“Myrtle Beach has so much affordable inventory in new and existing homes and condos that you’re likely to feel like a kid in a candy store.”

Thus begins Carole Jacobs’ write-up of Myrtle Beach in this month’s edition of Where to Retire magazine.

The article quotes our very own Chris Price discussing current trends in Myrtle Beach real estate, including what retirees from New Jersey and New York are finding here - and why they’re putting down roots immediately.

Pick up this month’s Where To Retire to see the whole thing. Carole’s article is entitled, “8 Popular Spots With Home Bargains Now.”

The media are finally seeing the light.  Interspersed with this week’s real estate news is - could it be? - a glimmer of hope!

OK. First the bad news. According to Don Schunk, research economist at Coastal Carolina University, local retail sales, building permits, hotel occupancy, airport passengers and real estate sales are all down for the spring quarter (March through May).  The numbers for the summer quarter are not final yet, but appear to be flattening.

The good news?  There are signs that our economy is hitting bottom and will be ready for a turnaround in the spring.  Plus, builders have kept the brakes on new construction, and the real estate market is again showing signs of life.  “The buyers know it’s a real buyer’s market,” Schunk said. “It seems like we’re at that point where things are starting to turn around.”

What the numbers won’t show is that Myrtle Beach real estate buyer traffic has picked up even if people aren’t ready to sign a contract yet, said Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors market analyst Tom Maeser.  “It’s been a long correction, but we’re in a correcting mode right now,” Maeser said. “The good news, which is not statistically analyzed, is the amount of traffic in interested people that are out there. We’re having some pretty good traffic flows.”

We told you so.

Interviews by Jessica Foster of the Myrtle Beach Sun News

You’ve heard it before.  We are in a full-on Buyer’s Market.  Why are people so apprehensive about buying anything?  So many are just sitting on the fence, waiting for some “sign”….

Here are your signs:

1. Sellers are offering concessions and incentives to buyers in order to make their homes more attractive.

2. There are lots of homes to choose from - in every price range.

3. Interest rates are as low than they have been in years. In fact, we received a rate sheet from a major national bank just this morning and their FHA loan rate dropped .375%  (that’s a 6% drop, folks!) today!

4. If you wait for the Myrtle Beach real estate market to “get better”, you’re going to pay more by way of fewer incentives, higher interest rates and less inventory to choose from.

Savvy investors like Donald Trump and Warren Buffett love this kind of market.  This is what they wait for!  They wait for these types of conditions and then acquire as much real estate as they can get their hands on.  It’s the golden rule of finance and real estate alike - BUY LOW, SELL HIGH.

Get off the fence!  You’ll be in great company!

Horry County Fire Rescue announced yesterday that the Insurance Service Organization (ISO), whose ratings determine insurance fees, has reclassified most of Horry County’s unincorporated areas with ratings that could mean a welcome savings in insurance costs.  The change follows an ISO survey of our area’s public protection services, and the new classification better reflects the quick response and outstanding performance of our local public servants.

Many areas in the county had been classified as a 10, the most expensive insurance rating available. In most areas, that rating has dropped to a 5, which could translate into hundreds of dollars a year in insurance savings on Myrtle Beach real estate.

But, as usual, there’s a catch: before they’ll give you lower rates, your insurance carrier might require proof of the new ratings. Also, as usual, Price & Company Realty is making it a breeze for you: here’s the proof you need.

Sometimes you receive an e-mail that just lifts your spirits (no pun intended). With the media’s constant barrage of gloom and doom, it’s nice to see a company turning lemons into lemonade.

If you’re not familiar with Spirit Airlines, you should be. They offer some of the best airfares in and out of Myrtle Beach to many US cities, as well as Caribbean Islands and South American destinations. If you’d like to get more uplifting emails like the one I’ve reposted below, sign up with Spirit and fly down to Myrtle Beach. Interested in picking up a great deal on Myrtle Beach real estate while you’re here? Don’t forget to call us and ask about our travel reimbursement program!

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From: Spirit Airlines
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 6:34 PM
To: Chris Price
Subject: Spirit Airlines - Ocho Verde’s 30/30/30 Plan

By now you all know us as being the Kings of Shock Marketing with promotions like the MILF, WTF and more. These promotions are designed to be entertaining, humorous, and of course, impactful. However, our message today is very serious at the core…but you might find a bit of humor nonetheless.

Oil prices are out of control and have more than quadrupled over the past few years. There are a number of factors that have influenced this, but consumption is central to the cause and the only factor that we can control. Americans consume several times the average fuel per capita than the average person on the planet and with oil prices continuing to shoot up it has hurt us as Americans even more than the rest of the world and will cripple our economy if we don’t take action now.

The list below is what we refer to as the “Spirit 30/30/30 Plan.” If everyone begins acting on this list of 30 tips in the next 30 days, it will cut fuel consumption by 30% or more, save you thousands of dollars over the next year and will save consumers billions if we all adopt these practices. (And oh…as an added bonus, forget about that South Beach Diet… if followed properly this plan could also help you shed 30 pounds.)

We are proud to say that Spirit is already doing its part to conserve fuel as it has recently upgraded its fleet to all brand new efficient Airbus aircraft. As a result we are using about 30 percent less fuel compared to our old aircraft. This is just one of the many ways Spirit is able to offer low fares.

We challenge you to participate in Spirit’s 30/30/30 Plan by implementing as many of the following 30 steps as possible. (And we encourage you to read to the bottom… because you know Spirit, there’s sure to be an added incentive in it for you too!)

1. Carpool – sharing a ride with up to 3 other people can save thousands of dollars. Here are a few online resources to help you find a few folks to share a ride with: www.erideshare.com, www.icarpool.com, www.carpoolworld.com. If you drive a vehicle that gets just 20 mpg, you can get 80 mpg per person if you carpool with three others. Heck, some of you might make new friends… but you could lose some too if you don’t invest in breath mints.
2. Use public transportation and leave the car at home. With the money you save, splurge on the breath mints for this option as well…and share them when necessary.
3. Flying Spirit not only can save you 30%* or more compared to others, we use up to 30% less fuel than many other carriers using older technology aircraft. Still bring the breath mints if you like…but stay away from chewing gum onboard – it’s hard to clean up.
4. Walk or ride a bicycle for those short hops. You’ll save gas, you won’t have to hunt for a parking spot and it will help you get that buff beach bod you’ve always wanted just in time for summer!
5. Pay your bills online and get off the junk mail lists. Snail mail not only needlessly wastes fuel (and paper), it requires you to store worthless information in your brain like what stamp prices are these days.
6. Turn up your air conditioning a few degrees and encourage your workplace to do the same. With that new figure you’ll have from walking you can wear something skimpy and you’ll feel just as cool.
7. Drink tap water instead of buying plastic bottled water. Get a filter to improve the taste or quality. But drink plenty of water, it can improve your health and might assist in even further toning up that new bod. By now, you should be well on the way to dropping those pounds.
8. Did you know many people waste over 30% of their food? All of that food you throw out not only wastes money, but think about the tractors that burned fuel to farm it, the trucks that burned fuel to get it to the store, and the energy used for processing and packaging. Then you throw out this waste and a garbage truck burns fuel to haul it away. Plan out your meals in advance and consider planting a garden. It’s a great way to tan your new fit body!
9. Keep your car tuned up, change your car’s air filter, regular oil changes, etc. You get the picture – you’re car will be as stylin’ as you. Treat your car like your first goldfish, love it as much as you can and feed it constantly, until, finally, it dies.
10. If you only get 15 mpg and you don’t have a practical carpooling option, consider getting one of the many vehicles that get 30 mpg or more. If you drive 15,000 miles a year you need 1,000 gallons of gas a year. At 15 mpg and $4 per gallon for gas you will spend over $4,000 a year just at the pump! Consider the fact that if you start getting 30 mpg with a new vehicle, the $167 a month you’ll save on gas will put a major dent in that new car payment. Since you’re going to be in shape and look great, why not show it off in a new car.
11. Instead of getting a new car, get a scooter. You could get 80 mpg or more, parking is easier and it’s still a decent way to show off that new body. And who knows, you could just start a new breed of consumption conscious scooter gangs!
12. Improve your gas mileage by more than 10% by not speeding. Just think of the money you’ll save when you stop getting those speeding tickets. It would more than cover the costs of having those teeth whitened, which you’ll need to go along with your new bod. Or you could use the extra cash to have hot flames painted down the side of your 80 mpg scooter.
13. Get the excess junk out of your trunk. OK we already know you’re working on getting your hind end in shape, but seriously, we’re talking about all the junk in your car’s trunk here. Stop lugging around stuff you don’t need.
14. Convince your boss that you need to do your part in conserving fuel and saving the environment by working virtually. This could cut your commuting gas consumption by 100% and the time you save from not driving will allow you to work even more…or perhaps frees up the time needed to CALL YOUR MOTHER!
15. With all the gas money you’ll be saving, go buy new compact fluorescent bulbs for your house. They may cost a little more, but they can cut your electricity usage by 80% and depending on your situation, can cut your bill (and energy consumption) by 5%. Just don’t forget to turn them off when you don’t need them. And given your new figure, you may find that you want to turn down the lights more often. (Don’t forget the breath mints.)
16. Get rid of that gasoline powered mower and replace it with a self-powered reel mower. They are inexpensive and you won’t have to buy gas for it. Plus, it’s just another way to tone up and tan that new you.
17. Stop air leaks in your home (we’re not talking about your husband’s hot air here) and cut down your AC drain. There are lots of tips online that will help you find leaks and fix them. Heating and cooling is most likely your biggest use of energy in your home, so ensure you are using it efficiently.
18. Join Spirit’s $9 Fare Club. In addition to getting an unbeatable deal on that much needed – and well deserved – getaway, it definitely makes that new fuel efficient set of wheels within reach.
19. Your hot water heater is probably the second biggest consumer of energy at home. Check the setting and you can probably lower the temperature. You’ll use less water anyway given your new body will probably be quicker to wash.
20. Turn off power strips and unplug electronics when not in use. Stand-by power can account for as much as 20% of home energy use. This simple step could save you hundreds per year. Now you’ll have enough extra cash for that full body wax, which will also cut down on your shower time since you won’t have to shave every day.
21. Make sure your attic is properly air sealed and insulated. This could save you hundreds per year. And who knows what treasures you’ll find up there that you could sell on eBay.
22. Install a programmable thermostat and save $100 a year. A variety of choices are available at the FREE SPIRIT Mall at mall.spiritair.com. Shop in the “Green Living” category. Not only will you find the perfect programmable thermostat and other items needed to carry out the Spirit 30/30/30 Plan, but you’ll also earn FREE SPIRIT miles.
23. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead and save $150/year.
24. Get a home energy audit and save up to 30% on energy bills. Pay for it with your FREE SPIRIT MasterCard. What? You don’t have one yet? Click here and you’ll be on your way to the gift of free travel for taking step 22 to conserve energy.
25. Keeping your tires properly inflated saves on fuel economy and lengthens the life of your tires. If the nearly 250 million registered passenger vehicles in the U.S. were only 7% underinflated and brought their tires up to the specified level, together they would save about $23 billion per year. Trust me…your tires will thank you. Not only are they getting the tender loving care they deserve, but they appreciate that you have less junk in your trunk and you’re new trim self is less of a strain on them.
26. Choose Energy Star appliances, air conditioner, water heater and windows. This could save you hundreds of dollars each year. Put the money saved toward that plastic surgery you’ve been putting off.
27. See if your local electric utility has Smart Meters available in your area. Smart Meters allow you to communicate in real time with your provider about your electricity usage and helps you save money by shifting some of your consumption to off-peak periods.
28. Plan your summer vacation to the Caribbean with Spirit. If you join our $9 Fare Club (click here), an out-of-town trip on Spirit is cheaper than paying for the gas to drive up the road for a getaway. (OK…so we repeated the $9 Fare Club, but what can we say….this is our promotion and the bottom line is that you owe it to yourself to at least check it out. Why wouldn’t you want to be among the elite that receive $9 fares?)
29. Take cold showers – you’ll probably need them anyway…yes, it’s that hot bod thing again.
30. Tell at least 30 other people about the “Spirit 30/30/30 Plan” in the next 30 minutes by forwarding this e-mail to everyone you know. As a token of our appreciation for your help (told you there would be an added incentive in it for you) we have given you a coupon for $30 off our everyday low fares***. Simply enter “GREEN” in the discount box at www.spiritair.com. And the savings don’t stop there – visit spiritair.com to take advantage of our incredible sale with fares from $30 each way.**

This is a serious call to action for Americans. Spirit is calling on all Americans to do their part in reducing fuel consumption by at least 30%. Simply start implementing as many of these 30 simple tips as possible during the next 30 days and together we can save billions.

Please note: if you already have a perfect body and are among the few who don’t suffer from halitosis, congratulations – you’re in a very elite club. If you already have a perfect body, minty fresh breath AND you have already done everything possible to consume less energy, at least we gave you $30 off*** and $30 fares**. Of course, feel free to forward this to others who might need some pointers. Just think…with all of our new fit bods, you’ll be helping Spirit save even more on fuel burn…and of course we will pass these savings along to you with even lower ultra low fares.

Sorry, we made you read more than normal to get your deal. See you onboard! Don’t forget the mints!

Regards,

Ocho Verde
Chief Conservation Officer
Spirit Airlines

PS. Don’t print this or you’ll waste energy and paper!