In an attempt to shock its readers into buying newspapers, editors at The State Newspaper (Columbia, SC) fabricated a sensational headline. Wednesday’s readers saw “Home sales plunge” stretched across the front page above the fold. (If you’d like to read the article, click here.

However, immediately below the banner, the article explains, “sellers appear to be holding out for the asking price they want . . . prices rose close to 6 percent . . . for the year, however, the slide pushed Columbia’s market slightly below sales in 2006.”

If that isn’t enough to prove sensationalism, another article titled “Housing stable in Columbia area“ appeared in the paper on THE SAME DAY!

Its time for our news media to stop creating stories where there are none. Its time to stop running alarmist headlines that ’shock and awe’ readers but are not supported by facts. We all know the facts behind this so-called “Housing Slump.” After years of booming sales, markets across the country are correcting. Each local market is correcting in its own way. The South Carolina Association of Realtors is developing a response to this media nonsense, and you can be sure that we will share it with you here.

Thanks to the South Carolina Association of Realtors for their heads-up email, which was the impetus behind this blog entry.

Grab your beach chair and friends for a fun-filled day at the Endless Summer Festival, to be held on Saturday, October 27th on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach.

In its 6th year, the festival entertainment line up includes Sammy O’Banion & Mardi Gras as well as Andrew Thielen Big Band and local favorite Sea Cruz! The main stage will be located at the famous “Horseshoe” on Main Street.

There will be lots of vendors with one of a kind specialty craft items, food vendors and children’s area with carnival rides and children’s stage. The stage will feature children from our area performing music, song and dance. The festival will be from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Parking will be provided in designated parking lots. Handicap parking will be also be available behind Ducks.

Did we mention that it is absolutely FREE?

The one thing both locals and visitors don’t like about Myrtle Beach is how long it takes to drive to anywhere else! The first two hours of your trip away from the beach - or your last two hours getting to the Grand Strand - have always been slow going. Local leaders have lamented for years that we are unable to offer our permanent residents and 14 million annual visitors true interstate highway access to Myrtle Beach.

Fortunately, the movement to change this has taken a big step forward recently. I-73 has been fast-tracked by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and identified as its number one priority, and the Federal DOT has declared it number five on their list of priority roads nationwide.

When complete, Interstate 73/74 will connect Myrtle Beach with Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and all points in between. Details of the proposed route, and the impact this road will have on Myrtle Beach (and all points north) are available at www.i73.com. Please take a minute to go there and express your support!

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard all of the bad news recently about the real estate ‘bubble’ and the mortgage market crisis from our friends in the national media. But, as they say, all real estate is local. Compared to 2005, there’s no question that sales are down along the Grand Strand, but how bad is it, really? One media outlet has compared short term and long term home price trends to determine which local markets are hurting, and which are doing just fine, thank you. The results are surprising.