Lake Murray is a NICE place to Live

NICEST place to live?   May just be SOUTH CAROLINA and Lake Murray!

A nice place to live?  South Carolina.  A rude place to live?  Ohio.   Marchex, an advertising technology company, conducted a survey of over 1/2 million phone calls to various customer service numbers.   Highlights and the lows:

South Carolina is #1 in courtesy (lots of "Thank you" and "Please")
Ohio is #1 in "Most Likely to Curse" AND #5 in "Least Courteous"

My unscientific BEST and WORST places to live based upon my analysis of this study:
BEST: South Carolina
Other nice places: Arizona, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia.
WORST: Ohio
Other crude places: New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennnessee

Ready to leave one of the CRUDE states (Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Tennessee)?    Contact Mel Coker when you're ready to move to Greater Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia, Lake Murray, Irmo, Chapin, Lexington) and mention "South Carolina is NICE" and you will receive a $500 Lowes Gift Card at closing (offer good December 7, 2013 thru December 31, 2014.

Lake Murray Sunset - Photo by Mel Coker

Mel Coker
Realtor - RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC Real Estate 
(803) 388-8011

Status of Temporary Lake Murray Water Level Drawdown

Update on Lake Murray Water Level Draw Down:

From South Carolina Electric & Gas Company: To enhance the water quality of Lake Murray, South Carolina Electric & Gas plans to gradually lower the lake beginning in early November. Weather permitting, the lake will be lowered until it reaches the 350-foot level near Dec. 1, 2013. It will be maintained at that level until Jan. 1, 2014, after which it will be allowed to rise back to the normal high pool level of 358 feet.

The last significant lake level draw down was in 2006.  Today, the lake level is at 351.4, so the lake level will drop about another 1.4 feet by the end of November.  The lake level should start rising again around January 1, 2014.   It appears that SCE&G will perform this type of lake level draw down every 5-7 years.    Over the past few years, SCE&G has committed to a higher winter-time water level in the range of 354-355 feet water level.   Prior to that, it was normal for the winter time water level to be in the range of 350-351 feet range.


Below is a chart of the progress of this drawn down during November 2013.

Lake level at Lake Murray - November 1-25, 2014

The lake is down at the Coker home too!

Just temporary.   Lake level will start rising again in January 2014.

Mel Coker
Lake Murray Realtor & Resident
(803) 932-2144
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Lake Murray Real Estate

Change Home Air Filters Regularly

The MOST simple and best return on value for home maintenance?
Regular changing of home air filters!

I change my home air filters quarterly:  March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.
I use NORDICPURE Air/Furnace Filters.  The quality if as good or better as Filtrete and are priced much better with FREE shipping.  I use NordicPure brand filters with MERV rating of 8 to 12.

Order here with FREE shipping (minimum quantity of 6)

 
Go to the NordicPure page and click on AIR, then click on the left column for the size filter you need. As an example of pricing, 20x24x1 filters for MERV rating 10 are only $8.84 EACH when buying 6.   Similar quality filters for 3M brand are about double this price.

Change your home air filters regularly with high quality NordicPure filters!

We buy NordicPure AC filters!  Great pricing, free shipping and fast delivery.

Mel Coker changes filters quarterly

Mel Coker 
Columbia, SC Realtor
 RE/MAX Metro Associates

2013 Veterans Day

TODAY IS VETERANS DAY!
This federal holiday was initially known as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11, 1917. The holiday officially began in 1926 and in 1954 the holiday name was changed to Veterans Day.

PLEASE take 4 minutes to watch this video:  I FOUGHT FOR YOU

History of Veterans Day website

Veterans Day is intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to United States national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. PLEASE BE SURE TO THANK A VETERAN FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor

Chapin Community Yard Sale: Saturday, October 26

12 Homes Yard Sale: Chapin, SC
St. Thomas Church Road
Saturday, October 26  7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Twelve homes participating on and along St. Thomas Church Road.  Large variety of items, including:
Household, kitchen, boating, water sports, camping, computer, furniture, video, pens, china, antiques, purses, clothes, toys, movies, Christmas stuff and much more.

Directions:  U.S. Highway 76 from Ballentine area to Wessinger Road (at Hilton); go 2.6 miles (pass thru 4 way stop) and turn right on St. Thomas Church Road.  Look for poster signs and balloons.
12 homes particpating!  Spend your garage/yard sale morning in Chapin.
 
CLICK HERE for brochure(printable)

Featured at YardSaleSearch.com


Find garage sales in Chapin on Yard Sale Search.

Temporary Draw Down on Lake Murray Water Level (Nov. 2013 - Jan. 2014)

To enhance the water quality of Lake Murray, South Carolina Electric & Gas plans to gradually lower the lake beginning in early November. Weather permitting, the lake will be lowered until it reaches the 350-foot level near Dec. 1, 2013. It will be maintained at that level until Jan. 1, 2014, after which it will be allowed to rise back to the normal high pool level of 358 feet.
CLICK HERE for more information

View Lake Murray weather and lake level link here


Beautiful weather today at Lake Murray:

 Mel Coker
Lake Murray Real Estate
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 318-2007

 

 

Lake Murray Overview Video

Watch my new Lake Murray video


Lake Murray

Lake Murray, South Carolina

Lake Murray in South Carolina is a GREAT place to live!

Just recently...  GREAT recognition for South Carolina, Lake Murray and the Greater Columbia area.

MYRTLE BEACH - only 3 hours from Columbia - named one of the TOP BOARDWALKS in the United States and a top travel destination on TripAdvisor.
CHARLESTON - only 2 hours from Columbia - TOP CITY in the WORLD TO VISIT by Conde Nast Magazine!  And, consistently rated by TripAdvisor as a top travel destination.
LAKE MURRAY - named one of the TOP TEN lakes in the United States for boating and living.  Click Here to learn more about Lake Murray.  Only 15-30 minutes outside Columbia.
RIVERBANKS ZOO & GARDEN - consistently named as one of the TOP ZOO's in America and located just outside of downtown Columbia.
CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK - Yes!  A National Park just outside of Columbia, SC and named by Travel + Leisure as one of America's Most Underrated National Parks.
COLUMBIA - A great place to live whether you're at Lake Murray or in downtown Columbia,  Irmo, Lexington, Chapin, West Columbia or Northeast Columbia.   We have a reasonable cost of living and friendly people. 
And, recently Kiplinger's magazine named Columbia one of the TOP TEN PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES TO LIVE.
SOUTH CAROLINA - named by Kiplinger Magazine as one of the TEN MOST TAX-FRIENDLY STATES FOR RETIREES!

OK... what are you waiting on?  Reasonable home prices, reasonable cost of living and
taxes, friendly people, great weather and fun things to do await YOU in Columbia, South Carolina.  Call Mel Coker for answers to your questions or for listings of homes that match your home search criteria.

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Office:  (803) 223-6214
Cell: (803) 318-2207
Internet  |  email  |  FACEBOOK  |  Columbia  |  Lake Murray

RE/MAX REWARDS - A Program to Save Money!

RE/MAX REWARDS...
I would like to invite you to take advantage of RE/MAX REWARDS for being a valued client OR friend of Mel Coker and RE/MAX Metro Associates. This exclusive program enables you and your family to save money at over 30,000 national and local merchants! I am a member and this program will SAVE MONEY FOR YOU! Of course, it's FREE.  Most merchant deals are online ordering and in addition to best or special pricing, you accumulate WOW points to be used later for future purchases.

To become a member, PLEASE send me an email with your name and the email address you wish to use and mention RE/MAX REWARDS.  I will then send you an invitation to join.  My email is: melcoker@remax.net
  Once you accept and activate your account, you will gain immediate access to exclusive offers at retailers for your home such as Lowes, DirectTV and Target.  In addition, there are deals for travel (hotels, cruises, airfare and more), electronics and more.

 

ASK Mel Coker to join RE/MAX Rewards!

 

Barbeque Restaurants Near Lake Murray

I've compiled a list of popular BARBEQUE RESTAURANTS near Lake Murray, along with a ranking providing a #1 (see below).
(including: Irmo, Chapin, Prosperity, Lexington, Leesville)

Here is my list of 8 Barbeque Restaurants:
PDF file (printable) |  Map of Restaurant Locations

NOW... which one is BEST?  That can be a matter of opinion.  But, in late July 2013, I

Jackie Hite - Hite's Bar-B-Que in Leesville, SC
#1 Barbeque Around Lake Murray

did an unscientific analysis of three popular restaurant rating websites (TripAdvisor.com, Yelp.com and UrbanSpoon.com) to come up with a ranking:

#1 is Jackie Hite's Bar-B-Que in Leesville.  Tied for 2nd were Shealy's Bar-B-Q and Belly's Southern Pride BBQ.  I have actually eaten at 7 of the 8 restaurants.  The TOP FIVE: Jackie Hites is #1, Shealy's & Belly's, Palmetto Pig, Farm Boys.

Mel Coker

Retirement Benefits: Living at Lake Murray, South Carolina

I found an interesting document online that explains TAX BENEFITS (and more) AVAILABLE TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

South Carolina is a GREAT place to call home and live in retirement.  One benefit is especially for homeowners in South Carolina:
At AGE 65,
Homestead Tax Exemption – first $50,000 of the fair market value of a house or mobile home owned by a state resident of at least one year is exempt from municipal, county, school, and special assessment real property taxes. Exemptions provided to surviving spouses who are 50 or older and anyone who is legally blind or has a permanent disability, regardless of age. Apply at county auditor’s office on or before July 16. (Code 12-37-250)


CLICK HERE for the link to the document:

Retired and ready to move to South Carolina?  Already in South Carolina and want to
sell or buy a home?   Call Mel Coker, your Seniors Real Estate Specialist serving Columbia, Lake Murray, Chapin, Irmo, Lexington and Northeast Columbia.

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214
www.MelCoker.remaxagent.com
email:  melcoker@remax.net
  

May Is Grilling Month at Lake Murray!

May is National Barbeque (GRILLING) Month - Enjoy Grilling NOW at Lake Murray!

To celebrate, I will give away 2 grilling kits!

To be eligible…

· LIKE my FACEBOOK business page

  or if you have already done this, just “LIKE” this post.

· Live in Richland, Lexington or Newberry county

· One entry per person  |  Retail value app. $35

Contest runs from this FACEBOOK post thru May 31  |  Winners announced on this page on or about June 1

MY FACEBOOK Business Page:

www.Facebook.com/columbia.lakemurray 

What MOVES You? A new playroom at Lake Murray?

Ready to MOVE to Lake Murray?
Contact Mel Coker at RE/MAX Metro:
(803) 223-6214 or www.MelCoker.remaxagent.com

500 Closings by Mel Coker - Lake Murray Realtor

Yesterday, I closed my 500th transaction during my 15 years in real estate!

Thank you to my buyer client, Joe Hodges, for purchasing an investment property in the Chapin area.  This was his 4th real estate closing with me and my 500th closing overall since I entered the real estate business in 1998.  Joe received an appropriate gift at closing for being number 500.  It was a pleasure to close this transaction with my recommended closing attorney, H. Thomas Anderson.   I don't have exact numbers on this, but, I'm sure he has closed at least 1/2 of these 500 transactions.

Mel Coker, Joe Hodges, Tom Anderson at Closing

The sales volume for these 500 transactions is $83.4 Million.    As the chart below shows, the highest number of closed transactions has been in the following areas: St. Andrews/Irmo/Chapin, Lexington and Northeast Columbia and Lake Murray waterfront.

When you're ready to BUY or SELL in Greater Columbia, contact MEL COKER.  Mention "500 closings BLOG" and when you close with Mel Coker as your Realtor, you will receive a $250 LOWES GIFT CARD at closing (offer expires 12/31/2013).

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, South Carolina
(803) 223-6214
Internet - Columbia Real Estate

Lake Murray Realtor - Mel Coker

I am a REALTOR for all of your LAKE MURRAY real estate needs. Believe it or not, not all real estate agents are Realtors. Call Mel Coker to buy or sell in Columbia, Lexington, Irmo, Chapin and at Lake Murray.

I also live on Lake Murray!

NOT ALL REAL ESTATE AGENTS ARE THE SAME!

Mel Coker can assist you with buying or selling on Lake Murray.
Call (803) 223-6214
Visit my Columbia MLS Search Site

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC 
email

Search Lake Murray Home Listings

It's NEW... Mel Coker's RE/MAX Search Site:
Search on your own for Lake Murray real estate?
Ready to BUY on or near Lake Murray?  Contact Mel Coker at (803) 223-6214.

CLICK HERE: RE/MAX MLS SEARCH FOR COLUMBIA, SC

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214
www.MelCoker.RemaxAgent.com