444 Carol Street. Charleston, SC 29412

Local builder’s new James Island neighborhood near county park, water, downtown

If generation-old homes are the choice, then James Island has plenty of them. New houses are harder to find. That's what gives Terrabrook an edge.
Terrabrook offers moderate-priced homes on James Island, not far from the beach or downtown.
So say officials of Charleston-based Crescent Homes, which is constructing the neighborhood of 60 houses on one long street off Riverland Drive.
According to Crescent, the Terrabrook community fills a void. It provides mid-sized new homes with plenty of features, ample options and large backyards for moderate prices. And, it’s no more than 10 minutes – in many cases, much less – to James Island County Park, the Stono River, shopping plazas, downtown Charleston and the Atlantic Ocean.
“For the new homebuyer on James Island, the choices are limited due to high barriers to entry for new home neighborhoods,” says Walker Gregory, new home sales consultant for Crescent Homes. “For $275,000, a buyer can purchase a 1950s brick ranch or one of our brand-new low maintenance homes.”
The community has one way in and out, off Bradham Road, and is surrounded by an eight-foot privacy fence. All lots are on one street and on the same side of the street.
Crescent Homes kept the neighborhood comparatively small in part because of the task of finding undeveloped property.
“It’s very hard to come up with raw land on James Island,” Gregory says.
Natural light shines in the master bedroom windows in the Savannah model. The spacious suite comes with a sitting area.
The build-out is split into phases, with 30 homes to be constructed in the first wave. About 10-12 lots are left in phase one. The builder showcases 18 designs, including 11 in its entry-level Palmetto Collection and seven in the higher-line Indigo series. They range in size from 1,427 to 2,912 square feet and in base price from $229,990 to $319,900. Palmetto plans are the Hamlin, Westwood, Warwick, Fenwick, Ashbury, Delaware, Newport, Cassidy, Mannington, Wagner and Kensington; while the Indigo group plans are the Davidson, Madison, Charlestowne, Savannah, Habersham, Wilmington and Hilton.
The sales model is the Savannah, a two-story floor plan with vaulted living-room ceiling, four bedrooms and a bonus room. It is one of several designs with a master bedroom downstairs. At least four floor plans are ranches. Homes are energy-efficient. All Terrabrook houses are certified through the national Energy Star program and are built to standards set by the EarthCraft program sponsored by the Atlanta Home Builders Association. Ecological features include extra-insulated windows and tankless water heaters.
Stainless steel appliances including refrigerator are kitchen options. http://www.sallyandj.com/
Other perks are open floor plans, custom trim packages, fiber-cement siding, architectural shingles, fireplaces and two-car garages.
Buyers can include extras such as screened-in porches or sunrooms, stainless kitchen appliances, granite countertops and wall-to-wall hardwood floors.
The houses have natural gas for heat, cooking and the fireplace. As a local builder, Crescent can customize homes, such as removing a fireplace if the buyer doesn’t want one.
Terrabrook's lots are slightly narrower, but quite a bit deeper, than standard neighborhood lots. That gives owners more substantial backyards.
Gregory is passionate about the community. “People come to Charleston for Charleston – ‘I want to be downtown, or at the beach.’” The central location “is such a huge asset,” he says.
The 2,517-square-foot Savannah floor plan includes a bonus room.
Most of the buyers thus far are families. Gregory says he is trying to broaden the appeal to also include Medical University of South Carolina residents or others in upscale fields who want to be close to central Charleston. “On James Island, Terrabrook is the best value for the money for high-quality new construction in a grade A location.”

MSN has identified Charleston as one of the 5 Best markets for 2010

After a dour year when housing prices fell more than 12% nationwide, will 2010 bring sunnier tidings?
The short answer: only a tad in a select few places but overall, not really.
Yes, there have been pieces of good news over the past few months that have indicated a quiet, slow bottoming of real-estate prices. For instance, sales of existing homes rose 7.4% in November from the previous month, the highest rate since February 2007, according to data from the National Association of Realtors released last week. The tax incentives for homebuyers passed earlier this year along with historically low interest rates have nudged many buyers into the market.
Yet a recovery depends on several factors. At the top of the list is a turnaround in the labor market. More people going back to work would have a beneficial effect on household income and consumer confidence and would stabilize the housing market, says Stuart Gabriel, director of UCLA’s Ziman Center for Real Estate. As of November, one of out every 10 American workers is unemployed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And while that’s down slightly from October, Moody’s expects the jobless rate to peak in the third quarter next year at 10.6%.
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Another factor is the backlog in foreclosures, which are dragging down values and adding to the housing supply. “By all accounts, that backlog is at a historic high,” says Gabriel. “It suggests that many more homes will be sold on a distressed basis either via foreclosure or short sale.”
RealtyTrac, an online marketplace of foreclosure listings, estimates 3.2 million households will have received a foreclosure notice in 2009, up from 2.3 million in 2008. The firm projects that number could approach 4 million in 2010. “We do think 2010 will probably represent the peak, and in 2011 [foreclosures] will start to go down at least marginally,” says Rick Sharga, senior vice president at RealtyTrac. Why the acceleration next year? First, says Sharga, there have been enormous delays in processing this year. Many homes that would have gone into foreclosure in 2009 won’t actually enter and complete the process until 2010.
Second, a big wave of option adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) will reset next year. (These are a somewhat obscure category of ARMs that were popular during the real-estate boom, which allowed borrowers to make a range of monthly payments. The options include a partial-interest payment that adds the unpaid interest to the loan's balance. On many of the loans, balances have risen while values of the underlying properties have plummeted.) “The number of loans that will adjust starts to go up significantly in the middle of next year. A lot of those loans are underwater ... and owners will be really hard-pressed to avoid going into foreclosure,” Sharga says.
Home prices, of course, are variable and depend on many factors, each of which is difficult to predict. Still, average home prices will drop by 7.9% nationwide in 2010, according to Moody’s Economy.com. In the few areas where there could be positive price growth, the projected increase is modest. “These areas will essentially be flat next year,” says Steve Cochrane, managing director at Moody’s Economy.com http://www.sallyandj.com/.
The top 5 cities for home prices:
Tacoma, Wash. (+2.44%)

Memphis, Tenn. (+0.99%)

Pittsburgh (+0.89%)

Charleston, S.C. (+0.18%)

Seattle (-0.50%)

These five markets are culled from data on Moody’s Economy.com and based on the largest 100 metro areas.
These pockets of the country share a few important characteristics. One is that they are starting with a limited supply of housing stock. Another is that throughout most of the decade, prices basically stayed in sync with household income, says Cochrane.
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There are other factors, too. Pittsburgh, for example, along with western Pennsylvania, is late in the traditional business cycle, and “our variations tend to be smaller,” says Robert Strauss, a professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The economy has managed to stay fairly stable mostly because over the past several decades it transformed from a center of manufacturing to one of education and health care with a bit of financial services and technology.
Smaller areas across the Southeast are expected to fare well in 2010 primarily because they fared relatively decently during the housing crisis, says Jeannine Cataldi, a senior economist at IHS Global Insight. “They didn’t have such a big run-up, and they have a diverse economic base that enabled them to stay stable,” she says. Home prices in Charleston didn’t get out of line with household incomes; also, Boeing is investing in a fairly large manufacturing plant there, which could create some potential for income and job growth, says Cochrane.
As for Memphis, the city’s largest employer is FedEx. Transportation services is one of the early industries to turn around as the economy recovers, says Cochrane, and that should support the area’s housing market.
The economies of Tacoma and Seattle — which are neighboring cities — were “much stronger for much longer than much of the rest of the country,” says Cochrane. Software giant Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., a Seattle suburb, was one reason the area remained stable. (Microsoft is the publisher of MSN Real Estate.) Another was Boeing, which builds commercial airplanes in Seattle.
Going forward, Seattle’s position as a key hub of trans-Pacific trade should be a plus for the economy. Orders are increasing for commercial aircraft and it should see some rising demand for tech products, Cochrane says. The outlook for 2010 for the two Washington cities “is for fairly stable, moderate economic growth,” he says.

Resort campaign wins

Condominiums line the beachfront at Wild Dunes.
Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms splashed its name around this year, even on the Today show, with the catchy “Stay More, Save More” campaign.
Now Rawle Murdy and Associates Inc., its media producer, says the campaign has won two prestigious honors. The American Marketing Association doled out a Spark Award, while the Hospitality, Sales & Marketing Association International turned over a Bronze Adrian Award.
Wild Dunes’ appearance on the morning Today show in 2009 “resulted in the single largest booking day in the resort’s history,” according to Rawle Murdy.

http://www.sallyandj.com/

Real estate rally planned at Statehouse

A crowd of Realtors is expected to gather in Columbia Wednesday to support property tax reform.




The rally and press conference by South Carolina Realtors is set for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Statehouse, to coincide with the first week of the legislative session.



“It’s time to get our state’s economy back on track and become more competitive with our neighboring states,” says Nick Kremydas, chief executive of South Carolina Realtors, the state’s Realtor trade group.



At the rally, the agents will focus on “point of sale” property tax reform. They will urge the state Legislature to vote yes for House Bill 3272. According to the Realtors group, “the bill aims to fix South Carolina’s broken property tax system, grow our economy and create new jobs.”



More than 300 Realtors have pre-registered to attend the event. The public and media are invited.



“We are urging all property and business owners in South Carolina to attend this event,” Kremydas says.



The agenda includes a South Carolina Realtors member briefing at 11 a.m. at the Statehouse steps, a press conference at 11:30 a.m. and a luncheon at noon on the Statehouse grounds before the Senate convenes at the Statehouse lobby at 2 p.m.

For details go to http://www.sallyandj.com/ and email me.

Carolina One hires appraiser

Saturday, January 9, 2010
New broker named


Chris Goodson

Having already run a real estate company and an appraisal business, Chris Goodson has made a move to join the area’s largest agency.

Goodson is now a broker associate with Carolina One Real Estate http://www.sallyandj.com/ . She was previously broker-in-charge of Pluff Mud Realty of Charleston.

In addition, Goodson is a certified appraiser with Goodson Appraisal Services Inc. She has been involved with appraisal business in the Charleston area for the past 15 years.

Charleston in Top 5 Markets to Fare Well for 2010

Charleston in Top 5 Markets to Fare Well for 2010: "According to SmartMoney.com, the 'Top 5' areas in the country that should have home prices performing the best for 2010 are: Tacoma, Washington (increase of 2.44%) Memphis, Tennessee (up 0.99%) Pittsburgh (up 0.89%) Charleston, South Carolina (up 0.18%) Seattle (decline 0.50%) Of course, one of the reasons being cited is because of Boeing building their 787 aircraft plant in Charleston, but also because the number of homes on the market in Charleston is declining, and our prices have remained in sync with household income over the past year."

What is an Earth Craft Home?

An EarthCraft Home is the idea that a healthy, comfortable home can be built that reduces utility bills, while protecting the environment. The idea is to minimize environmental impacts, and to follow a systematic approach to homebuilding that utilizes the importance of understanding how the different components of a home work together. This means that the home performs better, is more economical for the homeowner, but it costs a little more than your normal construction costs. This can be achieved by using certain qualifying materials, addressing energy efficiency, indoor air quality, waste management, resource efficiency, durability, and water conversation. While EarthCraft Homes may be a little more expensive up front, the idea is that it should save you money over the long run with reduced utilities, maintenance, and repairs. If you have any questions on EarthCraft Homes, or are looking for EarthCraft Homes for sale in Charleston, please let us know and we can tailor a search, specific to your needs using our Charleston MLS search.

www.sallyandj.com

Boeing Lands in Charleston!

Boeing announced that Charleston will be the final location for the 787 aircraft assembly plant, more specifically, North Charleston. This is great news for our local economy here in Charleston, as 3800 jobs are expected to be filled over the next seven years, and Boeing is to invest more than $750 million. This will also spur growth in real estate for the area, as many employees and future employees will be relocating here. The Boeing Co. will build the new line at its Charleston International Airport property instead of the other proposed location in Everett, Washington. This is big, as the unemployment rate is almost at an all-time high, and the local area will benefit from this massive company. We've already been speaking with Boeing employees awaiting the potential move, and now the news is final. If you are a Boeing employee, or have friends that are- we would be grateful to help them.

Senate Approves Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension

The Senate today voted unanimously Wednesday night to extend the $8,000 tax credit for home buyers beyond its scheduled November 30, 2009 expiration date. The credit would be available for contracts signed by April 30, 2010 and must close by June 30, 2010. Under the new legislation the credit will also now apply to home buyers who are buying their second or subsequent home. The credit currently applies only to first time home buyer.The Senate vote was 98 to 0.Under a compromise reached late last week, the tax credit for veteran homeowners will apply only to those who have lived in their current residence for at least five years. The credit for these buyers will be capped at $6,500 while first time buyers will continue to receive $8,000.Income levels will be extended from the current limits of $75,000 for a single purchaser and $150,000 for couples to $125,000 and $225,000 respectively. Above those limits there are diminishing credits available.The bill was passed as an amendment to legislation extending unemployment benefits. The House is expected to vote on the bill before the end of the week.Housing interests, especially the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors, has pushed strongly for the extension and the Obama administration has also lobbied heavily for its passage. However, not everyone was in favor of it.Some critics have charged that the tax credit has merely moved sales that would have occurred sooner or later to an earlier date and that, when the credit finally does go away, the market will experience another severe downturn. A diametrically opposed opinion would have it that, while 1.4 million claims have been made, few sales were actually inspired by the credit. Others have argued that the current interest rates and low housing prices are enough of an incentive without spending tax money. The extension is expected to cost an estimated $11 billion on top of the $10 billion that has been spent to date.There have also been charges of fraud in the operation of the program. To combat this the new law has some expanded safeguards including a minimum age of 18 for obtaining the credit, a requirement that a settlement statement accompany the tax return claiming the credit and a prohibition on non-arms length transactions.Another criticism of the extension has been that it ends just as the "spring market" is getting underway. Diane Olick writing for CNBC's RealtyCheck said it "is sort of like offering cheap snow boots in July." ---- This article taken from MortgageNewsDaily.

Aging-in-place certification classes offered

Charleston Trident Home Builders Association is holding classes next week which can be applied toward earning a “Certified Aging-in-Place” designation through the National Association of Homebuilders. The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program teaches the technical, business management and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: home modifications for the aging-in-place. As millions of maturing Americans live longer and more active lives they look for ways to revitalize their home environments. Identifying these opportunities and developing the skills to interact with these customers can help building professionals grow their businesses dramatically. Marketing & Communication Strategies for Aging & Accessibility, July 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will cover: best practices in communicating and interacting with the maturing population; the segments within the aging-in-place market that present business opportunities for building professionals; implementing a process for promoting new opportunities for products and services; and enhancing the sales process with effective techniques for the aging-in-place market. Design/Build Solutions for Aging & Accessibility, July 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., will cover: the guidelines and requirements of accessibility; the importance of conducting an assessment with input from occupational and physical therapists as well as qualified health care professionals; how to describe the home-ownership market as it relates to the three segments of the aging-in-place market; considering contractual and legal concerns for building professionals providing design solutions to the aging-in-place client; and the significance of good design in making modifications that can transform a house into a safe, attractive, and comfortable home for life. The cost for each course is $175. They will be held at the Noisette Studio, 1360 Truxtun Ave., Suite 100, in North Charleston. For more information, visit charlestonhomebuilders.org or call (843) 572-1414.

Greater Charleston leads in permits

More building permits were issued in the Charleston market for single-family home construction that any metro area in South Carolina, a consulting company reports. A total of 2,937 permits were issued in Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston counties in the past 12 months, California-based John Burns Consulting says. That topped the Columbia area at 2,803 permits, Greenville at 1,790 and Myrtle Beach at 1,479. John Burns Consulting also cites the median home price in the Charleston area at $174,625. That’s second in the state’s metro areas behind Myrtle Beach at $176,509. Greenville is at $129,000 and Columbia, $125,000. Housing stimulus funds on the way At least a portion of the more than $1 billion designated to boost construction of affordable homes will be coming to South Carolina. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development disclosed that $1.04 billion will be awarded to 26 state housing finance agencies, including South Carolina’s, to jump-start affordable housing programs. The program is in its first phase of funding; the remaining states and territories will receive proceeds in the next few weeks. The Recovery Act provides $2.25 billion in grants for capital investments for projects that have stalled from the struggling economy. Every state is getting funds from the program. Other Southeastern states approved for funding last week were Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Downtown Charleston house dating to U.S. origins available for lease

George Washington was president when 22 King Street was built in the bustling city of Charleston. The year: 1789. Such properties are showpieces that change hands – when they do – for millions of dollars. But in this case, the property can be yours, at least as a residence, for $5,000 per month. Daniel Ravenel Real Estate is leasing the 3,700-square-foot, three-story house. For another $500 a month, the house will come furnished. “You can get a chance to live in a piece of history,” says Casey Murphey, Realtor with Daniel Ravenel Real Estate who is listing the property. She says the house has a number of unusual features for a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home that’s 220 years old. On the main floor, “It has large French doors (with) easy access to the side slate patio and surrounding gardens” –- designed by local landscape architect Sheila Wertimer. “You usually don’t get that space.” The first level, which has the most living space, is comprised of a large family room, dining room and eat-in kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances including gas range, built-in microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. Also, the historic home, which has been extensively renovated and upgraded, showcases a second-floor master suite with “sybaritic” –- a master bath the size of a typical bedroom with double sinks, designer bathtub, walk-in shower and water closet, Murphey says. There’s also a laundry room on the second floor that connects to an office bay, similar to a study. The third floor has what is essentially two master suites each with large bathrooms. Murphey says she is seeking a year’s lease. Possible tenants could be a couple from out of town who want to try out downtown Charleston before they buy, someone who is building a home that has been delayed and needs a place to stay for awhile or an executive who will be in the area for several months or more and requires a place to entertain, she says. “It’s a cool house,” Murphey says.

Buregoning townhome neighborhood west of the Ashley offers new floor plans at moderate costs

Don’t look for a swimming pool or clubhouse at Ashley Park Townhomes off Glenn McConnell Parkway. The three-year-old community near West Ashley High School decided against a slew of amenities. But the tradeoff is its competitive prices. Ashley Park can charge a moderate rate for its attractive two- and three-level dwellings as well as keep homeowners association fees at a minimum. At the same time, the dozens of dwellings -– Ashley Park when completed will have 350 units -– are right off main drag Glenn McConnell Parkway and a few minutes from major shopping centers, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital and Interstate 526, among other places. “They (amenities) are so close by,” says Kimberly J. Byrd, sales and marketing manager with Manor House Builders of South Carolina. “You can go to Folly Beach, the new West Ashley recreation park.” Launched in Hagerstown, Md., Manor House Builders is constructing the townhomes, which are 1,341-1,554 square feet and currently priced from $159,900 to $179,900. Newly introduced models are the Fuller and the Pierpont. Existing plans are the Accabee II and the Westpenny II. The developer is East Bay Co., located in Charleston. Manor House and Easy Bay Co. are affiliated. "Ashley Park Townhomes is a neighborhood rooted in the community," says Hilton Smith III of Manor House Builders. "We are also uniquely situated next to West Ashley High School and offer affordable living for teachers and others in the community that may be struggling through these tough economic times." The target market at Ashley Park are young professionals, Byrd says, including “a lot of people who need quick access to I-526. They may work downtown or in Mount Pleasant.” About 180 townhomes are complete. “We don’t build a massive amount of inventory,” Byrd says. But a sales model and 15 townhomes currently are ready, will be complete by August or are available for sale to be built in the future. “People like to look, touch and feel,” she says. Townhome features include nine-foot ceilings on the first floor; Berber or plush carpeting; brushed chrome door hardware; 42-inch maple cabinets, self-cleaning oven, microwave and dishwasher in the kitchen; cultured marble vanity tops in bathrooms; fiberglass soaker tub and shower combination in the master bath; and a small patio in the back. Each bedroom has its own bath. “That’s very convenient when you have guests coming in,” Byrd said. Yards are landscaped with sod in the front, side and back. The townhomes have energy-efficient wall and attic insulation, heating and air systems and electric water heaters. The units all come with a garage. “It’s got a lot of storage space,” Byrd says. Numerous extras are available such as stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors. Buyers also can build backyard fences for privacy: Byrd says that’s a popular choice. Not installing amenities has kept the HOA dues down. They are $145 a quarter, or less than $50 a month. “A lot of young professionals don’t use amenities,” she says. Many buyers choose extras, which average an additional $10,000. “The option price is really good. They want the crown molding, granite countertops, hardwoods,” Byrd says.

Carol’s Home gets countrywide exposure

A national magazine has profiled the local “Carol’s Home” project in an article on heroic feats by people and groups nationwide. The “Heroes Among Us” feature is in the latest issue of People Magazine, now available at newsstands.Carol’s Home A national magazine has profiled the local “Carol’s Home” project in an article on heroic feats by people and groups nationwide. The “Heroes Among Us” feature is in the latest issue of People Magazine, now available at newsstands. The profile highlights a group of local home builders and contractors for their generous donations to build a new home for a woman left handicapped after a brutal attack, says the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association. Some association staff and participating members are featured. The association broke ground April 25, 2008, on the home for Carol Armstrong, attacked by a stranger in 2002 as she was locking up a medical building she had just finished cleaning in North Charleston. The beating left her permanently confined to a wheelchair with limited movement of her arms and partially blind. In January, crews completed work on the new Summerville home, which is equipped for handicapped accessibility. More than 50 Charleston area companies worked for free on the project to help give Armstrong and her family a new start. The association got involved after learning Armstrong was living in a home where she was confined to one room because of her new disabilities. The house had small doorways and wall-to-wall carpet. Immediately, the association’s board took action and agreed to help the Armstrong family. To read more about the “Carol’s Home” project visit

I have a great buyer that is looking for a home on Daniel Island. There sure are a bunch of homes on the market out there. Statistically the home prices are holding strong on Daniel Island 2008. Probably because in 2007 they dropped significantly. Sellers are finally pricing their homes correctly. Please visit www.sallyandj.com for your real estate needs. If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell on Daniel Island I have all the updated information needed to get a good deal and find an awesome home in one Charlestons greatest neighborhoods. I look forward to hearing from you. Jvandeerve@carolinaone.com

Late loan payments expected to rise

Financial stress will mean even more late payments in 2009. This year, auto loan and mortgage delinquencies are expected to hit their highest levels in at least 17 years, according to TransUnion Trend Data. TransUnion samples a database of 27 million anonymous consumer records. TransUnion first recorded such data in 1992. Such forecasts are not good for consumers. Those with trouble paying bills are advised to talk with creditors sooner rather than later and not charge more until problems are resolved. Rising delinquencies also could put more pressure on lenders and slow available credit for new car loans. Many borrowers will need to shop aggressively for loans. "If delinquencies continue to rise, lenders are going to have to make decisions on who they loan to. They could be a little more selective," said Peter Turek of TransUnion. The 60-day auto loan delinquency rate in the U.S. for the third quarter was 0.80 percent. It could hit 1.03 percent by the end of 2009, according to TransUnion. Mortgage delinquencies 60 days behind or more could rise 54 percent from 4.66 percent at the end of 2008 to 7.17 percent at the end of 2009, TransUnion says. Nationwide, consumers were increasingly late making payments in the third quarter on home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, property improvement loans, loans for boats, RVs and mobile homes, and personal loans, the American Bankers Association said. www.sallyandj.com "The key factor that drives any consumer credit delinquency is job loss," said James Chessen, chief economist for the ABA. Many economists say they expect the unemployment rate to go up.

is watching The Biggest Loser! I love this show.

Home sweet home gets a renewed focus on comfort and warmth in '09

This Afghan lambswool blanket is just like the ones your grandmother used to make. Use it to cozy up. Jane Austen wrote, "There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." Some of us are natural homebodies, but when both the weather and the economy turn frosty, we're all headed indoors for some reassurance. Nancy Molitor, a clinical psychologist based in Wilmette, Ill., says the home is for many people an adult version of a blankie or pacifier: a symbol of security and warmth. And this new year will see us seeking both. "The dynamics of cocooning are fairly simple," says Molitor. "I would expect to see more emphasis on soothing, pleasurable products so people can both stay home and feel more warm, secure and content at the same time." If snuggling up seems like a good idea, here's an array of products designed to calm and cuddle. -- Garnet Hill offers some beautiful throws, including a fisherman's cable knit, luscious ribbed cashmere, and a colorful afghan just like Mom used to make. At Homegoods, faux fur blankets are best-sellers at a great price point. For your real estate needs got to http://www.sallyandj.com/ -- Whip up a batch of chocolate fondue or hot milk, and throw another log on the fire. No fireplace? Then consider Burley's electric fire, a free-standing appliance that offers either flames, heat or both, all from a simple and energy-efficient electrical connection. There's even a model that lets you mount and retract a plasma TV. -- Pottery Barn has a faux fur beanbag chair that beckons, assuming you can keep the cat from settling in. Plush pile pillows provide warm support for the sofa; they're the color of a frothy mug of eggnog. And a colorful collection of wool Pendleton blankets gives off a great cabin-y vibe. If some midwinter redecorating were in order, the Pearce chair, upholstered in sumptuous velvet, would be a good choice; velvet wears well, and its softness is inviting. -- Rare Device carries — from the ultimate cozy designer, Alyssa Ettinger — knitwear-patterned bowls and little cups perfect for candles or hot drinks. When the cold winds blow, even the dishes can dress in warm mittens. Sourcebook: -- www.raredevice.net: Alyssa Ettinger's knitwear-patterned ceramics, $50-$65. -- www.homegoods.com: Faux fur throws, $24.99-$40; chocolate fondue set, $9.99. -- www.garnethill.com: Fisherman's cable-knit throw, $148; ribbed cashmere throw, $268; Haverhill afghan blanket, $328. -- www.potterybarn.com: Pearce velvet armchair, $999-$1,399; low pile cream fur pillow covers, $19-$29; faux fur beanbag, $249. -- www.burleyfires.com: Electric fires, various configurations, $7,500-$9,500.