All About Hilton Head Island & Bluffton

MLS (Multiple Listing Service) State/Nationwide Statistics

Click here for a link to quarterly stats by area in South Carolina and Nationwide...

http://www.screaltors.com/ceo.html

Hilton Head/Bluffton Referred to in PARADE Magazine article...

Click here to read entire article:  http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_07-15-2007/Second_Homes

Look for “Hidden Gems”
The best deals may be found in lesser-known places on the periphery of the so-called hot spots.

“A lot of places are brand names, but just because they’re more expensive doesn’t mean they’re the best investment,” says Andrew Schiller, president of Location Inc., which runs the search site NeighborhoodScout.com. “People have heard of Hilton Head—it’s very famous and expensive—but just a town away is Bluffton, S.C., where home prices are 20% to 25% less. You want to find places that are in the best position to run up in value and, of course, that you love.”

Rolling Hills of South Carolina

Over the past week I have spent some time in Aiken, South Carolina.  Going to Aiken is like stepping back into the era of the Vanderbilt's.  Live Oak trees canopy cottage style home lined streets.  It is not rare to see a horse drawn carriage.  These carriages are not necessarily pulling a group of tourists... they are carriage racers who have taken up residence is this unique equestrian community.  Polo Fields... Racing Tracks... Turn of the Century Estates with horses grazing in the fields... Fox Hunts... Competitive Events... 

When you go into the heart of the city, which is also the historic downtown area, you will find Hotel Aiken.  Built in the late 1800S you can feel the charm the moment you walk through the marbled entry.  There is one of the oldest elevators in South Carolina and gossip of haunted rooms.  Just steps from the Hotel Aiken is The Alley.  This alley street is where you will find quaint restaurants where you can eat outside under the canopy of flowering vines. 

My overall impression of this quaint South Carolina city is that this is America.  American flags, cobble stoned sidewalks, flowering medians line one way streets.  There is a pride in the people that is impossible to convey unless you see it for yourself. 

If you are planning a visit to this beautiful city you should take some time to meet with a local who can show you the true feeling of Aiken.  Contact me and I will be sure to put you in contact with the perfect Aiken tour guide!

The Sage Room

Do you want to enjoy a GREAT dining experience?  You should not miss The Sage Room!  Open from Monday to Saturday... click here for more info.  http://www.thesageroom.com/

Hurricane Landfalls

As the months of winter and spring pass chatter on the Island begins to return to the threat of hurricanes.  You will hear Island residents talk about how we evacuated in the past only to have not a drop of rain or a cloud in the sky.  Actually, people did not even discuss the threat until the events in Florida over the past few years, and then Katrina. 

I came across this Hurricane Landfall map that will show all landfalls from 1950 to 2004.  (Be sure to click on it to enlarge it.)  You will notice that with the exception of Hugo, a category 4 that hit in 1989, and Gracie, a category 3 that hit in 1959, we have been free of Hurricanes.  When Islanders speak of Hugo the stories are all the same... "I evacuated to Charleston (or Columbia) only to find that I was stuck in a storm that never even dropped rain on Hilton Head Island"...

There have also been many rumored explanations for why storms headed to Hilton Head Island typically swoop north to either the outer banks of North Carolina or at least north of Charleston.  We have a sandbar that is the result of the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway's current that causes the water to be shallow.  Since these storms require very deep water to sustain their energy they usually follow the deep water north.

I am absolutely not saying that we are 100% free of danger.  What I am saying is that in this age of technology we have plenty of time to heed warnings from the National Weather Service to keep ourselves out of harms way, and then once we are safely perched in a restaurant in Atlanta the probability of or homes being struck by a hurricane is smaller than some think.

Hilton Head Island & Mainland Demographics

Click here to view Hilton Head Island & Mainland Demographics & Top Employer Information ~ http://www.lcwow.com/demographics.htm

101 Fun Things to do on Hilton Head Island

Click Here: http://101things.com/mags/view_mag.php?ID=39&pgnum=c1&large=1

2007 Moss Creek Amenity User & Owner's Association Fees

Please keep in mind that the attached fees can change at any time.  This is only to be used as a guide.

Click here to view document: Download 2007_moss_creek_fee_guide.pdf

If you have any other questions about Moss Creek Plantation, or available property in Moss Creek please email your request to info@bluechiphiltonhead.com.

Insurance

So many people have questions about insurance when moving to the Low Country.  What is available?  What is the cost?  What can you expect? 

I recently sat in on an insurance seminar hosted by the Hilton Head Island Board or Realtors.  The panel consisted of the heads of 4 local insurance companies.  When we asked them the questions above they could not stress enough that we should NOT attempt to touch on the answers with clients.  The quotes can vary greatly due to the age, proximity to the ocean, elevation and method of construction of the home.  They all told us that they could prepare a quote within 5 days on any property, even a potential property.  The reason for the time is that they have to get all quotes from an underwriter, which can take a few days.  They also said that our two best sources for information are the following websites:

www.FEMA.com and www.SCWind.com

If you would like me to suggest insurance companies for a quote you can email your request to Info@BlueChipHiltonHead.com.

Sunrise Over Deep Water

  Photo Taken and Provided by Warren Lynn. Click on photo to enlarge.