Abberly Village Apartment Homes

This is the weekend that many who live in apartments in West Columbia, SC wait for. The Rosewood Crawfish Festival is Saturday, May 5th.

That delicious Creole cuisine is coming to the Midlands in Columbia, SC at the 7th annual Rosewood Crawfish Festival! From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., those who enjoy all things Creole and Cajun are welcome to Rosewood Drive to take part in one of Columbia’s favorite celebrations, featuring over 7,000 pounds of fresh Louisiana grown crawfish.

Don’t like crawfish, no problem, there will be a large assortment of other food options along with live music on three stages and fun for the whole family.

The Rosewood Crawfish Festival will have live music, family fun, an artist village, delicious food, and the Crawdaddy Dash.

The Crawdaddy Dash is the perfect way to kick off the festival.
 
The race starts at 9 a.m. and participants will be the FIRST in the gate to enjoy post race refreshments.

Information on www.rosewoodcrawfishfest.com

Low mortgage rates and more affordable home prices in the Columbia, SC area are creating an interest in home ownership by those who live in apartments. However, potential buyers who are unprepared for the true cost of owning a home may be shocked by the bite home ownership can take out of their wallet in addition to their mortgage payments.

Inspection and Appraisal Fees
Before you purchase a home you need to pay for a home inspection, and an appraisal, possible even inspections for pests or radon. The costs of these inspections are borne by buyers and are a necessary protection to avoid buying a flawed property or paying too much.

Closing Costs
Buyers need to be prepared with the cash for anywhere from 2% to 4% of the mortgage balance depending on your area.

Taxes
As a homeowner, you'll need to pay property taxes, which are generally part of the escrow you pay into each month. Remember, even if you have a fixed-rate home loan, your property taxes could go up and increase your monthly housing costs.

Insurance
Your lender will require home insurance, the cost of which depends on factors including the construction materials of your home and the location. Even if you have renter's insurance, you'll find that home insurance costs more because you are paying for the ability to rebuild your home in addition to replacing your personal possessions. Insurance costs will rise over time, and you will need supplemental insurance if you live in a flood zone.

HOA and Condo Fees
If you buy a home within a homeowners' association or a condominium association, you'll be required to pay a monthly or quarterly fee. These fees can rise, or your association may need to charge a special assessment for projects such as repaving the parking lot or repairing a roof.

Utility Bills
Depending on where you live, your costs for electricity, gas and water could be higher when you move into your own home than when you live in an apartment in West Columbia, SC. You may also need to pay for garbage collection along with your Internet, cable and phone bill.

Furniture
While this is essentially a discretionary expense, most people who move from an apartment to a larger home need to buy at least some new furniture.

Lawn Care
Whether you handle your yard work yourself or hire a professional, you will have to pay something to keep your landscaping in check. Lawn equipment can be costly and you may need a leaf bloweror other lawn equipment, too.

Maintenance
Home maintenance costs time and money. While you may be able to change your furnace filters, clean your gutters and keep your appliances running smoothly yourself, you may also need to hire a contractor to clean and inspect your chimney and to keep your heating and air conditioning system in top shape.

Repairs
While maintenance tasks can be predictable, the most costly part of home ownership typically comes with unexpected repairs such as replacing or repairing the roof, removing a tree, or paying for mold mitigation in a damp basement. The list of possibilities is endless, so homeowners should set aside savings for an emergency. Experts suggest budgeting for 1% or 2% of your mortgage balance as a yearly maintenance and repair fund.

The Bottom Line
Buying a home costs more than you think. If you don’t expect to stay in your home for at least seven to 10 years, contact Abberly Village Apartment Homes.

SF Gate

What else does Friday the 13th mean besides scary movies and bad luck? Well if you live in an apartment in West Columbia, SC it means the Palmetto Half Marathon.  If you have been training for the race, good luck! If not, it is always fun to go out and support the runners and have fun.

The Palmetto Half Marathon takes place over two days 4/13 - 14 in Columbia. The event also include a 5K run/walk, youth half marathon, kids' fun run, an expo, and all proceeds benefit your favorite charity.

Kids' Fun Run will be held on April 14th and is coordinated for children ages 10 and under to promote physical fitness, healthy habits, and fun competition.  After the race your kids can enjoy the bounce house, face painting, balloon art and so much more!

It's almost time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Midlands largest annual festival - St. Pat's in Five Points!  Mark your calendar, invite your friends from your apartment in West Columbia, SC and start planning for March 17, 2012!
 
Next Saturday, be ready to live the luck of the Irish at this celebration. There will be over 40,000 people at the eclectic Five Points business district in Columbia, SC.  Continually growing and improving, the festival will include a 5K Run and one mile walk, fun-filled parade, expanded family entertainment, enhanced food and craft offerings, a special shag area honoring our state dance, a kid-approved Childrens' Carnival as well as four stages on live music hosting over 20 musical acts.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Devine Street one of the nation’s largest St. Patrick's Day Festivals will begin its second event of the day, the St. Pat’s TD Bank Parade.

The St. Pat’s Parade will travel the Musical Mile down Devine Street into Five Points offering blocks of public viewing. After entering Five Points, the parade will wind its way down Devine Street and up Saluda Avenue, returning to Harden Street at the Five Points Fountain and concluding near Food Lion.

Be sure to wear your green and get your Sham-Rock On at the TD Bank St. Pat's Parade!

For more information see the stpats5points.com website.

What are some of the area Holiday festivities for residents of apartments in West Columbia? Lights Before Christmas is held at the Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia. Visit with Santa, watch the 4-D movie, and see nearly one million twinkling lights! This is the only place in town where it snows every night!

Bring your friends from Abberly Village Apartments, the kids and the camera and see why Lights Before Christmas has continued as a family tradition for more than 20 years. You’ll see nearly one million lights and loads of animated images. Experience warm memories and holiday cheer around the Jingle Bell Bonfire while enjoying hot cocoa, marshmallows and other festive foods.

All Riverbanks Zoo members receive one free visit with a membership. At the Zoo, you may see some night owls, but most of the zoo animals will be off-exhibit to get their sleep. 

Although there are many reasons why people can tell you to buy a home, the decision to buy or rent a home depends on your personal situation; that you are, where you are, your career, your financial goals and how you want to spend your time. There is a prevailing thought that everybody should buy their own home. But research shows there are times and circumstances when renting might be a better idea.

Do you have the time?

There is no such thing as a sure thing in any investment. Usually what makes real estate a better risk than some investments is time. The longer you commit to a property, the better your chances of seeing its value appreciate.

If it is likely in any way that you will move, change jobs or stay in the house for a short period of time, less than 10 years, buying may not be a good idea. Letting go of a property before it has appreciated enough to cover the costs and commissions is not fun and if you bought with less than a 10% down payment, it could be costly. Fees and closing costs can wipe out appreciation gains, if there were any. If the purchase was made with an even smaller down payment, chances are you'll come out at a substantial loss.

Will you like the neighborhood?

If you are new to West Columbia, research suggests you take ample time to get to know the area before investing money in a house and its neighborhood. If you are relocating to a place you hardly know, spend a year in an apartment in West Columbia until you're certain where and how you want to live and that you are going to stay at your job.

Will you be happy giving up the freedom?

Initially renting is less financial pressure than buying. Paying a first and last deposit doesn't compare to the big chunk of change required for a down payment on a house. If you do have enough savings for the down payment, you could invest it elsewhere and hope for significant capital gains. Imagine if you'd invested a typical down payment amount in the stock market ten years ago.
 
Renting gives you the freedom of time as well, with no yard or home maintenance projects. Natural and other disasters make renting a lower risk.

Even though rents tend to increase by 3% per year, unexpected maintenance costs or sudden property tax hikes will not affect you as a renter.

One day left to register for the Govenor’s Cup Half Marathon in Columbia. All of you marathoners living in our apartment in West Columbia still have time to register. Everyone else, it is a very fun event to watch. But keep in mind, the route has been changed this year.

The Governor's Cup is South Carolina's premier running event and is sponsored by Lexington Medical Center. This event includes a half-marathon, 8k run, 4-mile walk, and kid's cup.

A portion of race proceeds benefit Eat Smart Move More South Carolina, an organization dedicated to obesity prevention through physical activity and nutritional education initiatives.

This year there is a special guest, Joan Benoit Samuelson.  Joan won the gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics, the first year of the women's marathon.  Benoit Samuelson still holds the fastest times for an American woman at the Chicago Marathon and the Olympic Marathon. Her time at the Boston Marathon was the fastest time by an American woman at that race for 28 years.

Everyone at Abberly Village Apartment Homes wishes you good luck and have fun

Grab your family and friends and head to the Sandhill Fall Festival at Clemson University. Visitors will enjoy a family focused event celebrating the autumn season.  Bring the whole family and enjoy the fall fun!

The 2nd Annual Sandhill Fall Festival will be held October 1 - October 29, 2011.  Along with the popular carnival rides, hayrides, corn maze, petting zoos and haunted forest, this year's festival will include School Days at the Festival, so teachers bring your classes!

Are you looking for ways to decorate your apartment in Columbia, SC for the fall? Come to the Sandhill Fall Festival where mums, pumpkins, gourds, hay and corn stalks for Fall and Halloween decorating will be available for purchase.

One ticket gets you all this fun: Hay Rides, Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, and the Haunted Forest.  Bring the whole family and enjoy the fall fun in Columbia, SC.

If you live in an apartment in W. Columbia you know there are plenty of  festivals. The Greater Columbia Area is known for hosting some of the best festivals, fairs and events in the state. There are quite a few local events coming up, and they will liven up the weekends for plenty.

Congaree Bluegrass Festival — Saturday, Oct. 1

Look to the other side of the Congaree River to Cayce, where the community holds its annual Bluegrass Festival each year. Kicking off at 11 a.m., the outdoor festival lasts all day with plenty of down-home  jams to keep the night rocking. But best of all, it’s completely free. This festival will have several family-oriented activities and a special area designed just for kids. But the highlight is the bluegrass, featuring an excellent lineup of bands from throughout the area. This year you’ll see the Carolina Rebels, New Dixie Storm and Steep Canyon Rangers as well as a live performance by the Capital City Cloggers.

South Carolina State Fair — Oct. 12 – Oct. 23

When you get to the State Fair try a deep-fried Snickers or a donut hamburger. Every year, the fair draws in thousands of local and out-of-state visitors to hundreds of vendors offering fresh lemonade and funnel cakes to chicken wings and candy apples. When you are not eating, there are games and classic fair rides to keep everyone occupied. This year’s fair also hosts an impressive lineup of musicians, including G. Love and Special Sauce, the Roots and country crooner Trace Adkins. Fair admission is $1 on opening day and $10 for adult admission the rest of the week.

Here is a fun filled family event for all of you who live in an apartment in Columbia, SC. Get ready for some championship chili! Kick off the fall this weekend.

Bring the family to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at River Bottom Farms for a day full of Family Fun at our Fall Craft Fair & Chili Cook - Off!

There will be a huge variety of crafts and vendors, inflatables for the kids, a dunk tank, and some of the best chili around! Join the fun, open to the public from 10am-5pm Saturday, September 24th. This is a great way to spend a weekend in Columbia, South Carolina.

Proceeds will be donated to the South Carolina Autism Society.