After you create your Twitter profile, this is what you need to know:  the magic on Twitter only unfolds AFTER you follow some interesting people and entities.  Your Twitter experience rests solely on that.  If you follow silly people who text each other banal messages, you will simply have that limited experience.  If, however, you are like me, a hog for information, and you follow the right Twitterers, you too will have an extraordinarily enjoyable experience and learn a lot in the process.  Here are some valuable websites that will help you maximize your Twitter experience:

http://wefollow.com/   Shows who's who on Twitter in all areas of interest and all niches.

http://twitterholic.com/   Find out who the top Twitter users are; it even shows your own ranking.  It was intriguing to discover that with around 1,200 followers I am ranked nr. 7 for the Myrtle Beach Area.  Not too shabby!

http://www.twellow.com/   Connect with others based on niche and interests.

http://justtweetit.com/   Connect with others based on niche and interests.

http://friendorfollow.com/   Who is and who isn't following you.

http://twitterless.com/   Notifies you by e-mail when someone stops following you.

http://useqwitter.com/users     Notifies you by e-mail when someone stops following you.

http://twitpic.com/   Use this site to post your pictures to twitter.

http://tweetake.com/    Use this to back up your Twitterings.

http://twittercounter.com/   My most favorite tool, this is so user friendly: just plug in your user name and it will show your exact Twitter stats by week, month and since inception.  It will also predict the number of followers you will have in the next 30 days.   I'm a sucker for this one; you know just how much I love statistics...

http://tweetstats.com/   Another favorite toy: this shows some extraordinarily detailed stats: your Twitter habits are carefully analyzed.  Easy to use and so much fun.

http://www.stone.com/Twittelator/   Twitter application for the I-Phone.

http://twitterfon.net/   Twitter application for the I-Phone.  This is the one I have and I love it.  It's simple and very easy to use.  It has features that are not present in the computer application.  As I've learnt from my Tweetstats, I do most of my Twitting from my I-Phone.

http://www.orangatame.com/products/twitterberry/   TwitterBerry: Crackberry users seem to love this one.

Phew!  I'm tired now.  That's enough Twitter for one day.  Enjoy!

Mirela Monte, ActiveRain and Twitter Addict                 Join Me on The Optimist Group!

For more Twitter magic, also read:

Taking The Mystery out of Twitter: What is Twitter and How Do You Use It?

What's All The Fuss About This Twitter Thing? Part II - Play It Again, Sam!

What's All The Fuss About This Twitter Thing? Part III - Feed your AR Blog to Twitter:

What's All The Fuss About This Twitter Thing? Fitting It All Into 140 Characters:

For Up To The Minute News, It's Twitter, Not CNN that Delivers the Goods!

Active Listings:                       7,165                    100%  Total inventory

Sold:                                           638                       8.90% 

Pending Financing:                  485                       6.77%  of the inventory

Pending Cash Terms:              139                        1.94% 

Contingency Contracts:           48                         0.67%

On Hold:                                     56                         0.78%

We are currently selling 2.97% of our condo inventory per month.  At this rate, it will take almost 2 years and 10 months to deplete our inventory, a full 7 months above the time on the market in the Homes category.

Condo Sales - The Cheapest and the Most Expensive Sold in the last 3 months:

The least expensive:  $12,500 for a 450 sq.ft. Bank Owned Oceanfront efficiency (studio) located at M Grand in Myrtle Beach. This unit was fully furnished and lovely and needed minor TLC.  It sold for cash at the end of March.

The most expensive:  $900,000 for a 4.465 sq.ft. brand new Lakefront 4BR/4BA condo at the Reserve at Harbor Club Villas in Pawleys Island.

It sure is surprising what your money can buy at the Beach right now, isn't it?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                 

CAROLINA WATERWAY PLANTATION - TOTAL SALES JANURARY 1, 2009 - MAY 29, 2009

CAROLINA WATERWAY PLANTATION - TOTAL AVAILABLE LISTINGS - MAY 2009

 Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

We currently have a total of 6,400 homes listed for sale in the Myrtle Beach Area.  Of these, a total of 802 homes (12.53% of the inventory) are no longer available:  525 of them are pending financing (8.20%), 110 (1.72%) of them are waiting to close on cash terms, 100 (1.56%) have contingent contracts pending, and 67 (1.05%) are showing on hold (some kind of Real Estate "Purgatory").

A total of 534 homes (8.34% of the inventory) are distress sale listings (Bank Owned, REO's, Foreclosures and Short Sales).  Incidentally, of those, 110 homes currently waiting to close are cash terms, with prices ranging between $8,000 to over $2Mil.   

714 Homes have been sold in the past 90 days.  This means that 3.72% of our inventory is being sold per month.  At this rate, it will take 2 years and almost 3 months to deplete the current inventory.

With these statistics, is it any wonder that Buyers are garnering some fantastic deals?  Of the 714 homes sold in the past 90 days, here are some prime examples of great buys:

$150,000  A Bank Owned 4BR/2.5BA, 2 year old, 2,700 sq. ft. with 2 car garage in Myrtle Beach at Palmetto Glenn. 

$200,000   A 4BR/3BA, gorgeous 3 year old home at Carriage Lakes, on the North End of Myrtle Beach (Little River Area).  The stunning 2,800 sq.ft. home had a large gourmet kitchen, stainless steel appliances, 14 ft. ceilings, hardwood floors, a fireplace, a screened porch and a retreat.   Situated on almost a third of an acre on the Lake, this incredible deal was a normal sale (not a short sale or foreclosure).

$310,000  This 4BR/3BA Bank Owned Home was my listing.   It was a brand new, 4,000 sq.ft. all brick custom home at Carolina Waterway Plantation in Myrtle Beach. 

$500,000   Grande Dunes Foreclosure...  This superb 3,100 sq.ft. 1 year old custom home at the prestigious Grande Dunes was stunning indeed.  The builder did an exceptional job on it, paying attention to every detail.  It had ultra modern wiring and features not seen in many homes.  I had clients who wanted to bid $250K for this one.  We know that you can get deals for pennies on the dollar, but that does not mean one penny for each dollar...  Wake up people!  Don't be ridiculous!   This type of home used to be in the million dollar price range not too long ago...

$900,000   Tilghman Estates.  This stunning home sold by short sale.   It was a 3 year old, 6,000 sq.ft. 4BR/4BA/2HBA custom home with in-ground pool, located on a large lot at the prestigious Tilghman Estates (by the Surf Club in Ocean Drive). 

The piece de resistance, my personal favorite deal for these past 90 days is this amazing home on the Beach that sold for pennies on the dollar for $1,699,900.  It was located on an incredible lot surrounded by several bodies of water on almost an acre of land, with water all around it.  Can you say:  WOW!!!  Located on a majestic setting at the enchanting Briarcliffe Acres in Myrtle Beach, this stunning home had expansive, wrap around porches to maximize the incredible views of this magical location.  Over 6,000 sq.ft. 4BR/4BA, this 17 year old home was Bank Owned and needed some minor TLC.   Congratulations to the lucky Buyer; you have a one of a kind property!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                       

There are currently 534 Distressed Home Listings in the Myrtle Beach Area - Foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, Bank Owned (REO's), Short Sales, Auction and Court Sales.   From a $18,900 mobile home on leased land to a $2,760,000 Mansion and everything in between, these Homes are, or will be priced to sell.

The Banks are not in the business of holding property.  If the listings don't sell within a certain time frame, the prices keep getting lowered until they do.  Another tactic the Banks are using lately is to price the property well under market and obtain multiple bids.  It is not unusual to see several bids on a particular property within days, and sometimes even within hours.  

Last week my Buyers lost a fabulous deal, because they couldn't pull the trigger fast enough:  a 3 year old, 5BR/4BA gorgeous home, walking distance to the Beach, with pool and elevator sold for under $310K.  The same home sold for close to $700K in 2005!!!  The listing hit the market in the morning and it was sold by that evening to a cash buyer.  Yup, it can go that fast; you snooze, you lose!

Some of the Banks are imposing a 5 day period of acquiring offers, without responding to any of them.  The listing agent lets everyone know about this "waiting" period and the multiple bids, asking everyone to submit their best and highest offer.  As an REO listing agent, I have seen offers all over the place on my own Bank Owned Properties - bids ranging from $250K to $420K on a $400K listing, for example).

Another unusual thing I am noticing in this very competitive market is a plethora of cash deals.  Last month I closed on an oceanfront home for $850,000 CASH.   Yup!  The money is there.   Many of today's Buyers are using cash to purchase these great deals.

Stay tuned for some examples of extraordinary Myrtle Beach Deals transacted within the past 30-45 days.  Our market is red-hot.  Are you losing out by waiting for the media to tell you that it's time to buy?  Consider yourself apprised:  our market has turned!  You heard it here first!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                     REO's in Myrtle Beach

"Here is to my Bright, Tough, Relentless, Over-Achieving sister!"  This was the last line in a Birthday card my sister sent me recently.   How accurate are the messages we get from the people who know and love us?  How do their words impact us?

A long time ago I had a friend who kept telling her two kids how terrible they were.  I repeatedly asked her to stop spewing her vitriolic opinions, but it was all in vain.  She continued to address her kids with statements such as:  "you are an idiot just like your father"; "you can't do anything right", etc.  Both kids are now adults with severe problems, constantly in and out of rehab and jail.  Is it any wonder?  Their own mom constantly conditioned them to behave that way via her horrible remarks.

My own parents always told me how smart and capable I was.  I believed them and I still do...  Granted, they also infused some negative messages such as:  "Stay out of the kitchen; you just make a mess!"  Guess what?  Yup, I'm no Julia Child... 

Words carry a lot of weight, so use them carefully, especially with the people you are close to.  Hearing the same message day after day tends to stick...

Do yourself and your kids a favor and praise them for the many great things they are capable of.  The bad behaviors should be addressed promptly and swiftly, without drawing habitual attention.  Focus on the positive, and you will raise a fine, self assured child!

By the way, this also works with your employees, associates and your clients. 

What are your thoughts on this subject?

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

I had lunch with a chess champion the other day. I knew he was a chess champion because it took him 20 minutes to pass the salt.

I went to a meeting for premature ejaculators. I left early.-- Jack Benny

I used to have Mad Cow's disease, but I'm alright Nooooooooow. -- Billy Connolly

I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades...

I know why Superman left Krypton.  Earth was the only place he could get steroids!-- Milton Berle

Make crime pay. Become a Lawyer. - Will Rogers

I told my dentist my teeth are going yellow.   He told me to wear a brown tie. - Rodney Dangerfield

If your feet smell and your nose runs, you're built upside down.

Here I am!  What are your other two wishes?

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.

When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

Join us for LOL Friday on The Optimist Group                                       

RRRRatedJunkThat'sFunny

Hungry for another vacation after working seven days a week for a few months, I've been perusing pictures from previous vacations, as a means to stall the imminent "burn-out"... 

Last year I visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville, VA.  It was on my list of places to visit during this Lifetime.  I was not disappointed. 

Monticello gave me a much better understanding of Thomas Jefferson, the man.   Here are two videos on the subject; one professionally done, the other, of my own visit there last summer.  Enjoy!

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

Even when it's bad, you still have options.  Here is a good starting point, well written by Janice Petteway.

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

I had 'sort of' a day off for my Birthday.  I was finally able to collect my thoughts and relax.  I put together this video of my last vacation, perhaps as a reminder that I need to take another vacation soon.   Working seven days a week, almost non stop, makes one dull and old.  Vacations are that reminder that life is Grand!  Enjoy! 

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

It's my Birthday today, so I have every right to poke fun at aging.  Here are a few well known tunes that have been "tweaked" to reflect an Aging Boomer Audience:

• Herman's Hermits--- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.

• Ringo Starr--- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.

• The Bee Gees--- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip.

• Bobby Darin--- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.

• Roberta Flack--- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.

• Johnny Nash--- I Can't See Clearly Now.

• Paul Simon--- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver

• The Commodores--- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.

• Procol Harem--- A Whiter Shade of Hair.

• Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.

• The Temptations--- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.

• Abba--- Denture Queen.

• Tony Orlando--- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.

• Helen Reddy--- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore.

• Leslie Gore--- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To.

• Willie Nelson--- On the Commode Again

Here are a few good thoughts about aging:

This is the youngest I will ever be.

I prefer aging to the alternative...

If we're lucky, we'll get to be old...

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

One of my friends used to say:  "If I had known I'd live this long, I would have taken much better care of myself." 

As a product of the Boomer Generation, an ex-Model and Fashionista, I can't make the same statement, having had a certain obsession with my general appearance for quite some time now. 

We live in a youth culture.  The models gracing our Magazines are barely in their teens.  Fifty is the new forty, forty is the new thirty and being old is the least desirable destination.   Clean eating, supplements, working out, Botox, plastic surgery.  Anti-Aging is a multi billion dollar business. 

Our "Trophy People", the celebrities, all subscribe to the same credo with a vengeance and although their relationships are measured in dog years, their chronological ages keep going backwards.  In reading about the various stars that used to be my age, I noticed that somehow, they have magically gotten several years younger with the passing of time, a subtraction of sorts promoted systematically by an army of PR personnel. 

So how old am I today, on the XX Anniversary of my 29th Birthday?  I am just as old as Demi Moore, and that's all I'm gonna say.  She keeps getting younger; heck, I'll be right there with her...  Sure, I'm missing the Hunk on her arm and the millions in the bank, but as far as age goes, we're in the same boat, baby, both of us... forty something.  Just wait till next year; we might make it to thirty!

Happy Birthday to me!  I mean...  Happy Anniversary!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection              Join me on The Optimist Group!

I recently wrote a blog about the Myrtle Beach Water Treatment Facility located by the Waterway, next to Plantation Point and across from Carolina Waterway Plantation.

Today I conferred with a reliable source at the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority.  Here is the scoop on that facility:

A 50 acre Lagoon is on the site, along with a Water Treatment Plant.  In the past, there have been complaints about noxious odors emanating from the Lagoon.   The Water Treatment Plant produces no offending odors.

The GSW&SA purchased the facility from the city of Myrtle Beach two years ago.  At that time, the 10-12 ft. deep lagoon had a substantial built up of sludge, which was producing the offending odors.  The GSW&SA immediately embarked on rectifying that problem.  Sludge was permanently re-routed to other water treatment facilities, and a massive clean up of the lagoon was started.  No new sludge has been pumped into the Lagoon since that time.

The clean-up will be fully completed within the next 7-10 years.  No offending odors have been observed since the clean up started two years ago and no further complaints have been filed since.

Case closed.  Thank you, Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority for a job well done!  The million dollar home owners in the immediate area next to the plant are no doubt quite appreciative.

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

*Note:   Of the 15 Waterway Homes sold, 8 of them were Foreclosure related (two were short sales and 6 were REO's).   Seven of the 15 homes were regular transactions.

**Note:  There are currently 79 Waterway Homes available for sale, priced between $199,900 to $4,990,000.  Of these 79 available homes, 8 are foreclosure related.

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

I have found the most extraordinary home for my Buyer Clients.  It is a million dollar home on the Waterway and it's perfect in every way, except for one thing:  across the Waterway, and several hundred feet to the right, there is a water treatment facility, tucked away behind a greenbelt, not far from the Waterway banks. 

It consists of a large and exposed retention pond.  My clients are afraid that it might give off offensive odors and that it might also affect that part of the Waterway.

My research indicates that by the time the water goes into these retention ponds (that part of the process is called ‘lagooning'), it's been disinfected already, having run through several filtration systems.  Although the water is not yet ready for human consumption, it is on the last leg of its journey to our faucets.

If anyone knows anything about this process, please let me know!  This is a perfect home for my clients, yet this may be a deal breaker.

Here is a picture of the retention pond, barely visible from the third window of the master bedroom (it's the lovely body of water beyond the waterway).  Below, you can also view some pictures of the home itself.  BTW, did I mention that this million dollar home is an REO offered for pennies on the dollar?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection  

With the Banks' tightening of the money, there has been a resurgence of Lease to Own Agreements lately.  Although these deals are popular with both Buyers and Sellers, they are not to be taken lightly.   Here's why these instruments are potentially dangerous:

Danger for the Seller:  If the Buyers stop making payments under a Lease to Own Agreement, the Seller can not evict them.  Instead, the Seller has to institute foreclosure action, which can take many months.  In essence, the Owner could potentially have tenants who don't pay rent for a very long time (foreclosure action may take over a year), without the recourse of evicting them.

Danger for the Buyer:  If the Seller is foreclosed on, the Tenant has very little recourse.  Once the Foreclosure is implemented against the Seller, the Tenant is evicted by the Bank.  The only recourse the Tenant has is to sue the Seller for the money in civil court.  Good luck in recouping it!  With Sellers getting 5%-10% of the sales price up front and better than market rent on these types of agreements, the amount lost by the Tenant Buyer is sizable.

Land Sales Agreements (Contracts of Sale) present the same dangers.  The SCAR (South Carolina Association of Realtors) does not endorse Lease To Own Agreements.  What is your experience with Lease To Own Agreements?  Please share!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                             Proud Optimist

With the Banks' tightening of the money, there has been a resurgence of Lease to Own Agreements lately.  Although these deals are popular with both Buyers and Sellers, they are not to be taken lightly. 

The Good:  The equivalent of a prolonged courtship in the relationship arena, a Lease to Own Agreement is "a trying on for size".   Like an engagement with a "move-in" situation, the Lease to Own is a promise and a hope, without an actual marriage certificate, or the recording of a new deed.  Like the diamond ring, the option money is offered up front, along with the equivalent of exclusivity (the higher than market rent -  forced savings).   But just like any engagement, it doesn't always lead to marriage...  A Lease to Own allows a Buyer who might not otherwise be able to purchase a home, the opportunity to build some equity by freezing the price to today's prices.  The Seller gets a solid tenant, who will pay higher than market rent and take better care of the home.  Statistically speaking, 50% of the time, the Buyer will not end up buying the home, leaving all that extra money on the table for the Seller to enjoy.

The Bad:  If the Buyers stop making payments under a Lease to Own, the Seller can not evict them.  Instead, the Seller has to institute a foreclosure action, which can take many months.  In essence, you could potentially have tenants who don't pay rent for a very long time (foreclosure action may take over a year), without the recourse of evicting them.

The Ugly:  If the Seller is foreclosed on, the Tenant has very little recourse.  Once the Foreclosure is implemented against the Seller, the Tenant is evicted by the Bank.  The only recourse the Tenant has is to sue the Seller for the money in civil court.  Good luck in recouping it!  With Sellers getting 5%-10% of the sales price up front and better than market rent on these types of agreements, the amount lost by the Tenant Buyer is sizable.

Before you decide on that enticing Lease to Own, just think:  wouldn't you rather wait to move in until after you exchange vows; err...  I mean record deeds?

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

*Please note that Land Sales Agreements (Contracts of Sale) present the same dangers.

**The SCAR (South Carolina Association of Realtors) does not endorse Lease To Own Agreements.