June 2016

Halfway through 2016, residential real estate markets are performing as predicted at the beginning of the year. Sales and prices have been going up in most areas, while the number of homes for sale and total months' supply of inventory has been going down. Meanwhile, many sellers have been getting a higher percentage of their asking price, and supply continues to struggle to meet demand. The message may be repetitive, but it is largely positive.

New Listings were up 21.8 percent to 1,663. Pending Sales increased 20.3 percent to 1,325. Inventory grew 7.1 percent to 4,973 units.

Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 2.8 percent to $165,264. Days on Market decreased 8.7 percent to 84 days. Months Supply of Inventory was down 2.0 percent to 5.0 months.

The national unemployment rate recently dropped 0.3 percent to 4.7 percent, but some states felt more of a pinch in their own figures. Similarly, the low inventory situation is showing signs of strain in markets where there are few homes for purchase. With an interest rate increase still in the cards this year, combined with the American political landscape and global economic events, a cooldown could occur by winter. Presently, however, summery growth prevails as many locales are reaching near-record prices not seen in more than a decade.

Information courtesy of CMLS*

May 2016

We are in the thick of an exciting period of home buying and selling, often with quick multiple offers that are near, at or even above asking price, depending on the factors of the home and submarket in question. It was widely predicted that we would see healthy sales activity during the second quarter of 2016, and the market has not disappointed.

New Listings were up 18.3 percent to 1,725. Pending Sales increased 17.6 percent to 1,369. Inventory grew 4.7 percent to 4,970 units.

Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 5.1 percent to $163,450. Days on Market decreased 20.6 percent to 81 days. Months Supply of Inventory was down 5.7 percent to 5.0 months.

Although inventory is still being stretched thin in many areas, low mortgage rates coupled with higher wages have built a relatively sturdy housing marketplace. How long that can continue without fresh supply remains an important question, but conditions are seemingly good enough for serious buyers. With the current slow state of new construction for non-rental households, the road ahead could be tricky if demand remains high.

Information courtesy of CMLS*

Many garages tend to become clutter dumps, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With a few organization tips you’ll be able to have a clean garage where you can store your car instead of using the driveway.

1. First, take everything out of the garage and sort things out. Whatever you no longer use you can sell or donate.
2. Try using as much vertical and ceiling space as possible. You can hang bikes from the ceiling or walls using specially made hooks. Install holders from the hardware store for brooms, rakes and mops. Add a ceiling organizer to store camping gear, luggage and other items that are used sparingly.
3. You should also install shelves and group like items together, such as paint, gardening supplies, etc.
4. Many people use their garage door as the main, every day entrance for their home. If this is the case, add a shoe and coat rack to keep things organized.
5. Label all your storage containers. This may feel like a lot of work, but three months later when you need to use something you’ll be glad you did.
6. Enjoy your new garage!

April 2016

The housing market is being predictable, and that's a good thing. At the beginning of the year, it was anticipated that the prevailing trends of the past year would continue into and through 2016, and that has largely been the case. The number of homes for sale has generally remained lower compared to a year ago, and prices have been steadily rising in desirable communities where homes show well.

New Listings were up 12.8 percent to 1,679. Pending Sales increased 26.5 percent to 1,380. Inventory grew 2.3 percent to 4,881 units.

Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 7.0 percent to $155,125. Days on Market decreased 17.5 percent to 85 days, the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year declines.

Months Supply of Inventory was down 9.3 percent to 4.9 months, the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. There have been no striking changes to curtail what should be a decent run of home sales over the next several months. Mortgage rates have remained stubbornly and wonderfully low, the unemployment rate has remained at or near 5.0 percent for eight straight months and wages have increased for a great many people. New construction has been slow, and that may be a damper on sales, but the general outlook remains strong.

Information courtesy of CMLS*

The Columbia area has plenty of outdoor recreation. Free-Times has gathered a list of things to do around Columbia that will satisfy your outdoors craving. Click on the links below to visit the websites or call for more information. There is something for every age group and level of fitness.

Adult Activity Center
Northeast: 7494 Parklane Rd., 803-462-9995
Includes a fitness center staffed by a certified trainer and offering weights, treadmill, elliptical trainer and more. Offers classes year-round. Also offers banquet facilities for lease. Open to adults only.

Adventure Carolina
Cayce: 1107 State St., 803-796-4505
Cayce-based outfitter leads paddling trips on Columbia’s rivers.

Ballentine Community Center
Irmo: 1009 Bickley Rd., 803-781-2031
Located on a 20.5-acre parcel, the Ballentine Community Center offers a recreation building with meeting rooms, a kitchen, a crafts room, a fitness room, basketball courts, soccer fields, playground and a walking trail. Maximum capacity is 125.

Carolina Stadium
Granby: 431 Williams St.,
The 9,000-seat baseball stadium is a bang-up place to watch the University of South Carolina baseball team, a traditionally strong program that won national championships in 2010 and 2011.

Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center
Cayce: 1120 Fort Congaree Trail, 803-227-3030
A massive and well-kept modern tennis complex hosting tournaments and offering year-round lessons. Also has a gym.

The Club at Rawls Creek
Irmo: 2121 Lake Murray Blvd., 781-0114
Built in the 1970s and renovated in 2006 with an ultra-dwarf Bermuda grass called MiniVerde, which makes the greens fast. In addition to the course, there’s the Creekside Bar and Grille and facilities for weddings, parties and events.

Cobblestone Park
Blythewood: 1298 University Parkway, 803-714-2620
This 27-hole course offers affordable membership plans and limited daily fee play. Features panoramic views, rolling hills, and beautiful oaks and pines that take it over the top. Also debuted a 28,000-square-foot clubhouse for 2015.

Congaree National Park
Hopkins: 100 National Park Rd., 803-776-4396
This 26,000-acre park boasts the largest old-growth floodplain forest on the continent. Yes, you read that right. It’s also an International Biosphere Reserve, a Globally Important Bird Area and a National Natural Landmark. Activities include hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, nature walks and more. Located near Hopkins, 20 miles southeast of Columbia (S.C. 48 from Bluff Rd. or Exit 5 off I-77).

Congaree Riverwalk
West Columbia
This section of the Three Rivers Greenway — running along the west side of Congaree River and under the Gervais Street and Blossom Street bridges — offers some fantastic views and is a popular place for people to jog and walk dogs. Amenities include picnic tables, a riverside amphitheater, and a canoe launch bay. The south end of this park connects to the Cayce Riverwalk.

Crooked Creek Park
Chapin: 1098 Old Lexington Hwy., 803-345-6181
This 53,000-square-foot community center features a full gym, racquetball courts, tennis courts, athletics fields, picnic areas and, oh yeah, walking trails.

Dreher Island State Recreation Area
Prosperity: 3677 State Park Rd., exit 91 off I-26, 803-364-4152
Located 30 miles northwest of Columbia in Prosperity, the Dreher Island recreation area consists of three islands encompassing 12 miles of shoreline on Lake Murray. Especially popular for fishing and boating (Lake Murray is a top destination for striped and largemouth bass), Dreher Island also offers lakefront camping, cabin and villa rentals, water skiing and picnicking. Also a quiet, peaceful place for spring walks.

Drew Wellness Center
Downtown, Columbia: 2101 Walker Solomon Way, 803-545-3200
Year-round swim lessons in a competition-sized pool, plus a gym, walking track and basketball court.

Earlewood Park
North Columbia: 1113 Parkside Dr., 803-545-3100
Located near the train trestle on North Main Street near Eau Claire and stretching up into the Earlewood neighborhood, Earlewood Park offers a dog park and a state-of-the-art disc golf course. Great for walking, hiking.

Frank’s Fly Arts
803-673-0238
Michael Frank offers a world-class fly-fishing guide service along a five-mile stretch of Columbia’s three rivers from above the zoo to near Williams-Brice Stadium. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can fish for rainbow trout, striped bass, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass in a five-mile stretch of river. Pros and newbies alike are welcome.

Get Your Gear On
St. Andrews: 208 Candi Ln., 803-799-0999
This paddling outfitter is conveniently located near the Saluda’s Millrace Rapid. And it has river access, a coveted privilege since Riverbanks Zoo fenced out the public from its riverfront acreage. Strives to keep the outdoors affordable by offering high-quality consignment gear as well as new gear.

Golden Hills Golf & Country Club
Lexington: 100 Scotland Dr., 803-957-3355
Located in the heart of the Town of Lexington, Golden Hills is an 18-hole championship course designed by golf architect Ron Garl. Considered challenging yet playable for all levels, the course is among the highest-rated in the Midlands.

Harbison State Forest
Harbison/Irmo: Broad River Rd. (off I-26 ext 101), 803-896-8890
If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never expect to find 2,177 acres of forest along the sprawling mess that is Broad River Road. But there it is — one of the largest public green spaces inside the city limits of a metropolitan area in the eastern United States. Features more than 16 miles of roads and trails (popular for biking) and a canoe landing.

Irmo Community Park
Irmo: 7507 Eastview Drive 803-785-2521
Monday – Sunday 7:00AM to 10:00PM
Nice little Playground nestled inside the town.

Irmo PLEX Indoor Sports
Harbison/Irmo: 1019 Broad Stone Rd., 803-732-1900
The PLEX provides indoor soccer and sports recreation in a first-class facility with quality programs. Among other sports, the PLEX provides public ice skating, hockey and figure skating.

Jordan Memorial Boat Ramp
Rosewood: 611 Rosewood Dr., 803-741-7272
This public boat ramp is located at the west end of Rosewood Drive where experienced boaters can enjoy free, safe and easy access to fishing and boating on the Congaree River. Many canoes and kayaks put in here for a float down to the Cayce landing about four miles away.

Lake Murray
Irmo/Chapin
Located a few miles northwest of downtown Columbia, Lake Murray is a 50,000-acre lake offering boating, fishing and other recreational activities. Lake Murray Country lists public access points, as well as marinas and landing spots. Good striped bass fishing during the season.

Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission
West Columbia: 485 Brooks Ave., 803-356-5111
Operates roughly 35 sports and recreation centers, including the Lexington County Tennis Complex, the Midlands Sports Complex (baseball, tennis), the West Columbia Soccer Complex, the Gilbert-Summit Sports Complex (football, baseball, softball, soccer and basketball) and many more.

Owens Field Disc Golf Course
Rosewood: 1351 Jim Hamilton Blvd., 803-545-3100
Maybe you go to Owens Field for soccer, maybe you head there to skate or play basketball. Surrounding the fields and skate park, though, is also a popular disc golf course.

Owens Field Skate Park
Rosewood: 1351 Jim Hamilton Blvd., 803-545-3100
An all-concrete park built at Owens Field and designed by the legendary Wally Hollyday, it has one small bowl, a large bowl and a kidney bowl, plus fun boxes and a street course. The skate park is 16,000 square feet. Opened in 2010.

Palmetto Outdoor Center
West Columbia: 731 Meeting St., 803-404-8254
Guided paddling tours and rentals by folks who love their rivers.

Palmetto Trail
Conceived in 1994 as a statewide series of linked trails — one of only 16 in the country — the Palmetto Trail features 350 miles of completed paths thus far. The Palmetto Conservation Foundation opened two outdoor centers in 2008 to provide trail maps and to serve as start-off points for organized hikes.

Phoenix Adventures
West Columbia: 220 Orchard Hill Dr., 803-260-3669
From day trips down the river to overnight or multi-day wilderness excursions, Phoenix Adventure wants to get you outdoors.

Richland County Recreation Commission
Northeast: 7494 Parklane Rd., 803-741-7272
Operates the Adult Activity Center, the Caughman Road Tennis Center in Hopkins and numerous other county parks and recreational facilities.

Riverfront Park
Downtown, Columbia: Laurel at Huger St., 803-545-3100
Part of the Three Rivers Greenway, Riverfront Park is a popular jogging and walking trail encompassing 167 acres just west of Huger Street by the Historic Columbia Canal.

River Runner Outdoor Center
Vista: 905 Gervais St., 803-771-0353
Offers canoe and kayak rentals and sales, as well as guided river trips.

Saluda Shoals Park
Harbison/Irmo: 5605 Bush River Rd., 803-731-5208, 803-213-2050 (weekend)
Situated on 270 acres downstream from the Lake Murray Dam, Saluda Shoals features a popular water park, a 5,000-square-foot river center, an environmental education center, canoe trips, nature hikes, biking trails, fishing spots, picnic shelters, summer camps, health and wellness programs, meeting facilities and more.

Sandhills PLEX Indoor Sports & HiWire Trampoline Park
Northeast: 741 Fashion Dr., (Village at Sandhill), 803-360-7300
If you have kids, you already know about HiWire. From the popular trampoline park to indoor soccer and more, PLEX offers fun, athletic activities for kids and families. Also has an Irmo location.

Sesquicentennial State Park
Northeast: 9564 Two Notch Rd., 803-788-2706
This 1,419-acre park features a 30-acre lake surrounded by trails, picnic areas and campsites. Also offers boating, fishing, swimming, meeting facilities and trails. Hosts walks, talks, children’s programs and more.

Seven Oaks Park
St. Andrews: 200 Leisure Ln., 803-772-3336
Built in 1973 and located in the St. Andrews area, Seven Oaks Park is a full-service recreation complex offering fitness, athletics and cultural arts programs. Features a dance studio, art gallery, picnic areas, tennis courts, walking trails and more.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources
Check agency website for essential info on hunting and fishing in South Carolina and purchasing licenses online. Offers educational workshops on hunting and fishing, some specifically for youths. Organizes the annual Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, held in March on the State Fairgrounds.

Spirit Communications Park
As of April 2016, Columbia has a brand-new baseball stadium and minor league team, the Columbia Fireflies. The multi-use venue seats 9,000 for baseball games, but also hosts concerts and other events.

Sunnyside Park
Cayce: 1411 Sunnyside Dr., 803-359-9961
Lexington County park hosting baseball, football and soccer games; also has a playground and canteens.

Three Rivers Greenway
803-765-2200
Columbia has come a long way on its riverfront development in the past few years, with more segments of the Three Rivers Greenway coming online all the time. Popular for walking, biking and jogging.

Williams-Brice Stadium
Rosewood/Olympia: 1125 George Rogers Blvd., 803-777-4271
Williams-Brice Stadium is party central during football season, with fans spilling into both Five Points and the Vista after games. Since being built in 1934 by the Works Progress Administration — you know, that leftist agency started by FDR — Williams-Brice has served not only as the site of lots of drunken football revelry, but also a U2 concert and an appearance by then-candidate Barack Obama and Oprah.

The Windermere Club
Blythewood: 1101 Longtown Road East, 803-786-6088
Founded in 1987 at Lake Windemere, the Windermere Club features an 18-hole course designed by Pete Dye, whose philosophy is to make each hole as unique and memorable as possible.

YMCA of Columbia
Downtown: 1420 Sumter St., 803-799-9187
This is the central hub for the YMCA’s five regional branches, which serve Richland, Kershaw, Lancaster, Calhoun and Orangeburg counties. From swimming to soccer, kids to older adults, the YMCA offers a wide range of classes and programs.

**Courtesy of Free-Times

March 2016

Negative housing headlines should be read with calm or skepticism, not alarm.
National housing trends, like the steady rise in home prices and decline in inventory,
should certainly be observed with care, but tracking wider economic conditions is
also necessary. Buyers want to get into the market, but unlike the rising-price sales
environment of ten years ago, people are not diving headlong into risky mortgages
or uncomfortable situations. This carefulness should be celebrated, not feared.

New Listings were up 17.3 percent to 1,795. Pending Sales increased 14.7 percent
to 1,226. Inventory grew 6.7 percent to 5,034 units.

Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 4.7 percent to $155,000. Days on
Market decreased 13.9 percent to 93 days. Months Supply of Inventory was down
3.7 percent to 5.2 months, indicating that demand increased relative to supply.

Employment figures are positive, wages are going up and employers are hiring.
Consumers are holding for the right deal, even in the face of extremely low
mortgage rates. As seller and builder confidence increases, we should see more
activity in Q2 2016. The second quarter tends to rank as the best time to list a home
for sale. But if inventory stays low, it will be difficult to sustain sales increases in yearover-
year comparisons. Prices are seemingly not so high as to stall the market
completely. Demand is present but an abundance of choice is not, and therein lies
the rub.

Information courtesy of CMLS*

The very anticipated Waterfall Junction at Riverbanks Botanical Garden has finally opened and it invites families and children of all ages to get outdoors and explore nature! Imagination blooms in this 3-acre interactive wonderland where you can pop in and out of a rabbit hole, unearth a life-size replica of a T-Rex, frolic between giant tree houses and kid-size playhouses, splash around and under a 25-foot cascading waterfall and run, or rest, on a grassy meadow.
Time: 9:00am–5:00pm
Cost: Free with paid admission or Riverbanks membership

Watch the Promo video courtesy of Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden

[embed]https://youtu.be/2_RGD6TW9kY[/embed]

Are you ready to declutter your home? Follow these time-tested tips from organization experts.
1. Follow the one-in, three-out rule. Basically, when you bring in anything new, three items in the same category (clothes, jewelry, toys, etc.) must be donated, recycled, or trashed.
2. Don’t store beyond your space. A good rule of thumb to ward off clutter from the get-go is to purge all items you don’t reasonably have room to store.
3. Color-code your closets. While you’re in the closet, arrange garments by color. “This will help you see if you have been accumulating black T-shirts over time or have an excessive amount of pink tanks,” says Ashley Murphy, co-founder of Neat Method.
4. Sort the refrigerator. Similarly, Murphy suggests grouping like foods — such as sweet treats, salty snacks, and fresh fruits — in baskets in your refrigerator or pantry. That way, you can see exactly what you have.
5. Put hard-to-reach storage to work. Murphy advises clients to commit all of the out-of-reach spaces in a closet (the highest shelf, back corners, etc.) to special-occasion pieces. For example, you might stash dress shoes if you do most of your day-to-day work in a casual setting, or swimsuits if you live in a climate that’s typically cold. Then keep the heavy-rotation wardrobe items within easy reach.
6. “File” everyday shoes. Closet on the small side? Consider loading flats, flip-flops, and sneakers vertically in a basket. “It takes up such a small amount of space but holds a ton of shoes,” says Murphy.
7. Ditch packaging ASAP. As soon as you bring a product home (or as soon as something comes in the mail), take everything out and recycle the box or package immediately
8. Opt for paperless manuals. Yep, go ahead and recycle that product manual too. Steal this trick from Naylon before the paper piles up: “Whenever I buy a new product, I go online, type the model number into Google, and download a PDF of the manual onto my computer.”
9. Organize first, then declutter. To make organizing and tossing easier, separating paperwork into categories first.
10. Toss excess office supplies. You don’t need every pen you own cluttering up drawers. This goes double for any freebie promotional pens that you rarely use.
11. Purge idle projects. We all bite off more than we can chew at different times in our lives. If neglected projects (a half-knit sweater, a travel scrapbook you never got around to putting together) have been sucking up visible space around the house, it’s time to move on.
12. Make things visible. “If kids can’t see what’s in a storage bin, they’ll never put things away properly,” says Murphy, who recommends see-through or mesh bins for toys and other kids’ stuff.
13. Use the right-sized containers. An overstuffed bin isn’t useful to anyone — you’ll never want to dig through it to get what you need. “If an entire group of items can’t fit inside one container, find a bigger one or break it up into two,” says Watson. On the flip side, don’t keep too few items in a larger container. That just wastes precious space.
14. Conquer your inbox. Digital clutter weighs just as heavily as the tangible kind. To keep it from spiraling out of control, Gracia suggests making a standing daily date to deal with it. “Give yourself a set amount of time, like 15 minutes, to delete or respond at the same time every day. Set a timer and keep going until it sounds,” she says. On lighter days, take a few minutes to unsubscribe from newsletters and companies you’re no longer interested in.
15. Use the rule of four. There’s nothing more intimidating than an overloaded to-do list. That’s where Gracia’s “rule of four” hack comes in: “Keep two lists: one master list for everything, and one called ‘To Do Today.’ Move only four items from the master list to the ‘today’ list, and only focus on those four until they’re done. At that point, you can move four more over. Every time you complete a set, reward yourself!”

* Information courtesy of Trulia