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June 2008 - Posts

Monday, June 30, 2008 6:30 AM

57 useful Google tools you've never heard of

With a hat tip to my friend Mike Farmer just down the coast in Savannah, Christina Laun writes about 57 useful Google tools you've never heard of . Well, actually, you probably have heard of some but likely, there are a few new tools that will look
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
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Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:26 AM

Priceless

First day of vacation. Number of times I answered my cell phone. Zero. Number of times I checked my email. Zero. Sitting on the beach. Priceless.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
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Friday, June 27, 2008 9:54 AM

Charleston real estate market report, Charleston home prices May 2008

Sometimes you just can't make stuff up. All the talk in the media is how home prices are dropping faster than a rock. And we're talking about a big rock, more like a boulder running downhill. Yet the Charleston real estate market continues to
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:56 AM

Charleston real estate market report, Unit sales May 2008

Unit sales are very interesting to report this month, not because very much has changed since sales are generally at lower levels than previous years. But there is one classification in the Charleston real estate market where sales increased and not by
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:18 AM

Charleston real estate report, Inventory and Absorption rate, May 2008

Inventory remains at high levels and is increasing once again across all housing classifications. Until inventory is reduced, there will be significant pressure on prices and buyers will continue to have a wide choice of properties to choose from. Please
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:47 PM

Charleston home prices

Amazing is about the only word I can use to describe Charleston home prices. After calculating the statistics, I had to double check my figures because I couldn't believe it when I noticed price increases since anecdotal evidence seemed to point toward
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 4 Comments
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:34 AM

Case-Shiller is wrong

... about the prices of homes. Take a look at this headline and read the story at MarketWatch . I would suggest that using the data from the 20 largest housing markets including the formerly most overheated markets in California, Florida, Phoenix and
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 1 Comments
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 1:00 PM

Charleston home sales and inventory

Inventory remains high throughout the Charleston real estate market and unit sales are still lower on a year over year basis. But the most surprising thing is that the median sales price did not decline and actually went up on a year over year basis.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 6 Comments
Monday, June 23, 2008 8:49 AM

Change is difficult

As a Charleston real estate agent, I deal with change on an everyday basis. While change is generally difficult, it's interesting how different people deal with change. You can plan and do everything in your power to make change smooth and still have
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
Sunday, June 22, 2008 7:31 AM

Buyer behavior is changing

... because of $4 gasoline. The high cost of gas is certainly influencing car buying right now and will influence home buying in the future as well. My wife and I were shopping for a new car yesterday. Right now we have 2 Saturn VUE's. Mine is leased
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
Saturday, June 21, 2008 6:31 AM

Crepe myrtles are blooming

It's that time of year when our crepe myrtles really show off with glorious blooms. There is no prettier tree during summertime in the South.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
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Friday, June 20, 2008 12:09 PM

Inside my computer

Teresa Boardman from St. Paul Real Estate wrote a beautful article about the people in (her) computer . Her friends are there, people she has met through social networking, associates from around the country, people searching for real estate and others.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
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Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:56 AM

I'm back with Mike and Sherry

I have just transferred my Charleston real estate license to The AgentOwned Realty Co. I worked with Mike and Sherry for many years when I started in the real estate industry with Coldwell Banker and it would be difficult to find 2 more knowledgeable
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 5:57 AM

Charleston summer

One of the big misconceptions about summer in Charleston is how humid it is. Let's clear this up quickly. The humidity can never be higher than 100%. Many people who are considering relocating to Charleston are concerned with summer heat and humidity.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
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Monday, June 16, 2008 6:25 AM

Sellers don't want to sell

... when they make it difficult to view their home. The Charleston MLS uses a very convenient service to set showing appointments for all real estate agents. One simple number to call (I use speed dial 9 so it's even easier) and the employees at Centralized
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Sunday, June 15, 2008 6:51 AM

Dads and golf

Father's day is about dads and golf. My dad loved golf and every Father's Day, I watch the U.S. Open and spend time thinking about how wonderful a dad he was. I saw this article a few weeks ago and knew that I would post it on Father's Day.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
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Saturday, June 14, 2008 6:04 AM

Is a paradigm shift coming to housing because of rising oil prices

While the reasons Americans began to stay at home in reaction to the 9/11 attacks were different than choosing to stay at home rather than fill the gas tank of your car, truck or SUV up for $50 or $100, I think the home will become much more of a sanctuary
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:12 AM

Why register to search

Several regular visitors have emailed me recently asking why I now require registration to search the Charleston MLS on the new map based search provided by Diverse Solutions on my website. Actually, it's a small point but you don't have to register
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, June 12, 2008 5:02 AM

Tiger and Phil play golf

This feels like a heavyweight fight between Tiger and Phil at the U.S. Open being played this weekend in San Diego at Torrey Pines. Phil grew up in the San Diego area, Tiger a few miles up the road and both have had great success at Torrey which plays
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 4 Comments
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008 10:39 AM

Japanese beetles are bugging me

As anyone who reads my blog knows, we love gardening and are very proud of the landscaping we've done and we were horrified this past weekend to find a bunch of Japanese beetles ferociously eating the leaves from both our knock out roses and crepe
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 1 Comments
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Monday, June 09, 2008 1:18 PM

Unreasonable expectations

Sometimes you just have to wonder. There are so many places that real estate buyers can search for homes today that when you receive a request to send listings that basically aren't available, you just wonder if the potential buyer was serious enough
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, June 09, 2008 11:15 AM

Charleston's award winning chef

The James Beard awards were presented last evening in New York City and chef/owner Robert Stehling of Charleston's Hominy Grill won the award for the best chef in the Southeast. The Hominy Grill is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, 7 days
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, June 07, 2008 8:41 AM

Another famous foreclosure

I mentioned the sad story of Ed McMahon the other day and now comes news that Evander Holyfield is in a bit of a financial mess. Not only has he missed 2 child support payments (for 1 of his 11 children) but his $10 million estate on 235 acres outside
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 6 Comments
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Saturday, June 07, 2008 6:50 AM

Charleston schools, Charleston home buyers

School is out so it's time to head to the beach and June is truly a great time to go. The weather is generally sunny and hot and the ocean breezes are delightful. So you might wonder why the title of this post has to do with Charleston schools and
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, June 06, 2008 8:06 AM

Foreclosure facts 1Q 2008

97.53% of all home are not in the foreclosure process. That wouldn't make a very exciting headline would it? On a more serious note, here are the latest foreclosures facts for the 1st Quarter of 2008 according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, June 05, 2008 6:54 AM

Inventory chart May 2008

Inventory of homes available for sale in the Charleston real estate market continues to increase. There is always a slight dip in available homes during the Thanksgiving to Xmas season for all the obvious reasons. But overall, inventory has increased
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 3 Comments
Wednesday, June 04, 2008 6:28 AM

Buy a house, get a house FREE

Douglas Heddings at True Gotham previously wrote about the house raffle and now writes about another offbeat way of selling homes in today's difficult real estate market. Taking a page from grocery and department stores, how about this deal from a
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, June 02, 2008 1:10 PM

Charleston real estate market report, April 2008 home prices

While anecdotal evidence continues to show downward pressure on home prices in the Charleston real estate market, the statistics haven't confirmed any sharp home price declines as yet. As always, I use a running 12 month average for the past 12 months
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
Monday, June 02, 2008 7:45 AM

Charleston real estate market report, April 2008 inventory and absorption rate

Inventory increased fairly significantly in the past month after holding steady for the past year. There is record high inventory for both single family homes and condos and townhomes under 600k. Statistics compiled by Howard Arnoff using the Charleston
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, June 02, 2008 7:36 AM

Charleston real estate market report, April 2008 unit sales

Unit sales remain at significantly lower levels. Statistics compiled by Howard Arnoff using the Charleston MLS as the source of data, information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Sunday, June 01, 2008 7:06 AM

Hurricane season starts today

June 1 marks the official beginning of hurricane season and let's hope and pray that we once again have a very non eventful season with little to no damage or loss of life. But after years of living in the Charleston area, you learn that it is important
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments