The impact of Super Storm Sandy is less apparent further south on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

“It’s a great time to buy, it’s a bad time to sell is what I tell people,” said James Wedgeworth, who has been selling real estate on the island for over a decade. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”The rental market on Hilton Head, which largely caters to the golfing set, has remained strong throughout the recession, likely because so few people wanted to buy. Confidence is slowly returning here, but prices are not.

“It hasn’t really started going up, but at least it’s not going down. We had seven straight years of prices going down. That’s no fun,” added Wedgeworth.

(Read More: Financing a Vacation Home)

Vacation home sales rose 10 percent nationally in 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors, but as with all things real estate, location is key. Prices are just stabilizing in South Carolina, but in the tiny towns of eastern Long Island, New York, better known as the Hamptons, home prices are roaring back and rentals are fully booked for the season.

“We’ve seen bidding wars in the four to five million dollar range as well as in the overall market,” said Laura Nigro, a real estate broker in Bridgehampton. “It’s so much better than when the 2008, 2009 economy shrank and people were very much afraid to invest in anything.

Article source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100751056

Shared NFL stadium could be real treasure

With the 49ers and the Raiders needing new stadiums, talk heated up again earlier this week about the teams joining forces to build and share a facility.

The NFL reportedly has encouraged the teams to work together, much as the Giants and Jets did in New Jersey, but one obstacle stands in the way.

As they say in real estate: location, location, location.

The 49ers are working on a plan in Santa Clara, and Raiders boss Al Davis has repeatedly said Oakland is the best place for his team.

Is there a neutral site in the Bay Area that would be acceptable to both?

Many argue that Santa Clara would be ideal. Others have suggested Fremont, Jack London Square in Oakland and San Jose.

OK, we know it’s a bit crazy, but here’s a thought: Why not Treasure Island?

The man-made 400- acre island between the two Bay Bridge spans was created to host the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939-40 and it was initially planned as the site for San Francisco’s first international airport.

Sure, traffic would be a huge issue, but ferries could shuttle fans from all sides of the bay; how much fun would that be ? take the train from downtown Sacramento to Jack London Square, have breakfast, then hop a ferry to the game?

If you think ATT Park looks great on national TV, imagine how Treasure Island Stadium would look.

What to watch

Baseball, Giants at Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m., CSNBA: Ryan Vogelsong goes for the ninth victory in his dream season.

Today’s poll

Where should a shared football stadium in the Bay Area be built?

? San Francisco

? Oakland

? Santa Clara

? Treasure Island

? Both teams should have their own stadium

Vote above or leave your comments in the comment field; Or, go to www.sacbee.com/sports

Thursday’s poll results

Best free-agent cornerback the 49ers should target?

? Nnamdi Asomugha: 82%

? Antonio Cromartie: 3%

? Johnathan Joseph: 12%

? Ike Taylor: 3%

Total votes: 331

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Contact Tom Couzens at tcouzens@sacbee.com or (916) 321-1097.

? Read more articles by Tom Couzens

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/29/3802618/leading-off-shared-nfl-stadium.html