In this Issue: Featured Towns: Aiken, SC Beaufort, SC Durham, NC Hardeeville, SC Hendersonville, NC Hilton Head Island, SC Jasper County, SC Mount Airy, NC Myrtle Beach, SC Best Towns to Start a Business Blackberry French Toast Recipe Buying a Home - Expert Tips Green Home - Tax Benefits Healthy Getaway High School Rankings Stable Home Prices Is North Carolina the New Florida? Off Our Bookshelf

Hey Carolina Fans! We hope all's well with the you and your family these summer days. Seems the current condition has us all focused on getting more value and paying less. So let's start with cost of living and tax charts for evidence of how the Carolinas compare.   To measure 2009 value differences between life in your town and those in the Carolinas, click here. Of course, before you decide, the second home and relocation process begins with family vacations in the Carolinas. Today, you will find first class destinations value-priced like never before. Check out the Discoveries and Destinations below.   Happy travels! Patrick Mason, Co-Founder, CarolinaLiving.com

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Cedar Creek in Aiken, SC - Discover the perfect retirement lifestyle at relaxing Cedar Creek, a charming community in this picturesque Southern town.  Read more... Hardeeville, SC - Why are so many families choosing to visit and live in this rural community near the southern tip of South Carolina?  Read more… Jasper County, SC - This rural playground has all the outdoor amenities you'd want, plus it's convenient to world renowned resorts and big city glamour.  Read more…

Hilton Head Island, SC

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DAY TRIPPIN'   Got just one day in Beaufort, SC ? Consider these must-enjoy activities.     Headed for Myrtle Beach & the Grand Strand? Do what the locals do and if your timing's right, head for one of the free parties hosted by La Belle Amie Vineyard.  Live music, wine tasting, dancing on the grass - it’s all good. Check out La Belle Amie's upcoming wine festivals.

FIRST-CLASS DESTINATIONS Hendersonville, NC A popular retirement destination for those seeking culture, nearby recreation, and a vibrant main street. Read more... And more about Hendersonville in ... The 50 Best Small Southern Towns by Gerald Sweitzer and Kathy Fields

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SEEN AND HEARD Carolinas have Stable Home Prices The Bureau of Business Research at East Carolina University found that the Carolinas are among only 12 states where the average price of a home remains unchanged from the maximum value tabulated since 1995.       Healthy Fun! CNN.com reports that Health magazine has named Hilton Head Island, South Carolina #5 on their list of "America's healthiest beach and lake getaways." Positives  include 20 public golf courses, 12 miles of beaches, 200 tennis courts, and 75 miles of bike paths - plus local fish and produce. Read Health magazine’s recent comments about Hilton Head.

Is North Carolina the New Florida? Some say yes.  Find out why. Newsweek "Challenge Index" 2008 ranking of the top 1,500 Public High Schools includes 21 schools in SC and 49 in NC. Read about education in the Carolinas and discover the 70 top-ranked Carolina schools according to Newsweek.

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LIVING GREEN!       Show Me The Money! Building green is becoming increasingly affordable, thanks in part to federal and state tax credits and rebates, grants and other financial incentives. Learn about 20+ current money saving opportunities with our new feature on Green Home Financial Incentives.   Photo courtesy of  Saluda River Club, Columbia, SC.

Pop Quiz! Test your GREEN living knowledge…   What's an EarthCraft House™? Find the answer here.    Should you plant a rain garden?  Learn more here.

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Carolina Cuisine We're serving up only the best Southern recipes, for a taste of the Carolinas from the comfort of your own kitchen.    Pay homage to sweet summertime by whipping up some Blackberry French Toast, made with fresh, juicy blackberries straight from your local farmer's market.      It's a recipe for decadent comfort food courtesy of Hilton Head Island's Signe's Heavenbound Bakery.   Carolinas Who's Who   Real life Mayberry. Andy Griffith drew inspiration for his beloved Mayberry from his real-life hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina.  This quintessential town in the Blue Ridge foothills exudes charm, from Snappy Lunch to wineries, hiking trails and jazz music!  Explore its Hollywood-worthy appeal here: Mount Airy, NC.  Buying a Home? Experts remind us to know our motivations. Think through both short- and long-term motivations. Growing family home, second home, retirement, investment. Write down a list of your "must haves."  Read nine more expert tips for buying.   Off Our Bookshelf How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner by Christine Hrib-Karpinski   Make your dream vacation home pay for itself!  Learn the ins and outs of purchasing and renting out a vacation home. Durham was recently named #5 on US News & World Report's "Best Places to Live." Great health care, near the Smoky Mountains and Atlantic Ocean, thriving technology, and Duke University helped seal the deal. Discover how US News & World Report rates Durham.   Best Carolina Towns to Start a Business - from CNNMoney.com    #8 Charlotte, NC        #50 Greensboro, NC #12 Durham, NC        #56 Winston-Salem, NC #20 Raleigh, NC         #81 Charleston, SC #41 Asheville, NC Laugh With Us!