Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11th

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11th!

The City of Columbia Veterans Day Parade will be November 11th in downtown Columbia. This parade is one of the largest Veterans Day parades in the United States.  The parade route starts at the Laurel & Sumter Street intersection and runs south on Sumter Street to Gervais Street.  The parade starts around 10:45 a.m.

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.

History of Veterans Day website

Veterans Day is largely 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!

I've created a webpage with information for the Columbia, SC Veterans Day parade and to honor our veterans. Please check the page out as it contains other information such as: Veterans Day links, pictures from our Memorial Park in Columbia, SC and the name of America's most decorated soldier from ANY international/foreign war (HINT: it's not Alvin York or Audie Murphy and he WAS born in South Carolina!).

CLICK HERE for the Veterans Day website from Mel Coker
 

Click Here for: Military in South Carolina

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."
– George Washington
General and Commander-in-Chief & First President of the United States of America

Columbia SC Named One of America's Best Places to Live for Retirees!

U.S. News & World Report has named Columbia SC as one of America's Best Affordable Places to Retire!
Of course, I knew that already as a Columbia Realtor and life-long resident of Columbia.  Columbia IS a great place to live, especially for retirees.

The complete article (September 28, 2009):

America's Best Affordable Places to Retire
U.S. News & World Report worked with a data search company to seek out places with a low cost of living and reasonable housing prices that still offered access to the services and amenities that people should look for in an ideal retirement spot. Each city on the list has high-quality healthcare and elder-care facilities, as well as an abundance of educational and cultural events.

Columbia SC - Editor's Pick for Best Place for Retirement Living

Topping the list of reasons that Columbia SC was chosen as a BEST PLACE TO LIVE FOR  RETIREMENT:  low median home prices AND low owner occupied property taxes (homeowners over age 65 get even lower tax bills).  The median home sale price in 2008 was about $148,000.  Average property taxes were listed around $1,000.  Homeowners over age 65 get a $50,000 reduction on assessed tax value to further lower property tax bills.

More reasons to choose Columbia SC for affordable retirement living: 

• LOW overall cost of living
• GREAT weather - lots of sunshine and mild winters (snow is rare)Friendly people and Southern hospitality
• Excellent health care facilities
• Lake Murray  - one of the BEST lakes in all of the South is popular for boating, fishing and fun
• Easy access to city, regional and state parks and even a National Park close to Columbia
• THREE rivers through Columbia - Congaree, Broad and Saluda for canoeing and kayaking
• Numerous and diverse cultural activities: antebellum architecture in historic districts, excellent   musuems, outdoor concerts, University of South Carolina athletic events
• Military retirees enjoy amenities and benefits provided by U.S. Army Fort Jackson and Dorn VA hospital
• Nice places to shop including several malls and special shopping districts including Five Points and Congaree Vista
• Stable economy and work force employers
• There's more, but at least the above list is a start as to why you should choose Columbia SC for your place to call home for retirement!

More Columbia SC information:

Columbia "A to Z"  |  Columbia Blog  |  Lake Murray  |  Lake Murray Blog  |  |  Lake Murray eBook  |  Columbia SC real estate  |  Search Columbia SC real estate

When you're ready for more Columbia SC real estate information, contact Mel Coker:

Office: (803) 223-6214

Mobile: (803) 318-2007

email contact form

email

Columbia SC real estate website

Mel Coker

New Lake Murray listing

For Sale on Lake Murray
I've got a brand new listing for sale on Lake Murray! My clients have had the interior completely repainted. The home is beautiful inside. With a mostly brick exterior (some stucco on the front), the home is virtually maintenance free on the outside. On 149 feet of Lake Murray water frontage, there is a nice dock and boat lift. From the deck, the westerly view offers beautiful sunsets.

This beautiful home is approximately 3300 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms. The master bedroom is downstairs and there is a second master bedroom upstairs. Both bedrooms upstairs on the back side feature balconies overlooking Lake Murray. Hardwoods are downstairs except in the master bedroom. The kitchen is very spacious with lots of cabinets. There is another room... A bonus room (oftentimes called a FROG in this market). This room works great for a media room, exercise room or game room. In fact, the pool table in the room stays with the home as a bonus.

This home is located at 49 Bay Court in Plantation Pointes Subdivision in Newberry County. The home is priced to sell at $512,500.

For complete details and more pictures, visit my virtual tour websites:
Mel's Lake Murray home listing webpage
Mel's RealBird listing page

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