Spring Brings Rebirth in a Small Town

March 6th, 2012 Buyers Daniel Bates No Comments

We’ve had a mild winter this year and spring is already beginning to show her colors, but in many ways it has seemed like winter for years, I am reminded today however, “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”  ~Hal Borland

This morning I am being continually reminded of a rebirth that is occurring here in McClellanville under our feet.  Like most change in McClellanville it doesn’t happen in broad sweeping movements, but in gentle strokes.

The cries of my newborn child as my first comfort him as he has seen us do so many times before remind me why I made the move from a secure job in a distant land to return home for a different type of security more than 5 years ago.

A tweeting songbird and a thin layer of yellow dust on my car reminds me that spring is approaching and that we will soon break off the shackles of the cold winter’s night.

I walk into Archibald Rutledge Academy to find my 5-year-old’s classroom has moved across the hall to open up yet another classroom for remodeling as the school undertakes it’s evolution into the new Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School.

I drive into work past a new rental home coming onto the market with much demand and a home under contract to be sold that will close next week.  Yes, the real estate market too is shaking off it’s shackles and it looks like it will be a good year for those both trying to sell their homes and those buying a new home to begin new phases in their life.

When I arrive at my new office to work on my new website, there is an email reminding me of a meeting for the Sewee Summit Jobs meeting to create a new Business Owner’s Association for the McClellanville / Awendaw region.

I realize, as I turn on my space heater to warm my fingers to type, that these signs of change have presented themselves to me all before 9am and all of this before winter has fully released it’s grasp on us.

Change is something that the people of McClellanville have grown to fear for decades and that fear has allowed the Town to preserve it’s way of life while the world around us collapsed to the pressures of change.  It is not a bad fear, more like the healthy respect that lion trainer might have for his partner.   We have whipped back the roaring lion without a sign of cowardliness and have earned it’s respect in the process.  The time for fear is passing though and we must put on a new face.  A face that welcomes good changes like I will welcome my son into my arms today when the last school bell rings.

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant;
If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
~Anne Bradstreet

540 Pinckney Street Open House – August 20th, 2011

August 16th, 2011 Buyers, Events Daniel Bates No Comments

$175,000 House for Sale Among Amazing Historic Homes

Looking for an affordable house in the Historic District?
Looking for a potential home to rent?
Looking for free food and something to do this weekend?

If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, than you won’t want to miss the open house at 540 Pinckney Street this Saturday between 10am and 3pm. This event is presented by MCVL Realty and will include grilled hotdogs, drinks, and snacks and allow you a first look at this great housing opportunity.

540 Pinckney Street (Listing Details) is offered at $175,000 and all offers will be presented to the sellers.  Pick up the phone and call that friend of yours that is always telling you that they want to move to McClellanville and tell them this is their chance.  See You There!

McClellanville Deal of the Week: 528 Pinckney Street

June 24th, 2011 Buyers Daniel Bates 2 Comments

White Gables - $150,000

528 Pinckney Street, known as “White Gables”, is for sale. This isn’t news, it’s been on the market for over 4 years, but now it is banked-owned and listed by Beach and River Homes and has been reduced to the shockingly low asking price of $150,000.  ”4 years?”, many people ask.  Well yes, but it was introduced to the market at $688,000 when I had a competing home listed for $750K that had been completely remodeled and this home needs a lot of work.  Over the years the price just kept dropping along with the market and was listed at $258K most recently before the bank finally foreclosed and slashed the price by over $100K.   I’ve shown this house more than any other house in town and  have learned that historic fixer-uppers just aren’t for everybody.  It is going to take the right buyer even at this price to want to restore National Historic District landmark to it’s former glory.  I’d be sure to have at least $100k that you are ready and able to spend on repairs because you just don’t know what you’re going to find once you start opening it up.  That being said, $150K is a steal and this house is the buzz of McClellanville.  The new owners will surely be the envy of the town and should get used to hearing “We almost bought this home ourselves” on a regular basis.

Most people that buy a home do so for their own enjoyment, whether full-time or part-time, but today I wanted to have a discussion about the other side of the coin.  Using this home as an example, I want to show the various investment opportunities that one can explore when buying a home.   One of the advantages of being the only real estate agent in the area who also specializes in rental management is that I know these markets and the prices that homes can fetch.  I should probably disclose that all buyers should do their own research and due diligence and understand that I am using big round numbers for easy math and to make examples.   Contact me directly to come up with a detailed analysis of your needs and how a home can work for you.  

Read the rest of this page »

2nd Annual Jeremy Creek Triathlon for the Weary – June 11th, 2011

May 25th, 2011 Buyers Daniel Bates No Comments

Click Image for Event Flyer

Don’t let the word “Triathlon” scare you away, this is a laid back, non-competitve event consisting of a paddle, parade, and a picnic.  In fact, the event planners warn that “serious competitors will be fed to alligators”, so leave your A-game at home and just come out with the family to to enjoy a leisurely time on the water and walking down our oak lined avenues.

The event begins on Saturday, June 11th at 10am at the town boat landing with a kayak (donated by Nature Adventure Outfitters) paddle out to birthday island (first spit of land  between ICW and Five Fathom creek) and back, then the group parades from the boat landing to the restaurant’s where participants will enjoy a picnic on the porch at T.W. Graham’s or patio at Pinckney Street Kitchen.  The cost for the event is $33 and includes kayak rental and t-shirt!

Proceeds from this event go to support a really great cause called Begin with Books, which seeks to improve childhood literacy at an early age by providing area residents with 1 book each month from birth to 5 years old.  $33 covers one year of books for one child and can make a huge difference in the child’s development and attitude toward reading.  A donation of $165 will buy a complete library of 60 books for a child. You can also follow this cause and the event on facebook.

Registration is easy, but necessary to do so early to ensure that enough t-shirts are ordered and kayaks are provided.  If you will be attending, email elizabeth_livingston@charleston.k12.sc.us today with your t-shirt sizes and bring a check to the boat landing on the day of the event.

MCVL Realty Becomes McClellanville’s Newest Real Estate Company

October 10th, 2010 News, Real Estate Daniel Bates 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

McClellanville, SC – October 10th, 2010 -  Daniel Bates is proud to present his new real estate company MCVL Realty.  MCVL Realty offers both real estate sales and property management services to the McClellanville and Awendaw markets.  Daniel has completed his broker training and left the company his grandfather started, W.P. Baldwin & Associates in McClellanville, to launch this exciting new company.

As broker/owner Daniel Bates will be managing the daily operations of the company while striving to serve those looking to buy, sell or rent homes and land in McClellanville and Awendaw.  A (near) life-long resident of McClellanville, Daniel Bates has made it his mission to work with clients that appreciate the unique beauty of this rural, coastal area.

Daniel’s popular websites MyMcClellanville.net, McClellanvilleRentals.com, and AwendawLiving.com will continue to operate as usual.  Daniel will also soon be rolling out McClellanvilleHomes.com and McClellanvilleLand.com focusing on all the local real estate markets and allowing MyMcClellanville.net to become a non-commercial, community blog focusing on news and events surrounding the area.  Finally, MCVL.net will serve as a company blog that will feature all of the latest news from the aforementioned websites  and serve to promote company real estate and rental listings better than any other real estate company in the area.  Together, Daniel feels that MCVL family of websites will provide his clients, customers, and fans with the opportunity to choose exactly what news they like to receive without missing a beat.

Daniel Bates would also like to welcome all Facebook users to follow all the latest McClellanville news at Facebook.com/McClellanville, the largest facebook page devoted to McClellanville.

Daniel Bates
Broker / Owner
MCVL Realty
http://MCVL.net
843-606-0622