JL's Columbia SC Real Estate Blog: February 2010

 I don't know a single person that has started any business with failing as a large part of their plan. In fact, everyone who has ever started any business has planned the exact opposite. They have planned to succeed and most of them started out with the hopes that they and their business would be wildly successful.

 Unfortunately not all of them are and in the greater scheme of things you are more likely to fall flat on your face than you are to become the next great success story. However, if you fear laying it on the line and throwing all your chips on the table, then chances are you'll never see that wild success that you dream of. At some point you will have to truly take a leap of faith and stop holding back. You have to admire the all or nothing people that have no fear of throwing away the training wheels and running headfirst into the fight.

 Some of the most successful people I have ever known were also some of the largest risk takers I had ever met. In no way, shape, or form do I believe this was by coincidence. If you want to be successful in this life you have to be willing to take the risks that will help you get to where you want to be. Those who create great success usually only do so because they were willing to risk a great failure in the process.

 Not everything you try will work out for you, but chances are you will never know what would or would not work until you are willing to try. Yes, you could fall flat on your face, but you did that much more than you remember when you were learning to walk. You could fall flat, or you could achieve something great, but until you are willing to take the risk, you will never know. And isn't the curiosity killing you?

Lake Carolina in Columbia, SC

 To the left is the wonderful lake located in the center of the Lake Carolina community in Columbia, SC. Just off of Hardscrabble Road in Northeast Columbia, you'll find one of the Columbia areas most desired communities. With anything from starter homes to million dollar homes, Lake Carolina has something for everyone.

 Walking trails, a dog park, a wide variety of home styles, and well lite sidewalks await you in this beautiful development. A ton of community events, such as a weekly farmer's market in the Summer, a town center, oyster raosts, a triathlon, and many others also ensure an exciting time in your new home.

 So if you're looking for a new home in Columbia, SC then you will certainly want to take a close look at Lake Carolina and all it has to offer.

Winnsboro, SC Museum

 If you find yourself in the Winnsboro, SC area and you're a history buff like me, then you'll probably like to visit the Winnsboro, SC Museum. Winnsboro, SC is located about 30 minutes outside of Columbia, SC and is easily reached from both I-77 and I-20.

 The Winnsboro, SC Museum itself is found right on Main Street and can't be missed. The building itself is a part of the history of Winnsboro and staged within it's red brick walls, you'll find tons more history about this small town.

 So if you're looking to make a day trip from Columbia, or you're in the Winnsboro area, the check out the museum. They have some wonderful standard exhibits and change out special exhibits on a regular basis.

Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC

 Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Columbia, SC is an excellent place to spend the day. Whether it's just you or the whole family, the zoo can be fun for everyone. Located just off of I-26, Riverbanks Zoo is easily reached from all areas of Columbia, SC and easy for visitors from out of town to find.

 Featured in the center of the zoo is the aquarium, which is one of favorite areas. With tons of exhibits from reptiles and amphibians and of course spectacular water creatures from all across the ocean. The variety of colorful species of sea animals will certainly win you over.

 So if you find yourself in the Columbia, SC area and you're looking for something to do, I suggest making a visit to Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. You'll be glad you did.

 Like everyone else in the world, I too wish I could have it all. The truth of the matter is that it just doesn't work that way most of the time. So if you are planning on selling your current home and buying new home, you have to be aware of the fact that you can't buy low and sell high at the same time.

 If you are planning to put your home on the market in the hopes of buying a larger home at a reduced price,you have to be willing to accept that the house you sell will be at a reduced price as well. It's just way things work and if you think about it for a moment then it makes perfect sense.

 The good news is that it usually balances out pretty well. In Columbia, SC the high end market is the market that's slow and has the most reductions. So what you give up in the sell of your current house you more than make up in the purchase of your new home. You may have to sell your house for $5,000 less, but you can get a new home for $20,000 less than you would have been able to at the height of the market.

 The best thing to do is take a close look at the market, price your house right, and do the math. You may give up a little on one, but you can really gain on the other.

  It's rare that you will find me not listening to music. The fact of the matter is that as long as I can remember I have loved all kinds. I even play guitar myself, mostly oldies like Bob Dylan, but I also dabble in a little more modern tunes.

 Few of us can say that we haven't been touched by the gift of music in one way or another in our lives. Music can move us in so many ways and evoke thoughts and emotions like few other forms of art.

 Almost everyone has a favorite radio station, and if are like me, that station is local. Mine is WXRY right here in downtown Columbia, SC. They play a mix of music, but mostly Alternative and that appeals to me.

 Now Congress has been nice enough to propose a radio performance tax that would tax radio stations for playing music. This proposed tax would be direct attack on the finances of local radio stations my favorite and I'm not sure how the little guys would manage to stay afloat should this Bill pass Congress.

 What do I suggest, leave the music alone and let it be free my friends. For years radio stations have played music for free much to the delight of listeners and music fans from all walks of life. And now I am threatened with static from my speakers as a result of the bankruptcy of those that bestow these musical miracles upon us.

 To find out more to get involved, Please visit www.noperformancetax.org and find out how you can tell Congress to leave my music alone.

  You may also want to visit these great sites for more Columbia, SC news, events, and information.   SCiway.net Columbiacvb.com SC.edu

 As I wrote in my last post, this weekend I got make my very first snowman. As the snow continued into the night, he actually managed to get a little larger, but I think in the end that created his downfall.

 A couple of time throughout the evening, I would walk out into the cul de sac where he stood and see that he had started to lean to one side or the other. I would push him back straight and try to get him settled back in place. I must have repeated that process at least 4 times before I finally had to tell him that he was on his own.

 The next morning I walked out around 6 am to find that the night was more than he could bare. I know he fought the good fight, but in the end wind and snow proved to be more than he could bare.

 After repeatedly hearing from friends up North about their downfalls of the white stuff, the other night, we actually had some right here in Columbia. I heard the reports that we would see 4 to 5 inches, but in all honesty I figured it wouldn't really happen. The fact of the matter is, to say snow is rare here in Columbia is a bit of an understatement.

 But none the less, while out previewing communities, sure enough I started seeing flurries. I still didn't think we would see any accumulation, but later that evening, the snow started to pile up. Of course, for you guys further North, 4 or 5 inces may not seem like a lot but for us that's A LOT.

 I quickly became aware that there would be no bread or milk within a 50 mile radius of my home. At that point in knew there was only one thing that was sensible to do at the time. I called a neighbor from New Jersey to have a snowball fight and teach me how to make a snowman.

 So, with the snow steady falling and bundled up in an outfit that made me resemble the Michelin Man, I set out to make my first snowman. Yes, at 29 I made my first snowman, but seriously, I'm from Columbia. How often do you think I have had enough snow around to make a snowman?

 I'll be the first to admit that he's not the most impressive guy in the world, but I was happy with him just the same. And with my friend there to coach me on the proper method of rolling a snowball repeatedly across the yard until it got larger, I at least had a fighting chance of making things come out right.

 All and all we had a lot of fun and my dog even got in on the act. Of course it will likely be a while before I get a chance to increase my experience in making snowmen, but when the time comes I will be prepared. As for now, we seem to have thawed out and most of our snow here in Columbia has gone away.