Continuing on from Part 1 This will detail how we got here and how long we will be in the recession. Guess what! Home Mortgages are among the largest revenue producing entities in the nation.  With all these banks merging and buying each other out now that they are allowed to also do investment, commercial and insurance loans Freddie and Fannie backed these banks loaning money's and essentially went back to the roots of why these so called "private" companies Freddie and Fannie were formed.  Remember, they were formed to encourage homeownership by buying the mortgages from banks.  A New York Times article in September of 1999 stated that Fannie Mae has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and the cor... 02/04/2009

                   Baxter Village in Fort Mill, SC is a master planned community that not only offers beautiful homes but a lifestyle that is reminiscent of the Old South.  There is really no "earth shattering" news about Baxter, but I love this community so much that I wanted to write about it.  Baxter Village has a smalltown feel that many other communities do not offer.  Located in historical Fort Mill, the homes mimic many of the old homes you will find in Charleston, SC. (A city I love)  The community has sidewalks, tree-lined streets and a trail network that links to parks and playgrounds.  There are over 500 acres of parks within Baxter.   Within the community you will also find an Elementary School (my son attends this award-winning school), a library, an Urgent Care Center, poo... 02/02/2009

                                                             The Springfield Community in Fort Mill, SC is a multi-phase community that has been developed by Crescent Resources.  Crescent Resources is a leading developer in upscale communities throughout the South.  The community sits in Fort Mill just next to the new Nation Ford High School and backs up to Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Greenway is 2,300 acres of undeveloped land that includes, lakes, trails, cycling and horseback riding.  The community is only 30 minutes from uptown Charlotte, and I-77 is only 3 minutes away via the brand new Springfield Parkway. The community has the home town feel that brings many homebuyers to Fort Mill in the first place.  It offers southern-styled, luxury custom homes and charming golf villas. ... 01/21/2009

Well it's no secret! We're in the second worse recession in the history of America.  How did we get here? How long will we be in this recession? What will it take for us to get out?  I'll attempt to give my opinion of what ail's me today.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the bumpy ride we are in for! According to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) recorded in the second quarter of 2002, the Bush administration entered into office with the American economy already in a recession according to the declined 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2001 which would have begun with the Clinton Administration.  So lets step back a little further in history and find out what really started this.  We can all agree that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the nations biggest underwriters of home mortgages securing over 5... 01/19/2009

I wanted to write about one of the reasons that I love living in Fort Mill, SC.  Of course, there are many reasons that we love living here.  I have lived and worked in this area for over 25 years.  Most of my time was spent living and working in Charlotte, NC but when our son started Kindergarten we decided to move just south of the border to York County, SC.  We chose Fort Mill for several reasons.  The top reason being the excellent schools.  The Fort Mill School District continues to draw many folks from all over the U.S. as well as from Charlotte.  The other reason being the tax structure.  Property taxes in Fort Mill will run you about 2/3 less than they would in Mecklenburg County.  (Keep in mind that tax reassessments occur regularly.) We are still within minutes to uptown Charl... 01/18/2009

Support for the McKemey family and Connor continues to grow in the Tega Cay and Fort Mill community. And in some cases beyond our fair township borders. Many local citizens talk about Connor daily. For some the daily news or updates on his condition is a daily priority. Let me back up a bit and if you haven’t heard of the tragic McKemey storey here is a brief recap. Just before Christmas, Connor McKemey, 13, suffered second and third degree burns over 85 percent of his body and is currently in critical condition at the Joseph M. Still urn Center in Augusta, Georgia. Connor has undergone several surgeries and faces many more. Connor’s mother Karin suffered serious burns while trying to help Connor after an explosion in their outdoor fireplace. The interesting thing about this story is t... 01/17/2009

WELCOME TO MASSEY of FORT MILL, SC      Here, just south of Charlotte, is an ideal place to regain your balance and enjoy the things in life that really matter.   A new master-planned community in historic Fort Mill, South Carolina, Massey is a natural enclave that provides a true respite from the day-to-day. There are so many things to do and so many places to do them in, including a beautifully appointed, 5,000 square foot expansive Residents' Club. You'll find more ways than you ever imagined to reconnect with your own family and to establish new connections with neighbors. It's a lifestyle you can't help but embrace.  So many ways to relax and rejuvenate.  For some, the best form of relaxation is a leisurely float down Massey's Lazy River Pool. For others, it's a fun filled splash w... 01/12/2009

I combined November and December single family home sales for Fort Mill and the Fort Mill Township in one post. I also recapped the 4th quarter. Here are the results: November 2008 Home Sales Fort Mill SC November 2008 home sales in Fort Mill SC were similar to October. Homes sold were down 42% which is two points better than October. The sold price to listing price ratio decrease a percent from 97% in October to 96% in November. Days on the market increased 10 basis points from October and increased 25% from last year same time period. Picture Version Text version Fort Mill SC Home Sales Comparison November 2007 2008 % Change Number of Homes Sold 62 36 -41.94% Average Number of Bedrooms 4 4 0.00% Average Square Footage 2,791 2,690 -3.62% Sales Price Comparisons Average List Price $347... 01/10/2009

In a December 2008 announcement from the S.C. Department of Commerce Titanium Holdings, Inc. has selected a headquarters location in Fort Mill, S.C. that will accommodate its explosive growth and the strategic expansion it is implementing to meet industry demand. Titanium Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Titanium Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of homeowner contacting and consulting services. Titanium Holdings has leased 42,000 square foot of space in the former HSBC Edgewater Office Park building near the intersection of U.S. 521 and S.C. 160 in Indian Land SC. Over the next five years, the company plans to bring up to 300 new jobs to the area to support all of its divisions. On Jul 28, 2008 Titanium Holdings, Inc. announced that Patrick Carey had joined the company as CEO.... 01/10/2009

  Is there good news with an existing home sales report headline like this? “Home Price Declines Worsen As We Enter the Fourth Quarter of 2008 According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices” Standard & Poor’s published a press release today called the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for homes sales data through October 2008. The report shows continued declines in the prices of existing single family homes across the United States. 14 of the 20 metro areas showed record rates of annual decline and 14 metro areas are reporting declines in excess of 10% versus October 2007. The press release states… “Three of the metro areas have given back, on average, more than 30% of the value of homes since October of last year. Phoenix remains the weakest market, reporting an annual decline ... 01/10/2009

Last year, I'm sure most of you remember (if you are a resident of South Carolina), the residential property tax cut.  The decrease in your property taxes was offset by a 1 cent sales tax increase. Historically, the portion of this property tax has been the most consistent revenue stream for the state.  The portion of the property tax that was eliminated helped to support our school system and the sales tax increase was meant to replace the revenue from the property tax.   In addition, the tax for food in grocery stores was also eliminated. Dr. Keith Callicutt, Superintendent of the Fort Mill School District, spoke recently to the School Improvement Council at Orchard Park Elementary.  He explained how the tax cut, which was part of Act 388, is now affecting our school district.   Due t... 12/20/2008

Fort Mill is a popular suburban choice, near by Charlotte NC, and is a town that has grown during the nationwide housing downturn. Fort Mill's many natural gifts- Lake Wylie in the west, the 2300 acre nature preserve that is the Ann Close Greenway, Springfield Golf course, plus its proximitiy to Charlotte, are it's underlying value anchors. Since a major road expansion of I-77 completed in 2006, and the lowering of property taxes in 2007, Fort Mill has boomed. Home values increased in 2007, and the first half of 2008. I wrote a complete report on my Charlotte Communities blog. Fort Mill Homes For Sale Market Report If you need an introduction to Charlotte, try my well-received (#1 on You Tube) video of Charlotte NC , or information regarding Charlotte schools, its history, an online rel... 12/06/2008

Looking for forecloses? Many investors and individual home buyers are taking advantage of the increasing number of foreclosures hitting the market. And there are other advantages to finding and buying a foreclosed home. Homebuyers and investors can now take advantage of a $7,500 one-year tax credit with the purchase of foreclosure properties from April 9, 2008, to July 1, 2009. The York County SC area including Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill has not had many foreclosures in the past but that trend looks like it might be changing. Now might be the best time to look for and buy a foreclosed home. How do you find foreclosed homes? TO READ MORE GO TO HOMESFORTMILL.COM Click here to search foreclosure listings. Click here to contact Carmen Miller for a custom search Carmen S Mil... 12/04/2008

Would you like to receive a complimentary no-obligation report on your home and your local real estate market?  This report will be provided to you by a real estate professional using real time market data.  This Market Snapshot report is engaging, interactive and extremely informative.  Please click the image below to receive your FREE report.     12/02/2008

October 2008 home sales in Fort Mill SC were about the same as September even in the light of more economic bad news.  Homes sold were down 44% two points better than September.  The sold price to listing price ratio was consistent to last year. Days on the market bettered by 3%. Fort Mill homes sold did include Tega Cay, Baxter village, Springfield,  and other communities around Fort Mill. There are currently 592 homes listed for sale in the Fort Mill SC Township, York County on the Charlotte MLS system. Here is the spreadsheet comparing the October year to year comparisons in Fort Mill SC. Picture version Text Version - To read the rest of the article please go to HOMESFORTMILL.COM To discuss or for more information please contact me. Carmen S Miller Century 21® First Choice206 Rockm... 11/28/2008

Should I buy or sell a home now? If you are thinking about selling or buying a home right now you obviously have to be wondering how today's economy, interest rates and local real estate market will affect your bottom line. There is not one answer for everyone, and as when any of us invest in the stock market, it is the long term return that should be our focus. If you are thinking about buying a home now every investor and real estate analyst has stated that this is absolutely the best time. As with most markets, Fort Mill and Tega Cay SC are considered to be a "buyers market". What does a "buyers market" mean?. It means that buyers are in the driver's seat. There are a good number of homes on the market which gives you plenty of available inventory to see and choose from. Depending o... 11/28/2008

Come see a beautiful home for sale in Baxter Village SC during my OPEN HOUSE Saturday November 1, 2008 from 2 to 5pm. Front Porch Charm, Pristine Condition! Charming four bedroom, plus bonus and study for $395,000. Wonderful open floor plan perfect for entertaining. Corner fenced lot, serene setting backs to green belt. Beautiful hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen w/SS and corian counters, designer lighting, Restoration Hardware paint and colors. Gorgeous custom drapery. Surround sound, alarm, central vacuum all included! The address is 7172 Michael Scott CrossingFort Mill, SC 29708 For more details about the home for sale click here baxter-village-home-for-sale-7172-michael-scott-crossing-fort-mill-sc Or contact me. Carmen S Miller Century 21® First Choice206 Rockmont Dr | Fort Mill, SC ... 10/29/2008

Fort Mill SC Home for Sale: 4007 Indian Hills Lane Fort Mill SC Home for Sale:  4007 Indian Hills Lane This beautiful home is located in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Fort Mill, Legacy Park!  Fort Mill offers a quaint community with all that you would expect to have in a small town--shopping, restaurants, and excellent schools, community functions, 'neighborly' neighbors and outdoor living at its best!  Legacy Park offers two stocked lakes for resident fishing, walking trails, tennis courts, swimming pool and a recreation center with an indoor gym and 'rainy day' activities.   4007 Indian Hills Lane offers amenities that will make you feel that you're living in the lap of luxury--for only $359,700!  This statuesque Georgian, built by Parker Orlenas, is absolutely immacu... 10/11/2008

I see many inquiries coming into Carmen’s blog asking for the distance between Charlotte North Carolina and Fort Mill South Carolina. As you may have read in Carmen’s market research posts (Fort Mill SC Rank 6 Out Of Ten Fastest Growing Metros), the Fort Mill and Tega Cay area is part of the Charlotte NC MSA (metropolitan statistical area) for census and other analysis basis. I guess you could say Fort Mill and Tega Cay are close enough to be considered suburbs of Charlotte. So here are the distance and drive time facts related to the distance between Charlotte and Fort Mill. Fort Mill is located south of Charlotte of interstate 77. The North Carolina and South Carolina northern border on interstate 77 is 7.8 miles or 15 minutes drive time from downtown Fort Mill. The western NC/SC bord... 10/02/2008

If you are thinking about moving or buying/renting a home or condo in the Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill area and would like to search the available home or condo listings you've come to the right place on the internet. Carmen Miller with Century 21 First Choice is now offering FREE, no strings attached, local property for sale or rent search. This service is available at both of Carmen Miller's websites www.carmensmiller.com and www.homesfortmill.com. We have just signed up with a new property search service to offer you the latest technology in the home search business. And best of all it is free for you to use. Here is how to use this new tool, just click on the property search orange button on the top left hand side bar or choice from one of the custom search links we ha... 08/25/2008