Top Carolina Towns
for In-Migration
Fresh data from the NCOA Audit allows us to rank the destination towns of the 1,287 families who relocated into the Carolinas in the 14 months ending 6/4/10. All had “registered” by completing our Carolina Lifestyle Survey™. Take a look.
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Hello!
Our intent with this B2B eBrief is to grow your Carolina IQ with news to support your business goals.
Interested in how this economy has impacted the $33.3 billion (output impact) Carolina In-migration Industry?
From the 2007 estimated peak of 465,000 gross in-migrants, of all ages the counts fell dramatically (by 42%) in 2008. Since then, counts have climbed consistently back to 84% of the peak pace. (What are the Top 50 Carolina towns enjoying this cash infusion? See charts to the left.)
How, in the midst of these economic conditions, are this many households relocating?
 Millions of educated, affluent people have been forced into early retirement. Thousands had already bought second homes and/or Carolina land.
Demand blush is off Florida for all the reasons we know, and the Carolinas show up with lower taxes (really!) and attractive cost of living.
Harris Poll-Pulte-Del Webb independent research confirms the Carolinas now lead the nation among 74 million Boomers as their most preferred destination. More than 26% plan to relocate!
The private sector, until 2008, spent at least $30 million per year marketing their Carolina residential destinations. Carolina tourism orgs spent another $15 million creating 66 million visitors a year. Smart destination marketing!
More good news … 2010 CarolinaLiving.com “registrations” are on pace to exceed the 4,000 in 2009.
To learn more about the economics of how the $56 billion Carolina Tourism Industry births the $33 billion In-migration Economy, schedule a Research Briefing for your team.
 All the Best,
Patrick Mason
Co-Founder
PMason@CarolinaLiving.com
P.S. This 4-H horse farm boy from Minnesota coaxes heirloom tomatoes to over 12 feet in raised, irrigated beds outside the Columbia headquarters of CarolinaLiving.com. Gazpacho!
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Ian Harris, DOM for ResortQuest SC, is among many in the hospitality industry
reporting year on year 11%+ increases in demand. This before the
spill! The Carolinas are in line for some sweet benefits as these new
affluent visitors experience the lifestyle and return. Talk to your
local resort GM. Probably, a similar story.
Lonnie Kinlaw, the sought after sales management expert, most
recently with St. James Plantation, is now aboard with the Bobbie
Harrelson organization in Leland … making sense of Pointe South,
Waterford, Compass Point and Palmetto Creek. Lonnie loves to keep his
plate full. Check in with him at: 803.645.8108.
James Taylor, city administrator, and the City of Gaffney have
been designated by the Smithsonian Corporation of NY to host the
first six weeks of a 12-city SC tour of New Harmonies (Celebrating
American Roots Music) exhibit to be housed in the freshly retro-fitted,
Federal-style 1910 post office, now a splendid welcome center and art
museum. Big community plans in fast-forward mode for the April 9-May
29, 2011 arts fest in Gaffney, sponsored in part by the SC Humanities
Council. For a chat with one of SC’s most together city administrators:
864.487.6247.
But wait, there’s more!
Check out what all these folks are up
to …
Tom Anhunt, Brad Dean, Brad Halter, Robert Heuts, Dr. Simon Hudson,
Chris Jennings, Dan Ligon, Jamie Massey Prince, Holly Morrison, John
Robbins, Mark Roberts, Jim Staton, and Olin Wilson. Also AG, PRT,
Forestry, DNR |
Marketing to Boomers
 Interesting piece by Dr. Bob Deutsch, founder and president of the
consulting firm, Brain Sells. Are Boomers pragmatic idealists? He says
so.
When marketing to this glass-half-full group, he reminds us that Boomers
don’t want to compromise their authenticity, and they respond to what
stands out by its presence, not its loudness. Read more …
Trouble for Tradition
The much touted Tradition, owned by Core Communities near Hilton Head,
is reportedly negotiating with lenders to liquidate assets. What does
that mean for the community? Likely a new name above the door with
fresh ideas and economics for Bluffton.
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Catch the
Buzzzzzz
 Durham-based Burt’s
Bees is ranked No.1 in a Green Brands Survey of U.S. consumers.
Other
high-ranking companies are also familiar to the Carolinas, including
Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Google. Read more about the survey in Advertising Age.
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Harness CarolinaLiving Marketing Tools:
Consider these Multi-Media Recovery Discount Packages @ 30% Off
 Reservation Deadline: Friday, July 30th
Tourism Industry*
The Destinations & Attractions Package* targets the “Turbo-Tourist” audience for as low as $4,300/year ($359/month NET). Get robust print and online exposure and 6,000 visitor inquiries (includes 2,000 bonus lead batch). Click here for details.
*CarolinaLiving national media qualifies for tourism accommodations tax grants.
Residential, Green, Financial, Healthcare, etc.
The annual package (print & online) generates buyer lead profiles as low as $6,100/year ($509/month NET). Check out our sample leads that sales people love. To get a customized proposal now to include additional bonuses … Email me.
Monthly eNews for ALL
Frequency creates a powerful impact. Consider the COMPASS eNewsletter to deliver your invitation to 25,000 recently “registered” visitor prospects from $495/month. Bulk purchase discounts available as low as $250/month. Click here for details.
Reminders: CarolinaLiving channels will reach 500,000 people and generate 4,000 “Turbo Tourists” in the next 12 months – many who are looking for their next home to purchase in the Carolinas. Median household income is $119,000 and 41% are over age 50.
National Change Of Address Audits (NCOA), for the 14 months ending 6/4/10, document that we are moving 92 families a month into the Carolinas. And this only tracks the 1% of those who “register.” View the 26-question Carolina Lifestyle Survey™.
Act now and get a proposal customized for your offering/destination that includes value-add bonus incentives. Contact: Patrick Mason
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CarolinaLiving.com Ranks 97% for Marketing Effectiveness
 According to the respected Hubspot Website Grader, and the Alexa traffic monitor, the 338-page CarolinaLiving.com website scores higher than 97% of 2.5 million sites reviewed. Hubspot uses an algorithm of 50 variables that include superior original content, SEO data, structure, traffic and performance of the site.
Launched at the dawn of the Internet in January of 1995, CarolinaLiving.com is used by 250,000 people who view 600,000+ pages annually. Nearly 1% will “register” as they complete the 26-question Carolina Lifestyle Survey™. Designed from Day One to be a robust destination marketing lead generation machine.
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Projects of the Year
 At the 12th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference, held last month in Raleigh, NC, Carolina projects took top honors:
Mungo Construction received the award for 2010 Green Single Family – Production/Affordable Project of the Year for Rosewood Hills in Columbia, SC. The modular, LEED for Homes project was a partnership with the Housing Authority of Columbia.
In the Multifamily – Luxury category, Crescent Resources LLC, of Charlotte, NC, was awarded the 2010 Project of the Year for Circle at Concord Mills, located in Concord, NC. The apartment community is an Audubon Signature Sanctuary and features a LEED-certified clubhouse.
Chapel Hill, NC, builder Michael Chandler of Chandler Design-Build was honored as the Builder Advocate of the Year.
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Mark Your Calendars
ULI Charlotte
Distressed Real Estate - Bankruptcy: A Strategic Alternative
July 15, 2010
Charlotte, NC
GreenNC Conference
and Exposition
September 9, 2010
Raleigh, NC
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Smart – Very Smart.
Hampton Lake, in Bluffton SC, is on top of its game, according to those in the know, including Bowden’s. Their third portfolio of homes in the “LifeSmart” series is compact and affordable for most seeking second homes. Also in the mix, 25 lakefront Private Residence Club homes. At 3,100 square feet, one-eighth shares start at $175,000, for now.
Give a Little, Get a Lot
Charlotte, NC-based Crescent Resources recently applied to the Army Corps of Engineers for permission to fill 23 acres of wetlands at its 2,010-acre Wildcat Tract in Berkeley County, SC. The application calls for the preservation of 149 acres of wetlands and the restoration of another 34 acres of former wetlands now used for growing pine trees. Something’s going on for sure – and some suggest a combination of homes, commercial buildings, civic structures and parks. Keep listening.
Small is Better
The Reserve at Lake Keowee recently introduced the Neighborhood Homes at Placid Park, 16 units with “smaller footprints,” low-maintenance exteriors, and golf-cart access to the village. The homes all have master suites on the main level, which range in size from 1,487 to 1,548 square feet. Multi-level options take the units from 2,200 to 3,500 square feet and pricing falls within a range of $585,000 to the mid-$700,000s.
Conservation with Comfort
The Keowee River Preservation Group is moving along on the five-phase development of 774 acres on the backwaters of Lake Hartwell. The concept centers on conservation and a love of the outdoors. The project’s cornerstone will be the new home of the Foothills Area Family YMCA on eight donated acres. Plans include a 75-acre village center, 900 to 1,200 residences ranging from single-family homes to a retirement care facility and The Center Falls Park, miles of hiking and biking trails and potentially a footbridge to Clemson University’s Issaqueena Forest.
Click to Subscribe to Bowden’s Market Barometer.
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A "New Normal" View
Diana Permar, of the Charleston-based research firm, is saying that the recession has shifted buyer views of real estate to a new platform. She’s projecting that home designs will serve families over much longer time and multiple life stages. Technology also has changed the way property is marketed, bought and sold, primarily due to the widespread availability of data. Discover more about the company and its research: permar
Really Creative
Land Use
We can all learn much from Miami 21, which recently went into effect in the City of Miami. It is the largest known application of a form-based code in the country and entirely replaces the City's old zoning code to create more sustainable, predictable and efficient regulations. This adoption of a SmartCode, calibrated and adapted for Miami by DPZ, (Duany, Plater-Zybek & Company) entails a more holistic approach to land use planning. It provides a clear vision, specific guidelines and regulations so future generations will reap the benefits of well-balanced neighborhoods and a rich quality of life. Visit Miami 21 for more information.
One of our favorite ideas? Organized public gathering places, attractive and appealing, create a sense of community. And what about Garage Park Liners? A super concept.
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Are You a Risk-Taker?
Hint: If you’re the youngest, you may well be more willing to take on
risk.
 So says Dr. Melayne McInnes, associate professor in economics at
the USC Darla Moore School of Business. She and her student, Erica
Morgan, found that first-born siblings tend to be more risk-averse and
more patient in making monetary decisions. Last-born siblings are more
willing to gamble for a higher payoff. Intrigued? Read more ...
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It’s a hot topic these days - can green jobs help lift up the economy? In Emerald Cities, explore current environmental programs and policies that cities across the country have implemented in hopes of improving local economic development, and learn from their successes, as well as their challenges.
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 We are currently accepting photography submissions for possible inclusion in the Fall/Winter edition of the CarolinaLiving Guide and/or online at CarolinaLiving.com.
Submit your best professional quality images of a Carolina community, home, destination or attraction, as well as any dealing with green and sustainable building and living. Blue sky is a must! For instructions, please email Ann Dolin.
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