Kara's Blog

Another great Downtown Aiken event is just around the corner!!  

What:   St. John's United Methodist 10th Annual Apple Fest

When: Saturday, November 1st, 2008.

Time:  8am - 2pm                                                                    

Where:  104 Newberry Street (at the corner of Richland Avenue and Newberry Street), Downtown Aiken

Cost:  FREE!    (no charge for admission) -  but bring your cash to buy stuff and support the church in their fund raising :)                           

This years proceeds will benefit Grace Kitchen, Jack Meeks Memorial Wheelchair Ramp Ministry and the Golden Harvest Food Bank.

All sorts of activities and treats for the entire family.    Games / face painting / crafts / book sale /second hand Rose / silent auction / Christmas shop / bake shop  and savory delights from The Apple Dumpling Gang and the Apple Seed Cafe.

apples - apples -apples!    appple pie - apple crisp - apple cobbler - apple butter - apple jelly - applesauce - candy apples - caramel apples - apple juice - apple cake - apple fritters - apple dumplings - apple candy - apples - apples - apples!!!...... as well as LIVE ENTERTAINMENT throughout the festival :)

See you there!                                                                    

Give me a call when you are ready to relocate to the Aiken area.    

That's me!  I've always been proud of my little girl.  (how can it be that she will be 23 and yet I haven't gotten any older, lol)  

She gave me a call last night to see if I was home - said she was gonna drop something on my porch.   Well, I was on my way home so I told her I would see her there!

Take a look at what she made for me!    Unfortunately this is one art project that I won't be able to save forever.

looks just like my kitty!   Except for the rhinestone collar, lol.

My neighbors have had their jack o'lanterns out - and spooky decorations...even strings of orange mini lights!  Now my porch is 'in the spirit' too :)

Thanks Heather! 

Happy Halloween Y'all!

How is that for hope!    Yes, one of our local lenders - Hunter Mortgage, has opened a THIRD location (to better serve you) in Downtown Aiken.     The new office is at 124 Laurens Street NW next to O.L.I.V.A .

I stopped in to welcome Beverly and her team to downtown.      I mentioned to her that I guessed business must be good for her to be opening another location NOW...in this market!   She said - OH YESS....there is money to lend, and lots of different programs for buyers to take advantage of :)  They are processing all different types of loans....

This is great news to me!   Afterall -  real estate IS LOCAL.     You can't always listen to the doom and gloom of the media.   Look locally to see what is happening.  

Hunter Mortgage has been voted 'best of the best' Best Mortgage Company by the Aiken community for the past 6 years.    They can be reached, toll free,  at  877-640-3003.

Give Beverly and her team a call to see what kind of mortgage you qualify for ---and then give me a call and we can start looking for your new Aiken area property :)       Sounds like a plan to me!

Thanks for stopping by blog -  have a good night.

Kara Casamassina, SRES & Assistant to Jane Page Thompson, ALC.     The Carolina Real Estate Company, 333 Park Avenue SW, Aiken SC.    803.648.8660.

The old antique store on Park Avenue is being demolished.  Well, it is already leveled - they started tearing it down a couple weeks ago.   Now they are working on the footers and the slab.   I've been watching them everyday!   Lucky for me they are working right next door to our office :)

Well, the other morning Bob let me 'work' the excavater - it was the coolest!       Soooo-   I'm thinking, if you can't sell them, you might as well tear them down, haha.  Just kidding!

It was alot of fun to work the bucket - and swing the doo dad, lol. - yeah - I don't get real technical.

Here is the site:

taking down the old antique store.  Their new location is on Laurens Street  - just around the corner.

This machine in the picture above is pretty big.     Now look at it in the picture below next to the even bigger machine, lol

This is what I got to drive! The BIG ONE!  The JCB.  OMG!! When you turn the key on - you can feel the power all the way from your toes right up to the top of your head :)    It was amazing -  I want to do it again.  (and Bob said I could, lol)

This machine is so big that I needed a 'step up' just to reach the 'step up', lol.   They pulled out a piece of rubble and I used it like a mounting block for a horse, haha.    I wasn't sure I could get up there with this gall bladder pain but Bob and Robert were very helpful!  Thanks guys :)

As soon as Bob and his sons are done with the demo, the next crew will come in and this is what they are going to build:

Give me a call if you want more info!   These are going to be awesome downtown units :)

2 bedroom - 2 bath - pre construction price $429.000

3 bedroom - 2 bath - pre construction price $489,000

I wasn't born here but Aiken sure does feel like home.  Come see for yourself!  What are you waiting for?

Talk to you soon :)

This is a great event!   Check it out if you are in the area :)

Happy Halloween in Downtown Aiken!

Come join the fun on Newberry Street -Downtown Aiken, SC -  Friday, October 31st.   Halloween night!!    5pm - 7pm

-  CARNIVAL GAMES - TRUNK OR TREATING - FOOD - FREE TREAT BAGS......

COSTUME CONTEST!!   Free Entry :)   (children must be accompanied by an adult)

Costume Categories:

• Ages 1 and under
• 2 -3 years of age
• 4-5 years of age
• 6-8 years of age
• 9-12 years of age
• Parent/Child Best Halloween Theme
• Best Dog
• Best Cat

I wasn't born here but Aiken sure does feel like home :)   Come see for yourself!  What are you waiting for?

Relocating to Aiken?  Give me a call.

That's right- another great Downtown Aiken event is coming up tomorrow.      Here's the deal:

FLAVORS OF FALL   

Fun for the entire family!!   Bring your friends, too :)

Lots of stuff going on.   Laurens Street will be closed to traffic from 3 - 6pm.     This will give room for......

CHILI COOK-OFF    

HORSE RIDES

SCARECROW CONTEST

GAMES

ANTIQUE  AUTO RALLY

CASSEROLE SALE    (I missed this at the Chocolate Festival---got sidetracked by all that chocolate, lol - I wont miss this one!)

BAKED GOODS......

Take a stroll down Laurens Street and check out the scarecrows.   

16 scarecrows to see - - - and vote on your favorite. 

SEE YOU THERE!          LAURENS STREET - DOWNTOWN AIKEN.    SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008.  3-6PM

I wasn't born here but Aiken sure feels like home.   Come see for yourself!   What are you waiting for?

Call me whenever you are ready to move south for the winter!    :)

We just received the newest issue of Sports Illustrated and I had to share this with you ....

Check out these two 'local' girls!   (Pelion is in Lexington County - our neighboring County to the North!)

Elizabeth Mitchum, Kaci Poole - - - - PELION, SC > Football

Elizabeth (far left) and Kaci, junior kickers at Pelion High, are believed to be the first two girls to score points for the same team in a varsity football game; on Sept. 12 each kicked an extra point in a 42-13 victory over Wagener-Salley.   

I just got off the phone with Coach Ben Freeman of the Fighting Panthers Football Team, Pelion High School.    He tells me that both of these girls were soccer players and they just decided they wanted to kick :)    and boy can they kick.       

Elizabeth has a strong leg and is the starter!!  She has made 13 out of 14 extra point attempts.   Kaci has had two chances to kick and made one of them - the one we read about in Sports Illustrated :) 

These young ladies are very talented, that's for sure!  WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!!   I AM SO PROUD OF YOU BOTH :)     Keep it up and I'll be looking for y'all in the NFL in a few years.   You both R-O-C-K!!      I hope you both make the varsity team next year!     

If you are looking for a dog - please consider adopting a rescue dog.    Look for a place in your county.

Danny & Ron run a rescue, and recently adopted out their 1000th dog :)    MOST OF THESE DOGS (800)  WERE RESCUED FROM HURRICANE KATRINA.

Their operation is TOTALLY NON-PROFIT - they just don't want to see any more dogs be put down. 

They go and rescue these pups from the mills and just want to find good homes for them. 

They take them home and care for them until a 'forever family' is found :)   

They recently were awarded with an ASPCA Award. 

Visit their website to learn more about them..and to see some of the pups that are available.   

They are located near Camden SC -  and you may see them (and the pups) at a horse show near you!

THEIR WEBSITE          

So -  how did I hear about these guys?      Well, the other day I was working at the office and the family of an associate stopped by.  In the little girls arms was the cutest puppy I have ever seen.   His name is Hitchcock.   And they call him 'Hitch' for short.      He is named after Hitchcock Woods.  (check my blog tags for Hitchcock Woods)

I asked where they got him and this is how I heard about Danny and Ron. 

Here is a picture of Hitch with his proud mama Caroline :)

     Cute huh!     

Dont' forget to think of me when you are thinking of Aiken real estate!!!!   Jane Page and I are ready to help whenever you're ready to move :)     

I wasn't born in Aiken but it sure feels like home.   Come see for yourself!  What are you waiting for?!

NEW ELLENTON TRAIL RIDE                                                     Only $15 FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND!

October 18th & 19th                                   

- Enjoy fun & fellowship on miles of wooded trails (even crossing a creek!)

- Enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds Mother Nature has to offer, while relaxing in the saddle

- Enjoy a wonderful meal on Saturday night  (be sure you have your meal ticket!)

- Enjoy music and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights!

- Farrier will be available

- Cowboy style church service will be available on Sunday

- Ride out at 10am Saturday and Sunday  (Saturday lunch will be available on the trail)

Saddle up for some trail riding fun!  

IMPORTANT NOTES:

12 Month Negative Coggins REQUIRED -  Campground will be open Friday at 12 noon. - No open display of alcoholic beverages - ABSOLUTELY NO HAND GUNS - dogs must be leashed & controlled at ALL times - No water hook ups

DIRECTIONS:  Take Hwy 19 into New Ellenton - and then follow the signs to Bent Tree Road.

ADMISSION:  $15 per person for adults / $10 per child 6-12,   Children under 6 Free.

CONTACT:  John Merkle at 803-663-3031

Have Fun!   I won't be going to this event.  1. I don't have my own horse.    and... 2. the majority of 'bad' experiences I have had with a horse seem to happen on the trail, lol.

Please keep me in mind for your Aiken area real estate needs.   In fact, I can help you (and your friends and family) anywhere in THE WORLD!!  Just call me first :)    (don't forget to let me know you saw my blog!)     Thanks.    

Kara Casamassina, The Carolina Real Estate Company, Aiken, SC.  803.648.8660