Looking to protect the state’s rural scenery from development, Gov. Mark Sanford said Monday he intends to more than quadruple the funds directed to the S.C. Conservation Land Bank.
The bank purchases land or conservation easements. Last year, the state funneled $15 million to the bank. This year, Sanford wants to provide $65 million.
But a tight state budget is likely to give rise to suggestions for other ways to spend the money. Rep. Annette Young, R-Summerville, said roadway funding should take priority, for example.
“I think we’re going to be short (in the budget), so (an additional) $50 million is a bit much for this bank,” said Young, vice chairwoman of the House Ways and Means committee. “I support the conservation bank, but we have other needs.”
The additional funding, Sanford said, would be a one-year increase only and that an anticipated $230 million in new state revenues would cover the cost.
“With the growth that’s going to be coming our way in the next 10 years, now is the time to make sure our natural resources are protected,” said Sanford, a Sullivan’s Island Republican.
By 2020, the Palmetto State’s population could increase by 1 million, the governor said, and the state already converts nearly 200 acres of timber and agricultural land daily for urban and suburban uses.
“A key part of our quality of life and our competitive advantage with respect to other states lies in preserving the way South Carolina looks and feels as a state,” Sanford said.
Since first receiving funds in 2004, the bank has spent $70.74 million to preserve 134,171 acres of land, including forests, wetlands, farmland, historical land and urban parks.
The program is entirely voluntary. Landowners who wish to participate may sell land or enter into a binding conservation easement that retains the land’s original purpose.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Hitwise Ranks REALTOR.com as Top Real Estate Search Term
Hitwise, a leading online competitive intelligence service, ranked REALTOR.com as the number one search term used in the real estate industry category during the month of November (1). REALTOR.com accounted for 1.56% of all searches on the Internet in the real estate category, far exceeding the next closest ranking term that captured .91% of all searches in November. Zillow.com and Zillow ranked eight and ninth respectively with .34% and .33% of all real estate searches.
"REALTOR.com continues to be top of mind with consumers searching online for real estate because we deliver the largest online collection of listings complemented with the most comprehensive and freshest data available on the Internet," said Lorna Borenstein, president of Move, Inc. "As the leader in online real estate, we're committed to providing the tools consumers need and want as they pursue the American dream of home ownership.
www.843Realtor.com
"REALTOR.com continues to be top of mind with consumers searching online for real estate because we deliver the largest online collection of listings complemented with the most comprehensive and freshest data available on the Internet," said Lorna Borenstein, president of Move, Inc. "As the leader in online real estate, we're committed to providing the tools consumers need and want as they pursue the American dream of home ownership.
www.843Realtor.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates
The Federal Reserve has cut short-term interest rates again. The goals of this action are to encourage consumers to borrow, but even more important, to induce banks to lend.
The cut in the federal funds rate is aimed at stimulating demand among consumers and businesses. The lower federal funds rate means that the prime rate will fall a quarter point, to 7.25 percent. Consumer interest rates based on the prime rate -- mainly home equity lines of credit and most variable-rate credit cards -- will fall a quarter-point in coming weeks.
www.843Realtor.com
The cut in the federal funds rate is aimed at stimulating demand among consumers and businesses. The lower federal funds rate means that the prime rate will fall a quarter point, to 7.25 percent. Consumer interest rates based on the prime rate -- mainly home equity lines of credit and most variable-rate credit cards -- will fall a quarter-point in coming weeks.
www.843Realtor.com
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Fed expected to have rate cut today
The U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates on Tuesday by at least a quarter-percentage point to fortify the economy against a credit crunch and housing slump that some economists fear could bring a recession.
www.843Realtor.com
www.843Realtor.com
(63%) of Americans currently have a pet
Whether it’s a Persian or a Papillion, Fido or Fluffy, pet owners believe their pets are members of their family. Almost nine in 10 (88%) pet owners say their pet is a member of their family with just seven percent saying no. Women are more likely than men to believe this (93% versus 84%). Dog owners are slightly more likely (93%) than cat owners (89%) to consider their pets members of their family.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,455 adults surveyed online between November 7 and 13, 2007 by Harris Interactive®.
Who Has a Pet and What Type Do They Have?
Just under two-thirds (63%) of Americans currently have a pet. Certain groups are more likely to have pets than others. Women are more likely then men (68% versus 57%) and Gen Xers (those aged 31-42) and Baby Boomers (those aged 43-61) are more likely (71% and 67% respectively) to have pets then the younger and older generations. Regionally, those in the Midwest are most likely (67%) to have one while those in the East are least likely (58%) to have a pet. Looking at race and ethnicity, 67% of Whites and 68% of Hispanics have a pet compared to just 35% of African Americans.
In terms of education, those who have more education are less likely to have a pet, as just over half (54%) of those with a post-graduate education have a pet as do 57% of those with a college education. Interestingly, the reverse is true with income. Six in ten of those who earn under $35,000 and 56% of those earning $35,000 to $49,999 have a pet compared with two-thirds (67%) of those earning $50,000 to $74,999 and 68% of those earning $75,000 or more.
Dog people outnumber cat people among U.S. pet owners. Seven in 10 pet owners have a dog compared to just over half (52%) who have a cat. One in six (15%) have fish while seven percent have a bird and 12% have some other type of pet. Baby Boomers are more likely to have a dog (74%) while Gen Xers are more likely to have fish (21%).
Just over one-third (35%) of pet owners have one pet while one-quarter (25%) have two. Lesser numbers have three (13%), four (7%) and five (6%) while 13% of pet owners have six or more pets. Mature pet owners (those aged 62 and older) are more likely to just have one pet (42%) while Gen Xers are more likely to have three or more pets.
What People Do with Their Pets
If pets are members of the family, then they are entitled to certain things and pet owners make sure their pets get these things. Over two-thirds (69%) of pet owners let their pets sleep in the bed with them, with women more likely then men to share their bed with their pet (72% versus 64%). Gen Xers are also more likely to share their bed as almost three-quarters (74%) let their pet sleep with them. Also, cats are more likely to get on the bed then dogs (78% versus 70%).
Pet owners are also present buyers. Almost two-thirds (65%) have bought their pet a holiday present and over one-third (37%) have bought their pet a birthday present. Dogs get presents more than cats do. Seven in ten (71%) of dog owners have bought their pet a holiday present compared to 63% of cat owners. The same is true for birthday presents as 42% of dog owners have gotten a present for their pet compared to one-third (33%) of cat owners.
Further down on the list of what people do for their pets is cooking especially for them (23% of pet owners have done so), dressing them in some type of clothing (18%) and being taken to work (10%). Cooking for your pet is something one does as they get older as three in ten (31%) of Mature pet owners have cooked especially for their pet compared to just 14% of Echo Boomers (those aged 18-30) who have pets. While dogs may get more presents, cats may get the last laugh. Only 14% of cat owners have dressed their pet in some type of clothing compared to almost one-quarter (23%) of dog owners.
www.843Realtor.com
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,455 adults surveyed online between November 7 and 13, 2007 by Harris Interactive®.
Who Has a Pet and What Type Do They Have?
Just under two-thirds (63%) of Americans currently have a pet. Certain groups are more likely to have pets than others. Women are more likely then men (68% versus 57%) and Gen Xers (those aged 31-42) and Baby Boomers (those aged 43-61) are more likely (71% and 67% respectively) to have pets then the younger and older generations. Regionally, those in the Midwest are most likely (67%) to have one while those in the East are least likely (58%) to have a pet. Looking at race and ethnicity, 67% of Whites and 68% of Hispanics have a pet compared to just 35% of African Americans.
In terms of education, those who have more education are less likely to have a pet, as just over half (54%) of those with a post-graduate education have a pet as do 57% of those with a college education. Interestingly, the reverse is true with income. Six in ten of those who earn under $35,000 and 56% of those earning $35,000 to $49,999 have a pet compared with two-thirds (67%) of those earning $50,000 to $74,999 and 68% of those earning $75,000 or more.
Dog people outnumber cat people among U.S. pet owners. Seven in 10 pet owners have a dog compared to just over half (52%) who have a cat. One in six (15%) have fish while seven percent have a bird and 12% have some other type of pet. Baby Boomers are more likely to have a dog (74%) while Gen Xers are more likely to have fish (21%).
Just over one-third (35%) of pet owners have one pet while one-quarter (25%) have two. Lesser numbers have three (13%), four (7%) and five (6%) while 13% of pet owners have six or more pets. Mature pet owners (those aged 62 and older) are more likely to just have one pet (42%) while Gen Xers are more likely to have three or more pets.
What People Do with Their Pets
If pets are members of the family, then they are entitled to certain things and pet owners make sure their pets get these things. Over two-thirds (69%) of pet owners let their pets sleep in the bed with them, with women more likely then men to share their bed with their pet (72% versus 64%). Gen Xers are also more likely to share their bed as almost three-quarters (74%) let their pet sleep with them. Also, cats are more likely to get on the bed then dogs (78% versus 70%).
Pet owners are also present buyers. Almost two-thirds (65%) have bought their pet a holiday present and over one-third (37%) have bought their pet a birthday present. Dogs get presents more than cats do. Seven in ten (71%) of dog owners have bought their pet a holiday present compared to 63% of cat owners. The same is true for birthday presents as 42% of dog owners have gotten a present for their pet compared to one-third (33%) of cat owners.
Further down on the list of what people do for their pets is cooking especially for them (23% of pet owners have done so), dressing them in some type of clothing (18%) and being taken to work (10%). Cooking for your pet is something one does as they get older as three in ten (31%) of Mature pet owners have cooked especially for their pet compared to just 14% of Echo Boomers (those aged 18-30) who have pets. While dogs may get more presents, cats may get the last laugh. Only 14% of cat owners have dressed their pet in some type of clothing compared to almost one-quarter (23%) of dog owners.
www.843Realtor.com
Monday, December 10, 2007
Realtors Market forecast sales will rise slightly in 2008
The revised monthly forecast from the National Association of Realtors, which followed nine straight months of downward revisions, calls for U.S. existing home sales to fall 12.5 percent this year to 5.67 million — the lowest level since 2002. Last month, the association predicted 5.66 million existing homes would be sold this year, down from 6.48 million last year.
The Realtors' group also forecast sales will rise slightly in 2008 to 5.7 million, up from last month's prediction of 5.69 million.
Nevertheless, the Realtors group's chief economist, Lawrence Yun, gave a positive outlook for job growth and the replacement of subprime lenders to borrowers with weak credit with government-backed loans as reasons for the improved outlook."Despite over-exaggerated negative coverage on the housing conditions, many local markets are actually seeing price increases," Yun said at a press briefing. "Mortgage availability is improving."
While Yun acknowledged that housing prices soared relative to buyers' availability to afford homes in places like Miami and San Diego, he said housing "remains affordable in vast parts of the country" — particularly in the Midwest.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
AVX knew of TCE spread in 2000
Firm purchased site that tested positive for chemical in 1998
Electronics manufacturer AVX Corp., a suspected source of groundwater contamination in a Myrtle Beach neighborhood, knew since at least 2000 that toxic chemicals had migrated from its 17th Avenue South facility to an adjoining property, according to state documents.
Environmental tests two years earlier confirmed trichloroethylene, an industrial degreaser, had moved through groundwater from AVX to the adjacent Myrtle Cinema 10 site at 1804 S. Kings Highway, according to documents filed with the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control.
AVX bought the 10.7-acre cinema site in 2000 for $4 million, according to Horry County property records.
The theater has been torn down and the property is now vacant.
Carol Minsk, a geologist with DHEC who is overseeing groundwater cleanup at AVX and nearby properties, said it isn't clear whether the manufacturer received copies of the 1998 test results on the cinema site.
At the latest, AVX would have known about the contamination when it bought the property, she said.
That is because state law requires disclosure of environmental hazards when property is sold.
The deed for that property does not mention any environmental contamination or restrictions.
It is possible the disclosure was made in documents that weren't filed with the county.
The only restriction in the deed was that AVX could not use the site for a movie theater because that would have competed with other Carmike theaters in the area.
AVX said at the time it wanted the property for storage and office space.
The manufacturer did not notify Myrtle Beach officials about the contamination when it asked the city to rezone the property in 2000, according to city spokesman Mark Kruea.
It is not clear whether the contamination played a role in AVX buying the land.
www.843Realtor.com
Electronics manufacturer AVX Corp., a suspected source of groundwater contamination in a Myrtle Beach neighborhood, knew since at least 2000 that toxic chemicals had migrated from its 17th Avenue South facility to an adjoining property, according to state documents.
Environmental tests two years earlier confirmed trichloroethylene, an industrial degreaser, had moved through groundwater from AVX to the adjacent Myrtle Cinema 10 site at 1804 S. Kings Highway, according to documents filed with the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control.
AVX bought the 10.7-acre cinema site in 2000 for $4 million, according to Horry County property records.
The theater has been torn down and the property is now vacant.
Carol Minsk, a geologist with DHEC who is overseeing groundwater cleanup at AVX and nearby properties, said it isn't clear whether the manufacturer received copies of the 1998 test results on the cinema site.
At the latest, AVX would have known about the contamination when it bought the property, she said.
That is because state law requires disclosure of environmental hazards when property is sold.
The deed for that property does not mention any environmental contamination or restrictions.
It is possible the disclosure was made in documents that weren't filed with the county.
The only restriction in the deed was that AVX could not use the site for a movie theater because that would have competed with other Carmike theaters in the area.
AVX said at the time it wanted the property for storage and office space.
The manufacturer did not notify Myrtle Beach officials about the contamination when it asked the city to rezone the property in 2000, according to city spokesman Mark Kruea.
It is not clear whether the contamination played a role in AVX buying the land.
www.843Realtor.com
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