Happy New Year!

Happy New Year - 2009! Get out your new calendars, remember to write 2009 for all dates AND be sure to make some new year's resolutions! Enjoy your black-eyed peas, hog jowls, hoppin' john and ham and collard greens on New Year's Day.

I've compiled Mel Coker's TOP 10 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS based on my extensive research (not necessarily my personal resolutions):

1. Lose weight
2. Get in better physical shape
3. Spend more quality time with family and friends
4. Reduce or eliminate debt
5. Set a budget and/or reduce expenses
6. Quit smoking
7. Learn something new / develop a new talent or skill
8. Drink less alcohol / quit drinking
9. Find a better job (or, in these times, find a job)
10. Get better organized

Tips for making (and completing) effective New Year's Resolutions: set only 1-3 realistic goals; write down your goals; take baby steps (break goals into tasks with deadlines); go public (tell others about your goals); track your progress; reward yourself; if you slip up, recommit!

Great links:

Hoppin' John

Blackeyed Peas and Collard Greens

USA.gov New Year's Resolutions and and helpful links

Wikipedia New Year's Day

Fun Facts and Figures from the Goals Guy

101 Resolutions

Tips for Making New Year's Resolutions: MyGoals.com * eHow.com * For Kids & Teenagers

Please keep reading my blog in 2009... I'll have interesting blogs on Columbia real estate, Columbia stuff, cool vacations, prize give-aways and much more.

Click here for a FREE subscription to immediate blog updates thru my FeedBurner.

Mel Coker

MelCoker.com MelCoker.info

Lake Murray living

Want to live at Lake Murray and enjoy this beautiful lake without having to pay the high prices for waterfront homes? I've got a great solution... Check out my TWO new home listings with Lake Murray access for sale in Night Harbor subdivision near Chapin, South Carolina. The big benefit to each of these home is that you will get a personal boat slip in the community marina. The initial fee has been paid for by the builder.

These two homes are built by Tim Broome of Lexington Development & Builders. I've sold 3 of his all brick homes in this same community. Now he has two more for sale that are close to completion. They can be finished quickly for your quick closing and move-in. NOW is an especially great time to buy a home with really LOW mortgage rates (around 5%).

First some background on current pricing at Lake Murray (as of December 15, 2008)...

For a waterfront home ON Lake Murray (avg. size 3574 s.f.), the average price is $784,276 (median price $649,000). For a waterfront lot (min. 75 feet water frontage and less than 5 acres), the average price is $326,308 (median price $250,000). The average price of a Lake Murray access home (2861 s.f.) is $355,632 (median price $354,950). Keep in mind that these comparatives prices are for homes currently for sale of all age ranges and from all around Lake Murray including Richland, Lexington, Newberry and Saluda counties.

My two NEW homes for sale in Night Harbor include these benefits and features: Night Harbor is convenient located near Chapin and Irmo with great restaurants and shopping. Also, the Chapin schools are excellent and are in the highly rated Lexington Richland School District 5.

221 Daymark Drive

NEW, app. 2800 s.f.

4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths

screened porch

all brick construction

Boat Slip included

Price $351,850

The Night Harbor community has a clubhouse, boat ramp and tennis courts. It's a really friendly neighborhood!

309 Lighthouse Lane

NEW, app. 2857 s.f.
4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths
screened porch
all brick construction
Boat Slip included
Price $356,450

These homes are built right and priced right! When you're ready to live at and enjoy Lake Murray, call Mel Coker, your Lake Murray Realtor (that lives on Lake Murray!).

Mel's Lake Murray website

MelCoker.com

Search Columbia MLS

Search for Lake Murray Homes

Want to search for a Lake Murray home? You will have a choice of Lake Murray waterfront homes, Lake Murray access homes or homes near Lake Murray. You may want to do some "surfing" yourself to view such homes for sale.

Now is a great time to buy a home in the Lake Murray / Columbia area with really low mortgage rates and a good inventory of homes. Mortgage rates today are in the range of 5% or lower!

I've created a new website to search for homes through the Columbia MLS. You may search yourself, but, when you are ready to BUY a Lake Murray home or Lake Murray area home, be sure to contact Mel Coker. Mel is your Lake Murray resident Realtor! I've lived in Columbia all of my life and for the past 5 years have lived on Lake Murray in the Chapin area.

Click here to view the Columbia MLS Search website

Lake Murray's NEW Blog

A new blog from Mel Coker... LAKE MURRAY!

Lake Murray is South Carolina's water playground! This beautiful lake was constructed between 1927 and 1930. The Dreher Shoals Dam formed a 48,000 acre lake in the heart of South Carolina and only a short drive from downtown Columbia. The lake covers an area of 78 square miles with 649 miles of shoreline. The waters of the Saluda River that feed Lake Murray supply energy to the Saluda Hydroelectric Plant turbines and cooling water to the McMeekin Steam Generating Plant. Both plants are owned by South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G). When completed, Lake Murray was the largest power reservoir and Dreher Shoals Dam the largest earthen dam in the world.

Living at Lake Murray is great! Columbia, South Carolina's capital city is only 18 miles away from the Lake Murray dam and the city has one of the lowest cost of living rates in America! Other towns around Lake Murray include Irmo, Chapin, Prosperity and Lexington.

Lake Murray is one of South Carolina's finest recreational assets -- the lake is beautiful and is home to great fishing, boating and water sports. There are many upscale home communities around Lake Murray. Features include lakefront or waterview lots, boat slips, dry dock facilities, tennis courts and more.

CLICK HERE for Mel Coker's Lake Murray website