Hilton Head Realtor action and awareness on new flood legislation   The cries from homeowners on Hilton Head Island have been heard loud and clear by the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors and calls to action are underway. The South Carolina Association of Realtors (SCAR) have created a form for consumers to make known any changes in their flood insurance premiums. The completed forms are being sent to the SCAR to in turn be logged and then passed on to the National Association of Realtors for further emphasis. This is how the Realtors work to benefit consumers not only in a particular state but nationwide. Local Realtors are also beginning to use a form as an addendum to all contracts so that this issue is front and center for new buyers. This issue has been debated often; the Na... 07/05/2013

Celebrate July 4th 2013 on Hilton Head There are so many activities from the south end of the island to the north that it just depends on your style! SEA PINES RESORT FESTIVITIES You don't even have to bother driving all around the resort, just hop on the fun FREE trolley or other transportation and it will take you from South Beach Village to Harbour Town. Even before the main attraction starts, you can enjoy watching the boats jockeying for position in Calibogue Sound, catch some dinner at the many restaurants, or stroll around the famed Liberty Oak which the kid's play in the playground. Harbour Town will celebrate with a variety of festivities. Children’s activities, live music, food and beverage will be available as well as the fireworks display. The fireworks will begin about 9:15... 07/01/2013

As a real estate agent you probably already know the value that curb appeal has on properties that are for sale but are you sharing that with your sellers? Too many agents remain mum rather than risk offending their newly signed sellers. It seems to me if the objective is the same for both the agent and the seller, and that is to sell the property in the shortest amount of time for the greatest amount of money, then anything you might have to suggest should be taken with open ears. So, what sells houses? Location, price, and looks are what sells a house. If someone doesn’t like the outside of your home they’re probably not going to set foot inside. That’s just how superficial many buyers are – they’re unable to see beyond the things they could easily change once they’re living there. Wh... 06/25/2013

Villas for sale in Port Royal Village on Hilton Head Island, SC (not to be confused with the gated, private, Port Royal Plantation) Why Do People Live here? Port Royal Village is located steps to the Atlantic Ocean as well as to one of the most popular public beach parks on Hilton Head Island - Islander Beach Park. In close proximity to newly the remodeled Westin Hotel and Spa, Folly Field, as well as the Barony Beach Club, this small area is easily accessible.   Looking for a vacation property in Port Royal Village? Interested in finding villas for sale in Port Royal Village on Hilton Head Island, SC?  Click that link to find all the currently available villas in this area of Hilton Head Island. What's the Neighborhood Like? The properties you would expect to find for sale in Port Roy... 05/10/2013

Schooner Court Villas, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, SC Find similar villas for sale on Hilton Head! With stunning views over Calibogue Sound, easy strolling distance to the shops and restaurants of Harbour Town as well as the marina, Schooner Court commands wonderful views and a perfect lifestyle. Because of its location convenient to the Harbour Town Golf Links, Schooner Court not only provides fun for the boating enthusiast, but access to one of the prettiest golf courses - and home to the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament - in the area. What about the size of the villas? Built in 1971, Schooner Court Villas were some of the first that the original developer of Sea Pines Resort Charles Fraser envisioned in the Harbour Town area. He pictured an enclave of mariner style townhomes l... 05/02/2013

Set on the tidal marsh of Skull Creek, Moss Creek Plantation real estate is located on the mainland just over the bridge from Hilton Head Island.  Very tranquil and private, this gated community offers beautiful homes ranging in price from around $200,000 to just under $2 million.  These varying price points represent the multitude of square footages, interior amenities, and views.  At just over 1,000 acres, Moss Creek Plantation offers two outstanding Fazio golf courses, a deepwater marina, boating, fishing, private docks, fully equipped equestrian center, new fitness complex, waterfront pavilion and pools, a tennis center with seven fast dry Har-Tru courts, nature preserves and much more. As one of the first master planned communities on the mainland side of Hilton Head, real estate i... 04/30/2013

How to enjoy the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament on Hilton Head   RBC Heritage Golf Tournament - Hints from A "Local" When: April 15-21, 2013Where: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, SC Who: Everyone and AnyoneTickets: Various packages are available - including one day passes may be purchased at the Sea Pines Welcome Center or the Harbour Town Club House Who to Contact: RBC HeritageContact Information: http://www.rbcheritage.com/tickets  THE Event of the Year on Hilton Head From its inception in November of 1969, to the present day, The Heritage Golf Tournament is the premier event for Hilton Head. Featuring the best golf players in the world, The Heritage is played on the Pete Dye designed Harbour Town Golf Links. Not surprisingly, Arnold Palmer won the first tournament with a t... 04/17/2013

What's happening in and around Hilton Head this weekend This is a common refrain from our visitors and always easy to answer since there's always SOMETHING to do. This weekend, April 5 through April 7th is no exception! 6th Annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival 6th Annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival hosted by the David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation at Shelter Cove Park. The Friday night component of this year’s Seafood Fest, 5-8 p.m., will be a more intimate gathering than the main event on Saturday and will feature live entertainment from Cranford & Sons—Hilton Head Island’s Rockabilly-Folk Explosion/Low Country Stomp band—as well as delicious foods. Seafood Fest will continue on Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and feature more than a dozen area restaurants dishing up local an... 04/05/2013

Hilton Head First Quarter 2013 Sales off to a Strong Start CLOSED HOME STATS Just to be clear, for these purposes, I'll use actually CLOSED homes since a contingent sale or pending sale is exciting but may or may not eventually actually close. From January to March, 148 homes closed - 19 of which were over $1million and 1 which was over $4million! Though the average closed prices are down slightly from last year, $467,000 as opposed to $476,000 the news for buyers is that time is running out since the sale price to list price ratio is firming up from 93.5% to 95.1% and days on the market are at 96.  The National Association of Realtors statistics say that a 'normal' market consists of days on the market of 180 days. JUST A NOTE TO BUYERS- IT MAY LOOK LIKE THE PRICES ARE A BIT DOWN BUT T... 04/04/2013

One-of-a-kind homes, many situated on oversized lots with full Atlantic Ocean views, can be found in Hilton Head’s Port Royal Plantation real estate at price points starting in the $200,000s and rising to $3 million. Where the sound joins the ocean---Port Royal Plantation is completely private with no commercial rental properties or hotels within the plantation.   Situated on the Island’s “heel”, real estate in Hilton Head’s Port Royal Plantation is 24 oceanfront acres of tranquil environment and plentiful amenities. Escape to your own Island retreat and sink your toes into the warm beach sand…or play a round of golf on the three courses, a game of tennis, enjoy the Olympic-sized pool or a stroll through the Arboretum, put a line in the water, relax with a great book while the lapping w... 03/29/2013

Last night we celebrated Passover at our family's home at Sun City Hilton Head. This is where everybody sits down around the table and we take turns reading from a book in which the words are printed upside down and backward. We eat symbolic food such as a twig of parsley and really thin crackers and horseradish shavings. For a brief time, we are slaves in Egypt. It's a lot better than I am making it sound. I really enjoyed singing Dayeinu (it would have been enough) like I don't need roses and chocolate and a new Swiss account after closing a real estate transaction, just a new Swiss bank account would be enough. After many glasses of wine later, we finally get to the main course which none of us can remember because we drank too much wine. If you have never attended a Passover because... 03/25/2013

We are visiting my husband's family in Sun City Hilton Head South Carolina. Driving into Sun City is like driving into a plush resort. Not quite the same thing as, say, Sun City Lincoln. But then I imagine Sun City Hilton Head most likely attracts retirees from all over the country. I don't know this for certain but I suspect most over 55 people who move to Sun City Lincoln come from California.  Seniors who retire to Sun City Hilton Head Island probably come for the low taxes and relatively inexpensive cost of living, not to mention the gorgeous weather, although the beaches are a little bit of a drive. My husband's uncle says they got snow once and everybody ran out to take photos before it melted. He used to live up north so snow is not a feature he cares much to see anymore. I can u... 03/24/2013

How to Enjoy St. Patty's Day on Hilton Head Island When: Sunday, March 17thHours: 3:00 PM to the END of the parade 6:00 ishWhere: Starting at Coligny Beach Parking Lot - 102 Pope Avenue Who: Everyone!Tickets: FREE!Who to Contact: iselectMDContact Information: http://stpatricksdayhhi.com/ Hilton Head's St. Patrick's Day Celebration is all set! The 30th annual Hilton Head Island St. Patrick's Day Parade is almost here! For those who come honestly to the 'wearin o' the green' it's a great time to celebrate their heritage. For everyone else who borrows a bit of the Irish, it's a fun day to enjoy great weather, enjoy watching the floats and bands, and it's a great excuse to party! This family event has more than 20,000 in attendance to watch the clowns, Shriners, local dignataries, local com... 03/15/2013

Benefits of a new subdivison home on Hilton Head Island can be substantial. In our coastal area, new construction comes with the knowledge that the builder has had to use improved materials. Specifically, the building codes have changed substantially due to the Florida hurricanes and Beaufort County, and Hilton Head Island in particular, have adopted those 2005 Miami-Dade standards.  This benefits the buyer since windows must withstand specific wind speeds, new elevations are required, roof construction and material standards have been upgraded, and in general, exterior sheathing and insulation has improved as well. The cost per square foot for new construction is generally based on final selections in the case of a custom home; one of the benefits of a new subdivision home on Hilton He... 03/15/2013

Hilton Head Island Wine Fest - 2013 Insider Tips! When: March 9, 2013Hours: Sat. 12 noon to 3:00 pmWhere: Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation Who: Anyone 21 and olderTickets: $50 at the door or at Rollers Wine & Spirits, Who to Contact: Hilton Head Chamber of CommerceContact Information: http://www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com/ Hilton Head's Premier Wine Event is back! The 28th annual Hilton Head Island Wine Fest is an extravaganza that culminates with the public tasting event this year on Saturday, March 9th. The serious side of this event begins in January when a panel of international judges evaluates offerings from all over the world and awards medals to outstanding vintages.  This year's BEST IN SHOW is from J.Lohr, the 2010 South Ridge Paso Robles Syrah. I've both volu... 03/06/2013

Signature amenities and luxury homes embody living in Wexford Plantation real estate on Hilton Head. This exclusive gated development, located on the Island’s posh southern portion, is a private golf, yachting and tennis community. It includes a newly-renovated (2011) Arnold Palmer signature golf course, a 37.5-acre inland harbour with 24-hour lock controlled access to the Intracoastal Waterway and Broad Creek, a lawn and racquet club, a tennis center featuring six Har-Tru clay courts, beautiful community pool, miles of leisure trails and a newly built elegant clubhouse overlooking the water. Wexford’s real estate opportunities include homes ranging from 3,000 SF to over 10,000 SF, town homes, cottages, villas and lots. Price points start at under $100,000 for lots and rise to nearly $4... 01/30/2013

The mall has now been purchased out of foreclosure and renovations will begin this Winter. The “new” mall will include the existing two (2) Belks stores, a new Kroger grocery store, a fuel center, and free standing restaurant and a new commercial village-type open air shopping and dining plaza. This new plaza will include many new shops and stores as well as new restaurants (one rumored to be a roof top bar/restaurant!) and bistros in a pedestrian-friendly walking village. There will also be approximately 210 new rental apartments. These apartments will have water views overlooking Broad Creek and will be designed for the full-time resident. Up-scale in both design and price (rumored to be in the $1,500 to $2,000/month range), these apartments will be an incredible place to live. Read ... 11/04/2012

      Fall Festivals in Bluffton & Hilton Head Island, South Carolina       Spookalicious Halloween Festivities, Hilton Head Island On Saturday, Oct. 27, 10am-5pm. The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is. is celebrating Halloween Festivities at the “Spookalicious” Celebration, Wear your favorite costume and come enjoy holiday festivities and fun exhibits/activities at The Sandbox. Enjoy Halloween themed crafts, programs, and “Trick or Treats!” all day long.       Pumpkin Patch at Shelter Cove Park, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 4-8 PM Fri. Oct. 26, 2012 Pumpkin Patch hosted by the Island Rec. Center at Shelter Cove Community Park. Petting zoo, blow-up rides, hayrack ride, costume contest and more. Proceeds benefit the Rec. Center’s Children’s Scholarship Fund.       Zombie ... 10/25/2012

This is a great article - just wanted to share it with those who are looking for ideas on remodeling or fixing up a home! "Starter homes or fixer-uppers come with plenty of imperfections: bathrooms that are small and outdated, unfinished basements that are dark and dank, rooms that are cramped or oddly shaped and space that is wasted or undefined. The good news is that many bad spaces can be fixed with clever and creative design ideas. Sometimes it takes just a can of paint or a new piece of furniture to transform a space. Other times, you may have to call in a contractor." Read Entire Article 10/19/2012

There are some stunning plantations available off the coast of South Carolina on Hilton Head Island. It’s Hilton Head Plantation real estate that will take your breath away if not by the properties themselves then surely by the panoramic views offered in this beautiful setting.Hilton Head Island is by anyone’s standards truly paradise. You don't have to fly off to a far away Caribbean Island to find it when it’s just right here. Whether you’re coming to spend your vacation in one of the many luxurious vacation rental beach homes or you plan on purchasing your own piece of Hilton Head Plantation real estate, it’s a move you’ll never regret.Properties on Hilton Head Island are ideal as investment properties to use as vacation rentals but they’re equally good for full time living either to... 07/31/2012