Much of Columbia’s history is wrapped around the railroad.  In the early days, it was the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens (C.N. &L.) railroad that helped to make Irmo a town.  It was because the trains needed a refueling stop that Irmo came into existence.  In Columbia, one can see evidence of how the railroad helped shape a growing city. Read the rest…

Home sweet home – that is, until it hits the market.  Then your beloved property becomes just another piece of inventory.  Unfortunately for sellers, your home isn’t as special to buyers as it is to you.  With competition at its peak this time of year, there are many properties vying for the buyer’s attention. Read the rest…

As a follow-up to yesterday’s posting on things to do in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, I thought I’d show you the beauty of Lake Murray.  Since it is not within the downtown city limits, the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau won’t show you the lake.  It borders parts of Columbia, Chapin, Lexington, Irmo, Ballentine, Chapin and even Prosperity, SC.

Lake Murray, named after the New York architect who designed the dam, was built in 1929-1930.  It has nearly 600 miles of shoreline and is a 50,000 acre lake.  Not a small pond by any stretch of the imagination!  Read the rest…

Looking for something new to do? Thinking of making the move to Columbia, South Carolina and don’t know what we have to offer? This short video gives a sampling of our downtown area. Read the rest…

I thought that as a tribute to the hard work it takes to put together all of the Lake Murray July 4th celebrations, I’d feature them today. For those of you not from the area, it might be an interesting glimpse into how we celebrate our nation’s independence. From a boat parade to a symphony and a grand fireworks show over the lake as a finale, it’s a great time for all who attend or participate. Read the rest…

Usually, I’ll focus on a particular community and tell you about the builders and the homes contained within.  However, today I’m going in the opposite direction.  Let’s talk about Mungo Homes, the area’s largest builder and recipient of the National Housing Quality Build Award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in 2008.  The Mungo family has been building in Columbia, South Carolina since 1954 and has played a key role in developing many well-known subdivisions as Riverwalk, Whitehall, Ascot, Harbison, Brookhaven, Vintners Wood, Audubon Oaks, Canal Side, Rosewood Hills and many, many more.

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The thought of lounging at the community pool, taking part of resident functions and not having a care in the world about mowing the grass or exterior maintenance are definitely what attract buyers to condo or townhome communities.  However, there are some questions you MUST get the answer to before making that offer to purchase.  Before you buy, contact the board with the following questions. In the process, you’ll learn how responsive — and organized — its members are. You’ll also be alerted to potential problems with the property. Read the rest…

It’s guaranteed to be hectic right before closing, but you should always make time for a final walk-through. Your goal is to make sure that your home is in the same condition you expected it would be. Read the rest…

With a competitive marketplace, there has never been a better time to be a home buyer.  Many houses that were once classified as “wishful thinking” are now on the high end of affordability.  Should a buyer stretch their budget and sacrifice everything just to get that dream home? Read the rest…

For a fun twist on having a “dog” and a beer at the ballpark, the Columbia Blowfish Baseball team is inviting fans to bring their own dogs.  “Bark to the Park” will be taking place on July 6th, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. at Capital City Stadium.  The Blowfish will be playing the Florence Redwolves.

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