tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39893381743021017192024-03-13T14:36:49.548-04:00My Greenville HomeDan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-67364527035237923372008-08-21T10:13:00.002-04:002008-08-21T10:17:02.646-04:00Twitter for Business<h3>I just started using Twitter and have found it to be quite interesting. Thought I'd share this blogpost below about some great uses for Twitter. <br /></h3><h3>Feel free to follow me <a href="http://twitter.com/dphamilton">@dphamilton</a> to get the inside scoop on real estate in Greenville, South Carolina.<br /></h3><h3><a href="http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business">50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business</a></h3> <p> </p><p> </p><h3>First Steps</h3> <ol><li> Build an account and immediate start using <a href="http://search.twitter.com/">Twitter Search</a> to listen for your name, your competitor’s names, words that relate to your space. (Listening always comes first.) </li><li> Add a picture. ( <a href="http://redcouch.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/7-tips-for-new.html">Shel</a> reminds us of this.) We want to see you. </li><li> Talk to people about THEIR interests, too. I know this doesn’t sell more widgets, but it shows us you’re human. </li><li> Point out interesting things in your space, not just about you. </li><li> Share links to neat things in your community. ( <a href="http://www.twitter.com/wholefoods">@wholefoods</a> does this well). </li><li> Don’t get stuck in the apology loop. Be helpful instead. ( <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jetblue">@jetblue</a> gives travel tips.) </li><li> Be wary of always pimping your stuff. Your fans will love it. Others will tune out. </li><li> Promote your employees’ outside-of-work stories. ( <a href="http://www.twitter.com/thehomedepot">@TheHomeDepot</a> does it well.) </li><li> Throw in a few humans, like <a href="http://twitter.com/richardatdell">RichardAtDELL</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lionelatdell">LionelAtDELL</a>, etc. </li><li> Talk about non-business, too, like <a href="http://www.twitter.com/astrout">@astrout</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jstorerj">@jstorerj</a> from Mzinga. </li></ol> <p> </p><p> </p><h3>Ideas About WHAT to Tweet</h3> <ol start="11"><li> Instead of answering the question, “What are you doing?”, answer the question, “What has your attention?” </li><li> Have more than one twitterer at the company. People can quit. People take vacations. It’s nice to have a variety. </li><li> When promoting a blog post, ask a question or explain what’s coming next, instead of just dumping a link. </li><li> Ask questions. Twitter is GREAT for getting opinions. </li><li> Follow interesting people. If you find someone who tweets interesting things, see who she follows, and follow her. </li><li> Tweet about other people’s stuff. Again, doesn’t directly impact your business, but makes us feel like you’re not “<a href="http://shannonpaul.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/dont-be-that-guy/">that guy</a>.” </li><li> When you DO talk about your stuff, make it useful. Give advice, blog posts, pictures, etc. </li><li> Share the human side of your company. If you’re bothering to tweet, it means you believe social media has value for human connections. Point us to pictures and other human things. </li><li> Don’t toot your own horn too much. (Man, I can’t believe I’m saying this. I do it all the time. - Side note: I’ve gotta stop tooting my own horn). </li><li> Or, if you do, try to balance it out by promoting the heck out of others, too. </li></ol> <p> </p><p> </p><h3>Some Sanity For You</h3> <ol start="21"><li> You don’t have to read every tweet. </li><li> You don’t have to reply to every @ tweet directed to you (try to reply to some, but don’t feel guilty). </li><li> Use direct messages for 1-to-1 conversations if you feel there’s no value to Twitter at large to hear the conversation ( got this from <a href="http://www.twitter.com/pistachio">@pistachio</a>). </li><li> Use services like <a href="http://search.twitter.com/">Twitter Search</a> to make sure you see if someone’s talking about you. Try to participate where it makes sense. </li><li> 3rd party clients like <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com/">Tweetdeck</a> and <a href="http://www.twhirl.org/">Twhirl</a> make it a lot easier to manage Twitter. </li><li> If you tweet all day while your coworkers are busy, you’re going to hear about it. </li><li> If you’re representing clients and billing hours, and tweeting all the time, you might hear about it. </li><li> Learn quickly to use the URL shortening tools like <a href="http://www.tinyurl.com/">TinyURL</a> and all the variants. It helps tidy up your tweets. </li><li> If someone says you’re using twitter wrong, forget it. It’s an opt out society. They can unfollow if they don’t like how you use it. </li><li> Commenting on others’ tweets, and retweeting what others have posted is a great way to build community. </li></ol> <p> </p><p> </p><h3>The Negatives People Will Throw At You</h3> <ol start="31"><li> Twitter takes up time. </li><li> Twitter takes you away from other productive work. </li><li> Without a strategy, it’s just typing. </li><li> There are other ways to do this. </li><li> As Frank hears often, Twitter doesn’t replace customer service (Frank is <a href="http://www.twitter.com/comcastcares">@comcastcares</a> and is a superhero for what he’s started.) </li><li> Twitter is buggy and not enterprise-ready. </li><li> Twitter is just for technonerds. </li><li> Twitter’s only a few million people. (only) </li><li> Twitter doesn’t replace direct email marketing. </li><li> Twitter opens the company up to more criticism and griping. </li></ol> <p> </p><p> </p><h3>Some Positives to Throw Back</h3> <ol start="41"><li> Twitter helps one organize great, instant meetups (tweetups). </li><li> Twitter works swell as an opinion poll. </li><li> Twitter can help direct people’s attention to good things. </li><li> Twitter at events helps people build an instant “backchannel.” </li><li> Twitter breaks news faster than other sources, often (especially if the news impacts online denizens). </li><li> Twitter gives businesses a glimpse at what status messaging can do for an organization. Remember presence in the 1990s? </li><li> Twitter brings great minds together, and gives you daily opportunities to learn (if you look for it, and/or if you follow the right folks). </li><li> Twitter gives your critics a forum, but that means you can study them. </li><li> Twitter helps with business development, if your prospects are online (mine are). </li><li> Twitter can augment customer service. (but see above) </li></ol> <p> </p><p>What else would you add? How are you using Twitter for your business? </p> <p>By the way, <a href="http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/08/18/web-strategy-the-evolution-of-brands-on-twitter/">Jeremiah Owyang</a> has a great post on this, too. </p> <p> </p><p><em>The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by <a href="http://chrisbrogan.com/">[chrisbrogan.com]</a> for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters. </em></p> <p><em>Get the entire series by <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/chrisbrogandotcom">subscribing to this blog</a>, and subscribe to my free newsletter <a href="http://chrisbrogan.com/newsletters">here</a>.</em></p>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-30096421206114382152008-08-18T21:50:00.002-04:002008-08-18T21:55:11.887-04:00In the Spirit of the OlympicsFor all those who tried and didn't quite make it to the Olympics.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGWgw5uNv18&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGWgw5uNv18&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />H/T <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.michaelhyatt.com/fromwhereisit/">Michael Hyatt</a>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-3687080633751046292008-08-13T10:33:00.003-04:002008-08-13T10:48:47.827-04:00First Time Buyer Tax Credit<span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> As part of the (900 page) Economic Stimulus Bill President Bush signed last week, First Time </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Home</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">buyers and </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Home</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">buyers who have not owned a home in the last three years will be able to deduct $7,500 from their income for that tax year. This tax credit is more technically a loan that has to be paid back over the next fifteen years after the tax credit year. Here’s how it will work:</span></span><span><span><span><span><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:Courier;"><span style="font-family:Courier;"><span style="font-family:Courier;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span><!-- ******** Stop Copying Here ******** --> </p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">First year: Income = $50,000. Reported income = $42,500.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Year 2-16: Income = $50,000. Reported income = $50,500</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> All </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">home</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> buyers taking advantage of this credit should use an experienced and knowledgeable tax preparer when filing their taxes to ensure that it is calculated and reported properly. I would be happy to provide a referral to any of our clients looking for a professional to provide them with more detailed help with this tax credit. Feel free to email or call me at the office (864-527-7685).</span><br /></span></span></p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="clear: both;"> </div>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-78607898249237979982008-04-23T22:17:00.002-04:002008-04-23T22:21:39.065-04:00Happy Tax Freedom Day<p><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bjy8KWsPtDE&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bjy8KWsPtDE&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></p><p>Congratulations...you can now work to provide for your food, clothing, housing, transportation and everything else you might need...the government has theirs now.</p>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-89292424360304598802008-04-17T12:36:00.002-04:002008-04-17T12:45:22.820-04:0010 Year Return on InvestmentHere are a <a href="http://nymag.com/realestate/vu/2008/04/45968/">few things</a> you could have bought for $100,000 in 1998 and what they would be worth today.<br /><br />FYI--A typical $100,000 home in Greenville, South Carolina bought in 1998 would be worth about $162,847 today. Not bad...Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-58579729229293643142008-03-27T10:10:00.005-04:002008-03-27T10:37:34.381-04:00Great Deal on the Terrace at RiverPlace<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/R-us7TwAsPI/AAAAAAAABco/fbGkxp8dEps/s1600-h/view+from+with+river.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182425931133792498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="292" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/R-us7TwAsPI/AAAAAAAABco/fbGkxp8dEps/s320/view+from+with+river.JPG" width="283" border="0" /></a> The Hamilton & Co. Team of Keller Williams Realty has just reduced the price on this premium penthouse unit at the esclusive Terrace at RiverPlace. It is now listed for $599,900, which makes is the best deal on the market right now. I'm quite sure it won't last long at this price, so if you are interested in getting into a luxury downtown Greenville, SC condo, this is your golden opportunity. <div> </div><div> </div><div>For more details and pictures of this property, go to <a href="http://www.terraceatriverplace807.com/">www.terraceatriverplace807.com</a>.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>For more details about the RiverPlace development and downtown Greenville, go to <a href="http://www.riverplacesc.com/">www.riverplacesc.com</a>.</div><div> </div>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-59556761552052450442008-03-17T21:34:00.002-04:002008-03-17T21:39:31.681-04:00Have you thought about this?From Seth Godin's blog:<br /><em></em><br /><em>So, there's plenty of bad economic news floating around. From the price of<br />oil to Wall Street to bailouts to the death of traditional advertising.<br /><br />Which is great news for anyone hoping to grow or to make an<br />impact.<br /></em><br /><em>Change (and the fortunes that go with it) is almost always made<br />during the down part of the cycle. It might not be fun, but it's exciting.<br />(Where do you think Google came from?)<br /><br />The opportunity is to find substantial opportunities (in any field) that<br />deliver real value and have a future. Those jobs/investments/companies/ideas are<br />undervalued right now, but not for long.</em><br /><em></em><br />Are you looking for opportunities or complaining about the circumstances?<br /><p><em></em><em><em><em><em> </p></em></em></em></em>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-3105462612429212102007-12-11T23:15:00.001-05:002007-12-11T23:15:24.594-05:00How to Get Out Of Debt<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/cmAm8GNJ_IA' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/cmAm8GNJ_IA'/></object></p><p>I saw tonight on CNBC that the average credit card debt for the American family is $9,200. The average family would benefit by watching this short video. Taking this advice also could have helped avoid the current "credit crunch."</p></div>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-87489539358728854442007-11-20T14:46:00.000-05:002007-11-20T15:49:38.742-05:00USA Today Profiles Greenville, SC Real Estate Market<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/R0NG5kw1ZcI/AAAAAAAABbY/7oN08gJqg0w/s1600-h/usat_logo2.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135025955067487682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 70px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 43px" height="54" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/R0NG5kw1ZcI/AAAAAAAABbY/7oN08gJqg0w/s320/usat_logo2.gif" width="70" border="0" /></a>This <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/closetohome/2007-11-19-greenville_N.htm">article</a> on <strong><em>USA Today</em></strong> online profiles the current Greenville real estate market which stands in stark contrast to the rest of the state and nation.<br /><br /><br /><br />When you look at the numbers, we have a lot to be thankful for here in Greenville. Home sales and prices were up 1% in Greenville, while statewide sales are down 9% and prices remained flat. The article states there is a seven month supply of homes on the market compared to an eleven month supply nationwide.<br /><br /><br />Depending on your situation, it really is a great time to buy or sell right now in our market. If you need to sell and are willing to price your home correctly and stage it properly, there are plenty of buyers out there. If you are in the market to purchase a home now, the interest rates are still quite attractive and there is plenty of inventory to choose from.<br /><br />Don't let the national media-driven gloom and doom reporting distort what is actually going on in our local market. We are very fortunate.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-26262802221764420032007-10-24T13:36:00.000-04:002007-10-24T17:17:03.098-04:00More Residential Housing Announced for The Point in Greenville, SC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rx-0SCwbM1I/AAAAAAAABbQ/C7evU1k16ow/s1600-h/BS895391023.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rx-0SCwbM1I/AAAAAAAABbQ/C7evU1k16ow/s320/BS895391023.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125013123041538898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Greenville</span> News</span> reported this morning that Georgia-based development company <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Flournoy</span> Development co. plans to build nearly 700 apartment units at The Point in midtown <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Greenville</span>. They plan to start building 348 units in phase one as soon as the city issues permits. The second phase would include another 348 apartments, but will not begin before the summer of 2010.<br /><br />This announcement is in addition to the already announce <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McChesney</span> Development Co. plans to develop 1,225 condos and 1,125 apartments at The Point.<br /><br />With large employers <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">such</span> as GE, The South Financial Group, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hubbell</span> Lighting, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ICAR</span> nearby, this "midtown" part of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Greenville</span>, including the <a href="http://verdaedevelopment.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Verdae</span> development</a> will soon be the place to live in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Greenville</span>.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-86642067717573632162007-10-22T14:22:00.000-04:002007-10-22T14:28:19.665-04:00Search the MLS in Greenville, SC -- Now with MappingWe are happy to announce you can now search for homes on the market in the Greenville, SC area by map on our website,<a href="http://www.mygreenvillehome.com/"> MyGreenvilleHome.com</a>.<br /><br />Since many of you know where you want to live, searching by map makes it easier and faster to find that perfect home in the Upstate of South Carolina.<br /><br />Here is a screenshot of what it looks like to search the MLS by map:<br /><p align="left"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RxzqmBg28pI/AAAAAAAABa0/VabZHsxozcw/s1600-h/Screenshot+-+10_22_2007+,+2_11_54+PM.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124228415002964626" style="WIDTH: 340px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px" height="216" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RxzqmBg28pI/AAAAAAAABa0/VabZHsxozcw/s320/Screenshot+-+10_22_2007+,+2_11_54+PM.jpg" width="291" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">To start using this great new feature to find your next home, click <a href="http://www.mlsfinder.com/sc_ggar/danielhamilton/index.cfm?action=newsearch&searchtype=map">here</a> or use the link on the right side of the page to search the MLS of Greenville.</p>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-77173952193784564862007-10-14T16:03:00.000-04:002007-10-14T16:38:53.072-04:00Brownstones in Greenville, SC?<span style="font-family:georgia;">I've always thought it would be cool if Greenville had some Brooklyn-style Brownstone townhomes somewhere downtown. The Commons at Hampton Pinckney were pretty close...I guess you could call those Brownstones. I still thought there would be demand for even more in an even more urban setting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RxJ7xt4_khI/AAAAAAAABaI/W03hCP7jiv8/s1600-h/brownstones.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121291820336124434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" height="150" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RxJ7xt4_khI/AAAAAAAABaI/W03hCP7jiv8/s320/brownstones.jpg" width="247" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Enter </span><a href="http://thebrownstones.net/"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Brownstones</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> on Rhett Street in Greenville's West End. This 9-unit complex of brownstone-style townhomes is currently under construction and on the market. There is one unit already under contract. I think this is a great project in a vibrant part of downtown Greenville. My only problem is the </span><a href="http://www.thebrownstonesatlanta.com/58prices.html"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Buckhead-esque pricing</span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"> of these units. Starting at $799,000, they hardly qualify as anywhere near affordable for the average Greenvillian. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">From the marketing material...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">The Brownstones are replete with all the authentic architectural details that America's finest urban neighborhoods are known for, such as brick and stone exteriors, 12' ceilings on the main floor, site finished hardwood floors, beautiful moldings, ceramic tile baths, 8' windows, and a 4' parapet surrounding the rooftop sunroom and courtyard for outdoor living. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Of course, The Brownstones also include all the modern comforts and conveniences you would expect, such as an open, granite kitchen with custom made cabinetry, stainless steel Wolf appliances, and a luxurious master suite. And there's more . . . secure, gated entry, abundant recessed lighting, private two-car attached garage (side by side parking, not end-to-end), and your own private elevator that extends all the way from the basement level garage to the rooftop sunroom.</span></em> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Certainly a unique property for Greenville. I'll be keeping an eye on how well they sell.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-39293332355136679822007-10-12T14:13:00.000-04:002007-10-12T15:03:36.381-04:00Fall for Greenville This Weekend<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rw_Ct7-ld1I/AAAAAAAABaA/7VmMEnNM1fY/s1600-h/FFGfinallogo2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120525395793639250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rw_Ct7-ld1I/AAAAAAAABaA/7VmMEnNM1fY/s320/FFGfinallogo2.jpg" border="0" /></a> The weather has finally cooled off a bit for the 26th annual <strong><em>Fall for Greenville</em></strong> festival kicks off tonight. If you've never been, make sure you take the time to get there this year. There should be record crowds this year since there is no Clemson game this weekend and the weather looks perfect for getting outdoors for a taste of Greenville. Highlights for this year include an appearance by Greenville's own celebrity chef, <a href="http://www.tylerflrorence.com/">Tyler Florence</a>, food from 43 restaurants in Greenville, a magic show by Ric Singleton and music from <a href="http://nathanangelo.com/">Nathan Angelo</a>. <div><br /><p><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rw_AP7-ld0I/AAAAAAAABZ4/SptjwkD8lrk/s1600-h/Fallgvl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120522681374308162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px" height="174" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rw_AP7-ld0I/AAAAAAAABZ4/SptjwkD8lrk/s320/Fallgvl.jpg" width="272" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p>For more information about this wonderful event that showcases downtown Greenville, South Carolina, please click on the following links:<br /></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.mainstevents.com/fallforgreenville.html">Fall for Greenville official website</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/NEWS01/710120335">Greenville News coverage</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.mainstevents.com/PDF%20Files/FFG07.pdf">Download the map</a> before you go</li><br /><li>Schedule of <a href="http://www.mainstevents.com/fallforgreenvillespecial.html">Events</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.mainstevents.com/fallforgreenvillestages.html">Entertainment</a> Schedule</li></ul><br /><p><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/Rw_AP7-ld0I/AAAAAAAABZ4/SptjwkD8lrk/s1600-h/Fallgvl.jpg"></a></p><br /><br /><p></p></div>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-26710406911869201712007-10-09T14:21:00.001-04:002007-10-09T14:26:14.196-04:00This is Just DisgustingWho would have thought my keyboard would have so many germs?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#009900;">There are about 2,022,300 germs on your keyboard right now!<br />That's equivalent to the number of germs on 404 toilet seats.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/keyboard"></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Click below to see if your keyboard is making you sick:</span></span><br /></span><br /><br /><a style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 33px; BACKGROUND: url(http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/img/keyboard/badge.jpg) no-repeat; WIDTH: 303px; COLOR: #99cc00; PADDING-TOP: 50px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 128px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/keyboard"><strong>2,022,300</strong><span style="DISPLAY: none">How Many Germs Live On Your Keyboard?</span></a> <p><small>JustSayHi - A Free <a href="http://www.justsayhi.com/">Dating</a> Website</small></p>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-42302326232980379462007-10-07T22:15:00.000-04:002007-10-07T22:24:10.270-04:00Three Reasons Your Contract Might Fall ApartYou did it....after a few months of having your home on the market, you now have it under contract and you are on your way to closing...or are you?<br /><br />This <a href="http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Contract-Falls-Apart---Top-3-Reasons">article</a> for Zillow Wiki explains the three reasons why your contract might fall apart before closing. Here are the reasons:<br /><br /><strong><em>1. You have a contract with an unqualified buyer.</em></strong><br /><br />Most of the time, home sellers accept offers without asking if the homebuyer is qualified or not. Then, the home seller finds out several weeks later that the homebuyer couldn’t get the mortgage loan. In this case, you not only have to let the buyer back off, but also have to refund the earnest money to the homebuyer. Always ask for a lender pre-approved letter accompanying any offer. Although you cannot be 100% sure, at least, you know that most of your potential homebuyers are capable buyers. This move could decrease the chance of the offer falling apart.<br /><br /><strong><em>2. Homebuyer receives negative information about your home.</em></strong><br /><br />The home inspector found out something negative about your home and it was not disclosed in your seller disclosure form. Disclosure laws vary from state-to-state. If you didn’t disclose something required by law, a buyer can back out of the contract and you have to release the earnest money to the buyer.Make sure you disclose everything required by law about your home. If you think there is something negative about your house and can be fixed, you may want to fix it first before you put it on the market and disclose it as the problem fixed.Sometimes, ordering a pre-inspection may make sense for some older houses as a proactive measure.<br /><br /><strong><em>3. You have a contract with a qualified buyer, but the closing terms are too long.</em></strong><br /><br />If you have a contract with a qualified buyer, but there are three months to close, the chances of the deal falling apart may be much higher than a contract with a term of one month to close. Nobody can predict what could happen to the homebuyer during this 3-month period.The way to stop possible falling apart of the deal is to avoid a long close of escrow. The shorter the escrow is, the better it is for you from this standpoint. But, it has to be reasonable and acceptable by both parties.<br /><br />Working with qualified real estate professionals like the Hamilton & Co. Group of Keller Williams Realty will help you avoid these nasty pitfalls as you get your home sold.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-89453721908842965582007-09-22T19:45:00.000-04:002007-09-22T19:57:42.387-04:00Tips for Raising Your Credit Score<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RvWq_mDIG3I/AAAAAAAABZQ/4c5mlU0I678/s1600-h/credit-cards_69.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113180961471208306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RvWq_mDIG3I/AAAAAAAABZQ/4c5mlU0I678/s320/credit-cards_69.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I promised on the radio program today I would post this information. It is courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Hints-on-Raising-your-Credit-score"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Zillow's "wiki.</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">" With all the transition going on in the mortgage industry and the economy, it is more important than ever to have the highest possible credit score you can. If you are looking to increase your score a bit, here are a few ideas.<br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Your credit score, sometimes referred to as FICO score, is calculated by a system of scorecards. Scores range from 300-900. Your score is based on your credit history, both bad and good. Scores are generated by computer and no human element affects the outcome. Credit scores are designed to predict if the borrower will end up with a 90-day late in the next four months. Credit scores do not use race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, or age as predictive characteristics. Occupation and income are not taken into account on your credit report.<br /><br /><strong>FICO scores consist of the following</strong>:</span></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><strong>35%</strong> of the score is based on payment history. Recent late payments count against you more than a late payment that occurred 2 years ago. Frequency and severity of "lates" are considered as well. A 90-day late is obviously worse than a 30-day late.<br /><strong>30%</strong> of the score is based upon the balances of revolving credit cards, not installment accounts. If your balance is over 50% of your limit, you are penalized. Your score will be higher if you have very small balances on your accounts instead of zero balances.<br /><strong>15%</strong> of the score is based on your credit history. The age of your oldest credit line and the number of new lines are considered. It is best to have 4-6 open credit lines and the longer you have had them the better.<br /><strong>10%</strong> of the score considers the type of credit you have. Finance company installment accounts are negative (e.g., the furniture store that advertises buy now and make no payments until 2009).<br /><strong>10%</strong> of the score is affected by the number of inquiries on your credit report. Each time you give someone permission to pull your credit, it shows as an inquiry. 5-7 inquiries are allowed per year without affecting your score. After that, each inquiry will cost you 5-15 points. When you are shopping for a car or a home, you are allowed multiple inquiries within a one-month period. If you purchase a car or home, these inquiries do not affect your score. If you do not make the purchase, they will count against you, because it appears to the computer program that you were denied financing.<br /></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Hints:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Maintain 4 to 6 major credit cards.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Keep your balance on each card 50% or less of the available limit.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Avoid opening and transferring your balances repeatedly to new cards. This “Credit Surfing” will affect your credit grade negatively.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">When consolidating credit cards, do not transfer more than 50% of the available limit to the new credit card.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Refrain from having numerous requests about your credit for at least 6 months prior to purchasing or refinancing your home.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Check your credit report to confirm that all accounts included in the BK are reported as such and not as collection, charge-off, or “late pay” accounts.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Revolving credit (credit, department stores, etc.) weighs heavier on your credit score than installment debt (car loan, furniture, etc.)<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Pay down revolving debt to increase credit score and make your payments on time.<br />Finance companies have a negative effect on your score.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Do not “shop” for personal loans at these types of companies, as each inquiry will lower your score.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">An inquiry from a mortgage company does not have a negative effect as they are coded differently.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Buy your furniture, car, etc., after your home loan closes, not during escrow.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">If applying for a job that requires a credit check, request that the employer run an “Employer/ Employee Credit Report.” This will not impact your score as an inquiry.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">If you have any dispute about the information in your credit report, you have a simple process in which to challenge the errors.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The Fair Credit Reporting Act supports you and guarantees responses in a timely manner.<br /></span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Check your credit report for duplicate information. Many times the same collection or debt is reported twice therefore lowering your score. Request that the credit bureaus remove all duplicate and erroneous information.</span></li></ul><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-21193185768743545682007-09-19T16:42:00.000-04:002007-09-19T17:26:32.630-04:00New Listing on Lake Robinson -- Greenville, South Carolina<a href="http://www.mygreenvillehome.com/">The Hamilton & Co. Group</a> of Keller Williams Realty has just listed a great new property on <a href="http://www.greercpw.com/info_facilities.htm">Lake Robinson</a> near <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Greenville</span>. It is located in the Waters Edge neighborhood on Bass Cove Drive. You can view more details about the property (including aerial <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">photos</span>) on the website we have created for the property <a href="http://www.312basscove.com/">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112027173102148274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RvGRoRbl2rI/AAAAAAAABY0/fb4IMrsQTuY/s320/GREENVILLE1141927.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Please <a href="http://mygreenvillehome.com/">contact</a> us for your private tour.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-40578256093438359742007-09-19T16:30:00.000-04:002007-09-19T17:10:29.298-04:00Things Other People Accomplished at Your (My) AgeI ran across an interesting website today that allows you to enter your age and see in a list what other people had accomplished at that same age. It could be encouraging or discouraging depending on your perspective. If you are 31 like I am, here is what a few others had done at our age:<br /><br /><br /><br />At age 31:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>French <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Egyptologist</span> Jean Francois Champollion deciphered the Rosetta stone. </li><br /><li>British physician Thomas Wedgwood produced the first photograph.</li><br /><li>Eli Terry produced clocks with interchangeable parts. He also introduced the free-trial, no-money-down sales method.</li><br /><li>Gregory Pincus achieved in-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">vitro</span> fertilization of rabbits. Later he invented the birth control pill.</li><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RvGI_Bbl2qI/AAAAAAAABYs/5BlGB-MV0PM/s1600-h/bio_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112017668339522210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_y3MofSxNvCE/RvGI_Bbl2qI/AAAAAAAABYs/5BlGB-MV0PM/s200/bio_01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.dennis4president.com/">Dennis <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kucinich</span></a> was the youngest person ever elected to lead a major American city (Cleveland).</li></ul><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Enter your age <a href="http://www.museumofconceptualart.com/accomplished/">here</a> and see what others have done.</p>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-65209599279939585002007-09-14T23:59:00.000-04:002007-09-15T00:11:33.506-04:00Most Expensive Zip CodesForbes <a href="http://www.forbes.com/home/realestate/2007/09/13/zip-expensive-forbeslife-cx_07zip_mw_0913zips_land.html">has the list</a>. For some reason I don't see 29687...<br /><br />Some interesting tidbits:<br /><ul><li>29482 (Sullivan's Island near Charleston) was tops in South Carolina at #70.</li><li>Only three total from South Carolina in the top 500. All were in Charleston.</li><li>07620 was tops on the list...its in New Jersey</li><li>90210 didn't even make the top 10.</li></ul><p>I think we'll talk about this on the radio show tomorrow on WMUU, 94.5 FM at 11:30 AM. Also on the program, <a href="http://www.thehartmanlawfirm.com/staff.htm">Ben Leinster</a>, a local real estate attorney, will be on the air to take your calls and talk to us about title insurance.</p>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-41276403990059493672007-09-12T19:17:00.000-04:002007-09-12T19:26:21.248-04:00What is a Reverse Mortgage?One of the topics most talked about by callers to my radio program is about reverse mortgages. There seems to be a lot of interest and misconceptions about this type of loan and I suspect as more and more baby boomers become eligible and realize they aren't going to make it through retirement on their savings and social security, there will be even more interest over the next few years.<br /><br />So, what is a reverse mortgage and is a good idea for you or a loved one?<br /><br />A <strong>Reverse Mortgage</strong> is a loan available to seniors over the age 62 allowing them access to their home equity on their primary residence in a lump sum or multiple payments. The obligation to pay the loan is deferred until the owner dies or when the home is sold. There are currently 36 million people over the age of 65 with a large majority owing their home free and clear. In 2008, the first wave of baby boomers will be eligible for reverse mortgages.<br /><br /><br />To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 years old and own your own home. There must be enough equity in the house to pay off outstanding loan balances. The amount of money you can get will depend on how old you are at the time of closing, how much your home is worth, the total amount of liens, and current interest rates. You can receive the money in a lump sum, set up a line of credit, monthly payment, or all three. Since the money is not additional income, all funds from the reverse mortgage are tax-free. Closing costs are very similar to a “conventional” loan, and are paid by the borrower. Make sure to consult your mortgage broker for more information on fees. Counseling is provided and required on all reverse mortgages to ensure that the borrower understands how everything works.<br /><br />It is important to note that reverse mortgages are non-recourse loans, which means a borrower can never owe more than what their house is worth at the time of repayment, commonly referred to as going upside down.<br /><br />Currently reverse mortgages account for .5% of all mortgages, this expanding segment is definitely an area to keep an eye on.<br /><br />For further reading from reliable sources, click <a href="http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/rmtopten.cfm">here</a>, <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea13.shtm">here</a> or <a href="http://www.fanniemae.com/homebuyers/findamortgage/reverse/index.jhtml">here</a>.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-25270634644830852652007-09-08T23:16:00.000-04:002007-09-08T23:22:57.441-04:00Six Steps to Avoiding ForeclosureWe talked about these steps today briefly on the radio program, <em><strong>My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Greenville</span> Home</strong></em>, on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">WMUU</span> 94.5 FM in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Greenville</span>, South Carolina. We didn't get a chance to go into details because we ran out of time, so I thought I'd post the link for you to read it for yourself.<br /><br />Just to recap, the six steps are:<br />1. Call your lender immediately.<br />2. Ask to speak to the "loss mitigation" department.<br />3. Have everything you need in front of you to discuss your financial situation with your lender.<br />4. Know the different ways your lender can help you.<br />5. Know where to turn if you are not getting help from your lender.<br />6. Be aware of the foreclosure process--and consequences.<br /><br />Be sure to read the whole thing in the link above for more details.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-8828530390946975992007-08-30T10:55:00.000-04:002007-08-30T11:15:48.328-04:00Publix Opens Downtown Greenville, South CarolinaI wouldn't normally blog about the opening of a grocery store, but this is actually pretty big news for downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Today's <a href="http://www.wyff4.com/news/14006629/detail.html">opening of Publix</a> and and the recent opening of Staples within walking distance of the Central Business District and Main Street marks a new era in downtown living. If you live in one of the many great downtown condo complexes or neighborhoods, you now have the convenience of a grocery store and office supply store within walking distance--a big selling point and added value that wasn't there before.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to stopping by, I'll see you there in cereal aisle.Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-6477625250111604402007-08-22T11:30:00.000-04:002007-08-22T11:31:52.890-04:00Share the Light -- Kelller Williams VideoHere is a great new video from Keller Williams Realty...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1WZ7-X2gqxY"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1WZ7-X2gqxY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-28905918268203165912007-07-01T21:48:00.000-04:002007-07-01T22:00:12.979-04:00Greenville News Says Greenville Real Estate Strong<em><strong>The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Greenville</span> News</strong></em> reported last week that market conditions in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Greenville</span> real estate remain strong despite national and regional shifts. According to the <a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706260351">article</a>, sales in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Greenville</span> market (which includes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pickens</span> and Laurens counties) are up 6.5% over the same period a year ago. In contrast, existing home sales throughout the South was down 3.4% in May, with Florida leading the decline with a 34% decrease in sales.<br /><br />I am cautiously optimistic this trend will continue. However, there are several trends to watch that could take the wind out of our sails: the continued rise of interest rates (fewer buyers able to afford real estate), the sub-prime meltdown (fewer buyers qualifying) and trickle down effect from other markets (potential Upstate area buyers that can't sell their home in Florida).<br /><br />Anyone have any thoughts or opinions?Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3989338174302101719.post-74299874230752521822007-06-16T22:36:00.000-04:002007-06-28T22:47:22.084-04:00Jumbo Sports Sale Mentioned in Greenville News<div class="post_content"> <p><em><strong>The Greenville News</strong></em> published an article Friday on the sale of the former Jumbo Sports building on Wade Hampton Blvd. in Taylors. Peak Fitness from Charlotte, North Carolina was the purchaser and they will be upfitting it for use as a fitness facility. I think its a great location for something like that, and I always thought it would be bought for something like that or a church. Its a great building and it was a good deal for the both the buyer and seller.</p> <p>You can read the <em>Greenville News</em> article <a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706150347">here</a>.<br /></p> </div>Dan Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647220300761216686noreply@blogger.com0