It's no secret that Beaufort has been rated so highly as one of the best places to live in America.  One of the main reasons for that distinction are the natural and historic attractions that fill the area. You'll never run out of natural places to enjoy and explore, along with history to be discovered. Here's a few of the best things to do in Beaufort.Henry C. Chambers Waterfront ParkAs the home for annual events such as the Taste of Beaufort, Water Festival and the Shrimp Festival, Waterfront Park is the most prominent park in Beaufort. Located in downtown Beaufort along the waters of the Beaufort River, it offers a peaceful and scenic diversion while shopping or enjoying the other attractions of downtown Beaufort. There's a playground for the kids, and dogs are also welcome.St. Helen... 09/17/2018

Are you ready to have a great time in Beaufort County in July? On top of the 4th of July, there's plenty of other events coming up next month that promise fun for the whole family.  Here's some events we can look forward to.July 4th Salute From The ShoreJuly 4 @ 1:00 pmEnjoy the annual ‘Salute from the Shore’ on Wednesday, July 4th and salute our armed forces along the South Carolina shore.There will be a a flyover of vintage planes over Hunting Island and Fripp Island Beaches at around 1:50pm on Wednesday afternoon.Bring an American Flag with you and wear your red, white and blue. The event starts at 1:00 PM on July 4th in Cherry Grove, SC, just north of Myrtle Beach. The Vintage Aircraft will be after the F-16 flyover.4th of July Celebration at The Sands in Port RoyalJuly 4 @ 5:30 pmB... 06/22/2018

It’s not very often that you find a perfect place to buy a home, a place that gives you the wonders and fun of nature, while offering all the modern conveniences of life.  Yet that’s exactly what you’ll find in Beaufort and Lady’s Island.  You can live in Beaufort and have instant access to the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of Lady’s Island, or live in a fantastic home on the island with plenty of space and quick access to great shops and restaurants in Beaufort.Beaufort is one of the great southern American towns. People come here from all around the country for the history and attractions. It’s no wonder that it wins awards, such as “Best Small Southern Town” by Southern Living, a “Top 25 Small City Arts Destination” by American Style, and a “Top 50 Adventure Town” by ... 02/16/2018

There's no better place to spend a romantic day than Beaufort. The natural beauty and historic charm are all you need to set the perfect romantic stage for a fantastic Valentine's Day.  Share a sunset swing for two in Waterfront Park overlooking the Beaufort River. Dine on fresh local fare in one of the many cozy restaurants in Beaufort. Walk with your sweetheart along the sandy beaches. Stroll through neighborhoods filled with history, moss draped oaks, and some of the finest mansions in the South. There's a wide range of things to do with your loved one this Valentines that appeals to any taste. Here's a few ideas to help you have the perfect Valentine's Day in Beaufort!Stay In a Romantic Hotel or a Bed & Breakfast There are plenty of hotels in Beaufort that offer a romantic setting. ... 02/13/2018

I have been sitting here...and there...and everywhere trying to come up with something outstanding to write about.  Something light with a touch of humor.  Blank mind!  I have come up with nothing.  Deciding my mind was weary from a long day, I grab a candy cane, a glass of wine and head for the treadmill hoping to come up with a really stupendous idea or two.  The treadmill helps clear my mind and believe it or not; it actually helps to revive me.  Halfway done (I usually walk for 45 to 50 minutes), it hit me.  Share my real estate adventure post becoming licensed.  Nothing light or humorous at this time.I have been struggling for a while now trying to figure out this real estate business.  No matter what kind of scores you make on you Real Estate class tests and both your class and st... 12/09/2017

If you or any of your friends, clents, neighbors, family or acquaintances are seekng invesmtent opportunties in real estate,  please have them give me a call.I just reduced the price of a homesite in one of South Carolina's best beach communities to  under $30,000 Before the recession, the notion of getting a beautiful homesite in Harbor Island for this  kind of price was unfathomable.But  in 2016, these opportunities abound, no matter what you are looking for.Let me also say that I commend these sellers because they are taking the  right steps  to heighten    their chances of selling this lovely property sooner rather than later.I am always happy to share my knowleldge of the Beaufort real estate market, so please don't hesitate.Have a great day.www.explorebeaufortrealestate.com 08/23/2016

Looks like the real estate recession may be officially over, as the market continues to make positive gains, this time with foreclosure news.Nationally, foreclosure inventory declined yet again in June to the lowest rate since August 2007. Foreclosure filings were also down 6% from May and 19% over a year ago.Hard to believe the beginning of the real estate recession was that long ago. In Beaufort, the recession hit with a vengeance in April 2006, as sales dropped dramatically off, year over year.It took a couple of years for  prices to  start to really come down, but it was spring 2006 when we noticed the big dip.I look forward to several years of positive steady gains.Have a great weekend everybody. 08/12/2016

I previewed a home this morning in the Battery Shores neighborhood for a out-of-town client.Battery Shores is a fine neighborhood with homes ranging from the upper $200,000 to the upper $300,000 range. The home was developed in the early 1990s, on the banks of Battery Creek, from where the commmunit derives its name.Homes in the community feature nice sized homesites, in the .4 acre and up range. Most homes feature 2-car garages, with homes in the 1600 and up square foot range.Battery Shores also features a community dock, which is a great amenity for the waterborne community of Beaufort.From Battery Shores, Historic Downton Beaufort is an easy 15 or so minutes away.If you'd like additional information on Battery Shores, feel free to visit my website at www.explorebeaufortrealestate.com... 08/05/2016

One of the oldest axioms in real estate is that  you never want to have the most expensive  home inthe neighborhood.In some cases, this is true, but in many cases it is not. Take waterfront property. I was recently dealing with an agent who had a buyer-client for a waterfront listing of mine. The buyer's concern was that they would overbuild for the neighborhood, which is a well-kept little community about 10 minutes from Historic Beaufort.Fortunately, for this buyer, they got over this silly notion, and decided to purchase the property.Beaufort, SC is a community of islands. On many occassions, communities like Newpoint, Habersham, Islands of Beaufort, Bluff Farm, and Burkmeyer Beach, just to name a few, the vast majority of homes are "interior," while  a much smaller number are on the... 07/30/2016

The Beaufort, SC real estate market continued to gain steam during the first half of 2016, according to stats provided by the Beaufort County Association of Realtors. Median prices were up 13.2 percent, to $197,000, from 2015. Through June 2016, new listings were up 45 percent, to 5 percent, as greater number of confident sellers put their home on the market. Pending sales were up 18.8 percent from 2015, to 240, Another key market indicator is SUPPLY OF INVENTORY, which was down 12.7 percent to 6.2 months, from 2015. This indicator measures the amount of time it would take to sell all the homes currently on the market, if no other homes were placed on the market. Supply of inventory can be a difficult stat to wrap your mind around, so don't hesitate to let me know if you have questions.... 07/26/2016

Ever wonder where your home town real estate prices in comparison with others? I did, so I did  some research regarding where Beaufort median sales price when compared to U.S. and South Carolina figures?   In April, Beaufort had a median sales price of $212,500, slightly above the national median of $208,00, and considerably higher than the South Carolina median of .$163,000.   Now go figure out how to put this information to work. Amaze your friends and co-workers!   I gathered this information from numbers I gleaned from the Beaufort MLS, and information provided by a certain large bank (which shall remain nameless).   If you have any real estate-related questions, don't hesitate to let me know. 07/24/2016

I previewed a spectacular property the other day for a client -- 50-plus acres between the Morgan River and Lucy Creek, two of Beaufort's myriad waterways.Located on the property is a circa 1980s brick home. Not a tear down, by any means, but a little lackluster. This is the Lowcountry, after all, the land of historical homes, featuring spaciious front porches and wood siding.Brick is just not the choice of many home owners in Beaufort. So what to do with a brick edifice in one of the  most historical regions of America.A fellow Realtor suggested whitewashing the home, to bring it back to life. At first, I wasn't sure how this would look, so I returned to the office, and did a little Googling.After perusing some examples of whitewashed homes, I decided I loved the idea.White washing thi... 07/16/2016

STAT OF THE WEEK -- In my never-ending--  and often frustrating -- efforts to drive traffic to my website,  I posted some current real estate stats from the Beaufort market on my website, www.keithstrawn.com.Look for the "stat of the week." Interesting the difference between "sold" and "active" homes across the area. Have a great day  07/05/2016

www.explorebeaufortrealestate.comBeaufort's land market  sent contradictory signals in the first quarter, as sales were up while values dipped. Sales were up in the first quarter of  2016, year over year from 2015. However, values dipped about 8 percent during this same time period, according to statistics provided by the Beaufort Multiple Listing Service.First quarter 2016 saw 84 sales, compared to 58 sales first quarter 2015, an increase of about 30  percent. However, concurrently, values dipped from  $45,000 first quarter 2015 to $40,000 2016.So what's going on? Shouldn't prices be going up as well?Not necessarily. Beaufort's land sales are reflective of the fact that the land market has not yet recovered from the real estate recession. As a result, buyers are able to pick up less ex... 06/19/2016

Beaufort's residential market had a strong first quarter, according to statistics gleaned from the Beaufort Multiple Listing Service. Through March 31, 2016, 508 home sales were notched in Beaufort, an increase of about 12 percent from the same time period in 2015, when 447 homes were sold.Home values in Beaufort, SC were also up first quarter 2016, to a median sales price of $173,000. This is an increase of about  7.5 percent from first quarter 2015, when the median sales price was $160,000. While number of sales and values were  up, homes are also selling quicker. In the first quarter of 2016, homes sold in an average of 99 days, 3.5 weeks quicker than the 123 days required to sell a home in 2015, during the same time period.For more information on Beaufort,SC housing trends, feel fre... 05/29/2016

You know the property you didn't offer on because you didn't want to insult the seller with an aggressive offer?Well, you should have offered on it. What's the worst thing that could have happened? The worst possible scenario would be.....a "no." Okay, maybe the worst scenario would have been a "hell no."You won't even hear the "hell no," because you are being represented by a Realtor, who is paid to absorb any  seller freak-out.The fact is, a "lowball" offer more times than not gets the conversation started, and getting the conversatino started is never a bad thing.I have seen buyers and sellers come from more than $100,000 apart to commensate a deal.So, by all means, "offer away," no matter how insulting the offer. Have a great day! 05/05/2016

If  you have ever considered buying raw land as an investment, or as a future homesite, the window of opportunity is wide open right now. Over the past 12 months, there have been 329 land sales via the Beaufort County MLS. Conversely, there are currently 1087 land parcels on the market in Beaufort, SC.In recent months, I have been involved in sales in which homesites in the Beaufort area have sold for 15 to 40 percent of what the previous buyer had paid. Another stark example of the opportunities in the Beaufort real estate market -- On Fripp Island, an ocean front community just east of downtown Beaufort, there are 118 homesites currently available, versus just 6 sales in the last 12 months. Comparatively, there are currently 1089 homes on the  market via the Beaufort MLS, versus 1657 ... 05/03/2016

The great thing  about dealing with bank foreclosures on raw land, either on the buyer or seller side, is that these properties are typically priced to move.More traditional  sellers need to employ this strategy, because -- at least in Beaufort real estate market -- the raw land is crowded, with more than 1000 parcels of land currently listed.Gone is the urgency which drove the huge uptick in volume and prices in the 2004 -- 2007 market. Back then, the buyer's market was flooded with buyers looking to secure that retirement piece, and investors, looking to sock away some money in a booming real estate market.And buyers were paying top dollar to do so.So, what do  you do if you are attempting to sell a piece of real estate in a market that doesn't have near the energy as when  you bought... 04/28/2016

No matter your background or budget, I can promise there are some genuine opportunties to make some excellent investments in the Beaufort real estate market. I was involved in a couple of recent land sales which saw the buyer pick up  property for half of what the previous owner  paid. This is not to sound predatory, it is just the market. Many current Beaufort sellers bought their property before the real estate bubble busted in 2007-2008, have had their life/retirement plans altered since, and are ready  to part ways with their property. I don't know if you are  familiar with Beaufort --  just across the river from Hilton Head and Savannah, and just south of Charleston --  but we have a vibrant little real estate market, which has recovered nicely from the  real estate crash of a few... 01/05/2016

In the days and weeks ahead, my goal is to tell you everything you need to know about the Beaufort real estate market, whether you are a first-time home-buyer, seasoned investor, or a real estate professional from another market trying to find out a lttle more about our robust little market.I know this seems an ambitious goal, but it is my commitment to bring  you this information, and I believe it to be doable.A couple of qualifiers -- Please note that, for this particular blog, I am just focusing on the traditional areas of the Northern Beaufort County real estate market. With each passing year, areas South of the Broad River - namely Bluffton -- play a bigger role within the Beaufort County MLS. I'll be touching more on the role of Bluffton and Southern Beaufort County in the weeks a... 01/04/2016