Sunday, December 27, 2009








I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas as we head into a new year! There are many homeowners who are selling their home that are joining me in saying Thank Goodness this year is over! Here comes a New Year and it's looking brighter!
We still have short sales and heavy negotiating happening, but the inventory is going down and so this is good!
Looking forward to a Wonderful New Year!

Santa Visits Daniel Island

SANTA CLAUS

SANTA CLAUS VISITS DANIEL ISLAND! What a wonderful time everyone had with Santa today! The food was set up to make you feel you were in Candy Land! Lots of Gingerbread houses and candy canes and colorful cookies on a stick like lollipops! During lunch ballerina's entertained everyone with scenes from the Nutcracker! Then after lunch we were able to find Santa waiting for all the children in his comfy seat near the big warm fireplace! One by one the children sat on his lap to tell him their wishes........ What a fun filled afternoon for everyone!

The Holiday Season!

Saturday Morning!







It's a crisp cool clear day on Daniel Island! It's chili, but not to the point of having to wear a heavy winter coat like I did when I lived in Pittsburgh. I always appreciate the weather here!
This morning Santa Claus will visit us at the Daniel Island Club and I will be taking my 2 year old granddaughter to see Santa. We will have lunch and she will be telling Santa what she wants for Christmas! Pictures to follow soon!

Sunday Afternoon!









What a beautiful day here on Daniel Island! I have been very busy this week preparing for next week's closing. My clients from Pennsylvania will be moving here and starting their new life on the Island! They are so excited. When the mother of 3 young children arrives, I plan to give her a tour of the Island and then she will see her new home that her husband chose for the family for the first time! She was able to view the home via our website as well as individual pictures I sent her, but she definitely has faith in her husband! He did a great job and she is so excited to get here! Once she arrives I have also planned to take her to lunch with 2 other homeowners on the island that will be her new neighbors and they too have small children about the same age as my new friend's children. Before the new homeowners arrive, their parents will visit and stay on the Island at the Hampton Inn Suites. I have already offered to pick them up and give them a tour of the Island as well. Just think, they will have their first Christmas on Daniel Island after being here only a few days!
On another note, I have been asked about "Twitter" and I have just signed on to an account so please join me on Twitter. You first have to go to www.twitter.com and then follow the easy steps to get started.
I was not quite sure what Twitter was about so I went to the website and watched their easy step by step on how to join video. It's Free, just make sure you check with you phone company to see that you will not be charged for the text messages. It's a great way for instant updates or opinions.........for example, if I mention that a home just sold on the Island, you may want to know which one and how much? so you can just send me a "tweet" and I can answer you immediately! Kind of neat! You can search for me by simply searching for Renee Reinert.
Well, have a wonderful week!

Activity Update! Renee's Daniel Island Blog

Good morning! I hope you are having a good weekend! With Thanksgiving only few days away, I thought I would update everyone on our recent contracts and sales.
When I returned from my recent trip to Nepal, I found several buyers ready to move!
18 Watroo will have a new family by Christmas time. A wonderful family from Pittsburgh, and actually very close to where I used to live 28 years ago! They are relocating here with a new business already in place! 4 young children ready to begin their new start on Daniel Island. They learned about Daniel Island by word of mouth. Several business partners mentioned Daniel Island and once we toured the island and they learned of the activities for the children, the schools, churches, grocery store..........they were sold! I am looking forward to helping them and watching them as they continue to love what Daniel Island has to offer!
Next, a second home buyer looking at 2 great homes in Daniel Island Park. It is still a buyers market and this particular buyer feels it's not going to get any better for the buyers. He has seen the market starting to pick up and he doesn't want to get left behind.
11 Watroo has a new family already! Recently visiting from out of town, they too fell in love with what Daniel Island had to offer. There still is no place like Daniel Island!
Recently a homeowner closed on his purchase of a home site in Smythe Park where he intends to build his dream home. He wanted to take advantage of the buyer's incentives that were happening. He is excited about building in a few years. He liked the idea of building later since he does not want to sell his home until the market starts to look better for sellers. This scenario works best for him.
We have had 7 contracts in October and 8 so far in November. I know a few contracts are in the works right now and not yet announced until they are ratified.
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, but really looking forward to this nice increase in activity.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!

HIKING IN NEPAL!

A VACATION TO REMEMBER!

Everyone needs a vacation visiting a country where the people do not have the conveniences that we sometimes take for granted.
Traveling to India to see the Taj Mahal and then on to Kathmandu, Nepal for hiking in the Everest Region! It was a wonderful experience learning about the lifestyle and culture in Nepal.
Feeling welcome in this country as I learn about the Hindu religion and Buddhism beliefs. Being allowed to watch in sacred ceremonies and meeting Monks in the Monasteries and receiving blessings from the Head Lama and attending an annual Sherpa celebration where the Monks danced traditional dances with masks and colorful costumes to interpreting a story or belief.
Now I am back on Daniel Island, back to work, but with a different outlook on life in general. I hope to never take our pleasures for granted and to always be grateful for what we are given and for what we have.

Renee's Daniel Island Blog

WHAT FUN! RACE FOR THE CURE! EVERY YEAR IT'S GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER! Thank you to everyone who participated this year! We had great weather and a wonderful turn out. Everyone was excited to be there and you could just feel the excitement during the whole event. I hope to see everyone again!

Now for the Daniel Island News..........we were unable to walk the waterfront lots due to the weather. However we do have a few more details is you are interested. Just send me an email, and I will give you the few details I have for now. Reneereinert@gmail.com

Til Tomorrow!

RENEE'S DANIEL ISLAND BLOG

GOOD MORNING! EXCITING NEWS!!

OUR SALES MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON A BOAT ON THE WANDO RIVER AS WE DISCUSS THE NEW 13 DEEP WATER HOME SITES TO BE RELEASED SOON!!



Waterfront property has never been better! Large deep water home sites on the Wando River! Some home sites are over an acre located on Wando View Street in Smythe Park! Where else can you be on deep water, near schools, churches, library, pools, restaurants, grocery store and more??!!! Only on Daniel Island! I will be taking pictures on Wednesday and I will be sharing those with you. If you would like a plat and pricing information, please give me a call, Renee Reinert at 843-478-7875 or send an email to me at reneereinert@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Renee's Daniel Island Blog

PARK DAY ON DANIEL ISLAND!!!

What a beautiful day! Just getting started this morning as the crowd begins to arrive! Music, dancing, food and more! The petting zoo seems to be a hit and I see lots of little ones on the Giant Mountain slide with their faces painted for Halloween. Running from the slide to the jumping castles again and again and again.......... I think I used to have all that energy too!

The sales office has been busy this week. Lots of clients ready now to buy. I just glanced at our sales board for September and I see 17 properties went under contract! Wow! We are back on our way up! I think the word is out that now is the time to buy!

I hope to hear from you when you are ready to buy!

Till tomorrow!

Renee's Daniel Island Blog

As the inventory continues to lessen and the buyers are increasing, we are feeling a little more increase in sales. The current buyers are still looking for deals and getting them, but you can see some sales happening closer to the listing price. Looks good as we start into the fall season!


The Race for the Cure will be coming to Daniel Island Soon! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009!
I hope to see you all out there! It's a fun event and people come from all over just to join in on this event because it is for such an important cause. See your friends and family out running and walking!

Form a Team and be a Part of the Cure

September 10, 2009 by Julie Frey Dombrowski
Filed under Around Town, Lead Story

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In just over a month, thousands of residents from across the Lowcountry and beyond will join together for one of Charleston’s most popular and successful fundraising events, right here on Daniel Island. The Susan G. Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure takes place on Saturday, October 17 starting at the Family Circle Tennis Center, and you’re invited to join in the fun!

More than just a race, this 5K run and walk through Daniel Island’s neighborhoods and downtown is a celebration, honoring survivors of breast cancer and providing hope for a cure. Each year, hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised by participants to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission of eradicating breast cancer through research, education, screening and treatment.

Help be a part of the solution by organizing or joining a team to raise money for this important cause. It’s a fun way to participate in this spirited event. The folks at Komen make it easy: Just click here to find a team to join, or form your own and recruit your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to join you. You can track your fundraising efforts easily online. On race day, plan to meet up with your team and run or walk the race together.

There’s just a few short weeks remaining to get in on the action. Visit komenlowcountry.org for more information, and sign up today to help fight breast cancer.

T

LABOR DAY PICNIC AT THE DANIEL ISLAND CLUB!

LABOR DAY AT THE DANIEL ISLAND CLUB!

What a wonderful day with great music, food and fun and friends! The Daniel Island Club is always a favorite of mine! The weather could not have been better and the atmosphere was relaxed and mellow! We ordered our picnic basket which was waiting for us when we arrived. The children enjoyed bocce ball and playing on the putting area behind the new extension of the club house with views of the marsh and a warm sunsetting behind us! Life is Good!

Living on Daniel Island Blog!

WOW! Shocked! I was searching the Internet and found Daniel Island Blogs..........guess what? These Blogs are being written by people who don't even live on Daniel Island.........they WANT to live on Daniel Island! Wow! If you are a DANIEL ISLAND BLOG FOLLOWER...be sure to follow blogs of the Islanders! Not the want to be Islanders! Yikes! I saw some pretty strange comments on what they thought Daniel Island was like..........

Just a reminder I DO LIVE AND WORK ON THE ISLAND AND I LOVE IT! The stories I give you are my opinions as a homeowner and my opinions as a working Daniel Island Real Estate Agent!

My 2 year old granddaughter attends the Daniel Island Academy and both of my daughters graduated from Bishop England High School right here on Daniel Island! I have lived in Charleston for 25 years, but right here on Daniel Island for 5 years and I can tell you the difference between living in a nice neighborhood versus living on Daniel Island, our island town!

If you are looking for a home on Daniel Island, you can contact me via email at reneereinert@gmail.com

As a Daniel Island Agent, we spend months in training and researching the history and of the island and it's future growth. We believe when you come to buy a home, you are not only buying a home, but a life style. A life style of simplicity, convenience, safety and so much more! My clients are always amazed at the warm and friendly feeling they get when they visit. They are usually surprised at the size of Daniel Island. It's much larger than they had envisioned and they like it! They comment about the beautiful homes and the neatness of our island. I often hear, "it's so clean, it's so quiet, and its so beautiful" I truly love what I do and it's because I love where I live and where I work! Til Tomorrow! Renee Reinert

Renee's Daniel Island Blog

My Island Town : Daniel Island, SC

2 Charleston Battery vs. #1 Portland Timbers - Friday 8/28
Posted: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:12:42 +0000
It’s late in the 2009 United Soccer League (USL) season but the Charleston Battery are still fighting their way to the top of the league. The team has had a successful season so far and is currently tied for second place with the Carolina Railhawks. And, this Friday night (8/28), the Battery will have their chance to take on the current leader in the league, the Portland Timbers, in a match that will be broadcast on the Fox Soccer Channel and Livesoccertv.com.

Midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake
The Charleston Battery has a total of 45 points for the season, only 6 points behind the Portland Timbers with 51. Portland lost their first game of the season but has since remained unbeaten in an impressive 23 game winning streak. In their last match against the Timbers on June 13, the Battery came close to breaking the team’s streak but Portland tied the match with three minutes left. If the Battery is successful in beating the league’s number one team on Friday then they would be within three points of the Timbers. The top seven teams advance to the playoffs and the top seeded team receives a bye into the semifinal round.

Defender Matt Bobo
The gates of Blackbaud Stadium will open at 6:30 pm and kick off is at 8:00 pm on Friday, August 28. The first 500 children will receive a soccer ball courtesy of Piggly Wiggle. And Five Guys Burgers & Fries will be on hand, serving up their delicious burgers and fries! The Three Lions Pub, a traditional English-style pub, will be open for its members and guests, who can also socialize with Battery coaches and players after each home game. Tickets range between $5 - $15 and can be purchased by calling (843) 971-GOAL or visiting http://www.charlestonbattery.com/.
COME OUT TO BLACKBAUD STADIUM & HELP CHEER ON THE BATTERY!
See the video below of highlights from the 2008 US Open Cup Final, Charleston Battery vs. DC United (W).
Viva the Music! New Performing Arts School Coming to Town
Posted: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:12:27 +0000
A new school is coming soon to Daniel Island. It will be a place where students will learn to read, garner new skills and more. But this school is different than other educational institutions on the island… Here, students as young as 3 years old will learn these new skills on miniature violins!
The Viva! Charleston Performing Arts School will launch its first program, Suzuki Strings, on August 31 at Summit Place of Daniel Island. This program teaches students to play the violin using miniature versions of the instrument. Before getting started on the real thing, the first assignment is for students to create their own “box” violins out of cardboard so they can begin to understand how a violin works and how to play one. Beginning to advanced students are welcome, from pre-schoolers to adults.

One of Instructor Camila Meirelles' students' with her mom and her handmade violin.
In the next several months, the Viva! Charleston Performing Arts School plans to add additional programs including piano, voice and drama, and in January classes and programing will be available at the Daniel Island Academy.
The new school is the brainchild of director Kathy King, a former Mt. Pleasant resident who currently lives in Chicago but wants to return to the Lowcountry some day. Kathy holds a bachelor degree in Piano Performance from Northern Illinois University along with advanced studies in Early Music and Harpsichord from Converse College in Spartanburg. She has been implementing her programming at private schools and performing arts centers throughout the Lowcountry, upstate and northern Illinois for years.
Revered Brazilian violist Camila Meirelles will be teaching the classes here on Daniel Island. Meirelles has performed with nationally and internationally-acclaimed orchestras, and holds her master’s degree and performance certificate from Northern Illinois University.
“Camila is relocating specifically for this project, ” says King, “She’s a beautiful musician and also a wonderful, patient teacher.”

Camila with some students at the end of summer camp.
“Daniel Island is the perfect spot for the new Viva! Charleston Performing Arts School,” King says. “You get a sense that it’s a special, close community and that parents really want their children to be well-rounded with a great education and good athletic and cultural opportunities. Now the island offers the perfect opportunity to learn about music and to learn how to play a musical instrument!”
Students and parents who are interested in Viva! Charleston Performing Arts School are invited to attend a “Come & Try” Open House at Summit Place of Daniel Island on Monday, August 31 or Thursday, September 10 at 6:00 pm. For more information, feel free to contact Kathy King at (815) 440-1391 or email hannpianostudios@yahoo.com.
Labor Day Menu: Flank Steak & Melon Salsa, Grilled Peach Melba
Posted: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:26:37 +0000
With Labor Day less than two weeks away, people are making plans to go out on the boat, pack a picnic or play on the beach and enjoy the last days of summer. My Island Town has borrowed a couple of recipes we think would be delicious for any Labor Day plans from Chef Tyler Dudley at the Daniel Island Club.
Marinated Flank Steak with Melon Salsa1 large cantaloupe, peeled, seeded, diced1 medium red onion, diced1 cup Italian parsley, chopped1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped2 tablespoon white balsamic (or cider) vinegar2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil2 pounds flank steaks2 teaspoon sea salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Toss the cantaloupe, onion, parsley, mint, vinegar and oil in a bowl. Set aside. Heat a grill, grill pan or large skillet over high heat. Season the flank steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. Cook 5 to 8 minutes on each side for medium rare, 8 to 10 minutes per side for medium and 10 to 12 minutes per side for well done. Remove the steaks from the heat and allow to rest on a clean cutting board for 5 to 7 minutes. Cut steak diagonally into 1/8-inch-thick slices and transfer to a platter. Serve with melon salsa on top of the steak and as a relish on the side.
Grilled Peach Melba with Frozen Yogurt3 limes (reserve 1, halved, for garnish)3 pints fresh raspberries1/2 cup sugar1 pint fresh blueberries1 pint fresh blackberries2 large or 4 small ripe peaches, halved and pitted (skin on)1 pint lowfat vanilla frozen yogurt (or lowfat vanilla ice cream)
Preheat a grill or broiler. While the grill is warming, zest limes, then juice them (reserve zest and juice separately). Chop enough zest to make 1 tsp. Combine 2 pints raspberries with 1/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the berries start to release juices and break down. Puree in a blender, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds. Season to taste with lime juice and set aside. Toss together remaining raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries with remaining sugar, lime juice, and lime zest and set aside. Grill peaches and lime halves quickly, until they have grill marks and are warmed through, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill.
To serve, combine a peach half with 1/2 cup frozen yogurt in the bottom of a shallow dish. Spoon equal amounts of raspberry sauce on top of frozen yogurt and finish with equal amounts of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Garnish with grilled lime.
Bon Appetit!
Get Fit Reaches Its Halfway Mark - Time To Celebrate!
Posted: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:48:35 +0000
More than 300 people signed up to participate in Hello! Daniel Island’s first ever “Get Fit Challenge” just six weeks ago! Now that the group is at its halfway point, it’s time to celebrate everyone’s hard work so far and get revved up and ready for the next six weeks. Keep up the good work!
Music, Food & Fun at the Daniel Island Farmers’ Market
Posted: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:59:59 +0000
In just a few short weeks, the Daniel Island Farmers’ Market will ends its first season of providing fresh, local vegetables, meat, seafood, flowers and other knickknacks like jewelry, art and handbags to island residents and employees. Every Thursday since April, the Family Circle Tennis Center has been transformed from a world-class tennis facility to a market where people can shop, eat, enjoy entertainment and visit with friends.
With just a few markets left this year, planners have put together a great schedule of live music and fun contests for shoppers to enjoy. And they’ve partnered with Get Fit, Daniel Island to provide a great venue for Get Fit Cardio Tennis and Get Fit Yoga (open to Get Fit, Daniel Island participants only).
Be sure you don’t miss live music by Hank Futch from local fan-favorite band, The Blue Dogs. And bring your pooch to market on September 10 as the Farmers’ Market celebrates the “Dog Days of Summer” with Ugliest & Prettiest Dog contests!
See below for a complete schedule of Daniel Island Farmers’ Market happenings and we’ll see you there!
Thursday, August 205:30 - 6:30 Get Fit Cardio Tennis on Center Court5:30 - 7:30 BBQ Brothers Band6:00 - 7:00 Get fit Yoga
Thursday, August 273:30 - 7:30 DJ Walt Jenner presents “Beach Music at the Market”6:00 - 7:600 Get Fit Yoga
Thursday, September 33:00 - 7:00 Daniel Island Hip Hop demonstrations with Angel Roberts4:00 - 7:00 Hank Futch from popular local band, The Blue Dogs, to perform5:30 - 6:30 Get Fit Cardio Tennis on Center Court6:00 - 7:00 Get Fit Yoga
Thursday, September 10 Celebrating the “Dog Days of Summer” with Ugliest & Prettiest Dog Contests!4:00 - 7:00 BBQ Brothers Band5:30 - 6:30 Get Fit Cardio Tennis on Center Court6:00 - 7:00 Get Fit Yoga
Thursday, September 17 4:00 - 7:00 Hank Futch from popular local band, The Blue Dogs, to perform5:30 - 6:30 Get Fit Cardio Tennis on Center Court6:00 - 7:00 Get Fit Yoga
Thursday, September 24Details for this year’s final Farmers’ Market to be announced soon!
The Wallflowers come to the Veranda Stage Tuesday, 9/1!
Posted: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:01:44 +0000
Summer is winding down but it’s still hot on Daniel Island and is about to get even hotter as the Family Circle Tennis Center welcomes a couple of high-energy, rock-n-rolling, Grammy-winning musical acts to the stage!
On Tuesday, September 1st, Daniel Island will come alive with the multiple Grammy-winning rock sound of The Wallflowers as they perform on the Family Circle Tennis Center’s Veranda stage.
“The Wallflowers are the most prominent act to perform at The Veranda to date. Music fans of all ages are sure to enjoy the hits these superstars will crank out all night,” commented Carter McMillan, Concert Coordinator at the Family Circle Tennis Center. “This is a great opportunity to see a major act in a small venue, and there’s no better time to enjoy an outdoor concert than early fall.”
Another Grammy-winning act will also make their way to Daniel Island this fall as the Indigo Girls take the stage on Saturday, September 26! The Indigo Girls, an American folk rock duo, consist of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. These true folk icons have cultivated legions of faithful fans since releasing their debut album Strange Fire in 1987, winning a Grammy Award for “Best Contemporary Folk Recording” in 1990, and notching multi-platinum records throughout their career.
Constant touring, as well as an unwavering commitment to social, political, and environmental issues has cemented the Girls’ bond with their audience. Touring in support of their tenth studio album, “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug“, this will be the Indigo Girls’ first appearance at the Family Circle Tennis Center.
All tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone (800) 745-3000, local Publix grocery stores and at the Family Circle Tennis Center ticket office from Monday through Thursday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, and on Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm.
We’ll see you at the shows!
More Kudos for Charleston!
Posted: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:01:27 +0000
It’s no secret that Charleston has a lot going for it – great weather, a fascinating history, a beautiful natural setting and endless options to indulge in shopping, dining, culture and art. Multiple national publications have ranked “the Holy City” as a top place to visit and live.
The latest comes from Outside magazine, which recently included Charleston among it’s list of “Favorite Small Towns” in its “America’s Best Cities” feature.
On a mission to seek out metropolitan areas that offer a “cultural vibrancy, economic well-being, and overall quality of life,” the editors had this to say about Charleston:
“Chucktown is affordable (median home price, $235,000) and small (pop. 110,000) but comes with the vitality of a metropolis, thanks to its kaleidoscopic heritage and a happening downtown. And since it sits at the confluence of the Cooper and Ashley rivers and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s also prime watersport territory: There’s sailing in the harbor, sea-kayaking through the marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway, and surfing at Folly Beach.”

Daniel Island Club’s Ron Cerrudo Ranked Among Top Ten Golf Instructors in SC
Posted: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:01:14 +0000
Golf Digest magazine’s most recent ranking of the country’s best golf instructors by state is out, and the Daniel Island Club’s Director of Instruction has landed in the top ten for South Carolina. Ballots were distributed to more than 1,000 instructors throughout the state, asking them to rank their peers on a grade-point scale from 1 to 10. This year, Ron Cerrudo is number five on the list.
Ron has been helping members and guests at the Daniel Island Club’s expansive practice facility improve their game since 2003. A two-time winner on the PGA Tour, he settled on Hilton Head Island, where he developed a successful following as a golf instructor, before coming to Daniel Island.

You can check out some of Ron’s tips and pointers right here on My Island Town, where we periodically post his insights in a series called “The Practice Range.” The latest tip – “How to Play in Wet Conditions” - was just posted today.
Congratulations, Ron!
THE PRACTICE RANGE: How to Play in Wet Conditions
Posted: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:00:30 +0000

By Ron Cerrudo, Director of Instruction at the Daniel Island Club
We have had more than our fair share of rain this year and as a result, we often find ourselves playing golf on soggy courses. There are some compensations that must be made when playing in these conditions:
When playing out of the fairway,never try to hit the ball hard. Instead, choak down on the club grip and pick the ball up off the turf. If you try to hit the ball too hard, your feet can slip causing you to hit the ball fat, which does your clothes no good at all.
Pitching can be very difficult in these conditions, too. Instead of using the lob wedge or even the sand club, try the pitching wedge. You are less likely to stick the club in the ground.
When playing bunker shots, use the lob wedge. It has less bounce, therefore it makes it easier to get the club under the ball.
After a good rainfall, the sand becomes compacted. Take the club steeper on backswing and downswing, which will get the club under the ball instead of bouncing into the ball and blading it over the green.
Lastly, play the course from the tees that allow you to hit the greens in regulations. In this year’s U.S.Open, the U.S.G.A. moved the tees up so the contestants could reach the greens with a reasonable club. If it is a good enough for the U.S.Open, it should be good enough for you!
Good Luck!

RENEE'S DANIEL ISLAND BLOG danielislandhomes.blogspot.com

My Granddaughter, Kylee peeks out the door as another weekend is almost gone and now summer is almost over too!
Kids are back in school and parents begin to set their busy schedules in place. I know my younger daughter, Kaela returns to Furman University tomorrow. She spent her summer working on a research project at MUSC and also shadowing Dr. Ian Johnson, a neurosurgeon with MUSC. Dr. Johnson and his wife, Angela live here on Daniel Island. My daughter met Dr. Johnson and his wife at a neighbor's birthday party. They began to talk about my daughter's interest in becoming a physician and without hesitation, Dr. Johnson began to set the ground work for a wonderful new experience for my daughter, Kaela. I know if I did not live on Daniel Island, my daughter would not have met Dr. Johnson and may have missed the wonderful summer she had with Dr. Johnson. I know there are many many wonderful things that happen just because we live on Daniel Island and I never take that for granted. It happens for my clients and it happens for me too!
ENJOY THE END OF SUMMER!

www.danielislandhomes.blogspot.com (My Daniel Island Blog)

After a week of Daniel Island Academy being closed, my granddaughter Kylee, became quite spoiled. As I went to my mother's to pick her up, I finally realized why she was never quite ready to leave when I arrive to pick her up! What a life!

It was another busy day preparing for the weekend finalizing the end of the month reports that are now due. As I prepare my reports it gives me time to reflect on the trends happening with my clients. Today I notice that many of my clients are still searching for that deal. As we wait for the market to return I recommend to my owners that don't have to sell their home to wait. The market will come back and it is only a matter of time. I think the market is teaching us all some new spending habits that will be good habits to continue when the market does return. Enjoy the weekend! Til tomorrow

Danielislandhomes.blogspot.com (my DI blog)

Good morning! What a busy day scheduled for today! The sun is shining as I look out my window from my office. This morning I am preparing for clients from NY. They are flying in this morning and we will begin our tour of the island taking a nice break for lunch at the club. They have never been to Daniel Island before, but had friends that had taken a tour of the island with me a few years ago. Their friends recommended that they contact me and allow me to show them what Daniel Island is all about. They are thinking of buying a second home and I am finding that there seems to be a slight increase in that area of the housing market. I believe this is a good sign for the economy.

I will be meeting them for the first time and watching as they become excited throughout the day. Most clients that come here for the first time are so impressed by the middle of the tour, it makes my job fun and easy. I will keep you up to date on their progress.

I will also prepare for tomorrow's clients that will be here in the morning from NY as well, however they are looking for a primary home. They have school age children and therefore the tour of the island will be different for these clients.

Til Tomorrow!

MY ISLAND TOWN (Blog)

Women’s Soccer Kicks Grass on Daniel Island!

Posted: 15 Jul 2009 01:24 PM PDT

Charleston is no stranger to hosting live sporting events. We’ve got the Charleston Riverdogs, the South Carolina Stingrays and the Charleston Battery! There are also all the sporting events at the Citadel and College of Charleston, and the annual Family Circle Cup professional tennis tournament. Whatever sport gets you cheering, chances are Charleston’s got it.

But what Charleston doesn’t have is a professional women’s soccer team! So when the U.S. Women’s National Team returns to Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island on Wednesday, July 22, Lowcountry residents need to come out, show their support and check it out.

The team will take on Canada in a two-game set, the 46th and 47th all-time between the countries, with the first match taking place on Sunday, July 19, at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. The team will then return to Blackbaud Stadium for the fourth time ever in a match on Wednesday, July 22. The match kicks off at 8:00 pm and will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español.

In their history with Blackbaud Stadium, the USA team has not allowed a goal in the previous three wins they’ve had on Daniel Island. They last played here in 2005 in a 3-0 win over Mexico.

The match at Blackbaud Stadium will be the last domestic game for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2009, but they are scheduled to gather for training camps and a European tour following the completion of the inaugural WPS campaign.

Call the Charleston Battery ticket hotline at 971-GOAL (4625) for more information or to purchase tickets.

Love Golf? The Nationwide Tour Championships Needs You!

Posted: 15 Jul 2009 01:18 PM PDT

Summertime is in full swing but plans are already well under way for one of Charleston’s most anticipated fall events, scheduled to take place right here on Daniel Island. The PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour Championship will be held at the Daniel Island Club October 19 -25, 2009. If you’re a golf lover, now is the time to make plans to participate in this exciting event as a volunteer.

The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season. More than 650 volunteers are needed to staff this world-class event. Adults (ages 23+) and students (ages 12-22) are invited to volunteer for a variety of different positions, many of which do not require golf knowledge. Positions include:

• Admissions/Will Call
• Media
• Practice Range
• Transportation
• Cart Shuttles
• Office Administration
• Pro-Am
• Volunteer Services
• Caddie Services
• Operations
• Scoring Central
• Walking Scorers

Hospitality

Park

Scoring Tents/Runners

Water & Ice

Information

Player Relations

Standard Bearers

Distribution

Marshals

Player Shuttles

Television

Volunteers will receive:

• Volunteer golf shirts & golf hat
• Volunteer badge (admits volunteer all week)
• Complimentary weekly pass (admits a guest all week)
• Complimentary breakfast & lunch on scheduled work days
• Invitation to Volunteer Appreciation Party

And, as an added bonus, adults who work three full volunteer shifts will receive one complimentary round of golf at the Daniel Island Club.

The event will be broadcast live by the Golf Channel, but this is your chance to view the action up close in person as professional golf’s upcoming stars compete for their chance to advance to the PGA TOUR.

For more information about volunteering at the Nationwide Tour Championship on Daniel Island, visit www.nationwidetourchampionship.com under “Tickets and Local Event Details” or contact Alexa Devine Harnig at smudevine@aol.com or (843) 881-2532.

Danielislandhomes.blogspot.com (My Blog)

Good Morning! What a nice weekend in the mountains! Dan and I had a great time hiking in NC for a few days and found some muscles that have been dormant for a while!
I returned on Sunday to the office for a full day. I had planned to keep this blog up daily and so periodically I may miss a day here and there, but that is because business is really picking up. I have not been actually sitting at my desk because there is a lot of activity right now. As I have mentioned in the past, the market does seem to be picking up. Currently my local clients have found a few homes that may very well work for them. With the opportunities to find a deal on a purchase, more buyers are coming out again. At this time I am working with 5 different buyers in various price ranges, but all are looking for a deal and have time to find that deal. They don't have to buy now and they don't have to sell a home and still have a fair amount of inventory to choose from at this time. The ball is still in the buyer's court. If you are a homeowner, I know it's sometimes frustrating to get your home ready for a showing that may only take the buyer 15 minutes or even less sometimes to walk through your home, but the buyers that are looking, are prepared to buy. Less tire kickers out there and definite buyers. So be patient with the market if you are selling and if you are buying, find that deal and go for it because this is definitely a temporary market!

This is my Blog (Wednesday )

Started off with a nice run this morning and stayed very busy with clients this afternoon. I just thought I would add some of my own comments and opinions about this fantastic restaurant that everyone is talking about! Bambu! Asian Tai food. A fun place to socialize and great food! I found ordering slowly, enjoying the appetizer, finishing it completely before ordering the next food, is the solution to avoid ending up with lots and lots of food in front of you and not enough room in your belly for all that food! Bambu is just 10 minutes from Daniel Island. Linda Ott, another Daniel Island resident and I saw several friends from Daniel Island while at Bambu. As a matter of fact I met my new neighbors there! Albert and Dina. Dina owns Salon Envy right here on Daniel Island. On Daniel Island, you will find many homeowners that own or work in the small businesses on Daniel Island. We promote the small businesses and support them by using their services. Why would I leave the island if I can stay right here to get my hair cut, my nails done, use the fitness center, buy my groceries, do my banking, and we even have medical services here as well. There truly is no place like Daniel Island with this great location!
Til the weekend! I am off to go play in the mountains for a few days!
Thanks for reading my blog!

Sunday Morning (This is my Blog)

Another beautiful Day on Daniel Island! It's always nice to start the day with a good friend and chai tea!

Sunny and warm here on Daniel Island. Today I am still working with my out of town buyers from yesterday. Sometimes a sale takes a day, sometimes a week, sometimes a month or more. With the market as it is today,our buyers are different than they were 8 months ago. They are more cautious before making their final decision and they have a lot more inventory to choose from so they can be picky about what they want in their purchase. The "Big Plus for Us" is the fact that we are on Daniel Island. There are no other self contained towns like ours or near us.

Our location to the beach, airport and Charleston all only 12 - 15 miles! Our small town with its churches and schools and medical facilities, fitness center, spas, hair salons, and more is simply unbeatable. That is what is saving us in this market!

Enjoy the rest of the day............

I will catch everyone tomorrow!

THE WEEKEND!

I started my morning with a nice 7 mile run! My running buddies are out of town so I was on my own. I went early enough to be lucky enough to watch the sunrise and as I was heading back home. It was beautiful. Cool breeze, low humidity, birds singing and so peaceful. It's my favorite time to run. As I drove to work this morning at 8:15 I saw so many people out running, walking, biking, it was amazing! I thought to myself, where else could you live and see such a cool sight? It is not uncommon for an out of town visitor to be driving on the Mark Clark Expressway and pass over Daniel Island and while looking down on this little town, their curiosity brings them to the sales center. They just want to know what is this place? I talk to them about how we began Daniel Island about 10 years ago and now we have churches, schools, a grocery store, restaurants, medical facilities and more. I take them for a tour showing them the walking paths where there are always residents walking or running and many times I take them to lunch in one of our restaurants, and that really puts them right out there with the homeowners. Usually I see one or two homeowners and we chat and it gives my new clients a peek into the life style here.
As a matter of fact, last week a couple came to Daniel Island, just to see what what was here. They did not know Daniel Island existed before last weekend. Now today, one week later, I am preparing an offer for them on a condo. They decided they would love to have a second home here. They are from Illinois and would love to have warm winters. This is the perfect setting for them. They are so excited to begin to enjoy what they saw for the first time last weekend!
So it's really the homeowners, the stores, the restaurants, churches and schools that make Daniel Island so compelling. I am always here if you are in town and want to see the island and have lunch!

Til tomorrow!

New Homesites in Daniel Island Park!

WALKING THE HOME SITES THIS MORNING! Did you ever wonder what happens when new property is released? Well here is an peek through the window!

When home sites are released, all 15 of the agents, which includes me to to the home site and we meet with Bill McKenzie and Jeff Elliot who provide us with insight on each individual lot. They talk about the views, the options for the layout of the home for a particular lot. We discuss various trees on the lots and easements. We walk lots in the rain, cold, hot and whatever may be happening that day! This way you can be sure we are well aware of what we have to offer you!

The home sites are sold with a 5 year build requirement, meaning you do not have to build for 5 years! A great idea for out of town clients needing to sell their homes first or couples ready to retire, but need a year or so. We have had an increase in interest in home sites.

Til Tomorrow!!!!

Tall Ships

Over the weekend the Tall Ships sailed into the Charleston Harbor, and our wondeful photographer, Pat Stuckart, was there to get some great pictures of them. I was not quite sure about why the ships were here and just what is a "tall" ship and so Pat provided a link for me to share with you just in case you are in the same "boat" as I am! ha! (okay, so it wasn't funny)
Go to this link to see what these Tall Ships are all about! http://www.tallshipsraces.com/atlanticchallenge/

Sunday Afternoon on Daniel Island

The weekend came and went! Whew! That was fast! I started my morning with a nice hour and a half run........I am a bit tired! It was nice and I always enjoy starting my day after a good run.
Yesterday was such a hectic day. It is so clear the buyers are back.
I met out of town clients (Wellesey, Mass) in the morning spending half the day with them. This was their second visit here. The wife had been here before and now the husband was taking it all in for the first time. They also brought their 7 year old daughter. It is always important to gage the mood as soon as you start. They were here not only to look at homes, but to enjoy their vacation and so the beach was on their mind. We started early and had our tour of the entire island because it's important to know all of Daniel Island when moving here. Initially this family intended on retiring here, but now they are wanting to get started here sooner. He is an attorney and she is in the health field and can work out of her home from anywhere. I am finding when people can move anywhere, a lot of the time, they choose here! Daniel Island! Like many new clients, they had done their research and had a list of homes they knew they wanted to see. They were able to find the homes they wanted to see through our www.danielisland.com website. (IF YOU USE THIS WEBSITE, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW YOU FOUND THIS WEBSITE THROUGH RENEE'S BLOG) So we looked at homes and we narrowed the favorites to 3 homes and now they need to digest what they have seen.
Next it's off to the Isle of Palms Beach for sun and fun! I will keep you posted on these clients.
My next clients for Saturday afternoon were 2 local doctors looking for a home in Daniel Island Park. They currently live on James Island and would love to have a home convenient to downtown and a place for their dogs. Daniel Island is very pet friendly with their nature trails and the future "doggy park" coming to the island. We looked at several homes and now these clients may even consider building. They found 1 home in particular that they like, but they want to talk to a few builders to consider and compare the cost of buying versus building.
Finally, my last client for the day was a homeowner viewing homes I had previously shown his wife. It is common for families that live on Daniel Island to want to stay on Daniel Island. Sometimes they will downsize or increase the size of their home depending on their current needs.
So that was a busy Saturday and I have today, Sunday to fill you in on all of that.
Till Tomorrow.....thanks for reading my blog!

Here comes the Weekend!

Well it's Friday! I had a very busy day starting in the morning with clients who travelled here from Champagne, Ill. They are wanting warmer winters! Imagine that! Seeking warmth in a friendly atmosphere, I would say they chose the right place. We looked at town homes, condos, and small single family homes. They are hoping to visit here during January and February and then letting their children visit for vacations. They want little or no maintenance, but want a pet friendly environment for their small dog.
They visited here for the first time and really seem to think it will fit for what they are wanting. They seem to be leaning towards the condo since this is basically no maintenance. They can come and go as they please. They are active and want to be able to enjoy themselves while they are here. We spent the day together and they will stay downtown heading home on Monday. I won't be surprised if I see them again tomorrow or Sunday!
Tomorrow I have 2 sets of clients coming. One local couple that want to move into Daniel Island Park and an out of town couple coming for a second visit. The wife was here and now she is bringing the husband! You see how that works ladies?
Til Tomorrow!

Vampire Power Costs

Hey All!
Here is a great article on Vampire Power Costs. It's amazing how much extra money we spend yearly because we don't unplug our appliances and electronics.

Vampire power costs
By Lori Bongiorno Posted Wed May 27, 2009 10:57am PDT
Related topics: Electronics, Electricity, Saving energy at home
More from The Conscious Consumer blog

There's a lot of interest in the fact that many electronic devices in our homes are using energy even while they are turned off or not being used. But, how much money do these energy vampires really suck up?
For many people, the standby power used by one device will seem minuscule, but the costs can add up when you take into account just how many things we all have plugged in. What's more, many households, have multiple televisions, computers, cordless phones, and others.
All told, the money wasted by an average U.S. household on standby power each year could easily be used to purchase an iPod Shuffle or in some cases even a Nano.
Below is a list of the annual average costs for many household gadgets that are turned off and plugged in. Just add up the costs for everything you have plugged in at home to find out how much standby power costs you each year.
Keep in mind that these are just averages, and in some categories there are big differences between most and least efficient products. How much energy each of your devices consumes will depend on both the device itself and your local electricity costs.
We calculated the following averages based on energy use stats from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy using a price of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Home Entertainment
CRT TV: $1.00
LCD TV: $2.97
Plasma TV: $2.97
DVD: $1.53
VCR: $4.63
Digital cable box: $17.65
Satellite cable box: $15.50
DVR: $36.63
Digital cable box with DVR: $43.01
Set-top satellite box with DVR: $27.52
Video game console: $1.00
Portable stereo: $1.64
AM/FM tuner: $1.11
CD player: $4.99
Home Office
Desktop computer: $3.96
Laptop computer: $8.81
Laptop charger (unattached to laptop): $4.38
LCD monitor: $1.12
Printer: $1.98
Multifunction printer, scanner, copier: $5.21
Computer speakers: $1.98
Other
Coffee maker: $1.12
Microwave oven: $3.05
Cordless phone: $1.98
Answering machine: $1.99
Power tool: $3.96
Handheld vacuum: $2.97
Electric toothbrush: $1.98
Cell phone charger (unattached to phone): $0.26

Costs start adding up when you take into account electronics that may be left on when you're not using them.

Here's a small sampling:
Desktop computer: $71.00
Video game console: $23.10
VCR: $7.69
DVD player: $7.46
CD player: $8.53

There's little consumers can do about set-top cable, satellite, and DVR/TiVo boxes. Television shows can't be taped if boxes are unplugged and it typically takes a long time to reboot boxes. Since it's not practical to unplug them, the best you can do is remember to turn off the box when you're not actively watching TV.When you add up how much money every U.S. household spends on standy power it amounts to about $4 billion a year of wasted energy.

Connecticut Clients Happy

My client from Connecticut sure accomplished quite a bit in just a few short days! Her flight here delayed her a full day so we were a bit worried on how much we could accomplish in such a short time.......but her focus was on and we were well prepared for what needed to be done! Whew! We interviewed Ashley Hall School, previewed Porter Gaud and met with a Daniel Island School representative and toured the school! All of this in one day! We then began our search for their new home. After a few days, we have narrowed our search to about 4 homes. The homes we focused on needed to have the perfect floor plan that would work for their family. Three young active children needing nice size bedrooms and rooms to play! Luckily, we have several options!
My client flew home feeling confident that we were now heading in the right direction.
Til tomorrow!

Thursday afternoon!

Yes we had rain today! I still ran 6 miles at 5am and beat the rain! Now as I look out at the children's park, I see the sunshine and all is well.
Today I have been preparing for a client who is ready to move here. We need to focus on schools for the children and then homes for the family.
We will start out early tomorrow morning looking at several private schools in the area. Ashley Hall, an all girls school, Porter Gaud, a co-ed private school, Mason Prep and Charleston Day School. Later in the Day we will meet Karen Strohmeier Smith, the PTA President last year for the Daniel Island Public School. My client will tour the schools and determine the route for her 3 young children. I will take you through our decision making process and mention the various questions that arise.
This client is from Connecticut and so her idea of schools may differ from the schools in South Carolina. One of her goals in finding a school for the young boys is that the school offer a strong athletic program since they both excel in sports. One enjoys golf and the other son enjoys all sports. She talks about how one child differs from the other. One is more laid back and the other more focused so we need to find a school that will suit both of their needs.
Till tomorrow!

Clients Buying A Home/ Clients Buying A Homesite

Good morning! Yes, it is another sunny day! I started my day with a 6 mile run at 5am! This early morning run gives me the burst of energy that I hear one can get from the caffeine in coffee. Today is going to be a great day!

I wanted to talk about the current buyers I have experienced lately. It gives you a pulse of the market and that pulse is picking up. Recently I have been receiving phone calls and emails from clients who I have been working with for the past one or two years. Most of them halted the search for a home or home site due to the unstable economy. Most of them told me they were just waiting for the market to show some improvement. Now they are starting to seeing our inventory decrease. They can still see the negotiating benefiting the buyers and they are wanting to take advantage of the market that currently exists. They are feeling the turn of the market and they don't want to miss the opportunities that are still available for them now. The buyers today tend be more frugal and cautious in the decision making process. The good news is that the buyers are really thinking about taking advantage of the housing market and buying now before the market rises leaving the current deals behind. Here on Daniel Island, we definitely see the market on it's way back up!

Not only are the buyers looking at homes, they are now considering home sites. Buying a home site today, differs from buying a home site yesterday. The restrictions that held them back before are now gone. The prices are somewhat negotiable, the build requirements much less binding and negotiable. This allows the buyer to purchase a home site at today's prices and still wait to build their home within their original time frame. Buyers that were standing still are now moving!

That's all for today! Enjoy your day and come see us on Daniel Island!

New Residents coming from Connecticut

Good afternoon! Today I am seeing sunshine and blue skies from my window.

I have just received word from clients in Connecticut that they have sold their home! Now they are ready to head this way and begin their move.

Peter and Amory currently live in Connecticut with their 2 twin boys age 7 and their 4 year old daughter. Last night they accepted an offer on their home and are beginning the move!

Amory will visit this weekend to focus on some additional homes that we have not yet seen, but mainly she will be focusing on schools for her children. We will meet at Ashley Hall School for a tour as well as the Daniel Island School right here on the island. Other choices include Mason Prep for her boys or Charleston Day School and or Christ Our King. It is nice to know we are so close to so many options. We will then focus on downtown Charleston to familarize Amory's mother who will be traveling with her this time. As always I am looking forward to seeing my clients move to the island knowing they will also be great friends! Now that my blog will be going out to home owners, I am asking for suggestions or comments from you to help my clients with thier decision. It is always nice to hear from parents who have children at these particular schools. Til tomorrow!

LUNCH ON DANIEL ISLAND!

DANIEL ISLAND HAS MANY GREAT RESTAURANTS.TODAY I VISITED THE DANIEL ISLAND GRILLE! MY FAVORITE CHOICE HERE ARE THE CHICKEN NACHOS!

The Daniel Island Grille is well known for their Friendly Service, Great Food, Warm atmosphere and gathering place for friends and family! As I met with Karen for lunch, we were greeted by several friends. One as you can see in the picture is Giselle Woodward who lives on the island and has her own business where she sells specialized stationery and/ gifts. I like to work with Giselle for my clients closing gifts. She and her kids are enjoying lunch at the grille and also the kids are entertained as they draw with chalk on the sidewalk.

Our friend and neighbor Dave who lives on the island stops by to say hello and as always, Thomas, one of owners, always stops by to chat. Thomas moved here from NY and loves the crowd that the Daniel Island Grille draws. It's very family oriented into the early evening and then into the adult crowd in the later evening with Karaoke and Trivia night!

When you visit Daniel Island, you must stop in at the Grille!