Real Estate News

Former CTAR president named best for 2009

An Isle of Palms real estate veteran has been picked by his peers as the area’s leading Realtor this year.

Alexander “Sandy” Stone was named 2009 Realtor of the Year. The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors honored Stone at the group’s holiday gala Dec. 3.

Stone, an owner of Island Realty Inc., oversees and manages more than 500 vacation rental homes and 250 year-round rentals, according to the association. He has been in the real estate business for more than 25 years and has been a broker-in-charge of both sales and property management firms.

Since 2004, Stone has served as a member on the National Association of Realtors “Resort and Second Home” committee. He has been a director on the South Carolina Realtors board and will serve as secretary and legislative group chair in 2010.

Stone served as president of both the Charleston association board in 2006 and the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service in 2002. He has taken the lead in various real estate issues including professional standards, legislative advocacy and strategic planning.

Separately, Stone was elected to Isle of Palms City Council in November.

House on Kiawah Island gets energy-efficient designation

It has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a guest house and enough garages for eight cars. Yet 109 Flyway is also environmentally stellar.

The renovated three-story Kiawah Island dwelling received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its ecologically friendly building practices. The designation was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The house is the first on the island gain Silver LEED status, a level above “certified.” It is also the largest LEED-certified home in South Carolina, according to Dyal Compass Group, whose president was involved in restoring the home.

The Adirondack-designed compound, which has an elevator to reach each of the floors, is envisioned as a private getaway and executive retreat.

At the same time, the home will save more than 35 percent in energy consumption and up to 30,000 gallons of water per year.

“Building a LEED-certified home takes a commitment since even the tiniest of details must be considered and its environmental impact examined. However, the extra effort that is required up front is well worth the energy and water savings that homeowners of this property will be able to enjoy,” says Candace Dyal, president of Dyal Compass Group.

The property was built as a remodel of an existing home, minimizing the environmental impact necessary for land development. Naturalized areas around the property were restored, trees were protected, soil compaction corrected, and drought-tolerant and native plants were used extensively on the property, according to Dyal.

Shade-providing trees were planted and permeable surfaces, such as the driveway and pavers, were used to curb storm water runoff.

Low-flow faucets, showers and dual-flush toilets help to reduce water usage inside, and a high-efficiency irrigation system trims usage for landscaping.

The house has low-e windows installed to reduce the emission of heat from the sun. Other energy-efficient additions are spray-foam insulation, compact fluorescent lightbulbs, Energy Star appliances, on-demand water heaters and high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

Environmentally “preferable” products include low-emission insulation, certified flooring materials and lumber, and a number of products manufactured within 500 miles of the home such as framing lumber, trim, and sheetrock.

In addition to the construction, the eventual homeowner will undergo training that will include information about the various green features of the house.

The 109 Flyway property was designed by Christopher Rose Architects P.A., built by Royal Indigo Construction and is currently listed for sale with Kiawah Island Real Estate.

Poston & Co. adds broker

A broker on the Charleston area’s sea islands has switched to the peninsula setting of a local agency.

John Oakley has joined John Poston & Co. Inc. as a residential sales associate in its downtown office at 304 Meeting St.

Prior to joining Poston & Co., Oakley worked for Kiawah Island Real Estate and Seabrook Island Real Estate. He specializes in residential real estate and is a certified Resort and Second Home Property Specialist.

Oakley and his wife Joanna live on Daniel Island.

Local firm to accept bids on beachfront houses

New East Cooper oceanside dwellings three blocks apart will be up for public sale next month, says the firm conducting the auction.

The Isle of Palms houses are at 2208 Palm Blvd. and 2504 Palm Blvd.

Mount Pleasant-based Harper Auction & Realty intends to hold the sale using the “High Bidder’s Choice” option. The homes sell to the highest bidder above $3.5 million each. The high bidder is allowed to choose one or both at his initial high-bid price.

The minimum bid is roughly one-half of the appraised values of the homes, according to Harper Auction & Realty.

The auction will be held at 2208 Palm Blvd. on Saturday Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. A pre-auction preview is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on Jan. 17. Anyone interested can contact the auction firm or a real estate agent for a showing at any time. There is a required fully refundable auction deposit to register to bid.

“The auction method of marketing is the truest form of price discovery in a market plagued by numerous listings and few buyers,” says Mike Harper, auctioneer and broker-in-charge.

Harper holds the National Auctioneers Association designations of Certified Auctioneer Institute Graduate and Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate.

Auction information is available on line at www.AuctionMyRealEstate.NET