Greenville SC Homes and Real Estate Blog

CU-ICAR, Housing Recovery, Future of Old Allan Bennett Hospital, Downtown Greenville Airport

2010-03-02T14:54:00.010-05:00

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Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

More To Come At CU-ICAR
Sage Automotive Interiors recently acquired the automotive body cloth division of nearby Milliken Co., and will build a new headquarters at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Milliken is well known for their textiles research and Sage takes over a strong company with 1000 employees at the South Carolina plants of Marietta, Abbeville, and Spartanburg, plus Toccoa, GA and Brazil. Sage makes materials for automotive seating, door panels, and a segment they want to focus on growing, headliners. Locating at the CU-ICAR complex keeps their headquarters close to their manufacturing base and provides synergy with Clemson, also well known for textile research and education. The Sage development comes on the heels of an announcement that electric bus maker Proterra will put a manufacturing facility at the CU-ICAR campus this year.

Housing Recovery
According to Builder Magazine Online, the Greenville Upstate area made the top 20 list of areas that will lead the housing recovery in 2010. They based their findings on several factors, but primarily on the number of housing starts in 2009 and forecast starts in 2010. The number of starts in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area jumped 13% in the fourth quarter of 2009, with a total of 1,591 for the year. That is forecast to increase another 20% in 2010 for a total of 1918 starts. Other factors that put Greenville into the 19th spot include affordable housing with a median sales price of $139,000 last year, a strengthening job market, strong population growth and prime location on I-85 between Atlanta and Charlotte. The top three areas in the study were number one Austin, TX, followed by Raleigh and then Charlotte, NC.

The Future Of Old Allen Bennett Hospital

The City of Greer is working on a plan to redevelop the old Allen Bennett Hospital on Wade Hampton, left empty after the new facility on Buncombe Road went into operation. The current proposal is to convert the existing building into an assisted-living facility, with adult and child day-care services, pool, shops, and gardens. Negotiations are still underway, but if approved, this phase one redevelopment could be finished by 2011. Additional phases could include a 90-room hotel and a skilled-nursing center. The redevelopment would bring more activity to that area of Wade Hampton as the economy picks up as well as put more tax dollars into the city coffers.

Downtown Greenville Airport A Family Spot?
If you are an aviation buff, the Greenville Downtown Airport may soon be a better place to enjoy aircraft activity. The Airport wants to add a restaurant and park next to one of the busiest runways, making it a nice public destination. The proposal is modeled after Atlanta's restoration of the Peachtree Dekalb Airport which has been a hit with families. The plan includes a hangar for parties, playground, walking trail and retired aircraft displays. In other aviation news, the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport plans to renovate and expand their terminal, add two T hangars, and improve the landscaping.

Current Weather
Wow, it's snowing again as I look out the window. That's such a rarity for this area, but indicates the El Nino weather pattern is still affecting us when spring is normally here. The kids will be happy to hear that 2-4 inches is possible in Greenville today and school will probably be out tomorrow. With highs predicted into the upper 40s and sunny weather in the next few days, that snow won't last long.

Proterra in Greenville, City of Greenville, Mauldin Beautifying Roadways, Peace Center Expansion

2010-02-09T11:33:00.014-05:00

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and
Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Proterra in Greenville
The making of Greenville SC into a world-class automotive cluster has taken another step forward with the announcement that Proterra, a manufacturer of hybrid electric buses, will set up shop here. They plan on building a $68 million manufacturing plant and research facility at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, starting in the spring of 2010. That should lead to about 1300 jobs over the next seven years with an average wage of about $60,000 per year. The move not only adds to the growing local automotive expertise, but also marks a trend into alternative energy R&D, something that South Carolina has already begun with hydrogen fuel technology at the Savanna River site. Much of the research will focus on developing a long range battery capable of running a large vehicle all day. Proterra's current battery range is about 30 miles with a recharge complete in six to 10 minutes.

City of Greenville - Things to Come
In a related move, the City of Greenville has entered into an agreement to purchase the former Hitachi building at 575 Mauldin Road, which could fulfill their agreement to provide Proterra with temporary space. The Hitachi building is located near the CU-ICAR campus and houses 40,000 square feet of office space and 509,000 square feet of shop or warehouse space. The site could also provide the city with a relocation site for the downtown Public Works Operations Center that is in a flood plain adjacent to the new A.J. Whittenberg Academy. Moving the Public Works away from the Reedy River opens up more possibilities for downtown revitalization, which as already been started with the Whittenberg Academy, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and the pedestrian-cycling Swamp Rabbit Trail that runs by them. The City's due diligence on the purchase or the Hitachi building has been extended into March, so we’ll hear more then.

Mauldin Beautifying its Roadways

Just down from the entrance to CU-ICAR on Laurens Road, the City of Mauldin is planning an upgrade to the five-lane arterial with landscape and roadway plans that will make the entrance into the city more pleasing to the eye. They have received $678,000 in federal transportation enhancement funds but are still figuring out how spend it. The four primary target areas are Forrester Drive at the northern end, Murray Drive at the C.F. Sauer plant, between Owens Lane and Sunset Drive near the city center, and at the Highway 276 / State 417 split at the southern end of town. In addition to plants and trees along the road, they plan to bury overhead power lines, create new sidewalks, and install lighting.

Peace Center Expansion
The Peace Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Greenville SC has been packed lately with great acts such as the Broadway production "Wicked", bringing in an audience from miles around. The venue has plans to expand the building and create more of a community gathering spot by enlarging the lobby into the front driveway area. A glass façade will give it a modern, inviting look and provide patrons a little more shoulder room between acts. They also plan to add new space to the back of the building for private parties, and create a landscape similar to Falls Park.

Current Weather
It was nice weather this weekend, but it looks like the cold weather that has settled onto most of the country will stick around for another week. Expect some cold rain on Tuesday with clearing and cold later in the week. Highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s.

Greenville had an unusual taste of winter weather at the end of January. The Peace Center is featured below...

Greenville SC New Construction, Greenville Neighborhood Recognized, Greenville's West End, GSP Airport Expansion

2010-01-25T15:27:00.008-05:00

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and
Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

New Home Inventory Going Up in 2010
The number of Upstate residential building permits in 2009 reversed the downward trend of the past couple of years and may indicate that the momentum has changed. According to The Market Edge, more permits were issued in the second half of 2009 than the first, a rarity since in a typical market, 60% of the permits are in the first two quarters. Builders have recognized that the current tax incentives for first time buyers and some owners will spur sales in the first half of 2010, and they are getting ready. You can expect the new home inventory to increase over the next few months. Also, lots that had been held off the market due to bankrupt builders have finally become available as legal issues have been resolved and investors have jumped on the bargains. The Upstate region is categorized as Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg Counties; of the 2623 permits issued in the Upstate region in 2009, 1006 were in Greenville County.

Viola Street Recognized
The Southern Living Magazine has recognized downtown Greenville's Viola Street neighborhood as one of 10 comeback neighborhoods in the South. The area is nestled against the popular North Main area just outside the downtown business district, and has undergone a remarkable transformation from small unheated shacks to modern homes. It all started in 2000 when a phalanx of volunteers pulled together to make it all possible. The developer managed the construction for free, a businessman funded scholarships and tutoring programs increased the skills of the current residents that enabled job growth. The end result is 86% owner occupancy, a community center, and a close knit neighborhood. This is one of the revitalization projects in the Greenville area which has proven successful. The other areas noted by Southern Living include North Chattanooga, TN, the Wilmore/South End in Charlotte, NC, Baltimore's Patterson Park, and Holy Cross in New Orleans.

West End's Changing Face

There are a couple of holes in the downtown Greenville storefront lineup as a result of two demolition projects. In the upper end of Main St. next to Piazza Bergamo, the old building is gone with plans to expand the green community area behind the archway leading to the Bank of America building. Locals will also notice the absence of the Army Surplus store farther down Main St. at River Street in the West End. That store has been a mainstay in the West End for almost 40 years, surviving while other businesses failed during the early days of revitalization. The building goes back to about 1870, but was too deteriorated to repair, so has been torn down. In its place, a similar style 4-story building will appear, maintaining the west end architecture.

GSP Expansion Project
The Greenville Spartanburg International Airport has just opened a new general aviation terminal that is LEED registered project. The building was designed to be energy and water efficient with large windows for more light and a water collection system on the roof. It should use 30% less energy and 70% less water than a traditional building, with about a 2% increase in construction cost. Stevens Aviation maintains aircraft at GSP and operates as the fixed base operator, supplying fuel, food and services for general aviation aircraft.

Current Weather
Boy, it really poured rain this last weekend, but it looks like we'll see some clear skies this week with highs in the 50s. Still fairly cool though, with lows in the 30s, and more precipitation later in the week. It's been an abnormally cold winter, but spring flowers are only a few weeks away!

Interstate 385 Closure, Foreclosures, Short Sales and New Government Incentives, New Dog Park

2010-01-05T11:02:00.013-05:00

Interstate 385 Closure
One of the immediate changes for traffic this year is the widening project on I-385 that has already begun near Clinton. For the next eight months, be aware that the northbound lanes from I-26 to Gray Court will be closed and the best route is north to I-85 at Spartanburg and then west to Greenville SC, adding about 45 minutes to your journey. Of course there are several other rural routes on smaller roads, but they might not be as time efficient due to added congestion. The southbound lanes will be open for traffic as usual. There's been a lot of political finger pointing as to why an alternative route was not devised along the construction route to save time, but since we're stuck with it now, enjoy the drive!

Foreclosures Greenville SC
The Greenville SC foreclosure market keeps chugging along in our area with approximately 185 properties sold in the fourth quarter of 2009, which is consistent with what sold in each quarter last year. There are about 100 active Greenville foreclosure properties listed currently, which is down about 15% from an average over 2009. The median price of foreclosures sold in the 4th quarter is $80,000 and has also remained steady. Many of these lower priced properties were purchased by investors for rental, or fix-up and resell, but there are a variety of opportunities of nice homes for those who intend to occupy the home. The good homes go quickly, so be ready to act fast when they hit the market!

Short Sales and New Government Incentives

In addition to foreclosures, the inventory of "short sales" on the market has been increasing. These distressed properties are in the pre-foreclosure stage and the owner is asking the bank to accept less than what is owed on the property. These types of transactions have been extremely hard to close in the past two years because the banks have not been prepared for the tidal wave of loan defaults that is predicted to continue into 2012. However, the U.S. Treasury has put pressure on banks to effectively process short sales, thus cutting down on the amount of foreclosures in the market and stabilizing values. For a more detailed discussion on the new incentive program click here for Greenville short sales and how they work . If you know of a distressed homeowner facing foreclosure and looking for an alternative that will save their credit and perhaps even their job (e.g. employees with a security clearance), have them call The Cunningham Team. We are Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) and are doing our best to help homeowners through their life shattering situation.

New Dog Park
Dog lovers will be able to enjoy a new Greer SC dog park in about 2 months thanks to the Greenville County Recreation Department, who are starting the project after a series of delays. Located at Highway 14 and the Enoree River, the 3.5 acre park will feature a maze-like course, ramps and balance beams for canine entertainment. The former Pelham Mill site is quite nice with a dam built in the 1800's. The Recreation department also just completed a restoration of Campbell's Covered Bridge and created a new park there. Built in 1909, the bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in SC and is located in northern Greenville County near Pleasant Bridge Road and State 414.

Current Weather
Cold weather has been on us since New Years Day and will continue with unusually cold temperatures through the week. Lows will be in the 20s and highs in the 30s. There's even a chance of snow flurries on Friday and warmer weather won't be back until next week.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

The frozen waterfall photo below is from a recent hike.
Raven Cliff Falls and Caesars Head State Park.

Greenville SC Distressed Property Press Release

2010-01-04T14:41:00.003-05:00

On Jan 1st 2010 The Cunningham Team sent out a press release on Programs the Treasury Department is instituting to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Lee Cunningham recently attended a meeting with Dave Liniger, RE/MAX founder, in which he detailed methods he advised the Treasury department to institute in order to forstall a greater financial crisis with more foreclosures. Currently we have only seen listed less then a third of the foreclosures that are in process. In order to prevent them all from being foreclosed it is recomended that they try to take advantage of a process called short sales. It is a process where the homeowner sells the house during the foreclosure process and if the amount owed is greater then the amount the house sold for then the bank will often forgive the debt...under the right circumstances. Read our press release for more information: Greenville Foreclosure Options or contact us directly to talk to Lee our Certified Distressed Property Expert. Our website: Greenville Real Estate, our phone (864) 679-0707

GHS Orthopedic Research, More Jobs in Greenville, CU-ICAR First Graduate, Downtown Greenville Master PLan

2009-12-15T10:03:00.007-05:00

GHS Receives Orthopedic Research Grant
The Greenville Hospital System is planning on becoming a major player in orthopedic research and a $5 million grant from Smith & Nephew Biologics & Spine is paving the way. The grant has kicked off the Center for Economic Excellence in Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Sciences at the GHS Patewood campus in Greenville. The Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas is an outstanding orthopedic clinic that has become a centerpiece of this arrangement after moving its operation from Vail, Colorado a couple of years ago. It's a subsidiary of GHS and has partnered with the University Of South Carolina School Of Medicine as a research and treatment facility for orthopedic injuries and treatment. The USC School of Medicine is planning to increase the number of medical students they send to GHS in their third and fourth years of study. Clemson University is in on the action too; they plan to develop a major bio-engineering program in the same building on the Patewood Campus. The goal of this collaboration is to establish orthopedic services and research that will be second to none; indeed, with the organization they have now, they are well on the way.

More Jobs Coming to Greenville

AVX, a manufacturer of electronic capacitors currently located in Myrtle Beach, SC has announced that it will move its corporate offices to Greenville over the next few months. That will bring about 150 employees to town while the production unit in Myrtle Beach will remain unaffected. AVX's parent company is Kyocera Corp., who has a Kyocera Mita plant in Fountain Inn with unoccupied office space. Details have not been released, but this might the location of the new headquarters.

Clemson University ICAR's First PhD Graduate

The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research here in Greenville started its innovative programs in 2006 and will graduate its first PhD on December 17. Along with John Limroth as the first doctorate in the program, nine others have graduated with masters degrees this year. According to Peterson's guide to colleges and universities, this program is the only one of its kind in the United States and is something these graduates as well as Greenville can be proud of. Mr. Limroth has already begun a job with local employer Michelin as a tire-performance research engineer.

Downtown Greenville's Master Plan Launches Next Week
The City of Greenville is launching a Downtown Streetscape Master Plan next week and the public is invited to participate. This program is designed to compliment the Downtown Master Plan by improving the aesthetic appeal of Main Street and the major side streets. Public input is welcome at the Walkability Workshop on December 15th, a Public Open House on the 16th, and a presentation by "walkability" expert Dan Burden on the 17th. Glatting Jackson Klercher Anglin, an international urban planning firm has been hired to oversee the project. Click here for more details.

And if you are downtown checking out the streetscapes you may see the start to a demolition project of the building at 702 S. Main St, at the intersection of River St. Next week will be the asbestos removal, and the demo project should be complete by the end of January.

Current Weather
Wet winter weather has been on us for a couple of days, which should continue through Tuesday. Lows will be about 40 with highs near 60 with showers likely. It should clear up mid week and temperatures will come down to near freezing with highs in the 50s.

HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAY EVERYONE!

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Boeing Chooses Charleston, Greenville Profiled in US Airways In-Flight Magazine, Bikeville, New Suspension Bridge

2009-11-30T16:02:00.012-05:00

Boeing Chooses Charleston for Assembly Plant Location
In the wake of Boeing choosing North Charleston as the location of its new assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner passenger jet, Greenville got some good news that three local companies will be involved in the process. Global Performance, a spin-off group of executives from Fluor Corporation that is owned by Mustang of Houston, will act as the owner's representative and oversee the design and construction of the project. The actual design and construction work goes to a joint venture of BE&K Building Group of Charlotte, Turner Construction of New York, and BRPH of Melbourne Florida, all of whom worked on other aircraft projects at the same campus where the Dreamliner plant will be located. BE&K's regional office in Greenville will act as the headquarters for the joint venture team. According to Global Performance, about 1000 workers will be on the plant construction job at its height with 2,000 to 3,000 employed over the lifetime of the project. The facility will be 600 feet wide, 1,000 feet long and will have a 460 foot clear span. It is expected to be completed in early 2012.

CMC South Carolina Steel, headquartered nearby in Taylors, has also been selected to design and fabricate the steel for the new plant and will supply product from its five South Carolina plants.

Greenville Profiled in US Airways In-Flight Magazine

Greenville has been chosen to be profiled in the March 2010 issue of US Airways in-flight magazine, and will appear on the magazine's website for one year. The article will describe many of the unique cultural, business and lifestyle features for which Greenville has become famous. US Airways is one of the top carriers into the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and touts about 52 million annual passengers worldwide. For past city profiles by US Air, click here.

Bikeville of Greenville

After three years of hard work and upgrades to city streets, Greenville has been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a "Bicycle Friendly Community". The effort began in 2006 with the advent of "Bikeville" and included a daunting list of the League's action items centered on engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation & planning. Over the past years, the city has put in eight miles of bike lanes with five more planned for the upcoming year. There is a user-friendly bike lane map and move information at the Bikeville site.

New Suspension Bridge at Conestee Nature Park
If you haven't been out to the Conestee Nature Park lately, you'll now notice a 216-foot suspension bridge that connects the eastern portion of the park with the extensive foot trails in western section. The bridge provides a key link to a planned 10-mile trail system in the park, which will also be the terminus to the 20-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail. The 400-acre park features some nice, peaceful walking with a lot of wildlife and bird viewing for naturalists. The park is located six miles south of downtown Greenville on the Reedy River, south of I-85, and behind the old Greenville Braves baseball stadium.

Current Weather
We are thankful for great weather last weekend that finished up the Thanksgiving holidays, but it looks like rain will be likely early this week with highs around 60. Expect clearing and cooler by Thursday with highs in the 50s.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Extended Tax Credit, Clemson MBA Program Moves Downtown, Kroc Center, Greenville Parking, Easley Town Center

2009-11-17T11:10:00.009-05:00

Extended Tax Credit
The big news from last week for residential home buyers is that the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit has been enacted. That means that first time home buyers and those who have not owned a home in the past 3 years can qualify for an $8000 tax credit if they are under contract by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30, 2010. The income limits have changed too, so that now buyers filing a single return and earning less than $125,000 ($225,000 filing jointly) will qualify; this is up from $75,000 / $150,000 from the original first time buyer tax credit.

The extended plan also targets another segment of buyers that was not included in the original plan, and that is for those buyers who have owned a home for five consecutive years. For this group, the tax credit is $6500. The house does not have to be sold, but the home purchased for the tax credit must be your primary residence. That gives many sellers time to sell their current home and still take advantage of the credit. If you have any questions about how this law applies to you, please contact The Cunningham Team.

Clemson MBA Program Moves Downtown
Clemson University will follow the trend among high profile business schools by moving its MBA program to downtown Greenville, in the former Bowater building next to Liberty Bridge. By putting the students into a vibrant urban environment, they will have better access to local businesses and internships than would be available on campus. Clemson will consolidate two business programs already downtown, including the Renaissance Center and the Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. ScanSource, a local hi-tech company that has been in Greenville for 17 years, made a $1 million contribution to Clemson to help make the relocation a reality.

Kroc Center Breaks Ground
The long awaited Salvation Army Kroc Center, just upriver from Greenville's West End, should be breaking ground this year with a completion date of May 2011. The community center will be a first-of-its-kind in the Carolinas and feature a pool, gym, fitness center, cafeteria, Boys and Girls Clubs, soccer fields, and tennis courts. The project has been on the board for five years after funding from the Ray Kroc foundation was announced, but changes in leadership and rising construction costs have forced several delays. If you are traveling out of town on Academy / Highway 123, you can see that grading has been completed at the site next to the A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School, which is well under way. The location next to the school will also be a convenient safe haven for students that need a place to stay until parents get home from work.

New Parking Spaces
If you're scrounging around downtown Greenville for a mid-day parking spot, you might want to check out the 72 new parking spaces between W. Washington St. and W. McBee Ave. where the City has renovated an existing parking deck. The City is running a pilot program to kick it off with $1 for the first two hours and $1 for each hour afterward. It's located only one block off Main Street and pretty convenient. The deck will continue to be free after 6:00 p.m. on the weekdays and on the weekends.

Easley Town Center
The Easley Town Center project has finally started the construction phase at the site of the old Saco Lowell manufacturing site. Despite delays from the current financing environment, the site is expected to be completed by the spring of 2011. Wal-Mart has announced their plans to put in a Superstore, and 10 other leases have been signed but not announced publicly.

Current Weather
Wow, that was really some nice warm fall weather we had last weekend. That will be ending Tuesday night with rain expected for a couple of days before clearing up for the weekend. Highs will be in the mid 60s and lows around 50.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Creating SC Jobs, Greenville Chef gets National Recognition, West End Renovations, Simpsonville Ampitheater, Veterans' Weekend

2009-11-02T13:01:00.012-05:00

Aviation Industry Creating SC Jobs
Promising economic news for South Carolina was delivered last week when Boeing announced that it would locate a second assembly line for their 787 jetliner in North Charleston. That will add at least 3000 jobs in the first year of operation, which is predicted to be 2011 after a start in construction next month. Boeing already has a factory in North Charleston that makes parts for the 787 plus part ownership in another plant that manufacturers sections of the plane. The move by Boeing adds to the cluster of aviation industries in the Southeast; Gulfstream is located in Savannah and Spirit Aero Systems is in Kinston, NC. Based on what we have seen with the introduction of BMW's plant in 1994, there will certainly be a far ranging economic impact as suppliers expand and locate into the area.

Promising economic news for South Carolina was delivered last week when Boeing announced that it would locate a second assembly line for their 787 jetliner in North Charleston. That will add at least 3000 jobs in the first year of operation, which is predicted to be 2011 after a start in construction next month. Boeing already has a factory in North Charleston that makes parts for the 787 plus part ownership in another plant that manufacturers sections of the plane. The move by Boeing adds to the cluster of aviation industries in the Southeast; Gulfstream is located in Savannah and Spirit Aero Systems is in Kinston, NC. Based on what we have seen with the introduction of BMW's plant in 1994, there will certainly be a far ranging economic impact as suppliers expand and locate into the area.

Downtown Greenville Chef Gets National Recognition
Downtown Greenville's restaurant The Lazy Goat will receive national attention this month when Chef Vicki Moore will be featured in Esquire Magazine as John Mariani's "Breakout Chefs to Watch". Mariani has been in culinary journalism for more than 30 years and has been described as the most influential food-wine critic in the popular press; making his list of rising chefs is a career-changing honor indeed. Moore's specializes in a Mediterranean-Latin fare and will be featured along with three other chefs from New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.

Greenville's West End Renovations Continue
Renovation of the former Claussen's Bakery building at 400 Augusta Road was recently announced and adds another key piece to the revitalization of Greenville's West End. This well known brick building next to Greenville High School was built in 1930 and served the community for years with its famous bread. Claussen's left in 1975 and it has been occupied by several other bread companies until becoming vacant in late 2008. The property is only a block from the Greenville Drive Baseball complex and continues the development from Falls Park out along the popular Augusta Street shopping area.

New Amphitheater in Simpsonville
Simpsonville will start construction on a downtown amphitheater that will seat about 300 people and will be located behind the former Simpsonville Elementary School and across from City Park. It will be called the Tater Shed Outdoor Venue, after a building known locally by the same name. The city intends to use it for entertainment and art demonstrations that will pull activities back into a community that have reinventing itself. The move follows a trend among other cities in Greenville County as they establish artistic venues in the city centers, and should be ready for spring events.

Veterans' Weekend Celebration
The Upcountry History Museum will salute all US Veterans this weekend with their Veterans' Weekend Celebration that will also kick off their new exhibit, Weaving Our Survival: Upcountry Stories of World War II. You'll find out how the area's textile industry played an essential part in the war effort as well as hear many oral histories from local residents. Click here for more information.

Clear Fall Weather
Halloween's warm rainy night was a little soggy but didn't hold back the trick or treaters. That's all changed now and you can expect nice clear weather this week with highs in the 60s and lows around 40.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Great Site for Condo Insurance Options.

2009-10-22T05:46:00.001-04:00

Condo insurance is a must have. This site informs you on why and how and even advises you on the options available.

in reference to: Condo Insurance - SC - HO6 - Florida Condo Insurance Quotes - (view on Google Sidewiki)

Myrtle Beach Homes for Sale

2009-10-22T05:43:00.001-04:00

If you are in the market for Myrtle Beach HOMES and land this is the site for you. Nice pictures, well laid out, fast loading. Good site.

in reference to: Myrtle Beach Homes | Homes For Sale in Myrtle Beach SC (view on Google Sidewiki)

This Myrtle Beach Condo Site is GREAT

2009-10-22T05:41:00.001-04:00

If you are interested in buying oceanfront, or ocean view properties or just want to be near the ocean this site will steer you in the right direction. It even helps you with the best hotels to stay at while you are searching for your condo.

in reference to: Myrtle Beach Pet Friendly Condos - Waterway Condos - Golf Condos - Kids (view on Google Sidewiki)

Great Insurance Site

2009-10-22T05:38:00.001-04:00

For SC home, auto or rental insurance this site is going to show you the best rates for the money.

in reference to: Cheap Car Insurance SC - Boat - Mobile Home - Renters Insurance Myrtle Beach (view on Google Sidewiki)

Top Site for Properties on the East Coast

2009-10-21T13:47:00.001-04:00

If you are looking for a deal on some oceanfront properties right now this is the site to be at.
They have all the Current properties and will find you the right property at the right price.

in reference to: Cheap Oceanfront Property and Florida Beachfront Condos (view on Google Sidewiki)

More Awards for Main Street Greenville, Soccer is Coming, Electric Bus Manufacturer, Poltergeist?

2009-10-20T09:38:00.013-04:00

Electric Bus Manufacturer
A manufacturer of hybrid and all electric buses is considering Greenville for a new factory which would hire 500 over the next three years. Proterra currently produces the vehicles in Colorado, but a strategic move to the east coast would get the company closer to most of its customers and vendors. Greenville would be a good fit because there is a work force familiar with the automotive industry as well as the technology advantages of the local Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The Greenville Transit Authority (GTA) is also interested; they have applied for $100 million in federal funds to create a regional bus system that would connect Clemson with the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Travelers Rest, and Fountain Inn. That includes 24 electric buses and charging stations that could be produced by Proterra. A decision is expected to be made in November.

More Awards for Main Street Greenville
The American Planning Association has named Greenville's Main Street as one of the top ten "great streets" in the country, based on their social function, design, cultural events and green strategies. With landscaping design that started in 1978 and more recent additions like the Fluor Field baseball stadium, a variety of events and a focus on a pedestrian friendly corridor, Greenville competes with other standouts like Skagway, AK, Bath, ME, and Traverse City, MI.

Soccer is Coming
Greenville area soccer got a big boost with the announcement that the 2012 United States Youth Soccer Association's Southern Regional Championships will be hosted at the Mesa Soccer Complex. The expansive 16-field facility is state of the art, and is large and modern enough to handle the 188 southern teams and state champions that will compete over a six day period. Local officials estimate that the event will boost the economy by $8 million and generate 10,000 room-night stays.

Poltergeist?
With the goblins of late October approaching, I thought I would share a recent experience while showing homes to my senior client. She, her daughter and I went into the house just after the owner had left; all was quiet and still. After looking at the back yard, I remained on the patio an extra minute while the ladies went back inside to check out the master bedroom. As I returned to the great room and kitchen area, I noticed that the faucet in the sink was running full bore. "Hey, are you guys checking out how long it takes to get hot water to the kitchen?" From the master they replied, "No, that's the dishwasher isn't it?" Thinking that was strange, I then noticed that the faucet in the hall bath was also running and filling up the tub. Very strange indeed! "So you didn't turn on these faucets?" I asked."No". We stood looking at each other in the foyer with puzzled faces and the elder replied, "You know, I'm 77 years old and have seen a lot of things, but this house is haunted. We're outta here!" Happy Halloween everyone (and best of luck Mr. Seller).

Clear Fall Weather
The rains of last week have passed and we're looking at some nice clear fall weather with highs in the 70s and lows around 40 at night. That’s a little cold for this time of year, but you can expect the overnight lows to rise into the 50s later this week with a chance of rain over the weekend

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Fall for Greenville, New Fire Station, Furman University, Downtown Mauldin

2009-10-07T09:10:00.010-04:00

Fall for Greenville in 2009
If you're going downtown this weekend, be sure to check for road closures that are associated with the 28th annual Fall For Greenville festival. There will be plenty of music, activities, and food sampling going on that will tickle anyone's palate; 40 food vendors from local restaurants will be showcasing their wares for your pleasure. New for this year: a beer garden featuring regional brews, people's choice by texting for their favorite restaurant, a larger kids area on West Washington, and biodegradable eating utensils supporting a "Green Initiative". For more information check the website at Fall For Greenville.

New Fire Station in Southern Greenville County

There's a new hi-tech fire station planned in the Matrix Business Park that will lower insurance costs and help attract new development to the area. The Matrix Park is located just off the Southern Connector at highway 25, which is a corridor of future growth into the southern portion of Greenville County. The $1.2 million station will be a first-in-the-state design to meet energy and environmental standards that include solar panels, wind generators, and a water recapture system.

Furman University Ranked a "Cool School"
Furman University is on the third annual "Cool Schools" list by making the Sierra Club's top 50 eco-friendly schools in the country. The universities are graded on efficiency, energy, food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management and administration. The Center for Sustainability at Furman, which coordinates the entire school’s activities in regard to long term sustainability, helped to get high marks in efficiency and waste management. The top winner in the Cool School rankings was the University of Colorado in Boulder. According to the Princeton Review, two thirds of college applicants indicate that the environmental report card influences their college choice.

Downtown Mauldin Looking Up
The City of Mauldin continues their vision to revitalize the downtown area with a plan to build a Cultural Center on 14 acres just off Butler Road. Designed by Clemson University Architectural students, the plan includes a performing arts building, a veterans memorial and meditation gardens, set in a park-like setting that preserves the existing trees. The site is a former Greenville County school and the plan is to convert the auditorium into a 300 seat venue that could also function as a dinner theater.

Current Weather
This week should be mostly sunny with a small chance of showers and highs around 80. Looks like an increasing chance of rain for the weekend which hopefully won't put a damper on the festival downtown.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

BMW Jobs, The Custom House, Luxury Apartments, Cedar Falls Regional Park, High Tech Nursing with Greenville Tech

2009-09-23T09:25:00.010-04:00

Greer BMW Job Forecast
There's good news from local manufacturer BMW who is adding another 10-hour shift as they see a greater global demand for their X5 and X6 vehicles. That's the first sign of an economic upswing since the auto industry's sudden decline last year, and perhaps is an indicator of a change in the business climate. In an unrelated move last year, BMW added a new assembly line at the plant to increase production of the X3 vehicle, which is complete, but has been idle. That production line is not targeted to begin until 2010.

The Custom House - New in Downtown Greenville

Prime location in downtown Greenville has again determined the viability of development projects with the announcement that a new retail / residential complex has met approval at the corner of Wardlaw St and S. Main, very near Fluor Field. The Custom House will be comprised of eight residences above four retail spaces, with four of the residences coming in at a sizable 4000 square feet. Six of the residences are already under contract. That will add a few more units to the 1,757 condos and apartments currently in the popular Greenville City center. More than half of those have been built in the past seven years as downtown living has become more desirable, and sell at an average of $300+ per square foot.

Downtown Luxury Apartments
There is upscale housing activity outside of the downtown as well, with more than 300 luxury apartments becoming available at The Point. Located at Woodruff Road and I-385, this popular area is about five miles from the center of Greenville and convenient to the Woodruff Road shopping and restaurant scene. Nearby, the Millennium Campus houses the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research and several other corporate headquarters. Despite apartment vacancy rates in the Upstate rising over the past year, the developers are confident that the market for upscale apartments has not become saturated and that a good location will help fill these units. The first phase of apartments will be available in December of 2009.

Cedar Falls Regional Park
Cedar Falls Regional Park, a to-be-built park in the southern part of the county, got a huge boost in financing when it was announced that the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism awarded all their available funds of $413,000 to the project. Together with $2.7 million in funds from a fine levied for a pipeline spill in the 90s, there are enough funds to break ground in the spring of 2010. The 87-acre park is on the Reedy River south of highway 418 and will include various trails with access points to the river above and below the falls, plus a playground and picnic shelter.

High Tech Nursing at Greenville Tech
Local community college Greenville Tech is keeping up with cutting edge technology for their nursing program by opening their Simulation Technologies and Training Center (STAT). The 3,800 square foot facility houses eight patient simulators in seven different environments, including a car accident, an emergency room, an operating room, and a birthing unit. The facility is designed to reduce medical errors through improved training is a partnership between Greenville Tech, USC Medical University, Greenville Hospital System, Palmetto Health, and the University of South Carolina.

Current Weather
Looks like more cloudy weather and rain is expected throughout this week as deep moisture heads up from the Gulf. Highs should be in the low 80s with drier weather headed our way early next week. We've had steady overcast skies and rain for the last week but nothing compared to our neighbors down in Atlanta who are enduring extensive flooding

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Upstate Million Dollar Challenge, I-385 Construction, GE Aviation Expansion, Pro Cycling in Greenville, Euphoria Fine Dining

2009-09-09T09:50:00.017-04:00

$1,000,000 Challenge
In response to the federal tax credit for first time home buyers, The Cunningham Team has partnered with several real estate professionals and established The Upstate Million Dollar Challenge. Our goal is to help 125 first time buyers (and those who have not owned a house in the last 3 years) purchase a home and receive the $8,000 credit, which will put $1 million back into our local economy. We are conducting a series of short buyer seminars which will give attendees a good idea how to purchase a home and then receive the tax credit quickly. To qualify for the credit, you must close by November 30, 2009, so time is of the essence... you will need to be under contract by mid to late October. Get more info and register by clicking here, and please mention that you heard about the seminar from The Cunningham Team.

Upcoming Construction on I-385

The I-385 corridor that leads to I-26, connecting Greenville with Columbia and the coastal regions, will receive a series of upgrades starting at the intersection of I-26 and working north to I-85. The flyover bridge on northbound I-26 will be replaced and you'll have to detour north, starting in January of 2010. The road will also be widened and improved for about 15 miles northwest of the flyover bridge that will cause several other bridges to be elevated. This work should be completed by August of 2010 and normal traffic flow should resume. The second phase of I-385 improvement will be the widening of a 5-mile section between I-85 and southbound to the Southern Connector toll road (I-185). The interchange with I-85 is also slated for reconstruction, a huge $240 million priority project that will add lanes and allow for more traffic flow. The I-385 widening project should take place between 2010 and 2012 with the interchange project starting in 2013. Commuters, prepare for construction!

GE Aviation Expansion
GE Aviation announced that it will expand its production of turbine engine blades by relocating from its current shared space at local GE Energy, to a larger building at the nearby Matrix Industrial Park. By adding the capability to apply specialized coatings, GE expects to cut production time and increase capacity of high pressure turbine (HTP) blades that are used in commercial aircraft engines. By 2013, they plan to add 100 jobs to the current 140 employees that now work at the Garlington facility.

Pro Cycling Returns to Greenville
Greenville resident George Hincapie won the USA Pro Cycling Championships road race this year for the second time and despite a scarcity of fundraising for the event, it will be back in Greenville for a fifth consecutive year in 2010. Although cycling is niche market, there is a strong cycling community in the Greenville area that has created a buzz over the race. The number of competitors was down this year, but the attendance of spectators was not. The close finish with George ahead delighted the crowd and the announcement of location for next year's race was well received.

Euphoria
If you like fine cuisine, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and good music, you might want to check out Euphoria, which is back in downtown Greenville for three days, September 18-20. This is the popular event's fourth year and should be a blast, come rain or shine. For a full schedule, click here.

Current Weather
There's a chance of thunderstorms this week with highs in the low 80s. It should clear up for the weekend though. Ah, the dog days of summer are history and we’re in for some fine fall weather.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Greenville SC Main Street Adding Business, Clemson Teams Up, Michelin Helps Education, Spartanburg Top Real Estate Market

2009-08-25T09:33:00.018-04:00

Main Street Adding Businesses
Despite the economic downturn, Greenville's central business district has several projects that are making respectable progress. One of these is the Carolina Ale House, a family restaurant and sports bar near McBee and Main, and the former site of Kimbrell's furniture store. They plan to install a retractable glass roof to take advantage of that famous Carolina Blue Sky we're famous for while protecting customers during inclement weather. That project is still waiting approval from the city's Design and Preservation Commission, but the owners would like to open in the spring of 2010.

Clemson Teams Up With SCRA
The South Carolina Research Authority intends to strengthen the alternative energy presence in the state and has created a collaboration with the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), Greenville City and County, and Hyperion Partners LLC. Their goal is for South Carolina to lead the nation toward the integration of renewable energy sources into the automotive and other industries. They are considering a location at the CU-ICAR campus in Greenville where the initial SC site would provide a research facility and also dispense Hydrogen, compressed natural gas and propane as a demonstration project.

Spartanburg Named A Top Housing Market
Spartanburg was listed as the second strongest housing market in the U.S. by Business Week Magazine, basing it's conclusion on the share of single family homes that rose in value during the second quarter of 2008. Spartanburg was behind only Boulder, CO and Greenville was 24th on the list. The magazine noted that both Spartanburg and Boulder are “college towns that have been somewhat buffered from the downturn because schools provide solid jobs and a steady flow of apartment and home renters.” With Converse College, Wofford College, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College and USC Upstate in town, Spartanburg has the highest student per capita ratio in South Carolina.

Michelin Challenge Education Program Launched
Major local employer Michelin has launched its Michelin Challenge Education program and thousands of company employees have volunteered to help elementary students with their education. The tire maker has adopted eight elementary schools and will provide mentors to help these young people get excited about education, particularly math and science. By bringing these employees who work with science every day into the classroom, students will be able to better understand the role that math and science plays in our lives.

New Golf School In Taylors
There's new golf school and driving range being planned off Wade Hampton Blvd and across from the Taylors Post Office where the Enoree River winds through a flood plain region. The project still needs approval for rezoning to commercial by the County since it is currently zoned residential and backs up to nearby homes. The land would be a difficult site for homes because of flood plain requirements, and the developers of River's Edge argue that putting three buildings, 46 tee boxes, putting greens, and a tree buffer around the perimeter would be a better use for the land. They don't plan to install fairway lights or permit nighttime golf.

Current Weather
School is back in session and the weather will be fairly mild this week. Expect highs in the upper 80s and lows around 70, with a chance of thunderstorms later in the week.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.

Summer is almost gone... back to school for Greenville County

Magnolia Place Activity, and Greenville Leads SC Population Growth

2009-08-10T14:45:00.016-04:00

AARP Ranks Greenville, SC Top Place to Live
The AARP recently ranked Greenville as their second best place to live, coming in behind only Tuscon, Arizona. They noted that after 30 years of redevelopment, you will enjoy the pedestrian-oriented downtown atmosphere described as "family-friendly from penny candy to goat cheese pizza". The Swamp Rabbit Trail, a multi-use trail converted from an old rail line, drew accolades as a progressive way to link parks and neighborhoods. Plus, an average commute of 19 minutes from a median home value of $151,080 with 220 days of sunshine makes the city very attractive for easy living. One of the little known facts about Greenville is that due to local employers BMW, Michelin, and Fluor, Greenville claims one of the highest international-investment-per-capita levels in the U.S.

Activity at Magnolia Place
If you are driving along Woodruff Road near the Costco where the recession-idled Magnolia Park Town Center sits, you will see there is finally some activity taking place. Rooms To Go has started the site preparation for its new 35,000 square foot store that will replace the current one on Haywood Road. That is the first sign of new development since Costco built their new store back in 2007, although developer Menin is working on a sizeable tenant to take some of the 150,000 square feet of old mall space still available. Future development at Magnolia Park will include an additional 400,000 square feet of retail, 375,000 square feet of office, and one or two hotels.

Foreign Films at Cherrydale
For movie fanatics who enjoy independent and foreign-release films, the Regal Cherrydale cinemas will dedicate one screen for these types of films. The Upstate Film Society has worked with Cherrydale for several years on their spring and fall film festivals, but this is the first attempt to consistently bring this genre to the Greenville audience. The opening film was "The Hurt Locker", a grand prize winner at 2009 Venice Film Festival about a bomb squad working on roadside explosives in Iraq. This film was held over for a week due to overwhelming response and Food Inc started last Friday, a documentary about the food industry. Check out the Upstate Film Society's site for upcoming shows.

Census Shows Upstate Leading in Growth
According to the US Census Bureau, Greenville County led the state in population growth between the Julys of 2007-2008 with 10,000 new residents added. Most of these came as relocation which accounted for 74% of the growth. In geographic terms, most of the growth was in the southern and eastern portion of the county; south of US highway 29 (Wade Hampton Blvd) and east of US highway 276 & I-385. This takes in the areas known as the Eastside of Greenville, Greer, Mauldin, the Woodruff Road corridor, and the eastern Simpsonville region. Greenville County is the most densely populated in the state with about 438,000 residents; neighboring counties Spartanburg and Anderson have 280,000 and 182,000 residents respectively.

Mauldin was the fastest growing city in the Upstate and fourth in South Carolina over the same time period. Mauldin's population increased 7.7% over that time due to annexation of the Pineforest and Oakforest subdivisions, as well as several other key expansions. Mauldin is centrally located near the intersection of I-85 and I-385 and has focused on city services, particularly capital projects to improve the city and its schools. The city recently landed a new Samsung service center and announced the expansion of local business Innegrity LLC. Greer has been a perennial growth winner due to extensive annexations, but came in second with 5.2% in population growth and ranked number 12 in the state.

Current Weather
It will be hot early in the week with highs in the 90s but should cool off on Wednesday with highs dropping into the 80s. A chance of thundershowers will prevail throughout the week.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes
For information specializing in Greer check out our Greer SC Real Estate website.
Proud member of CRS - Certified Residential Specialists

Summer has been full of lots of swimming and Galen learning to fish. Enjoy the rest of it!

Museum's Opening, Church St. Renovations, Big Changes

2009-07-28T08:08:00.034-04:00

Greenville Children's Museum Opening (see last blog for more)
The celebrated Children's Museum of the Upstate is set for a grand opening this Friday on July 31st, and will delight children and adults alike. I attended the grand opening gala last week, and with no children there, brought out the kid in me. There is large variety of extraordinary displays that will grab the attention of kids generally 6-11, but with a few exhibits designed for preschoolers and toddlers. I especially enjoyed the interactive water table where you will surely get wet experimenting with locks, water lifting devices and erector set style piping. The TV broadcast booth allows you to record a weather segment, a music room can show you visually how the frequency of guitar strings vary, you can race a formula one race car with software that is designed for actual racers, or even land a space shuttle simulator. There are plenty of other activities involving recycling, energy conservation, shopping and cooking, paper airplanes, wind tunnels, levers and pulleys, lasers, and much more. Don't miss this museum that will bring in kids from all around the Upstate. Normal admission is $12 per person, but on the third Thursday of each month, everyone get in for $2 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. You can learn more at The Children's Museum of the Upstate.
Click here to see our album of Children's Museum Gala Opening - Photo Album

Greenville Real Estate Foreclosures
Residential foreclosure sales in the Greenville market have remained steady over the first two quarters of 2009, but have not taken off as reported in some parts of the country. The South Carolina Supreme Court instated a moratorium on some of the state’s foreclosure sales until the distressed owner could determine if they qualified for federal relief. Red tape has slowed down the qualification process, so many of the properties are in limbo. However, many banks forecast that there will soon be a deluge of properties coming on the market. In the Greenville area, foreclosure sales in 2009 that were listed by the local MLS system have been running around 200 properties per month. Many of these sales were at prices under $100,000 with a median price of $78,500. Cash buyers accounted for 33% of these sales with a median price of $46,750. Condo foreclosure sales have been weak and have contributed for only about 7% of total sales.

Church Street Renovations via Federal Stimulus Funds (Falls Park runs under Church St)
We have been hearing about the plan to upgrade Church Street into a tree-lined boulevard for almost 10 years, but it looks like the project is underway thanks to funds from the federal stimulus package. All those years of planning paid off and made the project "shovel ready", thus creating eligibility for the funds. You can expect to see a landscaped median, two lanes and a bicycle lane running in each direction, and sidewalks set back from the road. The improvements fit into the adjacent Haynie-Sirrine master plan, a community that links the nearby West End and Falls Park with the attractive Augusta Road area. In recent activity, a section of old homes near Sirrine Stadium was demolished last year and is now for sale, ready for development. The stimulus funds will also kick start a similar upgrade to Fairforest Way that serves JL Mann High School off of Mauldin Road. Work should begin on these projects in the spring of 2010.

Truth in Lending Regulation Altered
The Federal Reserve Board is looking out for mortgage consumers and has modified its Truth in Lending Regulations (Reg Z), intending to cut down on lenders that change their fees after an initial "good faith estimate" of costs pertaining to the loan, then forcing the consumer to pay additional, undisclosed fees at the closing table. All loan applications filed on or after July 30, 2009 will require lenders to provide an early disclosure of loan costs within three days after loan application, then wait at least 7 days to close after the early disclosure. In addition, if the annual percentage rate (APR—an indicator of interest rate plus additional costs associated with settlement) changes by more than 0.125%, the lender must provide a corrected disclosure and wait another three business days before closing. Most importantly, lenders are prohibited from collecting any fees up front with the application except for a reasonable charge for a credit check. That way, you are not out of pocket for hundreds of dollars for fees like an appraisal or application fee before you get the disclosures and decide if you like the terms. Also, the consumer must have the appraisal in hand three days before settlement. This will empower the consumer with information they may not have had in the past, but will certainly throw a kink into the timing of making your settlement date as per contract. With a recent new federally mandated system that lenders follow to order appraisals, receipt of these documents have often been delayed; so expect for many closing dates to be pushed back as well. The consumer can however waive the 3-day appraisal rule if you do not think receiving an appraisal in necessary. If you are still confused over the implications of this ruling, please contact The Cunningham Team; we will be happy to go over them in more detail.

Current Weather
You can expect to see a few good light shows this week as thunderstorms march across the area. Temperatures will be somewhat mild with highs in the mid 80s.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes

For our Foreclosure Properties check out our Greenville Foreclosures Page

The family on our recent trip to CO. for a friend's wedding. Gorgious scenery.

Greenville SC Children's Museum Gala Event

2009-07-24T09:22:00.022-04:00

Greenville's much anticipated Children's Museum held a Gala Event last night, July 23, 2009 for adults only to pre-view the museum and raise funds. We were able to attend and take a few photos of some of the exibits. There were areas teaching about airplanes and cars and health, all were very interactive and used video game / simulator type technology to engage the kids/adults. Lee had a hard time leaving the Space Shuttle simulator and I saw a large crowd of males around the construction crane and building blocks...these were only a few of the many ingeniuous exhibits which will engage your children young and old. It was even suggested that an adults evening should be part of the regular schedule so adults could come in play clothes and climb, build, design and generally enjoy all the museum had to offer as well. One tip for your kids is to bring a change of clothes so they can get wet to their heart content in the water table areas!
Here are some of the photos from last night...

Climbing Structure!

More of the Climbing structure with handicapped access.

The recycling monster. Really cool.

Lee in the Reedy River water table dome. He's just a big kid.

Lee Cunningham on the see through climbing wall.

One big stomach complete with stomach sounds which will thrill the kids. The slide makes, yes you guessed it, flatulance sounds. :)

Our own child. Kaitlyn Rose eating CAKE.

Greenville SC Real Estate Newsletter for July 14th, 2009

2009-07-13T09:42:00.025-04:00

GSP Under New Leadership & Looking for a Facelift
The Greenville Spartanburg Airport has a new leader at the helm that is determined to bring in a low cost carrier to remedy the airports biggest problem: high fares. Executive director Gary Jackson recently retired after 20 years, and David Edwards was tapped to lead GSP after posting many successes at the Asheville Regional Airport. He's adamant about getting a carrier such as Jet Blue on board and adding more non-stop routes which will make GSP very competitive regionally. He's also interested in giving the terminal and parking garages a facelift that will give them a look more in line with the 21st century.

Electric Vehicles Could be Made in Greenville
Yet another car manufacturer is looking at the Upstate for a corporate, manufacturing, and R&D facility. CT&T, a Korean manufacturer of electric vehicles, has put South Carolina into the mix of other states under consideration that include North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and California.The company plans to hire 2600 employees over the next five years to produce the electric vehicles and batteries. The E-Zone car is designed as a commuter car with speeds ups to 35 mph, and is the only low-speed vehicle to pass the international crash standards. The firm intends to start selling utility and city-drive vehicles by the end of 2009 for prices ranging between $8,000 and $16,000.

Poe Mill As Possible Recreation FacilityThe abandoned Poe Mill near the center of Greenville may have a future after being abandoned for years. The Greenville County Redevelopment Authority is seeking federal funds to purchase the mill, which burned in 2003, and intends to convert it into a recreation facility or park. An environmental study still needs to be completed as per federal requirements, but don't hold your breath, redevelopment can wait up to 10 years to spend the federal money if it is granted.

Fluor Engineering Lands Military Contract
Local engineering firm Fluor has landed a military contract for building and providing logistics for military bases in Afghanistan that could be worth $7 billion over five years. Although most of the new jobs will be created overseas, the company expects to create about 100 new jobs locally that will include positions related to project management. Fluor also noted that they are bidding on similar contract work to support military bases in Iraq.

Current Weather
We have pleasant summer weather with highs in the high 80's just touching on 90 degree weather, lows in the mid-60's with scattered thunder showers Thursday through next Wednesday.

Please visit our websites at Greenville SC Real Estate and our second site at Greenville SC Homes

FEATURED HOME For SALE
104 Maple Brook Court, Simpsonville, SC 29681
$389,000 MLS # 1184808
Looking for a quiet cul-de-sac lot with a truly park-like feel for privacy? This beautiful home has a wonderful back yard with creek, towering mature trees, and established landscaping beds that give you a thick forest-like feel and the absence of neighbors from your back deck. The home really shows pride of ownership with plenty of upgrades

Lee, Galen, Kaitlyn Rose and Danny on a recent hike to the lizard's head peak in Colorado

Greenville County Wins Top City Award for 2009

2009-04-23T13:34:00.004-04:00

Recently Greenville received the rating as Top North American City of less than 100,000 people, or micro city as the fDi Magazine, an international magazine, calls it. The rating was based on business and economic indicators. We also came in the top 5 in several sub catagories including Best Economic Potential - where we were Number 1, Best Human Resources, Best Infrastructure, and Best Business Friendliness.

The full article can be found at http://www.greenvillechamber.org/pdf/CitiesOfFuture2009.pdf and is worth a look at.

Greenville Real Estate Events and Local Happenings

2009-03-19T10:15:00.022-04:00

Greenville Real Estate Newsletter Snip-its for more go to our on-line newsletter

Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009
The recent credit crisis and severe economic recession shows you what can happen when financial institutions lack guidance in the real estate process. March 11th, 2009, President Obama signed into law the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act that permanently prohibits banks from entering the real estate brokerage and management businesses. The bill includes the provision NAR has been seeking on behalf of members and consumers to maintain the national policy against mixing banking and commerce and reinforce that real estate is commerce and not financial in nature.

Haynie-Sirrine Re-Development
The Haynie-Sirrine area of downtown Greenville SC has a long history, but has fallen into disarray in recent years. Things are on the cusp of a big change though, many aging residential structures have been demolished in an effort to revitalize the working class community. The most evident change is the craftsman style homes behind Scott Towers, where 11 rental houses have been constructed by the non-profit Homes of Hope, using federal and state funding.

Andrew Wyeth Collection at Local Museum
A good rainy day activity is the Greenville County Museums collection of the late Andrew Wyeth's works, which has recently reopened after the artists death in January. The collection of Americas Painter is one of the three largest of his works with pieces that span his entire life and include his best known subjects such as the Maine and Pennsylvania landscapes, his wife Christina, and Helga.

Spinners Local Ride Starts Up
For bicycling enthusiasts, the weekly rides with the Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club have started at the Donaldson Center. There are several levels of abilities that will fit any cyclist. For the experts, the A and B groups circle the 7.2 mile perimeter road with a police escort, but if you join this group, be ready to really fly. For slower riders, the C group heads into the countryside for about a 25 mile loop. That group has four subgroups from fast to no riders left behind. Rides start at 6:00 p.m. until Daylight Savings Time end this fall. For more info go to http://www.greenvillespinners.org

FEATURED LAND For SALE

112 Emma Bryant Way
Lot 10
$172,500
MLS # 1177487
This fantastic lot on Lake Robinson with 120 feet of water frontage overlooks pasture land with horses.This is a bank owned Foreclosure DEAL.