Saw this in the news. Governor Sanford is suddenly trying to help small businesses with employee insurance costs. Kind of seems like the message is getting through that people are going to have insurance whether it’s through the government or not.

I found it interesting that the SC Board of Realtors provides their employees with insurance.

Having lived in North Carolina, I have to say that this state (SC) is not up to par with health insurance. The emergency rooms stay full because of it, too. And the tax payers end up paying for it anyway…higher insurance premiums because the hospitals charge more to make up for the ones that don’t pay because they have no insurance.

Although Realtors can get insurance through the board, it’s very costly.

Sanford calls for small-business health care, DUI, illegal immigration reforms

Monday, Jan 28, 2008 – 06:32 PM Updated: 10:59 AM
By Charles Tomlinson
E-mail

FLORENCE — Gov. Mark Sanford visited a Florence business Monday to discuss three reforms — one of which aims to help small companies lower their health care costs — that he hopes are passed within the first 30 days of this legislative session.

Sanford spoke at Adams Steel on Sandwood Avenue during one of four stops across the state Monday.

“Small businesses are the front line of job creation in South Carolina”, he said.

“A bill that has passed the Senate would allow small business owners to band with at least 10 other employers to form nonprofit cooperatives that could negotiate cheaper health care rates.”, said state Rep. Phillip Lowe, R-Florence, who joined Sanford along with state Rep. Kris Crawford, R-Florence.

Realtor Aubrey Richardson of Florence, who attended on behalf of the S.C. Association of Realtors, said health care costs for his employees are more than $2,500 a month.

“We’ve got to sell a nice house in order to pay that bill,” he said.
Lowe estimates employers could save at least 13 percent, Richardson said.
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The Myrtle Beach Condo Store and all of its partners are licensed as SC and Myrtle Beach Realtors . Visit our Myrtle Beach real estate condo site and check out our new MLS tools!

We have several new websites and updates to the regular sites to announce.

A brand new site about 1031 Exchange is up and running at http://www.1031commercial.com/. It’s not complete. We are conferring with Doug Clayton, my partner and a 20 year veteran experienced in the field, to see what he feels is the most helpful information to put on the site, and to better coordinate it with his company.

The IDX and MLS listings for condos in Myrtle Beach (http://www.myrtlebeachcondos.net/) is coming along very well, and we are getting what few bugs remain, ironed out. The Personal Condo Locator, or Automated Myrtle Beach MLS Emailer is proving to be VERY popular. We are getting quite a few signups and inquiries from interested buyers. The Coastal MLS was extremely messy, with multiple duplications and mis-spellings that we are working through.
If you are interested in browsing through our homes for sale, be sure and check it out.

An older site, New Myrtle Beach Resorts is being re-designed and we will have new featured properties on there. We have a small hotel in Myrtle Beach that we need some long term rentals for, and several beach houses that we’d like annual renters in. We’ll be listing them and hopefully getting some interested applicants.

We are trying to decide exactly what to do about a general Myrtle Beach real estate site. For right now we are still thinking about the Homestore site. It’s not a definate decision, though.

From our local CBS tv station, WBTW
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 – 06:35 PM

By Michelle Carolla
E-mail Biography

Across the country the foreclosure rate remains high. If you’re facing foreclosure, there are options. It may seem like there’s nothing you can do if you’re multiple months behind on your home mortgage payments. Fortunately, you can possibly fix the problem with a little help.

We asked mortgage advisor Bill Blackburn of Myrtle Beach for some advice. He said the most important thing you can do is address the problem.

“If you’re not responding to the letters, you’re not responding to the phone calls, what is a lender to do? They’re going to turn it over to the collection department,” said Blackburn. The collection department is going to turn it over to an attorney.” This will tack on attorney fees and more penalties.

Some of the options to avoid foreclosure include:

Reinstating your loan–This is paying your past due amount in a lump sum.

Forbearance–This allows you to delay payments for a short time.

Repayment–can allow you to catch-up by adding a dividing the past due amount and adding to new payments.

Along the Grand Strand area, foreclosures are mainly affecting the investor market. The average home price is also holding steady at $271,000 dollars and not falling like many areas of the country. Even with homes staying on the market longer, industry experts say the resort area status is once again helping the grand strand.

If your loan is with the Veterans Association or HUD, they offer counseling services that will look at your particular situation.

VA Regional Loan Centers– 1-800-827-1000

You may receive mail or calls from companies looking to buy your house or loan. Make sure to check them out thoroughly with the Better Business Bureau and ask for references.

The other fallout of the foreclosure market is bad credit. Non-profit credit counseling agencies can assist you with repairing your credit.
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If you are interested in finding foreclosures in Myrtle Beach or attending a real estate auction, visit our website for Myrtle Beach Real Estate for Sale.

Web changes way homes are bought
Some Internet surfers buy houses sight unseen on real estate sites.
By Sanford Nax / The Fresno Bee
12/29/07 17:43:07

It’s not often that someone buys a new house sight unseen, but that happened recently at Lennar Homes in Fresno. It was an unexpected consequence of the Internet age.

A Visalia native now living in Phoenix was eager to return to the central San Joaquin Valley. He clicked onto Lennar’s Web site at 11:26 a.m. Nov. 10 and engaged in a live chat with Shelly Slaven, the builder’s Internet sales coordinator.

“I’m interested in the home on homesite 202,” the Phoenix man said. “I was wondering what the price is on that home at this time?”

Slaven responded, “The price listed is $269,025. It will be ready this month.”

The duo chatted online for 22 minutes, with Slaven noting that models were available for viewing. “I don’t need to see the models,” the would-be buyer said. “Everything I need to know was on the Web site. … It has the floor plan and pictures online, so that’s good enough for me.”
He bought the house within a week.

Buying a house without seeing it is rare, but is more common in this age of virtual tours and interactive Web sites. And developers are relying on the Internet much more to showcase their neighborhoods, communicate with buyers, follow up on service calls and reach out to more prospective customers.

By some estimates, more than 80% of all new-home buyers use the Internet for research and comparisons, said Jeanae DuBois, director of client services at ASTONE, a Fresno marketing and public relations firm.

“Home buyers have a lot of options right now, and they use the Internet to sift through those options,” she said. Lennar, like other builders, is beefing up its Internet capabilities.

“It’s critical we focus on the purchasing habits of the current consumer trend, which is clearly moving toward the Internet,” said Les Lifter, regional vice president of marketing. “After just two months, we’re seeing the significant impact that our focused Internet efforts are having on our sales process.”

Last month, Lennar’s Fresno office had 80 e-mail inquiries, 53 live chat sessions and 28 800-number telephone calls (the number is listed on the Web site). The Internet contributed significantly to at least 20% of the office’s sales in November, company officials said.

Lifter said the Internet enables customers to shop when they want to without interference or high-pressure tactics.

“Traditional marketing efforts such as telemarketing tend to be viewed as intrusive,” he said. “We’re simply making our team available to potential home buyers when they want it.”
Lennar staffs the live chat from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Most of the chats occur during the lunch hour and after the dinner hour, Slaven said. “I can almost set my watch to it.”

The McCaffrey Group, a builder in Fresno, includes its Web site address in all its marketing and advertising, including billboards, signs and newspaper and radio ads.

Wathen-Castanos, a builder in Fresno, has found that people, some of whom are considering a transfer to the Valley, like to search its site at night.

“If they are considering a move to Fresno, they can do much of the research before they land,” said Laura Mather, director of sales and marketing.

About 1,000 people a week click onto the Wathen-Castanos Web site. Some of those browsers come in from a link on another site, such as one devoted to high school football.

“We sponsored the Clovis East High School football Web site and get people who come in through that,” Mather said. “Sometimes it’s the little things that bring you traffic.”

The reporter can be reached at snax@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6495.
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We are building one of the most comprehensive websites for condos in Myrtle Beach and many other detailed sites on our favorite resorts such as Westgate Resort in Myrtle Beach and Prince Resort in Cherry Grove. We hope to soon have everything you need to view and choose any Myrtle Beach property!

This article came from a newsletter done by Bottom Line’s Daily Health News. It hasn’t been investigated for accuracy.

Sometimes what promises to be a dream come true falls short for mysterious reasons.

That is what happened to Melanie, who had moved to California from the snowy Midwest in her mid-twenties. Now at age 60 she felt as if she should have it all — she had recently retired, had a home near the beach and her mortgage was just about paid off. Life should have been great, but it wasn’t.

Melanie didn’t feel well — she was constantly fatigued, often depressed and prone to upper respiratory tract infections. In fact, she hadn’t been feeling well for about five years, and though she’d been on many courses of antibiotics, it was getting worse with time.

Melanie had seen her regular doctor often enough in those five years, both for check-ups and to try and cure her symptoms. However, her test results always came back as normal and the doctor would say the same thing he always said — since the tests didn’t show anything “wrong,” there was nothing he could do for her. Fed up and concerned that her health would deteriorate further, Melanie decided to try a different approach. She called Mark A. Stengler, ND, for a consultation, to see if naturopathic medicine could provide an answer.

ND TAKES A WIDER VIEW
Since the lab tests he ordered also didn’t show any abnormalities, Dr. Stengler decided to investigate Melanie’s environment. She had told him that she lived near the beach. This made him immediately suspicious about the possibility of mold, which is always a problem in buildings located near a body of water. If she had a sensitivity to mold spores, Melanie would be vulnerable even to a seemingly minor mold problem. When he asked about her home, Melanie told him it was about 20 years old and that, well, yes, some of the walls did have a bit of mold. In fact, she admitted, she had recently spotted some on her couch as well.

That was all Dr. Stengler needed to hear. Melanie’s symptoms were consistent with mold-induced “sick building syndrome” and immediate action was in order. He felt she was likely suffering from the toxic mold in her home and allergic symptoms to it. First, Dr. Stengler advised her to schedule a home assessment by a company specializing in mold assessment. In addition to a visual inspection, these companies do the following:

Assess for moisture problems and leaks.
Culture visible mold and/or do air sampling to identify mold type or determine presence of mold.
Treat mold with bleach to destroy it. It’s safest to have professionals take care of this for you… but if you choose to do it yourself, never mix ammonia or other cleansers with bleach because combining these creates toxic gases.
Remove any porous materials such as wallboard and ceiling tiles that mold has penetrated.

In Melanie’s home, the company found much more extensive mold contamination than even she had anticipated. In addition to the visible mold on the couch, mold had grown on several rugs, parts of one wall and most of her curtains. The contamination couldn’t be cleaned up — everything had to be removed.

TREATMENT CHALLENGE
Dr. Stengler’s next challenge was threefold: To help Melanie decrease her sensitivity to mold spores… to detoxify her system from mold mycotoxins… and to strengthen her immune system.

To accomplish all of these goals, Dr. Stengler put her on an herbal liver formula of milk thistle, schizandra, green tea and dandelion root… antioxidants, including the supplement NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine), vitamins C and E… and a homeopathic mold desensitization formula.

The liver formula helps with detoxification. NAC increases glutathione, a potent antioxidant that reduces inflammation and quenches free radicals and also supports detoxification. Mold homeopathics help to desensitize an oversensitive immune system to mold. She was also instructed to take oregano oil as an antifungal. (Note: Oregano oil is very powerful so it is best taken under professional supervision.) In addition, Dr. Stengler advised her to avoid eating simple sugars and junk foods to further buttress her immune system.

With Dr. Stengler monitoring her progress, including side effects related to the “die off” of mold due to her treatment regimen, Melanie gradually and steadily improved over the next few months. Six months later, she said she was feeling pretty much like her old self again. It has now been three years since her first visit to Dr. Stengler and Melanie tells him that she is indeed living her dream, in her mold-free beach house.

SICK BUILDING ADVICE
Sick building syndrome is described by the EPA as “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or causes can be identified.”

That certainly was the situation Melanie was facing, said Dr. Stengler, noting that the issue has become quite common. Mold is one source of the problem. Others can include sensitivities to an array of allergens including dust, dust mites and cleaning products in buildings where the ventilation systems are inadequate or not properly maintained. More than 20 years ago a World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide could have problems with indoor air quality.

Dr. Stengler notes that people with “unexplainable” symptoms that include assorted respiratory challenges as well as bloody noses, dizziness, nausea, headaches, difficulty with focus, fatigue and increased sensitivity to odors should consider whether the building where they live or work might be the culprit.

If your symptoms lift when you leave the building, consider that a sign. Immediately report the problem to your supervisor, landlord or whoever else can take steps to resolve the problem. Prolonged exposure to these apparently invisible toxins can require a long recovery period, and is best avoided by taking quick action.

Source(s): Mark A. Stengler, ND, a naturopathic physician and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. He is director of the La Jolla Whole Health Clinic, La Jolla, California, and associate clinical professor at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, Oregon. He is author of the newsletter Bottom Line Natural Healing, www.DrStengler.com.

Anytime you are thinking of buying a Myrtle Beach home or condo that has some age on it, or is on or near the water, it’s in your best interest to hire a home inspector BEFORE you buy it. Let us guide you in your purchase or sale of Myrtle Beach Real Estate

Signs of Predatory Lending

BY MARIE SPODEK, GRI, AND JEROME MAYNE

By definition, greater upfront costs and continuing higher interest payments are some of the differences between prime lending and subprime lending. While providing opportunities to build equity through homeownership, subprime lending does cost more.

Ideally, responsible, risk-based subprime lenders provide access to credit for prospective home owners with poor credit scores. However, lenders are considered predatory when their practices, although legal, are not in the best interest of the borrowers.

These lenders can include mortgage companies, creditors, mortgage brokers, and even home improvement contractors. Suspect practices include targeting certain groups of people and using pressure tactics to force borrowing decisions while not disclosing valuable decision-making in-formation.

In addition, these loans are often bundled with higher interest, lump-sum credit life insurance, excessive fees, and high prepayment penalties without regard to the borrower’s ability to repay.

Most subprime lenders and the loans they make are not subject to federal legislation, so it has been difficult to document how these practices impact predatory lending.

1. Reverse Redlining: Finding Easy Targets

After decades of redlining (when lenders would not make loans in certain communities because of racial composition), today many predatory lenders specifically seek out groups to which it will market these excessive loans. In other words, these groups become the victims of “reverse redlining.” Predatory lenders also seek borrowers who need cash due to medical issues, unemployment, or other debt-related problems, and they look for borrowers who may not be aware of their choices.

Here’s a closer look at the groups that are most often targeted by predatory lenders:

The Elderly. Many of the older generation have lived in their homes for a long time and have built up equity. They may be “house rich and cash poor.” When they encounter cash problems due to medical, unemployment, or other debt problems, predatory lenders encourage them to turn to cash-out refinancing to solve their cash flow problems. Because they may not have the experience to comparison-shop, they are vulnerable to contractors and their lenders who suggest the only way to find the money for repairs is to sign papers through the contractor or loan officer, who then charges rates that do not correspond to the risk of the loan. They may be pressured into borrowing money with payments that are so high they are unlikely to make the payments on their fixed incomes.

Minorities. Although minorities have greater access to credit than ever before, many African Americans and low-income families are paying far more for their credit than corresponding whites. According to the analysis by three reporters from the Charlotte Observer of more than 2.2 million 2004 mortgage applications, in 2005 blacks and Hispanics continued to pay more in interest rates than did whites — no matter high how their incomes.

Immigrants. Many immigrants are eager to invest in their own homes, and, in fact, owning their own homes may be one of the reasons they immigrated to the United States. However, immigrants can lack the language skills and previous homebuying experience to enable them to effectively analyze loan terms and their implications. They may also lack the bank accounts and credit histories that would qualify them for traditional loans, thus making them easy prey for predators with “alternative” loan programs.

Individuals with Low Credit Scores. Low credit scores do not always indicate poor credit risks. Sometimes, borrowers fall behind in payments due to circumstances that are not likely to be repeated: unforeseen medical bills, an unexpected job layoff. However, they can end up with unscrupulous subprime lenders who use abusive practices.

2. Charging Unnecessary Costs

As if loan predators have not found enough ways to soak these borrowers, they can always pack in more unnecessary or nonexistent products and services (generally overpriced insurance), sometimes to borrowers who have no beneficiaries. Lenders have especially added to the cost of manufactured homes by folding in overpriced fixtures, appliances, and even free trips. Before borrowers make their first payments, these loans are underwater because the market value of the collateral is less than the loan amount.

3. Giving Misleading or No Information About Loans

Predatory lenders can use bait-and-switch tactics by offering loans that seem almost too good to be true. What they initially offer is often lost in the process, and borrowers may not even realize that the cost or loan terms are not what they originally agreed to. Borrowers have been told that the FHA insures against property defects and loan fraud, neither of which is true.

Borrowers should take time to shop around and compare houses, prices, estimates, and referrals. No reputable lender will ask a borrower to sign a blank contract or loan documents, because blank forms only present the opportunity for dishonest individuals to fill in false information.

Changing the Climate: It’s Up to You

Predatory lending is a big problem in today’s economy. However, this practice is not being perpetrated by all loan officers, and not all mortgage brokers are crooks. The key to changing the climate is to educate borrowers. There are crooks in every profession, and the consumer needs to know what to watch out for.

The Book:
Mortgage Fraud and Predatory Lending: What Every Agent Should Know, is published by Dearborn Real Estate Education. The book gives warning signs and presents real-life cases to help real estate professionals protect their clients and their businesses.

Note from the publisher: This textbook is currently used across the country in continuing education classes for real estate agents and mortgage bankers. Please note that this book can be purchased through RECampus for professional development purposes; however, it cannot be purchased through RECampus for continuing education credit.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online 01/01/2008
with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Copyright 01/01/2008. All rights reserved.

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