Johns Island Resists Charleston, SC Real Estate Market Tumble

As property values in Charleston and the surrounding cities tumble, they stay remarkably strong on Johns Island

Summerville, SC (PRWEB) April 21, 2009 – February home prices for existing homes fell 16 percent in the southern states, according to the National Association of Realtors. While prices are remaining low throughout the country, some areas are seeing slight rebounds, but this is not the case in the south.

Once popular cities like Charleston, SC are seeing prices for homes continue to plummet amidst this economic crisis. As people wait to see what the government stimulus and bailout plans will bring, houses sit on the market longer and longer, with lower and lower prices. As more houses are placed on the market, the market becomes saturated with available properties, and this pushes the selling price even lower as buyers are tempted to bring extremely low offers.

While Charleston is one of the harder hit areas in this real estate slump, its close neighbor, Johns Island, has not been hit in the same way. Johns Island is the fourth largest island on the east cost, but it maintains a relatively low population density. Part of the reason for the small population is the fact that the island has been isolated from the mainland for most of its history. It was not until the recent addition of modern bridges connecting the two that people could come and go freely form the island. This small population means there are more marsh front and water view properties on Johns Island than on the mainland and surrounding islands.

Homebuyers who are looking to escape the downward cycle of Charleston real estate are looking to homes on Johns Island. Johns Island real estate includes a number of upscale properties that are gaining popularity among homebuyers. The area is popular both for its rustic feel and the fact that it is located near the Seabrook and Kiawah Island golf resorts.

When asked about current interest in the island, Ben Wiese of MovetoJohnsIsland.com said, “We have Johns Island relocation packets flying out the door.” This local visitor’s authority went on to say, “People are realizing capital gains in real estate aren’t a guarantee like we thought in the 90s and are looking to future-proof their next home purchase.”

Many who move to Johns Island come from Charleston, which is just five minutes away. While the commute into the city from the island is no longer a challenge with the addition of modern roads connecting the two, finding Johns Island real estate is not always easy. The island has few large neighborhoods like those found in Charleston, because the residents have kept zoning rules tight in order to preserve their rural, rustic lifestyle.

The Johns Island relocation packet offered by MovetoJohnsIsland.com is a helpful tool for those interested in snagging a historic, upscale home on the island that seems to be immune to the roller coaster ride of the current real estate market. Charleston homeowners who move to homes on Johns Island may take a loss on their existing properties, but they will be upgrading to a home that will likely retain and increase its value far into the future.

Returning Military Face a Tough Transition in Current Economy

As service men and women return from battle, a tough job market awaits

Summerville, SC (PRWEB) April 21, 2009 – Every day, more and more service men and women are returning home from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, only to find that their jobs are no longer there. The separation from military backing and services makes it necessary for these veterans to find a way to support their families.

While companies are required to re-hire veterans when they return from duty under federal law, many veterans are finding that their jobs no longer exist because companies have downsized or closed their doors. Some find that the jobs or companies where they worked have changed drastically in the years they were serving in active combat. Those who have positions available often find they no longer fit and are left searching for new jobs.

In the current economic crisis, finding work is extremely difficult, and veterans who face the potential for re-deployment at some point find it even more challenging to land a permanent position. Some who entered the service directly from school cannot even qualify for unemployment benefits.

Without stable work, many returning soldiers struggle to pay for life insurance. While in the military, service personnel receive Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI). This carries $500,000 in survivor benefits. However, once they leave active duty, this policy ends. Soldiers must decide within 120 days of leaving active military service what they are going to do with their SGLI coverage, or they lose it altogether.

SGLI military benefits can be converted to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), but this policy is expensive and has some stipulations that can create problems. For instance, SGLI offers coverage for a soldier’s family members, but this is not offered with VGLI, so the veteran’s spouse and other dependents must search for personal life insurance policies.

Additionally, most service personnel find that they end up with significantly less coverage for their families once they make the conversion. Also, the rates for this coverage increase as the veteran ages. For a VGLI policy worth $400,000, a veteran who is past the age of 45 will be paying $100 a month for the policy. This is extremely expensive, even when compared to regular market costs for life insurance. For service members who are struggling to find a job, this is an impossible expense.

The good news for soldiers who are returning from duty is that many non-profit organizations are taking care of military families by providing military life insurance products at prices far below the market for non-military personnel. Navy Mutual Aid Association is one of these companies. They provide life insurance for navy personnel and their families at a deeply discounted rate.

When asked about how these programs helped his family, James Travis, retired U.S. Navy officer, said, “I had been in the US Navy for 15 years and they took care of everything my family needed. I had no idea how much life insurance would cost once I hit civilian life, but fortunately there are organizations like Navy Mutual to ease the transition.”

The separation from military benefits is a challenge for most retiring military officers, but with the help of organizations like Navy Mutual, the transition to peace time will go much more smoothly.

Spring Thaw Initiates Mice Infestation for Businesses in Midwest

This year spring may not be as welcome as it usually is for Midwest businesses

Summerville, SC (PRWEB) – April 19, 2009 – The Midwest is facing a huge flooding problem this spring. Lower-than-average temperatures kept the ground and moisture below the surface frozen longer than normal. This caused flooding in the early spring. As temperatures begin to rise, the ground water is being added to the system. Large storms are also approaching, causing the floodwaters to rise to dangerous heights in the next few weeks.

While this flooding, in and of itself, poses a problem for business owners, it creates another problem. Mice, rats and other rodents are leaving hibernation early due to the flooding, but have nowhere to turn because temperatures outdoors are still too cold. Rodent infestations are on the rise, and farmers, warehouse owners and truckers in particular are looking for safe, effective ways to send these little critters packing.

Poison is one option some consider to deal with pests. Rat poison is effective at killing rats and mice, but it also creates a serious risk, particularly for children and pets who may sample the poison.

The rodents who eat the poison and then die also create a health risk. Some poisons do not cause an immediate death, and when the mice live in the walls of a building, finding the dead bodies is nearly impossible. Dead rodents spread disease and create odors. Traps are a safer alternative to poison, but they still leave the problem of a dead rodent body that has to be disposed of properly. Also, traps can injure small animals and children.

Businesses are also under pressure to do their part to protect the environment. “Going green” is not only something business owners do to protect the earth, but also to protect their bottom lines. Stockholders, customers and even the government are all putting pressure on modern businesses to choose green products whenever possible, and traditional rodent-killing techniques are not at all “green.”

Because of the risks of traditional techniques to deal with rodent infestations and the pressure to go green, today’s businesses are seeking earth-friendly alternatives to dealing with rodent infestations. One option to deal with rodents is Earth Kind’s Fresh Cab, a rodent repelling product.

When asked about her inspiration for Fresh Cab, Kari Warberg, the inventor of the repellent, stated, “I didn’t want to kill mice, I just wanted to keep them out from the start – so I invented Fresh Cab. Since then it’s become the only rodent repellent approved by the Federal EPA and been embraced by businesses like trucking companies and farmers far more than we anticipated.”

So how does this natural rodent repellent get ride of mice? Fresh Cab is made out of plants that naturally repel mice and other rodents. It uses a natural repellent, balsam, to make rodents feel that an area is unsafe. Other essential oils and fragrant plants are included to give the product a clean, fresh scent that humans enjoy.

Not only is Fresh Cab environmentally friendly and safe for kids and pets, but it is also cheaper! Traditional pest control methods are expensive, and they take a lot of time to set up and monitor. In a business, time is money. Fresh Cab takes no work to setup, does not have to be monitored, and lasts around 90 days. Because of these benefits, business owners are quickly switching to Fresh Cab from traditional measures for controlling rodents.

Cease-Fire in U.S. Agencies’ Feud Clears Path for Commercial Ocean Wave Energy

As the Obama team focuses on renewable energy projects, more money is designated for the seas

Summerville, SC (PRWEB) April 19, 2009 – Earlier in the month, a longstanding disagreement between Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, John Wellington, settled a longstanding dispute regarding regulations and responsibilities surrounding renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding, development of ocean wave energy is now possible. Prior to the agreement there was a misunderstanding as to which agency would govern this technology. The agreement gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this responsibility.

Interest in ocean wave energy and other sea-based energy options is growing because of the vast size of the ocean. Waves are constantly in motion, and in theory this motion can be converted into a continuous energy source.

Perfecting the technology necessary to convert wave energy into electricity would lessen the country’s dependence on foreign sources of energy, which cannot be controlled. It also creates jobs, as the technology is being developed and put into use within the United States. Like all renewable resources, ocean wave energy does not have as much of a negative impact on the environment. It creates no carbon emissions or dangerous waste products.

Ocean wave energy is not a new consideration as an alternative energy source. In fact, scientists have been trying to harness ocean waves since the 1890s, but past technologies struggled to overcome the many challenges faced on the sea.

The large amount of material needed to create the structures in wave energy converters is one drawback to this technology. Corrosion is another battle that scientists must overcome, as saltwater is highly corrosive. Underwater components tend to attract barnacles, which hinder their operation. The devices must be strong enough to withstand the strong storms that occur at sea. Researchers are also looking into more effective ways to transport the energy to shore where it can be used.

As a result of this new agreement, renewable energy company, Inerjy has received the green light to continue research into wave energy converters, which are devices that can take the nearly perpetual energy in ocean waves and convert it into usable electricity. This is a strategic move, because new technologies must be developed in order to overcome the problems associated with this renewable energy source.

Inerjy is working to perfect a new technology known as WaveTork, which overcomes many of these challenges. Not only does WaveTork have the potential to provide a renewable energy source, but it also appears to be able an affordable option.

Jamie Schlinkman of Inerjy stated, “We believe under $4/watt capacity is achievable initially on a commercial scale and ultimately that the technology will compete with on-shore wind.” Inerjy is in the process of attaining a patent for the WaveTork technology, and once that is secured, the company will release more information about the technology.

New Understanding of Tax Credits Make It Easier for Businesses to Conform to the Americans with Disability Act Standards

Small Business Tax credit available for those conforming to ADA Standards

The disabled access credit rewards businesses for conforming to ADA requirements

Summerville, SC (PRWEB) April 20, 2009 – The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has created quite a stir among small business owners. In order to comply with the ADA, they must purchase expensive equipment or make costly changes to their business locations, requiring money that many do not have due to the current economic state. A tax credit for these purchases is available, but lack of understanding has caused many business owners to resist claiming it.

One confusion surrounding this credit is the fact that the IRS has not yet issued rules or regulations regarding it. The credit is available, but many business owners are unsure about whether or not their purchases qualify.

The Internal Revenue Service, in an attempt to clear up some of the confusion about which products and purchases qualify for tax credit, recently issued a Technical Advice Memorandum. In this document, the IRS states that any purchases that qualify for a tax credit, known as the Disabled Access Credit, must have been made for the primary goal of assisting handicapped individuals.

Specifically, Code Section 44 of the ADA allows certain small businesses to take an income tax credit for expenses they incurred in order to comply with the act. Businesses can claim 50 percent of all “eligible access expenditures” that are more than $250 but less than $10,250.

In order for a purchase to qualify as an eligible access expenditure, it must first be made in order to comply with ADA requirements. Second, it must be reasonably necessary to fulfill this need. This two-part test is the only way to determine whether or not a purchase qualifies, and no company or government agency is allowed to certify or guarantee that a particular product meets the provisions of the tax credit.

Small medical practices bear the brunt of the financial strain created by the ADA. Medical equipment designed for individuals with handicaps is incredibly expensive. This potential tax credit promises to make it much easier for doctors, dentists and other medical and health professionals to make their care more accessible for handicapped patients.

Haag Streit is a company that provides medical practice equipment and instruments. Many of their products have been modified help handicapped patients, specifically those bound to wheelchairs, gain access to the care they need. For instance, they offer a Chair Glide, a device that modifies an existing medical or dental chair so that it can slide back in order to accommodate those in wheelchairs. Small medical practices can purchase these products to comply with the requirements of the ADA. Under current understanding of he tax credit, the entire cost for these types of products can be applied to the Disabled Access Credit.

Dennis Berman, OPT and spokesperson for Haag Streit, commented, “I’m excited. This new memo and possible tax break could be minor ‘bailout package’ for many small practitioners who want to make every effort to help patients with physical challenges, but have been limited by recent financial stresses.”

Only a qualified tax professional can fully determine whether or not a purchase qualifies for the Disabled Access Credit, so business owners who want to take advantage of this legislation need to contact their tax professional before making any purchases.