Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela

All I can say is:  God has a sense of humor! 

I am the most "improvisational" person I know.  They have other words for people like me:  Bohemian lifestyle, leader, non-conformist, etc.  I've always just followed my own heart, regardless of how "popular" that route was.  It never bothered me to go against the grain.

I fought governmental interests on ecological issues long before "Green" became a popular notion.  I gave birth at home long before there was a home birthing movement.  I created my own businesses so I wouldn't have to answer to anyone. 

My kids are both conformists.  Major conformists!  They have both adopted popular dogma and have really run with it.  I am proud of them!  They are joyous and wonderful and very popular.  I just don't understand what happened:  how could a mother like me have kids like them?  Please enlighten me here!

My son is a Marine officer.  He graduated magna cum laude from The Citadel and was part of that extraordinary elite - the Summerall Guard.  He is married to his college sweetheart and is proudly serving our country.  He is super conservative (as you have probably guessed it, I am "somewhat" liberal).

My daughter has embraced religion.  She is very active in her church (different from mine - different religion altogether!!!).  She has three bibles, one of which she carries with her at all times.  Other kids have less optimal discretionary time activities; she studies the bible...  I was hoping that she would attend a liberal college; she wants to go to a Christian college.

I'm not complaining here.  My kids are truly wonderful!  I am happy to see them so joyous and productive.  They have found their niche, and they are fulfilled and satisfied.  They have NONE of my restlessness and quest for answers.  I just want to know what happened here.  Do kids always go in the opposite direction from their parents?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                      

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OK, Gary, you won again!  You tied with Doug, John and Debbie.   

I posted two separate blogs asking members to predict when AR will turn 100,000 points -

99,433... When Will Active Rain be 100,000 Members Strong? Make Your Predictions Here:

One blog had 32 comments; the other one had only 18.   

AR turned 100,000 members strong on Friday, July 25Th and the four of you predicted the date of that event correctly.  We'll just have to refer to the four of you as "The Intuitives" from now on...

Here are   

The AR INTUITIVES:   

Gary Woltal    http://activerain.com/woltal

  Douglas Cartwright       http://activerain.com/gqdougnj

John Novak    http://activerain.com/jnovak

                           Debbie Malone      http://activerain.com/carpediem

In my blog I suggested 100,000 points as remuneration for predicting correctly.  What do you say AR?  100,000 split four ways is 25,000 each.  The way I see it...  It might give Gary a few days off...

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                     Join The Optimist Group!

Sara is inches away from attaining her goal.  She is turning 50 today and she  is only 1,800 points away from 50,000 points.   Her goal was to achieve the 50,000 points status by her 50^th Birthday.  She is so-o-o close, and yet no cigar, unless she posts 9 more blogs TODAY. 

I will send her a blog I was going to post later tonight, so she can post it under her number.  I'll send her the pictures for it too.  If we all send her one blog, she'll reach her goal. 

What do you say?  Let's help Sara achieve her goal!

Happy Birthday Sara!  The Optimist Group sends you a collective Happy Birthday!   Yes, you will make your goal tonight! 

Your Optimist Group Friends                                       

*Please read the comments below to see how a little help from friends goes a long way...   Never underestimate The Power of ONE! 

Congratulations ActiveRain.com for your huge accomplishment!   We are now over 100,000 members strong.  

Matt and Jonathan, congratulations!  2008 has been a stellar year.   Thank you for a fine organization!  You are true visionaries!  

Here is an interesting article I found about our organization on Mashable.com.  I always like knowing how things work, don't you?

January 21, 2008

Social network for real estate professionals ActiveRain has just raised $2.75 million in financing from HouseValues , which is another company that's involved in the real estate market. According the VentureBeat , "The site has been around for about two and a half years, but was thus far bootstrapped. Co-founders Matt Heaton and Jonathan Washburn report on the company blog that they will retain a majority share and control over the company."

While ActiveRain may not be the most appealing based on its aesthetics, it's clear that the company is hoping to provide a great deal of value by way of functionality. The network enables real estate professionals to create their own personal web pages within the ActiveRain network, for self-promotional purposes. Users can place their contact information, website links, video and image content on these pages, and it looks like there are also options to provide things like click-to-call tools on their profiles as well. Other tools take advantage of things that worked like LinkdIn, like referrals and a Q&A session.

HouseValues, the company that has invested in ActiveRain, looks to be an online resource for home values in various regions of the country. Perhaps HouseValues is looking to find a way to become more involved with the social networking realm of real estate? There are several other networks out there, even some from larger media companies like Scripps, that have recently been making moves to become more integrated with online tools-most of these moves revolve around the media aspects that are now available for showing home on the web.

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                      Join The Optimist Group!

My goal was to garner 100,000 points by the time Active Rain touched the magic number of 100,000 members. 

AR finally achieved the 100,000 member status and I have 108,732 points!  Done!

The second part of my goal was to have at least 100 members in the Optimist Group.  We now have 140 members.  Done!

The third part of my goal was to be in the top 100 bloggers.  I am two subscriptions away from achieving that goal... which means:  NOT Done!

The day is not over yet...  If you like reading my posts, please subscribe to my blog and help me reach my goal! 

Thank you for a wonderful journey! 

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

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Gratitude is so extraordinarily important in ANY relationship.   Showing your appreciation goes a long way...  Just leaving a card on the table with a heartfelt message of appreciation goes a long way.  I use this a lot with all my relationships.  I leave my assistant an appreciation card with a nice bonus; I do the same for my agents.  My kids get them too. 

Spontaneous notes of affection and appreciation, along with simple, sweet gifts, go a very long way....  Most keep those cards forever.  They are THAT important!  I once found my son's stash of appreciation cards I had given him.  They were in the box with his most treasured possessions... 

By the way, the gifts can be so simple and most of all very personal: a cute little teddy bear (my ex boyfriend still has that on his desk), a framed picture of the two of you together taken on a magical evening, a lovely flower (yes, one!). 

Appreciation cards work especially well when the other person needs a "pick-me upper".  They are magical at any time, of course, but they are extremely potent when the other person is not at their best.  It tells them:  "I know who you are and I appreciate you!"

Showing gratitude and appreciation can be done in so many different ways: from surprising your loved ones with a special dinner in the middle of the week, to flowers sent at the office for absolutely no reason other than to say "I love you!", to little love notes left in a coat pocket.  Go ahead, while this is still fresh, write someone who deserves it an appreciation note right now!  You will be much surprised by the effects of this spontaneous show of affection! 

LIFE'S SHORT...  LIVE IT WELL!                               

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Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

Photobucket.com is the site a lot of the top bloggers here on AR seem to be using for their illustrations and pictures.  It's free; you just have to create your profile.

Playing around in "The Bucket", I noticed several "moving pictures" and started tooling around with them.  

Here is how you can integrate the moving pictures into your blogs.  Copy and paste the code for the desired picture into the HTML portion of your blog - when you post it for the first time, or when you edit it, it's the tab at the upper, left side of your entry screen, right behind the tab labeled "WYSIWYG".  

You apparently have to save the blog by inserting it, then go back into the edit mode and copy and paste your text beside the moving picture.

I am not a "techie", but I just figured it out and wanted to share.  Many of you may know how to do it already.  If so, please forgive my enthusiasm!  For the rest of you, have fun!  I know I will!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                                  Join The Optimist Group!

When I joined in September of last year, AR had around 40,000+ members.  Not even a year later, we are so close to the 100,000 mark. 

When will we reach it?  Go ahead!  Go on record with your predictions!  Maybe AR will award the winner 100,000 points.  Hint, hint...

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

Join The Optimist Group!

When I joined in September of last year, AR had around 40,000+ members.  Not even a year later, we are so close to the 100,000 mark. 

When will we reach it?  Go ahead!  Go on record with your predictions!  Maybe AR will award the winner 100,000 points.  Hint, hint...

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

Join The Optimist Group!

Does anyone know anything about this site?  I bumped into it and liked it, and wanted to share it with you.  There are some interesting tips on Web optimizing; I found out that banners and links can now be crawled, and that "Google Adsense referral program" is now retired and will be stopped during the last week of August.

eTechBuzz.com

Check it out and let me know what you think about it!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                               Join The Optimist Group!

Mirela Monte is proud to announce the sale of yet another fine North Myrtle Beach Town Home at Robbers Roost.

Robbers Roost, beautifully nestled in the verdant setting of Tilghman Estates is one of the best kept secrets of North Myrtle Beach.  A quick golf cart ride gets you to both the ocean and shopping.  The location is ideal for anyone interested in the easy Beach Lifestyle. 

Tilghman Estates' homes' values reflect the beauty extant here, with million dollar price tags de rigueur.  My buyer clients got a deal indeed.  They purchased this lovely 2BR/2BA Robber's Roost town home (upstairs/downstairs), corner unit for only $ 135,000.  The town home came furnished, with incredible views of the Nature Preserve, and only steps to the tennis courts and pools.  It has both a screened in porch and a huge deck upstairs overlooking the Preserve. 

This was the least expensive town home sold at Robbers' Roost all year.   There were five other sales of identical units ranging in price from $ 168,000 to $ 151,500.  Mirela Monte only represented the Buyers, who are ecstatic about their new home at the Beach.  Yet another Mirela Monte Clients' success story...  You could be next!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

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Myrtle Beach Waterway Home

This modern, Mediterranean style home is located right on the Intercoastal Waterway.  It is 6,000 sq.ft, 5BR/4.5BA, with 3 Huge decks overlooking the water.  The home is about 87% finished - it still needs garage doors, flooring, railing, kitchen cabinets and counter-tops, light fixtures and appliances. 

The location is idyllic and the views superb.   Only a short golf ride to the Beach, within walking distance to the gym, golf & park, there is no better location than this in the entire Myrtle Beach area.  Did I mention that it's also within minutes of the local airport?   Yes, fly here and be home within minutes. 

If you prefer arriving by boat, that's fine too.  It has a shared dock permit in place. 

Yesterday's price:  almost $ 2Mil.  Today's price:  $ 1Mil.  Builder's loss is your gain...

Myrtle Beach Homes by Mirela Monte             

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I've always recognized the value of aerial photography for Real Estate Marketing, but found the cost and bother too intense for my taste.  Now it looks like I'll be jumping into the Aerial Photography arena, with a little gizmo sold on line at Target.com.

It is called the Estes R/C Aerial Photo Airplane and a cool $ 159.98 will garner it along with free shipping, I might add.   This crafty aircraft (can I say that?) can do a lot: 

· Radio-controlled airplane that takes up to 26 fantastic aerial digital photos per flight with a simple push of a button on transmitter

· Giant-size jet with twin engines can reach 1000', climb, dive and by changing respective engine speed; easy-to-control 5-function, 2-stick transmitter

· Flight battery charger, 2 flight batteries and EZ Launch takeoff system included; charges quickly at home or the flying field

· Includes digital camera, computer software, USB cable for easy downloading and batteries for camera

· Recommended for ages 12 yrs. and up; uses 6 AAA alkaline batteries, not included; 40Lx16Wx6H"

• Batteries Required (Sold Separately): 6 D Batteries

Has anyone tried this yet?   It looks pretty enticing. 

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Real Estate Connection                   Join The Optimist Group!

Which one is your favorite Sitcom? 

Is it Seinfeld?      

Is it Everybody Loves Raymond?      

Is it Curb Your Enthusiasm?  

The Golden Girls?         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Girls

Cheers       

Friends       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends

I Love Lucy!      

Married... With Children

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Married..._with_Children

Mork & Mindy     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mork_%26_Mindy

Murphy Brown    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_Brown

So NoTORIous   

The Nanny           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nanny_%28TV_series%29

Newhart (Daryl and my other brother Daryl...)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhart

Taxi  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxi_%28TV_series%29

Yes, Dear!           

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                                  Join The Optimist Group!

I was raised in a communist, iron curtain country.  We were NOT allowed to go ANYWHERE.  The happiest moment in my life was when I arrived in the USA.  To be FREE is indeed an amazing privilege.  I have tears in my eyes as I'm writing this. 

The human spirit seeks freedom.  Being able to go anywhere in the World and reading anything (our books were censored too) is indeed such an amazing opportunity.  For those born in this country, that privilege is taken for granted.  For me, it is still a privilege much revered.   I thank God every day for being here! 

I am a proud American!  People ask me which country I consider mine.  What a silly question.  Like a child who is mistreated by its biological parent, then adopted by a loving parent...  there is no doubt who the REAL PARENT is:  the ADOPTIVE parent is THE PARENT!  Duh!!!

My son is a Marine officer, currently serving our country.  I am proud of him!  God Bless America!  I love this country!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                     Join The Optimist Group!

When you live in paradise - Myrtle Beach - it's hard to go somewhere else to vacation.  I mean, really, why leave? 

I tell you why:  change of scenery. 

I crave Alaska.  Four years ago, after servicing clients from Alaska and after hearing their stories about that magical faraway land, I made it my goal to see Alaska in July.  That summer I went to Nice and Cannes, and Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, but NO Alaska.  The next year I went to Lake Lure and Asheville.  The following summer it was back to Barcelona, Costa Brava and Bordeaux... still NO Alaska.  This year I just have to make it up there!  It's my goal, and I only have 11 days to fulfill it.

Help!  Give me some tips!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                 Join The Optimist Group!

Palmetto Harbor in North Myrtle Beach, SC

Palmetto Harbor - right on the Intercoastal Waterway, yet so close to the Beach. 

Two beautiful golf courses only steps away, a fine Park, the Intercoastal Waterway and the Beach, WOW!  Add to that a community center within walking distance with indoor basketball courts, tennis courts, the works.  There simply is no better location than this in the entire North Myrtle Beach area!

I just listed two pre-foreclosure custom homes.  Both of them are around 6,000 sq. ft.  5BR/4.5 BA and 6BR/3.5BA.  One is second row from the Waterway.  The other is right on the Intercoastal Waterway, with the most enchanting views possible. 

Also listed are two second row lots.  You can have it all for a mere $ 2MIL.  That is roughly half of what they used to cost in better times...  The second row home is finished; the Waterway one is sold as is and it is about 87% complete (it still needs railing, flooring, appliances, garage doors and various odds and ends). 

Priced individually:

Waterway Home:                   $ 1MIL

Second Row Home:      $ 500K

Two Lots Second Row:   $ 250K each

This is an amazing opportunity to own top of the line property in the Myrtle Beach area for pennies on the dollar.  Hurry!

Myrtle Beach Homes by Mirela Monte

Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty  fades, but a man that can make you laugh everyday, ah, now THAT'S a real treat'  Joanne Woodward - married to Paul Newman for over 40 years. 

It recently dawned on me that I've always been attracted to men who could make me laugh.  Several other women I know put that requirement high on the priority and desirability list, so I've done some Internet investigating and guess what?  Laughter IS considered an APHRODISIAC. 

"Everyone knows that a ‘good sense of humor' GSOH, is one of the most desirable attributes in a relationship, and that's why we include Laughter Yoga sessions on our Flirting Weekends", says Julie Whitehead, London Laughter Leader and Happiness Couch.    Her popular workshops called "Flirting Weekends" are offered in London, as part of Laughter Leader Training.    

Julie calls laughter the ‘social glue' - it binds people together and once you have shared a deep, belly laugh with someone, eyes meeting, tears streaming down your face, you have connected at a very deep level indeed!  Laughter releases endorphins, the body's' feel good chemicals, giving us a natural high, and it also reduces the stress hormone cortisol.  In addition the body's immune system is boosted by up to an amazing 40% after a good bout of laughter. The immune system helps to fight disease and keeps us fit and healthy.  

Other health benefits are that the circulation and respiratory systems are stimulated, the abdominals get a really good work out, "a flush come to my face and my heart begins to beat" as Peter Sellers would say and we notice that little twinkle in the eye which is so attractive to the opposite sex. 

More information on Julie's web page www.laughteryoga.co.uk  or e mail  londonlaughter@aol.com 

On the other side of the Atlantic, more precisely in Aptos, CA, The Laughing Sex Institute has just released the most exhaustive study ever conducted to discover the hidden secrets of how lovers get laughing together in bed.  

The results are conclusive.  We love people we laugh with!  It's called Belly Laugh Bonding.   The Institute offers a course titled: "Comic Sutra Laughing and Loving".  You can check out their website for that course and other educational opportunities at:   LaughingSex.com.

Yakov Smirnoff, the comedian, is bringing his philosophy on life to campus in the form of a mini-course called "Living Happily Ever Laughter." Participants get an actual college credit and the class had to be expanded due to its popularity.  The class will offer "several important points," Smirnoff said. "It teaches stages of relationships and establishes the importance of laughter and laughter as a communication skill. It will also establish and teach how to use laughter as an aphrodisiac, laughter as a barometer of your relationship."

In "Why Women Aren't Funny" Christopher Hitchens posits  that men feel way more pressure to be funny then women.

"If you can stimulate her to laughter-I am talking about that real, out-loud, head-back, mouth-open-to-expose-the-full-horseshoe-of-lovely-teeth, involuntary, full, and deep-throated mirth; the kind that is accompanied by a shocked surprise and a slight (no, make that a loud) peal of delight-well, then, you have at least caused her to loosen up and to change her expression. I shall not elaborate further". 

Is Laughter an Aphrodisiac?  What's your take on the subject?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                          Join The Optimist Group!

We currently have 7,727 condos for sale in the Myrtle Beach area.  Out of those, only 255 condos were sold during the month of June.   Only 3.3% of our condo inventory was sold during the month of June.  At that rate of activity, it will take a little over 2.5 years to sell out of our current inventory.  

The most expensive condo sold in the Myrtle Beach area in June was a 4BR/3BA, 2,800 sq. ft. oceanfront unit at Margate Tower in Kingston Plantation.  Originally listed at $1.4MIL, it sold 128 days later for $960,000. 

The least expensive condo sold in June was a 2BR/2BA, 1,100 sq. ft. unit located in Carolina Forest at the Courtyard @ YDA.  It was originally priced at $ 64,900 and sold 112 days later for $45,000. 

The $ 45,000 price also garnered some lucky buyer a fine 2BR/2BA unit in great shape at Quail Marsh, in the middle of Myrtle Beach, right across from Broadway At The Beach. 

The sellers are still hoping for fantasy pricing, but these continued figures underline the need for them to become realistic about what their properties can bring in today's market.  Buyers:  BUY!  BUY!  BUY!

Myrtle Beach Condos by Mirela Monte                           Join The Optimist Group!

This may be the single, most important thing to teach yourself in order to succeed in life.

What is delayed gratification?  It's a daily negotiation with yourself.   You do the chores you dread first, in order to allow yourself the pleasure you seek.  For example, if you have a problem to tend to that day, do it first thing in the morning and treat yourself to a nice lunch if you manage to solve it successfully. 

You award yourself for good behavior and you tend to the hard stuff first (you DELAY the gratification).   If you want to change the way your body looks, exercise first thing in the morning.  Once you get the hardest part of the day done, you'll feel good all day.  If I want to blog on AR, I have to finish the chores I still have left in order to allow myself the pleasure of blogging (that's what gave me the idea for this blog).

Having the "prize" to look forward to, motivates one to finish the tasks quickly and efficiently.  Most importantly:  they get DONE! 

Awarding yourself prizes for a job well done is also very good behavior modification.  If I do well with a particularly difficult problem, I'll splurge and treat myself to something pleasurable like shopping for clothes or a trip.   

This is one of the main lessons I've taught my kids and I am so glad to see that it's working. 

In the era of the INSTANT everything, the notion of "Delayed Gratification" is almost foreign to most.  How about you?  Do you practice "Delayed Gratification"?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection  

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