Ending 2010

Like many sectors, 2010 was a tough year in real estate. With foreclosures and short sales still flooding the market it is hard to tell when we will see the decline in prices come to a holt. Selling during this time is extremely stressful for sellers especially those who bought or refinanced in the past 5 years and who held appraisals for much more than their neighbors were selling for.

Elizabeth Group Real Estate helped those who were working with losses, short sale situations, and thin margin lines and it was difficult for all involved. As agents, we all want our sellers to get close to what they feel their home is worth but in this market values are hard to identify and change so quickly. Appraisals used to be good for up to a year but now banks typically are looking for 3-6 months max, that's how fast the values can change. It used to be in our business that sellers were always walking away with checks in hand moving on to bigger and better places and today we still see that in most cases but this year we also saw some downsizing and clients bringing a check to closing in order to get some needed financial relief. What we have to remember is everything comes in cycles and this too shall pass. As frustrating as it has been for all involved we are making progress. We are learning how to deal with these tough times and it has taught us all lessons young and old. Real Estate is an investment and does carry with it certain risk and it must be respected. There are no guarantees of value, it's just like a stock in that it could sell for one price today and another price tomorrow based on the recent comps. The Charleston real estate market has been good to us for many years and for that we are thankful and we look forward to the cycle continuing into a healthy rebound for sellers in the future.

Buyers have enjoyed being able to afford a little more home this year and are finding rare property within their price range. This has been a joy to be a part of, several of our buyers got better locations, more square footage, and excellent terms, things that would not have been available just 24 months prior for them. Although financing was tough this year and buyers had to have extreme patience to get through the paperwork, all in all the banks worked as hard as they could to keep deals together and keep buyers happy. We saw some fabulous rates cross the closing tables this year. As you can see from previous blogs helping someone find a home is a great honor and we take it seriously. From all of us at Elizabeth Group Real Estate Thank you for your business in 2010 and we look forward to serving your real estate needs in 2011. Happy New Year Michelle

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who visits our website. Also, I wanted to share a photo of my boys as I am very thankful for them all. Please let me know if I can help you and your family in any way with your Real Estate needs.

Sincerely,

Erica Schaffer

843-834-1910

Another First Time Homebuyer

I am excited to announce that I was recently able to help a great friend with their first time home purchase. He is a Fire Fighter for the city of Charleston and we were about to use some of the funds from the Palmetto Heroes Program to allow for a NO MONEY DOWN purchase. The Palmetto Heroes program is available to Fire Fighters, Police Officers, Teachers, Single Parents, and Legally Disabled individuals of the Low country. For more information visit http://www.schousing.org/ or call me so I can help you find the home of your dreams. Happy House Hunting..

Sincerely,

Erica Schaffer

843-834-1910

erica@elizabethgroup.net

First Time Home Buyer

I am excited to announce that I was able to help out a life long friend and "First Time Home Buyer" close on his new house last week. How exciting is that? He was really excited too because he was eligible for the $8,000.00 tax credit.. Yeah!

I am always happy to help people reach towards their goals and dreams and I look forward to helping you soon. Give me a call 843-834-1910

Sincerely,

Erica Schaffer

What are some of the healiest fruits we can eat? Super foods for your health!

What are some of the healiest fruits we can eat?

Super foods for your health!
Apples 1 medium apple (80 calories, 0 g fat): An apples 3 g of fiber help you meet your fiber goal of 20 g to 30 g daily. High-fiber diets can lower heart disease risk

Apricots 3 apricots (51 calories, 0 g fat): A good source of beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A by the body), providing the equivalent of 35% of the RDA for vitamin A

Bananas 1 medium (105 calories, 0 g fat): Bananas are a great source of potassium, which plays a key role in heart health and muscle function. Plus each one has 2 g of fiber.

Blackberries 1 cup (74 calories, 0 g fat): This fruit boasts a whopping 10 g of fiber in a single cup .

Blueberries 1 cup (81 calories, 0 g fat): Blueberries help prevent and treat bladder infections by making it hard for bacteria to stick to urinary tract walls.

Cantaloupe half of a medium cantaloupe (90 calories, 0 g fat): Cantaloupes are an excellent source of vitamins A, B3, B6, C, and folate. The vitamin A has been known to help prevent lung damage in smokers and helps promote weighloss for those trying to loss weight.

Cherries 1 cup (84 calories, 1 g fat): A good source of perillyl alcohol, which helps prevent cancer in animals. Heart-protective anthocyanins give cherries their color.

Grapefruits 1/2 fruit (39 calories, 0 g fat): A good source of vitamin C and a compound called naringenin, which helps suppress tumors in animals;
Guava 1 medium (51 Calories .6 g fat): Guava most known for promoting weight loss. It contains vitamins A and C, minerals, folate, dietary fiber, protein, calcium, and iron.

Kiwi 1 medium (46 calories, 0 g fat): Just one little fruit packs a mean vitamin-C punch (74 mg) and an impressive 2.8 g fiber.
Mangoes 1 mango (135 calories, 1 g fat): A single mango has enough beta-carotene to cover your RDA for vitamin A while racking up 57 mg of vitamin C.

Oranges 1 orange (61 calories, 0 g fat): One orange provides an impressive 50 mg to 70 mg of vitamin C, 40 mcg of folic acid and 52 mg of calcium.

Papaya– 1 cup, cubed (55 calories, 0 g fat): Loaded with vitamin C , a healthy dose of fiber (2.5 g) and a sprinkling of beta-carotene and calcium.

Purple grapes 1 small (113 calories, 0.9 g fat):Offer three heart-guarding compounds: flavonoids, anthocyanins and resveratrol (green grapes are not rich in them).

Prune 1/3 cup, stewed (87 calories, 0 g fat): Prunes famed laxative effect is no mystery: There are 5 g of fiber (both soluble and insoluble) in just 1/3 cup.

Raspberries 1 cup (60 calories, 0 g fat): Teeming with 8 g of fiber per cup, they also boast vitamin C, ellagic acid and anthocyanins.

Strawberries 1 cup, sliced (50 calories, 0 g fat): Strawberries have high levels of ellagic acid and anthocyanins, and are rich in vitamin C (95 mg per cup) and fiber (3.8 g per cup).

Watermelon 1 wedge (92 calories 0 f fat): Watermelons are high in lycopene , which is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent some forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Watermelon is also high in vitamin C, A, and potassium.

Mold & Allergies

What is Mold?
Mold, also known as fungus, is a family of organisms that are found throughout nature. Unlike plants, mold need food and water sources in order to thrive. This food source is often in the form of a carbohydrate material, such as wood or cellulose.

Mold can be very dangerous. It can cause illness, allergies, and even death.


Which Molds are Known to Cause Allergies?
There are thousands of types of mold, however, only a few of these are currently available for allergy testing. The following are the most likely causes of allergic disease based on the types of mold spores collected in the air:
Alternaria. A common outdoor mold; allergy to this mold can be associated with severe asthma.
Cladosporium. The most common airborne outdoor mold.
Aspergillus. A common indoor and outdoor mold; also associated with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
Penicillium. A common indoor mold; allergy to which is not associated with antibiotic allergy.
Helminthosporum. More commonly found in warmer climates.
Epicoccum. Found in grassland and agricultural areas.
Fusarium. Commonly found on rotting plants.
Aureobasidium. Common outdoor mold, commonly found on paper, lumber, and painted surfaces.
Phoma. An outdoor mold, especially common during wet periods.
Smuts. Found in areas of agriculture.
Rhizopus and Mucor. Commonly found on decaying leaves and damp indoor areas. Airborne forms of these molds are less common.
Yeasts. Commonly found in the air during wet periods in agricultural areas. Allergic disease to Candida albicans is controversial, despite some people having positive allergy testing to this type of mold.

What Measures Can Be Used to Decrease Indoor Mold Levels?
Prevent outdoor molds from entering the home by keeping doors and windows closed and using air conditioning equipped with allergen-grade air filters
1. Control indoor moisture with the use of dehumidifiers
2. Fix water leaks in bathrooms, kitchens and basements
3. Ensure adequate ventilation of moist areas
4. Clean (or replace) contaminated surfaces with diluted a chlorine bleach solution (one part household bleach in nine parts water), while using proper protective gear (mask and goggles)
5. Utilize HEPA filters on vacuums or as a stand-alone air filter
6. Limit indoor houseplants, and ensure those that are present are free of mold on leaves and in potting soil

Much of this information was found at weather.com and about.com

5 Ways to Handle Stress

5 Ways to Handle Stress

Remember Things Usually Work Out In the End
If you cannot do anything about it do not stress it. Psalms 55:22 says Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

In other words PUSH which means pray until something happens.
Things may not go exactly as you planned but keep a positive attitude, a can do attitude and you will prevail!

Do the Hardest Thing on Your List First
If you have several troublesome things on your mind tackle the toughest one first. You will be tempted to do the easy things first but this will just extend and intensify the stress you are already feeling. Go ahead: Fry the Big Fish First. You will be glad you did.

Be Honest & Take Responsibility When Something is Your Fault
Stress and work is a huge problem for many people. So much to do so little time. So much on your mind. It’s difficult to tell your boss: I forgot to do that or I did not mail that check out yet. But you will avoid future stress by telling the truth now. Admit, I made a mistake. I’m Sorry! The truth will always set you free.

Exercise
When everything is going wrong or you are having a bad day, try to squeeze in a workout. Going for a jog, walk, swim, or bike ride are all excellent ways to make you feel better. Exercise is an excellent stress reliever.

Talk It Out
Sometimes the best medicine to relieve stress is to just talk about it. Talk to your spouse or Invite a friend for coffee. You could both vent to each other.

I hope this helps you feel better in some way today.
Until Next Time,
Erica