of current or former Hammock Dunes Members. Legacy Members are not required to be property owners of Hammock Dunes Club. Depending on the child’s age, dues are deeply discounted until the child reaches age 55, the discounts between 40-50%. New corporate memberships are also available to non-residents of Hammock Dunes Club with a $35k initiation fee and annual golf dues of $ 9,805.

According to public records, there were 20 sales in 2011; 7 lots and 13 single family homes. This is one of the prettiest golf communities on the ocean in Palm Coast Florida where we see buyer’s scoffing up beautiful properties. If you would like to be added to my watch list, send me the specifics on what you’re looking for as many Palm Coast homes are quickly sold before they reach the MLS.

GRAND HAVEN

I had the opportunity to observe the Grand Haven Croquet Club in action during my visit last week. The two championship lawns at the Grand Haven Creekside Athletic Club is where the croquet social club practices and prepares to compete nationally. During my tour, I saw the new pergolas being built at The Village Center resort-style swimming pool patio. The tennis courts were recently resurfaced and at the Grand Haven Golf Club, new golf carts and landscaping are additional community improvements. No progress has been made since my visit last year regarding the unfinished condominiums built by Whitehall Homes overlooking the 10th fairway adjacent to the golf clubhouse. The community is working hard to figure how to solve this issue.

Grand Haven Golf Club was selected as our 2012 Bliss Award Winner for Best Florida Community of the Year. We chose Grand Haven because of the comprehensive well maintained community amenities, affordable home options and its east side location in close proximity to Flagler Beach. According to public records in 2011, there were 73 single family homes sold. Our trusted colleague in Palm Coast can provide you detailed sales reports and show you homes at Grand Haven. Just ask to be connected.

PALM COAST PLANTATION

I was pretty hard on Palm Coast Plantation last year when I toured this coastal community as I felt things were a bit disorganized and didn’t see much construction taking place on the vacant lots. I knew this community had potential being directly on the Intracoastal Waterway and chose to include the community on our list of the best master planned communities. Since then, Allen LeBeau joined the team and has helped by bringing property owner’s closer together and improve communication. The community amenities are now member owned and there are 12 homes currently under construction. The POA has invested money in their community by making capital improvements to the lakeside clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis courts without financing or reducing the community reserve funds. These improvements are expected to be completed by the summer.

According to public records in 2011, there were 12 closed sales; 5 single family homes and 7 lots. Buyer’s searching for non-golf communities and Palm Coast homes close to Flagler Beach should make the time to see Palm Coast Plantation. Our trusted colleague will provide you with the latest information about Palm Coast Plantation and historical data to help you with your decision. Ask me to introduce you.

HIDDEN LAKES

If you talk with locals, about the only thing missing from Palm Coast Florida is a mega shopping mall. Don’t get me wrong, you can find Target and brand name free standing box stores in Palm Coast but the new urban Town Center at Palm Coast is the talk of the town. Located just west of Interstate 95, this urban town center is planned to have over 3,000,000 square feet of commercial space. Many buyer’s consider nearby shopping an important attribute of where they choose to buy and this is why we included Hidden Lakes on our list of the best master planned communities. Via a quiet back road, this affordable community east of Interstate 95 is less than a mile from this new urban town center.

The conservation areas surrounding Hidden Lakes provide a sense of privacy and a well designed neighborhood. Two lakes with spraying fountains are the centerpiece of Hidden Lakes. Well known builders such as DR Horton Homes are builders at Hidden Lakes where you can find brand new homes under $200k. Lots are priced under $50k. According to public records in 2011, there were 14 closed sales; 11 lots and 3 single family homes. Our trusted colleague can give you a tour of the new Town Center at Palm Coast during your tour of Hidden Lakes. Let me know when you’re headed to Palm Coast Florida.

TIDELANDS ON THE INTRACOASTAL

 Cash is king at this undervalued waterfront coastal community. We had to check the numbers twice when we saw the prices condominium’s sold for at this waterfront community. Because Tidelands had a high number of condominium foreclosures over the years due to the real estate market collapse, traditional bank financing is nearly impossible on the condominiums, for now. This hasn’t stopped bargain hunters from buying these undervalued units, those who are able to pay cash. According to public records in 2011, there were 10 closed sales; 2 single family homes, 4 condominiums and 4 lots.

This gated community borders the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway. It is divided into two distinct neighborhoods, single family homes on one side and mid-rise condominium buildings on the other. A number of the single family homes back up to private canals or the Intracoastal Waterway or surround a centrally located lake. Tidelands on the Intracoastal has two clubhouses, two resort-style swimming pools, tennis courts and a mile long walking trail along the Intracoastal Waterway. If you are considering purchasing a maintenance free condominium in Palm Coast Florida, let me connect you with our trusted colleague who can share with you the history behind the Tidelands on the Intracoastal and where to find the bargains today.

You are always invited to share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Lawn Croquet - Hot New Trend with Retiring Baby Boomers

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-26 09:48

As I travel searching for the best places to retire in the Southeast, I’ve noticed the sport of lawn croquet gaining in popularity with Baby Boomers. Beautifully manicured croquet lawns are becoming the latest community amenity, some at the level of Signature designed golf courses and USTA tennis courts. Dating back to the 18th century, ladies playing lawn croquet wore long gowns and fashionable hats while men wore suits and ties. Today, the proper regulation attire for ladies and gentlemen is to be dressed in crisp white. The sport seems simple, hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through wickets or wire hoops. Like the game of golf, lawn croquet is not as easy as it appears. Strategic thinking and putting like-skills are all that’s needed to play at a professional level. This low impact sport requires no physical strength or fast reflexes. Whether you’re a man or a woman, the playing field is leveled with this outdoor sport and is a great sport for couples to enjoy together.

The United States Croquet Association has about 200 clubs in the US and 3,000 members across the globe. Several of the best colleges have croquet clubs as well such as Harvard University, US Naval Academy and Penn State. Palm Beach Florida is home to the National Croquet Center, the largest croquet center in the world. If you’re looking to be inspired to learn the game of croquet, visit the 19,000 square foot facility and Croquet Hall of Fame in South Florida. After a 2 hour lesson, you can be well on your way to engaging in the sport along with meeting new friends and enjoying fun social clubs.

There are 11 of the best master planned communities on our website who have USCA regulation croquet lawns and croquet social clubs:

Grand Haven Golf Club - Palm Coast Florida
Hammock Dunes Club - Palm Coast Florida
Chestatee on Lake Lanier - Northern Georgia Mountains
Burlingame Country Club - Western North Carolina
St. James Plantation - Wilmington North Carolina
Daniel Island - Charleston South Carolina
Dataw Island - Beaufort South Carolina
Kiawah Island - Charleston South Carolina
Seabrook Island - Charleston South Carolina
The Reserve at Lake Keowee - Western South Carolina
Wild Dunes Resort - Charleston South Carolina

As your croquet skills improve, you may want to consider competing at one of the USCA Sanctioned Tournaments coming up this year.

Here is a list of croquet competitions scheduled in the Southeast:

April 25 - 29, 2012 Dorothy Fosse Invitational at Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast Florida

May 16 - 20, 2012 USCA Southeast Regional Championship at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina

May 28 - June 3, 2012 Bald Head Island Invitational in South Carolina

June 6 - 10, 2012 Mountain Laurel Invitation at Chattooga Club in Cashiers North Carolina

June 13 -17, 2012 Etowah Valley Singles Invitational in Etowah Valley North Carolina

Sept 14 - 16, 2012 Bald Head Island Handicap Adjuster in South Carolina

Sept 19, 2012 Russ Wagner Memorial, Toxaway Invitational Golf Croquet Tournament at Lake Toxaway Country Club in Western North Carolina

Oct 4 - 7, 2012 Autumn Leaves Invitation at Chattooga Club in Cashiers North Carolina

Oct 8 - 9, 2012 Pro-Am President’s Cup at Bald Head Island in South Carolina

October 10 -13, 2012 Solomon Trophy at Bald Head Island in South Carolina

October 15 - 21, 2012 USCA National Championship in Palm Beach Florida

October 17 - 20, 2012 Brickyard Invitation at Etowah Valley Country Club in Hendersonville North Carolina

October 30 - Nov 3, 2012 Grand Haven Championship Invitation in Palm Coast Florida

Nov 1 - 4, 2012 Selection 8’s at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach Florida

Nov 7 - 11, 2012 Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club Invitation in Boca Raton Florida

Nov 13 - 17, 2012 USCA Seniors Masters Championship in West Palm Beach Florida

Nov 14 - 17, 2012 CCA Fall Invitational Singles Tournament on Hilton Head Island South Carolina

Feb 21 - 24, 2013 Audubon Croquet Invitation in Naples Florida

I invite you to share your thoughts about the trend of lawn croquet by leaving a comment.

Market Report - Blowing Rock North Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-21 16:38

The secret is out - Travel & Leisure Magazine just named Blowing Rock North Carolina America’s Prettiest Winter Town. If you’ve visited here before, this comes as no surprise as Blowing Rock frequently makes the best of the best lists for its scenic beauty. Nicknamed the High Country, mountain elevations reach almost 6,000 feet near Grandfather Mountain and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Silly events like the Polar Plunge add character to this best small town in North Carolina. Baby Boomers who enjoy cooler summer months and don’t mind a bit of snow find the High Country the perfect place to find vacation and second homes. Here’s what’s new at our favorite High Country mountain communities:

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN CLUB - Introduces living large on an efficient footprint, an affordable segue to owning a mountain home within walking distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The vaulted ceilings, stacked stone indoor/outdoor fireplace, open kitchen and hardwood floors are standard features in the new Cove Cabin at the Blue Ridge Mountain Club, cabin's priced in the low $300k’s. These well designed two or three bedroom cabins have the master suite on the first floor. Stainless steel appliances, granite counters and a spa tub add luxury to the Cove Cabins while poplar bark, cedar applique and covered porches add to the mountain cabin’s charm. The Cove Cabin represents the latest addition to the real estate opportunities available at Blue Ridge Mountain Club, which also includes cottages, homes and homesites.

According to public records, the Blue Ridge Mountain Club had 14 closed sales in 2011; 11 lots and 3 single family homes. Detailed sales reports are available to members. In 2012, Blue Ridge Mountain Club is reporting another 11 sales in the first 3 months. Blue Ridge Mountain Club recently added Westglow Resort & Spa to the list of member privileges included in property owner’s Play Now guide to the best area amenities. Westglow Resort & Spa is ranked as the Number 2 Destination Spa in the World by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Members of the Blue Ridge Mountain Club have access today to two golf courses, a ski resort and school, five outdoor adventures, two wellness centers and more until the community’s amenities are built. If you are searching for a mountain home in the High Country, ask me about Blue Ridge Mountain Club’s pampering Discovery Package.

CHETOLA RESORT - This historic resort is situated in an ideal location, especially for those who desire to be within walking distance of charming downtown Blowing Rock. Second home buyers can find affordable vacation homes and timeshares at Chelota Resort. One bedroom units are priced in the $200k’s up to four bedroom 4.5 bath units priced in the mid $800k’s. Maintenance free timeshare ownership can be purchased for as little as $500. The POA has designed a convenient way to swap usage to make it easier for property owners. Chetola’s lenient rental restrictions allow property owner’s to rent out their condominiums nightly, weekly and seasonally through the onsite property management company. This can be a smart way to reduce your net cost of owning a second home.

According to public records, there were 5 closed sales in 2011. We have received 6 scorecards this week from property owners elaborating on their satisfaction level at Chetola. Use our property search tool for a sneak preview of all condominiums available at Chetola. Click ‘request more info’ when you find what you want and the full listing will be sent to you immediately. Resort amenities include Bob Timberlake Inn, the award winning The Spa at Chetola and the Manor House Restaurant which is being restored after last year’s kitchen fire. The restaurant plans to re-open in May or June. Beautiful white swans and common lawns overlooking Chetola Lake add to the community’s neighborhood feel. The Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival is Blowing Rock’s biggest spring event and is taking place April 11-15, 2012. If you plan to visit the High Country this spring, ask me to send you discounted vouchers for accommodations at the Chetola Lodge or I can quickly connect you with timeshare owners.

HEADWATERS AT BANNER ELK - Real estate developers who welcome honest feedback can uncover ways to improve their community and learn more about what’s important to property owners. At the risk of receiving harsh criticism for adjusting their HOA dues now that the HOA has assumed control of the homeowners association, Headwaters at Banner Elk recently outsourced an independent survey to determine how their property owner’s felt about their performance. We also sent out our property owner scorecards in the month of February. We were surprised at how many property owners were willing to share their thoughts with us as they did with the developer and this information is available to you.

According to public records, there were 9 closed sales in 2011; 7 lots and 2 single family homes. We talked with Headwaters at Banner Elk to find out what’s new. There are 4 homes currently under construction including a builder spec home. The Headwaters at Banner Elk team is busy finalizing their plans to open up the remaining 500 acres to buyers, larger land parcels ranging from 5-10 acres to accommodate those families who’d prefer a little bit more privacy. The High Country of North Carolina will be busy from April on as festivals, races and attractions re-open for the season. If you are searching for a home in this area, choose to stay at Headwaters at Banner Elk to see what this community can offer you. Let me know what dates you have in mind and I will quickly get back with you with availability.

HOUND EARS - Preparations are underway to welcome back residents as the golf course re-opens for the season on April 27, 2012. The tennis courts and swimming pool will be open in May. Once a ski resort in the 1960’s, this well established Bavarian themed golf community in Boone North Carolina has a member activity calendar filled with tournaments, live entertainment and resident parties. Buyer's looking to relocate will find Hound Ears perhaps the friendliest golf community in the High Country. Hound Ears location is special being smack dab in the middle of all the High Country action, about 15 minutes from Blowing Rock, Boone or the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Watuaga River runs through Hound Ears and is known for the best trout fishing east of the Mississippi.

According to public records, there were 12 closed sales in 2011; 1 lot, 2 condos and 9 single family homes. Detailed sales reports are available to members. The Swiss Chalet architecture is charming and unique in the High Country. The Hound Ears property owners association has been busy continually improving their mountain community. Eleven scorecards have been returned to date from property owners sharing their thoughts about Hound Ears. If you're searching for a friendly golf community in the High Country of North Carolina, be sure to ask me for more information about Hound Ears.

SWEETGRASS - When I think of SweetGrass, a vision of meadows filled with colorful wildflowers quickly pops into my mind. With the sweet smell of spring now in the air, it’s no surprise to discover the first community event of the season at SweetGrass is a guided nature walk by a naturalist exploring what’s blooming in the mountains. The nature walk is scheduled for Saturday April 21, 2012. You will need an invitation to participate in the walk which I’m happy to provide.

According to public records, there were 5 closed sales in 2011 at SweetGrass. One home just broke ground as two more mountain homes finish up construction. SweetGrass is one of the unusual communities where flatter mountain topography is conducive to easy walks throughout the neighborhood leading to open trails around SweetGrass Lake. This charming 22 acre lake is large enough to have spacious views of the open meadows and stellar views of Calloway Peak at Grandfather Mountain. If you are looking for a lake community with acreage or smaller footprint cottages, ask me to send you information about SweetGrass.

There's alot happening in the High Country of North Carolina as you can see. This is just a sample of the information we provide buyer's in this real estate market. Reach out to me to say 'hello' and let me know what interests you in this best small town of Western North Carolina. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Downtown Asheville Condo - Cash Flow Gateway to Retirement

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-19 10:11

Despite new low mortgage interest costs and declining home values, housing costs have risen over the past twelve months in Buncombe County NC. Is it because this best college town is experiencing a shortage of downtown Asheville condos to rent? I believe the result is because of excessive condo foreclosure filings and the financial impact to fiscally responsible condominium owners. When the real estate bubble burst in late 2007, the luxury home and condominium markets were hardest hit as bank's black listed condominium buildings with high foreclosure filings. Banks chose to avoid the risk of funding monthly condominium association dues and assessments by refusing to loan new money on downtown Asheville condos. Because of the overwhelming volume of foreclosures clogging the system, some banks have gone as far as to strategically delay foreclosure proceedings on condominium units in default so they are not financially responsible for monthly condominium association dues and assessments adding to their losses.

The wave of foreclosures in condominium buildings sparked an inflationary domino effect beginning with condominium association’s not receiving monthly association dues and assessments from all condominium owners. As the association ran into a cash flow shortfall, unexpected assessments were demanded from existing condominium owners. To make matters worse, until 100% of condominium owners pay monthly condominium dues each month for a particular building, higher monthly dues are necessary from unit owners. Naturally, some condominium owners desired to sell their units to get away from these unexpected assessments and higher monthly association dues. Without bank financing in the market place, many downtown Asheville condo owners were unable to sell their condominium units and chose to rent the units out instead of leaving them vacant, until the real estate market improves. These increased monthly costs were thus passed on new tenants resulting in inflation to the Buncombe County rental market, in my opinion. From a contrarian point of view, some may argue property owner’s who lost their single family homes in Western North Carolina due to foreclosure gobbled up all the downtown Asheville condo rentals resulting in higher housing costs in the city.

In either scenario, downtown Asheville condos are in demand. If you study sales of downtown Asheville condos during the past 24 months, you will find most buyer’s paid cash resulting in positive cash flow as savvy buyers snapped up the deeply discounted short sales of downtown Asheville condos. Golden opportunities continue to present themselves as the real estate market shakes itself out, especially in this best college town in North Carolina. Asheville NC is an exciting urban city where it is safe and easy to walk from your downtown Asheville condo to a long list of award winning restaurants, well known art galleries, eclectic boutiques and find live entertainment every day of the week. For those retirees and investors who are able to pay cash, the downtown Asheville condo rental market can be a safe investment providing positive cash flow as I believe the worst is over with well managed condominium associations. Buyers of downtown Asheville condos tell us they plan to live in their condo when the time is right, as they learn about where to retire and build their mountain home in Asheville NC. Six of the nine downtown Asheville condos featured on our website have bargain priced condos from the $100k’s to $300k’s and many have fantastic views and quick access to the Blue Ridge Parkway:

12 South Lexington Avenue
21 Battery Park
60 North Market
Biltmore Village Condos
Kress Building
Lexington Station
Longchamps
Pioneer Building
The Fitzgerald

I can easily include you on my ‘watch list’ so you can be quickly informed about downtown Asheville condo short sales as soon as they become available. The rental market shortage in Asheville NC makes it easier for us to match you up with a long term tenant, until you permanently relocate to Western North Carolina. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com for more information and to be added to my watch list.

Golfweek Honors 2012 Best Golf Courses

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-15 18:13

Four Reynolds Development golf courses, two Coastal Communities golf courses and one Brunswick Forest’s golf course were recognized this week by Golfweek on their list of 2012 best golf courses in the United States, a reflection of stability by real estate developments and outstanding golf course designs.

The Reynolds Development golf courses are:

Great Waters at Reynolds Plantation, Lake Oconee Georgia
Oconee at Reynolds Plantation, Lake Oconee Georgia
National at Reynolds Plantation, Lake Oconee Georgia
The Landing at Reynolds Plantation, Lake Oconee Georgia
Achasta Golf Club, Dahlonega Georgia

The Coastal Communities golf courses are:

Leopard’s Chase at Ocean Ridge Plantation, Sunset Beach North Carolina
Rivers Edge Golf Club and Plantation, Shallotte North Carolina

The Brunswick Forest golf course:

Cape Fear National, Wilmington North Carolina

I found it interesting that despite financing hardships induced by Bank of America, the master planned communities Reynolds Plantation, Achasta Golf Club, Rivers Edge Golf Club & Plantation and Ocean Ridge Plantation have done a stellar job maintaining their golf courses for the benefit of property owners and I applaud them. I’ve read stories during the past couple years claiming Baby Boomer’s interest in golf is trending downward making it harder for golf clubs to attract new members. I’ve heard people tell me no one is paying a premium anymore for golf course property which is asinine. I suppose we could blame Tiger Woods for putting a dark cloud over the sport.

If you ask my husband and his friends which is their favorite hobby, I can pretty much guarantee golf will quickly tumble out of all of their mouths. Golf is still the dominate activity I hear buyer’s ask for today while searching for where to retire in the Southeast. Is it the beauty of living on a golf course, the prestige of being a golf club member or affordability that makes folks choose one golf community over another?

I believe golf courses have experienced a bubble burst just like the real estate market has. Golfers don’t want to pay expensive initiation fees on principle, even if they can afford it. Buyer’s today are closely comparing monthly golf dues, initiation fees and membership types. Buyer’s like golf courses with club exchange privileges, the ability to play private golf courses in other states.

If you’ve spent any time on the internet, you already know that finding pricing for golf membership on a golf community’s website can be very difficult. Real estate developers and golf club's keep this information off the radar because they want to call them to ask these questions, so they have the opportunity to sell you. If you are seriously comparing a number of golf communities, we want you to know we have a list of all the golf clubs on our website, their initiation fees and monthly dues. We also update our 'Southeast Averages' frequently on our website so you can see the average fees for all the golf communities on our website. This is how we help buyers in this market.

If you would like to talk more about golf communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, reach out to me and say ‘hello’. Write margie@realestatescorecard.com

Life Unleashed at The Georgia Club

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-13 09:24

This week, I received an email from The Georgia Club located in Athens. Many readers ask me where is Athens Georgia? The city is about an hour and a half northeast of Atlanta. Athens is one of the best college towns in Georgia, home to the Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Georgia, Georgia’s largest college. The Georgia Club’s email was their March 2012 newsletter for the community. As I combed through the pages, I felt a sense of excitement about how much this golf community has progressed since it was bought out in September 2011 by Alvarez & Marsal Capital Group Real Estate LLC and how happy homeowners must be at The Georgia Club.

From Spiritual Life worship to golf tournaments, the calendar of events at The Georgia Club is filled with social clubs and opportunities for residents to draw closer together. Recently, The Georgia Girls took a field trip to Washington DC to have lunch with Senator Frank Ginn and enjoy a photo-op with Governor Nathan Deal. The curb appeal of the community reflects new urbanism combined with Lowcountry park-like squares. Homes with white picket fences line the streets throughout The Georgia Club neighborhoods, a bicycle friendly community. Whether people are searching for an affordable master planned community to retire or a safe gated community to raise a family, The Georgia Club combines both in a beautiful way.

In the heart of this golf community are resort-style amenities: two swimming pools, children’s water feature, tennis courts, wellness center and a grand Antebellum style golf clubhouse offering fine and casual dining. The golf club at this time is semi-private. About 240 homes have been built of the 1,100 planned so this golf community is rather new. The Georgia Club recently broke ground on nine new spec homes, three bedroom two and a half bath 2,000 square feet homes prices ranging in the mid $200k’s. Homes at The Georgia Club range from the mid $200k’s to well over $1 million.

The location of The Georgia Club is special located in one of the best college towns in Georgia. When you visit the website ‘Athens - Life Unleashed’, you can’t help but chuckle at the photos of a happy Georgia bulldog. Athens Georgia is a pet friendly city. You may not know, Rolling Stone named Athens Georgia the #1 College Music Scene in America and is where hundreds of bands got their start in the music world. From five star restaurants to cheap coffee shops, within 10 minutes of The Georgia Club you will find a large variety of dining choices. As a best college town, funky fashion and interesting bookstores cater to the UGA college scene. The best way to get to know Athens Georgia is by taking a two hour walking tour of the town. The visitors bureau suggests six walking tours based on your interests. Wearing red to show your team spirit will surely please the locals who live and breath UGA sports.

The University of Georgia Performing Arts & Visual Complex has a number of museums and art galleries to explore on campus. The UGA campus is about 20 minutes from The Georgia Club and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is located on campus. Baby Boomers can enjoy college courses on Facebook, architecture, computers, the opera, politics, the paranormal and much more. There are more than 20 social clubs who share common interests beyond the campus from friendships gained through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Whether on campus or off campus, life unleashed at The Georgia Club is full of excitement and happiness. It’s hard to beat living in the best college town Athens Georgia soon to be retirement state income tax free. If you are looking for part-time teaching opportunities, places to meet like minded people and an Ozzie & Harriet family style neighborhood, take a look at The Georgia Club in Athens. Ask me for their new floor plans and about how to be our guest for the day at The Georgia Club. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com and I will quickly send information your way.

New Closing Cost Calculator - No Rocket Scientist Needed

By Kevin Tacher — 2012-03-12 09:31

As you shop for a home or consider refinancing, there are tools available to help you while you shop. We developed a free downloadable mobile application and PC version of a Closing Cost Calculator to help you estimate your closing costs in Florida. Closing costs vary from state to state, but for the most part our Closing Cost Calculator mobile and web application will give you a good idea of the monies you will need to bring to the closing.

Whether you’re paying cash, financing your new home purchase or refinancing your existing home, our Closing Cost Calculator will calculate closing costs for you in both scenarios. Just answer nine basic questions using our Closing Cost Calculator tool:

Purchase or refinance?
Purchase price?
Loan amount?
Real estate commission percentage
Additional recording costs, if any
Is buyer or seller paying for title insurance?
Is the property a condominium or associated with a homeowner’s association?
Is their existing loan to be paid off?
Will you want a boundary survey?

After you answer these questions, click ‘calculate’ and you will receive an instant response which can be downloaded or emailed. I encourage you to read a story I wrote called 7 Title Insurance Tips and Secrets. In this story, you will find ways to save money on your closing costs and important reasons why you should carefully choose your title insurance company. With mortgage rates and real estate prices at an all time low, the real estate market has created smart ways for you to save money.

Whether you are refinancing your existing home or searching for a new home, we are here to help you at Independence Title. Download our free Closing Cost Calculator here:

Closing Cost Calculator

The Reserve at Lake Keowee Sponsors Artisphere

By Margie Casey — 2012-03-06 11:20

The Reserve at Lake Keowee will once again sponsor the ARTISPHERE Getaway Weekend contest at one of the best art towns in Western South Carolina. Taking place May 11-13, ARTISPHERE is an outdoor art festival in downtown Greenville, South Carolina showcasing visual, performing, and culinary arts. The Reserve at Lake Keowee will provide the contest winner a two-night, three-day weekend - including luxury accommodations, on-site activities, two weekend VIP hospitality passes to ARTISPHERE festival and a $500 gift certificate to spend on ARTISPHERE art - to attract cultural tourists to one of the best art towns Greenville South Carolina.

The Getaway Weekend contest has already kicked off and participants can enter now to win on the ARTISPHERE festival website, www.ARTISPHERE.us The lucky winner will be drawn on May 4. “The lucky winners are treated to a weekend at an award winning master planned community with first class amenities and, on top of that, they will receive the VIP treatment at one of the country’s top ranking fine art shows,” says Kerry Murphy, Executive Director for ARTISPHERE.

For Mike Agee, Director of Marketing at The Reserve, sponsoring the Getaway Weekend is a point of pride for the community. “We are proud of ARTISPHERE and what it has accomplished in previous years. This getaway adds another dimension to the festival's appeal and brings recognition to the great things upstate South Carolina has to offer.” As dedicated supporters of the arts, The Reserve at Lake Keowee has a non-profit Community Foundation whose mission includes promoting the arts within Upstate South Carolina, holding events at its on-site gallery (The Hill House), and sponsoring artists through its annual Artist-in-Residence program.

If you have not spent time discovering one of the best art towns in America, make it a point to attend the ARTISPHERE festival and tour The Reserve at Lake Keowee, recipient of our 2012 Bliss Award for Best Lake Community.

Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com to find out how to become our guest and discover this award winning master planned community.

Market Report - Savannah Georgia

By Margie Casey — 2012-02-29 08:42

The excitement is building among the Irish with only 17 days to go until the second largest St. Patricks Day Parade in the world held in Savannah Georgia. About 750,000 people decked out in kelly green line the streets to watch this huge parade. As with Charleston and Beaufort South Carolina, this Lowcountry city is charming hugging the coast. Rich with history, Savannah is Georgia’s first official city and is nicknamed the Hostess City of the South.

Baby Boomers are drawn to this college town, home to the Savannah College of Art and Design ( SCAD ) and Armstrong Atlantic University. Food celebrities like Paula Dean share southern comfort foods at swanky historic restaurants in downtown Savannah. While the Savannah riverfront is home to chic hotels and pirate themed bars, downtown Savannah isn’t where most folks search when exploring where to retire. Baby Boomers tend to be drawn to Skidaway Island or Richmond, both south of downtown Savannah. With Georgia phasing out state income tax on retirement income by 2016, I anticipate the interest in Savannah neighborhoods will continue to increase with folks searching for where to retire.

Learn more about Savannah.

RECENT COMMUNITY NEWS:

THE FORD PLANTATION - Its unique combination of a deepwater private marina, Pete Dye golf course, world-class equestrian center, the sporting club and wellness facilities make this Savannah neighborhood a prestigious address to have in the Lowcountry. America’s first billionaire couple, Henry & Clara Ford built their antebellum mansion in 1936 which is still a splendid community amenity today named The Main House. We discovered after receiving scorecards back from the property owners, residents at The Ford Plantation are playful and are a close knit community taking advantage of all of their outstanding amenities.

Displaying true southern hospitality, The Ford Plantation invites monthly guest speakers and persons of interest to share their talents and wisdom with residents. This week, Dr. Kerry Ridgeway, a holistic horse veterinarian will be presenting a lecture named the Naturally Crooked Horse. If you didn’t know, as a top equestrian community in the Lowcountry, 16 miles of intriguing plantation riding trails weave around the Ogeechee River. The annual fall Oyster Roast is the most attended social club event at The Ford Plantation. If you are torn between retiring in Charleston or Beaufort South Carolina, before you make your choice, you must see The Ford Plantation. Ask me for information about being our guest.

THE LANDINGS ON SKIDAWAY ISLAND - Celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, this Savannah neighborhood has been voted one of the Best Neighborhoods to Live In by Savannah Magazine. On April 26th, the community is hosting their 25th Anniversary Spring Art Show at The Landings Plantation Club ballroom which is one of many monthly events held inside this gated community. The Landings reported a 30.7% increase in sales in 2011 over 2010 showing continued interest in this affordable community. Property owners control the homeowner owners association and the community amenities are debt free. Amenities include six championship golf courses, three tennis centers with 34 tennis courts and a 500 seat stadium, two full service deep water marinas, four clubhouses and state of the art Oakridge Fitness and Wellness Center. Full golf privileges and homeowners association fees will run you about $700 a month. Property owners are not required to join the club. Social club dues and HOA fees would be just over $300 a month. I visited The Landings this past fall and continue to be impressed with the maintenance and upgrades to this Savannah neighborhood community amenities. The Landings offers two types of Discovery Packages which are the best way to evaluate this community and explore the college town Savannah Georgia.

Ask me for more information about visiting both of these Lowcountry communities. Detailed sales reports for 2011 are available to members. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com.

Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Western North Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2012-02-22 12:12

ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC

There are hundreds of artists who live near the best of Asheville NC and they don’t mind welcoming you into their art studios. For example, in downtown Asheville NC along the French Broad River is where you will find the River Arts District, home to 165 year round working artist studios. You can observe famous artists such as Jonas Gerard painting colorful masterpieces, Constance Williams molding pottery and more artists creating hand blown glass and art sculptures.

Thirty minutes to the north in Burnsville NC, the Toe River Studio Tour takes place twice a year where you’ll find 100 more local artists opening their studio doors to the public. Have you visited the Appalachian Folk Art Center located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile post 382, only five minutes from downtown Asheville NC? This is a fantastic place to find one of a kind Appalachian art made from natural elements such as stone, animal artifacts, fabric and find breath taking photographs of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

To me, one of the classic examples of observing Ashevillian culture is by attending the weekly Friday night Drum Circle held in downtown Asheville NC. Locals come out of the woodwork to bang their drums in harmony while others dance to the music. Or scoot over to Pack Square and watch couples in love dancing impromptu to music echoing from a boom box. People are very friendly in Western North Carolina and their culture is refreshing. You will find life in Western North Carolina revolves around art, music and spending as much time as possible outdoors.

BEST COLLEGE TOWNS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN

A lady said to me recently, “if you don’t stay young living in this place, it’s your own darn fault!” Science has proven a stimulated mind and body improves the quality of our life, especially as we age. I consider Asheville NC ahead of the curve by recognizing how desirable this region has become to retirees and delivering community forums geared towards mature adults. For example, the University of North Carolina Asheville founded the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement. The NCCCR offers an impressive list of lifelong learning courses for mature adults and cultural entertainment on campus.

In the North Carolina High Country, Boone is one of the best college towns on the east coast, especially if you love a snow skiing on the east coast and collegiate sports. The Appalachian State University Mountaineers have collected championship football trophies for decades and the college offers thought provoking courses in art, music, literature and world events. To the south, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee is home to the Catmounts. For over 100 years, this college has molded some of the finest entrepreneurs graduating from their business school. Brevard College, Blue Ridge Community College and Montreat College are more excellent colleges within 30 miles of downtown Asheville NC.

You might be surprised to discover that Haywood Community College in Waynesville NC is carving a high tech image for itself as its new RHTC campus teaches 3D imaging, solar energy technologies and robotics courses. No matter where you to choose to live in Western North Carolina, you will find affordable college courses to enjoy and campuses offering you part-time teaching opportunities.

EASIEST WAY TO SAVE TAX DOLLARS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Do you know by living beyond the city limits of Asheville NC, you can save $665 per $100,000 of your home’s value in real estate taxes per year. On a $300k home, you will save about $2,000 per year or $166 per month. The lowest property tax counties in Western North Carolina are: Jackson County in Sylva NC at .0028 cents per $100 Watauga County in the High Country at .00313 cents per $100 Avery County in the High Country at .0037 cents per $100 Transylvania County in the Cashiers NC area at .0039 cents per $100 The highest property tax rate in Western North Carolina is found living in the city limits of Asheville with Buncombe County's tax rate at .0094 per $100.

If you are concerned about real estate tax increases, move to a county whose infrastructure is in place and is up to date. Study the hospitals, public school system and roadways in addition to evaluating the best master planned communities. Study the county’s annual budget and future capital improvements. If a county needs to build and expand social services, it would be reasonable to expect property tax increases.

I am happy to see that after all that road construction on Highway 321 leading into Blowing Rock NC, it did not severely impact Watauga County’s property tax rate. Will Transylvania County and Jackson County be forced to improve Highway 64 and NC 107 too? Jackson County and Watauga County are looking pretty sweet when comparing property tax rates in North Carolina. Property taxes are lower in Western North Carolina then in Florida and South Carolina.

QUICK ACCESS TO METRO CITIES

Getting in and out of Western North Carolina to see your family and friends is quick, easy and is becoming less expensive. Asheville Regional Airport ( AVL ) currently offers the following non-stop flights from these major cities:

Atlanta - Delta
Charlotte - U S Airways
Chicago - United
Detroit - Delta
Houston - Continental
Newark - Continental
Orlando - Allegiant
Philadelphia - U S Airways

Greenville Spartanburg International Airport is about an hour south of Asheville and is the new east coast hub for Southwest Airlines. Charlotte International Airport is about 2 hours east of Asheville NC and is U S Airway’s east coast hub. Major highway access can be found traveling in all directions via Interstate 26 or Interstate 40. For those of us in no rush, scenic U.S. Route 64 travels from Western North Carolina to the Outer Banks beaches or you can travel north or south on America’s Favorite Scenic Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway.

FARMERS MARKETS, ORGANIC FOOD AND VEGAN VENUES

From the farm to the dinner table, if eating healthy food is important to you, there is no better place to live than in Western North Carolina. How I wish I had more time to shop at all the Saturday Green Markets and organic health food stores in the area. The city of Asheville appeals to the most demanding taste buds and health conscious obsessions. Ashevillian’s pride themselves on fresh grown mountain produce. Apples, herbs, homemade cheeses, breads, grass fed beef and free range poultry are just a few of the items you can find at the 88 tail gate markets in the Appalachian Mountain range. Whole Foods and Earth Fare clearly dominate the grocery store market in Asheville North Carolina. Beyond the city limits, you will find 30 more weekly farmer’s markets to explore or you can grow your own organic garden.

MOST POPULAR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FESTIVALS

Asheville NC - Bele Chere Festival

This is the largest free outdoor street festival on the east coast held each year in July. The City of Asheville blocks off the downtown city streets for three days as 200,000 people enjoy live music, fantastic food and art exhibits.

Asheville NC - Big Band Swing and Dance Weekend

Held in January at the legendary Grove Park Inn, this annual festival brings in world class Big Bands playing jazz music from the Swing Era as dancers perform the Tango, the Charleston and popular 1920‘s swing dances.

Asheville NC - Comedy Classic Weekend

Held in March at the Grove Park Inn, this two day annual event brings in the funniest and best known comedians from across the country.

Asheville NC - Festival of Flowers

Held during the month of April, this well known North Carolina festival is held at The Biltmore Estate attracting gardening hobbyist and photographers alike.

Asheville NC - Winter Warmer Beer Festival

Named the Best BeerCity USA three years in a row, this annual January beer festival is held at the Asheville Civic Center.

Black Mountain NC - Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF)

Held in May and October, this is the closest to a mini Woodstock festival I’ve ever seen. Attendees camp out overnight for three days around the lake listening to the fabulous blues and jazz artists.

Brevard NC - White Squirrel Festival

Held Memorial Day Weekend, this annual festival includes live entertainment, an old fashioned box car derby and everything you can image relating to a fluffy white squirrel.

Hendersonville NC - North Carolina Apple Festival

Held Labor Day weekend, this is four day festival is the largest Apple Festival in North Carolina. Celebrating the sweetness of apples, you can find just about anything apple at this tasty festival. Be sure not to miss the King Apple Parade.

Waynesville NC - Folkmoot USA

Held in July, Folkmoot USA is the State International Festival of North Carolina. Up to 350 performers from 10 countries dance in the streets during this mountain festival. The Folkmoot Parade kicks off this two day North Carolina festival celebration.

THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY AND 1 MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST

From the Virginia state line at mile post 216.9 south to mile post 469.1 bordering Tennessee and Western North Carolina, this 253 mile stretch is among the most scenic roadways in America overlooking more than 1,000,000 acres of protected national forest. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through the Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala National Forest and leads to the gateway of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway is easily accessible from Asheville, Waynesville and the North Carolina High Country. Hiking trails, waterfalls, picnic areas and breath taking scenic outlooks are fantastic places to spend the afternoon along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Living near the Blue Ridge Parkway is truly special.

MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES

Dating back to 1565, the first master planned community in the US was established in St. Augustine Florida. Master planned communities are carefully planned and usually designed around a theme such as golf, tennis, equestrian or beach activities. In Western North Carolina, we’ve heard there are more than 200 master planned communities giving you plenty of choices. I’m not so sure this is true after living there. What I do know is we have the best 21 Western North Carolina master planned communities scored on our website. As the real estate market continues to adjust, you now have the opportunity to live in these communities without being required to become a club member paying high monthly dues and initiation fees. Although joining these club's at least at a social level is a smart move, to get you quickly connected. I feel the close sense of community is one of master planned community’s strongest attribute as most traditional neighborhoods today hardly socialize with each other and people need the social connection, especially at retirement. I can quickly compare for you based on your interests, master planned communities in Western North Carolina worth taking a look.

TOP MEDICAL CARE

Mission Hospital Asheville NC - Ranked a Top 100 Heart Hospital

As bizarre as it sounds, your chance of dying in Mission Hospital Asheville are 21% less than a typical hospital according to Dr. Ronald A. Paulus, president and CEO of Mission Health. The Asheville Mission Hospital Health system is ranked among the Top 15 Health Care Systems in the country by Thomson Reuters, a measurement of excellence. Asheville Mission Hospital’s comprehensive geriatric specialties serve the community by providing preventive care and inpatient care in the heart of Western North Carolina.

VAMC Hospital is Asheville North Carolina’s Veterans Hospital.

Established in 1922, this hospital continues to provide a long list medical specialties to over 100,000 veterans in Western North Carolina. From surgery to diagnostics, fitness to rehabilitation, the VAMC is committed to diligently caring for America’s heroes.  Beyond the city limits of Asheville NC, the Pardee Hospital system in Hendersonville, Haywood Regional Medical Center in Waynesville NC, the West Care Health System in Sylva and Watuaga Medical Center in Boone also provide quality medical care.

THE RETIREMENT COMBINATION PLATTER

Whether you’re a Floridian half backer seeking to escape the summer heat or a northerner leaving the frigid winters behind, Western North Carolina offers four mild seasons, incredible mountain beauty, intriguing art, rich culture, quick access to major cities and home affordability. How many more reasons would you need to retire in Western North Carolina? Feel free to leave a comment.

Don’t be afraid to ask me to help you with your search. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Write me margie@realestatescorecard.com or call 866.384.1799

Market Report - Eastern Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2012-02-15 17:50

No state income tax, beautiful Tennessee lakes and four mild seasons. Will Tennessee become the best state to retire in the Southeast? After talking with our colleagues this week, the level of interest in their communities has surged since December. Take a look at what's happening:

WATERSIDE AT NORRIS LAKE:

Imagine the greenest emerald you’ve ever seen. This is close to the color of the water at 34,000 acre Norris Lake TN. To me, this is the prettiest lake I’ve boated on in Eastern Tennessee. A lake with hardly any homes built along the shoreline making you feel like you’re boating in a nature preserve. When I discovered Waterside at Norris Lake, I set off on a quest to find more waterfront communities on Norris Lake TN.

I discovered more but by far, Waterside at Norris Lake is in the best location, has the best amenities and provides the best value. Just 20 minutes from the best of Knoxville TN, this gated lake community has a 450 slip marina, dockside cafe, community clubhouse, swimming pool, jacuzzi, fitness center and is debt free. To me, the condominiums are a bargain priced in the mid $200k’s featuring high ceilings, big floor plans, upgraded kitchens and fantastic lake views. Buyer’s purchasing a condo are guaranteed the option of having a boat slip. If you are looking for vacation or second home in the best small towns in Eastern Tennessee, make it a point to see Waterside at Norris Lake and ask about being our guest at Waterside.

LONG BRANCH LAKES :

Tennessee horse whisperer Mike Branch is bringing his amazing teaching gift to the equestrian community Long Branch Lakes for two special events at the end of March and April. Mike Branch established the Wild Mustang School in Tennessee. He teaches clinics about basic horsemanship to more advance trainings while speaking the ‘horse’s language’. He is fascinating to watch. Long Branch Lakes has a top notch equestrian facility in Spencer Tennessee connecting to Bledsoe Creek State Park. Between the two Bill Dance Signature fishing lakes and the equestrian center, it’s hard to decide which community amenity is the best.  

When you combine 30 miles of riding trails across the Cumberland Plateau, I’d have to say if you’re a horse lover or want to be, their equestrian amenity trumps the beautiful Bill Dance Signature lakes. Long Branch Lakes has invested millions of dollars in their Equestrian Center with horse trail access to Bledsoe Creek State Park. Whether you’re looking for timber frame home, low maintenance condo or to build your dream home, Long Branch Lakes has something for everyone searching to live in the low cost of living state of Tennessee. Long Branch Lakes still offers developer financing on homesites. Ask me to send you more information about the equestrian community Long Branch Lakes and the horse whisperer, Mike Branch.

FAIRFIELD GLADE:

How many places can you find beautiful homes under $200k in a master planned community rich with social environments? I can tell you from my research, not many. Fairfield Glade is located in The Golf Capital of Tennessee, just over an hour west of Knoxville. This established 12,500 acre golf community delivers a big bang for the buck when it comes to retirement living including medical care on property. Five golf courses, 12 tennis courts, 4 swimming pools and a state of the art wellness center are just a few of the community’s amenities. Property owner’s are able to pay for amenities they are interested in a la carte instead of paying for mandatory full golf memberships.

Nearby Cookeville TN could be on the list of best small towns in Tennessee. Art galleries, delicious cuisine and outstanding live performances are reasons to scoot off into town after a day of playing hard at Fairfield Glade. The Fairfield Ladies Club has more than 700 active members providing plenty of opportunities to connect and make new friends. Fairfield Glade is close to the highway providing quick access to northern and southern states, an easy gateway to visit family and friends. If you would like to check out the new homes being built at Fairfield Glade or see a list of re-sales, contact me for more information. Our contact who lives at Fairfield Glade can share with you why it’s smart to retire at Fairfield Glade besides the fact that Tennessee has no state income tax. Contact me and I will connect to two of you.

TELLICO VILLAGE:

On November 11, 2011, I wrote a story about the Tellico Village POA financial concerns. Since then, the Tellico Village Property Owner’s Association has done an excellent job of informing residents about the employee changes, Board Member changes and the new financial budget goals. I am pleased to read the property owner scorecards mailed back to us from Tellico Village property owner’s reflecting their overall satisfaction.

Tellico Village celebrates 25 years in 2012. This non-gated Lake Tellico community has three championship golf courses, a yacht club and new Village Club wellness center. If you have not seen this clean 16,000 acre Tennessee lake, you will be impressed when you see the Great Smoky Mountains off in the distance too. Residents of Tellico Village can quickly access the best of Knoxville via the highways or through public transportation. Our colleague who lives at Tellico Village can quickly share with you the latest news about the POA and add your home desires to her watch list. Contact me and I will connect the two of you.

RARITY BAY:

I’ve taken some heat from colleagues about supporting Rarity Bay. While the media continues to lynch real estate developer Michael Ross as if he was the sharpest pin bursting the real estate bubble, underneath the scuttlebutt lies one of his finest master pieces which continues to shine named Rarity Bay. An established master planned community on Lake Tellico, all lifestyle amenities in place. Amenities include golf, an equestrian center, tennis courts, swimming pool, walking trails and more. There are currently 7 homes under construction, two of them over 6,000 square feet being built by green builders. About 400 homes have been built of the 1,600 planned. In addition to the lakefront McMansion’s, Rarity Bay has affordable turn-key new home/lot packages starting at $399k and new condominiums starting at $159k. Many overlook Lake Tellico and/or the golf course. POA fees are less than $52 a month. I can share with you which homes come with a transferrable club membership.

The heartbeat of Rarity, the Rarity Bay Women’s Club are very busy girls. They have 290 members. From arranging Super Bowl parties to tournaments, concerts on the lawn to group day excursions to enjoy the best of Knoxville, there are plenty of social activities to participate in at Rarity Bay. See beyond the threatening clouds as I have and get an inside glimpse at this friendly Eastern Tennessee lake community worth considering for retirement in a state with no state income tax. Eventually the dust will settle causing prices to rise. I’m happy to share my ‘hot list’ of desirable Rarity Bay properties. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

For a quick reply, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com or call 866.384.1799.

Market Report - Coastal North Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2012-02-08 15:54

NORTHERN REGION:

Property Owners Rally Together to Take Over Community Amenities - Albemarle Plantation

On January 12, 2012, property owners attended at Town Hall Meeting to discuss taking over the community amenities. This time more prepared than their first attempt at taking the club over, property owners discussed bringing the club’s budget back to a break even status, protection of accumulated reserves, control of the APPOA (Ablemarle Plantation Property Owners Association) and an interim lease agreement of the amenities to the APPOA beginning February 1, 2012 until the take over transaction is completed. The meeting was a result of the real estate developer Albemarle Plantation Holdings Inc (APH) informing the APPOA they are no longer willing to fund the club’s financial shortfall and marketing expenses at previous levels. Property owner’s are now forced to make a choice: keep the club amenities open by taking control or close operations waiting for a new investor?

Presented to the APPOA as ‘There Is No Alternative’ acronym named TINA, without community amenities open, property values would likely fall and so would buyer’s interest in Albermarle Plantation. If all goes as planned, July 2013 is the slated turnover date for a purchase price of $1,700,000. Pending approval, this could result in a special assessment to property owners of $2,100. Non-property owners who are golf and social club members could be assessed between $3,400 and $5,250 which seems high to me if they want to retain these members. Amenities include the golf course, club house, pool, tennis and marina. With the APPOA in control, club initiation fees may be drastically reduced, the budget funded in different ways. This is good for buyers as they prefer not to come out of pocket with tens of thousands of dollars of initiation fees to become a member. The Albemarle Plantation Property Owners website provides excellent communication to property owners about TINA’s progress. We look forward to a great ending, seeing Albemarle Plantation added to list of member owned and debt free communities.

MIDDLE REGION - NEW BERN

Carolina Colours is Digging Up More Dirt

American Homesmith LLC broke ground on 3 new homes in the Bayberry neighborhood of Carolina Colours, an affordable golf community in New Bern NC. All three homes (the Edgewater-A, the Constitution-A and the MacLeod) have spacious floor plans and are priced under $250,000. With completion expected by early May, these homes will be ready for occupancy in early summer. Take a look at these floor plans on the American Homesmith’s website. American Homesmith builds about 150 homes a year throughout eastern North Carolina, and backs all their homes with an insured long term warranty. Carolina Colours is only 12 minutes from the Cherry Point military base, and an equal distance drive to historic downtown New Bern, voted America’s Best Small Town. Let us know if you would like more information about Carolina Colours or a builders packet for American Homesmith.

River Dunes Property Owners - When Can We See Each Other Again?

Each November, River Dunes hosts a Fall Homecoming Weekend in addition to their event filled calendar. The homecoming weekend includes cocktail parties, house warming parties, trout fishing competitions, kayaking expeditions and an epic oyster roast. This year resident’s said “we want more, more, more.” And River Dunes said “your wish is our command”. Okay, I added that part but this is in River Dunes style, to cater to property owners and have a lot of fun doing it. A new annual Spring Fling will take place at this waterfront community in the Sailing Capital of North America. I was thrilled to hear about two 2,000 square foot bungalows that came onto the market for $399k and lots priced under $100k. If you are looking for a protected harbor with a marina in Oriental North Carolina, you must take a look at River Dunes. Ask about being our guest in one of their Grace Harbor waterfront cottages.

SOUTHERN REGION - WILMINGTON

Brunswick Forest and St James Plantation Both Report 160 Sales in 2011

For Brunswick Forest, this is a 10% increase over 2010. With over $200 million in community amenities and infrastructure, property owners don’t have to wait and see what lifestyle activities will be built at Brunswick Forest. They can enjoy the amenities today. We wrote a story on November 2, 2011 explaining why we see Brunswick Forest Perhaps the Best Walking Community. Let us know if you would like to receive the latest floor plans and home pricing for Brunswick Forest.

St. James Plantation continues to build new amenities celebrating in 2011 the opening of the LEED-certified Reserve Clubhouse and kid-friendly SeaSide Club. This coastal community has over $100 million in completed lifestyle amenities. To make the home building process easier, St. James Plantation introduced the Builders Guild, a 5-point review process to help in choosing the best builder. With a beautiful beach club on Oak Island, the St. James Plantation lifestyle includes golf, saltwater boating and beach activities. St. James Plantation offers an excellent Discovery Package. Be sure to ask us for more information.

Both Brunswick Forest and St. James Plantation were 2012 Bliss Award winners included in our list of best master planned communities.

Compass Pointe Breaks Ground on Another New Amenity

Looking at the architectural rendering, I smell pineapples, see colorful orchids and hear Hawaiian music while relaxing in the breezy Grand Lanai overlooking their resort-style swimming pool. The 10,000 square foot Grand Lanai is scheduled to open in the summer of 2012. A gigantic outdoor living room, it will become the social hub of the community. During the cooler months, friendly gatherings around a warm fireplace and football fans cheering on their favorite teams watching the big screen TV’s will be the winter fun at the Grand Lanai. Compass Pointe is a tropical resort-style master planned community about 15 minutes south of downtown Wilmington NC. In 2013, they plan to open the golf course. The real estate developer of Compass Pointe has an excellent track record of building quality master planned communities with affordable homes around $200k. Ask me for more information about Compass Pointe.

The Giving Hearts of Landfall in Wilmington

Bicycling distance to Wrightsville Beach, Landfall is one of my favorite golf communities in downtown Wilmington. I’m impressed with their giving hearts and financial contribution to the local community. The Landfall Foundation has contributed over $2 million since 1996. For the year 2011, the organization wrote 59 checks totaling $232,561 helping non-profits and providing scholarships in Wilmington NC. A common thread I hear from buyer’s blessed by success is their desire to give back during their retirement years. Finding communities with a track record of doing so also gives you an idea of the closeness and caring people behind the community’s privacy gates. Landfall is affordable and is in a great location. Ask me for more information about Landfall Country Club.

Is Bank of America bullying Mark Saunders and The Coastal Companies?

SeaScape at Holden Beach
Seawatch at Sunset Harbor
Rivers Edge Golf Club and Plantation

Once negative news hits the streets, the uphill battle towards being perceived as man of honor becomes extremely difficult. We have seen well known real estate developers crumble at the hands of the banks because of the lack of financing in the credit markets such as Mercer Reynolds of Reynolds Communities and Jim Anthony of The Cliffs Communities. Yet our federal government bailed out the banks during their despair. It makes no sense that provisions didn't trickle down to real estate developers to help the real estate market. In a story written by Wayne Faulkner 2/2/2012 at the StarNewsOnline, it states Bank of America requested the Brunswick County Courts appoint a Receiver to preserve and protect SeaScape at Holden Beach, Seawatch at Sunset Harbor and Rivers Edge Golf Club and Plantation because Mark Saunders and The Coastal Companies has defaulted on $68 million dollars in bank loans. I wonder if this default is because of the bank not renewing the note, as was the case of Mercer Reynolds and Jim Anthony?

In the same story the revenue collector for Brunswick County claimed over $3 million in property taxes remain unpaid. The Coastal Communities has disputed these taxes with Brunswick County. While Bank of America and Mark Saunders duke it out in court, three coastal North Carolina communities have clouds of concern over their heads, communities where you may find great buying opportunities. Ask us for more information. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com or call 866.384.1799

Best Community of the Year 2012 Bliss Awards

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-25 16:08

After evaluating over 100 master planned communities in the Southeast, it is an honor to announce our 2012 BLISS AWARD winners. These communities achieved our award the old fashioned way, because they earned it. Master planned communities on our website are hand selected and do not pay us monthly advertising fees. They are located in the top 25 cities of where to retire listed on our website. We wish these communities continued success and applaud their accomplishments:

HAPPIEST COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Dataw Island Beaufort South Carolina

Dataw Island was chosen based on the number of high scoring report cards we received from Dataw Island property owners expressing a high quality of life and close sense of community. A “wonderful place to live” is the most common comment. This island community on the coast of South Carolina has deep water ocean access, a marina and is located in one of the Best Small Art Towns in America, Beaufort SC. Keeping community amenities up to par, both golf courses are under going a $5 million renovation. Dataw Island is affordable, with patio homes priced under $200k. The average sold price is $399k. Ask us about Dataw Island’s Discovery Package so you can experience a taste of happiness for yourself at the Happiest Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST BEACH COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Wild Dunes Charleston South Carolina

Wild Dunes Resort is located on the Isles of Palms, about 15 miles north of downtown Charleston. With two miles of private white sandy beaches, you will feel your blood pressure drop as a sense of tranquility takes over approaching the boardwalk. Beach sports include bicycle riding on the hard sandy beach, jet ski rentals, parasailing and waterskiing. Or maybe you’d rather chill poolside. One of the swimming pools is oceanfront. The pastel colored beach condominiums and The Grand Pavilion Cafe and Bar remind me of resorts in the Bahamas. If you have grandchildren, Parenting Magazine named Wild Dunes Resort as one of the Top 10 Beach Resorts for Families. But Wild Dunes Resort has more than Charleston’s cleanest beaches. Two golf courses designed by Tom Fazio, Intracoastal Waterway access and Wild Dunes Resort is named one of the Top 10 U.S. Tennis Resorts. If you want to live on the beach or within walking distance to it, Wild Dunes Resort is a must see in Charleston SC. Ask us to send you information about being our guest at the Best Beach Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY OF THE YEAR - St. James Plantation Southport North Carolina

With the Outer Banks as a barrier island along almost the entire coast of North Carolina, it is hard to find quick ocean access master planned communities. St. James Plantation is just south of Wilmington North Carolina and has been winning awards for years. We chose St. James Plantation as the Intracoastal Waterway Community of the Year because of the comprehensive marina facility, its safe harbor and quick ocean access. St. James Plantation has 155 wet boat slips, 320 dry dock boat slips, a fuel station and the Harborside Marketplace. Boat slips are available for sale. Wet slips range from $65k - $150k. Dry boat stacks range from $17,500 to $80k. Boat slips can also be rented from property owners, depending on availability. The social calendar at St. James Plantation includes events hosted by the St. James Fishing Club, fishing camps and a fishing derby. Celebrating 20 years, St. James Plantation is truly a resort style coastal community. With four signature golf courses, three tennis facilities and the St. James Beach Club on Oak Island, property owners can live life on vacation year round at St. James Plantation. If you enjoy salt water boating and want to live close to the Intracoastal Waterway when searching where to retire, this is the place to be. Ask us about their Plantation Preview Package, so you can experience the Best Intracoastal Waterway Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST GOLF COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Kiawah Island Charleston South Carolina

It’s hard to dispute the number of award winning golf courses at Kiawah Island, seven championship golf courses in all. In August, the 2012 PGA Championship event is being held on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island designed by Pete Dye. The River Course is a Tom Fazio Signature Design paralleling the Kiawah River and is certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The Cassique Course was Tom Watson’s first solo designed golf course, a beautiful Scottish links-style golf course. Turtle Point is a Jack Nicklaus design hugging the Atlantic ocean and loggerhead turtle nesting areas. Cougar Point is an easier golf course designed by Gary Player with views of the Kiawah River. Osprey Point designed by Tom Fazio is naturally home to exotic bird wildlife, scenic lakes and nesting areas. Oak Point was designed by Clyde Johnston and was the first of the Kiawah Island golf courses. Where else can you live with seven championship golf courses in your neighborhood? And Kiawah Island offers far more than golf. An award winning spa, tennis facilities, beach club and fantastic restaurants are a few more of the community’s many first class amenities. Until the end of February, Kiawah Island is offering a Golf or Gourmet Escape Discovery Package. Ask us to check on space availability so you can see the Best Golf Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST LAKE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - The Reserve at Lake Keowee South Carolina

There are six lakes we recommend in the Southeast, listed on our website. The Reserve at Lake Keowee was chosen because of the complete lake lifestyle this master planned community offers property owners. Lake Keowee is an 18,500 acre wide bodied lake with 300 miles of shoreline. The lake is nicknamed the Garden of Eden, recognized as one of the purest prettiest lakes in the Carolina’s. Life on the lake includes fishing, waterskiing and jet skiing. Anglers catch largemouth bass and trout in this fresh water mountain lake. During the summer months, the water is warm making the lake a wonderful natural swimming pool. The Blue Ridge Mountains in the backdrop will compete for your attention at this master planned community. The Reserve at Lake Keowee has a marina, 200 wet boat slips, a fuel station and provides water sport rentals. Boat slips are available for rent on an annual basis. Marina Park was named Best for Boating by Links Magazine. Speaking of golf, Jack Nicklaus designed their scenic signature golf course. The Reserve at Lake Keowee offers a unique feature called Multi-Generational Membership. This extends membership privileges to property owner’s parents, children and grandchildren. The Reserve at Lake Keowee is a classic example of southern hospitality, offering a generous Discovery Package to serious buyers. Ask us for details about being our guest at the Best Lake Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Kenmure Hendersonville North Carolina

With so many quality mountain communities to choose from, Kenmure stands out in our mind as the Best Mountain Community of the Year located in Hendersonville North Carolina. Its location is important because the community has a true mountain feel, yet is only 15 minutes from Flat Rock’s fantastic restaurants and performing arts important factors when considering where to retire. Beyond the gated entrance, The Kenmure Mansion dating back to the 1800’s is seated at the top of the valley, overlooking the award winning golf course. The Kenmure Mansion is a popular wedding location and is where the community’s active social clubs congregate. Adjacent to the Antebellum clubhouse is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and a fitness center. Paved roads wind up through the community reaching an elevation of 3,000 feet at the mountain summit. Long range views of the Blue Ridge Mountains provide scenic beauty to the mountain side homes. New and re-sale homes average in the $300k’s. The grandeur of this community combined with the overall affordability and maintenance of the amenities define Kenmure as the Best Mountain Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner. Ask us about being our guest at Kenmure, if you are searching for a quality mountain community.

BEST EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Balsam Mountain Preserve Sylva North Carolina

We have six equestrian master planned communities on our website. Although Balsam Mountain Preserve is best known for its scenic mountain golf course, property owner and celebrity Andie MacDowell describes Balsam’s Equestrian Center best saying “ You won’t find flat trails in the mountains like you’ll find at Balsam. The trails are phenomenal”. Their Equestrian Center is a full service facility offering boarding, riding lessons, practice arena and club horses for trail rides. There are 30 miles of horseback riding trails inside the gates of Balsam Mountain Preserve. The trail system connects further into the 531,286 acre Nantahala National Forest. The Equestrian Center is a great hang out seated in the rocking chairs overlooking layered mountain views of Blue Ridge Mountains. Balsam Mountain Preserve built Dark Ridge Creek as a community amenity, a family camp catering to horseback or hiking overnight adventures. The family camp has a horse paddock, bunkhouses and restroom facilities. Some people prefer to call it “glamping”. Buyers at Balsam Mountain Preserve have the opportunity to purchase larger land parcels to build their own equestrian barns next to their homes. The country western theme is a thread which runs through the entire community. Ask us about being our guest in one of The Boarding House cottages to see the Best Equestrian Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Grand Haven Palm Coast Florida

Location. Location. Location is what first comes to mind with Grand Haven. Located on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway, this established waterfront and golf community is only 10 minutes from the award winning Flagler Beaches. Celebrating 10 years, 23 neighborhoods have been substantially built out at Grand Haven featuring all types of home products, the average price at $250k. The community’s curb appeal and parks on the Intracoastal Waterway enhance the bicycling and walking experience. The Jack Nicklaus golf course and Grand Haven Golf Club were recently acquired by Escalante Golf taking the financial stress away from property owners. Community amenities include tennis, bocce ball courts, fitness center, resort-style swimming pool and children’s playgrounds. Grand Haven has one of the most active social club environments we seen, providing plenty of opportunities for residents to meet new friends and share common interests. Tucked between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Grand Haven is in the northern part of Florida. Ask to be our “Guest for the Day” at the Best Florida Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST GEORGIA COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Big Canoe Jasper Georgia

Spread across nine mountains, Big Canoe celebrates its 25th year in 2012 and is still building new energy efficient homes, about an hour north of Atlanta. The new golf clubhouse overlooks Lake Petit, one of three lakes at Big Canoe. This trout stocked lake is one of the prettiest place to photograph and is where the Reinhardt University Symphony Orchestra perform outdoor concerts on the lawn during the summer months. Developer Bill Byrne and Greenwood Communities and Resorts have done an amazing job creating unique amenities like the Big Canoe Rock Slide along with a championship mountain golf course. 10 tennis courts, racquetball courts, a modern state of the art fitness center and two swimming pools are more amenities at Big Canoe. To give you an idea of the size of this gated community, there are over 100 miles of paved roads in Big Canoe. The community has a mix of homes built from the 1990’s to new cottage homes in the Twin Creek neighborhood. Property owners at Big Canoe weren’t afraid to tell us how much they love their mountain community. We chose Big Canoe because of the affordability and the big bang for the buck this mountain community delivers. Ask about being our guest at Big Canoe so you can experience this resort-style Best Georgia Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Brunswick Forest Leland North Carolina

Ten minutes south of downtown Wilmington is one of the fastest growing, well designed, debt free master planned communities in the coastal region of North Carolina. It is amazing what Brunswick Forest has accomplished in 4 years and during a recession. The majority of the community’s amenities are built including the award winning Cape Fear National golf course. The River Club on Town Creek is planned. The 18,000 square foot Fitness & Wellness Center is impressive and is adjacent to the Community Commons. The Community Commons is where property owner’s meet for concerts on the lawn overlooking the flowering rose garden. The developer of Brunswick Forest is busy building even more, The Villages making it convenient for property owners to shop walking distance from home, a common request from folks searching for where to retire. The Villages is a 500,000 square foot retail shopping complex at the entrance to the community with anchor tents such as Lowes Food, CVS and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. When comparing new master planned communities, we find Brunswick Forest very affordable. New home prices are in the $200k’s. Ask us about being our guest so you can see a role model real estate development and the Best North Carolina Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Habersham Beaufort South Carolina

From the get go, we suspect Bob Turner knew he had found gold in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, when he acquired the land parcel for Habersham. Its natural beauty overlooking the Broad River with majestic oak trees was the perfect setting for his Savannah-style urban village. In 2005, the National Association of Home Builders named Habersham Best Neighborhood Design. Park-like squares are framed by Lowcountry homes. Homes in pastel colors with wide front porches and welcoming stairways add to the curb appeal at Habersham. Every home has beautiful views and every home is beautiful. The Habersham Marketplace is the social hub of the community where residents find doctors, restaurants and a fitness center. The community’s amenities are perfectly located, the outdoor swimming pool and River Pavilion overlooking Broad River. Day docks and a boat ramp are adjacent to the pavilion. Habersham does a great job of pulling the community together to have fun by hosting street dances, musical festivals and a weekly Farmer’s Market. Habersham property owners were happy to tell us how much they love their community. Ask us about being our guest at Habersham so you can experience this outstanding urban community, the Best South Carolina Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner.

BEST TENNESSEE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Westhaven Franklin Tennessee

Music lovers, lifelong learner’s and skinny people love the city of Nashville. It’s true and what better place can you live in Nashville than Westhaven. Southern Land Company who developed Westhaven has a track record of building quality master planned communities in Tennessee and Texas. If I had to describe Westhaven in one word, it would be ‘playful’. There are so many fun things to do. The community feels like a resort although it would be better described as neo-traditional urbanism. Families are drawn to Westhaven because Westhaven has built their own school and town center. Pearre Creek Elementary is also part of the neighborhood. The curbed streets have park-like squares and in between them are fountains, walking paths and decorative street lighting. Westhaven built a private golf course and their new golf clubhouse is under construction. The 15,000 square foot Resident’s Club has three resort-style pools and a 119’ water slide along with a fitness center, movie theatre, studios and tennis courts. Westhaven could be a stand alone town in of itself. Positive comments from property owners added to our decision in choosing Westhaven as the Best Tennessee Community of the Year - our 2012 Bliss Award Winner. Ask us for the most recent energy efficient floor plans for Westhaven.

UNHAPPIEST COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR - Tennessee National Loudon Tennessee

Tennessee National was chosen based on the number of low scoring report cards we received from Tennessee National property owners expressing disappointment with management, HOA fees, the unbuilt marina and lack of lake access. Tennessee National is located on Watts Bar Lake. Golfer Greg Norman joint ventured the project with Macquaire Bank. In December 2010, we discovered Tennessee National was listed for sale by broker CB Ellis. To the best of our knowledge, the property as a whole has not been sold. Tennessee National’s Scottish-style golf course is beautiful. Located 30 minutes west of Knoxville Tennessee, this master planned golf community has the potential to be a good project. A permanent clubhouse is also proposed. We thank the property owners at Tennessee National for their honesty.

Let us know if you feel there is a community we missed, by leaving a comment.

If you would like to be our guest while searching where to retire touring one of our 2012 BLISS AWARD winners, write margie@realestatescorecard.com. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Photo courtesy of celebrity photographer Larry Singer

The Elephant in the Room Addressed by Property Owners

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-23 11:02

We have been following the Reynolds Plantation Independent Property Owner’s Coalition (RIPOC) since its website launched on May 5, 2011. When the Lender who financed Reynolds Plantation in Lake Oconee Georgia refused to renew Mercer Reynolds' bank note, Reynolds Plantation and Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega Georgia were forced into receivership creating fear and negativity amongst the property owners. Naturally property owners find it hard in knowing what’s the truth verses a rumor, as leadership is tight lipped in an effort to protect the community’s overall image. Communication has become the gateway to progress as the Reynolds Plantation property owner’s pulled together legally forming a member owned member controlled representation group called RIPOC. The RIPOC website is helpful discussing issues and providing progress updates.

In December 2011, The Cliffs Communities followed suit launching their own Cliffs Independent Property Owners Coalition (CIPOC) and website. Up until this point, we wondered about the state of affairs at The Cliffs Communities and Jim Anthony as rumors continued to circle of a new buyout from John Reed, a respected Hilton Head real estate developer. The Cliffs golf communities include The Cliffs at Lake Keowee, The Cliffs at Glassy and The Cliffs Valley in South Carolina, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Asheville and The Cliffs High Carolina, planned as the first American golf course created by Tiger Wood Design. The Cliffs real estate developer Jim Anthony ran into similar financing issues and was lucky enough to borrow approximately $60 million from around 500 property owners to continue with development. Now in default again most likely from the lack of luxury sales, Jim Anthony has The Cliff’s property owners very upset demanding answers. The CIPOC communication website is now up and running.

Update: 2/10/2012 The Cliffs Communities is filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Rumor has it Mark Saunders of The Coastal Companies in North Carolina is facing the same financing issues. Coastal communities include SeaScape at Holden Beach, Seawatch at Sunset Harbor and Rivers Edge Golf Club and Plantation in Shallotte NC. Seawatch at Sunset Harbor is the most disappointing, as property owner’s communicate with us about the lack of completed infrastructure and Intracoastal Waterway amenities. SeaScape at Holden Beach and Rivers Edge Golf Club are well established beautiful master planned communities with completed amenities. These three master planned communities are located in the best places to retire on the coast of North Carolina and no doubt, will triumph in the long run.

Update: 2/3/2012 Bank of America filed a lawsuit against Mark Saunders and Seawatch at Sunset Harbor, SeaScape at Holden Plantation and Rivers Edge Golf Club and Plantation for default of the bank note and the bank is requesting the courts appoint receivership to preserve and protect the communities.

In conclusion, we journal proof of the real estate market's recovery, yet the ‘elephant in the room’ hasn’t gone away. If you are considering relocating at retirement, instead of being fearful, do your homework and seek good counsel. We are here to help. Companies do come back! Have you heard about General Motors? In 2011, General Motors beat out Japan selling more automobiles and paying back billion's in debt to our federal government. It took a group effort by management AND the employees. Expect it will take the same group effort to fix the financing woes at struggling master planned communities. Speak up, come together and hang in there a little bit longer as the real estate market continues to dig itself out of a big hole.

If you would like skillful assistance with your home search, reach out to me and say hello at margie@realestatescorecard.com. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Market Report Charleston South Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-20 09:07

In case you haven’t heard, Conde Nast Traveler named Charleston South Carolina as the Number 1 Top City in the U.S. in 2011. Between Boeing expanding its 787 Dreamliner facility and the 2012 PGA Championship being hosted at Kiawah Island this summer, Charleston SC is expected to experience explosive growth during the next 5 years and Charleston is South Carolina’s fastest growing city. Whether you prefer to be in the heart of the action or on the outskirts of the city, Charleston SC offers the best of both worlds when searching where to retire.

SEABROOK ISLAND CHARLESTON - The oceanfront golf club is reporting a profit for 2011 with over $ 2 million in the bank, including $1 million designated as reserves. Built in the late 1970’s, this established master planned community is about 30 minutes south of Charleston and is adjacent to Kiawah Island. Important to know, Seabrook Island gave itself a facelift during the past 5 years and has added new community amenities. In 2009, the Seabrook Island Club House opened its doors, an interior and exterior designed clubhouse overlooking the ocean jumping off the pages of an architectural magazine. The community already has two modern clubhouses to enjoy: The Lake House and Beach Club. The Seabrook Island Racquet Club received $ 1 million in upgrades too and is the community’s championship tennis facility. Just beyond the gated entrance, the Bohicket Marina has deep water boat slips available. Seabrook Island’s Equestrian Center offers full boarding and the opportunity to horseback ride on the beaches. For about $450 a month, property owners have access to Disney-style amenities not including golf. Golfer's have two golf courses to play at Seabrook Island, golf dues about another $700 a month. See how we scored Seabrook Island and ask us about their southern hospitality Discovery Package.

KIAWAH ISLAND CHARLESTON - The 2011 sales numbers have not yet been released for Kiawah Island although we will be posting those figures shortly. Kiawah Island is offering 45% off their Golf or Gourmet Discovery Packages until February 26, 2012. Thinking of buying at Kiawah and living in Charleston? We believe in the principle buy on rumor, sell on news. Don’t get caught in the wave of selling. If you are considering purchasing at Kiawah Island, you may want to wait until after the 2012 PGA Championship event in August. We expect home prices to settle down after the championship tournament although you may have to wait for a larger selection of homes to become available. Kiawah Island is a more exclusive luxury golf community with home prices averaging over $1 million. Let us know if you would like more information about Kiawah Island's Discovery Package.

The story I wrote on December 20, 2011 may help you quickly compare Seabrook Island to Kiawah Island: THE BIG DEBATE

DANIEL ISLAND CHARLESTON - Reports an increase of 13% in sales over 2010. With less homes to sell, new construction activity has increased at Daniel Island. Just over 10 years old, Daniel Island is debt free master planned community and has 8,500 homes built of the 15,000 planned. This island development west of the beaches is one of the most active bedroom communities we’ve seen. For folks who want to give back to the community, Daniel Island's philanthropic efforts as a community impressed me which included block parties to benefit Haiti, Pork N Pearls, Shuck for Soccer, Backhands and Birdies, Park Day, SIP of Daniel Island, Paint the Town Pink and the Daniel Island Holiday Festival. The real estate developer of Daniel Island built white picket fence neighborhoods, schools of all levels, shopping centers, churches and a world class tennis facility, home to the Family Circle Cup. When comparing to Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Wild Dunes Resort, Daniel Island’s proximity to the highway provides quicker access to downtown Charleston, the Charleston airport, the Medical University of South Carolina ( MUSC ) and five hospitals. See how we scored Daniel Island and ask us for the new home floor plans which are priced in the mid $500k’s. Two bedroom two bath condos for sale can still be found under $200k.

WILD DUNES RESORT CHARLESTON - Surf’s up and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Charleston. Located on the Isle of Palms to the north of Charleston, this island resort community built in the 1970’s is the least expensive golf community in Charleston and is home to two Tom Fazio Signature Design golf courses. Wild Dunes Resort is on the list of the Top 10 U.S. Tennis Resorts. What makes Wild Dunes Resort unique from the rest of the Charleston master planned communities is the availability of deep water homes just off the Intracoastal Waterway. The Isle of Palms and Dewees Marina are at the entrance of the Wild Dunes Resort waterway. HOA fees are less than $70 a month without joining the club. If you are considering Charleston for relocation, ask us about the Wild Dunes Resort Celebration Vacation Package. See how we scored Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms SC .

Don't necessarily listen to all our hoopala when searching where to retire. Read what property owners have to say behind the scene about their coastal community by becoming a member.

If you would like skillful assistance with your home search, reach out to me and say 'hello' at margie@realestatescorecard.com. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Brunswick County NC

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-17 09:41

Wilmington and Brunswick County are among the fastest growing cities in the coastal region of North Carolina. This area has seen 20% growth between 2005 and 2010. Another 20% is expected between 2010 and 2020. It appears Baby Boomer's who are considering relocating are going ‘retro’ migrating back to revitalized historic cities. The English colonist’s founded Wilmington NC in the early 1700‘s along the Cape Fear River to harvest the rich natural resources. During World War II, Wilmington NC became a ship building city and important coastal port. Wilmington NC is named one of the Best Places to Live by Money Magazine and here is why we agree:

Best Beaches - Wrightsville Beach is the closest beach to downtown Wilmington NC and is only 10 minutes from the golf community Landfall Country Club. Wrightsville Beach is named one of the Top 10 Surf Towns in the U.S. by Surfer Magazine and is a great place to people watch, grab a foot long hot dog at the Trolley Grill or savor local seafood at the award winning South Beach Grill. Local’s and retirees prefer Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher known as Pleasure Island. These Brunswick County best beaches are less crowded, less commercialized and have charming boardwalks and fishing piers. Holden Beach, Oak Island and Sunset Beach to the south of Wilmington NC are more beaches to soak up the sun.

Best Small Art Town - When Coastal Living Magazine named Wilmington NC a Coastal Dream Town, did they mean this literally because of the number of upcoming artists? Probably not. None the less, Wilmington NC is a great town for fine art lovers and art collectors. The Peacock Fine Art Gallery and the Walls Fine Art Gallery are two popular art galleries to begin your studio tour. Over 100 artists compete at the North Carolina Azalea Festival juried art show which takes place in April. The Cameron Art Museum provides high quality art exhibits and art classes at The Museum School. Top notch instruction in painting, photography, drawing and writing. Cape Fear Community College Humanities and Fine Art Department offers an expanded list of art classes at the college. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy and learn about art in this best small art town in coastal North Carolina.

Celebrity Magnet - Since 2006 when the Governor of North Carolina offered a 15% tax credit to the film industry, Wilmington NC has seen a dramatic increase in movies filmed in the coastal region of North Carolina. Did you know more than 400 projects have been filmed in Wilmington NC? Leatherheads, Nights in the Rodanthe, The Marc Pease Experience and Bolden were immediately filmed thereafter. Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill are the most well known television network series filmed in Wilmington NC. Dwayne Johnson ( The Rock ) was recently seen roaming around downtown while filming Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. EUE/Screen Gem Studios is the largest production facility east of Hollywood and is located in Wilmington NC. Guided studio tours are available at EUE. Wilmington NC is nicknamed Hollywood East. To the best of our knowledge, the state tax credit continues which could mean no end in sight for filming projects in Wilmington NC.

Cuisine - According to Yelp, there are 372 restaurants in Wilmington NC and 40 of them are four and half to five star rated. Whatever your palate desires, you can be sure you will find an authentic restaurant serving up a tasty meal in Wilmington NC. Fresh seafood is the most requested local fare. Romantic restaurants, waterfront dining and outdoor cafes on Front Street are easy to find or you could dine on the Henrietta III riverboat cruising the Cape Fear River. Mayfair Towncenter is Wilmington’s newest urban shopping center located 1.5 miles from Wrightsville Beach. This town center has 20 well known restaurants itself in addition to restaurants across the street. Gourmet cooks who prefer to cook at home will be thrilled when Whole Foods opens up this year in Wilmington NC. No matter where or how you like to eat, you won’t be ‘food challenged’ retiring in Brunswick County NC.

Great Golf / Great Weather - With the average temperatures ranging from 46 to 81 degrees, Wilmington NC weather is not extreme. Rarely does snow fall in the coastal region of North Carolina. Longer spring seasons permit colorful flowers to decorate the region for months at a time. There are 28 golf courses in the immediate area including the well known Cape Fear Country Club. The low lying marsh areas are beautiful back drops and create challenging water hazards in Wilmington NC. Many of the golf courses in Brunswick County NC are private and closed for public play. There are several master planned communities in Wilmington NC ideal for retirement which will allow you to play as our guest with advance notice.

Intracoastal Waterway Boating - Sailboats and yachts decorate the docks along the Cape Fear River and Intracoastal Waterway. As a protected north/south waterway between the outer islands and beaches, boating the Intracoastal Waterway in Wilmington NC is easy and requires less boating skills. The more salty dog types can navigate their seas or charter a boat heading out to the Port of Wilmington, for offshore deep sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. The nautical village of Southport NC is at the mouth of the Pleasure Island inlet. Several master planned communities in the Brunswick County area we’ve scored have full service marinas and quick ocean access. Retirees who aren’t interested in owning a boat, can join the Freedom Boat Club located in Southport NC.

Patriotism / History - The USS North Carolina battleship can be easily seen from downtown Wilmington NC as it is docked just across the river. As one of Wilmington’s most popular tourist attractions, over 200,000 visitors tour this floating war memorial each year in Brunswick County NC. In 2003, the city of Wilmington NC was designated by Congress as a Coast Guard City. The USCGC Diligence coast guard cutter can be seen cruising the Cape Fear River. Warehouses along the downtown waterfront still give you a sense of Wilmington’s military history. The Cape Fear Museum of History and Science display fascinating photographs and historical artifacts. Fort Fisher at the mouth of the inlet was an active fort during the American Civil War. To the north of Wilmington NC is the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune military installation, just over an hour drive away.

Shopping - The Mayfaire Towncenter in downtown Wilmington NC has been voted Best Shopping Center for six years in a row. The Independence Mall has over 100 name brand stores and box stores are nearby. Discount stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club, Wal-mart and the Wilmington Factory Outlet Mall can be found in the vicinity of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. On the south side of Wilmington NC, smaller strip shopping centers can be found in Southport, Holden Beach and Shallotte. Shopping diva’s searching for Macy’s will be out of luck in the coastal region of North Carolina because the Macy’s store closed.

Top Medical Care - The new Brunswick Novant Medical Center opened July 2011 in Bolivia NC and is just south of Wilmington NC. The $107 million 252,370 square foot hospital was built featuring high tech medical technologies attracting the leading physicians and top medical specialties. Brunswick County NC residents have several outstanding hospitals to choose from. Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport NC and New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) are also located in Brunswick County NC. Founded in 1967, specialties at NHRMC include cardiac care, cancer, bariatrics, orthopedics and palliative care. The Wilmington VA Medical Clinic provides preventative care to long term care to Veterans.

Quick Access to Metro Cities - The east-west Interstate 40 corridor begins in Wilmington NC and ends in Barstow California. The north-south corridor Interstate 95 can be accessed in Florence South Carolina and is about 2 hours east of downtown Wilmington NC, highway access connecting to cities in the northeast and the southeast. Wilmington International Airport provides access to one hundred destinations, flights in and out of the coastal region of North Carolina. Allegiant, Delta and US Airways are the most popular airlines at the Wilmington NC airport. 1 hour and 30 minutes to the south, Myrtle Beach International Airport offers approximately 25 non-stop flights into the golf mecca from major US cities and Canada. Reaching your family and grandchildren by car or plane is easy from Brunswick County NC.

If you are considering Brunswick County NC for relocation, ask me for my list of the best master planned communities in the area. I am happy to provide a list of the best restaurants, hotels and fun things to do. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Market Report Northern Georgia Mountains

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-14 11:14

Big Canoe Jasper Georgia - Winner of the 2011 Community of the Year from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. This award was based on design, appeal and the real estate developer’s ability to maximize aesthetic values. Big Canoe is the only golf community on our website who does not charge a golf initiation fee or require property owners to join the golf club. The four other Georgia mountain golf community’s on our website charge an average of $20,250 as a golf initiation fee. Big Canoe’s monthly HOA fees are slightly higher than the rest at $225 a month. The resort amenities deliver a big bang for the buck at Big Canoe. New Twin Creeks 4 bedroom 3.5 bath cottage homes for sale are priced in the low $300k’s. Learn more about Big Canoe. Ask us about Big Canoe’s Guest Package.

Chestatee on Lake Lanier Gainesville Georgia - 45 minutes north of Atlanta, 38,000 acre Lake Lanier was voted one of the Best Places for the Good Life for Less by AARP Magazine. Lake Lanier was the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics and attracts millions of boaters to the lake. There are only a few master planned communities on Lake Lanier. Chestatee on Lake Lanier is one of them with about 300 homes built of the 500 planned. Property owners are not required to join the golf club. Community amenities include a marina and dockage. American Craftsman architecture, tree canopies and wide curbed streets create beautiful curb appeal. Lots begin in the mid $60k’s and cottage homes for sale are priced in the $300k’s. Learn more about Chestatee on Lake Lanier. Ask us about the Lake Lanier Discovery Package.

Lake Burton Club Clayton Georgia - As the winter sets in, over 100 guests attended the 2011 Club End of Season party in November. Primarily a second home community, Lake Burton Club has some of the best views of the Blue Ridge Mountains just south of the North Carolina state line. Approximately 40 homes have been built of the 200 planned. The Lake Burton Club Mountain Lodge overlooks 2,775 acre Lake Burton, its 52,000 acre Sports Center and a championship golf course. Residents have lake access. If you are looking for a more exclusive gated community, Lake Burton Club is worth taking a look. Believe it or not, lots are available in the $100k’s. New “lock and leave” maintenance free 3 bedroom 3.5 bath cottage homes for sale overlooking the golf course are available in the mid $500k’s. Learn more about Lake Burton Club. Ask us about the Lake Burton Club Discovery Package.

The Georgia Club Athens Georgia - Back in September, the Alvarez & Marsal Capital Real Estate Group purchased the golf club and community assets. With financial muscle now behind them, The Georgia Club broke ground on a series of nine new spec homes to be completed in the late spring/early summer. The 3 bedroom 2.5 bath detached homes are approximately 2,000 square feet with prices in the mid $200k’s. Award winning builder G & O Classic Homes and Premier Heritage Homes are the commissioned builders and have already built numerous homes in The Georgia Club. We’d be happy to share their floor plans. The Georgia Club in Athens is 20 minutes from the UGA Bulldogs, Georgia’s largest university. Learn more about The Georgia Club.

If you would like skillful assistance with you home search, reach out to me and say 'hello'. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Market Report Palm Coast and Flagler Beach

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-08 11:32

Real estate news from the top four Palm Coast master planned communities:

Hammock Dunes Club - Last month, the Flagler County Commission set Hammock Dunes Club free from the original high density development plan assumed by Bobby Ginn. Originally slated for 6,600 homes, the reduced home count will be more like 3,800. In one of Florida's most beautiful beach areas, residents of Hammock Dunes Club cheered and celebrated because they did not want more high rise buildings in their community. Hammock Dunes Club is one of the highest scoring master planned communities on our website. Find out what makes Hammock Dunes Club so special. Request a chance to "Sneak a Peek" at Hammock Dunes Club by writing me at my address below.

Grand Haven - This gated community’s private golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus was recently acquired by Escalante Golf based out of Fort Worth Texas. The Club at Grand Haven is Escalante Golf’s sixth Florida golf course and 14th golf portfolio holding. Bordering the Intracoastal Waterway, Grand Haven is one of the best selling affordable master planned communities in Palm Coast Florida with single family homes starting in the $150k’s. Learn more about Grand Haven. Request the “Member for the Day” Discovery Package by writing me at my email address below.

Check out my favorite surf shop in Florida:

Palm Coast Plantation - Spec home building is on the rise sending us positive signals for this community. At the end of January, a new model home built by Florida Green Homes will be completed and Keystone Homes just broke ground on another model home. Both builders are respected certified green builders in Palm Coast Florida. Like many new master planned communities, Palm Coast Plantation suffered from the aftermath of the housing bubble’s burst as lot owner’s plans for home building fizzled out. About 165 homes have been built to date and the community amenities are in place. Learn more about this Florida Intracoastal Waterway community Palm Coast Plantation. Request the “Discovery Package” for Palm Coast Plantation by writing me at my email address below.

Cinnamon Beach at Ocean Hammock - Voted a five star vacation hot spot, this gated master planned community is a popular place to rent single family homes and beachfront condominiums. The Ocean Hammock course designed by Jack Nicklaus includes coquina colored sand collected from the beaches to ‘cinnamonize’ the bunkers. Investors looking to own a vacation home in Palm Coast with strong income potential can't go wrong buying at Cinnamon Beach at Ocean Hammock next door to Hammock Beach Resort, built by Bobby Ginn. Request a “Stay and Play” for Cinnamon Beach at Ocean Hammock by writing me at my email address below.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your family and are ready to head to the warm sunny beaches in Florida to discover where to retire. Don't be afraid to ask me about Palm Coast's fabulous restaurants, hotels and fun things to do in the area. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

91 Year Old Bernice Bates Sets World Record

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-06 10:03

It was exciting to read about Bernice Bates in this month’s issue of AAA’s Going Places magazine, the story written by Nick Ferry. A resident of St. Petersburg Florida, Bernice has been teaching yoga for more than 50 years. On November 17, 2011, Bates was designated as the “World’s Oldest Yoga Instructor” by the Guiness Book of World Records. The great grandmother teaches yoga at Mainlands Retirement Community Center in Pinellas Park Florida. Students of all ages attend including pregnant women and a handful of women in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Bernice is an inspiration to us all. The hot topic of conversation amongst my Baby Boomer friends is what can we do now to find fulfillment, now that we’ve become empty nesters and our kids have gone off to college. If you think about Bernice, she didn’t start teaching yoga until she reached age 40 which is the typical 10 year period where people experience a mid life crisis. Longing to preserve our youth, we try Botox, tummy tucks, red corvettes and buy the hottest baby boomer toys hoping they will make us look and feel young again.

Choosing to teach yoga has benefited Bernice personally by improving the quality of her life as she ages. It has been said as we age, teaching others and giving back to society satisfies our soul in ways hard to describe. Not everyone is ready to try something new. But why not? Let's be inspired and get out of our comfort zone.

You may not know about the Sun City Poms from Phoenix Arizona or the Durham Senior Diva Cheerleading Squad from North Carolina. Members of these cheerleading squads are over age 55. Can you imagine how much fun these grandma’s are having learning new cheers and performing in front of large audiences? I know my grandkids would fall on the floor laughing if I attempted to cheer. What better gift can I give them than the gift of memories and laughter, even if it's at my expense. You can enjoy the Sun City Poms and Durham Senior Diva Cheerleading video’s on YouTube.

The National Senior Games Association host winter and summer sport competitions nationally every other year. During the 2011 winter competitions in New York, seniors from across the country came to compete in ice hockey, curling, pickle-ball and speed skating. The next national competition is in 2013 giving you plenty of time to find a team and train. Regional competitions take place annually across America. You can't help but love their motto:

To change the attitude and perception - age is not be feared.
To provide opportunities to exercise new behaviors - age is not to be feared.

It’s the beginning of a new year and the perfect time to set new goals. What's next for empty nesters? Try something new until you find what inspires you. Don’t wait until you retire, are older and in poor health. Congratulations Bernice Bates. We honor you!

Recipe for the Best Master Planned Communities

By Margie Casey — 2012-01-03 12:42

Those who know me, know one of my favorite past times is cooking delicious recipes. After preparing a dish, if the recipe turns out to be complicated, with the scrapings on the plate the recipe card follows right into the trash. As with cooking, creating the best master planned communities is an appreciated masterpiece. The perfect mix of lifestyle amenities and home choices built in a desirable temperature zone.

In cooking recipes there are staples such as butter, water, salt and pepper. With master planned communities, there are staples too such as curb appeal, fiscal responsibility and quick access to medical care, schools and shopping. How can you tell without buying first, what life is like in a master planned community? When we search for the best master planned communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolina’s and Tennessee, we watch for positive and negative signals bubbling up through the for sale signs giving us an early taste of what to expect.

Don't mind my kitchen indulgence but my recipe card includes the following:

INGREDIENTS:

There is a delicate balance of ingredients in the best master planned communities. Small communities I refer to as ‘boutique communities’ don’t require grandiose entrances, golf courses, clubhouses and fitness centers. These communities typically have low HOA fees of less than $100 a month, important to budget conscious buyers. Occasionally I do find master planned communities with golf courses, clubhouses and fitness centers still charging HOA fees less than $100 a month. You may wonder how is this possible and which communities are they? When a real estate developer creates a master planned community, sometimes the golf courses are sold separately to private investment companies like Oaktree Capital Management, Tavistock Group and Challenge Golf Group. As with salt and pepper, golf initiation fees and monthly dues are subjective depending on your taste.
The size of the master planned community is important to notice because it dictates how many people will share in the monthly expenses keeping your HOA fees low. Are decorative flowers changed seasonally? What is the condition of the roads if the community is gated? Do property owners receive annual special assessments? Well managed fiscally sound homeowners association’s budget for these items avoiding unexpected special assessments, ingredients that leave a sour taste in the community.

Home choices also effect the vibe of a community. A master planned community with a large number of townhomes, condominiums and villas tend to attract vacation and second home buyers, adding to the transient traffic in the community. In vacation areas such as the North Carolina High Country or America's Happiest City - Asheville North Carolina, you would expect this. These type of master planned communities often have property’s in close proximity to each other and zero lot lines. In more exclusive neighborhoods, you will find larger homesites, bigger homes and bigger price tags. Often, the closer the best master planned community’s are to excellent restaurants, shopping and an urban downtown, the higher the prices for new homes. Your recipe ingredients for the best master planned community should also include the level of seasonal traffic verses year round residents and your need to be close to urban downtown.

TEMPERATURE: Today is a cold day in South Florida and I’m bundled up writing to you. Most Floridians prefer the year round tropical weather celebrating almost 365 days of sunshine in Florida. To others, Florida is too hot and too humid. Many folks preparing to relocate are moving to be closer to the kids, grandkids or friends regardless of the weather. Aging Baby Boomers plagued with arthritis and temperature sensitive health issues know the south is where they need to go to suffer less. When selecting where to retire, it is important to experience the best and worst weather temperatures. Our recipe for finding the best master planned community includes visiting the areas you are interested during both seasons, experience the extreme temperatures BEFORE making a buying decision.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: Introverts like Henry David Thoreau could careless about the community social events calendar. Content with nature, a walk in the woods or reflecting by the lake was his perfect recipe for happiness. Social butterfly’s like myself require more social options. Buyer’s often ask me if people are really friendly in the master planned community they are considering. To me, the easiest way to tell is to attend a social club events incognito BEFORE you buy. If you alert the sales team of your visit, you can be sure they will send the friendliest meet and greet team to your rescue foiling your true evaluation. When we mail scorecards to property owners, one of the questions they are asked is about their satisfaction with social clubs. This sheds a light on the friendliness of the community to our members.

See Real Estate Scorecard's 2011 Bliss Award Winners for the Best Communities of the Year.

Retire on a Budget Utilizing Student Discounts

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-29 11:09

What’s in your wallet? Hopefully a college id because with it the savings can add up quickly improving your retirement buying power. Students with college id’s receive discounts on movie tickets, trains, hotels, retail clothing stores, electronic stores such as Apple and Dell, discounted cell phone service, restaurants and bulk food stores. Colleges gift enrollees free tickets to their school’s home game sporting events. Age is not a barrier in becoming a college student. At age 48, I carry an active college student id even though I get strange looks when I present it.

We provide our members a list of the Best Student Discounts to help them save money after they figure out where to retire. By choosing one of the best college towns to retire, it positions your in an environment of students living on a budget. Free concerts, lectures and educational events are everyday activities in the best college towns in the Southeast. All of these colleges listed below have Osher Lifelong Learning programs designed for mature adults over 62 or you can enroll in regular college courses which interest you. Check out our favorite college towns and see why:

Asheville North Carolina - The University of North Carolina and Asheville-Buncombe Technical College are located in Western North Carolina. More than 10,000 students are enrolled between the two colleges. Art and music dominate the cultural vibe along with an organic consciousness. Students who enjoy backpacking, camping and bicycling the Blue Ridge Parkway find Asheville particularly appealing. Asheville has been named America's Happiest City. Living in downtown Asheville is not the least expensive area to retire in Western North Carolina. Towns like Waynesville, Black Mountain, Hendersonville have excellent affordable master planned communities and are less than 30 minutes from downtown Asheville.

Athens Georgia - The University of Georgia is the largest college in Georgia with 35,000 students enrolled. Athens GA is one of the most exciting college towns if you enjoy collegiate sports, cheap food and free music. The Georgia Bulldogs mascot and team colors of red and white are on display everywhere in town. Athens GA is on the list of America’s 40 Best Music Venues and is a college town where famous bands launched their careers in music. One of our favorite master planned communities is within biking distance of The University of Georgia.

Blowing Rock North Carolina - The Appalachian State University is located in Blowing Rock NC and continues to expand each year. More than 15,000 students attend ASU. Winter sports are as popular as summer sports in the High Country of North Carolina. Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain is where you’ll find college students snowboarding and skiing. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through Blowing Rock NC passing by Grandfather Mountain. Whitewater rafting, zip lines and hiking trails are busy during the summer season. There are excellent condominium values in today’s market along with quality master planned communities. Blowing Rock NC was named one of America’s Prettiest Small Towns.

Charleston South Carolina - The College of Charleston, Medical University of South Carolina and The Citadel are colleges in Charleston South Carolina. More than 12,000 students are enrolled between the three colleges. Charleston SC is growing quickly with the help of Boeing choosing Charleston as the location to build their 787 Dreamliner airplanes. This year Charleston SC was voted America's Favorite City and is considered one of the best coastal areas when considering where to retire. The islands of Charleston are particularly appealing because of the variety of fabulous beaches, golf courses and Intracoastal Waterways for boating. Towns like Seabrook Island, the Isle of Palms and Daniel Island have affordable condominiums, villas and single family homes for sale and are all located less than 30 minutes from downtown Charleston SC.

Chattanooga Tennessee - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College call Chattanooga home. More than 21,000 students are enrolled between the two colleges. Chattanooga TN is another success story, a city revitalized attracting high tech and health care companies to the Scenic City. The North Shore and the South Shore of the Tennessee River are filled with art museums, restaurants and beautiful waterfront parks. The Tennessee Aquarium is the state’s most visited tourist attraction. Just about every weekend, some type of festival, open-air market or sporting event takes place in downtown Chattanooga TN. Condominiums along the waterfront are great choices for retirees seeking urban living or choose from a number of attractive master planned communities within 20 minutes of downtown Chattanooga TN.

Greenville South Carolina - Clemson University, Bob Jones University, Furman University and Anderson University are located in the Upcountry of South Carolina. More than 28,000 students attend the four colleges. Greenville SC has been named one of the Best Places to Live in America and is crowned as the City of Arts. BMW rekindled a once deteriorated city into a chic smart city for the automotive industry. The Clemson Tiger’s championship collegiate teams are celebrated by local's, through tailgate parties and downtown parties. Downtown Greenville SC is an easy walking city with excellent restaurants and exciting night life along the Reedy River. The beautiful lakes and mountains to the north of Greenville SC appeal to outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. There are a number of outstanding master planned communities in the Greenville SC area attracting highly educated Baby Boomers searching for where to retire.

Nashville Tennessee - Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, Volunteer State College, Belmont University and Lipscolm University are located in Nashville. Between the five colleges, more than 27,000 students attend college in Nashville TN. Could it be because it is Music City or Nash Vegas? No doubt, the exciting night life combined with more than 109 community parks and greenways in Nashville TN make the city a fantastic outdoor playground for college students and retirees alike. Whether you desire a contemporary condominium in The Gulch or prefer a golf or lake community on Old Hickory Lake, Nashville has excellent home options with quick access to downtown Nashville TN.

Savannah Georgia - The Savannah College of Art & Design, Armstrong State Atlantic University, Savannah State University and Savannah Technical College are the four colleges in the Lowcountry of Georgia. More than 23,000 students attend the four colleges in Savannah GA. The southern charm of the city is undisputed nicknaming Savannah Hostess City. Southern cooking, british pubs and the famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade attract millions of visitors to historic Savannah each year. It’s not hard to find a party in the streets of downtown Savannah GA at any time of the year. As an industrial city, Baby Boomers find neighborhoods beyond the city limits of Savannah more attractive for retirement and we are able to recommend a few.

Wilmington North Carolina - The University of Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College are the two primary college campuses. More than 30,000 students are enrolled at these two schools. Is it because of the number of beautiful beaches in the area or the movie industry’s recent attraction to Wilmington? Downtown Wilmington is a great walking city and has been named one of the Best Places to Live. Award winning restaurants, eclectic shops and watering holes line the streets and river. Wilmington NC is fast growing city in the coastal region of North Carolina and has a number of quality affordable master planned communities in the heart of the city and to the south.

Most Baby Boomers have children entering college, children enrolled in college or are college graduates. Pick their brains to uncover all the hidden student discounts you may not know saving you money adding to your retirement buying power. Going back to school provides more than brain fitness. When you decide where to retire, utilize every student discount you can find to keep more money in your wallet.

Please share with us your favorite student discounts by leaving a comment.

Best Holiday Boat Parades in the South

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-16 10:56

Santa’s sleighs have been busy since Thanksgiving, by land and by sea. Although the south doesn't get blanketed by snow, this hasn’t stopped Southerner’s from creating their own version of Santa’s winter wonderland. Last week, we had the pleasure of watching the largest holiday boat parade in the world, the 40th annual Winterfest Boat Parade. With Fort Lauderdale being the Yachting Capital of the World, it was no surprise to see million dollar yachts one by one floating north on the Intracoastal Waterway decorated in colorful lights, staging live music, blasting flame throwers, carrying planes, trucks and almost everything you could imagine. More than one million people lined the Intracoastal Waterway seawalls to watch this spectacular Christmas display celebrating the holiday season in South Florida. Finding fun things to do is important to retirees when considering the best state retire. Here are a few more boat parades worth seeing in the Southeast:

Beaufort South Carolina - Light Up the Night Boat Parade floats down the Beaufort River in front of Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the best place to view the boat parade in downtown Beaufort. The following day, Beaufort is also known for its traditional holiday street parade. Dataw Island is the closest waterfront master planned community with marina access to the Beaufort River. Coosaw Point is not far from Dataw Island and has day docks with Intracoastal Waterway access for property owners. Habersham SC is on the east side of Beaufort and also has day docks available to property owners.

Charleston South Carolina - Voted in 2011 as America’s favorite city, Charleston South Carolina hosts the Parade of Boats in December. This boat parade begins in Mt. Pleasant crossing the Charleston harbor and ends at the Ashley River. Charleston SC launches its own dazzling holiday fireworks display following the holiday boat parade. Resident’s of Daniel Island have front row seats because their master planned community’s location is just beyond the Charleston Harbor. Property owners at Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms all have marina access to the Intracoastal Waterway leading to the Charleston Harbor.

Chattanooga Tennessee - The Lighted Boat Parade in Chattanooga takes place in November. Before the boat parade procession begins, 300 candle lanterns are released into the Tennessee River leading the holiday boat parade. During November and December, Chattanooga celebrates the holidays with the Grand Illumination in downtown Chattanooga along the Walnut Street Bridge. More than 100 office buildings and public buildings light up the sky during the month of December. One of our favorite master planned communities in Chattanooga is Cummings Cove, home to the Black Creek Club golf course located at the base of Lookout Mountain.

Lake Keowee South Carolina - Celebrating their 2nd Annual “Jingle All the Way” boat caroling event, residents at The Reserve at Lake Keowee enjoyed “dashing through the lake” under the moonlight sky. Instead of parade procession, four boats carried 37 singing carolers stopped at various Reserve at Lake Keowee property owners’ docks sharing ear pleasing Christmas cheer.The evening ended with residents singing around a roaring fire, roasting s’mores for dessert. Lake Keowee is one of the prettiest lakes in Western South Carolina. The Reserve at Lake Keowee has a 200 slip private marina on Lake Keowee.

Knoxville Tennessee - In December, there are three holiday boat parades in the Knoxville area. The Riverlights Festival's Boat Parade along Volunteer Landing in downtown Knoxville. Activities include live entertainment, an ice carving competition and the Golden Ladle Soup Contest. The LIGHTFEST Lighted Boat Parade at Concord Marina departs south of Knoxville on Ft Loudon Lake making a loop on the lake and then back to the marina. Live music and a street dance follows. Tellico Marina’s Lighted Boat Parade takes place on Tellico Lake, one of Tennessee's most beautiful lakes. Two of the waterfront master planned communities we recommend overlooking Tellico Lake worth considering at Tellico Village and Rarity Bay. Both communities have marinas and lake access on Tellico Lake. Tellico Lake is also a navigable lake to downtown Knoxville Knoxville.

Savannah Georgia - On Thanksgiving weekend, Savannah held its 11th annual Savannah Harbor Boat Parade of Lights. Beginning with a tree lighting ceremony and ending with a fireworks display, Savannah Georgia’s southern charm rings in the holiday season by its nautical holiday celebration. Houseboats, sailboats and yachts decorated to the hilt parade along the Savannah River. Downtown Savannah is less than 30 minutes from The Landings at Skidaway Island and The Ford Plantation. Both waterfront master planned communities have marinas where property owner’s can navigate their boats to the downtown Savannah River via the Wilmington River. The Landings at Skidaway Island is closest. The Ford Plantation has the Ogeechee River and provides access to the Intracoastal waterway which connects to the Wilmington River.

Wilmington North Carolina - On Thanksgiving weekend in Wilmington North Carolina, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla Parade traveled on the Intracoastal Waterway from Wrightsville Beach to downtown Wilmington. Celebrating 28 years, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla now attracts more than 50,000 people to see boats of all sizes decked out in twinkle lights followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Wilmington NC is known as one of the best states to retire because of the number of outstanding master planned communities. St. James Plantation and SeaScape at Holden Beach both have marina’s with Intracoastal Waterway access leading to downtown Wilmington NC.

If you are looking for a waterfront master planned community in one of the best states to retire, we have a number of great choices to consider. Send me an email and let me know which states and cities you have in mind.

Write margie@realestatescorecard.com and I will quickly reply. Happy Holidays!

Palm Coast Florida - Eyes on Grand Haven Golf Club

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-14 12:56

Grand Haven Golf Club in Palm Coast Florida opened the gates last month to the public to see the Fall Tour of Homes. Over 300 people took a look at one of the best master planned communities in Palm Coast Florida located east of Interstate 95 bordering the Intracoastal Waterway. Although primarily a golf community, residents of Grand Haven who are beachgoers have quick access the best beaches, by crossing over the bridges to the north and south reaching Flager Beach. Using history in South Florida as an example, I wondered if visitors at the Fall Tour of Homes recognized the importance of Grand Haven’s physical location.

Growing up in South Florida for 40 years, I watched real estate development quickly expand reaching the edge of the Florida Everglades. Property along the Intracoastal Waterway quickly increased in value and today is the most desirable property on both sides of the bridges. In fact, now that I think about it, there are only a handful of gated golf communities along the Intracoastal Waterway in South Florida. Kudos to Lowe Development Corporation for obtaining this valuable parcel in the late 1990’s creating the vision for Grand Haven Golf Club.

Today, about 1,600 homes are built of the 1,900 planned, spread throughout 23 neighborhoods. Grand Haven Golf Club has the largest collection of model homes in Florida for buyers to see and explore. Unusual to find in golf clubs, buyer’s at Grand Haven are not required to join the golf club although the reciprocal privileges at Hampton Golf Clubs in the Southeast are an added benefit to membership. Grand Haven and the area of Palm Coast were not as hard hit as other cities in Florida, when the real estate bubble burst plummeting home prices. Prices continue to be relatively stable. I see Grand Haven Golf Club has a variety of affordable home choices priced under $250k already in one of the low cost of living cities in Florida.

Avid golfer will no doubt appreciate the quality of the Grand Haven Golf Club Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course which opened in 1998. In Jack’s words “Grand Haven will challenge the skilled player yet, because of some width to the holes, it also will be a fun course that the average player can enjoy”. Three golf holes hug the Intracoastal Waterway, scenic holes just waiting to gobble up your ball.

Another important attribute of Grand Haven Golf Club is the amount of social clubs and community activities. One of the big concerns I hear from buyer’s is their worry about losing their friends and finding new ones when they move to the best state to retire. No need to worry at the golf community Grand Haven because they have one of the most active social calendar’s and longest list of social clubs I seen.

Grand Haven Golf Club invites you to be their guest and Member for the Day, to see firsthand how special Grand Haven Golf Club, experiencing the lifestyle available to you. If you would like details about Grand Haven’s Member for the Day guest package, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com I will send you the master site plan, floor plans and guest package information. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Appraisals - Be Prepared for an Overregulation Headache

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-12 18:35

After months of research, you're ready to celebrate signing the purchase contract for the home of your dreams in one of the best master planned communities in the Southeast. Congratulations, but don’t bring out the champagne too soon! It is likely the bank’s appraisal on your new home will throw you a curve ball because of strict appraisal compliance guidelines, even if they don’t make sense.

Here are home appraisal tips to help you:

A home appraisal is an Opinion of Value and the appraiser must consider all homes sold whether they are normal arms length transactions or sold at an auction according to the Uniformed Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice nicknamed USPAP. Appraisers are required to consider the proximity of the appraised home to recent sales, the age of the home, property size and physical attributes. Distressed home sales have complicated matters for appraisers and appraiser's are unlikely to stick his/her neck on the chopping block for you, as the industry as a whole is dealing with its own slew of appraisal fraud issues. In a nut shell, a home sold for $150k through a foreclosure on the same street as three other homes sold for $300k would likely drop the appraisal value to $262k because it must be considered. Does that mean your $300k dream home is actually worth less?

You may be happy at first, when the appraisal figure comes in lower than the contract price thinking you have more negotiating power to reduce the purchase price. Now hold on to your horses Betsy because banks and lenders are quick to deny home loans on purchase contracts above the appraised value. This is killing deals across America and delaying the real estate market recovery. Home builders and real estate developers are in a up roar as to how to get their products sold to new happy home owners under these conditions. According to the National Association of Home Builders, one out of three deals in the past six months has fallen apart for low appraisals. While one distressed home here and there may have less of an impact in a larger community, smaller communities are feeling a greater impact.

The long term solution for appraisers is already in motion, legislators attempting to modify appraisal regulations stabilizing recognized home values. The short term solution requires buyers and sellers to be prepared to jump over these hurdles, providing hard facts to assist the appraiser before hand. By the time you get to the point of writing a purchase contract, it is likely you have visited every home for sale in the master planned community. Some may have quickly sold. You probably know which homes need to be repaired, which are abandoned, in foreclosure, offered as a short sale, unoccupied and so forth. The appraiser primarily relies on public records and a physical inspection of your dream home under contract. He/she may not know the level of information you have acquired during your home search.

My suggestion to you is to arm the appraiser with knowledge by preparing an analysis worksheet shedding more light on the value of your home, instead of taking a ‘wait and see attitude’. There may not be any more homes sold on that street again for $150k which means in six month's time, your $300k dream home would appraise for $300k. Of course, if the banks and lenders kill your deal today, your dream home will be long gone by that time.

Be smart, get good counsel and anticipate these obstacles before going to contract, so you can get to the closing day and celebrate with the bubbly. This is how we help folks in this real estate market. Reach out to me and say 'hello' by writing margie@realestatescorecard.com

Seabrook Island verses Kiawah Island - The Big Debate

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-10 10:45

On the south side of Charleston South Carolina, two award winning master planned communities are a stone's throw apart. Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island are both prestigous oceanfront golf communities in Charleston SC. Kiawah Island will be in the limelight next year as the hosting venue for the 2012 PGA Championship Tournment.

Charleston South Carolina was named the Top City in the U.S. by Conde Naste Traveler in October 2011. Baby Boomers have been taking notice of the best cities to retire with the best beaches and resort amenities. Beyond downtown, The Islands of Charleston include Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Daniel Island, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island. For today's discussion, we will talk about the two major islands to the south; Seabrook and Kiawah Island.

While helping buyer's looking for a vacation or second home, we've been asked how to easily compare these two coastal communities. I hope this list helps you:

SEABROOK ISLAND KIAWAH ISLAND

2,200 acres 10,000 acres
3.5 miles of sandy beaches 10 miles of sandy beaches
2 golf courses 7 golf courses
3 clubhouses 5 clubhouses
1 tennis center 2 tennis centers
equestrian center The Sanctuary Hotel & Spa
marina access Village Market

POA Dues: $ 1,995 1,358

Golf Inititation: $ 24,000 150,000

Golf Dues: $ 8,556 14,544

Social Inititation: $ 12,000 50,000

Social Dues: $ 3,408 5,820

When you learn more about these two oceanfront golf communities, you'll find they differ in many ways. Kiawah Island Golf Resort attracts a larger number of vacationers from around the globe seeking to play world class golf, enjoy fine dining and a great beach to bring the kids. The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort makes this possible, a five star hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Guests of the resort have golf access to The Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Cougar Point and Oak Point golf courses and eight restaurants. Between the two tennis centers at Kiawah Island, guests have access to 23 Har-Tru tennis courts at the #1 ranked tennis resort in the country. Kamp Kiawah is the children's camp open during the summer time and spring break. Kiawah Island exhibits southern hospitality year round hosting festivals, live entertainment and tournaments.

Affluent families and celebrities continue to build beachfront and golf course homes, some valued over $ 7 million. Celebrities include Dan Marino, George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Bruce Willis and more. Owning a home in Kiawah Island reflects presitge and oppulence.

Seabrook Island Charleston is more quaint and intimate. Although some homes are available on a seasonal basis, more residents live year round at Seabrook Island than Kiawah Island. I think of Seabrook Island more like a coastal community filled with "The Millionaire's Next Door". These are identified in the popular books as average American's who saved well and don't care if they have Armani logo's or Gucci purses.

The Seabrook Island Racquet Club recently enhanced its tennis facility and is now home to 15 clay tennis courts. Seabrook Island golf courses are private and not available to the public. Seabrook Island has a full service equestrian facility providing boarding and oceanfront horseback riding in Charleston. At their gated entrance, Bohicket Marina and Market has 200 deep water boat slips and 90 dry storage slips for Seabrook Island boat owners. Kiawah Island is close enough to access this marina too.

Seabrook Island has an equal mix of homes for sale under $500k, homes between $500k and $1 million and homes priced over $ 1 million. Kiawah Island is unquestionably a larger coastal community, has more amenities to offer and annually will cost you more. Is bigger better? Your checkbook can answer this question rather quickly. With the 2012 PGA Championship on the horizon, I expect home prices to continue to climb at Kiawah Island and Seabrook as interest in the area is further stimulated.

Now is the time to make your move purchasing at either island community or I would wait until the hype settles in 2013. Ask me for my hot list of properties in Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island you may not find on MLS. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Second Home Perks with 3RD HOME

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-08 09:51

Spice up your second home life by accessing the global luxury home exchange club 3RD HOME. As with most new toys, when the newness wears off, some will wonder if purchasing a second home was a smart long term choice, especially if you love to travel and get bored easily. It seems like such a waste to leave your second home empty when you're not there. 3RD HOME opens a gateway, providing access to luxury home swaps around the world by depositing weekly usage of your second home into the club. If your home qualifies, you would be eligible to receive equal weekly usage of similar type second homes. Unlike timeshares, the 3RD HOME club is more flexible, allowing home exchanges around the world in the club of equal value at any time, based on availability.

For example, when you deposit the first week of December into the club, you would have access to a similar type home in Hawaii in the spring, based on that type of club home being available at that time of the year. What type of homes are eligible to participate in the club? Club luxury second homes are defined as homes valued at more than $750,000 in desirable destinations around the world. The average home values in the club are $2.25 million, many of the homes extraordinary. Primary residences are not eligible. For each exchange, 3RD HOME charges of $495 transaction fee for providing personalized service connecting the two luxury second home owner’s together assisting with travel plans. 3RD HOME makes the ultimate decision determining if your home swap qualifies to participate in the club. Hosting Members are responsible to have the home cleaned and ready before the exchanging Guest Member arrives which is the only additional cost. As you learn more about 3RD HOME, you'll find club members express geniune warm hospitality to Guest Members, many ultimately becoming friends.

The club launched in the beginning of 2010 and is growing quickly. As of today, there are 844 luxury second and vacation homes in the 3RD HOME club collection with 1,041 weeks available for use. 3RD HOME club home exchanges are located in 55 countries around the world. Hot destinations include:

Internationally:

Antigua
Australia
Bahamas
Bermuda
Brazil
Canada
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
France
Greece
India
Indonesia
Israel
Italy
Japan
Mexico
South Africa
Spain
United Kingdom

United States:

Arizona, Phoenix
California, Calistoga
California, Los Angeles
California, Newport Beach
California, San Francisco
California, Tahoe Vista
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Colorado, Beaver Creek
Colorado, Breckenridge
Colorado, Crested Butte
Colorado, Telluride
Florida, Boca Raton
Florida, Destin
Florida, The Florida Keys
Florida, Miami Beach
Florida, Palm Beach
Georgia, Mountains of Big Canoe
Georgia, St Simons Island
Georgia, Tybee Island
Idaho, Sun Valley
Hawaii
New York, Easthampton
Nevada, Las Vegas
Montana, Big Sky
South Carolina, Myrtle Beach
Tennessee, Gatlinburg
Texas, Canyon Lake Utah, Park City
Wyoming, Jackson Hole

Many of the club home swaps come with resort privileges, access to golf, ski resorts and family amenities. These type of privileges may have an additional cost to be paid by the Guest Member a la carte.

3RD HOME has generously gifted the first year membership enrollment fee of $495 to readers of Real Estate Scorecard for a limited time. Take a peek at 3RD HOME’s website to see the collection of gorgeous luxury home exchanges. Sign up to receive your first year of membership free by clicking the very top of the screen.

You will be impressed as I have with 3RD HOME’s outstanding customer service. But don't just listen to me. Hear what 3RD HOME Club Members have to say about the program on this quick video.

Should You Take Early Retirement?

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-06 13:10

You’ve heard the saying ‘a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush’. It turns out, folks across America over the past five years are paralleling the thought, taking early retirement to lock in pension payouts. A contrarian thought to the general consensus, that the majority of people are delaying retirement. The unspoken harsh reality is 44 out of 50 states have underfunded pension and retirement plans. Will America’s public pensions be the next government bailout? Not to be a negative Nancy but I expect retirement pension shortfalls to be fully exposed by 2025, when the youngest Baby Boomer is blindsided collecting no pension check.

Government agencies and the private sector are alluring retirees to take early retirement. The downside, early retirement seems risky for retirees and may force them to rely on early withdrawal's from their 401K’s and IRA’s. If they choose not to, eligible retirees may be forced to take salary cuts, have their work hours reduced and lose company paid contributions. The upside, it could be smarter for retirees to maximize early retirement taking the lion’s share of the funds available and consider moving to the best master planned communities in the Southeast.

The same debate exists over applying for social security at age 62. If your annual social security statements are similar to ours, the estimated monthly payout continues to decrease each year as time ticks away, even though our income is consistent. To me, this reflects less money in the social security kitty. We plan to lock in our social security benefits the moment the clock strikes midnight on our 62nd birthday. While there are income limitations when collecting social security, self employed entrepreneurs like us have the flexibility with our income levels and deductible business expenses. This brings up an important point. Starting a home based business is a smart move for people over age 50 and here’s why.

Employees in the public sector have been accustomed to 9 to 5 jobs, 2 weeks vacation and a weekly paycheck. Retirement to most represents freedom. Freedom comes in many forms; no time clock, no bosses to answer to and no more monotonous job tasks. If we managed our money well, financial freedom is included in the list. But don’t wait to receive a gold Timex watch before you consider how to offset and take early retirement which may be unexpectedly presented to you. Do you know, during the last 5 years, Baby Boomers over age 50 have launched more new start up businesses than folks under age 50? Is this because there are more people in America over age 50? Possibly, but I believe the reasons go deeper.

A new challenge in life, extra income and brain fitness are the obvious reasons. The internet provides access to so many fascinating options that I could write a book on that topic alone. I’ve mentioned many times the retirement buying power Baby Boomers have today. If you relocated to a lower cost of living state in the South, you could easily save 30% per year on your annual expenses, not including housing. It is easy to compare when you review the Cost of Living Comparison found in our library and if relocation is on your mind, we are here to help. We visit every master planned community on our website scoring them to provide you with the most accurate information we can find. This is how we help folks in this real estate market. Reach out to me and say 'hello' by writing margie@realestatescorecard.com

If you’re like some New Yorker's, when your employer announces early retirement options, it may be worth taking the money and run.

I hope you’ll share your thoughts about early retirement, by leaving a comment.

40 Year Mortgage the New Unacceptable Affordability

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-02 12:47

Downsizing, cutbacks and even going without are terms coining the Great Real Estate Depression. Now add a 40 year mortgage debt to the list. Are we ready to accept adding another 10 years of debt and interest payments in order to make buying a home affordable in the best states to retire? I was taught to payoff our mortgage debt faster, we need to make bi-weekly payments, utilize a 15 year mortgage or pay one extra payment each year.

How long will it take for the banks and mortgage brokers to sugar coat 40 year mortgages enticing borrowers to go deeper in debt for them to make a profit? From the bank's point of view, a $250,000 mortgage at 5% simple interest puts another $49,162 in interest in the bank's pocket by alluring you into a 40 year mortgage. Yes, borrowers can reduce their monthly payments by $136.56 per month by taking out a 40 year mortgage debt instead of a 30 year mortgage, but is it really necessary? I’m not a fan of bank’s greediness as you can probably tell and I know I'm not alone. On November 5th - Bank Transfer Day, people across America protested excessive bank fees moving their checking and savings accounts to local credit unions.

Before you get caught in this new 40 year mortgage reality, carefully consider the buying power you have today with the adjusted real estate market prices. A home which would have cost $500,000 in 2006, can be purchased today in the mid $200-300k’s in many master planned communities in the Southeast, new homes and re-sales. Use your buying power today and the skills of a knowledgable real estate broker to find a undervalued home. Don’t be penny foolish accepting 40 year mortgages sinking you deeper into mortgage debt. Better yet, pay cash if you can so you can enjoy a debt free retirement.

If you're in the market for a home, take the time to review real estate sales reports from the two years prior understanding pricing movement. Study homes with the features and attributes you desire; the age of the home, bedroom count, baths and square footage. A real estate broker like myself can quickly help you, as I have these sales reports on file and carefully monitor these trends in the best states to retire. If you would have been happy paying $350,000 for a home in 2006, why wouldn't you focus on finding the same home today for $200,000, even if it takes you more time and effort? To me, using your buying power is better way to lower your monthly payments verses accepting a 40 year mortgage. I hope you’ll share your thoughts about how you feel about 40 year mortgages by leaving a comment.

If you would like my hot list of deeply discounted homes you may not find on MLS in the best states to retire, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com. I will quickly reply.

Osher Lifelong Learning Greenville SC Universities Receive Millions

By Margie Casey — 2011-12-01 04:09

For decades, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute nicknamed OLLI, has offered enriching brain fitness classes across America. In early 2000, OLLI began focusing its course curriculum on continuing education mature adults over age 50 would enjoy. Lifelong learning classes in music, art, history and travel. Social consciousness has increased dramatically over the past decade because of global warming and energy issues. OLLI classes also include environmental issues, politics and social services. Classes as OLLI are exciting and are much more than Grandpa's bingo classes.

Greenville SC was originally known as The Textile Capital of the World. Today, the automotive industry has reshaped its reputation by BMW and Michelin choosing Greenville SC as their North American headquarters. South Carolina is quickly transforming into one of the best cities to retire, home to fantastic weather and a low cost of living. The Upcountry area has 5 private and 7 public universities. Furman University, Bob Jones University and Clemson University are the most well known. In November, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute relocated Clemson University programs to a dedicated campus at the new Clemson’s Patrick Square. This campus is called The Cheezem Education Center. Over 1,000 students are members of OLLI at Clemson University and is in close proximity to The Reserve at Lake Keowee, a master planned community ideal for retiring Baby Boomers who enjoy lakefront living. The Reserve at Lake Keowee is thrilled to see OLLI expand in Clemson South Carolina.

Furman University in Greenville South Carolina was one of many universities across America to receive a $1 million endowment gift this month expanding OLLI programs. Baby Boomers are attracted to college towns like Clemson South Carolina because of the exciting collegiate sports, cultural entertainment and part-time teaching opportunities. More serious minded mature adults can continue degree seeking courses they may have put on hold during their child raising years. College towns typically have hip restaurants, cool coffee shops, live music and great book stores.

As Baby Boomers continue to change the face of America, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute understands the joy of learning and is providing an important contribution to our aging society. A place to maintain brain fitness and share passions. If you have children, do you remember the difficult transition from being a full time parent to becoming an empty nester? If you’re like me, it was an awkward time when my son moved away to college leaving the nest. Baby Boomers are experiencing the same awkward transition retiring from their careers and social environments. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s are bridging the gap, helping retirees feel connected in society.

I wonder if our Baby Boomer generation will continue to be self indulgent as we age or will we become more socially generous? The separation between the income classes continues to widen, between the have and have not's. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute levels the playing field offering scholarship support to mature adults with limited resources. I am happy to see Baby Boomers with more time on their hands engaging in volunteerism giving back to the local communities and I see this often in master planned communities like The Reserve at Lake Keowee. To me, OLLI is today's 'hip' Baby Boomer social club.

Take a moment to visit the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s website to see if there is a university near you offering OLLI courses. I hope you’ll share with us how OLLI has enriched your life at retirement and helped you maintain brain fitness, by leaving a comment.

Trade in New Jersey for Beaufort and Add 29% to Your Retirement Buying Power

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-30 10:33

I've have been tracking sales at master planned communities in the Southeast and discovered the Joneses are making their move to one of the best states to retire. Quietly, people from the Northeast have been purchasing single family homes and lots again, an accelerating trend we haven’t seen since 2008. Prices are beginning to rise in the best master planned communities in the Southeast. I see proof through public records. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why. Milder weather, a lower cost of living and higher quality of life found in places like Coosaw Point in Beaufort South Carolina and Habersham SC.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones retired last year from their civil service positions and made the decision to cut their cost of living by searching for Beaufort County real estate. Without factoring the 40% cost savings for housing, New Jersey vs. South Carolina, the Joneses will save an additional 29% per year between groceries, utilities, health care and transportation according to CNN Money. Their savings could be even higher if the Joneses downsize their home.

Things became complicated for the Joneses when they insisted Grandma move with them, the Joneses only remaining parent. Grandma Jones vehemently opposed. She did not want to sell the home where she raised her children, move away from her friends, change doctors and lose her independence. Should Mr and Mrs Jones now put their retirement plans on hold and stay nearby to care for Grandma until she passes or should they move anyway and let her stay back? What happens when her health fails and she can no longer live alone? Baby Boomers are being faced with complex choices.

Today’s economic realty makes the decision black and white on paper. Emotions from aging parents and Baby Boomer children make the decision painful and difficult. In my experience, when parents are engaged in the decision making process having a vote on what’s best for the entire family overall, it’s possible Grandma Jones would recognize relocating is a prudent choice. Helping Grandma make an easy transition at her sensitive age is important. It is also important for Mr and Mrs Jones to plug into their new Lowcountry lifestyle in Beaufort South Carolina as quickly as possible, to get into the retirement groove they’ve longed for. Grandma still has the choice to buy her own home in Beaufort South Carolina if her health permits, living nearby saving the same 40% on housing and 29% on daily necessities.

I wrote a story in August sharing the Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Beaufort South Carolina. While I use the Joneses as a typical example of Baby Boomer families with aging parents on the fence about whether to relocate, I hope that the high quality of life offered in the best states to retire will encourage you to make the move if that’s your hearts desire. After the move is over, your family’s daily life will improve drastically and cost you less.

If you would like help comparing the cost of living where you live verses cities in the Southeast you are considering for retirement, send me an email at margie@realestatescorecard.com. I can also help you find Beaufort County real estate. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Fraud and Misrepresentations Come Back to Bite Rarity Communities Developer Michael Ross

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-28 19:42

It wouldn’t take much time on the internet to discover a slew of lawsuits and negative press about real estate developer Michael Ross, Robert Stooksbury and Rarity Communities from upset property owners, investors, builders and vendors. During the peak of the real estate market in 2006, Rarity Communities had an impressive list of luxury waterfront and golf course master planned communities either under construction or planned. These Eastern Tennessee master planned communities at project completion would have easily exceeded $1 billion dollars in combined value:

Rarity Bay - Tellico Lake

Rarity Pointe - Loudon County

Rarity Ridge - Watts Bar Lake

Rarity Club - Chattanooga

Rarity Enclave - Venore

Rarity Rivers - Dayton

Rarity Mountain - Campbell County

Rarity Meadows - Sweetwater Valley 

Rarity Oaks - Oak Ridge

Rarity Landings - Loudon

By 2008, the domino’s began to fall for Rarity Communities as lenders foreclosed on a number of Rarity Communities because of unpaid bank notes and property taxes. This left Rarity property owners and investors in nine Rarity Communities with no hope, most with no community amenities and severely deflated property values. Only the big brother of them all, Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake has been spared the collapse of Rarity Communities, still a beautiful master planned community alive and well, where we see property owners relatively happy owning there. Can Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake survive the Rarity brand’s bad name going forward?

This week, real estate developer Michael Ross was found guilty of fraud by a jury of 12 and ordered by the courts to pay Chattanooga Bill Worley Construction Company $5.8 million dollars. The jury concluded Michael Ross had committed unfair and deceptive trade practices. I wondered if the jury in rural Tennessee were capable of being unbaised as locals aren't fond of real estate developers changing the footprint of their land. This is the first of many lawsuits on the horizon for Michael Ross and Rarity Communities. As the court cases continue with the two next in line from Chattanooga developer John "Thunder" Thornton and we expect to learn more about how Michael Ross burned through cash so quickly. Was it the extravagant marketing and sales events, helicopter rides and big payrolls which ate up millions of dollars in cash from sales or was the money re-routed in ponzi scheme? Questions now on the table: 1) Will Michael Ross appeal the judgement and if so, how can he afford it? 2) Will Michael Ross end up doing jail time? 3) Will the Plaintiff Bill Worley Construction Co and future Plaintiff's ever actually see a dime from court ordered judgements as I believe attorney's too push the envelope for their own financial gain?

While those wronged by real estate developer Michael Ross, Robert Stooksbury and Rarity Communities are on a witch hunt to make them pay the price, some of us need to take a look at ourselves and acknowledge how we fueled the insatiable real estate demand which enticed real estate developers to build as fast as they could. The flippers and the dreamers hoping to make a fast buck right along side the real estate developers. The real victims here are the buyer’s who truly planned on building a home in a defunct Rarity Community. Unfortunately, all the ‘lawyering up’ in the world won't guarantee a financial payback and happy ending in our lifetime.  Maybe land banking or gifting the lot to our grandchildren is the only positive way we can accept today's financial loss.

What remains through this hardship is the timeless beautiful region of Eastern Tennessee. Folks - Rarity Communities were not the only master planned communities in Eastern Tennessee. Tennessee will continue to be in the spotlight as one of the best states to retire as Baby Boomers move forward with their relocation plans. Yet, while the negative news about real estate developer Michael Ross rains on Rarity Communities and Robert Stooksbury once again, we see sound buying opportunities which may interest you.

Send me an email and let me know if you would like to understand what I am referring to: margie@realestatescorecard.com

How to Become an Art Collector After Age 50

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-22 10:37

As beautiful music caresses our senses, walking through art galleries creates curiosity and inspiration. Have you had the chance to explore any of the Top Art Museums in the World - the Musee du Louvre in Paris France, the Vatican Museums in Rome or Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City? We visited the Louvre years ago and were overwhelmed by its majesty.

If you’re like me, you weren’t gifted with creative talent to paint like Vincent Van Gogh or have acquired enough money to collect fine art. Yet I’ve found the cost is minimal to learn how to recognize fine art and learn why an artist painted his/her masterpiece. Used books, the internet and free art festivals are all around us and with more time on our hands at retirement, learning about art is easier to do. If art intrigues you like it does me, consider joining an art social club. Where do we find art social clubs?

A good start is to become a member of an art museum. If you’re like me, at first you might feel intimidated by the lack of knowledge about the world of art. I found art enthusiasts are quick to share their fascination and knowledge with new members. In no time, you will be joining members on excursions to juried art shows and exhibitions talking art, art, art. Your vacation plans may change focused now around visiting America's Best Art Towns such as Greenville South Carolina, Asheville North Carolina and Charleston South Carolina. Art councils in these cities offer walking gallery and studio tours, the chance to see what’s hot in the art market.

Art social clubs are very popular in the best master planned communities in the Southeast where you'll find retirees are migrating too. More formal education is available through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute where you can attend art lectures and art courses all across America. As your art knowledge expands, internet sites like Pinterest are fantastic places to build story boards storing web links of digital photos preserving the knowledge you’ve acquired. Pinterest allows you the ability to provide a description which is where you can note the value of an item, building your awareness preparing you to purchase fine art.

Whenever you have the chance, attend live art auctions and watch collectors in action. Art is subjective, so don’t overlook emerging artists as future Vincent Van Gogh’s. Notice which paintings art collectors are focusing on at every gallery and social event. Art collecting has the potential to be a good investment with skillful selections. Learn from the pro’s how to determine a fake from an original masterpiece. You will be surprised how quickly you become friends with an intellectual community and art social clubs. Share what you’ve learned with your children so you can leave them your art collection as a legacy, knowing they are aware of its value. Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet collecting art or think you need a million dollars. Original paintings by Salvador Dali in his earlier years were sold for as low as $250 now worth thousands today.

I hope you’ll share your art collecting experiences inspiring others over age 50 to find art social clubs. Have you found success in attending Osher Lifelong Learning art courses? I welcome your comments below.

Baby Boomers Ready to Pick Florida as Best State to Retire

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-20 10:38

Trulia confirmed the interest level is coming back to one of the best states to retire, the state of Florida. Could it be because of the pricing corrections now factored into the market making Florida properties an excellent value? Or is it because of Florida's tropical weather, low cost of living and cultural opportunities? Either way, it’s hard to dispute being surrounded by beaches and fantastic golf courses. Florida is perfectly nicknamed the Funshine State and after living here for more than 40 years, I can’t imagine ever moving away from this playful state.

Five Florida cities are on Trulia's list of the 10 most cities searched:

Bradenton-Sarasota
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
Cape Coral-Fort Myers
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford

I was not surprised to see three of the cities are in the southern end of Florida. Could it be because Cuba is beginning to open up the real estate market? Although American’s cannot purchase property in Cuba at this time, it makes sense people would be excited about changes now taking place in Cuba. Or could it be because gambling may soon be legalized in Florida? Casino gambling has been voted against by Floridians for decades and today seems like a smart solution to improve South Florida’s economy. If you look at the landscape of South Beach, Boca Raton and the West Palm Beach Florida coastline, Donald Trump has been building new condominiums and hotels for the last 10 years preparing to dominate the casino market share the moment casino gambling becomes legal in Florida. In October 2011, the Trump organization put in a bid to purchase Miami’s finest golf course, the Doral Golf Resort & Spa retrieving it from the bankruptcy courts. Doral Golf Resort & Spa is the perfect setting for a luxury casino resort hotel. South Floridian’s have seen firsthand the success of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. While naysayer’s claim casinos attract riffraff, we haven’t seen this to be the case here in South Florida. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has brought positive benefits and excitement to the Fort Lauderdale Florida area. Casino’s provide excellent restaurants, world class entertainment, celebrity events, gaming opportunities, provides jobs and tax revenue.

It is a pleasure to see new construction again and cranes dotting the skylines across Florida. It’s no wonder people are interested in Orlando Kissimmee Florida as America’s top tourist attraction destination. Our son attends college at the University of Central Florida, the 3rd largest college in America. This has given us the opportunity to learn more about Orlando from a resident’s perspective, beyond Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Downtown Orlando is an exciting area with contemporary condominiums and outdoor cafes lining the streets. Lake Eola is the centerpiece of downtown Orlando hosting a weekend Farmer’s Market and live entertainment. As a large metropolitan city, the suburbs of Orlando provide plenty of master planned communities away from the center of the city, if you don’t mind the warmer weather.

On the west coast, Sarasota Florida has always been known as one of the best places to retire for decades. Beautiful white sandy beaches, pink hotels and warm orange sunsets. Bradenton is just to the west of Sarasota providing more affordable bedroom communities. Cape Coral Fort Myers Florida was the hardest hit area in Florida during the real estate market collapse. Today, this area north of Naples is coming back strong as buyer's have been scooping up the deals in this market. Florida is a huge state and has so many excellent places to live, places folks may not have discovered on Trulia. We look forward to sharing the Treasure Coast, Space Coast, Gold Coast and Emerald Coast with you soon. Take a peek at Palm Coast Florida, known as the best to cities to retire in Florida. By the spring of 2012, our collection of the best master planned communities in Florida will be complete.

Sign up for our free Market Report on the top right hand side of our website to stay informed about what’s happening in Florida. I will send you my free e-book Relocate at Retirement or Not? which will help you discover where the best cities to retire in Florida are located.

Stay tuned as the best master planned communities in all of the Funshine State cities will be uploaded shortly. Don't hestitate to contact me right away if you can't wait. I've lived in this state for more than 40 years and know the 'hot spots' to consider. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Scams Coming Back Strong - Fairfield Glade Tennessee the Victim

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-18 13:43

You never know what you’ll stumble across combing through public records. This week, we were busy mailing out property owner scorecards and discovered Pangea Real Estate Group based in Midvale Utah purchasing a high number of lots at Fairfield Glade in Eastern Tennessee, over 70 in 2011 mostly from Raymond Cooper and Lake Worth Properties LLC of Parkland Florida. I searched further to learn more about Pangea Real Estate Group and figure out why this company would be purchasing so many lots at Fairfield Glade and Tellico Village in Loudon Tennessee.

One of Pangea Real Estate Group’s websites states they provide “armchair investing” where “they do all the legwork so you don’t have to”. You can purchase lots in Fairfield Glade and Tellico Village on their website with a credit card. As I dug further, I discovered Co-Founder Ron Phillips operates Net Worth Real Estate Group teaching buyers how to purchase land and tax certificates for pennies on the dollar. “No tenants, no toilets and Grandpa Joe acquired his wealth buying land”. The website states they’ve had over 5,000 clients purchase billions of dollars in real estate. Ron Phillips operates a real estate investment club at no cost to attendees. Sounds all good and dandy, until I reviewed the lots Pangea Real Estate Group purchased and are reselling because I know not all lots at Fairfield Glade are a wise investment.

Fairfield Glade is a well established master planned community in Eastern Tennessee, home to 5 great golf courses and extensive community amenities. Development began in the 1970’s and about 4,500 homes have been built to date. Of the 12,500 acres, not all of the community has paved roads and utilities. Fairfield Glade is quick to inform buyers to avoid buying lots without utilities, obtain percolation tests for septic and confirm home size restrictions. Although these lots are considered part of the master planned community, some lots are less desirable and may never be functional as lots for single family homes. I contacted Fairfield Glade to find out if the lots on my Pangea Real Estate Group list have infrastructure. My suspicion was confirmed, many of these lots do not.

Why am I making a big deal about this? Over the years, I have attended a plethora of real estate investment seminars, real estate investment clubs and motivational seminars. While some organizations provide good information, I've discovered most have ulterior motives. To sell you books, tapes, coaching, bus tours, more seminars and to even sell you their own real estate properties. In my opinion, the majority of attendees at these types of events are newbies and inexperienced investors hoping to get rich quick through real estate.

 After going through Florida’s tedious broker’s post licensing course, I wondered if serious investors had considered investing money high quality real estate investment courses such as ones mandated by the State of Florida for brokers. Folks - you get what you pay for and you should always question when something is free. The investment education at Gold Coast Schools of Real Estate is excellent and I'm sure you can find quality real estate schools across America. When speakers at real estate investment club’s pull “Warren Buffett” or “Mark Twain - they’re not making any more land” quotes out of their pockets to convince newbies to buy, a red light flashes on in my brain warning of Snake Oil Salesman. My blood begins to boil when people claim after they become rich, “I will help the less fortunate and give to charities”. To me, it’s all manipulation to profit from your ignorance and compassionate heart.

I called Ron Phillips office yesterday to have a conversation with him about Fairfield Glade and see how he figured his club members would profit from investments like these. After riding the company’s telephone system merry go round, my call was abruptly disconnected and I got no where. It is not my intention to criticize a colleague but new investors deserve to know when the might be hood winked.

My plea to new investors coming into the market, caveat emptor - buyer beware. In my experience, some real estate investment clubs are cattle round ups to sell you junk while these yahoo cowboys make money on your purchase. Did you know Pangea Real Estate Group is marking up the lots they purchased this year at Fairfield Glade by my calculations - about 600%? Imagine paying around $1,200 and reselling lots to you 3 - 6 months later for $9,000. Who's the real money maker here? Did you personally visit the lot and perform your own due diligence before you typed in your credit card number and signed the disclaimer which informed you utilities may not exist?

I hope one of the 5,000 clients of Pangea Real Estate Group leaves me a comment telling me I’m wrong and sets the record straight by measured results. Fairfield Glade is a quality master planned community and does not deserve to be harassed by unhappy investors who did not do their homework before purchasing.

If you are interested in purchasing lots or homes at Fairfield Glade, send me an email so I can connect you the right person at Fairfield Glade so you don’t get scammed. Write margie@realestatescorecard.com

Seawatch at Sunset Harbor - Seeing Beyond the Clouds

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-17 11:39

This week, the National Association of Home Builders released their 2011 survey of construction costs for single family homes. The price of $80 a square foot immediately caught my eye as $150 is what I have more commonly observed. As I read further, I realized the $80 a square foot is the hard construction costs and not the finished square foot price. In the survey, the finished square foot price is more like $135 a square foot. Of the 44 home builders whom responded to the NAHB survey, in my opinion, this does not reflect Baby Boomer’s caviar taste which is more expensive. Baby Boomers typically demand stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, marble or wood flooring, crown molding and upgraded bathroom features running their costs per square foot well above $200.

A Quick Glimpse of the Construction Cost Survey:

The average price of a new single family home is $310,619

The average size of a new single family home is 2,300 square feet

The average lot size is just under a half of an acre

The finished lot cost accounted for 21.7% of the sales price - $67,551

The total hard construction costs of a home is 59.3% - $184,125

Keeping the $135 a square foot in mind, is it a better deal to build or buy an existing home? Let’s face it, American’s like new things. The smell of new cars, the inaugural voyage on a new boat and to live in a brand new custom home. We visit over 100 master planned communities a year, to score them and compare them in an effort to help buyers. Most of the master planned communities we visit have new model homes for sale. One of the homes on my ‘hot list’ today is a Parade of Homes Diamond Winner located in Seawatch at Sunset Harbor in Southport North Carolina.

When I visited Seawatch at Sunset Harbor in August, I toured the entire 3,000 home master planned community which to date, has about 15 homes built of the 1,400 lots sold. Seawatch at Sunset Harbor’s progression got caught in the real estate market collapse, when roof top building buyers slammed on the brakes cautious about the economy. Seawatch at Sunset Harbor is one of several Coastal Communities built by real estate developer Mark Saunders. SeaScape at Holden Beach is another located to the north and Ocean Ridge Plantation is located to the south, both in the coastal region of North Carolina. North Carolina is quickly becoming one of the best states to retire in the Southeast. Both of these coastal communities are further along in development than Seawatch at Sunset Harbor. While property owners at Seawatch at Sunset Harbor are distraught over Mark Saunders of Coastal Communities not building on schedule all the planned community amenities, here lies a coastal community in North Carolina where buying one of the brand new homes clearly trumps building.  

Let’s use their Conch Feature Home at Seawatch as an example, a new home currently for sale. The Conch Feature Home has 3,118 square feet under air with another 754 square feet of covered screened porches and open deck. This award winning home has 3 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, upgrades galore, a spacious open floor plan and is situated on a fantastic corner lot. Priced at $775k ( which is negotiable ) the Conch Feature Home prices out at $200 a square foot, not including the two car garage and furnishings. Yes, the home is fully furnished elegantly. It would be impossible to build this brand new home and furnish the home for this price. The question remains - why would you buy this home in a master planned community clouded by negativity?

Seawatch at Sunset Harbor’s upset property owners is old news. Not to downplay these people's disappointment but in reality, there are plenty of master planned communities all across America with similar circumstances. While there is no guarantee real estate developer Mark Saunders of Coastal Communities will build out the community as originally planned, Mark Saunders and his team plans to. Seawatch at Sunset Harbor’s gated entrance is in, the roads and utilities in the first neighborhood are in, the Kayak and Canoe Clubhouse is in and the community has the permit for a 267 boat slip marina on the Intracoastal Waterway. Although it may take a while for the entire master plan to unfold, it is likely things will get better at Seawatch at Sunset Harbor if Bank of America stays on board.

If the property owners who planned to build a home at Seawatch at Sunset Harbor settle down and take a fresh look at their community, accept the unrealistic prices they paid, they might fall in love with the property again because Seawatch at Sunset Harbor is in a great location and is close to the beaches. You can’t ignore Coastal Communities is at a definite disadvantage in selling new lots as investors continue to fire sale or walk away from the lots they already bought at Seawatch at Sunset Harbor. How can Coastal Communities compete? Time will eventually shake this situation out. All the screaming in the world will not provide the funds necessary for the real estate developer to build the community amenities at Seawatch at Sunset Harbor. Buyer's interested in Seawatch at Sunset Harbor are better off considering the community as it stands today.

If value buyers can see beyond the clouds at Seawatch at Sunset Harbor, buyer's can pick up beautiful brand new homes in master planned communities with strong potential. Seawatch at Sunset Harbor is one of many master planned communities where I see excellent bargains, especially if you compare the cost to build verses buying a brand new home in this community. If you'd like to talk me, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Keep in mind the construction cost prices compiled by the National Home Builders Association and how they apply to the coastal region of North Carolina.

Here's a peek at the Conch Feature Home located in Seawatch at Sunset Harbor:

Taberna Country Club - Fred Leonard Has Me Wondering

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-16 18:53

After reading the story Monday written by Trent Bouts in Golf Industry News, I wondered if all the property owners at Taberna Country Club in New Bern NC were aware of Fred Leonard’s struggles to maintain and operate their golf club after the club’s Lender withdrew from renewing financing? The loan had been paid each month timely and was up for renewal in September 2010. The Lender unexpectedly informed Leonard at the time of the loan’s renewal, they were not interested in renewing the Taberna Country Club's loan. Coming up with $2.7 million dollars in a economic recession is no easy task and left Leonard scrambling. Unsuccesful in finding replacement financing, in February 2011 Leonard filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on behalf of the Taberna Country Club.

Is a solution possibly in Leonard’s backyard? I know it’s a long shot but time and time again, I’ve seen affluent property owners investing into communities where they live, buying up the golf clubs and community amenities. I wondered if Leonard had considered banging on the 850 doors of his master planned community after being rejected by the Lender? If each property owner was willing to invest $3,176.47, these funds could have retired the bank note entirely. With Leonard's excellent payment track record, Leonard could have figured out a way to return this investment back to property owners over time. The Taberna Country Club in New Bern NC has about 400 members. Why wouldn’t the 400 golf club members and/or property owners invest in their community golf club and figure out a way to keep the club out of foreclosure? It makes no sense.

The facts are simple. Whether you play golf or not, the golf course is the centerpiece of this 850 home master planned community in New Bern North Carolina established in 1997, only 5 minutes from the downtown riverfront. The Taberna Country Club golf course is gorgeous designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jim Lipe. Without continuous golf course maintenance, property owner’s backyards overlooking the golf course, the open views of the golf course throughout the community and common areas could quickly become eye sores. Neglect would add unnecessary expenses to repair and restore the golf club after all the legal battles end. If the Taberna Country Club closed, property values would likely decrease more than $3K each as golf course community homes typically demand a premium. While property owner's may be quick to look the other way thinking this is not their problem, I wondered if property owner's had considered the spill over effect of the golf club closing.

Taberna Country Club property owner's still have time to pull together as a community. Numbers can be worked out if folks will meet at the conference room table with an open mind and a calculator. If this does not happen, the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Judge will make the final decision soon. I give Fred Leonard an ‘A’ for effort in trying to keep Taberna Country Club open for the community's enjoyment. I wish for a fairy tale ending, where the property owners at Taberna Country Club in New Bern NC become heroes and support their community’s most important amenity.

How would you feel about investing your community's amenity as opposed to the amenity shutting down and closing operations? I hope you’ll share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Ford Plantation Savannah Georgia Appoints New CEO

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-15 13:07

Unquestionably a trophy property on the coast of Georgia, The Ford Plantation selects accomplished leader Nick Cassala, as its new CEO. Nick Cassala was the former President of Residential Development for Florida’s largest real estate development company, St Joe Company based in Jacksonville Florida. The Ford Plantation is home to one of the top Sporting Clubs in the Lowcountry and one of the best private golf club communities.

What is a Sporting Club? For generations, sporting clubs are organized groups of people who compete in sporting events. Master planned communities like The Ford Plantation have recognized their coastal community is the perfect atmosphere for a sporting club considering the number of sports amenities available to residents right inside their gates. Why not enjoy a little neighborly competition while having fun at the same time? The Ford Plantation is home to a links style golf course, a top notch equestrian center and is located on deep water providing ample salt water fishing and boating opportunities. While the name sounds like a historic Savannah tourist attraction, The Ford Plantation is actually a private gated community attracting affluent families who enjoy privileged lifestyles in an estate setting.

Here is a glimpse of The Ford Plantation’s history and what it offers you today:

The Ford Mansion is often the site of glamourous weddings and social events where outsiders have a chance to experience this exquisite Lowcountry trophy property. The Ford Mansion was originally Henry & Clara Ford’s winter home and has been meticulously preserved to this day. When you walk the property, you will recognize immediately why I define The Ford Plantation as a trophy property. After reviewing public records, there have been 7 closed sales to date in 2011. I anticipate with Nick Cassala’s years of experience at elite golf clubs and resorts, his fresh outlook will assist in capturing the attention of affluent buyer’s seeking spacious estate style master planned communities with ocean access, golf, equestrian and more lifestyle amenities ready to enjoy.

The Ford Plantation has done a great job of creating a close knit community where people care for one another other. Last week, a resident contacted me and shared the genuine compassion neighbors have for each other at The Ford Plantation, something she has never truly experienced in the Northeast. Last month, The Ford Plantation hosted their Annual Homecoming Weekend which included an Oyster Roast, a Golf Club Championship, a Gala - Dinner and events designed specifically for children. Sporting Club events at The Ford Plantation include tennis tournaments, fishing tournaments and sporting clay fun shoots. Social clubs include the Garden Club, the Book Club, Bridge Club and Photo Club. The Ford Plantation coordinates off-site field trips and invites guest speakers each week to The Ford Plantation to discuss current events over an delicious dinner at The Main House. Between The Ford Plantation’s full service spa, state of the art fitness center, swimming pools and outdoor explorations with the Club’s onsite naturalist, you will find health and wellness equally important components of this beautifully designed coastal community.

I congratulate Nick Cassala on his new role as CEO of The Ford Plantation and look forward to seeing his contribution. Property owner scorecards are available to read about life at The Ford Plantation when you become a member.

Ask me about being our guest at The Ford Mansion if you are considering this coastal community for retirement. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Tellico Village Loudon Tennessee Sending Mixed Smoke Signals

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-11 16:42

Heads are turning at Tellico Village as property owners are in the dark wondering about the financial strength of their property owners association. Last month, the Tellico Village Property Owners Association laid off 10 long term employees to trim expenditures and borrowed $250,000 to meet budget deficits.

Tellico Village is located in Eastern Tennessee on Tellico Lake. There are eight neighborhoods affectionately named after Cherokee towns and villages. The news in the Knoxvillebiz today came to us as smoke signals. And when there’s smoke, there’s usually fire behind it. As I read the story, I found it interesting one of the property owner’s suggested closing the yacht club to save money. I visited the yacht club in the spring and to me, closing the yacht club would negatively have an impact on Tellico Village, although closing the yacht club is easiest thing to do to save money. Tellico Village is clearly a boating and golf club community. The community hugs the shoreline of 16,000 acre Tellico Lake, one of America's cleanest lakes and most homes have views of the lake. While the property owners association may be in a cut back mode, it seems the yacht club needs an extreme makeover and a required social membership.

Tellico Village began development in 1986, more than 20 years ago. Older communities run into issues like these as their amenities deteriorate and become outdated. Well managed property owners associations budget for reserves to refurbish amenities frequently, keeping them up to par. Clearly the frugal board's of the past created hurdles for the current Board of Directors by not maintaining adequate reserves specifically dedicated for this purpose. Delinquent assessments and dues are completely separate issues. The Board of Directors may want to rethink the requirement to join the club when purchasing at Tellico Village. Mandated social memberships could provide enough cash to refurbish the yacht club, golf clubs and engage the community in the clubs year round. Residents of master planned communities are unrealistic to think they can have access to quality amenities such as golf clubs and yacht clubs and not be required to join the clubs. Clubs must provide fantastic food, entertainment and be ascetically appealing to attract members.

Coincidentally, we have been combing through public records this week sending out scorecards to residents of Tellico Village. I noticed sales in 2011 have been strong. There have been 160 sales in the first 10 months, 80 lots and 80 single family homes. The lot sales I found the most interesting. Half of the lots sold for less than $10,000 each which to us is a negative signal. A number of investment groups have been purchasing. One investment group bought 7 lots assessed for a total of $155,000 and the investor paid a total of $2,400. Lucky him. Tennessee public records does not identify the sellers which left me wondering who has been selling 40 lots deeply discounted? I noticed a number of property owners purchasing additional lots which is a positive signal. I also noticed the Tellico Village Property Owners Association purchased 14 lots during the same period which doesn't make sense.

The smoke signals are mixed at Tellico Village and we look forward to seeing what property owners have to say about Tellico Village on our scorecards. Buyers ARE interested in owning in Tellico Village. We wish the Board of Directors luck through these challenging times. Truly engaging property owners in these decisions could pay off happy dividends if the Board of Directors can clearly paint a picture of what Tellico Village can become. There are enough property owners at Tellico Village to make good things happen.

We like Tellico Village very much and will keep you posted on their progress. If you'd like to be connected with our colleague who lives at Tellico Village to explore homes for sale, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Carolina Colours - Friendliest Golf Community in Coastal North Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-10 11:41

Equally as important as constructed community amenities are the heartbeat and soul of a community. While many of us would assume all master planned communities are friendly, how many of us have lived in a neighborhood where you never speak with your neighbor next door? Or have you lived in a community where a welcoming committee greeted you the day you moved in with a warm baked apple pie? How will you know before you buy in a master planned community, if you’ll get the cold shoulder from residents or a warm apple pie?

Making the move to a new state and city takes a huge leap of faith, the hope of finding the right neighborhood to meet new friends to share common interests with. While not everyone plays golf, golf club communities do provide a formal environment to socialize and meet people. Carolina Colours in New Bern North Carolina is a model master planned community comprised of friendly social clubs and is perhaps the friendliest golf community in coastal North Carolina. These are the types of comments Carolina Colours’ residents have to say about their community:

"Carolina Colours quickly has developed into one of the friendliest communities we have ever lived in. We love the house and the development, but most of all, it's the people that make Carolina Colours home."

“We came down to look and knew right away that this was exactly what we wanted. What a wonderful choice we made. We couldn't be happier."

"We moved to New Bern because we were looking to live in a quaint historic town. We stumbled upon Carolina Colours and were excited to find an innovative community that offers a variety of social and recreational activities, neighbors that become friends, and a quiet place to call home."

“After several days exploring New Bern, it became apparent that Carolina Colours was going to be a great community, and one we wanted to be a part of it.”

The real estate developer of Carolina Colours is Ken Kirkman who lives in the community with his wife. When Hurricane Irene passed over Carolina Colours this past summer, this is what Ken had to say after Hurricane Irene:

“The recent storm visit resulted in no flooding, no injuries, and minimal home damage. It did, however, leave a lot of debris from trees over roads, yards and the golf course. In large part because of unrecruited volunteer efforts by a large number of residents, all roads were made passable by the day following the storm, all driveways were cleared within about another day, and most amazingly, the golf course was open for play in a week. None of this could have been accomplished without the dozens of volunteers who worked, with a smile, to help their neigbhors...I cannot thank our residents enough. Our sense of community, as is does so often, shone through.”

But don’t just believe everything you read. If you really want to sense the community's vibe and understand social clubs, make it a point to attend social events before you buy a home. The Social Events Calendar at Carolina Colours is filled with parties, dinners, classes and of course, golf tournaments to attend. Carolina Colours is a good example of friendly communities to use as a comparison. Carolina Colours is conveniently located in New Bern, named America’s Best Small Town by Time Magazine.

I visited New Bern NC in August and I was so impressed at this revitalized 300 year old city. Choosing the location of a master planned community is no easy task for a real estate developer. Ken Kirkman certainly knew the site for Carolina Colours is special, close to downtown and it’s a pleasure to watch this golf club community mature. If you would like a master site plan to learn more about Carolina Colours, email me at margie@realestatescorecard.com for a quick reply.

I’m curious, are social clubs important to you when considering a master planned community? I invite you to share your comments with us.

Freedom Given Freely - America Tribute to Veterans with Free Gifts

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-08 18:15

Courage, strength and commitment to a bigger cause. To me, these words define characteristics of all branches of our active military and Veterans. Where did America’s men and woman find the guts to be so brave? It’s hard for me to relate. But I do know I’m forever thankful and want to tell you. I'm thankful to the parents who raised extraordinary American citizens. Thankful to the children for being strong while their soldier parent is off at war. Thankful to America’s soldiers in the present and to every soldier in the past, who fought and died for me. Thankful to the businesses who are willing to give free meals, generous discounts and gifts to our men and women of honor this Friday, November 11, 2011.

If you’re like me and plan on spoiling the honored veterans in your family like my husband Dennis who served in war as a Marine, here is a list of businesses to visit this week. Not for the discount itself, but to allow the gift of honor these businesses are bestowing to America’s Veterans and active duty military.

Restaurants Offering Veteran Discounts:

Applebee’s - All Veterans and active duty military eat free from a selective menu.

Chilli’s - All Veterans and active duty military eat free from a selective menu.

Golden Corral - Monday November 14, 2011 is Military Appreciation Day where all branches of the military eat dinner free.

Famous Dave’s - Discounts or free meals at various locations for Veterans on Veterans Day.

Hooters - 10 Free Chicken Wings with a beverage for Veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day.

Krispy Kreme - Free donut for Veterans and active duty military on Veterans Day.

McCormick & Schmidts Seafood Restaurants - On Sunday November 13 at various locations, a special meal will be served to Veterans.

Outback Steakhouse - November 7 - 11th, Veterans and active duty military receive a free Bloomin’ Onion with a Coke Cola product.

Subway Restaurants - Free six inch sub for Veterans on Veterans Day at participating Subway Restaurants.

Texas Roadhouse - Free meal until 4pm on Veterans Day for Veterans and active duty military.

T G I Fridays - Buy one get one free meal for Veterans on Veterans Day at participating restaurants.

UNO Chicago Grill - 19.43% discount on meals November 7-15 for active duty military and Veterans.

Stores and More Businesses Offering Veterans Discounts:

Amazon - The downloadable album “Veterans Day Honor” is available for free.

Dollar General - 10% discount for Veterans and active duty military with a coupon.

Foot Locker - 20% discount year round for Veterans and active duty military.

Home Depot - 10% discount for Veterans. Lowe’s - 10% discount for Veterans.

National Parks - Veterans Day Weekend - Free admission for Veterans.

Sam’s Club - Free collapsible Hugo Canes to Veterans on November 9, 10 & 11. No membership required.

7-11 Stores - Free Slurpee to Veterans on Friday November 11, 2011 from 11am - 7pm.

I hope you will share with our readers any additional discounts not listed above and/or special ways businesses will honor America's military this weekend, by leaving a comment.

Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Palm Coast Florida

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-07 14:45

November has finally arrived bringing with it cool tropical breezes, beautiful sunny days and dreamy weather for the next 7 months straight. Since the early 1900‘s, folks from the Northeast have migrated south to live in the tropical paradise of Florida. South Beach, Naples, Sarasota and St. Augustine are cities to name a few. The mega rich built mansions along the beaches for their winter homes, in Palm Beach, Boca Grande and Sanibel Island.

Boasting a population of 19 million residents, where are the best cities to live in Florida without crowds, traffic congestion and a high cost of living? We look forward to sharing these special places with you over the next few months, the best cities to live only the ‘locals’ know about, those who have lived in Florida for decades. Our focus today is on Palm Coast Florida and Flagler Beach named after the railroad tycoon Henry Flagler. Palm Coast Florida is located on the northeast coast between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. According to the 2010 census, the current population of Palm Coast is about 75,000 people. Palm Coast is so beautiful, even employees working in nearby cities such as Orlando and Jacksonville are willing to commute to the Quieter Side of Florida.

Here are the top 10 reasons why folk's consider Palm Coast Florida where to retire:

Best Beaches - Flagler Beach has 26 miles of hard wide sandy beaches where in most places you will need to walk down stairways to reach the shoreline. When the tide is out, sand bars are revealed and small pools of water collect along the shore. These areas are ‘kid friendly’ areas to play with your children, away from the waves crashing on the shore. Flagler Beach is a popular surfing location. The Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic draws hundreds of surfers to compete at this annual surf contest. Flagler Beach also attracts surf fishermen as much as the beach attracts sunbathers. Flagler Beach is one of Florida’s most beautiful uncrowded pet friendly beaches.

Best Golf Courses - Florida has more golf courses than any other state, about 1,250 golf courses in all. The topography of Florida is mostly flat so when a golf course hugs the ocean like the Hammock Dunes Club, golfers take notice. The Hammock Dunes Club is located in Palm Coast Florida and the golf club has two private championship golf courses. World Golf Village is not far away for more extraordinary golfing experiences. The World Golf Hall of Fame and PGA Tour Golf Academy are world class golf attractions at World Golf Village. Members have the chance to play the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire golf courses along with eight more championship golf courses in the St. Augustine area. The Grand Club in Palm Coast is home to three public golf courses, where golf membership is not required.

Low Cost of Living - Florida has no state income tax. Sales tax in Flagler County Florida is 6%. Palm Coast Florida has a low real estate tax millage rate currently at 14.5183 converting to $145 for every $1,000 of home value less eligible homestead exemptions. With real estate prices at the lowest levels in a decade, beautiful homes in waterfront communities can easily be found under $200k in Palm Coast Florida.

Awesome Weather - Florida is nicknamed ‘The Sunshine State’ with more days of sunshine than anything else. While rumors of more people moving out of Florida than in have been circulating around over the past few years, Flagler County Florida has shown a migration increase of 17% in 2009 and Flagler County is not alone. We credit the awesome weather as a contributing factor with Baby Boomers who are searching for where to retire. In January, the highs reach 68 degrees while the low temperature drop to only 46 degrees. At the hottest time of the year, temperatures in Palm Coast Florida reach a maximum of 90 degrees while low’s drop to 73 degrees. Palm Coast Florida being located in the northern part of the state on the east coast, is blessed by awesome weather the majority of the year and no hurricanes. Palm Coast Florida has not had a direct hit from a hurricane since the 1950’s.

Florida’s Protected Nature - There are 24 community parks in Flagler County. Here are the most popular 10 parks and bike trails in Palm Coast Florida part of Flagler County:

Central Park in Town Center - 9 acre urban park connected to Lehigh Trail
Graham Swamp Trail - 2.18 mile wildlife and eco-system pathway, bike trails
Hammock Dunes Bridge Trailhead, access to St. Joe Walkway & Intracoastal Waterway
Heroes Memorial Park - Tribute to Military and Law Enforcement
Lehigh Trail - 8 miles of abandoned railway corridor, bike trails
Linear Park - St Joe Walkway part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, bike trails
Pine Lakes Parkway - Outdoor exercise path with stop stations
Princess Place Preserve - 1,500 acres of camp sites, hiking and equestrian trails
Washington Oaks Garden State Park - formal gardens, between AIA & Intracoastal
Waterfront Park - 20 acre park and pathway along the Intracoastal Waterway

Cultural Arts - From informal concerts on the lawn (First Friday’s on Flagler Beach) to big stage theatre performances, this coastal Florida city has plenty to offer in the way of music, art and culture. The most popular venues in Flagler Beach are the Flagler Playhouse and Flagler Auditorium. Festivals in Palm Coast Florida provide equally enjoyable entertainment such as the Palm Coast Art Show, Creekside Festival, Movies in the Park and Cracker Day. Marineland in Palm Coast is a fun day trip for your kids and grandkids to learn more about the ocean and swim with the dolphins. Nicknamed the Quieter Side of Florida, Palm Coast Florida still provides a calendar filled with events to keep you busy at retirement.

Boating & Kayaking - When you live in Florida, most Floridians prefer to live close to the ocean and I highly recommend it. Whether to scuba dive, explore the mangroves by kayak or leisurely boat on the Intracoastal Waterway at sunset, there is fascinating marine life in Florida to learn about and observe in the wild. Manatees, turtles and colorful tropical fish are a good place to start. In the winter time, Right Whales can be seen from the shore in Palm Coast Florida. Throw away your business suit and tie. You won’t need it in Florida. At retirement in Florida, your flip flops and your camera will become your best friend as everyday is casual Friday in Florida.

Quality Medical Care Nearby - Florida Hospital Flagler is a mission based hospital rapidly expanding in Palm Coast Florida. Recently Florida Hospital Flagler added a new Town Center Surgery and Urgent Care outpatient facility. Florida Hospital Flagler‘s Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon John Walsh, MD, was named one of America’s top surgeons by the Consumer’s Research Council of America this month. Specialties at Florida Hospital Flagler include: Neurology, Family Practice, General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Gastroenterology, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Radiology and Vascular Surgery.

Quick Access to Nearby Places of Interest - Unlike the Northeastern states, the roads in Florida are pretty much in a straight line heading north, south, east and west. No winding curves or drop off cliffs, the kind of scary roads you would find in the mountains or along the coast of California. Florida’s highways are fast and easy to drive. In one hour, you can drive to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World, Florida’s most popular tourist attractions. In one hour, you can drive to Jacksonville International Airport to the north or Daytona International Airport to the south. In about 2 hours, you can drive to Port Canaveral Florida to board a cruise ship heading off into the Caribbean. With Palm Coast Florida being located in the northern part of the state, this seaside city provides quick highway access to family and friends in Georgia or South Carolina.

Housing Costs - Florida is on sale right now and has been for a couple of years. Palm Coast Florida is not a metropolitan city with ample job opportunities. When the housing market collapsed, like the rest of the state, home prices in Palm Coast Florida fell quickly. In August 2011, the Business Insider listed Palm Coast Florida as one of the best housing markets during the next five years projecting 15.2% growth when the Palm Coast Florida housing market begins to advance ahead. Now is the time to find the waterfront communities with low homeowners association dues and monthly costs. We have found a number of gated communities worth taking a look before you search for a specific home.

If Florida is on your radar in your search for where to retire, keep in mind Florida is a huge state. Talk with someone like myself who knows the entire state very well. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com sharing your ‘wish list’ and I will save you time. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Florida will lead the market once again as soon as retirees feel confident moving ahead with their retirement plans. The Quieter Side of Florida won’t stay quiet for long as Baby Boomers continue to discover why Palm Coast Florida is one of the best cities to live in Florida.

Habersham SC - Holiday Decorating Ideas on Display in Seven Beautiful Homes

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-04 08:55

We are quickly approaching ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ as Andy Williams describes in the sweet melody that became a holiday musical hit in 1963. Homes in the best cities to live soon to be transformed by holiday lights and shiny decorations glistening in silver and gold. In the Lowcountry of South Carolina, the new urbanism neighborhood named Habersham SC is kicking off the season with their annual holiday home tour. Interior designers and floral designers will 'extremely makeover' seven private homes with holiday decorations open for viewing by the public on November 19-20th.

Habersham SC is already a waterfront community without the holiday glitz. Enormous 200 year old live oak trees cascading with spanish moss, Southern style homes overlooking the Habersham River, urban style streets with spacious park-like squares connecting the neighborhoods together like a jigsaw puzzle. Defined as Lowcountry architecture, homes with wide wrap around porches, intimate courtyards and white picket fences are classic home styles at Habersham SC. Whether you prefer walking or bicycling, Habersham is a wonderful neighborhood to enjoy the outdoors. By land or by sea, kayaking, crabbing, shrimping and boating are ocean activities accessible from Habersham’s docks and piers. Dolphins splashing in the river can easily be seen from the community’s River Retreat Pavilion overlooking the Habersham River.

Habersham is an award winning waterfront community west of downtown Beaufort SC. In 2005, the National Association of Home Builders awarded Habersham Best Neighborhood Design. About 400 homes have already been built at Habersham and 700 more homes are planned. The Habersham Marketplace is the central hub of this waterfront community where a cafe, pub, boutiques and even a post office are part of this new urbanism neighborhood design. Festivals, Farmer’s Markets and social events are hosted often at The Habersham Marketplace, events you could walk to from home.

I encourage you to read our story explaining the Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Beaufort South Carolina which has spread across the internet. Beaufort South Carolina is about an equal distance between Savannah and Charleston. If you have not considered Beaufort South Carolina in your search for where to retire, it is worth taking a look as we believe Beaufort SC is one of the best cities to live in the Lowcountry. Mild weather, a low cost of living and coastal South Carolina beaches are appealing attributes. There are a number of master planned communities in Beaufort South Carolina we find of particular interest and Habersham SC is one of them. Completed community amenities at Habersham SC include tennis, a beautiful outdoor swimming pool overlooking the river and parks, parks and more parks. Read about Habersham SC on our website and see how we scored this waterfront community. We can easily put you on a weekly watch list of homes for sale in Beaufort SC at Habersham. Flats can be found under $300k and Habersham's new Cottage Collection is priced in the $300k's. Waterfront homes for sale at Habersham can range well over $1 million.

Email me at margie@realestatescorecard.com for more information about Habersham SC and for specifics information about the holiday tour. This invitation from Habersham SC is your opportunity to see this Lowcountry waterfront community in one of the best cities to live in South Carolina.

Symphony in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Big Canoe Georgia

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-03 09:46

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the sounds of violins and wind instruments echoing across the lake while seated on the lawn at Big Canoe. The occasion, Big Canoe’s annual Concert on the Green. On a crisp cool day this past October, residents of Big Canoe gathered together to enjoy Reinhardt University’s Symphony Orchestra and Choir perform on their outdoor lawn. While music was like candy to their ears, the breathtaking views competed visually for their attention. As if on cue from the musical conductor, wild geese flew off in Vee-formation during the concert. The annual Concert on the Green is one of many cultural experiences coordinated by residents hosted inside the gates of this huge master planned mountain community.

I visited Big Canoe near Dahlonega Georgia to see for myself why Floridian’s are drawn like magnets to Big Canoe claiming their retirement stake in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia. To give you a perception of the size of this impressive mountain community, at an elevation of 3,200 feet, Big Canoe is spread across seven mountains. Big Canoe began development in 1987 and to date has about 2,750 homes built of the 4,750 planned. For over 20 years, the debt free real estate developer - Big Canoe Company owned by Byrne Corporation of Georgia and Greenwood Communities and Resorts, has carefully preserved this large land tract in its most natural state while conservatively managing its comprehensive community amenities owned by the Property Owners Association. The community at large has Certified Wildlife Habitats by the National Wildlife Federation and is adjacent to 28,000 acre Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. Big Canoe prides itself providing residents a ‘national park’ like setting to live.

Lake Petit is the largest lake at Big Canoe and was the lake where music reflected during the Concert on the Greens. Lake Petit is one of three beautiful lakes at Big Canoe replenished with Rainbow Trout. Boating is possible on Lake Petit using non-combustable power engines. Hugging the shoreline of Lake Petit leading up into the mountains, Big Canoe’s golf course designed by Joe Lee has been named one of the Top Golf Courses in Georgia providing golfers challenging elevation fluctuations on the links. Big Canoe’s golf clubhouse is brand new and overlooks Lake Petit.

The list of mountain community amenities at Big Canoe in northern Georgia is quite lengthy so I can’t imagine residents ever being bored. What I’m impressed with is the closeness and friendships amongst the residents, the ‘Big Canoe Family’ they have created. More than 50 social clubs meet sharing hobbies, interests and significant events like the Concert on the Green. The demographics in the early stages of the development may have slated Big Canoe as a second home community. With 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring each day now, retirees who seek a mountain community in a pristine natural settings have found Big Canoe in northern Georgia as a wonderful year round home too.

When you compare the cost of living with other mountain communities in the Southeast, you will find Big Canoe delivers a big bang for the buck in the mountains of northern Georgia. Big Canoe’s 24 hour gated entrance provides the ultimate sense of privacy and seclusion. With over 100 miles of roads inside the gates of Big Canoe, you can easily get lost as I did on my first visit. My camera and I didn’t mind a bit as we pulled off the road frequently to capture the views.

If you are searching for a where to retire and would like to be our VIP guest at Big Canoe, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com. Maybe you'd like the opportunity to play one of the top golf courses in Georgia. Don't be afraid to ask. This is how I help folks in this real estate market.

Brunswick Forest NC Perhaps the Best Walking Community

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-02 12:26

Health experts agree, to stay young at heart after age 50, walking is perhaps the easiest low impact exercise to include in our daily lifestyle improving our quality of life. Brunswick Forest in the coastal region of North Carolina has built perhaps the best walking community you may be interested in knowing more about. What makes Brunswick Forest so special? When buyer’s share with me their ‘wish list’ of lifestyle amenities they ‘must have’ when choosing where to retire and Brunswick Forest real estate, walking to the local market or a coffee shop with their dog is a common request. There are only a hand full of master planned communities in the Southeast which fit this criteria. Brunswick Forest is one of them located just south of downtown Wilmington North Carolina.

For the most part, all master planned communities have walking and hiking trails of some sort. Where Brunswick Forest rises above the rest is by creating The Villages at Brunswick Forest, a new town center walking distance to Brunswick Forest neighborhoods. The Villages at Brunswick Forest is a large 500,000 square foot town center with medical services, retail businesses, banking and the newest additions now under construction; Lowes Foods and CVS Pharmacy, who will occupy 55,000 square feet combined. Residents of Brunswick Forest can leave their cars at home and walk to the doctor or veterinarian. They can walk to the bank and pick up items for dinner at the local market. Walking to local villages is no new revelation. It’s nice to see real estate developers aware of this lifestyle convenience important to buyer's searching for Brunswick County real estate. When we think back before the invention of the automobile, everyone walked to and from places of interest in small villages. This is a healthy trend coming back into favor.

Anchor businesses located in The Villages at Brunswick Forest:

BB&T Bank
Blue Wave Dentistry
Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital
Hampton Inn
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Port City Java
Wilmington Health Convenient Care

After visiting Brunswick Forest’s 18,000 square foot Fitness & Wellness Center, the fitness center has some of the finest wellness amenities one could hope for in a master planned community. The indoor and outdoor swimming pools are beautiful areas to swim laps or leisurely lay back to read a book on the expansive sun deck. Tennis enthusiasts have six hard courts adjacent to the swimming pools to beat the ball around. Inside the Fitness & Wellness Center, high tech fitness equipment, an aerobics studio and locker rooms with steam showers are amenities available to residents. This month, residents had the option of learning the Shag Dance at the wellness center.

Beyond the Fitness & Wellness Center, Brunswick Forest has provided another wellness amenity called the “Friendship Garden”. This is a community garden at Brunswick Forest where resident’s boasting a green thumb gather to plant flowers, herbs or vegetables. Most gardeners are quick to tell you how much they enjoy gardening being connected to Mother Nature and at Brunswick Forest, residents can enjoy this experience together. There are over 4,500 acres to walk around and explore at Brunswick Forest not withstanding the community’s championship golf course, Cape Fear National, which was honored again this month in Golf Magazine. Brunswick Forest is one of the fastest growing communities in Brunswick County and is impressively debt free.

Visit the Brunswick Forest Community Review on our website to see how we scored the community on a scale of 1 to 100. If you're searching for Brunswick County real estate and would like to be our VIP guest at Brunswick Forest for the weekend to experience this wellness lifestyle for yourself, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com. It's my pleasure to help.

Achasta Golf Club - Where a River Runs Through It

By Margie Casey — 2011-11-01 09:45

Buyer's seeking the best cities to live in usually hope to find places near clean rivers, streams and lakes. Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega Georgia is blessed by having the Chestatee River as a natural community amenity. The Chestatee River is a 50 mile river about 50 feet wide which flows downhill from the Appalachian Mountains ending in Lake Sidney Lanier Georgia and is nicknamed Chattahoochee’s “little brother” or the “River of Running Lights”. The Chestatee River is a popular river to kayak, canoe and tube the winding pins and turns through the majority of the river. Fisherman can be easily seen along the Chestatee River catching rainbow and brown trout. In the spring, white bass run through the river attracting more fisherman.

The majority of the Chestatee River is unspoiled by real estate development and commercial businesses. Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega is one of the few master planned communities on the Chestatee River near Amicalola Falls State Park. According to public records, Achasta Golf Club had a difficult time obtaining sales in 2011 as a Reynolds Signature Community. Reynolds Development experienced financing dilemmas this past spring when the banks would not renew their commercial notes. When we pulled back the curtains to take an inside glimpse to see how the community is doing, we see Achasta Golf Club is alive and well. The social thread of the community has been actively involved in the local community and continues to host important events at Achasta Golf Club. In October, Achasta hosted a charity auction at the golf club which raised $16,000 to help local charities during this holiday season.

In August, Achasta Golf Club hosted the 2nd annual Hooters Women’s Collegiate Championship where Michigan State’s Lindsey Solberg and Caroline Powers took home the golf trophy. Fifty-eight two person teams competed in the event. Each month, an Achasta golf member hosts the Achasta Twightlight Grille where guest speakers are invited to share their wisdom and experiences with attendees. This past year, guest speakers included Vince Dooley, the former head football coach of the UGA Bulldogs and Loran Smith, a sideline broadcaster for the UGA Bulldogs.

Achasta Golf Club is an established affordable master planned golf community in Dahlonega Georgia. Named the Best Retirement City - Dahlonega Georgia, this northern Georgia city has attracted retiree's attention because of its low cost of living and the high quality of living by the number of enriching outdoor experiences in the area. For example, Amicalola Falls State Park is home to the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast and the park is connected to the Appalachian Trail.

While the buzz tends to be that more people are relocating to North Carolina, I see the best kept secret is still in the mountains of Northern Georgia, one of the best states to retire. Dahlonega Georgia is one of the best cities to live at retirement and Achasta Golf Club is where you should take a look.

See how we scored Achasta Golf Club on our website and learn more about Dahlonega Georgia. To find out how to be our VIP guest at Achasta Golf Club, send me a quick email and I will get right back with you about the details: margie@realestatescorecard.com

If living near water is important to you, cherish for your lifetime living along the Chestatee River in one of the best cities to live in - Dahlonega Georgia.

Disclosure to Buyers - Read the Small Print

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-29 11:21

Miami-based Lennar Homes is caught in the down wind from Suncoast Meadows, a master planned community they built in Land O’Lakes Florida. A small part of the property was originally a waste landfill site. Lennar Homes states they cleaned the portion of the Suncoast Meadows land tract removing toxic debris when they discovered the waste landfill during development. Unfortunately, the stench didn’t go away. Property owners claim high levels of ammonia and methane gases still permeate the surface reeking foul smells and property owner’s have engaged the Department of Environmental Protection’s assistance.

According to the Tampa Tribune, Lennar Homes had disclosed the waste landfill in literature provided to buyers at closing. A little late in the process, don’t you think? Lennar Homes took precautions by building community amenities, a swimming pool and cabana in the location where the waste landfill was discovered, instead of new homes. A good solution? In hindsight, protected green space or a conservation easement might have been a better choice. While I’m quick to point the finger at Lennar Homes, my question goes back further in time, wondering how Lennar Homes missed this disclosure to them when Lennar Homes purchased the tract of land now known as Suncoast Meadows.

When we score master planned communities in the Southeast, we search for waste landfill sites nearby using maps available on the internet. If Google Maps or Map Quest does not reveal waste landfill locations, without us hiring a staff of engineers and scientists to study the master planned community’s history, we could easily get caught in the same trap. We feel bringing up the issue on our scorecard is worth the risk because it creates an awareness with buyers and our hope is to teach buyer's to dig deeper through their own due diligence. There is no simple solution here for Lennar Homes or Suncoast Meadows property owners. Suncoast Meadows property owner’s must disclose this waste landfill issue to prospective buyers.

Buyers wanting to sell their homes in Suncoast Meadows will find it extremely difficult to sell their homes as did property owner’s in the Acreage located in Royal Palm Beach Florida. The Acreage is also known as the Loxahatchee Acreage, the site of the Acreage Cancer Clusters. The Acreage Cancer Clusters were discovered in the summer of 2009 when a number of families discovered brain tumors in their small children in the neighborhood. A class action lawsuit was filed on February 10, 2010 against United Technologies Corporation d/b/a Pratt & Whitney for secretly dumping toxic materials into the ground since the 1950’s, materials which included "acidic and alkaline rinse waste water" as well as oil, sodium cyanide, construction debris, solvents, asbestos, fuels, paints, pesticides, mercury and laboratory chemicals.

The moral of the story here is to do your homework as best you can and read all the documentation provided to you, especially the small print. Our heart goes out to the property owners at Suncoast Meadows and Acreage Cancer Clusters stuck in a quandary. We're confident the quality Miami-base home builder Lennar Homes will make things right at Suncoast Meadows, as best they can.

Readers will find my story Talking Trash in Florida another trashy read about waste landfills and their impact to property values.

Going Nuts for Albemarle Plantation in Coastal North Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-28 10:18

The excitement level is high today as America gets ready to watch game #7 of the World Series. Me, I’m craving peanuts, hot dogs and cracker jacks. Easily distracted, my mind is drifting to the best cities to live in America like Edenton NC. In fact this month, Edenton NC hosted the 36th Annual Peanut Festival. The first Peanut Festival in Edenton NC was held in 1935 and was primarily a fund raising event for local schools and charities. This year, the ASSA Peanut Regatta, a 5K Peanut Run, the Battle of the Bands, an old fashioned parade and a outdoor craft fair were activities at the Peanut Festival in Edenton NC. The ‘Beachnuts’ band rocked the stage at sunset while residents boogied in the streets. Courtney Young, resident of Albemarle Plantation, took the sailing trophy home, winner of the 2011 ASSA Peanut Regatta.

God bless America and our beautiful country that we have so many small towns celebrating the simplicity of life. I visited Edenton NC this past summer while researching the entire coast of North Carolina from top to bottom. Edenton NC is due west of the northern Outer Banks, to me the most beautiful region on the Outer Banks. To get to the Outer Banks from Edenton NC, you cross a number of bridges over the Albemarle Sound. The Albemarle Sound is a huge expansive protected waterway west of the Outer Banks and is a popular sailing venue.

When it comes to retirement, its hard to decide where to set the population dial in our heart. Do we want to live in rural America or exciting Nash Vegas? That's Nashville in case you haven't heard the nickname. Like peanuts, it all boils down to the cost of living, proximity to family and quality of life. Master planned communities like Albemarle Plantation provides affordable waterfront living, golf club lifestyles and social clubs bonding the community together. Albemarle Plantation just released 10 new floor plans in their Maritime Collection by Bill Clark Homes priced between $289k and $350k.

Albemarle Plantation is actually located in Hertford, the next town over from Edenton NC. Edenton NC was named by Forbes Magazine as America’s Prettiest Small Town. Elizabeth City NC is to the east and is named The Harbor of Hospitality and is a gateway to the Outer Banks. Although Elizabeth City has a small population of about 5,000, The United States Coast Guard Station and Elizabeth City State University have provided enough of a population to attract the fine arts, retail box stores and dining choices. Hertford has its own collection of great restaurants, shops and things to explore.

When you compare Edenton NC to Wilmington NC, the population differences are like night and day. Folks like me from a big city, find small towns in America a culture shock at first wondering where we will find the nearest Starbucks. Do you feel that way too? After spending a more and more time in unspoiled America away from concrete buildings and crowds of people, I know I could quickly adapt to a simpler life. Keep your mind open too when comparing the best cities to live, so you don't miss these charming small coastal towns.

Allow yourself time to experience the local lifestyle before deciding where to retire. Many master planned communities in the Southeast allow you the chance the preview the lifestyle at their communities. Albemarle Plantation is one of those welcoming places. Live like a club member at Albemarle Plantation for the weekend, enjoying all the community amenities while getting to know the area. Our contact at Albemarle Plantation has lived in the area for decades and can share a wealth of knowledge with you.

If you are looking for a coastal North Carolina community close to the Virginia border, make sure you add Albemarle Plantation to your list of master planned communities in coastal North Carolina to consider. I’m happy to send you the newest home floor plans. You can probably tell by now, I’m nuts for Albemarle Plantation. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Sailing Magazine Lets the Secret Out About River Dunes in Oriental NC

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-27 09:58

As the world’s largest boat show kicks off today in Fort Lauderdale Florida, Hurricane Rina lurks off in a distance ready to remind boater’s who’s boss this weekend, Mother Nature. Millions of dollars in luxury yachts from around the world are ready to be unveiled and are anchored in a Intracoastal Waterway protected harbor. Thank goodness for protected harbors!

This month, Sailing Magazine recognized another important protected harbor off the Intracoastal Waterway in coastal North Carolina. Oriental NC is the Sailing Capital of North America, where Pamilco Sound meets the Intracoastal Waterway and the Neuse River. Sailboats actually outnumber people three to one in this coastal area. River Dunes is a waterfront community in Oriental North Carolina with its own protected Grace Harbor. 124 boat floating boat slips exist at Grace Harbor with another 276 planned. River Dunes was awarded the Sustainable Community of the Year for going green though its zoning, planning and development process including recognition as a Clean Marina. This master planned waterfront community will be home to 650 families at the project's completion. Approximately 30 waterfront homes have been built to date.

The Grace Harbor marina has all the bells and whistles boaters demand. Fuel, power, water and pump-out stations. River Dunes in Oriental NC has received thirty one 5-star reviews thus far from Active Captain.com, a leading worldwide boating review website. This past summer, Hurricane Irene’s eye passed directly over River Dunes causing minimal damage. Only one bent piling needed to be repaired, a testament of the level of protection found at Grace Harbor off the Intracoastal Waterway. Community amenities extend beyond the docks at River Dunes. A luxury nautical clubhouse named The Harbor Club overlooks the marina, outdoor swimming pool, hot tubs and cabanas. Adjacent to the Harbor Club, luxury guest cottages are available for overnight stays. White picket fences line the welcoming streets framing out River Dunes community parks. River Dunes built its own New England themed chapel reflective of Cape Cod in the center of this waterfront community, overlooking the marina.

Families at River Dunes in Oriental NC enjoy a high quality of life and have boat loads of fun from sunrise to sunset. For example, neighbors compete at sailing competitions out on the open water retreating back home to River Dunes for sunset ‘docktail parties’. Buyers searching for a friendly waterfront community with a protected marina off the Intracoastal Waterway in coastal North Carolina should take a look at River Dunes in Oriental NC.

Ask about being our VIP guest at River Dunes for the weekend, if you're in the market for a waterfront home. Add to your fun by taking a sailing course on the Pamilco Sound to learn about the waterways. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com for a quick reply.

Build It and They Will Come to Westhaven in Franklin Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-26 10:05

Southern Land Company has insightful intuition understanding consumer desires and delivering products timely or ahead of schedule. In 2003, Southern Land Company began development of the master planned community in Franklin Tennessee named Westhaven, a classic example of new urbanism. At the first glimpse, it would be easy to assume Westhaven is just another golf neighborhood in the Nashville Tennessee. What we see is Westhaven’s focus on the entire family complimented by three educational facilities providing lifelong learning courses to people of all ages.

In January 2012, The Academy of Westhaven will open a brand new facility providing classroom instruction and child care to 160 children under age 5. Before the first day of school, The Academy of Westhaven is expected to be at full capacity providing jobs to 30 faculty members. On December 4, 2011, the Tutoring Club is opening its child development center at the Westhaven Town Center. The Westhaven Town Center is the community’s retail and restaurant complex walking distance from homes at Westhaven. Pearre Creek Elementary School is also located at Westhaven.

Westhaven is only about 35% built out, yet has completed infrastructure and amenities competing real estate developers could envy, especially communities who don’t have the financial resources. Southern Land Company continues to set sales records even in a depressed real estate market. When you visit Westhaven, you will quickly understand why.

Southern Land Company is not new to real estate development and has been building quality master planned communities for more than 20 years with Westhaven as another feather in their cap.  Although golf is not the main community amenity at Westhaven, Westhaven's new golf clubhouse is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2012. Westhaven’s 18 hole private golf course is designed by Arthur Hills / Steve Forrest and Associates. The Westhaven golf course has been named one of the Best New Private Golf Course by Golf Magazine. Comprehensive wellness amenities and the School of Enrichment for Continued Learning at Westhaven keep residents happy and healthy.

Westhaven is a classic example of new urbanism with Lowcountry park like squares. Homes with wide front porches frame the park like squares and protected green space, ideal hangouts for families socializing in the various neighborhoods. Southern Land Company has built a master planned community where people come to live and never want to leave. Property owner scores and comments we've collected for Westhaven are available for you to read. Ask me for my hot list of homes for sale at Westhaven which may not be showing on MLS. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

If you’re wondering where is Franklin Tennessee, it is located on the south side of Nashville Tennessee.

Osher Lifelong Learning in Northern Georgia

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-25 13:02

Seniors finishing high school may have anxiety about going off to college, while retirees without a care in the world are excited about finding the best college towns to retire where they can enjoy active lifestyles while maintaining brain fitness. Georgia is proactive in attracting retirees by phasing out retirement state income tax by 2016. Did you know Georgia also amended their constitution reducing college tuition costs for persons age 62 and over? This program in Georgia is called Amendment 23. Our focus is on the two northern Georgia mountain towns; Dahlonega and Athens who have quite a line up of excellent college courses for mature adults over age 62. Take a look at the 2011 fall semester class schedule:

Brenau University Lifelong Learning Institute ( BULLI ) in Gainesville Georgia

BULLI’s Center for Lifetime Study fall semester courses include:

Listen and Understand Great Music
American Turning Points - Design or Chance
Women’s Roles in the Civil War
The Evolution of Military and Domestic Surveillance
Growing Up, Growing On, Growing Old
Health, Wealthy and Wise
Beginning Computer
Reading, Writing and Revising Poems
Tai Chi
Introduction to Calligraphy
Drawing and Painting in Pastels
U.S. Naval History
Social Media by the People, For the People

North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega

The North Georgia Continuing Education fall semester classes focus on creative, recreation and business studies:

Photography - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
Appalachian Community Studies
Fall Gardening Travel
Pottery 
Sewing
Infused Glass
Hiking the North Georgia Mountains
Ballroom Dancing
Holiday Decorating
Computers
Language

University of Georgia Osher Lifelong Learning Institute ( OLLI ) in Athens

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute fall semester course list:

African American Quilters in Northeast Georgia
An International Social Business in Today’s World
Art: Drawing More Than Files
Collecting East Asian Paintings
Consumer Protection
Conversational German Critical
Reading Short Stories
Exoplanets
Famous Literary Utopias
Great Books
Jimmy Carter Post Presidency
Leaving Footprints
Military Justice System
Modify Your Home to Age in Place
Mythology
Noahide Law
Organize, Downside and Uncover
Pearl Harbor
Reverse Mortgage Basics
Science and the Supernatural
Service Dogs in Action
Tai Chi Easy
Technologies for Aging in Place
The Grand Tour & Your Travel Guide
Tribute to Tony Curtis
V.A. Pension Benefits
Weather and War: How the Weather Affected the Civil War

As 79 million Baby Boomers age, it makes sense the selection of lifelong learning courses will increase dramatically as seniors over 62 understand the importance of brain fitness. When searching for where to retire, consider college towns in Northern Georgia with successful lifelong learning courses already in place. Don’t rule out teaching something you have mastered at these campuses your peers would enjoy.

I’m excited about what’s happening in these three best college towns Dahlonega Georgia, Athens Georgia and Gainesville Georgia. Click on each city's link to learn why these cities are so special. We scored six quality master planned communities in these cities so far worth taking a look.

It is my pleasure to help with you with your search. Send me your wish list and I will respond quickly with the best matches. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Keep your thinking muscles stretched to maintain brain fitness by attending lifelong learning courses in the best college towns.

Bye Bye Real Estate Market Bottom

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-24 12:03

While gloom and doom still best describe people’s attitudes towards the real estate market, good news bleeps are finally popping up from key markets in Florida and Coastal North Carolina reflecting market shifts we haven’t seen in a long time. For example, last week in Tampa Florida, reports were released that Tampa home builders began construction on the highest number of new homes in the past quarter than in the same three quarters since 2008. Tampa Florida is not alone. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, strong housing starts in Tampa Florida paralleled the country. Yes, the largest number of new home starts in the third quarter of 2011 took place nationally too. To me, this is the first proven sign of the credit markets loosening and real estate developers preparing to deliver homes to the pent up demand. Without financing, builders are unlikely to build new model homes and new spec homes in master planned communities.

This past week in South Florida, I was pleasantly surprised to be invited to a ground breaking celebration for a new real estate development near the beach; a 39 unit town home / condominium and even more surprising, to discover more than half of the units are already sold. Since 2007, commercial financing for new real estate developments had vanished into thin air halting all new construction in our area. The South Florida condominium market has suffered in the past 3 years, in part because of the lack of condominium financing available to buyers. Under the breath of the market, some condominiums were being ‘black listed’ by Lenders because underwriter’s felt certain condominium buildings were higher risks. Lenders wanted to stay clear of condominium buildings with a high number of foreclosures. In these buildings, large special assessments could be imposed upon their borrowers because of the unexpected budget deficits from fewer paying property owners. It is apparent today by new real estate developments breaking ground and the shopping centers in our area receiving extreme makeovers that credit markets have loosened and market conditions in Florida are improving.

Market conditions in New Bern North Carolina are also noticeably positive. 100 year old Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Development broke ground this month on a mega development in New Bern North Carolina called Craven 30 North. Weyerhaeuser has a proven track record of developing quality master planned communities such as Taberna Country Club, next door to Carolina Colours. Market conditions in Charleston South Carolina are even more exciting. For example, Daniel Island is setting sales records this year as their inventory of single family homes and condominiums are being gobbled up by buyers. Daniel Island is just one of several coastal communities we continually monitor. Charleston South Carolina was just named #1 City in the United States by the Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards. People are falling in love with Charleston South Carolina and are clearly digging in their roots in preparation for retirement.

The common denominator I see from the good news popping up, is the news is coming from the best states to retire in the Southeast. It is hard to ignore the pent up demand and fight the buying trend headed our way. The predicted migration of retiring Baby Boomers to the south will effect the Southeast soon, Baby Boomers seeking to escape the harsh weather and high cost of living states. If you have been sitting on the fence until the real estate market improves, it is a good time to make your move now while the best selections are available to you. I’m happy to help you compare the best master planned communities in a educational way and share with you how you can preview these master planned communities as my VIP guest. Reach out to me and say 'hello'. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

10 Reasons to Retire in Nashville Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-18 11:59

Nashvillians aren’t thrilled with the labeling ‘Nash Vegas’ however it is hard to deny the excitement present day and night in Nashville Tennessee, one of the best cities to retire. Country music legends like Dolly Parton launched her success in the streets of Nashville contributing to the country music craze. New gigs still follow in her footsteps on Music Row, hoping to reach the stars and become one.

When you walk the Gulch in downtown, you can’t help but sense this old neighborhood transforming itself into a contemporary new one. Why? The Gulch is walking distance from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Bridgestone Arena. New urbanism downtowns across America are attracting cultural snobs and wannabes making life more interesting. You can take it fast or take it slow in Nashville. Music City is truly one of the best cities to retire and is still incredibly affordable. From the big city lights on top of the skyscraper's in downtown to the rolling hills lined with white picket fences heading out of town, the landscape of Nashville and its suburbs are as diverse as guitar types.

Here is a list of the reasons why I believe Nashville is one of the Best Cities to Retire in Tennessee:

Live Entertainment Galore - Nashville is a music lover’s paradise thus the name Music City. You could spend every weekend dancing the night away at live concerts, outdoor festivals or unplugged musical performances at intimate recording studios. In fact on Music Row, all of the Big Four record labels have headquarters in Nashville. Some people say Nashville has become the new L.A. Get to know Nashville better and you may agree. From the Grand Ole Opry to the Bridgestone Arena, the list of concert venues is as exciting as the headline performers. If music makes you feel like a kid again, Nash Vegas is the perfect place to retire and step back in time to your rock-n-roll childhood.

Southern Cookin’ - There are over 1,000 restaurants in Nashville Tennessee and the immediate surrounding area. Award winning restaurants include: Silly Goose, Monell’s Dining and Catering, Margot Cafe & Bar, Prime 108, Watermark Restaurant and Eastland Cafe. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack was recently featured on Man vs Food named the Best Fried Chicken in America. Your mouth will water at all the dining choices you will have after you retire in Nashville Tennessee. You’d rather cook? Shop at the weekly Nashville Farmer’s Market to collect fresh produce and homemade treats.

Parks, Parks and More Parks - Did you know there are over 109 public parks and Greenways within the city limits of Nashville Tennessee? Nashvillian’s love to play and have done a fabulous job of creating their own outdoor playgrounds while protecting the green space improving their quality of life. To me, Shelby Park has one of the most interesting bicycling and walking trail systems along the Cumberland River leading to the Grand Ole Opry. If you enjoy walking, jogging or biking, Nashville is the perfect place to mix up your work out routine and keep life interesting at retirement exploring Nashville lakes and parks.

College Vibe - Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) at Vanderbilt University. Since the early 2000’s, Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes has focused on providing enriching educational programs for mature students, those primarily those over age 62. On campus, Osher classes include World Architecture, American History, Classics of Musical Genres, Public Education and Family on Film to name a few. The benefits of lifelong learning for mature adults extend beyond brain fitness. Close friendships roll into frequent laughter and shared reflection of past accomplishments. Vanderbilt University is home to students of all ages, interests and creative desires. Nashville is an exciting college town and one of the best cities to live during retirement.

Art & Culture - American Style Magazine named Nashville as one of the Top 25 Art Cities. Nashville is also known as the Athens of the South because of the high quality education and historic art found in the city. Between the Tennessee State Museum, Museum of Art and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, traveling exhibits, lectures and demonstrations could keep an artist occupied for a lifetime in Nashville. The Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Opera and Tennessee Performing Arts Center have more calendars filled with high quality cultural performances, enjoyed by retirees who appreciate the discipline and effort performer’s have invested into perfecting their skills.

Job Opportunities - Retiring Baby Boomers consider the best states to retire places where part time job opportunities exist. In rural areas, part time jobs are not so easy to find. Living on the edges of a big city provides more choices and better choices when it comes to part time work at retirement. Nashville Tennessee’s top industry is health care. In 2005, Nissan North America relocated its headquarters to Nashville Tennessee. Between the entertainment, health care, education and automotive industry, I believe it is not hard to find a part time job at retirement in Nashville compared to other areas in Tennessee.

Top Medical Care - As I mentioned above, Nashville’s top industry is health care. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a Top Heart Hospital in America as well as having specialists in cancer, diabetes, ear nose & throat, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, heart & heart surgery, pulmonology and urology. Two top community hospitals in Nashville are Saint Thomas Hospital and Centennial Hospital. If you are concerned about quality medical care in Nashville, you will find peace of mind in knowing the Nashville health care system is delivering top medical care to aging retirees.

Low Cost of Living - Tennessee has no state income tax. Even though the higher sales tax makes Tennessee appear more expensive, when you compare the sales tax, state income tax and real estate property taxes, you will find Tennessee is the lowest cost of living state in the South. Read the chapter in our library: Lower Cost of Living Comparison - Cities in the Southeast to learn more about why Nashville is one of the best cities to retire in Tennessee.

Sports - I don’t know about you but I suffer from football withdrawal when the NFL season ends in February. Access to professional sports venues in my home town is important to me. The Tennessee Titans call Nashville home and electrify the city during home games. If football is not your thing, the Nashville Predators take to the ice to battle competitors during the NHL season. Nashville Sounds Baseball Club play at Greer Stadium. In addition to these professional sport teams, the Vanderbilt Commodores have a long list of in house college teams to cheer for and support in Nashville.

Home Sweet Homes - Gallatin, Brentwood and Franklin are areas in Nashville with the highest inquiries for relocation. Gallatin is just north of Nashville and is home to Old Lake Hickory. Brentwood is a more exclusive Nashville golf area, home to celebrities and superstars. Franklin is on the edge of Nashville and has master planned communities displaying great examples of new urbanism.

To find out who I believe have the best master planned communities in Nashville Tennessee, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Photographer Larry Singer

The New Biggest Landholder Hedges Against Falling Currency

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-13 13:09

Buyer’s today looking for the real estate market bottom would be wise to notice the actions of the ‘big’ money in 2010 and 2011. It is called land banking which is buying land and lots of it. John Malone beat out Ted Turner as the largest landholder in America according to the 2011 Land Report 100. Wealthy individuals and assembled partnerships have been scooping up large tracts of land and master planned communities, especially during the past twelve months.

Most of us are not billionaires capable of buying 100 acre parcels or championship golf course communities. But is worth paying attention to the buying signals which exist under the breath of the market. We are all aware the stock market has almost doubled as well as the price of gold in the past 12-24 months. While the ‘junk’ properties seem to be today’s buyer focus seduced by the words short sale, foreclosure and bank owned, to me, there are real gems sitting on the sidelines without all the legal hassles and complications.

I visited over 26 master planned communities during the past two weeks in the Western Carolina's and Northern Georgia. I see quality bargains hidden behind the curtain of the distressed for sale signs. Buyers would be prudent to notice the strong corporate earnings sitting on balance sheets as cash waiting to be reinvested back into America. With corporations afraid to give it away in taxes to our spend thrift government, it would be reasonable to expect this money will likely stay in their checkbooks until the Presidential election is over. Although the tipping point may catch you off guard because of the pent up demand. One third of our population, yes 79 million people are approaching retirement age and are likely to bite the bullet to move on with their lives, even if they must downsize their lifestyle.

Now is the ideal time with good guidance, to find your acre or acreage and ‘land bank’ it or hold it like John Malone. Unless you can afford to buy an existing home, land is a less expensive way to put your toe in the water towards relocation maybe building later. While money is only worth the paper it is printed on, land is a commodity and like corn and gold, has a exchange value if our currency collapses. Dating back to 1776, the Colonist's carried commodities all the way across the Atlantic Ocean prepared to trade with the Indians for basic necessities. Commodity ownership seems smart to me, John Malone and Ted Turner.

Buying land with cash and having low carrying costs such as real estate taxes and property owner association dues, could be a wise safe haven to protect yourself against the falling currency. Cut through the noise and ask for solid guidance when it comes to find land in desirable places for retirement. We visit each and every master planned community we score and are happy to help you with your search for where to retire in the Southeast.

Ask me for my 'hot' list of properties you may not find on MLS by writing me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Asheville North Carolina - The Year of Parks

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-12 17:06

Peace, love and dancing filled the atmosphere during our stroll through Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville last weekend. Pack Square Park was recently renovated by the city adding playful fountains now named ‘Splashville’, groomed great lawns and a new performance stage for outdoor events hosted in front of Asheville City Hall. Greek and Roman architecture dominate the skyline around this rectangular park in the center of the city, as couples in love ballroom danced impromptu to big band music playing from music box in the middle of the Pack Square Park. It was like watching a scene from a movie, the moment was magical and is now a common event in downtown Asheville, one of the best cities to retire.

Even though Asheville North Carolina is surrounded by 500,000 acre Pisgah National Forest and the Appalachian Mountains, Ashevillian’s who love the outdoors just can’t get enough protected green space, greenways and scenic parks. Parks are the perfect places to escape stress, get out of the house and rejuvenate your soul. Not all cities are as acutely in tune with the added value parks provide to their community. Asheville leads the pack with more than 70 parks and gardens located in Asheville proper. Most folks are familiar with gardens at Asheville’s popular tourist attractions: The Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, The North Carolina Arboretum and the Botanical Gardens of Asheville on the University of North Carolina campus.

I encourage you to discover a new Asheville park or discover them all by picking up the Year of the Park map at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. On that same picturesque Sunday under beautiful blue skies with fall leaves dancing at our feet, we walked around Beaver Lake, one of my favorite less known parks in downtown Asheville. Whether you decide to take a scenic ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway or hike the Appalachian Trail, you will have plenty of scenic outlooks, green parks and hiking trails to cherish if you choose to live in Asheville North Carolina. Take a chance and spice up your love life by taking your sweetie ballroom dancing in Pack Square Park.

North Carolina will continue to dominate with the best cities to retire as this decade continues. By the end of November, we will have uploaded the 20 best master planned communities we visited in Western North Carolina. Send me your 'wish list' and I will pair you up with communities which fit your criteria. This is how I help people in this real estate market.

The Settings of Black Mountain - Bankrupt Developer Leaves a Mess Behind

By Margie Casey — 2011-10-06 06:20

Beyond the attractive entrance, it was sad this week to discover how deteriorated the roads have become in the past year. The Settings of Black Mountain is located about 20 minutes from Asheville North Carolina. The community clubhouse was lifeless, weeds growing tall where the planned swimming pool was earmarked. The Settings of Black Mountain is another mountain community with ugly utility stub outs decorating the landscape between the sparsely completed mountain homes. To top it off, I was welcomed again, by two vicious dogs chained to a tree blocking the roadway reminding me of a scene from the movie Cujoe.

The Settings of Black Mountain is hardly 'almost across the finish line' and won’t be anytime soon. In December 2010, Richard McWhorter and Mark Wilson, cofounders of The Settings Development Company, filed personal bankruptcy. With commercial credit markets frozen, The Settings Development Company was unsuccessful in obtaining financing to continue development. Fortunately, the Town of Black Mountain and Town of Valdese had required performance bonds purchased by The Settings Development Company at the beginning of development, to insure completion of the roads, water and sewer. As reassuring as this sounds, insurance companies and bonding sureties aren’t quick to open their check books especially when the costs to complete the infrastructure exceeds the face value of the bond. This leaves property owners at The Settings of Black Mountain living with bumpy roads and eye sores while attorney’s battle out who will pay for and finish the infrastructure.

At least The Settings of Black Mountain is further along in development than its abandoned sister lake community The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss which had no infrastructure in place before the financial collapse of the development. Property owners who purchased at The Settings of Lake Rhodhiss may never see a clubhouse and lifestyle amenities promised when they bought. Without roads and utilities, property owners cannot build their mountain homes on their lots and who would want to?

When a real estate developer folds before turning over the development to the property owners, it leaves a tremendous burden on property owners to come together and find the financial resources to fund the necessities of their mountain community and now expensive legal fees. I would not be surprised if the property owners at The Settings of Black Mountain receive special assessments to cover these unexpected costs. To make matters worse, the lender who took back the project from The Settings Development is selling lots at a steep discounts devaluing the community.

It takes strong leadership and wisdom by a Board of Directors of the Property Owners Association to solve these issues on behalf of the community. I don’t envy the task at hand for The Settings of Black Mountain’s Board of Directors and wish them well. I hope the board addresses nuisances like Cujoe as well as the physical attributes of this mountain community.

I invite you to share your thoughts, by leaving a comment.

Safe Clean Living Near a Nuclear Power Plant

By Theresa Pantanella — 2011-10-04 08:21

Nuclear energy is a double edged sword. It creates energy to wash your clothes, cool your refrigerator to keep your food fresh, turn your lights on for safety and comfort at night and operates heat and/air conditioning for your home to be at a temperature to your liking.

It also creates nuclear waste (an environmental hazard for which there is no proper disposal area), releases radioactive steam into the air, posing a serious health threat to individuals living within 20 miles of the nuclear power plant itself by giving them a fairly constant low lose of radiation.

When nuclear energy was being tested in the 1950’s in the western U.S., long term exposure to it was not yet studied. Since then, documented cases of breast cancer and diabetes mellitus fall into the same geographical pattern as nuclear waste fallout. More recently, studies have found hormonal changes are occurring in animals resulting in the animals’ genitalia being altered, missing or reduced in size.

In 2005, the National Academy of Sciences, the highest scientific authority in the U.S., issued a 700 page report confirming that no level of exposure to ionizing radiation is safe. The report is entitled, “Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation”. Ionizing radiation is the kind used to alter cells, such as that in microwaves and x-rays. The greatest risk from ionizing radiation is breathing it in or ingesting it with food. Remember, you cannot smell, taste or feel radiation. Once it is inside you, it becomes the equivalent of a madman in your front yard, shooting repeatedly at your home. The radiation will tear apart cells, damage DNA and cause illness, disease and cancer.

Protecting yourself against the harmful effect is easy by using water and air filters specifically designed to remove radiation, eating foods and supplements that mitigate the harmful effects and facilitate removal of the radiation from your body and also by reducing your exposure to rain or snow (the radiation travels in the air until it accumulates on a raindrop or snowflake, falling to the earth).

Water filters to use have ion exchange and activated carbon. The best air filters to use are HEPA. In Hiroshima, macrobiotic diets were used after WWII to reduce the effects of radiation and successfully, with almost 1/3 of the population in one hospital surviving for decades without serious illness or cancer. Supplements that boost your immune system are needed as the radiation will suppress it. Increasing your intake of anti-oxidants will combat the barrage of free radicals that radiation can create inside you.

Many more ideas on what to eat, what not to eat, recommendations for supplements and simple lifestyle changes to reduce nuclear energy exposure are illustrated in my book entitled, “America’s Chernobyl”. A complimentary copy of my ebook is available on my website: www.RadDetox.com.

How to Have an Interior Designer in Your Home - Virtually

By Nancy Meadows — 2011-09-29 05:35

HGTV, blogs and shelter magazines inspire many homeowners to look at their home and become excited about all of the possibilities they have to improve their living spaces. We see what we want---the look, the feel, and the pride of having a beautiful home.

Unfortunately, in the case of television, what we see in 30 minutes took weeks to prepare for and often at great cost, to present that half hour of a completed and beautiful livable space. But, it does get our creative living decorating juices flowing. You may have design dilemmas that you'd love to solve, but you don't have the budget. Or, maybe you want to do it yourself. You just need a step-by-step plan, a blueprint to follow.

There's now a service offered by some interior designers that can give you a beautiful, functional interior design that is totally customized for you and your needs. Interior designers never personally meet you or even visit your home. I call my service a "Room In A Box." Other terms may be e-design or virtual design. It's not a cookie-cutter, one size fits all design either. You truly do receive a design that has your name written all over it.

HOW VIRTUAL INTERIOR DESIGN WORKS:

Once you've decided this might be for you, an initial phone call takes place with the interior designer of your choice. You begin to know one another and decide if you're a good fit for each other. If it's a go, the interior designer emails you a an agreement that you both sign which states EXACTLY what you will receive. It protects both you and the interior designer and keeps everything transparent.

Next, you'll receive a long list of questions. The more the interior designer knows about you, the better your creative living design becomes. You both want your finished product to be as perfect for you as possible. You'll also email photos of your room, along with its dimensions. You're given instructions on how to measure correctly.

In a few weeks, your "room" arrives in the mail. Inside the "magic" box lies your floor plan with furniture placement. You'll find color samples, pictures of pieces you may wish to purchase and where you can find them within your chosen budget, fabric swatches, suggested floor and window coverings and accessories. Also included is a detailed explanation of how the interior designer made the design decisions and how they relate to you and your home. This is what I offer in my virtual design projects. Other designers may do it a little differently, but the results should be the same---a room that you absolutely love.

PROS AND CONS:

The pro's - You save time, money, and frustration.There are no buying mistakes. You have a workable plan from the start that organizes your space as well as the attention given to its beauty. You can implement your design at your pace and your budget.

The con's - Looking at the other side of the coin, nothing can replace having a designer in your home. Pictures can't always show the nuances such as scale and rhythm. When you hire a interior designer, you're paying for their education, experience, and knowledge, along with their creativity. Also, are the many hours given in resourcing products for their clients and being responsible for delivery of those products.

I believe that virtual interior design is a good alternative because you're still receiving a custom, professionally designed creative living space at a fraction of the cost. You're saving thousands in design fees and have no costly buying mistakes. It gives you confidence and banishes feeling overwhelmed by the interior design process.

At the end of the day, everyone deserves a beautiful home, regardless of budget. A warm, safe place to come home to. Your special place that fosters creativity, is functional, and in your eyes is absolutely gorgeous.

I invite you to visit my website and download a Complimentary Color Report to get you started. It would be my pleasure to talk with you about your creative living design challenges.

Feel free to call me anytime at 425-827-3127.

Brunswick Community College Makes Learning Fun and Delicious

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-27 07:49

One of North Carolina’s best college towns delivers big enriching programs and celebrity sightings such as Paula Dean. On October 15th, Paula Dean will visit students at Brunswick Community College sharing her inspirational life's story at a fund raising scholarship luncheon. VIP luncheon attendees at the Odell Williamson Auditorium will receive an autographed copy of her book the Southern Cooking Bible and free tickets to the NC Oyster Festival taking place the same weekend.

The Odell Williamson Auditorium is a state of the art facility which seats 1,500 people. In addition to the Paula Dean luncheon in the coastal region of North Carolina, a sampling of Performing Art Series events scheduled at the campus this winter season include: The President’s Own United States Marine Band, The Taylor Two Dance Company, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, The Harry James Orchestra, Women of Ireland and more.

Also at the Brunswick Community College campus, The Brunswick Institute of Lifelong Learning ( B.I.L.L.). Courses at the Brunswick Institute are specifically designed for adults who enjoy learning new skills while meeting new friends who live in the area. Brunswick County in Wilmington has repeatedly been named one of the best college towns for those searching for Brunswick County real estate. The non-credited courses at Brunswick Community College include:

Travel
Writing
Clay Sculpture
Stained Glass
Basic Sewing
Cake Decorating
Basket Weaving
Pottery
Painting
Jewelry Making
Genealogy
Sign Language
Flower Arranging
Bridge
Languages

Also impressive on campus is the 55,000 square foot Dinah E Gore Fitness and Aquatic Center. Comprehensive wellness programs are offered at the facility. Two swimming pools, an aerobics studio, fitness center and full gymnasium are a few of the amenities at the wellness center. Annual membership for seniors is as low as $27 a month plus a one time annual membership fee. For more information about Brunswick Community College, visit the college’s website at brunswickcc.edu .

If you are searching for Brunswick County real estate, we recently scored a number of master planned communities and are happy to share our thoughts with you. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Reach out to me and say 'hello' at margie@realestatescorecard.com.

Boat Clubs - Boating at Retirement Without the Hassles of Ownership

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-23 07:54

Although we will have more time on our hands at retirement, the last thing we want to deal with is maintenance and repairs. If you’re a boater, have you considered a membership based boat club instead of owning a boat? Established in 1989, Freedom Boat Club is the largest boat club in the country with locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Here’s how boat club membership works: After you join the boat club in your area, call ahead and the boat of your choice, depending on membership level, will be fueled and waiting for you at the dock. Scoot off for a day on the water to discover new sandbars, tube with your kids or catch dinner. At the end of the day, bring the boat back, leave the keys with the Freedom Boat Club attendant and head home to cook your fresh catch of the day on the grill. No boat ramps to deal with and no washing the boat.

Too good to be true? Could boating be that easy? Boater owner’s chuckle and say “the best day to own a boat is the day you buy it and the second best day to own a boat is the day you sell it”. As a previous boater owner, I know first hand, boat maintenance is costly and can quickly ruin your day on the water, if you even leave the dock. Add to the maintenance cost, the initial investment and/or boat loan, insurance and storage costs and you will find the annual expense of owning a boat can quickly add up.

We enjoy 'people watching' at the ocean inlets along the coast, watching boats come and go. You can quickly lose the sense of a dollar, watching expensive boats head off shore, boats exceeding $1 million dollars. The cost to purchase a boat can make cars look cheap in comparison, when you start shopping around. Used boats can seem like a ‘steal’ initially and become a financial hole in the water stealing your retirement savings. Why spend this kind of money at retirement unless you’re rich?

Consider the concept of boat clubs. The cost savings, convenience and flexibility of membership boat clubs, is a good way to test the waters if you’re considering owning a boat. Ask any boat owner and you may discover, boat usage becomes less and less over time as the newness wears off.

You may not know, Freedom Boat Club’s flexibility allows boat usage at sister boat clubs, up to four times a year. For example, if you joined the Fort Lauderdale Freedom Boat Club, you could utilize boat club privileges at the Freedom Boat Club in Southport North Carolina, four times in the same year. There are 19 Freedom Boat Club’s in Florida, 2 in Georgia, 2 in North Carolina, 5 in South Carolina and 1 in Tennessee. Boat clubs in the best states to retire we find of particular interest are:

Lake Burton in northern Georgia for boating on Lake Lanier

Seabrook Island South Carolina for boating in Charleston

Knoxville Tennessee - Best Places in the U.S. to Boat & Live (Boating Life Magazine)

Southport North Carolina for boating in Wilmington

We will be researching more information about Florida boat clubs as we upload the regions of Florida to our website this winter. Contact Freedom Boat Club direct for a quote on boat club membership and please tell them we sent you.

Enjoy boating made simple by Freedom Boat Club.

The Georgia Club in Athens is Now Debt Free

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-21 07:56

As state income tax at retirement phases out in Georgia, best college towns like Athens attract Baby Boomers interested in low cost of living areas. Athens is home to the University of Georgia and the picturesque golf community The Georgia Club, now debt free. I visited The Georgia Club in the spring of 2011. I was impressed with the Americana architecture and quality of the completed golf community amenities. Back then, there was a rumor of the golf club turning private which at present, has not been announced.

This week Alvarez & Marsal Capital Real Estate LLC, KRE Capital and their capital partners acquired all the assets of The Georgia Club infusing capital for improvements and removing the club’s debt. Developed by CEO Jim Vanden Berg of Barber Creek Land Company, the golf community The Georgia Club has approximately 223 homes built to date of the 1,100 planned. CEO Jim Vanden Berg has a stellar reputation in Georgia and with his mission accomplished, has stepped aside allowing the ‘big money’ to buy The Georgia Club to continue with its development. We have not pulled the sales data for 2010 and 2011 as of yet, so we’re unsure if The Georgia Club being on the market was necessary.

This well designed master planned community has curb appeal to the tee. After you pass through the gated entrance, white picket fences greet your eyes lining the roads and sidewalks, guiding you off to the various neighborhoods of The Georgia Club. Common area park-like squares shaded by tall tree canopies are attractive natural amenities and community outdoor lawns in many of the neighborhoods. Dan Griffiths designed The Georgia Club’s golf course in early 2000 and at the time, the golf course was recognized in the industry as a best new golf course in Georgia. The Georgia Club’s community amenities include a 42,000 square foot clubhouse, tennis courts, state of the art fitness center, swim complex, outdoor entertainment lawns and a children’s playground. The social clubs and community events exude southern charm found in the south, providing plenty of opportunities to meet new friends and share common interests.

The Georgia Club’s close proximately to the University of Georgia makes it one of the best college towns in Georgia for professors, part-time teachers, lifelong learners or residents volunteering at the university. Affordable homes start in the high $200k’s with estate homes exceeding $1 million at The Georgia Club. In 2016, Georgia is poised to become the lowest cost of living state in the Southeast for retirement. Retirement income will be completely state tax free by 2016. Georgia residents have another tax benefit called Property Assessment Freeze. This freezes the assessed value of your home at the time of permanent residence limiting your real estate taxes. To keep updated on what's happening in Athens Georgia, follow our Best of Athens Georgia Facebook Page.

If you would like to know my thoughts after visiting The Georgia Club or the compariable Reynolds Plantation community on Lake Oconee, write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com. It is my pleasure to help.

River Dunes Oriental NC - Hearts of Gold

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-19 10:05

Just weeks after the eye of Hurricane Irene passed over Oriental NC, the unshaken marina community River Dunes welcomed 2,400 bicyclists on Sept 11th for a Lunch Stop at The Harbor Club during the Bike MS - Historic New Bern Ride. Bike MS is a two day cycling event throughout the coastal region of North Carolina raising funds for research and programs to support multiple sclerosis. Cyclists had the choice of several long distance rides in the coastal region of North Carolina with one of the stops at River Dunes. The friendly residents of River Dunes greeted cyclists on Sept 11th, serving the riders lunch and cheered them on as they departed.

This was not the first time the marina community River Dunes has supported the local community of Oriental NC. With hearts of gold, residents of River Dunes sponsor a number of annual fundraising events for the local community of Oriental NC. Art by The Harbor, The Leukemia Cup Regatta, Toys for Pamlico Tots and a plethora of educational events, to name of few. I’m impressed by this small marina community’s big heart and public display of compassion. If you’re wondering what is a social club? River Dunes is a classic example of what social clubs can accomplish when residents join their compassionate hearts of gold. Social clubs are groups of people sharing a common purpose while having fun in doing it.

Many times buyers are told by sales people at master planned communities “bigger communities are better providing more social clubs.” From what I see in scoring real estate communities in the Southeast, charming smaller River Dunes delivers a big social bang for the buck in the coastal region of North Carolina in addition to River Dunes completed amenities. Oriental NC is River Dunes home and is nicknamed the Sailing Capital of North Carolina. Located on the second largest protected sound on the east coast of the United States called the Pamilco Sound, boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway corridor often permanently relocate to Oriental NC once they discover the ideal sailing conditions found on the Pamilco Sound. In fact, sailboats in Oriental NC actually outnumber residents three to one. The coastal region of North Carolina is becoming known as a hot spot for folks searching where to retire. Big city folks quickly slow down their frantic pace after discovering the peaceful city of Oriental NC.

When city folks who made the move need a big city fix, the city of New Bern North Carolina is just 30 minutes to the south. New Bern NC is located where the Neuse River meets the Pamilco Sound. In New Bern NC, Royal Governor William Tryon built Tryon Palace in 1770 which served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina and home to the Tryon family. Tryon Palace attracts thousands of visitors year round to view the colorful palace gardens or attend annual festivals. New Bern NC is one of my favorite historic cities on the waterfront of the coastal region of North Carolina. I enjoyed smelling the salt air while walking downtown exploring the art galleries, photographing architectural churches and historic sites such as the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. I had a tough time choosing where to dine in New Bern NC from the long list of highly rated restaurants on Yelp.

If you’re considering the coastal region of North Carolina, I’m happy to share my thoughts with you about River Dunes. This is how I help folks in this real estate market searching for where to retire. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com.

Thank you River Dunes in Oriental NC for sharing your hearts of gold with the coastal region of North Carolina and Bike MS.

Green Building Services - This Old House is New

By Rolando Paez — 2011-09-15 08:38

There is a fast-growing interest in the discussion, design and usage of “green” materials in the residential sector of the real estate market. The use of solar and geothermal energy sources; alternative building materials such as Hempcrete and various insulating concreting products; HVAC systems with SEER efficiency ratings as high as 15 and more; tank-less hot-water heaters; Low-E, double-glazed windows and numerous other products are finally becoming the norm in building alternatives in many markets. The list of LEED Green Certified Products Worth Considering grows everyday.

The use of one array of products that may not get as much visibility or press as those above is that of reclaimed timbers and barn wood. It is, however, no less “green” in its impact on the environment. The use of salvaged, reclaimed wood conserves the old-growth forests that we all treasure through the recycling of structural wood members and planking from old barns, factories and structures that have been abandoned and/or become obsolete. The reclaiming of these materials not only cleans up the landscape of abandoned structures but yields a reuse of materials that serves to lessen the impact on our native forests. Moreover, the aesthetics and visual appeal of the “re-finished” materials are the very definition of “rustic elegance”.

The team of Zac Guy at Appalachian Antique Hardwoods, myself, Rolando Paez of Buena Vista Construction and the developers of the mountain community Sunset Falls at Bald Creek, located just outside Waynesville NC, pulled our resources to define their own version of rustic elegance throughout the mountain community. From the entry signage to the Greeter’s Cottage and Gatehouse to the four custom homes completed in the last two years, the use of reclaimed columns, beams, trusses, flooring planks, ceiling planks and other decorative architectural elements has produced a theme throughout the mountain community that is unique to Sunset Falls at Bald Creek. “Green” building concepts are often framed within the context of functionality and energy consumption; however Sunset Falls at Bald Creek has proven that green can also be a thing of beauty… and a mark of conservation.

The town of Waynesville NC itself, from which the entrance to Sunset Falls at Bald Creek is just 15 minutes away, is a jewel of rustic southern charm in its own right. Founded in 1810, the locally owned craft stores, antique shops, eateries and other establishments along its Main Street provide a perfect reflection of its small town, friendly atmosphere making it one of the best cities to retire in Western North Carolina. As a green building services expert, my construction team at Buena Vista Construction prefers to build in mountain communities like Sunset Falls at Bald Creek, where preservation of the old, within the context of the new, allows each homeowner to feel a sense of connectedness and well-being not only within their immediate neighborhood but also within the historic Town of Waynesville NC. Consider yourself invited to take a “green” educational tour with myself and learn about green building services on your next trip to the Waynesville NC area.

Dataw Island South Carolina Taps Into the Vacation Travel Market

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-14 09:15

Gated communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to home sales by keeping non-residents out of their neighborhoods on the islands of South Carolina. Today’s buyers are more hesitant to inquire or schedule tours with real estate sales agents unless they feel they are truly interested in the community. Without driving through the community first for a quick peek, how would you know? Dataw Island recognizes the special place they have created behind their gates and figured out a way to tap into vacationers who may be searching for Beaufort County real estate in the area. Sensing these folks may be the ultimate home buyers for their golf community in Beaufort South Carolina, Dataw Island has opened up club membership.

Dataw Island’s pro-active Board of Directors approved this week a ‘Vacation Membership Program’ allowing vacationers who live more than 50 miles away from Dataw Island access the Dataw Island Club’s community amenities through club membership. Smart thinking in my opinion because this restriction prevents locals from joining the Dataw Island Club burdening the community with crowds of people who are unlikely home buyers. The cost to join the Vacation Membership Program at Dataw Island is a $1,500 initiation fee plus $1,500 in annual dues. Privileges of membership include 30 rounds of golf annually at Dataw Island’s stunning golf course, marina, use of the top notch tennis facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness center and dining privileges at the club.

Buyers I talk with are concerned with the reality of meeting new friends, leaving behind deeply rooted friendships when they relocate. Real estate salespeople are quick to tell us how friendly the residents are, all in an effort to close the sale. But how will we really know? Dataw Island has found a way to attract vacationers inside the gates to hang out with members of Dataw Island Club and sense their southern charm first hand. Dataw Island's Vacation Membership Program also allows second home owners at Dataw Island the chance to be a club member before making Dataw Island their primary residence at retirement.

I am a big fan of the area & here's why: Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Beaufort South Carolina. Learn more about what Dataw Island has to offer as an established golf community. See how we scored the community on our Dataw Island Community Review Page.

If you are searching for a second home, let me know if you would like information about being our guest for the weekend so you can experience the Dataw Island lifestyle. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Could Land Be a Smart Flight to Safety Before the Ominous 2012?

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-12 09:51

The facts are simple; the Dow Jones has gone up 65% in 30 months and has tried twice to break through a ceiling of 13,000 unsuccessfully. The price of gold has doubled in the same time period. To me, it seems risky to buy either at these levels. At the same time, the U.S. dollar is deflating quickly. Many experts predict the dollar's collapse if the U.S. can't get the debt under control. Can you imagine our dollar worthless? It’s hard to comprehend. In the same 30 months, real estate prices have tanked as much as 100%, especially in hard hit areas like Florida, Arizona and Nevada.  

Now think back to Y2K. I predict 2012 will be a repeat performance of Y2K and I am naming it the ‘Year of Fear’. Doomsday forecasters claim a number of historical events will happen simultaneously on December 21, 2012 including the possibility of an end to the world as we know it. The 5,126 year old Mayan calendar ends. At the same time, during the winter solstice on December 21, 2012 at 11:11pm, the sun will align with the Milky Way for the first time in 26,000 years creating a barrier of the earth’s energy to the Milky Way. What impact will this have? Who knows. People and businesses took Y2K very seriously. Fortunately, it came and went without a bleep.

2012 is another ‘Year of Fear’ which we all must plan for. 2012 is also a Presidential election year, a year of escalated heated debates as American’s demand resolution from our government for the sluggish economy. Baby Boomers like me, will be keeping a very close watch on Social Security and Medicare to make sure our government does not quietly behind closed doors, take away our benefits at the 11th hour. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize there are not enough young people paying taxes into the system to fund Social Security over the next 25 years. Add to it, our health care system will be deeply challenged to care for the 79 million aging Baby Boomers likely to be ill without health care costs rising substantially. We Baby Boomers are delirious if we believe America has the financial resources to take care of us 10 years from now and for the rest of our lives. It is up to us to make smart choices.

America’s gluttony behavior of utilizing debt for the past 30 years has created the Perfect Financial Storm and there’s no easy way to preserve capital. To me, it appears the safest place to preserve our assets is by choosing deeply discounted tangible commodities such as land. With careful due diligence, desirable property and improved land can easily be found in attractive gated communities. As I score the best master planned communities in the Southeast, whether it’s the coast or the mountains, I am taken back observing what our money can buy today. I see steals in Eastern Tennessee, Coastal North Carolina, Northern Georgia and Coastal South Carolina without the complications of a short sale or foreclosure.

If you're one of the 40% of Baby Boomers predicted to relocate to the Southeast leaving the harsh winters and high cost cities in the Northeast, buying improved land today is an easy way to stage your new home cost as you prepare to relocate. Building a new home is seriously worth considering because it allows you to build a maintenance free new home instead of maintaining an old fixer upper.

If you wait until 2012, the ‘Year of Fear’ will likely rob you of your courage to move forward with your retirement. In reality, we have a finite number of healthy years to enjoy during our retirement. Talk to your financial planner and find out when they think you should ‘move to safety’ with your investments considering what will happen in 2012. Seriously consider buying improved land in the best master planned communities. I’m happy to share with you what I’ve found in areas you may be interested in. Call me anytime at 866.384.1799 or write margie@realestatescorecard.com

Who knows what will happen in 2012...

The Times You May Wish You Had Chosen a Gated Community

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-10 09:24

This weekend is a time of reflection about our vulnerability which we became acutely aware of on September 11, 2001. What I recall, after the horror of watching the television that morning, is the insecurity we felt as a country for a long time after. The attack happened during the height of NFL football season, a time when no one wanted to be at large gatherings anymore. We were afraid to drive over bridges or be near nuclear power facilities. We questioned our water supply and the postal mail.

As we pulled ourselves back together, I remember the compassion and visible expressions of love by American’s during the tragedy. Our strong resolve pulled us through. Watching my generation age, I notice Baby Boomers becoming more insecure, especially with the state of our economy. In times like these, you may wish you had chosen a gated community to live during your retirement. Why?

Living in a big city in a tightly secured condominium building, I take for granted not being on guard 24/7 regarding my surroundings. I feel safe and enjoy the privacy. In a high rise condominium building, it is unlikely someone would be successful in stealing my electronics without being filmed or that an unwelcome visitor would pass through security. The word ‘gated community’ is a blanket label but has distinct differences as it relates to security. Here is what I’ve observed as I visit and score the best cities to retire in the Southeast:

Gated communities left wide open - what’s the point with having a gate?

Gated communities left open during the day, gates closed at night

Gated communities with access codes - no fun when the code system doesn’t work

Gated communities with laxidasical security - basically a guard waving hello

Gated communities with rigid security - requiring your driver’s license and authorization to enter

Gated communities with barrier walls and rigid security

Ironically, despite the different levels of security, the monthly homeowner association dues are not much higher. Larger real estate communities tend to have tighter security and more property owners to share with the expense. The smaller communities are more casual about it and sometimes I wonder, why bother with a gate? One of my colleagues told me she never locks her front door. I wondered if she lives in the Garden of Eden? Today, leaving your door unlocked is risky on so many levels.

Beyond the security levels at gated communities, it is the sense of community and the outward expression of love which helps folks feel more safe and secure. In larger gated communities, there are organized social clubs, where neighbors share common interests and build close friendships. At a time of need, these close bonds between neighbors are priceless on an emotional level adding value to gated communities.

During the bird flu epidemic, my alarmist sister tried to convince me American’s would experience a horrifying pandemic and thousands of people would die. Thankfully, she was wrong. What I did learn from the experience is how unprepared I was for catastrophic events. Do you have enough food, water, medicines and baby items to endure 2-3 weeks without leaving your home? I hadn’t before then. In Florida, the hurricane season reinforces this issue every year. When Floridians are in the center of the cone zone, our grocery store shelves are cleared out within hours.

Gated communities are more cohesive environments where if you don’t have something you need, your neighbor probably will and will share it with you. If you’re out in the boonies, don’t count on quick aid during a time of need. Be prepared. The Federal Government has subtly been preparing us for future catastrophes. Have you seen the billboards and television commercials - Are you Ready? I see them in every state on the Interstate 95 corridor. FEMA’s website has a wealth of information:

Get a Kit

Make a Plan

Be Informed

Honoring the victims of September 11th and their families, please take the time to get a kit, make a plan and be informed. Share this information with your family. Share this information with your neighbors. Share this information in your gated community.

If you are searching for a gated community in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee and if security is important to you, I’m happy to share with you the specific security observations I’ve made. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com.

Leaf Peepers Fall Foliage Forecast Asheville North Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-08 10:00

You may not know, I’ve spent years researching master planned communities in Western North Carolina. In December 2011, we will have scored the best mountain communities in the Asheville area. Colleagues who know me ask, why did I wait until December to add Western North Carolina master planned communities to our website? To score these developments during the fall foliage season, of course.

If you're like me, Baby Boomers love to travel to Western North Carolina in the fall and here is where you can expect to see spectacular fall colors:

The first week of October: Elevations above 5,000 feet such as the North Carolina High Country will begin to see vibrant color displays during the first week of October. Blowing Rock, Boone and Banner Elk are cities nicknamed the North Carolina High Country. The Blue Ridge Parkway to the north of Asheville, passes over Mount Mitchell providing excellent fall foliage viewing areas. Mount Mitchell is the highest mountain east of the Rocky Mountains, its summit at 6,684 feet. At mile post 328 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Orchard at Altapass is the perfect place to stop for lunch and enjoy Bluegrass music overlooking the layered mountains blazing with color. Don’t be surprised if the temperatures drop quickly in October dumping big snowflakes on you at any time, especially at the higher elevations.

The second week of October: Elevations above 4,000 feet will begin to see vibrant reds, burnt orange and sunny yellows. My favorite places to hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway at these elevations are Devil’s Courthouse (a 360 degree panoramic photograph spot) and Graveyard Fields (two popular waterfalls). Enjoy lunch or breakfast at the Mount Pisgah Inn located at mile post 408 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, another great viewing area. Lake Toxaway and Highlands Cashiers North Carolina are also gorgeous high elevation areas to view the fall foliage color display. Hike granite faced White Side Mountain and enjoy a candlelight dinner later at the Old Edwards Inn Spa in Cashiers NC.

The third week of October: Elevations 3,000 - 4,000 feet will see beautiful displays of fall colors especially in Waynesville North Carolina. I refer to Waynesville as a ‘spill over’ city of Asheville because of the number of annual festivals, art galleries and delicious cuisine found in downtown Waynesville. Waynesville NC is an artsy city just 30 minutes southwest of Asheville. A great photographic spot to capture the fall foliage reflecting on a lake in this area would be at Lake Junaluska. Mile post 443 on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the quick exit off for Waynesville and Sylva.

The fourth week of October: Elevations 2,000 - 3,000 feet will be the late fall foliage season before the evening freezes settle in. America's Happiest City will be the busiest place for leaf peepers in Western North Carolina, especially at The Biltmore Estate. I always recommend for our clients, a sunset dinner on the veranda at the Grove Park Inn or casual cocktails at the top of the Flat Iron Building. About 30 minutes southeast of Asheville, DuPont Forest in Brevard has 10 beautiful waterfall hikes and is worth the trip. Three of my favorite waterfalls at DuPont Forest are: Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls. Don’t miss visiting Chimney Rock Park in the Lake Lure area too. Walking across the catwalk on Chimney Rock to take photographs of Lake Lure is quite a thrill.

I look forward to sharing with you the best master planned communities. In the meantime, follow our ‘Best of Facebook Pages’ to keep informed and learn more about these areas. Asheville North Carolina continues to be one of the best cities to retire, an ideal place to find a North Carolina mountain home with its scenic majestic natural beauty all around you. Feel free to call me anytime with your questions about Western North Carolina. Our toll free number is 866.384.1799 or email margie@realestatescorecard.com

Photo courtesy of Susie Blackmon - North Carolina in the Fall

Bucking the Trend, Westhaven Golf Club in Nashville Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-07 12:52

While many real estate developers in Southeast have slammed on their brakes with building proposed amenities, Southern Land Company in Franklin Tennessee has accelerated ahead, breaking ground on Westhaven’s new 13,000 square foot golf clubhouse before reaching its goal of 300 golf members. The golf clubhouse completion is expected in the summer of 2012.

The Arthur Hills designed golf course was recognized in 2010 by Golfweek as one of the Best New Golf Courses in Middle Tennessee. Southern Land Company designed the private golf course protecting the natural beauty found at Westhaven. Golfers have complete privacy, viewing scenic landscapes and wildlife with no homes built directly on the golf course. The new Westhaven Golf Clubhouse will have a European flavor, Tudor Eclectic architecture wrapped around modern technology and the conveniences of today’s golf clubhouse.

The golf community of Westhaven in Franklin Tennessee is a Nashville neighborhood already successful as a bedroom community bustling with social activities, without the golf. Residents of Westhaven have access to a long list of completed quality amenities including the convenience of their own Town Center. Pearre Creek Elementary School is walking distance to Westhaven, ideal for families with young children. Retirees equally cherish the gentle topography at Westhaven, easy for walking and biking on the community trails.

All types of home styles are available at Westhaven including five new Brownstone units recently been released by builder Ford Custom Classic Homes. Westhaven is Williamson County’s Best Selling Neighborhood in Franklin Tennessee. Of the 2,600 homes planned at Westhaven, approximately 875 have been built since 2003. I invite you to read my community review and score for Westhaven. We have received property owner scorecards and comments from Westhaven residents which are available for you to read.

If you are considering Nashville neighborhoods, I'm happy to share what I’ve learned about the master planned communities in the area. You may not know, Tennessee is the lowest cost of living state in the Southeast. Send me your ‘wish’ list and I will promptly reply with information about Nashville neighborhoods which match your interest’s and budget. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Before You Buy Real Estate, Lessons from Virgin America

By Margie Casey — 2011-09-02 09:12

I blew my budget this week spending an extra $25 to fly Virgin America from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles. The leadership lessons in customer service were priceless. Southwest Airlines always provides belly laughs which is why I love flying Southwest Airline. Jet Blue has newer planes and was the first to provide televisions in the airplane seats, which I thought was pretty cool back then. Allegiant Air is the most economical commercial airline we fly often. I only wish Allegiant Air flew to more cities from Fort Lauderdale. Allegiant Air flights to Knoxville Tennessee and Greenville South Carolina are available a couple times a week. Airlines I am not in a rush to fly again: Spirit, US Airways, Delta, American Airlines and Continental.

Ahh, then Virgin America changed everything. As I found my seat, I was taken back by the spa like atmosphere on an airplane. Periwinkle ceiling lights with fucia panel lights changed the immediate vibe after the hot stuffy jetway. Soft grey architecture framed the black leather seats. I wondered if this lighting color scheme was designed by Virgin America Founder Richard Branson or is it the lighting color on all new airplanes? I later discovered this is a signature design of Virgin America. As I sat down in my seat, the soft padded seat strap had an enclosed air bag crossing my waist, making me feel strangely safer. Soft piped music played throughout the aircraft. In case you didn’t know, I’m one of those big chickens who white knuckle the armrest while flying. When it was time to depart, the television screens switched to the emergency procedure video and frankly, the video was hilarious. Not only I, but everyone around me laughed and paid careful attention. Pretty creative and smart Virgin America. Applying tasteful humor, the emergency video reminded me through cartoon characters, of the unlikely probability of a crash landing and what we would happen if we did. Did someone say toast?

The television’s built into each seat of Virgin America’s planes are super high tech. Virgin America offers Chromebook tablets, available for rent at their kiosks near their boarding gates, providing inflight internet and email access. The built in television’s provide basic news channels, music channels, movies and games but they are also designed to order table service, your food and drinks delivered promptly by a smiling flight attendant. Again, in Virgin America style, even the menu choices are entertaining. I spent the first 15 minutes designing what I hoped would be my gourmet lunch and realized how fast I could spend another $25 on this flight, between Movies on Demand, a glass of wine, fruit cheese and crackers. Somehow, I didn’t mind. Using the removable remote control from the arm of my seat designed for control freak Type A personalities like me, is another brilliant airplane design. Passengers no longer need to tap the touchscreen television in front of them to change the channel, annoying the heck out of passenger in that seat.

Our pilot soon informed us shortly after take off our non-stop flight was no longer non-stop. Our airplane had been moved to a shorter runway for takeoff because of maintenance repairs being made to the longer main runway in Fort Lauderdale. This meant our airplane could not longer carry enough fuel to take us to Los Angeles. Passengers like me, weren’t thrilled about the extra stop. I specifically chose a non-stop fly and paid more for the flight. I paused for a moment after the announcement and acknowledged, this was not Virgin America’s fault. The pilot reassured us we would re-fuel quickly in Dallas and be on our merry way. We were in less than 30 minutes.

How does flying Virgin America compare to buying real estate ? After the pilot’s surprise announcement, my mind obsessed with real estate, drifted over to promises made to buyers who paid a premium for property and amenities and where inconvenienced unexpectedly. When the Great Real Estate Depression began in late 2007, sales tanked at most master planned communities across America, especially in those which weren’t well established. While scoring master planned communities in Southeast, I notice a pattern. If sales began in the mid 2000‘s, those communities seem to be the ones hardest hit, unless the real estate developer owned the property debt free. As with a teenager reaching adulthood, master planned communities over 18 years of age are more mature and seem to be fairing just fine in this sluggish economy. The age of the community may be something you want to pay attention too before you go take a look.

My thoughts went back to the emergency video Virgin America had created educating the passengers on emergency procedures. Selfishly, I thought how nice it would have been if real estate developers where I purchased property in the past, had created a video tucked in their sales brochures warning me of the purchasing risks, so I would not have been caught off guard. Instead those stock images of perfect America on their sales video grabbed me hook line and sinker. I would have preferred better disclosure, Mr/Mrs Real Estate Developer informing me in the video of the projected growth in ‘normal market conditions’ and the benchmarks their sales team would need to achieve before the budget allowed building X Y and Z amenity. Just like families at home, real estate developers operate within budgets and are monitored by Lenders. Real estate developers who keep in close contact with their communities about progress and delays retain cohesiveness with their property owners. Buyers should find out what level of communication and access the real estate developer provides property owners, especially in newer communities.

Where Virgin America banged it out of the park is their understanding and enhancing the passenger experience, during my captivated 5 hour flight. I’m still stuck on the soft periwinkle and invigorating fucia lights which made the cabin calming and pleasant, instead of the energy draining white fluorescents. Something so simple, but so noticeably different. Virgin America understands little ole me and my apprehension of flying and addressed it head on by creating a different set of emotions through atmosphere and video - without puff.

Buying real estate is so much more than buying a pile of dirt or a roof over our head. We save our hard earned money to buy our dream home at retirement and we want our imagined happiness to become our reality. I have earned long term friendships from clients who reached their relocation goals. If you plan to buy a home in a non-gated community, forget the bells and whistles because you won’t get them. You’re pretty much on your own and that is exactly the way many people want. But for business professionals, we tend to want and expect more. We like to feel special because it has become a common experience in everything we do. Preferred seating, reward club perks and a gold colored credit cards. We don’t mind and expect to pay for more for these benefits.

Analyst’s claim America is experiencing a bigger separation between the classes at all levels, from the ultra wealthy to the poverty level. The information age has been a contributing factor creating more first time millionaires than ever in history. However, most people are not millionaires. If you’re like me, you continue to shop at big box discount stores to live within your means. Yesterday’s middle class is becoming tomorrow’s lower class. Businesses who find a way to provide a level of services which spoil the rich and are still affordable to the lower class, will lead the pack in every industry. I believe Virgin America is one of those businesses.

What I take note of as I score real estate communities in the Southeast, is the cost of living at each of these communities and the lifestyle experience they deliver for the money. If you are considering relocating, you must be curious which master planned communities give you the biggest bang for your buck? I’m happy to share this information with you. Just give me a call anytime. Before you buy real estate for retirement, I recommend you fly Virgin America to experience how Richard Branson has raised the bar in affordable airline travel and his leadership lessons are worth paying attention to.

By the way, Virgin America is not perfect. They ran out of sandwiches on our long flight which the flight attendants had warned us of earlier in the flight. If this is a common problem, why the heck hasn’t Virgin America corrected it? None the less, Virgin America will be the first airline I look to when I fly again. One more kudos for Virgin America - when my credit card wouldn’t read on their techie television, the flight attendant quickly provided the product I requested and figured out the solution before the flight ended. Buy from businesses who take care of your needs first and figure out how to solve the problems which arise later. Is that so much to ask?

There are master planned communities in the Southeast who provide you this same level of lifestyle experience as Virgin America for a little bit more than the cheapest price in town. Don’t fall in love with the deal because you can be sure someone will find it cheaper and take the wind out of your sail. Fall in love with the experience because the lifestyle experience is where you will find your long term joy. Sir Richard Branson provides true leadership lessons.

margie@realestatescorecard.com

When Cinderella Loses Her Glass Slipper at Age 40

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-31 07:23

Life is constantly changing. Couples growing closer, couples growing apart ending up divorced. I wondered, are there more single woman in my age group these days hanging out at social clubs? Of the 81 million Baby Boomers alive, the 2010 Census shows an even match; half men and half women. When both reach the age of 64, women begin to dominate the age group from that point on. Women in the United States are projected to outlive men by 5 to 7 years. This creates interesting issues for women, expected to end up alone during retirement.

With divorce rates so high, couples are leaving each other long before aging actualization. According to the National Marriage Project, women seek divorce more often than men. Divorced myself at age 30, I know wearing three hats; wife, mother and second household income provider, is pressure which wears women out. Men would argue they play the same roles at the same level. Now at age 48, I realize this isn’t the core problem. I believe women enjoy all three roles and are evolving into an independent species. Working women like the recognition and independence they have found in the workplace.

These days, single women my age are very comfortable in their own skin. They travel to Europe alone, dine out alone and date, if they feel like it. A financially secure single woman from Texas I helped relocate, moved into her dream home this month in the mountains of North Carolina. She bought the property on her own and built her dream home on her own. To be happy, women appear to no longer need Prince Charming and the glass slipper. Although, I don’t believe in the ‘walls’ women have built around themselves. By Devine design, women do need men and men need women. Proven by marriage statistics, men do want to be married and are quicker to open up their hearts. Men feel more complete when they are coddled and cared for by their wife, just like their Mom’s took care of them when they were a little boy. If women are financially independent, they are much slower to make that commitment again because they don’t need to be financially provided for. They may not want to fall back into a care taking role.

How Will Baby Boomers Solve These New Issues Going Forward? What is a Social Club?

Living on One Income - A two income lifestyle often affords luxury cars, extravagant vacations and big ticket items. When a couple divorces, the transition is difficult for both parties, learning to live on one household income, let alone retiring on one income. Did we kill our retirement dream by getting divorced?

Baggage - ‘Baggage’ is referred to as burdens brought into a relationship by one of the parties such as debt, health issues, permanent alimony in Florida, Boomerang Kids living back at home after age 30 or continuous conflicts between an ex-spouse. Will baggage prevent compatible couples from falling in love, even if they could be perfect for each other?

The Dreaded Dating Scene - Looking in the mirror can be depressing, especially when you think about dating again. Wrinkles, weighing more and receding hairlines can kill our desire to retro-date our high school sweetheart on Facebook. Playing the field may seem exciting at first but, in reality who wants to meet their next spouse at a bar and does Match.com really work?

Preserving Independence - After divorce, hopefully we have a better idea in our minds, what qualities we want in our new mate. Perfection of course, yet unrealistic. The kiss of death in relationships over the age of 40, is a guy or girl who gets too clingy. That is the last thing an independent man or woman wants. What can men and women do to insure they support and promote each others independence? Maybe merging finances and living arrangements isn’t the way to go, after all.

To me, I would define the solution in four words: downsize, flexibility, reasonableness and consciousness. These four deliberate actions will allow Baby Boomers to pick up where they left off and make the best of their golden years. Not all middle age couples decide to divorce. In long term marriages, some couples are more tolerant of each other, although their lives may be monotonous and boring.

Social clubs in gated master planned communities can be just what the doctor ordered, to spice up their marriage. What is a social club? Book clubs, tennis clubs, dinner parties and travel adventures are just a few of the social activities couples in close knit communities enjoy together. Moving to residential real estate communities with enriching social clubs can add tremendous value to married couples and single Baby Boomers. Social clubs are great places to meet new friends and I see as the true heart and soul of a community.

For single Baby Boomers, I encourage you to join a Meetup Group. Meetup Groups are made up of people who share common interests like hiking and kayaking, without the pressure of dating. I am here to help you with logistics, if you are considering relocation. I can provide you with a list of the best master planned communities with friendly social clubs. Reach out to me and say 'hello' at margie@realestatescorecard.com

I hope these thought provoking ideas will help you reinvent yourself, allowing you to move forward with your retirement on a positive note. Fear will prevent you from living your fullest life, after age 40. Regret will make you mad at yourself, after age 65. Downsize, be flexible, reasonable and consciously aware of the need for independence at this sensitive time in life. What is a social club? Social clubs are the key to a higher quality of life, especially if you lose your glass slipper.

Top 20 Parks In and Around Nashville Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-29 11:20

On any given Sunday, you will find state parks across America filled with families enjoying natural amenities created and preserved by our government. Although Nashville Tennessee is known as 'Music City' and 'The Home of Country Music', I didn’t believe at first, when a friend of mine mentioned the city of Nashville has 109 public parks and Greenway’s within the city limits. After further research, I discovered it is true: A list of Nashville Tennessee City Parks. This does not count the amazing state parks less than an hour’s drive from Nashville’s city center.

If you are considering relocating to beautiful Nashville neighborhoods, take a look at the 'bigger backyard', the parks and playgrounds preserved for you in Tennessee.

The Best Large Parks In Nashville

1) Bicentennial Mall State Park 600 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN A 19 acre park in front of the Tennessee State Capitol Building. Wide open spaces display beautiful views of the downtown. A great place to read a book, play with your children or take an leisurely stroll. The center section of the park has a 2,000 seating outdoor amphitheater. Picnic tables and bathrooms are available at the park.

2) Centennial Park 2600 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN Home to the Parthenon replica, a 132 acre park in the heart of downtown Nashville. Gardens, water features such as the duck pond, nice walking trails and scenic photographic park. Joggers frequent the park. Bring your four legged best friend to Centennial Dog Park.

3) Radnor Lake State Park 1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville, TN Six hiking trails weave through the park and around the 85 acre lake. As a protected natural habitat, wildlife is easy to find and observe. Rock formations, wildflowers and wildlife attract photographers from all around the area to photograph this beautiful state park.

The Best Large Parks on the edges of Nashville

4) Bledsoe Creek State Park 400 Ziegler Fort Road, Gallatin, TN (45 minute drive) This 164 acre park provides camping and boat ramps on Old Hickory Lake, a popular bass fishing lake. There are six miles of hiking trails and twenty two picnic shelters. A children’s playground, softball field and volleyball courts are additional park amenities.

5) Burgess Falls State Park 4000 Burgess Falls Drive, Sparta, TN (1.5 hour drive) The park is known for magnificent waterfalls cascading from the Falling Water River from Center Hill Lake. Boating is allowed above the dam area only. Hiking trails of all levels; easy to extremely strenuous lead to the various waterfalls. A children’s playground and restrooms are available in the park

6) Cedar of Lebanon State Park 328 Cedar Forest Road, Lebanon, TN (45 minute drive) This 900 acred densely forested park has eight miles of hiking trails, camp sites, seasonal horseback riding and a Olympic size swimming pool for use during the summer months. A modern lodge, tennis courts and ball fields are additional park amenities.

7) Edgar Evins State Park 1630 Edgar Evins State Park Road, Silver Point, TN (1 hr drive) This 6,000 acre park is located on the shore of Center Hill Lake. Lodging and camp sites are available. A restaurant is at the marina. Eleven miles of hiking trails weave around the lake. Center Hill Lake is a popular swimming lake in Middle Tennessee.

8) Fall Creek Falls State Park 2009 Village Camp Road, Pikeville, TN (2 hour drive) Voted America’s Best State Park in the Southeastern United States. The park is 20,000 acres and is home to the tallest waterfall in the eastern United States named White Fall Creek Falls. Fall Creek Falls State Park has cabins, villas, a fancy guest Park Inn and camp sites for the outdoors man. The Fall Creek Falls State Park restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Fall Creek Falls Golf Course has been named in America’s Top 25 Public Golf Courses. There are 34 miles of hiking trails of all levels in the park. Fishing and boating are permitted on Fall Creek Falls Lake. Horseback rides are available during the summer months. Fall Creek Falls State Park has an Olympic size swimming pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are four ball fields in the park. Fall Creek Falls State Park is busy year round with education events and festivals.

9) Henry Horton State Park 4358 Nashville Highway, Chapel Hill, TN (1 hour drive) The Buford Ellington championship 18 hole golf course is located at Henry Horton State Park. The Horton Inn provides accommodations inside the park, along the Duck River. The park also has its own restaurant or outdoor picnic facilities. Easy hiking trails, a paved bicycle path and children’s ballfields are more park amenities. Professional trap and skeet shooting are available in the park’s skeet shooting range. Henry Horton State Park is also known for its Olympic size swimming pool, open Memorial Day weekend through the beginning of August.

10) Long Hunter State Park 2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage TN (30 minute drive) The park is along the shores of the 14,000 acre J. Percy Priest Lake. Two boat ramps are inside the park to access the lake. J. Percy Priest Lake is a popular fishing lake. The Jones Mill mountain bike trail is one of several bike trails at the park. Eight hiking trails of all levels weave throughout the park. Swimming is permitted at the Bryan Grove section of the park. Long Hunter State Park is a pet-friendly park.

11) Old Stone Fort State Park 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester, TN (1 hour drive) The 876 acre park has a 9 hole golf course on the Tennessee Golf Trail, bordering the scenic Duck River. The park is a 2,000 year old American Indian ceremonial site and historic museum. Camping, picnic areas and easy hiking trails are at the park.

The Best 9 Small Parks In and Around Nashville:

12) Cedar Hill Park 860 W Old Hickory Blvd, Madison, TN Just north of Nashville, this tranquil park has a duck pond, jogging paths, picnic areas, ball fields and a children’s playground. Play disc golf at this beautiful park.

13) Crockett Park 9025 Crockett Park, Brentwood, TN A local’s favorite! Crockett Park has tennis courts, an amphitheater, disc golf and fun children’s playgrounds. A nice shaded park with flat jogging trails along a creek.

14) Fannie Mae Dees Park 240 Blackmore Avenue, Nashville, TN A really cool children’s playground with mystical dragon sculptures.

15) Granny White Park 610 Granny White Pike, Brentwood, TN Walking and jogging trails partially shaded, tennis courts, ball fields and a nice children’s playground.

16) Percy Warner Park 2500 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN One of the best parks in Nashville, Percy Warner Park has great hiking and biking trails of all levels and the size of the park makes it easy to get lost. Be sure to bring GPS and trail maps. Dogs and horses are allowed on the trails.

17) Richland Creek Greenway 4601 Murphy Road, Nashville TN Crosses over the Ridgeland Creek and is a beautiful walking and biking trail system. The greenway passes by a golf course, a boot camp and borders a quick moving creek.

18) Riverfront Park 100 1st Avenue North, Nashville TN In the heart of downtown Nashville, this is a great place to watch boat traffic on the Cumberland River, the Dragon Boat Races, musical concerts and the 4th of July celebrations.

19) Sevier Park 3000 Granny White Park, Nashville, TN Open green space with beautiful tree canopies and rolling hills. Nice biking trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer field, picnic pavilion and children’s playground.

20) Shelby Park 1601 Davidson Street, Nashville, TN One of Nashville’s best parks, Shelby Park has two golf courses, a dog park, ball fields, ponds and children’s playgrounds. The perfect place for long easy bike rides and walks. The Shelby Bottoms greenway, part of the park system, is Nashville’s famous greenway along the Cumberland River, ideal for cyclists.

Tennessee is one of the lowest cost of living states in the Southeast for retirement. If you are looking for Nashville neighborhoods, ask me to share my favorites. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. You may not know, I personally visit each and every master planned community I recommend.

I am happy to share with you a list of the best hotels, restaurants and things happening in the area, all to make your visit more enjoyable. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Hurricane Irene Emergency Contact Information Using Facebook

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-26 08:33

As residents on the eastern seaboard of the United States prepare for Hurricane Irene, we thought it would be helpful to provide emergency government contact information found on Facebook, a place where you may find out what’s happening in your local area on your cell phone faster, especially after the storm. It may be difficult to reach your insurance company, electrical power provider and government agency by phoning them. Facebook is another valuable communication tool you may not have thought of.

Here is a list of emergency resources we found on Facebook. If you are able, 'like' the appropriate pages before the storm. Not all Facebook pages are actively updated. Some utility companies post on Twitter instead of Facebook.

Emergency Information Facebook Government Contact Pages:

Electrical Power Providers:

Coastal Maine, Central Maine Power Company - no presence found on Facebook
Coastal Maryland, Baltimore Gas and Electric
Coastal Massachusetts, NSTAR Electric and Gas
Coastal New Jersey, PSEG - no presence found on Facebook
Coastal New York, ConEdison - no presence found on Facebook
Coastal North Carolina, Progress Energy
Coastal Pennsylvania, PECO - no presence found on Facebook
Rhode Island, National Grid
Coastal South Carolina, SCE&G - no presence found on Facebook
Coastal Virginia, Dominion

Insurance Companies:

Allstate Insurance
American International Group (AIG) - no presence found on Facebook
Chubb Insurance
Farmers Insurance
Liberty Mutual
National Indemnity Company - no presence found on Facebook
Nationwide Insurance
Progressive Insurance
State Farm Insurance
The Hartford
Travelers

Our fingers are crossed Hurricane Irene takes a new course and heads straight out to sea. Us Floridians already know what to expect from these dangerous storms. It's been years since the Northeast has been punched by a hurricane like Irene. Please be safe. Facebook government pages can be a valuable communication tool to help you and your family.

Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Beaufort South Carolina

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-25 11:43

Did you know it was 22 years ago when the last hurricane touched the islands of South Carolina? Hurricane Hugo passed 53 miles to the north of Beaufort in 1989. Beaufort is located on the mainland, set back from the ocean, tucked between the protected Saint Helena Sound and Port Royal Sound. If you notice the map provided by Google, you will see Beaufort is a fascinating coastal area in the Lowcountry of South Carolina to explore.

Here is why we believe Beaufort South Carolina is one of the best cities to retire:

Adventure - With more time on your hands at retirement, you will be looking for interesting things to do which won’t require much effort. Kayaking is the most popular water sport in Beaufort South Carolina. Kayak the thousands of acres and waterways surrounding Lady’s Island and Saint Helena Island. You will find bottlenose dolphin, bird wildlife and fish habitats. When you visit to search for Beaufort County real estate, take an eco tour by kayak with Beaufort Kayak Tours, voted the best kayak exploration company in Beaufort. Learn the waterways and islands of South Carolina so you can plan your own picnic adventures. Of course, fishing, boating or walking the beaches at Hunting Island State Park are popular adventures too.

Cuisine - When you think of Beaufort South Carolina, think of fresh seafood. Shrimping and crabbing describe everyday life on the water in the Lowcountry. Half backers from Florida and northeastern Foodies are accustomed to chic restaurants and delicious food. On Yelp, there are 140 restaurants in Beaufort, from pizza shacks to five star gourmet restaurants. 33 of them are rated four stars or higher. Our favorite restaurants in Beaufort South Carolina are the Saltus River Grill and Eleventh Street Dockside, a fabulous place to watch the sunset. You won’t have a problem finding an excellent place to dine in Beaufort.

Romance - If you searched for Beaufort County real estate, you’re familiar with Bay Street in downtown, which hugs the Beaufort River. Waterfront Park, the public community lawn for outdoor concerts, has a row of public swings designed for two, overlooking the river. The swings face the Woods Memorial Bridge which leads to Hunting Island State Park - named one of America’s Top 10 Beaches. Antebellum mansions dating back over 200 years are now Romantic Bed & Breakfast Inns overlooking the Beaufort River. Our favorites include Cuthbert House Inn and The Rhett House Inn. If your taste is more modern, City Loft is a contemporary hotel in Beaufort. If you do not have a sweetheart to sense the romance in Beaufort, no worries, Match.com currently has over 400 singles between the ages of 40 and 60 living in Beaufort South Carolina.

Art - Author John Villani named Beaufort South Carolina as one of the Top 100 Art Towns in America. There are 10 art galleries in downtown Beaufort. ARTworks, sponsored by the Art Council of Beaufort Port Royal and Sea Islands, offers adult art classes 365 days a year; instruction in clay, pottery, basketry, writing and more. Local art festivals, exhibits, theatre and concert performances are coordinated by ARTworks in various locations throughout Beaufort South Carolina.

Patriotism - Parris Island Recruit Depot and Marine Corps Air Station are both located in Beaufort South Carolina. Occasionally, you will hear a fighter jet flying over head locals call ‘the sound of freedom’. Businesses continually honor and celebrate our Troops in Beaufort, a pleasure to see. They deserve it! Beaufort SC festivals include musical performances and Presenting the Colors by local military branches dressed up in red white and blue. Veterans have access to the Naval Hospital in Beaufort.

Best Beaches - Hunting Island State Park is just to the east of Beaufort South Carolina on Saint Helena Island. Trip Advisor named Hunting Island State Park as a Top 10 Beach because of the unspoiled miles of shoreline. The Hunting Island Lighthouse is fun to climb, to take in the view of the Lowcountry marsh and Atlantic Ocean. You won’t find crowds on this beautiful coastal beach inside the state park, only 25 minutes from downtown Beaufort, on one of the most beautiful islands of South Carolina.

Organic - Farms still decorate the horizon as you drive through Lady’s Island, Saint Helena Island and the more rural areas of Beaufort. U-Pick farms and Farmer’s Markets are popular places to find seasonal produce and homemade products. Strawberries, tomato’s, peppers, watermelons and pumpkins, to name a few. Habersham’s Marketplace hosts a Farmer’s Market every Friday afternoon. In the summer months, on Wednesday at Beaufort’s waterfront, you will find more local grown products and on Saturday’s, an open air Farmer’s Market takes place in Port Royal.

Festivals - You won’t be bored to tears in thanks to exciting Beaufort SC festivals. Just the opposite, your calendars will be filled with festivals in the Lowcountry, entertaining and fun events to share with your grandchildren. The Irish Festival, Soft Shell Crab Festival and Taste of Beaufort take place in the spring. The Beaufort Water Festival and Shrimp Festival takes place in the summer. The Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens takes place in October. And the list keeps growing of annual festivals in Beaufort South Carolina.

Homes - Whether you desire a gated community in the Lowcountry or waterfront homes when searching for Beaufort County real estate, there are plenty of high quality choices. For retirement, we tend to favor the quaint one of the golf and marina communities on Saint Helena Island. Coosaw Point is a non-gated community nearby. If you haven’t seen Habersham on the mainland, this bedroom community overlooking the Broad River is well established and is worth taking a look.

Simplicity - As the world spins faster and faster around us, it is a pleasure to discover a place offering the simple pleasures of life, what we look for at retirement. The southern charm from the people in Beaufort, makes it easy to meet new friends. Without the noise and dense traffic found in highly populated cities, you will find you can breath easier in Beaufort South Carolina and make each moment count. Beaufort is quickly accessible from Interstate 95. The New York Times named Beaufort South Carolina as one of the Best Small Towns and we agree.

If you plan to explore Beaufort County real estate, I'm happy to share my secrets with you. I’ve spent time there and know the area well. Ask for me for my list of the best master planned communities in Beaufort County.

Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

What’s Next After You Become an Empty Nester

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-23 06:10

As school starts back up this week, the silence may be deafening in your home if you’ve sent your youngest teenager off to college and your home feels like the empty nest. It’s hard to describe the gut wrenching feeling parents experience when they realize their life as full-time parents has ended. Traditionally, Mom’s cry for a couple months and Dad’s do a little dance celebrating the lift of responsibility. The transition is not easy.

However, no more piles of dirty laundry, Mom’s taxi service or attempting to be a gourmet chef like Paula Dean trying to figure out what your kids will eat these days. What could your daily life be like 12 months from today? If you allow yourself to play a little bit more, you will quickly find being an empty nester is all its cracked up to be.

After becoming an empty nester a few years ago, I quickly realized my husband was right, our life has become simplier again. He now has all my attention and I have his. I laugh more often now. Was I too busy trying to be a super Mom to notice funny things before? My husband and I have fun together all the time, even in this wicked economy.

If you’ve become an empty nester for this first time, hang in there. These difficult transitioning months will pass. I encourage you to travel if you can to explore the best states to retire. Start noticing the big smiles on Baby Boomer faces who are seasoned empty nesters enjoying retirement. I’ll bet you've never noticed them before. The empty nest brings with it permission to play golf everyday, enjoy art classes you never had the time for and walk the beaches in the early morning to watch the sunrise.

As you settle in the empty nester role, you will find your college kids are not certain where they will live when they finish college. You’ll be lucky if they even come home once they’ve met a girlfriend or boyfriend. Don’t get stressed about it. The door is opening wide for you to consider where you want to live. Don’t cling on to your kids relocation destiny. Talking from experience, as each year passes, your college children will change their minds often as they spread their wings for the first time.

If you are considering relocating to the Southeast at retirement, this is a great time to put your toe in the water and explore the best states to retire, while real estate prices are extremely low. When you compare the cost of living in the Southeast, you may be surprised to find out how much you can save by relocating.

Real estate developers in the Southeast are eager to share with you their resorts, golf communities and exciting lifestyle choices available to you. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are still the best states to retire in the Southeast because they offer a low cost of living, high quality of life and mild weather (this week excluded as Hurricane Irene barrels towards the coast).

I know how you feel this week and send you cyber hugs. You will eventually be happier being an empty nester. And it gets better. Grandchildren are coming soon and they are boatloads of fun! Your life is far from being over. Your life now is unfolding into a new chapter which you are writing.

If you are looking for the best hotels, restaurants and the best master planned communities in the Southeast worth considering, write me sharing which cities you are interested in. I will quickly reply and send you cool links to follow to take your mind off your empty nest. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com.

7 Title Insurance Tips and Secrets

By Kevin Tacher — 2011-08-19 16:32

Secret # 1 - Simultaneous Policies - If you buy a home and buy an owner’s abstract of title insurance policy for $100,000 AND you obtain financing to buy the house, the lender will require their own title insurance policy. This title policy is called a simultaneous title policy which means that you pay full price for the owner’s title policy and you get the simultaneous title policy for a promulgated rate cost of only $25. Many title companies increase the cost beyond $25 to $250 or more. Knowing this tip can save you hundreds of dollars at every closing.

Secret # 2 - Promulgated Rate - Title insurance promulgated rates are the lowest title insurance premium a title company is allowed to charge. That is, the state sets a minimum rate and title companies have to charge a rate that is the same or higher than this promulgated rate. It would benefit you, the consumer, to know what the states promulgated rate is in order to see how much you are being charged over the minimum rate. Know what the promulgated rate is in your state and don’t pay more than this minimum rate. As a title company, we believe that charging more than this rate is not justified for our clients. Unfortunately not all settlement agents feel the same way. Closing costs vary substantially. That is why the new RESPA laws were established in order to make the market more competitive and fair for the consumer.

Secret # 3 – Escrow Agreements and Deposits - You should always use an escrow agreement which stipulates in the event of a default by one party (buyer or seller), what the procedure and instructions are for the title company or attorney and how they should manage the escrow deposit and release of the escrow deposit. When you receive proof of deposit for your buyers (if you are a seller), you want to make sure that the title company has received cleared good funds into their escrow account. For this reason, you should make sure that all deposits are in cleared funds only. Never accept personal checks if you do not know the buyer and that their funds will clear. A stop payment can be issued on cashier’s checks or printed fraudulently. Always insist on a wire transfer of funds in order to ensure that the deposits are cleared funds. The same applies to the funds required for closing. Always use wire transfers if you want to be safe.

Secret # 4 - Reissue Rate Credit - If the seller can produce to the buyer, a title policy that was issued in the past three years, then the title company can provide a reissue rate that can be as much as a 40% discount on the new title insurance policy. Always ask the seller if they have a copy of their original title insurance policy if the property was purchased by them in the previous three years. You can receive this reissue rate credit for your new owners’ title policy. The actual amount of the credit is the same amount regardless of whether the policy is one, two or three years old. If the title policy is older than three years, then you will not be able to receive the reissue rate credit. In the case of a refinance, you can get a reissue credit if you can provide a copy of your title policy regardless of when you purchased the property. It is imperative that you store your title policy in a safe and secure place such as a safe.

Secret # 5 – Can you prepare your own Deed? A common issue that we see when it comes to title examination is the use of deeds that are purchased at the local store. While these deeds are valid and can be used, you need to keep a few important things in mind. When you first purchase a property you are taking legal title. Why would you jeopardize your equitable interest in the property by preparing a fill in the blank document from the local store? There are many title companies and or attorneys that would prepare a deed for a minimal expense to you as the consumer. This is especially true if you have an existing relationship with them. Should you decide to prepare one of these yourself, please keep a few items in mind. All deeds should include the name of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer). Deeds should include the marital status of all parties involved. The complete legal description and parcel identification number should be included in the deed. Please do not copy the legal description from the county property appraiser’s office website as this is usually an abbreviated version. Finally make sure the deed contains a signature of the grantor (seller), two witnesses and a notary.

Secret # 6 – Controlled Business Arrangements - A Controlled Business Arrangement is where a bank, real estate broker, real estate agent, mortgage broker, or title company may have an agreement with each other to provide their services to their clients for a referral fee in return. While this is not illegal or necessarily unethical, you always want to ask the question “Do you have a controlled business arrangement with anyone involved in this real estate transaction?”. This is especially important with real estate because you want to make sure that your best interest is being protected. Unfortunately, some individuals are more concerned about getting their referral fee as opposed to representing their client’s best interests. Please note that it is a violation of Florida Bar regulations for an attorney to pay a referral fee to any person other than another attorney.

Secret # 7 – Do you Interview your Title Company? Do you interview your Title Company before you choose them to handle your business? If not then you should try and ask these questions the next time you have a real estate closing. • Ask them if they are experts in their field, or if they are just a "middleman" company that refers their business out to another firm to actually issue your policy. • Take a look at the company's name or website address for a clue if they are a real company. There is so much fraud you want to make sure you are dealing with a reputable company. Do they have a database of satisfied, well- known customers, or just a list of anonymous "testimonials" that could have been written by anyone? Ask them to supply you with verifiable references. If they can’t, chances are they don’t want you to find out something you shouldn’t. I would suggest calling at least two of their customers to verify the company’s integrity. • Will they actually follow through on your transaction, or just skip town leaving you to start at the beginning? Are they ethical and do they implement world class business practices? Do they have an actual phone number that dials through to a live person or a virtual assistant?

Each state has different laws and regulations governing title insurance, if it applies. Be sure to seek legal advice in the appropriate state where you are buying or selling. All information provided herein is copyrighted by Kevin Tacher and Lex Levinrad.

Contact Kevin Tacher of Independence Title to obtain an abstract of title for your home purchase.

Observations in Wilmington, New Bern and Albemarle Sound

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-18 11:33

While searching for the best master planned communities in coastal North Carolina, here’s what I observed last week:

Outer Banks - In the northern end of North Carolina, the Inner Banks are still predominately farmland and undeveloped land. Boaters can’t help but love the protected calm Albemarle Sound on the Inner Banks. The area was refreshing and relaxing to sense, after coming from a fast paced metropolitan city. The northern end of the Outer Banks I found particularly appealing; Currituck, Duck and Corolla. I’ve never seen so many joggers, bikers and walkers. The local farmers markets, cute waterfront restaurants and street curb appeal is charming. I did miss seeing the wild mustangs on Corolla’s beaches because I needed a permit to drive on the beach and ran out of time. Further south in Kitty Hawk, t-shirt shops, chain restaurants and dense traffic dominate the landscape on the middle Outer Banks. At the end of the banks, the island of Ocracoke was intriguing. I wish I had more time to spend there. Taking the ferry adds quite a bit of time to your travel to and from the Outer Banks. Owning a vacation or second home on the Outer Banks brings with it busy traffic and difficult access to the islands.

Historic - The generic use of the word ‘historic’. What is truly historic? 50 years, 100 years or 300 years old? In cell phone terms, historic is 12 months. I noticed some cities and tourism bureau’s have done an extraordinary job of bringing local businesses back into the downtowns. Without great restaurants, shopping, easy parking and people feeling safe walking the streets, people will choose newer malls and urban town centers to hang out. To me, New Bern wins the award for the most attractive 300 year old city in coastal North Carolina. 272 year old Wilmington has certainly stepped up to the plate and has a lot of eye candy. A movie was being filmed in downtown Wilmington while I was there creating chaos and excitement. To me, 217 year old Elizabeth City missed the mark in Albermarle Sound and is trumped by the quaint 289 year old smaller city of Edenton NC. Shallotte I was told was the ‘Mayberry of the Coast’. Sorry Shallotte, I’ve been to Mayberry and you are on the right track, creating curb appeal, lining the streets with hanging flower baskets and flags. What 112 year old Shallotte has which most old cities don’t are new department stores, plenty of great restaurants and quick bridge access to Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach.

Wilmington NC Traffic - In Wilmington NC, I noticed the intense traffic on State Road 17 North heading into Wilmington verses State Road 74/76 East. If the traffic into Wilmington North Carolina is dense now, wait 5-10 years. Don't be afraid to branch out and live 30 minutes away from a popular city. The best cities to retire in coastal North Carolina will continue to expand. Give yourself elbow room when searching for Brunswick County real estate if you don’t want to be caught in rush hour traffic every day common in a big city.

Promises - Some buyers who purchased property during the real estate frenzy are pretty irate if their real estate developer has not completed the amenities promised. Rightfully so. However, without sales, where do buyers think the funding will come from? Who could have possibly predicted this economic collapse? Instead of throwing lawsuits around left and right, buyers would be more effective if they came together and found ways to assist the real estate developer in promoting their master planned community to make sales. Share testimonials on why your coastal community is the best place to live. If a real estate developer is laden with legal defense costs, you can be certain there won’t be funds to build your community swimming pool. When we score real estate communities, we don’t score promises. We score the quality of amenities which exist at the master planned communities.

Build when you want still haunts me as a good feature of a community. Why? When you purchase in a new community, you can expect construction traffic for years, even decades while all the homes are built in large communities. Allowing buyers to build whenever you want helps real estate developers make a sale and allows buyers to stage the expense. However, it is not necessarily great for those who have now built their dream home and are ready to enjoy Mister Rogers quiet neighborhood. Dump trucks and contractors are noisy. To me, master planned communities where real estate developers have required construction within 2-5 years of the purchase are the smarter long term planners. Get’er done!

Overall, people are friendly and darn happy in North Carolina which continues to remind me why so many Baby Boomers have their minds set on moving to the best cities to retire in North Carolina.

If you'd like my opinion on which are the best master planned communities in coastal North Carolina, reach out to me and say 'hello' at margie@realestatesorecard.com

The Hottest Toys for Retiring Baby Boomers

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-12 19:43

From blue jeans to Coke Cola, buying trends change the face of America as Baby Boomers age. Baby Boomers still can’t get enough of Harley Davidson motorcycles, Ford’s classic Mustang GT, Tommy Bahama fashion and Brighton jewelry. Funny at first yet highly practical, customized golf carts are coming into favor. If you visit Ocala Florida, The Villages 55+ retirement city has the largest collection of pimped out golf carts I’ve ever seen, zooming around streets built for senior citizens. The eye catching designs reflect sports teams, muscle cars and eclectic craziness! It made me think, what will be the hottest toys for retiring Baby Boomers?

Customized Golf Carts - Owning a golf cart makes sense in large master planned communities in the Southeast. Everyone knows walking is the best exercise to keep our aging hearts fit, but it can be far more fun exploring the community in a golf cart without having to worry if you’ll have enough energy to get home. In the mountains, some roads are too darn steep to walk unless you are in the best of shape. Golf carts and mules (more powerful versions of golf carts) are toys worth owning in the right places and especially at retirement. The Villages golf cart photo was provided courtesy of Susie Blackmon.

Electric Bicycles - The first electric bicycle was conceived in Paris in the 1860’s. Electric bikes have come a long way baby. The Yike Bike designed in New Zealand is the most unusual looking electric bike reaching speeds of 23 miles per hour and folds up to the size of a tire. Baby Boomers who have tried a Yike Bike, say “it is more fun than a Harley”. The OptiBike designed in Boulder Colorado has a 100 mile range and has been named best electric hill climbing bike ever. Spencer Ivy Electric Bikes is another ecofriendly electric bicycle worth considering. For Baby Boomers, the possibilities of places to explore on the seat of an electric powered bike are endless.

3D High Definition Televisions - My husband and I would never have considered splurging for a 3D television until we heard the laughter coming from our grandson when we took him to see Captain America in 3D. 3D movies have improved drastically and so have televisions. The 3D depth perception and special effects are pretty cool. When prices fall more, I wouldn’t be surprised if we bought a 3D television when our TV goes kaput.

SUP - (Stand Up Paddle Boards) Light weight and incredibly easy to use, SUP boards are not just for Millenniums. In the Lowcountry of Beaufort South Carolina, water's are warm and calm. SUP boards are interesting way to explore the rivers and waterways in the marsh areas. Stand up, kneel or lay down using it as a surfboard. SUP’s are stable and easy to get back on, if you fall into the water. When the water is clear, you can see quite a bit under water while standing up on a SUP.

Kayaks - Our family has always owned boats, jet ski’s or some type of water toy. Kayaks have become our latest toy. Most kayaks can be easily mounted on the roof of your car and launched anywhere. Ideally, launching a kayak from your backyard is the easiest way to enjoy them. Kayaks allow you to paddle through areas in shallow water, places you would not be able to access by boat. Kayaks come in every shade of the rainbow these days. Foot pedals and sails are the latest inventions now available on kayaks.

I’m curious which trends and products you think Baby Boomers must have in the coming years. The Villages golf community in Ocala Florida will certainly be a place to watch to see what toys these active seniors think of next.

The Power of the Sea

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-11 22:23

Engineers might think of Offshore Wind Farms where gusty winds off the ocean will soon be harnessed creating alternative power, common in Europe. Instead, walk the Florida beaches at the break of dawn in Flagler Palm Coast and notice the natural power of the sea. Quiet moments enjoyed by joggers. People sitting on the sand, deep in meditation watching the sunrise on the horizon. You will see the broken hearted and terminally ill seeking comfort from the morning glory, hoping not to be noticed. As the day brightly unfolds attracting families to the beach, children build sand castles and splash in the waves. The sunsets bring romance, couples in love walking slowly together hand in hand. The sea tends to be the first place many of us seek for vacation, laughter, and comfort or where to retire.

Not all of us are attracted to the sea but if you are, proximity to the ocean is important if you want to enjoy beach living to improve your health and wellness. After spending this week researching the coast of North Carolina, I realize ‘the coast’ can be used in a very broad term. In some areas of North Carolina, 'the coast' could actually be 50 miles west of the beach, not an easy trek for those who want to walk the shore. In Florida, people refer to the coast as less than 10 miles from the beach. Otherwise, Floridians call it inland.

Flagler in Palm Coast is known for the best Florida beaches, beach resorts and golf communities when folks search for where to retire. They are drawn to master planned communities like Hammock Beach Resort, Cinnamon Beach at Ocean Hammock and Hammock Dunes Club. If you travel a bit little bit further south of these beach resorts, you will find miles of unspoiled Florida beaches with older homes across the street on the west of AIA. AIA is the roadway which hugs the Florida beaches. Fortunately, hi-rise condominium buildings along the beach almost don’t exist in Palm Coast Florida.

If you’re like most people and can’t afford a home directly on Florida beaches, at least live as close as you can to the beach. The ocean is not far from the Intracoastal Waterway which makes affordable golf course living possible on the west side of the bridge. The Intracoastal Waterway golf community Grand Haven in Palm Coast is not expensive and is close enough to access the beach in about 15 minutes, by crossing over the bridge. The waterfront community Palm Coast Plantation does not have a golf course and is another affordable option worth considering.

For those unfamiliar with Palm Coast, the area is located on the east coast of Florida between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Thankfully protected and preserved, marine wildlife is still plentiful to enjoy in Palm Coast Florida. During the summer months, it’s common to find baby turtles rushing to the sea in the early morning hours. Almost year round, manatees hang out in the Intracoastal Waterway, easy to observe while quietly kayaking. Manatees are afraid of the noise from speed boats, so they hide when they can. Herons and egrets sing beautiful melodies hidden in the shadows of the marsh. Seagulls belly laugh along the shore. Dolphins frolic searching for fish right before your eyes in the waterways feed by the ocean. Do you feel the natural power of the sea?

If you have not yet visited Flagler in Palm Coast Florida during your search for where to retire, I encourage you to do so. I'm can recommend the best hotels, restaurants and fun things to do while you’re getting to know master planned communities in Palm Coast Florida. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Palm Coast Florida is on my list of the best cities to retire in the Florida.

Reach out to me and say 'hello' by writing margie@realestatescorecard.com. I'm happy to answer your questions.

The Great Lakes of Eastern Tennessee

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-10 06:19

The hot days of summer quickly remind Tennesseans of their precious cool lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Tennessee’s reliance on hydroelectricity since the early 1900’s resulted in the creation of excellent boating lakes in Eastern Tennessee. Did you know, you can navigate your boat from Knoxville Tennessee to the Gulf of Mexico? It might take a while but from Knoxville, the Tennessee River flows south merging with the Tennessee Tombigbee River and eventually meets the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Tennessee is known as one of the best states to retire. Tennessee is home to 12 great lakes: Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, South Holston Lake, Tims Ford Lake and Watts Bar Lake. In Knoxville, Norris Lake and Watts Bar Lake are by far the most popular fresh water playgrounds. You may have heard of Fort Loudon Lake and Tellico Lake in Knoxville too, both are smaller reservoir lakes connected to the Tennessee River.

Norris Lake - Emerald green Norris Lake is stunning to see for the first time. Norris Dam was the first Tennessee TVA dam, built in the 1930's. One of the cleanest lakes in Eastern Tennessee, 34,000 acre Norris Lake is about 1,000 feet deep and drops 30-40 feet in the winter time. The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) controls the entire 800 miles of shoreline at Norris Lake, plus the secluded islands and two protected game management areas. During the summer months, Norris Lake is bustling with water sports and boaters rafting up to each other. The largest annual event on Norris Lake is called Fire on the Water, the 4th of July fireworks celebration over the lake. Gone Fishin‘ at Blue Ridge State Park and Springfest are two annual fishing tournaments. Waterside Marina offers Norris Lake condos and has the best full service marina on Norris Lake Tennessee.

Tellico Lake - 16,000 acre Tellico Lake was created in the late 1970's. Tellico Lake has been ranked third nationally as the Best Boating Area in the U.S. to Live by Boating Life Magazine. 75% of the land around Tellico Lake will never be developed, protected by the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). The views of the Great Smoky Mountains from Tellico Lake will steal your breath away. Tellico Lake reaches depths of 200 feet and fluctuates about 30 feet in the winter months. Tellico Yacht Club, Tellico Harbor and Toqua Clubhouse have restaurants accessible by boat on Tellico Lake. Tellico Village and Rarity Bay are waterfront golf communities on Tellico Lake, if you are looking for Loudon real estate.

Old Hickory Lake - In Nashville, Old Hickory Lake and J. Percy Priest Lake are connected to the Cumberland River, both fresh water playgrounds for Nashvillians. At a maximum depth of 65 feet, 22,500 acre Old Hickory Lake is known as a bass fishing lake, hosting national and regional championship fishing tournaments year round. Eight marinas provide waterfront services on Old Hickory Lake. The annual Old Hickory Lake Triathlon takes places each June and is fun to watch. Fairvue Plantation on Old Hickory Lake is a beautiful Nashville neighborhood.

Watts Bar Lake - Watts Bar Lake is known as the “King of Southern Great Lakes”. 42,000 acre Watts Bar Lake connects with the Clinch River and Emery River. Wide open stretches of water and good size islands surrounded by the lake are perfect backdrops for photographing sailboats, boaters and sunsets, assuming you’re not on a boat yourself. The maximum depth of Watts Bar Lake is 70 feet. In July, nine marinas along the Watts Bar Lake participate in the annual Watts Bar Poker Run to benefit Safe Haven Light, a project for children at risk. Watts Bar Lake also hosts a number of championship bass fishing tournaments. Ladd Landing and the golf community Tennessee National are both places to find Loudon real estate on Watts Bar Lake.

I could write a book sharing with you the natural beauty and secrets about all of Tennessee’s 12 great lakes and reservoirs. Instead, I recommend the frequently updated Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website as a great reference tool for you to bookmark. Visit the website: tn.gov/twra

If you are considering relocating to the low cost of living state of Tennessee, send me an email at margie@realestatescorecard.com and I will forward you Norris Lake condos, Loudon real estate, Nashville neighborhoods to consider. You will find Tennessee State Parks and Great Lakes are irrestible natural playgrounds to enjoy at retirement in Tennessee.

Georgia's on My Mind for Retirement

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-09 06:45

In 2016, Georgia is poised to become the lowest cost of living state in the Southeast for retirement. In 2012, Georgia begins phasing out all state income tax on retirement income. Retirement income will be completely state tax free by 2016. Georgia residents have another tax benefit called Property Assessment Freeze. This freezes the assessed value of your home at the time of permanent residence limiting your real estate taxes. Real estate taxes in northern Georgia are already low.

One of my favorite towns in Georgia is Dahlonega, named Best Value Retirement City by U.S. News and World Report. Georgia offers far more than peaches, peanuts and vidalia onions. Floridians discovered the natural treasures of the cooler Blue Ridge Mountains decades ago and have been staking their claim for retirement in small towns in Georgia and master planned communities like award winning Big Canoe. Vogel State Park & Amicalola Falls State Park are Georgia’s most visited state parks in northern Georgia. Amicalola Falls is the tallest waterfall in the Southeast, cascading 729 feet.

Small towns in Georgia are home to beautiful master planned communities. Lake Lanier is where you'll find Chestatee, the lake itself is on the list of Top 10 Fishing Lakes in northern Georgia. Lake Burton Club is a high elevation mountain golf community in Clayton, just south of the North Carolina state line. Achasta Golf Club is golf community and Montaluce Vineyard are both in the adorable small town Dahlonega.

Next month on September 25th, Georgia’s premier cycling event departs from Dahlonega Georgia, called the Six Gap Century & Three Gap Fifty. The fittest bicyclists will challenge 11,200 feet of vertical climbing over the 104 mile scenic course. Dahlonega is surrounded by vineyards, organic farms and gold. Dahlonega is America's first gold rush city. The Blue Ridge Mountains are becoming more and more a reflection of Italy’s wine country. After spending time in northern Georgia, I wonder who wouldn’t want to retire in the low cost of living small towns of Georgia or the best college towns?

If you prefer warmer weather and like to see red, just to the southeast of Dahlonega is Athens Georgia is home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs. To me, the best college town of Athens Georgia is the hippest musically infused town in the Southeast and is consistently named on the list of Best Cities to Retire in Georgia. During football season, it is hard not to see red where ever you are in Athens because red is the Georgia Bulldogs team color. Athens Georgia is below the Snow Belt making it ideal for year round golf course living at The Georgia Club in Athens.

Atlanta is only about an hour west of Athens Georgia with world class medical care readily available, important to retirees. Getting away from the big cities and breathing in the mountain air of Georgia will immediately transform you. When you compare the cost of living, don’t rule out small mountain towns in Georgia for retirement to save you money and improve your quality of life. Let me know if you would like a list of the best master planned communities, delicious restaurants, historical hotels and fun things to do in the area. Reach out to me and say 'hello' at margie@realestatescorecard.com.

Whether it's the best college towns or small mountain towns in Georgia which interest you, Georgia is on my mind for retirement...

Island Fever in Charleston South Carolina?

By Margie Casey — 2011-08-06 21:49

Who would have thought historic Charleston, one of the best cities to retire, would be connected by so many fabulous islands? Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Sullivans Island, Daniel Island and the Isle of Palms, to name a few. I chuckle when I visit master planned communities as they each tell me why their community is better than their toughest competitor. Daniel Island folks claim Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island are located out in the boonies. Kiawah Island claims to be the Hamptons of the South and Seabrook Island must be thrilled to ride on the coat tail of its celebrity neighbor, Kiawah Island, host of the 2012 PGA Championship. People on the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island are too darn busy doing nothing at the beach to even care. Folly Beach probably wishes Map Quest called it ‘Folly Island’, just to fit in. To me, whoever named the seaside towns in Charleston South Carolina, had a case of island fever.

Charleston is blessed by preserved history going back to 1901. Cobblestone streets and ancient churches still decorate this charming city today. America’s favorite city Charleston South Carolina keeps winning award after award as one of the best cities to retire in the Southeast. If you are lucky enough to afford a home in downtown Charleston, luxury homes in Battery Park or Rainbow Row have been carefully preserved and restored. But, if you are looking for a more affordable Lowcountry waterfront home, say in the $200k - $300k’s, we have excellent places to share with you with quick access to the best beaches. When you compare the cost of living in Charleston with other states in the Northeast, you will find you can save money living in Charleston.

When you drive down the narrow streets of Charleston or ride in a classic horse drawn carriage, your eyes are drawn to the large sailboats passing through the harbor at the end of the streets. The salty air smells delicious and touches your soul. Restaurants in downtown Charleston tease window shoppers by allowing the savory scents of their gourmet kitchens to flow out the front doors to their outdoor cafes. Ask anyone who’s been to Charleston and most certainly, they love Charleston. I know I do.

The City of Charleston has done a fabulous job connecting the islands by elevated highways and bridges. If you have a fear of heights, the really high bridges like the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, might take a bit of getting used to. In no time, you may find yourself on that bridge, joining 40,000 health fanatics at the annual Cooper River Bridge Run, the largest 5K race in the Southeast, held in the spring. If you live in Charleston, how easy it is to bounce around, weekend after weekend, to a completely different beach atmosphere, all within 30 minutes of downtown. The Intracoastal Waterway weaves through these islands leading to the Atlantic Ocean. You would expect to find a number of small islands close to each other in the Caribbean. Who would have thought America would fall in love and catch island fever in Charleston South Carolina?

If you are looking for the best cities to retire in South Carolina home, I can quickly share with you which master planned communities are the best in Charleston. I can also recommend the best hotels and restaurants. This is how I help folks in this real estate market. Reach out to me and say 'hello' by writing margie@realestatescorecard.com

You Won't Get Puff From Us

By Margie Casey — 2011-07-22 13:03

The Great Real Estate Depression is a coined label defining the real estate market collapse of the 21st century. The result has left most of us questioning what to believe from brokers, bankers, builders and real estate developers going forward. Have we come to the point where in our minds, we put real master planned communities on trial demanding discovery, testimony from witnesses and an opinion from a judge to confirm our suspicion, before we buy again?

In sales, painting a picture with words can be helpful to buyers in understanding a vision planned, especially when raw land is the product. Painting a picture with words can also become puff, exaggeration and false promises. Sugar coating is what I call it and it doesn’t taste sweet anymore after the real estate developer where you purchased property goes belly up, leaving you scrambling trying to figure out what to do next. People who have been burned refer to some real estate developers as a 'snake oil salesman'. Even the best master planned communities with the best of intentions are still destroyed because of lack of sales and lines of credit from the banks to continue the development.

Our website is unique because we are not paid monthly fees by real estate developers to have their master planned community scored on our website. Many competing websites charge real estate developers for a web presence without informing you. It would be natural for buyers to assume the master planned communities on those websites are all excellent or why would they be featured there? Think about it for a minute - a small development without a great website and sales team, can gain exposure by paying third party real estate websites to market their developments, even if their master planned community is lifeless and risky.

I thought you would like to know we won’t blow smoke in your face or dip master planned communities in sugar. If I use the words 'wonderful' to describe something, it's because it is wonderful. I've been to the master planned community and seen it for myself.

I continually search for the best cities to retire providing a high quality of life. I dig for the facts and share them with you, plain and simple.

I invite you to become a member so you can read what property owners have to say behind the scene, regarding master planned communities you are considering. Property owner scores and comments are added daily to our website. Master planned communities are added weekly.

Let me know if there is a master planned community you are curious about that I have not scored on our website. I am here to help. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com

Classic examples of puff:

Last chance - unlikely

Most magnificent - in the eye of the beholder

Lifetime opportunity - do you really think about real estate at these moments?

Rock bottom prices - we wonder

Hopefully one day in a perfect world, snake oil salesman and puff will be things of the past.

Do You Prefer Your Neighbors Dead or Alive?

By Margie Casey — 2011-07-19 11:38

Why would a real estate developer in South Florida build luxury townhomes overlooking a cemetery? As if the real estate market was not tough enough to sell your home, now add the spook of folks six feet under to the long list of objections to help buyer's overcome. In a twisted way, overlooking a cemetery could be considered beautiful green space, full of colorful flowers honoring the resting place of loved ones. When I think of real estate near a cemetery, Carol Ann being kidnapped by the dead in Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist haunted thriller, immediately comes to mind. You may remember the voice of Carol Ann saying "don't go into the light" coming from the television set when her parents realized she had been taken by the dead. In the movie Poltergeist, a real estate developer built a master planned community above a cemetery without disclosure to the buyers and well, you know the rest of the story if you saw the movie.

I flashed back to a moment in elementary school, riding my bike home after school. I would ride through the cemetery in my neighborhood, thankful that the sprinklers were on, cooling me off on the sometimes hot Florida afternoons. I would stop to read the headstones wondering who the people were and what memories they left behind. To me, riding my bike through a cemetery was a place of curiosity and wonder.

Over the years, I have seen real estate developers challenged by existing cemeteries on their parcels of land where they planned to build master planned communities. Some real estate developers mask the cemetery with hedges to conceal them and not show them on the master community site plan, while other real estate developers create a park with flowers, benches and walking paths, beautiful places to reflect. As buyers carefully select where to build there dream home, buyers may end up tip toeing through a cemetery in their community. So would you live next to a cemetery or not?

Most of us have had neighbors from hell, so neighbors resting in peace may sound pretty good. The choice is yours. Don't be afraid to ask the real estate developer or sales person for full disclosure. It is okay to ask if there are residents in the community permanently parked six feet under on 'protected green space', if that bugs you. I invite you to share your ideas by leaving a comment about how real estate developers should handle disclosure about cemetery's in their master planned communities.

Talking Trash in Florida

By Margie Casey — 2011-07-06 16:27

There’s no place like home, a daydreaming thought alluring me back to South Florida, after a long research road trip. As I reach Florida, reality flicks me in the head when I see the first ‘Mount Trashmore’, waste landfills dotting two of Florida’s north and south bound corridors; Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike. Mount Trashmore’s are mountains of garbage Florida residents have created over decades slowly creeping up into the clouds. Most of Florida is located at less than 10 feet sea level, so its hard to miss seeing these trash mountains.

How did this happen? The biggest Mount Trashmore I’ve seen so far is on Sample Road and the Florida Turnpike in South Florida. I remember 40 years ago when this stinky skyscraper of garbage did not exist. The end result of poor forecasting, poor planning and lack of invention. The community reviews on our website point out the proximity of landfills to master planned communities we score. Some real estate developers may think I am not compassionate to their situation, if a landfill is located close to their community. I am.

However, this information is important for buyers to know. Buyers have shared stories with me about their disappointment when they discovered a landfill was nearby and were not informed about it before closing. It would not surprise me at all, if real estate developers were caught buying tracts of land also unaware. As careful as landfills are monitored, measured and controlled, landfills are a health risk to the water tables and air quality. Landfills may be hidden from view until 40 years later when they grow to maximum capacity. Landfills affect the resale of your property.

Will people care if waste landfills are near their master planned community? Definitely not clearly evident by observing nearby master planned communities, some sling shot distances from trash mountains. I hope you agree, an informed buyer is a happier buyer in the long run. I look forward to the next ‘Bill Gates’ in the trash business. I applaud the King of Trash, Carl Walker at Dare County Recycling in Manteo North Carolina. Dare County Recycling knows how to talk trash and the crushed glass is fascinating to see in person on the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

I also have my eye on the Garbage Mogul Tom Szasky, Founder of Terra Cycle. A proactive creative thinker, Szasky's company is turning our garbage into money making products.

Would people oppose a sales tax surcharge to fund think tanks and committees awarding an incentive to the party who solves the landfill problem? With 150 million homes in the U.S. and families throwing a bag of garbage a day, this equates to 54 billion bags of garbage each year in just the United States.

Garbage is a mounting problem, especially in flat Florida and it makes me sad. I've seen a new trend, cities developing parks and playgrounds on these garbage mountains. Kudo’s. At least it's an attempt at doing something positive with these eyesores. None the less, they still stink and are toxic. I know I won’t be taking my grandchildren to waste landfills to play and picnic. I invite you to share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Even a Table at a Restaurant is Prime Real Estate or Undesirable

By Margie Casey — 2011-07-01 11:16

How many times have you been seated in a restaurant next to the bathroom, kitchen or dishwasher when there are plenty of empty tables around the dining room? It happened to us recently in South Florida and restaurant floor plans caught my attention. Interesting to notice how some restaurants are more concerned about spreading out patrons equally throughout the dining room, so servers have a chance to earn tips instead of seating patrons at an empty table with a great view.

A restaurant real estate revelation! Even a table at a restaurant is prime real estate; table locations offering gorgeous views, privacy or perhaps a close range view of the big screen TV, to watch your favorite sporting event. My mind shifted to the architect who designed this restaurant we dined at in South Florida. Why would an architect not pay more attention to the patrons dining experience and design a better floor plan to eliminate the tacky table locations?

I notice and appreciate when real estate developers and architects pay careful attention to small details like these. The best master planned communities designed emphasizing natural amenities and minimizing eye sores show a sign of excellence. After you've seen a couple hundred or so master planned communities, you begin to recognize real estate development master plans are works of art and many do stand out as extraordinary. To me, grandiose entrances are trumped by outdoor living rooms, scenic overlooks and walking trails with points of interest. Don't get me wrong, beautiful entrances make a great first impression however entrances do not mask the overall quality of life and lifestyle experience at the best master planned communities. What is most important to you?

Funny in comparison, to being seated at a restaurant yet true, prime real estate property is priced higher and sold first to generate higher income for the real estate developer, just the opposite approach of 'hostess fairness' in a restaurant. Hostesses no longer get me down. As they snarl under their breath when I request a better table location, I gently remind them - Haven't you ever heard? It's location, location, location even when it comes to restaurant floor plans. I invite you to share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Observations in Palm Coast, Knoxville and Dahlonega

By Margie Casey — 2011-06-25 12:16

On our most recent research trip, I journaled the following Florida market conditions:

Many master planned communities are still distressed. We noticed a pattern of distressed master planned communities who required no time to build. Vacant lots with utilities stubbed out situated side by side with a completed home every now and then. We observed community clubhouses not maintained or felt abandoned.

We found quality residential master planned communities extremely undervalued. Established communities with lifestyle amenities, infrastructure and homes built. Buyers do not need to comb through the MLS for distressed properties, short sales and foreclosures which are difficult transactions. Quality property, financing and generous incentives are available directly from real estate developers.

Residential master planned communities with bad press are alive and well. We observed a number of residential real estate communities who had bad marketing strategies or sister communities in default creating negative press for other related projects. The ‘bad press’ communities we visited were well maintained, property owners and staff appeared happy. Private golf courses were open to the public.

Private golf courses open to the public. Clubs have opened up prestigious golf courses to the public which was unheard of years ago. A smart move because it introduces the golf community to potential buyers and generates needed revenue for the club during these tough economic times. It takes cooperative homeowners in the residential community to make this possible.

Promising developments patiently wait for a new leader to appear. We noticed residential real estate communities with a small number of homes built, infrastructure in place, amenities in place yet without a visible sales and marketing team. We see these developments as great values to buyers today before a new leadership appears and re-prices the development.

Condominiums are the red headed step child. (We’re Irish so we can say that and not take offense) Many real estate developments have scratched condominiums completely from their development plans or halted existing construction. Financing for condominiums is like finding a needle in a haystack and has made matters worse for these type of homes. Pricing has fallen quickly and we are not sure where the bottom is for condominiums. A technical oversupply exists.

Even experienced builders over improve properties. We noticed homes built and priced well above neighboring homes. This mistake spells financial loss. Home values rise together and a home over improved will unlikely bring in a higher price than competing neighboring homes when buyers have an abundant supply to choose from.

I will keep you posted on the Florida market conditions. Let me know if you notice a particular trend worth sharing. Write me at margie@realestatescorecard.com.