Sunday OPEN HOUSES February 1st 2009

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Surrounding Area

900 Charles St.
Belle Park, North Myrtle Beach - Wonderful home in excellent condition. New flrs, appliances, windows, entry doors, gutters, paint. New roof in 2007. Vltd clgs in LR, gas FP & more. Price: $194,900. Hostess: Pat Somerlad, 910-880-0497. MLS# 901842. Directions: Hwy. 17 North to 9th Ave. South in NMB (next to Dicks Pawn), right on Belle Drive, right on Edgewood Dr., right on Charles St.

7386 Catena Lane
Seville, Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach - Luxury meets comfort in this 3BR/2.5BA 2544 htd sq ft home on pond. Many custom upgrades & details throughout. Tranquil community. Walking distance to beach. Price: $894,000. Hostess: Karen Rahn, 765-5035. MLS# 823424 Directions: 76th Ave. N. into Seville, thru gate. 1st left onto Catena. House on left.

9221 Bellasera Circle
Members Club, Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach - Luxurious 3BR/3.5BA/2-car w/over 3500 sq ft. Upgrades galore, designer touches throughout. Fantastic outdoor space w/pool, spa, summer kitchen and Car. Rm. Price: $1,795,000. Hostess: Nestella Vannoy, 685-7078. MLS# 815013 Directions: Grande Dunes Blvd, right at stop sign onto LaCosta, left into Members Club on Bellasera Circle.

812 Pembridge Court
Berkshire Forest, Myrtle Beach, SCThis 3 BR 2 BA Home has been refreshed and is move in ready! Located in popular Carolina Forest area, this home boasts a fireplace, bonus room and separate dining area. THE OWNER SAYS “SELL”!! Price: $242,500. Hostess: Joan Meacham, 843-230-3677 Directions: River Oaks Drive to Berkshire Forest. Take the last left into Berkshire Forest. Take a Right on Haverling. Right on Pembridge Court. 812 is down on Right.

1000 Foxtail Rd. 12pm - 3pm
Long Bay, Longs - 3bedroom 2 bath, priced to sell! Lake front home in Jack Nicholas Golf Community. Many new renovations. Price: $260,000. Host: Jim Horne, 457-1882. MLS# 900025. Directions: Hwy. 9 to Longs, Long Bay entrance then 1st left. House will be on right.

3188 Hermitage 2pm - 4pm
River Hills, Little River - 3BR/3BA fab views of golf & pond from sprawling one-level brick design. Striking open plan boasts upscale appointments throughout, 2 screen porches w/incredible storage. Price: $425,000. Hosts: Roz Murray/Harrison Rand, 602-7780. MLS# 825354 Directions: Enter River Hills from Hwy. 17 N., follow main entrance then bear left at fork, 1st left on Hermitage Dr. Home on right.

OPEN HOUSES SATURDAY JANUARY 31st 2009

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Surrounding Area

4643 Wild Iris Dr. #203
Magnolia Place, Myrtle Beach - Drastically reduced condo w/garden & pool views. Absolute mint condition 2BR/2BA 2nd flr. Looks like a model. Owners have hardly used. Price: $129,900. Hostess: Pat Somerlad, 910-880-0497. MLS# 819871 Directions: Hwy. 17 Bypass to 48th Ave. N. @ Myrtlewood, left onto Wild Iris Dr., take 5th right.

3086 Regency Oaks Drive
BELLEGROVE OAKS - Adorable & affordable! Like new 3BR/2.5BA in excellent school district. Great community amenities. Price: $155,900 Hostess: Jayme Bowman 843-267-0674 MLS #826356 Directions: 31 to Int'l. Blvd, turn L into Bellegrove, R on Regency Oak, hse on L at 3086.

2720 Sanctuary Blvd.
WILD WING - Price reduced on one of the few custom built all brick homes in Wild Wing. Price: $285,000 Host: Nicholas Fusco 843-655-5468 MLS #817523 Directions: Turn R into Wild Wind off 501, move R onto Sanctuary Blvd, 1st hm on L.

4396 Baldwin Ave. #125
Mariners Pointe, Little River - Hidden Secret, beautifully updated 2nd floor end unit w/views of ICW from kitchen, MaBR & living room. Enjoy marina view from guest BR and front porch. Many extras. This is a treat! Price: $349,000 Hostess: Doreen Mastandrea, 902-6743. MLS# 822672. Directions: Hwy. 17 onto Baldwin Ave. follow to waterway. Take right into development, left, then home on left.

9221 Bellasera Circle
Members Club, Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach - Luxurious 3BR/3.5BA/2-car w/over 3500 sq ft. Upgrades galore, designer touches throughout. Fantastic outdoor space w/pool, spa, summer kitchen and Car. Rm. Price: $1,795,000. Hostess: Nestella Vannoy, 843-685-7078. MLS# 815013 Directions: Grande Dunes Blvd, right at stop sign onto LaCosta, left into Members Club on Bellasera Circle.

694 Churchill Downs 12pm - 2pm
SPRING LAKE - Live Large! Lots of space to spread out in this 3BR beauty. Fenced yard. Excellent school district. Price: $259,500 Hostess: Jessie Kelly 843-997-9972 MLS #807286 Directions: Carolina Forest Blvd to Spring Lake - follow Spring Lake Dr, make L on Churchill Downs, and follow to 694 on left.

1849 Crooked Pine Drive C-2 1pm - 3pm
DEER TRACK VILLAS - 2BR fully furnished unit. Motivated seller. View virtual tour @ www.mybeachhome.net. Price: $96,500 Hostess: Kelly Tressler 843-267-9545 MLS #820331 Directions: Off Bus. 17 turn into Plantation Resort, follow main rd to Crooked Pine, turn right.

48 Plantation Road 1pm - 3pm
CIMERRON PLANTATION - A rare find. 3BR/2BA No restrictions or POA fees. Fresh paint, open floor plan, new smooth top stove. Price: $150,000 Hostess: Christine Orner 843-446-9550 MLS #822259 Directions: Off 707 turn into Cimerron Plantation, turn right on Plantation Rd.

1460 Medinah Lane 1pm - 3pm
INDIGO CREEK - All new granite & hardwood, charming & immaculate home overlooking 17th fairway. Majestic views! Price: $219,000 Hostess: Teresa Turbeville 843-446-2429 MLS #812992 Directions: Turn into Indigo Creek from 17 Bypass, continue on main rd & turn R on Medinah Ln, hm on R.

527 Stonemason Drive 1pm - 3pm
COVINGTON LAKE - Reduced! All brick 4BR/3BA home on lake lot, stainless appl. A steal in this development. Price: $269,000 Hostess: Kristi Rushing 843-267-7638 MLS #821576 Directions: 501 to Carolina Forest Blvd, L into Covington Lake, L on Stonemason, look for signs & balloons.

535 Wild Horse Court 2pm - 5pm
ARROWHEAD - 4BR/3BA in Claypoint section. Walk to golf, clubhouse & pool. Open floor plan, low HOA fees - under $40 mo., all brick front. Price: $299,900 Hostess: Debbie Workman 843-277-6120 MLS #819545 Directions: From 501 take George Bishop Pkwy. turn R onto Clay pond Rd, L onto Arrowhead Blvd, pass thru 1 roundabout, and turn R onto Wild Horse Ct, hm on L.

Resolve to Get Your Home Documents Organized

As a homeowner, you begin to accumulate all sorts of records and papers the moment you made the offer on your home. Loan documents, inspection reports, title insurance policy, home improvement receipts, appliance warranties are just a few of documents that you may at one time or another need. Would you be readily able to locate these items? Are they filed away or in different junk drawers around the house? Knowing where these items are can save you a lot of time and even money in the long run. Consider investing in a record-keeping system. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You can purchase an accordion file and label each flap with a different category. Then use the following tips as a guide to get started.

Contracts and Legal Papers
Keep all the papers signed and/or given to you at the closing together in one place, preferably in a safe deposit box. These documents include the deed, settlement statement, appraisal, disclosures, mortgage note, inspections and any other reports, and title insurance policy. You will need these records again if you decide to refinance or sell your home.

Insurance Policies
Keep a copy of all insurance policies relating to your property together. This may include homeowners, flood and earthquake policies. With these documents, keep a list of insurance agents or companies and copies of correspondence related to claims.

Purchase and House Data
It’s also a good idea to keep a copy of the original listing of your house, comparable market analysis, floor plans, blueprints, and historical information. If you own a newly built home, keep a list of contractors and material suppliers as well.

Property Taxes
Keep your tax bills and record of payment for as long as you own the home and possibly even longer. You may need these items if your tax returns are ever audited.

Home Maintenance and Improvements
Records in this category include receipts for repairs or replacement expenses, names of contractors, contracts, and a log of maintenance tasks.

Warranties, Manuals and Receipts
These documents provide you with a proof of purchase date and determine service and parts guaranteed. In addition, the manuals usually provide care information so you can help ensure your household appliances are being properly maintained. You should keep your warranties, manuals and receipts for these items for as long as you own the appliances.

Home Inventory
If you were ever to lose any of your possessions due to fire, burglary, or vandalism, having a home inventory can help you avoid a lot of heartache and make it easier when filing an insurance claim.Start with a sheet a paper for each room in the house. Go around the room and list every item. Don’t forget the attic, basement or other storage places. For each item, write the original cost, purchase date, replacement cost, model number, brand name, where purchased, and a general description. You can also use a computer software system so that you have an electronic copy. Besides a written inventory, take photos or video of each room for visual documentation. It is also a good idea to arrange valuable collections, silver, jewelry, etc. and take close up photos.

Keep a copy in your home files and the originals in a fireproof safe or safe deposit box. Make sure you update your home inventory photos and list at least once a year.Organizing your home files may take a considerable amount of time initially, but it will definitely be time well spent in the event you need the documents later on.

Couresty of Prudential Burroughs & Chapin Realty, Inc.
PrudentialBC.com

Five Tips for a Green Home

Eco-friendly. Carbon footprint. Global warming. Energy-efficient. These catch phrases have become part of our lexicon as we’ve become more aware of our impact on the environment and our role in protecting it. As a homeowner, there are some simple, inexpensive steps you can take to make your home energy-efficient. Get started on the road to being “green” with these five tips:

Change Your Light Bulbs
By replacing just five incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, you can save $100 per year on electric bills while using up to 75 percent less energy and removing greenhouse gases from the environment.

Buy ENERGY STAR® Appliances
ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and air conditioners, meet a higher level of energy efficiency set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy than standard models. According to ENERGY STAR, if just one in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, the impact could be compared to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees. And, switching to these appliances is not only good for the environment, but easy on your pocketbook. Although these appliances may costs more, you can reduce your energy bill by $80 per year.

Seal Up
Cracks and air leaks represent cash seeping from your doors and windows. Get rid of air leaks in doors, windows and other areas by caulking gaps and cracks. This will help decrease your heating and air conditioning bill. But make sure you use silicone sealants. Acrylic caulk tends to shrink, while silicone sealants are waterproof and won’t shrink or crack, creating less waste.

Use Less Water
Did you know that roughly 60 percent of a home's water consumption takes place in the bathroom, according to the California Urban Water Conservation Council? The largest culprit is the toilet, which accounts for 27 percent of your household supply every year. By installing low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets, you can save thousands of gallons of water each year. In addition, replace leaky fixtures. That slow-dripping faucet can waste as much as 2,400 gallons of water per year.

Adjust the Thermostat
When adjusting your home’s thermostat, the rule of thumb should be: turn up the dial in the summer and down in the winter. Lowering the temperature by just one degree will reduce your electrical costs. And if you use a programmable thermostat, you can program your air-conditioning and heating systems to reduce output while no one is at home or at night while you sleep. Ceiling fans are also helpful in circulating the air to keep the room cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Going green doesn’t have to be overwhelming or costly. By making just a few small changes within your home, you can help decrease energy consumption and help make the world a “greener” place.

Prudential Burroughs and Chapin Realty - PrudentialBC.com