Lake Murray

Lake Murray Update:

Want to know what's happening at Lake Murray and with Lake Murray home prices? Be sure to visit my Lake Murray website and Lake Murray blog. On my latest blog, I provide stats on home price changes over the past 5 years along with other market conditions. Check out my Lake Murray website, blog and eBook for the best Lake Murray information online.

Lake Murray Blog

Lake Murray Website

Lake Murray eBook!

Open publication - Free publishing - More lake murray sc

Our Cancun Vacation

We recently completed another great vacation in Cancun. It was our 12th visit to a Palace Resorts in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. For this trip, we had 18 fun-loving people enjoying a wonderful time in Cancun (including 9 graduating seniors from Chapin High School).

If you want a GREAT vacation at a GREAT price in Cancun, Riviera Maya or Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), please contact me. As a Palace Resorts Premier member, I can offer you my very special member pricing (too low to publish). Click here to view Palace Resorts website.

All Palace Resorts are all-inclusive. The resorts and rooms are beautiful and include excellent amenities and service. No other company offers what Palace offers including free select excursion trips (visit Mayan ruins at Tulum or Chichen Icha for free!), free calls back to U.S. and much more. My special member pricing gives you even more, including a free massage, manicure and pedicure. Call me soon for a great Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, or Punta Cana vacation.

Watch my Cancun music video:

Columbia, SC Real Estate

June is almost over! It was a GREAT month with 5 real estate closings scheduled. In between, I was able to get off to Cancun for a one week vacation.

Watch for my Columbia real estate update in July. I'll provide a detailed snapshot of Columbia area real estate activity with what's happening with the number of closings and average prices. Watch for it by the end of July.

Know of someone needing to buy or sell in Columbia? Be sure to contact or have them contact Mel Coker. I'm commited to old-time values in real estate service using the latest technologies.

MelCoker.com

Columbia, SC Real Estate

Lake Murray

Mel's Lake Murray Blog

Columbia's Old Timey Realtor, Mel Coker (with Barbara)

Summer Travel Plans?

TripIt!

This is a NEW and really cool travel tool for your use if you have travel plans this summer. It's the BEST way to organize and share your travel plans. And, it's FREE!

TripIt.com

This online tool makes it easy to build an itinerary, organize and access the itineary anytime and share it with anyone. I am travelling to Cancun this week, so, I've built my Cancun travel itinerary. Check it out at:

Mel's Cancun TripIt Itinerary

The really cool feature is that to start building the itinerary, you just email the airline travel confirmation to TripIt and a travel planner page is automatically created. It's easy to build in other parts of the trip on the same page.

Mel and Barbara on Top of Coba Mayan Ruins

By the way, if you wish to travel to Cancun at a GREAT price, please let me know and I can provide details and pricing on fantastic Palace Resorts travel deals. You still have time to join our group of 18 headed to Cancun this Sunday! Call or email Mel Coker today.
coker@columbiasouthcarolina.com

Barbara and Mel at Cancun Palace in Cancun, Mexico
Mel's Vacation Store

Memorial Day

Memorial Day...

a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.


Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Memorial Day was originally observed on May 30th of each year (starting after the Civil War). In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May.


Thank you to the families of our brave military members that have given their lives in the service of the United States of America.

In honor of Memorial Day, I have today sent an online contribution to Operation Mend.

View the Operation Mend website - Please consider a financial contribution!

Memorial Day in 2009 is May 25th.

More information:

PBS Memorial Day Concert
U.S. Memorial Day History
White House Commission on Remembrance



Mel Coker

Lake Murray - New Stuff at website and blog

I've updated my Lake Murray website and blog with new content!

Lake Murray website

Lake Murray Blog

New Content from Mel Coker:
Lake Murray eBook
Lake Murray Fishing Page
Lake Murray Dam Walk Page
Lake Murray's B-25

Lightning - Time to Pay Attention

Safety Reminder from Mel Coker...

It's Time for Spring & Summer Lightning Storms

While working at my home office this afternoon and watching some lightning over Lake Murray and then seeing a Lightning Special on The Weather Channel, a BOLT struck me for a blog! Lightning is one of the top causes of weather related deaths each year in the USA.

Lightning IS the underrated storm-related weather hazard! Lightning strikes the ground approximately 25 million times each year in the United States. I'm amazed sometimes when I see lightning or hear thunder at the level of boating activity continuing on the lake. I know last year there was one boater killed by lightning on Lake Murray.

Photo Used with permission by Douglas Berry / NOAA website

Lightning Casualties In The U.S. By Location Or Activity - Top 4:
1.) Open areas (including sports fields); 2.) Under trees; 3.) Water related activities (swimming, boating, fishing); 4.) Golfing

Most Dangerous: Month: July; Time of Day: 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.; Day of week: Sundays (more people outdoors); Sex: Male (higher rates of outdoor exposure)

Top 5 Most Dangerous States (NOAA Storm Data 1995-2004)
Absolute (based on deaths): Florida, Texas, Colorado, Ohio, Georgia. South Carolina is #9.

Per Capita (based on deaths): Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Florida. South Carolina is #12.

Of the victims who were killed by lightning in 2007:

• 98% were outside
• 89% were male
• 30% were males between the ages of 20-25
• 25% were standing under a tree
• 25% occurred on or near the water

Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. South Carolina is high on the list... BE CAREFUL when lightning is around! Remember, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Safe(r) Places: home, permanent building, automobile

Unsafe places: near metal or water, under trees; on hills, near electrical/electronics equipment

NEW: Mel's South Carolina Lightning Awareness & Safety eBook

COOL Lightning Links:
National Weather Service - Lightning Safety & Awareness
Lightning Safety for You and Your Family
Personal Lightning Safety
StrikeStar - U.S. Lightning Activity Last 60 minutes
Michael Bath's Lightning Photography website
Lightning Strike Densities by State (SC is #5)

Retirement Move?

Consider friendly Columbia, South Carolina for your retirement!
The Greater Columbia area is a great place to live for retirement. You will find friendly people, a reasonable cost of living, reasonable property taxes and favorable state tax structure and tax breaks, nice weather and an abundance of things to do.



More information:
FIVE Things to Consider for Where to Live
Columbia, SC "A to Z"
Columbia Blog
Lake Murray
Lake Murray Blog


Contact Mel Coker when you're ready to move to Columbia, SC:
email: melcoker@remax.net
Telephone: (803) 749-5800
Internet: Mel Coker's Columbia Real Estate website