Golf+Celebrities=FUN on Hilton Head Island Aug 29-Sept 1,2013            2013 Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament, Insider Tips! When: August 29-September 1, 2013Hours: Thursday 8/29 Celebrity arrivals & registration noon - 10PM; Friday, Saturday, Sunday shotgun start at 9AM, plus on Sunday, Kid's Day festivities beginning at 1PMWhere: Friday, Robert Trent Jones Course, Palmetto Dunes; Saturday, Arnold Palmer Signature Course, Wexford Plantation, Sunday, Harbour Town Golf Links, Sea Pines ResortWho: Everyone and AnyoneTickets: FREE to SpectatorsContact Information: Event Organizers Hilton Head Island's Celebrity Spotlight It's back! Just like they have been doing since 1979, Hilton Head is opening its courses and community to provide a weekend of fun for some lucky players as w... 08/29/2013

August 2013 Market Report,Port Royal Plantation, Hilton Head, SC Things are definitely looking up on the island and this beautiful jewel of a community is an excellent example of how to guage the return. Seller confidence has increased and to that end, there is a good inventory in Port Royal in some very attractive price points. Previously the community had been averaging only 18-24 listings and the price points were not very favorable. With the upturn in activity, it's a great time to pick up a property in a community that is usually priced much, much higher. SOMETHING TO REMEMBER In Port Royal Plantation, though there is city water and sewer available, not all of the homeowners elected to tap-in. Instead, they are paying a premium to remain on septic; if you are thinking of buying a h... 08/27/2013

Homes for Sale in Port Royal Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC Why Do People Live here? Port Royal Plantation is one of the only communities on Hilton Head Island with its own private beach. There are no short term (90 days or less) rentals allowed in the community which means that it's very stable. There are also no hotels or condominiums within the plantation. The lots in the plantation are larger and graced by overhanging oak trees with spanish moss.  Looking for a home in Port Royal Plantation? Interested in finding homes for sale in Port Royal Plantation? Click this link to find all the currently available homes in this area of Hilton Head Island, SC. What's the Neighborhood Like? The home sizes you would expect to find for sale in Port Royal Plantation are varied; due to the lar... 08/27/2013

Moderately priced villa availability on Hilton Head Island, SC People ask me every day whether there is anything available in a moderate price range on Hilton Head Island. Usually my answer is not really. Unfortunately, there are very few places that you can buy in the $100,000 or less price range. Having just shown two villas over the weekend that fit right into that category, I thought I'd highlight The Spa at Port Royal Sound. WHAT ARE THE AMENITIES AT THE SPA? Located at the end of Beach City Road, this gated community has direct frontage on Port Royal Sound as well as a beach. In fact, as I was showing the property, my client mentioned that just the other day she was walking on the beach and witnessed a female loggerhead lumber up on the beach, dig her nest, and lay her eggs. The q... 08/26/2013

Palmetto Dunes Hilton Head Island August 2013 Market Report This ocean-oriented community is noted for its ease of access to some of Hilton Head Island's best beaches as well as the 11-mile lagoon system. Read about all the benefits and features of this community by following this link. The homes that are currently active range from those who are directly on the ocean, ocean-view, or 2nd through 8th row, along the 11-mile lagoon, or interior lots. The closer to the beach, the more likely the homes are used as short term rentals. A short term rental term on Hilton Head is considered to be any term less than 90 days - having said that, for these purposes, it refers to weekly rentals. Lots of information but the following are the exact statistics.   The following is an overview of the gene... 08/25/2013

Homes for Sale in Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island, SC Why Do People Live here? Palmetto Dunes is a community within a resort - or is it a resort with a beautiful community? Whatever your definition, this lovely development is located at the midpoint of Hilton Head Island. Enjoying a long stretch of sandy beach, Palmetto Dunes has single family homes as well as condos. Also within the community is the Marriott Beach and Tennis Resort as well as the Omni.  Looking for a home in Palmetto Dunes? Interested in finding homes for sale in Palmetto Dunes? Click that link to find all the currently available homes in this area of Hilton Head Island. What's the Neighborhood Like? The homes you would expect to find for sale in Palmetto Dunes can range between 1200 and 6000 square feet. Those that... 08/24/2013

Checklist for Out of State Buyers on Hilton Head Island, SC Here are the Big Three things to do if you're coming here to buy: GET QUALIFIED TO BUY FROM A LOCAL LENDER Meeting with your financial planner, trustee, etc. should always be done before you even begin to look at properties. However, in our area - both in Hilton Head and in Bluffton - there are financing nuances that may be different than those where you live. If you are financing and not paying cash, the first issue that may arise is with reference to villa or condominium complexes. Your home state lender will most likely not know the style of management, or the local information regarding the history and stability of a particular community. It may also affect the speed at which you may be qualified which will affect the poten... 08/23/2013

What to do on Hilton Head and Bluffton August 22-25, 2013 So much to do and see so little time! IF YOU'RE INTO ART Come into the beautiful Walter Greer Art Gallery in the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Presented by the Hilton Head Art League, they will feature ARLINE LINDER - Expressive Paintings: New Views of the Lowcountry. This exhibit continues through Sunday, August 25, 2013 If you're headed to Bluffton, come to the SOBA (alias Society of Bluffton Artists) "Think Cool," a collection of paintings, photography and sculpture to be on display through September 1. Artist members were asked to submit work that has a cool vibe - perfect for hot August!! The gallery is located at the corner of Church and Calhoun Streets in Old Town Bluffton. Call 757-6586 or visit sobagallery.com for mor... 08/22/2013

MARKET REPORT for Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Golf Villas AUGUST 2013 The Palmetto Dunes Golf Villas and Shelter Cove Villa markets have had a strong start in 2013.  Several villa communities have completed renovations with new decks, painting, windows, and landscaping.  The excitement is building as the new Shelter Cove Towne Center takes shape.  With Kroger and the Belk stores as anchors, the redevelopment will also include 220 waterfront apartments and a park. There has never been a better time to buy in Shelter Cove and certainly in Palmetto Dunes.   Year to date, there have been 63 Closings compared to 75 Closings in 2012 for the same period. Though there were fewer sales, the closed prices are up more than 8%. Since there are only 64 properties currently listed, and 17 that are pe... 08/20/2013

FAQ Are there alligators on Hilton Head Island, SC OK, so this is not the most savory of topics but I get this asked often enough that I think it's best to be honest and upfront about it. The answer is yes, we have alligators on Hilton Head - actually there are alligators in the entire area of Beaufort County - and scattered throughout most of the rest of South Carolina. So, now that I've admitted to their presence, let me say that in the 16 years that I have lived full-time here, I've never had an altercation with one of these creatures that are a throw back to dinosaurs. The next question is, do they go in the ocean? The short answer is that they frequent lagoons, and brackish fresh water. Having said that, occasionally they will venture into the ocean if they feel the need to rinse t... 08/13/2013

Health Care Availability in Hilton Head and Bluffton, SC One of the important considerations when you look for a place to live is the availability of physicians, urgent care, and hospital facilities. We are fortunate to have a myriad of options on Hilton Head Island, in Bluffton, as well as facilities in close proximity to Beaufort, SC and in nearby Savannah, GA.         HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HEALTHCARE Located on the north end of the Hilton Head, this is the main hospital that serves both the island as well as Bluffton. There is also a partner hospital located closer to I-95 and that is the Coastal Carolina Hospital-Hardeeville. Convenient to Okatie, and to Sun City, this location has the same emergency services that are found at Hilton Head Regional. OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTER Also loc... 08/13/2013

FAQ WHERE can you go kayaking on Hilton Head Island? So many places, so little time! Whether you are interested in the 'wilds' of Broad Creek, the marshes on Skull Creek, or the more tame environment within the 11 mile lagoon in Palmetto Dunes, there are plenty of places! Pick any one of these options: BROAD CREEK It's way easier to understand this location if you think of the shape of Hilton Head as a foot! Broad Creek is located on the top part of that foot and nearly transecting the island before flowing into Calibogue Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway, Broad Creek is teeming with wildlife. The very well-known and respected adventure company Outside Hilton Head will take you on a wonderful experience to see and understand the tides, learn about how the dolphins strand their fish, ... 08/09/2013

FAQ Can you go horseback riding on Hilton Head Island, SC? That would be a resounding YES! Located on the south end of Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines Resort has trail rides at Lawton Stables. You will definitely enjoy riding through beautiful moss-draped oaks in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Even on the warmest days, these tree shaded paths will take you back in time when the trails were how you meandered through an island that was totally undeveloped and the only way you got there was by a small boat. The guide will narrate how it may have looked for the two teachers who came here in 1867 and created a new life for themselves. There are also pony rides in the safety of the paddocks and for non-horse back riding folks, the very cute farmhouse and petting farm are big hits. The new Beres... 08/03/2013

Living Off Plantation on Hilton Head Island, SC LOCAL REAL ESTATE JARGON I think I need to digress just a bit. We are definitely living in the south of the country, and there are definitely still some vestiges of that 'war of aggression' mentality, and plenty of historical monuments, but an additional illustration is that some names of communities on Hilton Head Island and on the mainland carry the moniker "Plantation". Some communities have removed this to re-brand and remove any kind of stigma that might remain; as in Sea Pines RESORT, Palmetto Dunes RESORT, just simply Wexford - without anything after it, rather like 'Beyonce' I guess. In general what we mean here when we use the term is that the area "Off Plantation" may or may not be gated, may or may not have homeowner association... 07/25/2013

Spotlight South Forest Beach on Hilton Head Island, SC LOCATION Whether you are on 'the ocean side' of the street or just across South Forest Beach, this area is hopping! Along the ocean are what the closest Hilton Head comes to high rises; that is, condos that are 4 stories high. Beginning from the Coligny Circle, the well known Holiday Inn with it's tiki bar beachside and volleyball, the choices continue with Ocean One, A Place at the Beach, Shorewood, Sea Side, Ocean Club, Beach Villas, Adventure Inn, Ocean Dunes and finally the timeshare/hotel Mariott Grande Ocean. Each one of these complexes have pros and cons but most are oriented so that there is some view of the ocean. Obviously, the greater the view, the higher the price. COMPARISONS Though easily accessed, as you move across t... 07/23/2013

The 9 Home Inspection Issues for Buyers in Hilton Head, SC WHAT DOES THE HOME INSPECTION DO? First, in our area, it begins with an addendum and actual contingency in the contract. The home inspector has a very specific list of items and issues that he/she will inspect. The state actually dictates what they can and cannot say and many times they will also note - further inspection by a licensed contractor is recommended. This may mean that the buyer actually has to engage a professional plumber, electrician, roofer, landscaping person, pool company, etc. But nonetheless, it is the buyer's responsibility to do this and not the sellers. It must be done within the time frame stated in the contract and the seller must receive in writing the request from the buyer. The seller is then given a... 07/22/2013

Palmetto Dunes Hilton Head Island Golf Villas July 2013 Update What's Hot and What's Not Palmetto Dunes Resort is known for its oceanfront condos but there's another opportunity for buyers too and that's the Palmetto Dunes Golf Villas. There are actually two sections; one being on the ocean side near the resort hotels and the other is across the street in the Shelter Cove area. The views range from beautiful marshes on the Shelter Cove side overlooking Broad Creek and the Intracoastal in the distance, to relaxing lagoon and golf views on the ocean side. With fourteen different communities and over 1000 units, there's definitely something for everyone. Queens Grant and St. Andrews are the first two complexes as you enter Palmetto Dunes and from there you have your choice of heading towar... 07/16/2013

June 2013 Hilton Head Area Market Monthly Indicators WHAT ARE THE FACTS AND STATISTICS There was a -1.4% change in closed sales with an increase of 9.8% change in median sales price to $252,000, and -15.9% change in inventory or 2,474 units. New Listings in the Hilton Head region decreased 13.5 percent to 360. This continues a FOUR MONTH TREND of fewer listings. Pending Sales were up 20.8 percent to 366. This too continues an upward trend over the past five months. Days on Market was down 5.1 percent to 118 days. Absorption rates improved as Months Supply of Inventory was down 27.2 percent to 8.1 months. This has been a gradual downward trend for the past three years. The exciting news is that sales are up in all of the main price ranges; the strongest being properties priced from $225,... 07/12/2013

Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island, SC Villas for Sale July, 2013 Located mid-island on Hilton Head, the Palmetto Dunes Resort is one of the finest communities on the island. Its facilities range from championship golf courses to a nationally recognized tennis center and some of the nicest beaches on the island. Because Palmetto Dunes has a fairly high number of properties that are used by their owners for short term rentals, the market remains fairly volatile. The prices dropped in 2007 just as they did throughout the island, however, to date, we are seeing a resurgence and as the inventory continues to stabilize, prices should begin to increase within the next 12-18 months. There are nearly 1600 villas in Palmetto Dunes; most of which front the Atlantic Ocean or just across the street... 07/08/2013

Hilton Head Real Estate-Market Report for June 2013 The Hilton Head real estate market is showing signs of improvement. Another perception is that we are clawing our way back. Some areas on the island are roaring and enjoying multiple offer situations. When you've fallen so far, this is very good news for the sellers. Appraisals are still on the sticky side and list prices take a great deal of research. The snapshot for ALL HOMES SOLD ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE GATED COMMUNITIES (and including any foreclosure or short sale properties) is as follows:                                                                  JUNE 2013                           JUNE 2012 HOMES CLOSED                              75                                      74 Average Days on the Market... 07/06/2013