The Coastal Insider

Kitchari Recipe

March 8, 2023October 3, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Kitchari is a traditional Ayurvedic dish which has been relied upon for centuries to calm, cleanse, heal, and nourish the digestive system, and revitalize and restore the body. Fall, like spring, is a traditional season for detoxification and dietary cleanses. Doing a cleanse at this time acts as a reset button for the body, preparing it for the winter season ahead, no matter what climate you call home. It is also beneficial for after breaking a fast, if you’ve been ill, or feeling a little under the weather. It tastes wonderful for breakfast as well. It is a very forgiving dish, and is open to additions, subtractions, and substitutions to make it uniquely your own. Kitchari Ingredients 1/2 cup white basmati rice 1/2 cup Moong Dal 1 cups finely chopped cauliflower 1 cup sliced zucchini 1 tbsp clarified butter (ghee) 2 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1/8 tsp hing (found on Amazon or substitute it for 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion and 1 minced garlic clove) 1 1/4 tsp salt 1tsp finely grated ginger 3 1/2 cups water For serving: 2 tbsp hot clarified butter (ghee) Directions Wash and soak rice and moong dal in 3 cups of water for at least 15 minutes. Drain the water and set aside. In a large frying pan heat the ghee with the lid on. When the butter is moderately hot, add cumin seeds, hing (if substituted, 1/4 cup onion and garlic). Allow to cook for 1-2 minutes. Add turmeric, coriander and all other ingredients (plus 1/2 cup of water) and stir. Close the lid, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 7 minutes. Turn off heat and wait until steam has stopped before opening cooker. Kitchari should be soft and a little runny like dough. Add boiling water to adjust the desired consistency. Pour ghee over kitchari before serving.

Coastal Insider September Edition

March 8, 2023August 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

The Coastal Insider October Edition 2022

Digital E-Paper The Coastal Real Estate | Coastal Insider magazine is dedicated to connecting our unique communities of the Grand Strand. From providing valuable community information, such as local area events, businesses, and dining; to educating the public on real estate market trends, our publication offers something for everyone. Take a look at our most recent editions below, or click the link to browse our archives. Coastal Insider This month’s edition is as exciting as ever! Exclusive articles include: Elko Spas, Billiards, and Pools Leverage Roofing Meet Your Neighbors Amanda and Tommy Nist Celebrating Our Veterans Frank Espinal September2022 Edition Archives Isn’t it Time to RELAX?! Read More Leverage Roofing Read More Amanda and Tommy Nist Read More Frank Espinal, Part 1 of 2 Read More Coastal Real Estate August Edition Read More Coastal Insider August Edition Read More No posts found 1 2 3 4 5 A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM This September ties together and celebrates two important things in my life with my two families— my office and personal one. Firstly, it marks my two year anniversary with the Insider, and secondly, it’s the month when Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. I wasn’t born Jewish; I was adopted by a Jewish family in my birthplace of Portugal, and growing up, fell in love with the faith and its values of upholding the Ten Commandments and the importance of family. As an adult, I wasn’t able to convert in Portugal, so when we decided to move to the U.S., that was one of my first goals. I officially converted in 2021. This is my second year celebrating Rosh Hashanah with my family as an insider of the faith. It’s a really fun holiday. I’m very close to family, and we all come together to sing, eat and celebrate. At the Insider, I’m in charge of SEO optimization, website design and development, and social media marketing. When I first began, I dove right into the task of revamping our online presence, organizing it, and optimizing it to make it what it is today. I’m constantly making sure that everything is up-to-date— it’s a dynamic, ever-changing task. I love languages, and learning the language of web design and development has been exciting for me. With social media, what excites me is the design aspect. Our entire team gets involved in the creation process— the colors, the design— and it’s a good time. Trends are always changing, and because of that, you need to constantly change strategies of how you present on social. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my capabilities since I’ve been here. I’ve been really excited about that growth as well as the office culture. I love the togetherness and the camaraderie, and that’s what keeps me motivated to go above and beyond. The culture continuously motivates me to learn new things, and that makes me grow as a person everyday. – Solly Edwards, Web Designer and Developer

Coastal Real Estate September Edition

March 8, 2023August 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Coastal Real Estate

In addition to providing valuable community content, one of our goals is to educate the general public on real estate market trends. In this edition, we focus on stats and homes for sale in the following areas:

Luxury Homes
Market Common
Oceanfront Condos

A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM

This September ties together and celebrates two important things in my life with my two families— my office and personal one. Firstly, it marks my two year anniversary with the Insider, and secondly, it’s the month when Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
I wasn’t born Jewish; I was adopted by a Jewish family in my birthplace of Portugal, and growing up, fell in love with the faith and its values of upholding the Ten Commandments and the importance of family. As an adult, I wasn’t able to convert in Portugal, so when we decided to move to the U.S., that was one of my first goals. I officially converted in 2021.

This is my second year celebrating Rosh Hashanah with my family as an insider of the faith. It’s a really fun holiday. I’m very close to family, and we all come together to sing, eat and celebrate.
At the Insider, I’m in charge of SEO optimization, website design and development, and social media marketing. When I first began, I dove right into the task of revamping our online presence, organizing it, and optimizing it to make it what it is today. I’m constantly making sure that everything is up-to-date— it’s a dynamic, ever-changing task.

I love languages, and learning the language of web design and development has been exciting for me. With social media, what excites me is the design aspect. Our entire team gets involved in the creation process— the colors, the design— and it’s a good time. Trends are always changing, and because of that, you need to constantly change strategies of how you present on social.
I’ve learned a lot about myself and my capabilities since I’ve been here. I’ve been really excited about that growth as well as the office culture. I love the togetherness and the camaraderie, and that’s what keeps me motivated to go above and beyond. The culture continuously motivates me to learn new things, and that makes me grow as a person everyday.

– Solly Edwards,

Web Designer and Developer

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Isn’t it Time to RELAX?!

March 8, 2023August 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Find out Why Everyone is Saying “Let’s Go to Elko!” by Melissa LaScaleia The healing benefits of water have been touted for millennia, but only recently does science concur. Warm water bathing increases serotonin levels, the chemical produced by the brain that’s associated with happiness and well being; submerging in water can reduce pain and inflammation; it also calms the nervous system, reducing levels of stress and anxiety in the body; and improves your mood. At the worst, stress can kill you, at the best, it contributes to premature aging and causes disease. Health is a topic close to the hearts of Kimberley and Michael Elko. With their combined experience in sales, marketing, and innovation, the two decided to start a business together as a family helping others relax and connect. “Many people are looking for a better solution to stress, pain, and overwhelm,” Kimberly says. “So we have a campaign for wellness: ‘Isn’t it Time to Relax?! …Let’s go to Elko.’” Previous Next Elko Spas, Billiards & Pools, near the Market Common, has been a mainstay in the local community for more than thirty-five years. The family owned business sells most major brands of hot tubs, HotSpring Spas, in-ground and above-ground pools, saunas, pool tables and game room products. They can repair anything, and are an authorized service and repair as well as a warranty center. They also provide testing and solutions for optimal water health. “We have a lot of people who visit Elko Spas looking for relief from arthritis, sleep disorders, and fibromyalgia,” Kimberly says. “There are a lot of illnesses that a HotSpring spa or sauna can address. It benefits those looking for an alternative way to feel better. Even without health problems, I call the spa the new dinner table, because it’s a place to relax and reconnect with friends and family.” If you’re going to buy a hot tub, Elko’s spas are proven to last. They have been a highly decorated dealership since their inception in 2004, and 2022 is no exception. They won six of the biggest awards in the county for “Best Spa and Pool Dealership” including: Best of the Beach, Best of the Grand Strand, Best of the Herald, Best of the Carolina Forest Chronicle, Best of the North Strand, and Best of the South Strand. Locals consistently vote them #1 in the Spa & Pool industry both for their quality products and service. They’ve also garnered many awards and accolades both nationally and internationally in the arenas of customer service and dealership quality. In 2019 they won the HotSpring Southeast Dealer of the Year, beating out GA, SC, NC, and FL. “We feel so blessed from all the success,” Kimberly says. And the business seeks to stay active in and give back to the community. They belong to all the local area chambers and networking groups, and contribute to many local charities. The other side of Elko’s business is in game rooms. They carry pool tables and all the products and accessories for games you could need, like darts, ping pong, shuffleboard, and more. “Our showroom is spectacular,” Kimberly says. “And a huge draw for people of all ages because it’s both fun and informative. We have walls of accessories, water care supplies, game room products, and HotSpring spas on display. We are currently expanding so we can display even more.” Elko can customize anything: pools, spas, and spaces. With their complimentary design service, you can create your dream backyard-spa or indoor game space. Visit their showroom off of Palmetto Point Blvd. and 17 Bypass on the frontage road. Address Call Us Website Facebook

Leverage Roofing

March 8, 2023August 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Your Local Roofing & Storm Damage Professionals by Melissa LaScaleia Leverage Roofing is a family owned and operated business run by the Mullis family that specializes in commercial and residential roof installation and repair, seamless gutters, siding and screens, and soft wash and pressure washing services. Storms and high winds often target areas like Myrtle Beach, creating a need for high-quality, sturdy roofing, gutters and siding—even on new or recently constructed homes. Robert Mullis has a thirty-year background in construction with a focus on multi-family developments. Robert and his family founded Leverage Roofing to fulfill the need in this market for professional quality materials and installations that will protect and maintain your home for years to come. Robert’s former career as an insurance adjuster gives him inside knowledge about how best to assist customers with insurance claims when the need arises; he will work directly with your insurance company for claim-related damage, saving you both time and inconvenience. Previous Next “Our company includes four of our sons and an amazing team of people in the field including my fiance, Colleen Hord,” Robert says. “The field teams are busy installing roofs, gutters, siding, soft wash and pressure washing services and running repairs.” “Myrtle Beach has a great beach vibe,” he adds. “I wanted to move my family to this area so my children could have a good school system and be by the ocean. People come here to enjoy life, and that brings a great energy to the area. My family has always loved this place.” Leverage Roofing is located in Murrells Inlet and services all of North and South Carolina. “Everyone works hard each day to provide the care our customers deserve, with quality products and construction to match,” Robert adds. “We ensure each job is done right.” “As a company, we’re proud to offer what homeowners truly need to protect and maintain their home,” says Colleen. “It has taken the dedication and hard work of everyone who works for Leverage Roofing to make this company the success it has become today. It’s a real team environment. And we all show up every day with those values at the forefront of our mind.” Address Call Us Website

Amanda and Tommy Nist

March 8, 2023August 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

A Boating Family, Owners of Beach House Boat Rentals by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my husband Tommy. We have three boys: Brandon, 15; Brody, 13; and Braxton, 9. They all work at our family business, Beach House Boat Rentals, and have been since they could walk. Braxton started by opening the gate for our customers. Brandon and Brody got their boating license when they were ten years old, and love to help customers dock the boats. We also have a dog, River, so named because we spend so much time on the water. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? We moved here from New Jersey thirteen years ago, and we live in Murrells Inlet now. Why did you move here? So many reasons. Everything in New Jersey is expensive for what you receive. And we wanted to move to a place that felt smaller and less congested. We vacationed here all the time; we always rented a beach house, and we were familiar with the area. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? In New Jersey, we didn’t live near the water. When we moved here, the first thing we did was buy a golf cart and a boat; it was completely new to us. We opened a boat rental business the first year we moved here, and are proud that we have grown our fleet from one boat to sixteen. When we vacationed here, we always wanted to rent a boat, but found it difficult. So we started our business to fill in the niche (www.beachhouseboatrentals.com), and today have two locations: at the Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway. A big chunk of our business serves people who rent homes with an attached dock; they can keep the boat at their dock for their entire vacation and take it out when they choose. We also offer half-day and full-day rentals, as well as captained charters on our Catamaran. If we had stayed in New Jersey I don’t think we would have even owned a boat. What is your favorite place in this area? It’s a toss up between the Inlet and the Waccamaw River. Even though we work at the marina, we spend most of our free time on a boat because that’s what we enjoy the most. My kids will do anything water related— fishing, boating, surfing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, tubing. What do you like the most about living here? When we first moved here, it was a bit of a culture shock that people we didn’t know would wave and smile at us. I really like that. People take the time to say hello to you. In New Jersey, everyone is so busy that nobody does this. When I first had a baby, people would stop me in the supermarket to say hello to my baby; they are friendly. And nobody honks around here either. It’s just a different way of life. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? I used to be a teacher, and have a master’s degree in early childhood education. I taught in New Jersey for ten years. I am also a photographer, and I take all the pictures and videos of our boats for our company. Every picture on our website shows our own boats and family. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? Bagels and Italian delis. In New Jersey they are on every block, and it’s been really hard to find some good ones here.

Frank Espinal, Part 1 of 2

March 8, 2023August 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

U.S. Army Veteran, Small Business Owner, Humanitarian Celebrate Our Veteran gives voice to the stories of the U.S. military veterans living amongst us. The actions of these brave and dedicated people, who have served our country both in active military duty as well as administrative positions, have and continue to contribute to the protection and preservation of us and our country. We hope that this section of our paper is an opportunity for our community to hear and see veterans with new eyes, and for veterans to receive recognition and honor for their experiences and life journeys. This month’s Celebrate Our Veteran recounts the story of Frank Espinal, as told in his own words. Click here to read Part 2. by Melissa LaScaleia My heritage is Puerto Rican, and I was born in a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania in 1965. My mother raised me and my three siblings alone; we were a poor family. I was a motivated student in high school, but I just didn’t have the familial or financial support to go to college at that time, so I did what I thought would work for me and my future and joined the U.S. Army in 1982. I completed my basic training at Fort Jackson, then was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas for the next four years. The first units I served in had deployments to Panama, Honduras, and Grenada. My ability to speak the Spanish language was an asset to those deployments. I had a top secret security clearance, and worked with different units within the military in a supporting role. After four years of active duty, I served for sixteen more years in the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves. When you’re in combat arms, you’re trained to kill. It’s not easy to talk about. It’s not a glorious life, it’s serving your country. Elements of my unit were deployed to Grenada when the U.S. invaded in 1983 to overthrow the dictatorial Marxist government. Years later, that small Caribbean country reemerged in my life when I was deployed to help with the reconstruction and building of schools. The U.S. invasion of Panama, called Operation Just Cause, happened at the end of 1989 to depose the dictatorial leadership. During this time, I was in the Army Reserves, and I was deployed to help with rebuilding parts of the country after the successful overthrow. In Panama we were able to take some of the old barracks that were damaged during the invasion and convert them into a hospital which we turned over to the Panamanian people. This was about the same time that the U.S. government relinquished the Canal to Panama and turned over military bases to the Panamanian people as well. The work we did came in the form of financial aid to these countries. But it’s not so much about writing a check as it is building infrastructure. I worked with combat engineers; we had a role in reconstructing buildings that were destroyed during the invasions. There was also a highway system being built between the Americas that connects North and South; we helped to build those roads. In the jungles of Panama, I would come across old Spanish forts over 500 years old; the jungle had literally overtaken them. I realized that I was sitting on a piece of history— and I reflected on where we’ve come from since then—that I’m there today, helping these people to rebuild a country that was being ruled by a dictator. And I could see the affect that that government had on these people. They were so appreciative of everything we did for them. It’s those experiences that made me into a humanitarian. Then, during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991, I was called back into active duty. At this time I was an E6 staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. My unit was deployed to Iraq for nine months and I worked with combat engineers to maintain security on a supply route from Kuwait to Iraq and rebuild the road if it were damaged or destroyed by enemy fire. When you’re out in the desert, you’re traveling by compass, and a lot of times you have to travel at night. Land navigation is so important in military operations, and I consider myself an expert in it. I’ve had situations where I had to find people who were lost in the desert, and you’re doing that in the dark, as quietly as possible. To be continued…

Coastal Real Estate August Edition

March 8, 2023August 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Coastal Real Estate

Luxury Homes
Market Common
Oceanfront Condos

A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM

This past April marked the five year anniversary of my tenure with the Insider. I began as a part-time employee, delivering the publication to various locations around the Market Common. That evolved into a full-time position that entailed distribution along the Grand Strand as well as handling IT needs— as the latter was a niche I’ve been working in most of my life. I also began addressing a variety of operational needs around both the Insider and real estate branches of our company, until my position grew broader and deeper. Today, my job encompasses everything from IT to logistics, security, safety, health and welfare, risk management, and liability assessment.

It’s basically like a family at this company. We all work together to support one another, and the feeling of camaraderie and satisfaction because of that is what makes it so much fun. The real estate market is always changing though— and when the market shifts, we have to shift with it.

A lot of what I do is to support the ways in which our company reacts to those shifts— which means it’s a very dynamic job. In recent years, we have begun performing more support functions for our agents. Now we manage all signage and marketing, as well as create 3D virtual tours for properties.

We’re really impactful when it comes to real estate. We’re the top re-sale brokerage company in the Market Common. But it’s the personal relationships that we forge— whether through real estate or the local businesses who advertise with us, and even those that don’t— that inspire and motivate us, and ultimately help to cement our place in the community as local leaders.

We understand that one person’s success is the success of the entire community— because we’re all connected. We champion solidarity and community over any other value. We’re tied into the community, and our company brings it all together.

– Charlie Miller,

Director of Operations

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Coastal Insider August Edition

March 8, 2023August 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Digital E-Paper The Coastal Real Estate | Coastal Insider magazine is dedicated to connecting our unique communities of the Grand Strand. From providing valuable community information, such as local area events, businesses, and dining; to educating the public on real estate market trends, our publication offers something for everyone. Take a look at our most recent editions below, or click the link to browse our archives. Coastal Insider This month’s edition is as exciting as ever! Exclusive articles include: South Strand Dental Association Champion Autism Network Meet Your Neighbors Clayton Matthews Celebrating Our Veterans Victor Kubilius, part 3 of 3 August 2022 Edition Archives Victor Kubilius – Part 3 of 3 Read More In Memory of Clayton Matthews Read More Updates to Champion Autism Network Read More Creating Smiles With Dentistry Read More Coastal Insider July Edition Read More Coastal Real Estate July Edition Read More No posts found 1 2 3 4 5 A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM This past April marked the five year anniversary of my tenure with the Insider. I began as a part-time employee, delivering the publication to various locations around the Market Common. That evolved into a full-time position that entailed distribution along the Grand Strand as well as handling IT needs— as the latter was a niche I’ve been working in most of my life. I also began addressing a variety of operational needs around both the Insider and real estate branches of our company, until my position grew broader and deeper. Today, my job encompasses everything from IT to logistics, security, safety, health and welfare, risk management, and liability assessment. It’s basically like a family at this company. We all work together to support one another, and the feeling of camaraderie and satisfaction because of that is what makes it so much fun. The real estate market is always changing though— and when the market shifts, we have to shift with it. A lot of what I do is to support the ways in which our company reacts to those shifts— which means it’s a very dynamic job. In recent years, we have begun performing more support functions for our agents. Now we manage all signage and marketing, as well as create 3D virtual tours for properties. We’re really impactful when it comes to real estate. We’re the top re-sale brokerage company in the Market Common. But it’s the personal relationships that we forge— whether through real estate or the local businesses who advertise with us, and even those that don’t— that inspire and motivate us, and ultimately help to cement our place in the community as local leaders. We understand that one person’s success is the success of the entire community— because we’re all connected. We champion solidarity and community over any other value. We’re tied into the community, and our company brings it all together. – Charlie Miller, Director of Operations

Creating Smiles With Dentistry

March 8, 2023August 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

South Strand Dental Associates by Melissa LaScaleia South Strand Dental Associates is a general dentistry practice comprised of Dr. Daniel Miller, Jr., Dr. Daniel Miller III, and Dr. Benjamin H. Collins. The office offers a full range of comprehensive dental services for patients of all ages. They specialize in routine cleanings, preventative oral care, crown and bridge, extraction services, and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Daniel Miller, Jr. has been practicing dentistry for forty-four years, initially in Dillon, SC. “As a dentist, I like helping people and being able to help people maintain beautiful teeth and smiles,” he says. Dr. Daniel Miller III, or Dr. Dan, as he’s known in the office, has always been rooted in South Carolina. He was born in Dillon and graduated from Dental School at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2004. Directly after graduation, he joined his father’s dental practice in Myrtle Beach. “In college I knew that I was interested in the areas of science, health and medicine, but I wasn’t sure what specific field I wanted to pursue,” Dr. Dan says. “I grew up in a household of dentistry— my dad’s grandfather was a dentist; I finally decided to go that direction too.” “It’s been really good for us to work together,” he adds, speaking of the business relationship with his father. “We’ve always gotten along well. He’s a great father, and has been helpful to me in my career in every possible way. “I’ve always appreciated him as a mentor. Our personalities are just different enough, which I think makes us work better together. I’m a little more quiet, and he’s a little more talkative. I think that makes us a good team— even though we have the same name.” Today the dental practice is jointly owned by Dr. Daniel Miller, Jr., Dr. Daniel Miller III, and Dr. Benjamin H. Collins. They are a well-rounded team that covers all age groups. Dr. Collins is a native of Perry, Georgia. He played football at Coastal Carolina University and attended the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University. He has been practicing dentistry at South Strand Dental Associates for five years. “I fell in love with coastal South Carolina while I was attending CCU,” Dr. Collins says. “Upon graduating dental school, it was an easy decision to set up shop here. This area offers all that I love: the beach, golf, an amazing team to work alongside, and the best patients. I can’t really ask for much more than that. And I look forward to providing the best dental care possible to my patients, and serving this community for a long time to come.” “Our dental office has a family feel to it because of the atmosphere we create as a team and the care we show our patients,” Dr. Dan says. “We take the time to get to know our patients so we can provide them with the best service possible. Many of our patients are retired— it’s interesting to get to know them and hear about their lives.” “We are constantly working to stay current with new methods, techniques, and technology to offer the best in dentistry services,” he adds. “The new ways make procedures more simple, less painful, and our patients’ lives as well as our jobs easier.” South Strand Dental Associates P. A. 1616 Azalea Drive, Surfside Beach, SC 29587 Open M-Th 8:30am-5pm; F 8:30am-1pm. 843-238-5111 www.southstranddentalassociates.com

Updates to Champion Autism Network

March 8, 2023August 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Come Play With Us, Yes You Can by Melissa LaScaleia Champion Autism Network (CAN) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that strives to educate and empower communities, businesses, and organizations to create supportive and judgment-free experiences that enhance the quality of life for people living with autism. It was founded in Surfside Beach in 2013, by local resident Becky Large. “At the time that I started CAN, there were a lot of organizations that supported the person with autism, but there didn’t seem to be any that supported the family,” Becky says. “But autism impacts the entire family. When leaving the house, the autistic person might experience stress and have a meltdown. It can lead to a lot of judgement amongst friends, family and strangers. Your social circle gets smaller, and a lot of times you choose not to go out.” Lights, crowds, smells, and loud noises or music can cause stress and overload people with autism. They are highly sensitive to what’s going on in their environment. Many cannot follow or understand social cues, some are even non-verbal. With CAN, Becky and her team curate and promote a variety of sensory-friendly events monthly— activities that the entire family can enjoy. “People are so grateful for the outings we do, because we make it possible for parents and families to socialize and make memories,” she says. Families with autism can join the CAN Card program, and access a list of businesses that participate in the CAN network. Every business in the network offers either a service or a discount to autistic families as a way to show support. “We’ve been training and certifying businesses, venues, resorts and restaurants as autism-friendly in the area locally, since 2015,” Becky says. “Every business offers something different. For some, if there’s a wait and you show your card, you can move to the front of the line. That’s a wonderful thing for families with an autistic child. “The whole impetus behind CAN was to offer support to people living with autism and give them a dignified way to acknowledge that they are autistic. When the business participates, the staff knows what to do if there’s an episode, where to seat you, and how to treat you, and the business gets patronized from a loyal and growing population.” In 2020, CAN partnered with Bluegreen Vacations— a national organization that has resorts all over the country. In 2021, CAN trained and certified all 46 resort locations to be able to serve autistic families. And the training continues, with annual recertification and expansion as better methods and practices develop over time. CAN also partnered with the Lead With Love Training Company to produce and manage their training program nationally. And, in 2021, Richard Sexton, a family friend of the Large’s, ran a full marathon every day for 30 days carrying a 25lb slamball he nicknamed Slappy, on his back, to raise awareness for autism. He ran a total of 750 miles, and raised over $43,000 for CAN. Becky and her team collected footage of his journey, and created a documentary webisode series on their YouTube channel to chronicle and celebrate the story. Another exciting development: CAN is being highlighted in an upcoming Fox Broadcasting and Weather documentary about the affects of nature on people with disabilities. The 1-hour long show is currently set to air on August 3, and will be on Fox Weather and the Fox Network throughout the year. “My son was the inspiration for starting CAN,” she says. “If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be doing this, but now it’s so much bigger than him.” CAN Autism Network Becky@championautismnetwork.com www.championautismnetwork.com Facebook @ Champion Autism Network Follow their story on YouTube: Champion Autism Network For details on Richard Sexton’s journey: www.carolinascanruckforautism.com

In Memory of Clayton Matthews

March 8, 2023August 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Beloved Son, Friend, and Partner in Peace, Love, and Little Donuts by Melissa LaScaleia Clayton Matthews, the owner of Peace, Love, and Little Donuts, passed away suddenly on June 19, 2022, from a hemorrhagic stroke. Left to cherish his memory are his mother and father, Kay and Mickey Matthews who were co-owners of the donut shop as well.A native of El Paso, Texas, Clayton attended James Madison University on a football scholarship and graduated in 2006 with a business degree. While in college, he had a car accident that caused a spinal cord injury and left him paralyzed from the waist down and in a wheelchair for life. Clayton continued to pursue his passions, however, and after graduating, coached the football team at James Madison for the next ten years. In 2016, he accepted a coaching position at Coastal Carolina University and moved to the beach to be closer to his parents. Kay and Mickey had recently decided to make Myrtle Beach home in their retirement years and thought it would be a fun family venture to open and operate Peace, Love, and Little Donuts together, as a family in the Market Common Community. In 2017, Clayton left coaching to help run the business full-time. “Clayton always over-obligated us,” Kay says with a laugh. “He never said no to any project. Once we had someone who wanted 100 dozen donuts at 7 am, so we’d make donuts all night long. He was just a generous person and wanted people to be happy.”“I remember one of the first weddings we did together. The father of the bride was the dean of Horry Georgetown Technical College. They had multiple food stations at the wedding, but our line was longer than any other because it was a novelty, and because Clayton made it so much fun.” “Weddings and parties were our favorite things to do together; Clayton was always the life of the party. It was a great run and a great business. And now that he’s gone, I realize how much I relied on him for his input, and for all the work he put in that I didn’t understand or even realize at the time. And I’m so grateful.” “It didn’t take me long to realize it would be difficult in many ways for me to do this without him. We’ve decided to close our doors at the end of August and move on to other ventures. We’d like to thank all our customers for the opportunity to get to know them over the years, and to serve them a little dose of Peace, Love, and Donuts.” Remembrances By His Friends “Clayton Matthews… where do I even begin? You were and still are the light and laughter amongst us all. I still find myself texting you when Nila or Ariana does something “Uncle Clayton” would approve of, or just to tell you something funny about my day, or just to check in on you. When at work I find myself just waiting for you to just roll in with 3 boxes of Love, Peace and Little Donut boxes. With the biggest smile even though you had a bad day saying, “Hey good looking, can I have a Bud Light.” I caught myself staring at the doors waiting for you, I caught myself typing your name to text you, and then realized you are truly gone. Clayton, Market Common will NEVER be the same! My family will never be the same. But what I will do is a promise to always live by your rule. (You know what that is). Thank you, Clayton, for uplifting me when I was down and always being you! You will always be with us! We love you, Clayton.” —Carmen Wilson “Clayton “Chedda” Matthews, my homie, my brother, and Uncle Clayton, I can’t thank you enough for the impact you made in my and Lydia’s lives. You are a true legend and inspiration to everyone you crossed paths with. I will forever treasure our friendship and never forget you. Rest easy my guy.” —Tyler Vaught “Clayton is always on my mind. I miss him so much. I can’t go anywhere without missing his company. He was so fun to be around, just being around him could turn your mood around. I’ll miss you today, tomorrow, and forever my friend.” —Shonna Wright“Five minutes after meeting Clayton we connected. I knew I had a friend for life. As I learn a new normal that I wasn’t prepared for, I think of days we had and days we’ll never have again. I miss you; we miss you, my friend. R.I.P. V.I.P.” —Jason O’Brien“To know him was to love him. Clayton had a heart of gold and made friends wherever he went. There isn’t a place in Market Common where I don’t have memories with him, and for that, I will be forever grateful. ‘The sky looks different when you have someone you love up there.’” —Victoria Rodrigues

Victor Kubilius, Part 3 of 3

March 8, 2023August 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

WWII Refugee, Korean War Era Veteran and Repeat 2000 Miler Celebrate Our Veteran gives voice to the stories of the U.S. military veterans living amongst us. The actions of these brave and dedicated people, who have served our country both in active military duty as well as administrative positions, have and continue to contribute to the protection and preservation of us and our country. We hope that this section of our paper is an opportunity for our community to hear and see veterans with new eyes, and for veterans to receive recognition and honor for their experiences and life journeys. This month’s Celebrate Our Veteran recounts the story of Victor Kubilius, as told in his own words. This is the final chapter of a three-part series, continued from last month. Click here to read Part 2. by Melissa LaScaleia “So I decided to circumnavigate the United States and parts of Canada via bicycle. I biked from Jacksonville, Florida to Bar Harbor, Maine; then from Maine to Vancouver, to San Diego, and then across Texas and back to Florida. It took me five months. When planning the trip, I was looking for places to go and visit that I hadn’t been. Plus it was a challenge; I like challenges. It was quite a few miles. I made many other bike trips. I took the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail that starts in Portsmouth, Virginia, and traverses the country to Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River empties into the Pacific. It’s 4,822 miles one way. From there I diagonally came back to Myrtle Beach. That was my second trip; it took three and a half months. My next one, I biked from East to West Canada. I started in Connecticut, and from there biked to Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon Territory. That town is the start of the Dempster Highway, renowned because it’s 500 miles of unpaved road in the Northwest Territory. I biked it all the way to Inuvik, a little town in the Northwest Territory. From there I biked to Skagway, Alaska. Then I took a ferry from Skagway to Bellingham, Washington. It was a three day ferry. And from Bellingham, I biked diagonally, back to Myrtle Beach. That took about five months. I also biked the entire Alaskan Highway. It was built during the Second World War to connect Alaska to the rest of the contiguous United States. It begins at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and goes to Alaska. I got in the habit of doing one trip a year. And then I got into long distance hiking. Back when I worked with United Technologies, a few of us were inclined every so often to go hiking as a group in New Hampshire and Maine. On one occasion, I met a couple of teenagers— and they looked drab and cold. And I saw that they were trying to cook. I asked where they were going, and they said they were hiking the Appalachian trail, from Florida to Maine. And I never could stop thinking about it afterwards. And I thought: my God, to hike all that distance. So then it was my turn. I started in Spring Mountain, Georgia. The trail goes through fourteen states and ends at the top of Mt. Katahdin. It took me five and a half months. It’s rather treacherous, and it’s difficult to hike because there’s a lot of rocks and it’s up and down. But I did it. Two years later, I did the PCT, the Pacific Crest Trail. It starts in Campo California, on the Mexican border, and it goes through three different states— California, Oregon, and Washington state, and up to Canada— 2700 miles. The last long hiking trip I did was the Continental Divide Trail, 3,200 miles. It starts near the Mexican border as well— in Hachita, New Mexico, and also goes through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, and you end up in Canada. That took seven months. In Montana there are Grizzly bears— and I saw one at least every week. And when you’re alone, it’s a little scary. Because all the information tells you that if you’re in a group of 4-5 people or more, you’re relatively safe— that the bears tend not to attack. But if they see a lone hiker, they’re much more apt to attack. On one trip, I was bicycling the Yukon Hwy. It was 5am, and because I was in the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn’t set, and it was very bright. There were no cars, and then I came upon a huge rock on the side of the road. I thought it was a boulder, but it was a big Grizzly bear. I whistled from afar and he turned and saw me. So I turned and went back 50 yards, and then he was gone. My favorite hike out of everything I did was the PCT. The PCT is the easiest and most picturesque. You go through old mountain ranges. I hiked parts of it with four other people, from Switzerland and Germany. You don’t want to pick people to hike with before you get on the trail, because they might drive you up the wall. But you meet people on the trail. And the best way to find if someone is compatible with you or not is to find someone on the trail while you’re there. The most difficult was the Continental Divide, because of the size. It just seems like it never ends. Eventually you reach the end, and you’re so elated. And then you get back to your life, and I was kind of depressed for a while, because there’s nothing to live for. But then, I’d get over that after a month. So then, after that month that I recovered, I’d have nothing left but memories, and then I started ballroom dancing again— my favorite activity. After forty-eight years, I went back to Lithuania and saw my sister for the first time since childhood. It was very nostalgic— very interesting. That … Read more

Coastal Insider July Edition

March 8, 2023July 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Digital E-Paper The Coastal Real Estate | Coastal Insider magazine is dedicated to connecting our unique communities of the Grand Strand. From providing valuable community information, such as local area events, businesses, and dining; to educating the public on real estate market trends, our publication offers something for everyone. Take a look at our most recent editions below, or click the link to browse our archives. Coastal Insider This month’s edition is as exciting as ever! Exclusive articles include: Window Genie of Myrtle Beach Gator Strong Services Meet Your Neighbors Christy and Lee Brown Celebrating Our Veterans Victor Kubilius, part 2 of 3 July 2022 Edition Archives A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM When I think of July, my thoughts turn to fireworks, family gatherings, the beach, vacations, and grilled food complimented by colorful cocktails. A summer month— and one to commemorate both country and Southern culture. In rural Andrews where I grew up, we’d have a community block party every July, and everyone would turn out for it. There was always a live band— The Old Morrisville Brass Band— and there would be dancing and plenty of food and drinks. Even though I miss those good old days— the endless festivals, gatherings and wonderful people in Myrtle Beach are the basis of my soul-satisfying community today. Things change and evolve, like the place we call home, the ways we spend our time, and how we define our community— but some things— like the values we hold dear, never change. That’s as true for me as it is of our publication. As we enter our 7th year of being in print, we still retain our same mission—that of keeping our readers up-to-date on the real estate market, our area listings, stories of the people in our community, and some of the great businesses ready to serve you. This month, we put a spotlight on Window Genie— a contractor we used to safeguard our office windows, as well as reduce the amount of glare coming through them. Not only do they do a great job, but they’re cost-effective too. We also feature Gator Strong Services, who have been advertisers with us for several years. They are hard workers and devoted to their business; it’s so rewarding for me to see how much they’ve grown in such a short time. Lastly, I want to give a shout-out to our marketing director, Megan Parker, whose birthday is this month. Her ability to retain information and keep everything flowing, in and out of the office always amazes me. So happy birthday Megan, and have a joyful July everyone! And on that note of joy, one of my favorite bible passages: John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” – Latoya Grayson, Director of Public Relations Getting Your Home Spruced For Spring Read More A One-Stop Shop for Multiple Home Additions and Products Read More Christy and Lee Brown Read More Victor Kubilius – Part II Read More Coastal Insider June Edition Read More Coastal Real Estate June Edition Read More No posts found 1 2 3 4 5

Coastal Real Estate July Edition

March 8, 2023July 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Coastal Real Estate In addition to providing valuable community content, one of our goals is to educate the general public on real estate market trends. In this edition, we focus on stats and homes for sale in the following areas: Luxury Homes Market Common Oceanfront Condos Archives July 2022 Edition A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM When I think of July, my thoughts turn to fireworks, family gatherings, the beach, vacations, and grilled food complimented by colorful cocktails. A summer month— and one to commemorate both country and Southern culture. In rural Andrews where I grew up, we’d have a community block party every July, and everyone would turn out for it. There was always a live band— The Old Morrisville Brass Band— and there would be dancing and plenty of food and drinks. Even though I miss those good old days— the endless festivals, gatherings and wonderful people in Myrtle Beach are the basis of my soul-satisfying community today. Things change and evolve, like the place we call home, the ways we spend our time, and how we define our community— but some things— like the values we hold dear, never change. That’s as true for me as it is of our publication. As we enter our 7th year of being in print, we still retain our same mission—that of keeping our readers up-to-date on the real estate market, our area listings, stories of the people in our community, and some of the great businesses ready to serve you. This month, we put a spotlight on Window Genie— a contractor we used to safeguard our office windows, as well as reduce the amount of glare coming through them. Not only do they do a great job, but they’re cost-effective too. We also feature Gator Strong Services, who have been advertisers with us for several years. They are hard workers and devoted to their business; it’s so rewarding for me to see how much they’ve grown in such a short time. Lastly, I want to give a shout-out to our marketing director, Megan Parker, whose birthday is this month. Her ability to retain information and keep everything flowing, in and out of the office always amazes me. So happy birthday Megan, and have a joyful July everyone! And on that note of joy, one of my favorite bible passages: John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” – Latoya Grayson, Director of Public Relations Stay Tuned! We have great content coming out and you’re going to want to stay on top of it! Fill out the form below to subscribe to our mailing list and receive Coastal Real Estate | Coastal Insider in your inbox each month. If you don’t receive an email from us in about 5 minutes, check your junk/spam folder.

Window Genie Cleaners

March 8, 2023July 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Getting Your Home Spruced For Spring By Melissa LaScaleia Window Genie of Myrtle Beach specializes in window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning, and more for their residential and commercial clients as well as condo associations. Their services are especially popular amongst homeowners looking to spruce their home up to get it for-sale ready. “We’re not perfect, but we try to be,” says Tom Washer, the owner of the franchise, of his services. “Our first priorities are to have respect for the customers, respect for each other, and to provide a quality service at a premium price.” As a veteran of the United States Air Force, Tom has a robust knowledge of maintenance analysis and functionality of systems— skills and discipline which he put to good use when he brought Window Genie to Myrtle Beach. Tom and his wife, being tired of the snow and cold weather, relocated from the North almost a decade ago. “We’ve lived in the Market Common throughout that time, and have endured Hurricanes Florence, Matthew, and Dorian as well at the Covid-19 pandemic,” Tom says. “We have continued to serve our community throughout these difficult times that all of our neighbors have had to experience. Despite these natural drawbacks, we continue to grow along with the support of our strong customer relationships.” Today, instead of shoveling snow off his roof, he is helping his customers in Myrtle Beach to clean algae off theirs, as Window Genie also specializes in roof cleaning. “Roof Algae occurs on a ten-year cycle, growing on a roof and eating the limestone,” Tom says. “If you don’t clean it off, it reduces the life of your roof by 10%. Coastal areas are more susceptible. Nowadays, so many people are selling their home— and having algae on the roof can be a big deterrent because it looks dirty, and also reduces the life expectancy of the roof, and people may think the roof needs to be replaced imminently.” Window Genie also installs window film, which offers greater security as well as heat-regulation for your home or business. It comes in a variety of styles depending on your needs. It is made to reduce the heat gain from the sun; reduce glare; limit visibility for greater privacy; to enhance security, safeguarding windows and doors against a storm or a break in; and for decorative purposes. “If you have a room in your home that is too hot to sit in during midday, we can correct that,” Tom says. “If there is glare on your television or computer screens, film can help with that. If your neighbors can look into your windows or can see into your bathroom, we can correct that. If you look outside your window and see the side of your neighbor’s house and would rather not, we can correct that so you’re looking at something nicer. If you have windows that may not hold up because of strong winds, then we can correct that too.” Tom uses protective window films by SunTek, a leading brand of window films manufactured by Eastman Chemical, and decorative ones by Solyx. Window Genie offers a free on-site consultation to assess your home for what it needs before conducting any work. “I’ll survey your home for anything that needs to be repaired or could cause a problem down the road, regardless of whether we offer that service or not,” Tom says. “That way, we can best serve the customer. If I don’t perform the service, I can refer you to someone who can take care of it. Window Genie is part of the Neighborly family of brands, which represents twenty brands across the country. They have sister companies that offer everything from painting to plumbing, electrical work, appliance repair, and more. There are many franchises in Myrtle Beach that I have connections with which fall under their umbrella.” “The best part of what we do is making a difference,” he adds. “We work with a lot of realtors and have helped to sell many homes. It can really make an impact when a home is cleaned properly.” Tom enjoys giving back to the community as well. He has partnered with Creekfront Salkehatchie which is a national summer camp program for children with fifty locations across South Carolina, including Murrells Inlet. The children help in the building and repair of homes for local people in need, helping them to stay safe, warm, and dry. Window Genie also manufactures its own brand of ammonia-free glass cleaner. Whenever you buy glass cleaner from Tom, he donates 100% of the proceeds to Creekfront’s local camp, to support their mission. Now when you keep your windows clean, you can know that you helped contribute to children learning new skills, as well as families in need.

Gator Strong Services of Myrtle Beach

March 22, 2023July 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

A One-Stop Shop for Multiple Home Additions and Products by Melissa LaScaleia Gator-Strong Services of Myrtle Beach began in 2017 as a local fence company, and quickly expanded into the hurricane shutter business. They started with two leaders, a vision, and thirteen employees— and that vision and leadership took root and blossomed. Today, Gator-Strong has thirty-six employees between their two brick and mortar locations in Myrtle Beach and Wilmington. Both offer showrooms where customers can see available options for every product they carry; and the already-extensive list of home products and services they provide continues to grow. A few of their highlights include: screened rooms, garage screens, motorized sun awnings, deck installation, windows installation and repair, door installation and refurbishment, and siding. The company is jointly owned and locally operated by long-time friends and business partners, Danny Vulin and Jim Leone. Business partners and frends, Danny Vuli (left) and Jim Leone (right) “We are an incredible team, and definitely like a family,” Jim says. “We’re growing by leaps and bounds, and recently brought on a CFO, Frank Sicilia, to manage that growth.” Gator Strong employs no subcontractors. They are proud that every employee is directly under their tutelage— ensuring their high standards of excellence will be met and adhered to, as well as their passion, as business owners and leaders amongst their employees, matched. “We wouldn’t have the success we have today without our team,” Jim says. “Everyone who works here wants to be here. They care about our customers and what we’re trying to achieve. I believe you lose a lot when you subcontract out. It becomes less personal, so there’s less accountability— it doesn’t come with your values, your work ethic, your personal brand. We put our heart into each product, installation, and customer interaction— and that difference is the key to our success.” Hurricane & Security Shutters Pictured: Bahama Shutters Fences & Gates Pictured: Vinyl / PVC Fence Retractable Screens Access Controllers Pictured: Gated Driveway Previous Next Gator-Strong serves clients with residential, commercial and industrial projects from Wilmington to Charleston. The quality of their work and the extensive number of years both have in their industry garner them many high-profile jobs. The summer months bring with them many challenges for your home and property. The advent of bug season, relentless sun and heat, and hurricane season can take their toll. So they offer screened in porches and garage screens to combat insects, and motorized awnings with a variety of color options to match your home to protect it and you from the sun. Perhaps the most important protection is from hurricanes. Gator-Strong’s hurricane division designs, installs, and services all different styles of hurricane shutters including: storm panels, motorized roll downs, accordions, and Bahama shutters. “If a window breaks during a hurricane, the amount of water that can come through the glass is unbelievable,” Danny says. “Even if you don’t have breakage, the pressure can allow water to get into the seals of the window, and the water can then seep into the walls of your house. Recently I came in contact with a woman who was selling her house and had to replace an entire wall because of all the water damage that had accumulated over the years that she wasn’t aware of. Sometimes the damage is happening and you can’t see it, and it creates a lot of problems down the road.” For this reason, it’s important to board up windows and doors, even ones that aren’t glass, when preparing for a hurricane. Anybody who has used plywood knows how difficult it is to fit properly, and it doesn’t retain its structure with repeated use. The experience in 2018 and ensuing consequences, led Danny and Jim to find alternate, functional window and door-protection options to offer the community. “The panels are lighter and easy to put up in the event of a storm,” Danny says. “There is a permanent track around the perimeter of the window, and if a storm is coming, you install the panel. Roll-downs will roll down into place with a hand crank, or automatically, with the push of a button. We have options to accommodate and protect any window or door in seconds. We also pride ourselves in educating each customer in order to ensure that the type of shutter picked out will meet the customer’s needs. A lot of second homes opt for shutters during the off-season to protect not only from storms, but also theft or vandalism of their property while the owners are away.” Check out their newly updated website to see all their offerings, and to receive your own price estimate for fencing in moments. * Discounts for emergency responders, nurses, doctors, and veterans. The recent pandemic has caused delays in the availability of materials and price increases for supplies.

Christy and Lee Brown

March 8, 2023July 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

House Church Planters and Beach Lovers by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. It’s myself and my husband Lee. We have two sons: Noah is 22, and Ethan is 20— both are college students; and a dog, Chewy, short for Chewbacca. He looked like Chewbacca from Star Wars when we got him, and the boys were big fans of the movie, so that’s how he got his name. He’s 14 years old now, and not as fuzzy as he used to be, but he’s a good little dog— a tiny toy poodle. Where are all the places you came from? What area of the Grand Strand do you now call home? Christy: I was born in Sumter; we both lived there most of our lives. We lived in Columbia for four years when Lee earned his master’s of Divinity at Columbia International University Seminary. Today, we live in the Meridian in the Market Common area. Lee: I was born in Elgin, Illinois, and moved to South Carolina at age 2 when my birth parents divorced. I was adopted when I was six years old, and grew up in Sumter. Why did you move here? Lee: I was invited to Myrtle Beach to help start a house church, where we open our home to smaller groups of people for church service. It’s modeled after the early Christian church. The goal is to establish a greater sense of community, intimacy, and friendship amongst people— to make more personal connections. Often in a larger setting, those qualities can get lost. It’s also an opportunity for people to partake in church who may not feel comfortable going to a bigger church for whatever reason. What is your favorite place in this area? Christy: I love Huntington Beach State Park because of all the wildlife. It feels like every time you go you’re seeing something different. Lee: The Marsh Walk in Murrells Inlet. I get excited every time I see the beach, and we’ve been coming here for vacation our entire lives. What are your favorite things to do here? Lee: I like hunting for shark’s teeth, and playing trivia. We love all the activities available in Myrtle Beach— there’s always something going on here. What do you like the most about living here? Lee: The beach itself. I love sitting on the beach, the salt air, and the waves crashing. How has your lifestyle changed or what new activities have you taken up since moving here? Christy: I’ve been working as a personal shopper. That’s not something I could have done in Sumter because it’s too small. Whether it’s food, clothing or decor, I get what people need and deliver it to them. It has been a great way to learn the area better and help people. I’ve met a lot of sweet people that way. What is one thing that your neighbors don’t know about you? We have been to seventeen Major League ballparks, and our goal is to hit them all. We’re a little over half way. Is there anything that you miss or would like to see in Myrtle Beach? We miss seeing our friends back home, and would love to see a Trader Joe’s come to the area.

Victor Kubilius, Part 2 of 3

March 8, 2023July 1, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

I was about sixteen or seventeen years old at the time. I did this for a couple of years, then I got a job at a typewriter company…

Coastal Insider June Edition

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Current Edition Stay connected with our top stories delivered every month! A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM This month we enter the seventh year that the Coastal Insider has been in print— bringing local stories about businesses and people that inform and entertain, stories that touch hearts and minds, to our readers along the Grand Strand and beyond. Over the years, we’ve changed names, locations, and our layout, but we’ve never wavered from our mission— that of supporting local businesses and of connecting our unique coastal communities. We’ve had as much fun and laughable adventures compiling content each month as we hope you’ve had reading it; while with each passing year, the relationships and ties to our community become richer and deeper. We’d like to offer a heartfelt thanks to our advertisers, for the trust and faith you put in us to represent you, and our readers, for the joy and support you bring us. Another constant here at the Insider is our tireless pursuit to make what we have to offer, ever better. We recently began a new initiative with area realty companies to showcase a hand-selected number of their listings in our publication, to reveal the best of what the Grand Strand has to offer. Additionally, our magazine will no longer focus geographically on one rotating area of the Grand Strand, rather it will include all area real estate every month. We envision this collaboration and change will better serve the needs of both customers and communities, and are excited to see how it unfolds. Whether you’ve lived here for years, or are visiting for the first time, welcome to summer in Myrtle Beach. Have a blessed season. -Melissa LaScaleia, Writer/Editor

Coastal Real Estate June Edition

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

The Coastal Insider and Coastal Real Estate From entertainment, leisure and beaches to local businesses and community, we bring it closer to you. Plus advertising with us is in alignment with our mission! Current Edition Coastal Insider This month’s edition we go back to Jiffy Lube and how they make sure that we take care of our cars. They have been in business for so long that they know what they are talking about! Read more inspirational stories about the several businesses and local neighbors here in the Market Common. Take a peak at our past editions of the Coastal Insider. Coastal Real Estate This edition we dive into the different markets that make up the Grand Strand. From luxury homes to homes in the market common, we cover it all. With stats and information that will make you understand this market at a different level. Take a peak at our past editions of the Coastal Home Insider. Current Edition A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM This month we enter the seventh year that the Coastal Insider has been in print— bringing local stories about businesses and people that inform and entertain, stories that touch hearts and minds, to our readers along the Grand Strand and beyond. Over the years, we’ve changed names, locations, and our layout, but we’ve never wavered from our mission— that of supporting local businesses and of connecting our unique coastal communities. We’ve had as much fun and laughable adventures compiling content each month as we hope you’ve had reading it; while with each passing year, the relationships and ties to our community become richer and deeper. We’d like to offer a heartfelt thanks to our advertisers, for the trust and faith you put in us to represent you, and our readers, for the joy and support you bring us. Another constant here at the Insider is our tireless pursuit to make what we have to offer, ever better. We recently began a new initiative with area realty companies to showcase a hand-selected number of their listings in our publication, to reveal the best of what the Grand Strand has to offer. Additionally, our magazine will no longer focus geographically on one rotating area of the Grand Strand, rather it will include all area real estate every month. We envision this collaboration and change will better serve the needs of both customers and communities, and are excited to see how it unfolds. Whether you’ve lived here for years, or are visiting for the first time, welcome to summer in Myrtle Beach. Have a blessed season. -Melissa LaScaleia, Writer/Editor Stay tuned with latest information by subscribing to receive the Coastal Insider directly into your inbox. Click on Subscribe below! You shall receive an email from us in about 5 minutes, if you do not receive anything please check your junk/spam folder.

Long Live Your Car

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Jiffy Lube Long Live Your Car by Melissa LaScaleia Steve Allison has been in the automotive service industry for over thirty years. In 1994, he began his entrepreneurial ventures in Myrtle Beach with his first quick lube location in Surfside Beach. Today, he and long-time business partner Al Chance run Atlantic Coast Enterprises (ACE), which owns sixty-three Jiffy Lube Service Center locations along the East Coast. The two are excited to break ground on their seventh location along the Grand Strand— a state of the art Jiffy Lube Multicare prototype building in Murrells Inlet, next to the Circle K. Jiffy Lube International has recognized the duo’s hard work, dedication, and business savvy with several awards over the years. Most recently they won the People Award for 2021, which honors the ways that they take care of their employees and give back to the community. “We have built an incredible team that elevates the customer experience,” Steve says. “Our customer service score ranks among the highest of all Jiffy Lubes in the country. “We know that we are only as good as the team members that we have in each local store. So we are always looking to hire great people that will go above and beyond— men and women with great attitudes that truly understand our ‘at your service mentality.’ “And we value our employees by offering extensive training, continuing education and amazing benefits, including college tuition payment. Additionally, there are a variety of career paths they can pursue within our organization.” Over the past eight years, Jiffy Lube has transitioned the majority of their locations into Jiffy Lube Multicare stores with ASE certified mechanics who specialize in mechanical services that generally take three hours or less— services like brakes, tires, alignments, suspension work, and tune-ups. Jiffy Lube technicians are trained to work on all makes and models of vehicles, including luxury and foreign vehicles. Going to Jiffy Lube is easier and faster than having to make an appointment at the dealership, spending half the day in a waiting room, or even having to take a loaner car until yours is ready. In addition to their new location being built in Murrells Inlet, they are also converting their Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach locations into Multicare stores, adding additional bays in each location to better serve their customers. A prototype of the new Jiffy Lube location arriving in 2022 in Murrells Inlet. “We’re very excited about the expansion into Jiffy Lube Multicare,” Steve says. “In the past few years, we’ve seen the car industry shift. With supply chain challenges and new car prices increasing dramatically, we are seeing people keep their cars longer which means we are seeing people wanting to take better care of the cars they currently own. That’s what we’re here to do. We believe that if a car has 100,000 miles on it, it still has at least 100,000 miles left in it. “Some people think that because their vehicle is under warranty they don’t need to maintain it, but this isn’t so. It’s a lot easier to do preventive maintenance on a car now, so you don’t have to do a major repair later. Proper maintenance is the most inexpensive insurance you can buy.” As part of the Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change, they will run a full safety inspection on your vehicle; check and top off the vital fluids; set the tires to the proper manufacturer specifications— all in about 20 minutes. The best part: you never need an appointment. They also offer a top off service, so between oil changes you can go into any location and get your vital fluids as well as your tire pressure checked and adjusted, anytime, at no charge. At the onset of Covid, the company expanded its repertoire of offerings to include in-vehicle service. “It’s all about the customers’ choice,” Steve says. “They can wait in our comfortable lounges or stay in their vehicle while we perform the service. In the hot summer months, we provide portable air conditioning units to keep customers cool while they wait in their vehicle. These small details make a big difference to the customers.” Regardless of which way you choose to have your vehicle serviced, the Grand Strand Jiffy Lubes continue to provide fast, high quality service. “We understand that your time is valuable,” Steve says. “That’s why all our team members are trained and certified to get you back on the road in 15-20 minutes. We know having your vehicle serviced isn’t your favorite thing to do, so we try to give you your time back, without the worry and stress of vehicle maintenance. “We know people can go anywhere to get an oil change and they chose us. We simply want to show our appreciation with great service, by treating every customer’s car as if it were our mother’s car. These are the things that we are known for, and why our customers return to us each time they need their vehicles serviced. Our mission statement is to create customers for life through fast, friendly, clean and professional service. “Nobody wants to buy another vehicle because they didn’t properly take care of the one they have, so bring it to us, and let us take care of it for you.” Jiffy Lube. Long Live Your Car! Jiffy Lube Multicare Service Centers 1551 Highway 17 North, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; 843-249-9944 255 Singleton Ridge Road, Conway, SC 29526; 843-347-5823 1711 Church Street, Conway, SC 29526; 843-248-9997 1952 Mr. Joe White Avenue North, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; 843-946-7276 4565 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 – Coming Soon! Jiffy Lube Service Centers 3619 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; 843-651-9074 920 Highway 17 Business, Surfside Beach, SC 29575; 843-238-3808 Open M-F 8am- 7pm; Sa 8am-6pm; Su 9am-4pm.

Coastal Carolina Home Watch

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

ARE YOU PROTECTED? WHO’S WATCHING YOUR HOME? Savvy people understand the importance of protecting that which they’ve invested in, and that which they love. And Coastal Carolina Home Watch has been doing just that for almost two decades. They perform home check services for out-of-town owners of residences from Cherry Grove to the Grand Dunes, from the Golden Mile to Debordieu Colony, and everything in between on the Grand Strand and Waccamaw Neck. Many people underestimate the importance of properly monitoring their investment at the beach while they’re away— leaving it to the care of a friendly neighbor or friend, a smart home device, or simply to fate. “So many things can happen while you aren’t here, things that could be disastrous if they go undiscovered,” says the company’s founder and president, Jack Luber who began the company after his own home had a brush with near disaster during a prolonged absence. A judicious homeowner looks for a local presence that is professional, nationally accredited, discreet, and bonded and insured, to care for their home in their absence. The list of things that can befall your unattended home include: HVAC Failure Water Leaks Mold Pest Infestation Vandalism Storm Damage Power Outage What kind of procedures do you have in place to care for your home or investment property? Water damage and mold are the top insurance claims in the state of South Carolina. Let Coastal Carolina Home Watch be Your Eyes and Ears When You’re Not Here. Some Benefits of Engaging Coastal Carolina Home Watch Include: Keyholder services Rental assistance (VRBO and Airbnb) 24 hour alarm response GPS-enabled time and date stamped inspection reporting General monitoring and reporting to homeowner of home and property, inside and out, and status of work performed by hired contractors General visual inspection of home and property, inside and out, for damage, vandalism, and proper maintenance Pre-and-post-storm services Basic handyman services Arranging for contractors, service personnel, and cleaners Concierge services— arrangement for airport transportation, personal chef, reservations, and shopping Absolute discretion and 100% confidential Can act as your local HOA contact Local representation Licensed, bonded, insured, criminally background checked Accredited through the National Home Watch Association Affordable protection you and your home deserve and need. Facebook Instagram Globe Phone

Erica Davis

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Passionate Supporter of All Things Local, Small Business Owner, and TV Star by Melissa LaScaleia Introduce me to your family. I have two children: Hunter, who is thirteen years old, and a daughter, Allie Greer, who is eleven. Where are all the places you came from? Myrtle Beach has been my home since the second grade, I love it here and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Why did you elect to stay here? For me, it’s my sanctuary. We can walk to the beach anytime, it’s sunny, and I love the sense of community here. What are you passionate about? About ten years ago, I brought Guild Mortgage to the beach and opened my office here. I help people achieve home ownership. It’s extra special for me because I make beach living in my beloved hometown a reality for so many. We specialize in residential home loans and offer a variety of products. Since then, I’ve been able to spread my wings into different states. I’ve always had a passion for marketing as well; it’s kind of my decompression time. I started an Instagram account, @TheSytlishLender, as well as a blog. I cover a broad range of content— from the local hot spots of Myrtle Beach, to the lending world, and even fashion. It’s been really fun for me to showcase my hometown in this way, market and educate others on home ownership, and make Myrtle Beach a reality destination for so many people, whether they’re moving here or just vacationing. Most recently I’ve been part of the CNBC TV show, Financing the American Dream, which highlights top real estate markets around the country. It’s aired monthly, and I auditioned and was selected for the Myrtle Beach segment. I’ve done three seasons now, and got to experience a lot of tourist attractions in Myrtle Beach— things outside of what I typically do. We went to Myrtle Waves, the Grand Prix, and even got to ride Banana Boats. It’s been a blast. What is your favorite place in this area? Definitely the beach— it truly never gets old. My favorite restaurant is Fire & Smoke, I’m probably there twice a week. What are your favorite things to do here? I am a big fan of supporting local. That includes everything from restaurants and coffee shops to boutique specialty stores. I love fashion, and it’s all about getting things as local as I can get. What do you like the most about living here? The atmosphere. It’s so laid back, and people genuinely like to have a good time. This is a place where you can come to relax, meet new friends, and have fun. Is there anything that you would like to see in Myrtle Beach? I would love to see some healthier food options, I know it’s coming soon, I can feel the change!

Fat Loss Tips

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Living Well Nutrition by Jen Kavanagh If you’re on a mission to increase muscle tone then it’s essential to focus on fat loss rather than simply weight loss. Losing pounds feels good, but if those pounds are muscle, then you’re actually hurting your overall ability to lose fat. That’s because muscle burns fat. It’s also easy to get deceived because muscle weighs more than fat. So you’ll feel the gratification of losing weight— but in the wrong places. Following the below tips will ensure you’re losing the right pounds, so you can be well on your way to a more defined physique. 1 Keep Track of Your Calories Being serious about losing fat means taking note of every calorie you consume; making sure these calories contain enough protein; and stopping when you meet your daily allowance. Don’t Overestimate Your Caloric Burn You may think you’re burning far more calories in a workout than you actually are. But do not be deceived! Even if it seems you’re burning 600-700 calories per go, you’re almost without exception going to be burning in the 300-400 range. So at this juncture, reaching for a pizza, nachos, or other soul-satisfying calorie-dense foods as a reward can derail your progress. Instead, refuel with something easily digestible and not too calorie-dense. A whey protein shake with some berries or half a banana is ideal, followed by plenty of water. Then wait. Your brain needs time to tell your body it’s full. A few hours later you can eat a complete meal. Just remember to skip the nachos. 2 3 Eat Out Less Your favorite restaurant may be calling your name, but resist the siren call. By cooking your own dinner at home, you’ll sidestep the variety of pitfalls that can occur while eating out: no extra calories from cocktails, bread baskets or added oils, butter, cream and dressings. Reduce Alcohol Intake Alcohol helps you relax and red wine is touted for its health benefits. But alcohol also comes with a lot of additional calories. To sidestep them, skip the bar and opt for a glass of seltzer water. Or set boundaries: enjoy wine or cocktails twice a week, and have one drink instead of two or three. 4 5 Redirect Your Focus When the Going Gets Tough Have a good support system in place for when you feel down rather than inspired about your goal. Identify those who can be there for you to cheer you on when the going gets tough— a family member, friend, or someone who’s working towards the same goals. Turn to pleasurable activities that boost your morale— long walks in nature, time with a pet, or any other hobby to help redirect your focus. Hit the Hay Remember when your parents gave you a curfew because, “Nothing good happens after midnight?” This is particularly true when fat loss is your goal. Get to bed early to help your body function at its best. Your body will reset and you can actually lose weight during the night. 6 7 Weigh Yourself (occasionally) The scale is a great way to monitor your progress. However it can also be a source of stress. Fat loss takes time, so weighing yourself any more than once a week is unnecessary. I weigh in monthly just to make sure I’m not getting off track. Don’t Give Up You may think it’s too easy a tip to list, but very few people have the will power necessary to keep with a program long enough to see the desired results. Commit yourself today to being one of those few. 8 Jen Kavanagh— Nutritionist www.eatplantsloseweight.com

Victor Kubilius, Part 1 of 3

March 8, 2023May 31, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

WWII Refugee, Korean War Era Veteran and Repeat 2000 Miler Celebrate Our Veteran gives voice to the stories of the U.S. military veterans living amongst us. The actions of these brave and dedicated people, who have served our country both in active military duty as well as administrative positions, have and continue to contribute to the protection and preservation of us and our country. We hope that this section of our paper is an opportunity for our community to hear and see veterans with new eyes, and for veterans to receive recognition and honor for their experiences and life journeys. This month’s Celebrate Our Veteran recounts the story of Victor Kubilius as told in his own words. It is continued in next month’s Celebrate Our Veteran column. Click here to read Part 2. by Melissa LaScaleia “I was born in Lithuania by the shores of the Baltic Sea in 1931. I lived there for ten years before World War II started. Then the Germans invaded Russia, and Lithuania was in the way, so they trampled all over us as well as the other Baltic countries of Estonia and Latvia. The Russians were pushing the Germans back in my country. It was a war zone; all of Europe was in a war. My mother had nine children, and only six survived. At that time, it was common that a child could die shortly after birth. Then my father died when I was two years old, leaving my mother with five young children and pregnant with a sixth. My aunt primarily raised my elder sister, Danute, due to the hardship. Plus my aunt had four sons and wanted a daughter. Danute was a year older than I was. When the war broke out, she didn’t leave Lithuania with us; instead she stayed with her primary family and began secretly working with the resistance movement. She was eleven or twelve years old at the time, and hid two young Lithuanian nationalists in a root cellar. At night she would let them out and they would ambush the Russians. It was foolish, they were never going to win, but they were patriots. The Russians didn’t catch her until four or five years later. A neighbor who was sympathetic to the Russians turned her in. The two young men committed suicide in the root cellar with hand grenades because they knew if the Russians found them they’d be tortured and want to know where the rest of the insurgents were hiding. My sister was shipped off to Siberia. After Stalin died, the Russians became more gentle and released her. After five years in Siberia, she returned to Lithuania. We reunited after forty years in Lithuania— it was quite an occasion. While my sister stayed behind, my mother, brother and sister and I became refugees. The Germans pushed the Russians way back west to Leningrad, and we were being pushed along with them, along the war front. When winter came, the Germans had to stop because they had no winter equipment. Then the Russians pushed the Germans back fairly easily. We were caught really, between these two warring counties. The Russians were even more aggressive than the Germans, so we decided to go to Germany. We walked across most of the country. We had no horses, no vehicles. We walked with what was on our backs, and pushed a small cart behind us. We couldn’t take showers. We were hungry. I had to steal or beg for food. We eventually reached Schneider Muller. From there, we boarded trains and were shipped to the western part of Germany in the farmlands, a little town called Oldenburg. This is where the Germans took the refugees who didn’t want to go back to their country under Soviet Rule. They delivered us to farmers. We worked and didn’t get paid, but it was better because we had food, shelter and beds, and we were used to being farmhands, so it was no big deal for us. When the Germans finally capitulated to the Allies, Europe was divided into three zones governed by the English, American, and French. Germany decided to immigrate people who wanted to go to Brazil, Canada and the U.S. We were repatriated to the British zone, and lived in a DP camp, a Displaced Persons camp. This was for people who didn’t want to go back to their own countries, and we didn’t want to go back. The Russians were bitter towards the Baltic people; they would ship you to Siberia if you said something they didn’t like. We stayed in the camp for five years. That’s where I went to high school and learned how to play soccer. Life wasn’t very good, but it was better than wandering around. In order to immigrate to another country, you needed to have a sponsor who would guarantee that you wouldn’t be a burden. My mother had a neighbor in Lithuania that she had known since childhood, who was living in Hartford, Connecticut. She sponsored us, took us in, and found employment for us. It was a very small house— my brother and I slept on the porch, and it was kind of cold. Lithuanian farmers gave us work. They would pick us up in a pickup truck every morning, we’d work in the fields all day, and then they’d bring us back at night. I worked full time and went to school at night to study English. It was a mile from where I lived, and I walked. It wasn’t very far.” To be continued…Click here to read Part 2.

Coastal Insider May Edition

March 8, 2023May 2, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Current Edition Stay connected with our top stories delivered every month! A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM For me spring has always been a season that’s full of possibilities and potential for new opportunities. The real estate market seems to agree; because traditionally this has been the time when homes and properties hit the market for sale en masse. If you’ve been toying with the idea of putting your home on the market and haven’t yet done so, it’s not too late to get in and reap the rewards of the spring buying trend. I always enjoy photographing homes at this time of year because the first flowers of the season are in full bloom— framing a backdrop for your home, and showing it to its best advantage. This year’s spring selling season is a high-energy one. Properties are moving incredibly quickly. I took pictures of a house the other day, and it sold the same day for $20,000 over asking price. At our office, the vibe is matching the season— it’s high energy, fast paced, and dynamic. Our staff has a family feel, and we all look out for each other. The energy is positive, and everybody works together to support our agents to the best of their ability. Check out our real estate listings on page, ___. As a reminder, every month our magazine will cover one of three rotating sections of real estate along the Grand Strand— the Grand Dunes area, the Market Common area, and the entire Grand Strand. And on a personal level, this is the season when my fiancé, Eddie, and I pull our motorcycle out of the garage and commence our forays down to Murrells Inlet, where we’ll park it long enough to enjoy the Marsh Walk and other Inlet gems. As we get used to being back in the saddle, we start to plan longer weekend jaunts, catching the spring blooms in other locales besides our sandy shores. -Rachel Ogg, Graphic Designer

Coastal Real Estate May Edition

March 8, 2023May 2, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

The Coastal Insider and Coastal Real Estate From entertainment, leisure and beaches to local businesses and community, we bring it closer to you. Plus advertising with us is in alignment with our mission! Current Edition Coastal Insider It’s Spring Y’all and this month’s edition we focus on wellbeing, nutrition and of course our featured advertiser for this month, Anderson Brothers Bank. Read more inspirational stories about the several businesses and local neighbors here in the Market Common. Take a peak at our past editions of the Coastal Insider. Coastal Real Estate It being Spring and all, we focused this month on how the real estate market is booming just the same as the flowers are blooming. Take a peek at this extraordinary edition. Take a peak at our past editions of the Coastal Home Insider. Current Edition A MESSAGE FROM OUR TEAM For me spring has always been a season that’s full of possibilities and potential for new opportunities. The real estate market seems to agree; because traditionally this has been the time when homes and properties hit the market for sale en masse. If you’ve been toying with the idea of putting your home on the market and haven’t yet done so, it’s not too late to get in and reap the rewards of the spring buying trend. I always enjoy photographing homes at this time of year because the first flowers of the season are in full bloom— framing a backdrop for your home, and showing it to its best advantage. This year’s spring selling season is a high-energy one. Properties are moving incredibly quickly. I took pictures of a house the other day, and it sold the same day for $20,000 over asking price. At our office, the vibe is matching the season— it’s high energy, fast paced, and dynamic. Our staff has a family feel, and we all look out for each other. The energy is positive, and everybody works together to support our agents to the best of their ability. Check out our real estate listings on page, ___. As a reminder, every month our magazine will cover one of three rotating sections of real estate along the Grand Strand— the Grand Dunes area, the Market Common area, and the entire Grand Strand. And on a personal level, this is the season when my fiancé, Eddie, and I pull our motorcycle out of the garage and commence our forays down to Murrells Inlet, where we’ll park it long enough to enjoy the Marsh Walk and other Inlet gems. As we get used to being back in the saddle, we start to plan longer weekend jaunts, catching the spring blooms in other locales besides our sandy shores. -Rachel Ogg, Graphic Designer Stay tuned with latest information by subscribing to receive the Coastal Insider directly into your inbox. Click on Subscribe below! You shall receive an email from us in about 5 minutes, if you do not receive anything please check your junk/spam folder.

The Flowers are Blooming, and the Buyers are Booming

March 8, 2023April 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

by Jennifer Hamilton, director of sales, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Coastal Real Estate Have you thought about selling your house? If the answer is yes, then there is no better time to put it on the market than now. Spring has always been a popular time to sell, but the continued demand for homes in our area, coupled with limited inventory, has driven home prices up even higher. Many sellers receive multiple offers, oftentimes driving the sales prices above asking price. Long gone are the days of asking 5% under asking price, negotiating with sellers to pay closing costs, with many even foregoing inspections and appraisals. With such strong activity, by the time a property sale closes, the market has already adjusted to a higher price than even recent sales suggest. Though such markets can create stress and frustration for many prospective homebuyers who frequently have to submit offers on multiple properties before they are able to secure a purchase, home sellers in our market are seeing a sizable return on their investment. So, If you have been putting your move on the back-burner, waiting for the perfect time to sell, you should know your golden window of opportunity is here and now. If you are able to get your house ready for the market quickly, here is what you can expect to see. You Should See More Buyer Activity Buyer demand is expected to remain higher than in previous years. As of March 2022, home prices had risen 16.8% since March 2021, with pending sales in our market up 6.9% and closed sales up 17.9% since this same time last year. This is a direct result of increased competition among buyers, ultimately leading to a bidding war over houses. Compound that with mortgage rates increasing to 4.67%, the highest since November 2018, and chances are good that this analysis is right. As interest rates rise, experts say buyers often hurry to make their purchase before rates climb higher. As Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says: “Buyers are rushing to lock in lower rates as the outlook is for even higher mortgage rates in the following months.” Your House Is Expected to Sell Quickly It’s no secret that the Grand Strand is a great place to call home. For more than ten years now, homes in our market have been selling faster every year. The popularity of our area along with a global pandemic that caused many to reevaluate their goals and life preferences bred a perfect real estate storm. Homes in our market are selling on average in less than 101 days, from listing to closing; a decrease of 22.9% compared to last March 2021. Many more buyers are looking for luxury, smart technology, and lifestyle when shopping for a home. This is evident in the 79.4% increase in closed sales for homes priced at $400,000 or higher, seeing the largest closed sales hike than any other price point. No matter what price point your home is at, I promise you there is a buyer or ten looking for it. Your House Will Be in the Spotlight Since the beginning of the year, the number of homes available for sale has been at or near record lows. As of March 2022, our entire market had a mere 1.3 month’s supply of homes for sale. A market that is competitive for buyers and sellers occurs when there is at least a 5-6 month supply of homes on the market. In our current situation, if every home that is currently on the market sold, we would run out of inventory in less than 40 days. Inventory of Homes & Condos for Sale by Price Range as of March 2022: Under $200,000…………………………………….0.9 month’s supply of homes down 79.1% Under $300,000…………………………………….1.0 month’s supply of homes down 77.3% Under $400,000…………………………………….1.9 month’s supply of homes down 67.2% Under $500,000…………………………………….2.1 month’s supply of homes down 61.8% Over $500,000…………………………………….1.3 month’s supply of homes down 63.9% If you list when inventory is low, your house will be the center of attention for many eager buyers searching to find their home. Buyers are ready to buy, now ask yourself, are you ready to sell?

Anderson Brothers Bank

March 8, 2023April 30, 2022 by The Coastal Insider

Local Banking, Local Home Lending by Melissa LaScaleia Anderson Brothers Bank is a local institution that was founded in the early 1930s, when tobacco farmers needed financing for their crop. During the recession, there wasn’t an option for farmers to secure funding, so the Anderson family offered it to them out of the back of an old tobacco warehouse in Marion County. From these humble beginnings, Anderson Brothers Bank has grown into a full service community bank with over thirty locations from North Myrtle Beach to as far south as Summerville, and inland to Florence. They carry all the products and conveniences that you’d expect from a national bank, but also offer the personalized service that can only be derived from building relationships with their clients. Just as it was almost a century ago, today, Anderson Brothers Bank is still locally owned and run by the Anderson family. The third generation team includes: David Anderson as CEO and president, Tommy Anderson as vice president, and Neal Anderson as the chairman of the board. Tim McCoy is the vice president of the mortgage banking division, a role he’s held for the past ten years of his twenty-three years working in this industry. The Anderson Brothers Bank mortgage division provides home lending services to Horry County residents and the surrounding areas, offering a variety of options designed to make home ownership as affordable as possible. “In the past ten years, I’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth in our bank in general,” Tim says. “But particularly within our mortgage department. Today we’re one of the biggest mortgage lenders in Horry County and the surrounding areas. And that growth I attribute to the vision, leadership, and commitment of David Anderson. “The Myrtle Beach metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and also the country, which is a contributing factor in our growth. But we also develop a lot of relationships with local real estate agents and companies, and many new relationships are built via word of mouth. We’ve developed a really good reputation as time has passed. People say they know who Anderson Brothers Bank is. And a lot of our success comes from building those relationships and that reliability.” The mortgage industry is different from regular banking in the way business is conducted— secondary markets are involved. So navigating this arena requires a skill set that’s separate from regular banking. To grow in this market, for the first five years or so, David focussed the bank’s efforts on recruiting a stellar team of loan officers, processors, and underwriters— people who have the qualifications and specializations required to be a success in their industry. “We focussed on hiring good people,” Tim says. “We did it gradually, and then put infrastructure in place so we can maintain that level of operations. Now everything is done locally, which allows us to communicate better with customers and operate more efficiently than a national bank.” “It’s also about the repoire we have with the community. They work conjointly those two things— getting the right people and the right reputation. I believe we have the right leadership in place to allow that to happen. David likes to say: ‘Whether you’re a branch manager or processing manager, run it like you own it.’ He gives us the tools we need to succeed, and wants us to take pride in what we accomplish.” That managerial style goes hand in hand with Anderson Brother’s philosophy— to be the bank where employees love to work and customers love to do business. “Nowadays, all banks are highly competitive with interest rates,” Tim says. “So when shopping around for a home mortgage loan, really the differentiator is customer service. In the past three to five years, we’ve really taken off. Today we are one of the biggest local lenders. “We are always in search of a variety of new products and finding the right products, to be as competitive in the market as possible. “I’ve also seen a switch in customer preferences— whereas previously people tended to opt for bigger banks, now they are electing to do business with community banks because they understand that we carry the same level of security and guarantees, and they really enjoy what we have to offer personally.” Anderson Brothers Bank Globe Map-marked-alt Facebook Phone

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