The Carter Real Estate Center cordially invites you to our next

Friends of the Carter Real Estate Center networking event

Wachovia Auditorium

Beatty Center – 5 Liberty Street

College of Charleston

On Wednesday, March 3, 2010

6:00 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Speaker: Ken Reardon, CEO of South Eastern Equity Development Corporation

Real Estate In 2010: The New Normal 

Please R.S.V.P. Monday March 1, reply or call Tracie Mitchum at 953-8103. Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you feel might be interested in attending this event.

(We are continually updating our Friends database.)

Mission Statement

Consistent with the Carter Real Estate Center’s mission to provide an outstanding education and research program for the application and advancement of real estate knowledge, the mission of Friends of the Carter Real Estate Center is to serve in an advisory and supportive capacity to help the Center achieve its goals.

Ken Reardon, CEO of South Eastern Equity Development, Inc.

Mr. Reardon has twenty-five years of experience in financial management and marketing with a successful history in commercial and international real estate development and transactions.  His talk will address how changes at financial institutions have altered the landscape of real estate investing and financing.

Although Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow again this year, lately the Charleston weather seems to mimic something closer to Spring showers. With nasty conditions surely in the horizon, families are left to fend for themselves hidden indoors. Don’t let rainy days cramp your style. Charleston offers tons of inside recreation for an entire family to enjoy.

A great activity offered in Charleston that I recently visited for the first time is the South Carolina Aquarium. At age nineteen and accompanied by senior citizens, everyone in my group was entertained by both the animals and friendly staff. Surrounded by classes of elementary schooled children, moms with infants and grandparents with toddlers, there was something to capture the interest of all ages.

The facility offers a fun and educational experience with many opportunities for hands on activity. Immediately after walking in, you are met by a man sporting a large snake as an accessory; and although a little out my personal comfort zone, brave visitors are able to touch the reptile while learning how he was rescued. Continuing on, guests will find themselves surrounded by the mountainous outdoors at Camp Carolina. Skunks, barn owls, snakes, and even a bald eagle are on exhibit here along with an interactive campsite making a great adventure for all.

Another interesting exhibit provided is the Great Ocean Tank where the staff conducts a daily live feeding. They teach lessons on the importance of keeping the ocean clean and do an audience question and answer portion while demonstrating how they care for the animals in the facility. Complete with scuba divers and stage props the exhibit of the two-story 385,000 gallon salt water tank gives an inside look at the life of hundreds of animals including sharks, jellyfish, sea turtles, and puffer fish.

Although the aquarium lacks in actual size, it is well set-up and extremely clean. The staff is helpful and energetic, providing a pleasurable event for all. Tickets to the South Carolina Aquarium range from free for toddlers and up to $17.95 for adults with various discounts provided for groups, college students, senior citizens and many more.

For more information visit:

On January 24, Hollywood takes over the Lowcountry. If you live in the area, you’ve heard dozens of radio giveaways and ticket advertisements to attend the sea side premiere of the film Dear John. The Terrace Hippodrome Theater will host stars and supporters for the new movie based on the novel by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks and directed by Oscar nominated Lasse Hallström. Not only is the event an exciting happening for all local Notebook crazed girls, but proceeds will benefit South Carolina children and adults suffering from autism. The showing of the romantic drama is raising awareness and funds for the Charleston charity Carolina Autism.

The motion picture first became involved with the charity during the early stages of production. While searching for an actor able to portray the role of Alan, a young autistic boy who meets the main character John, Hallström met Phil Blevins, Executive Director of Carolina Autism. Belvins assisted in the hunt by introducing him to boys from the organization. Several auditioned for the part, however after three call-backs Braeden Reed; a 6-year-old autistic boy from Daniel Island won the role. Reed has been receiving services from Carolina Autism for four years and serves as an example of the organization’s great work.

Within the picture Reed performs alongside a cast of veterans. Mamma Mia leading lady and former Mean Girl, Amanda Seyfried stars as Savannah Lynn Curtis, the love interest of Channing Tatum’s character John Tyree. Filmed in Charleston, the movie tells a story about love, friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, and the idea that life is truly bittersweet.

Reed’s rise to the big screen will be honored at the premiere event where cast, crew, and even novel author Sparks debut the motion picture. For those who want to experience the red carpet affair, you can purchase tickets to the Hippodrome Theater showing at $250 per person. Of course, you can also opt to join the herd of screaming teens to merely catch a glimpse of the rich and famous. Whether spending the evening among paparazzi or splurging on a chance to meet a celeb, the entire night is sure to be a great celebration in honor of the production and service provided by Carolina Autism.

Helpful Links

Dear John Premiere

Carolina Autism

South Carolina Autism Society

After more than 40 years I still love to surf. Amazing! Besides surfing locally I now travel to surf every year. We have been to North Carolina, Florida, California, Hawaii, Caribbean, Bahamas’, Panama and my favorite place of all to surf is Costa Rica. We travel there at least once or twice a year for the past 10 years. The place is paradise to me and to all my traveling surfer buddies.  (Surfing Costa Rica next Blog)

How to surf? You have to be able to swim well, not worry what’s in the water, get some wax and buy a nice used long board or funshape. If you can do that, you’re on your way to your Life Sport.

1^st: Learning to paddle and how to stand. 2^nd: Sitting or lying on the board waiting for your wave. 3^rd: Paddling for the wave. 4^th: Riding the wave. That’s it. Now paddle back out and do it again.

Learn to paddle on the beach. Lay the board skeg down in the sand. If you can, bury your skegs so you don’t break them off. Lay down on your belly facing the nose of the board. Chin up. Start the pretend paddling.  Paddle hard for the wave. Now stand up quickly. This is a very tricky part because everyone has a side they like to stand. One way is called a Regular Footer and the other is called a Goofy Footer. Regular Footers stand with their left foot forward, toes pointing to the ride rail side. Goofy Footers are the opposite of course. I’m a Regular footer. (All can be explained out later) Bend knee’s, arms out for balance, and your surfing. Except you’re in the sand on the beach. Practice…Practice….then get in the water.

You have to learn to sit on the board. Sounds easy, and it is, but you will see it takes practice. And you have to get in the water, outside the break, to learn. Get your butt down in the water, hold on to the rails and balance. Easy…Right! Practice and be patient. Enjoy the moment because the next step is the hard part.

Paddling for your 1^st wave is hard. 1^st you have to paddle hard to the inside while looking over your shoulder at the approaching wave. Once you feel the lift of the wave pushing you forward it’s time to stand up. This is the hardest part of surfing. Once you get to your feet, try to stay up on top of the board like you did on the beach. Don’t worry, very few people stay up long the 1^st time they try.

Riding a wave. All I can say is practice…practice…don’t give up. In fact, you will not want to stop. You know you can do it…and you will! It will change your life forever! I hope it does…It did me.

I know it would be hard to want to surf in the winter but that is my favorite times to surf. Bigger, better swells and fewer crowds. For this time of year a full wetsuit with booties, hood and gloves are all necessary if you’re going to last in the water. If not, wait till summer when it’s easy to learn and you will enjoy it more.

If you would like a private or group lesson I have one of the best hourly rates around. I have taught many people in my day, so let me know. Hope you are ready for the best time of your life! Pura Vida!

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
–John F. Kennedy

The median list price in MOUNT PLEASANT, SC 29466 for this week is $415,000. The 536 properties have
been on the market for an average of 274 days.

Days-on-market has been trending up recently but the Market Action Index and inventory levels are basically flat and not providing strong indications for the market.

For your a more detailed report please contact us and we will be happy to send you the full report.

Buildings are actually responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than cars. But simply weatherizing houses and businesses can reduce their environmental impact and lower energy bills—while creating new jobs in the process. Everyone wins.

Check out Green For All and see how you can be a part of the solution.

So for all you fellow entrepreneur's out there, this one is for you!

We know you don't have time to wait. The housing market is changing day to day. You need to know what the market is doing based on real-time data. Unlike other sources that might take months to gather market data, our reports analyze current real estate activity.

Altos Research monitors millions of properties on the market to provide the most comprehensive database of current real estate market data. So, while other data sources rely on months' old data, before letting you know the state of the market 'after the fact,' Our reports provide a clear window to what is happening in the market right now, even as we speak.

So feel free to click on the charts and you’ll see how really different they are. You can change the length of time shown, and if you mouse over the charts you’ll see exact numbers from different dates.

Go on, play with them, we know you want to!