Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
There are many things homebuyers and sellers expect from a Realtor, including knowledge of the local market, strong negotiating skills and the ability to confidently guide clients through the buying and selling process. While Realtors are already the most prepared to do all this, they also bring a little something else to the table: past experience in other business sectors.
Just comparing Hilton Head to the mainland shows you can’t always trust national housing numbers.
When national housing numbers are released, it may not always line up with the local market. This is especially true in our own market. When area statistics are reported, it can encompass the tip of the toe of Hilton Head Island out to the Hardeeville/Jasper County area.
It can be difficult to define luxury; it means something different to everyone. However, once you find your dream home, it is luxury to you. Luxury real estate is a niche market and caters to a limited number of prospective buyers.
According to the 2014 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, only 10 percent of first-time and repeat homebuyers purchased a home with 3,501 square feet or more.
The Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors and the Greater Hilton Head Mortgage Lenders Association presented $33,800 in grant money to local organizations and charities at the Realtor September Membership Luncheon, held recently at the Belfair clubhouse.
Each spring, the two associations jointly host an annual golf and tennis tournament. Net proceeds from the event are awarded to local charities and organizations, with 50 percent of the funds dedicated to housing initiatives.
THERE ARE TREMENDOUS REWARDS THAT COME WITH OWNING RENTAL PROPERTY ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
You’re able to enjoy your own piece of paradise: a place to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with family and friends. As an island property owner, you can take advantage of beach parks built just for you and enjoy discounts on golf, retail and restaurants. Your property can be a place to create long lasting memories for years to come, and it could become your future retirement home.
There can be a lot of anxiety in finding the right person to help you buy or sell a home. After all, buyers will be spending a lot of time with their agents throughout the process, and those agents are helping them through arguably one of the biggest decisions of their lives. How could anyone possibly find the right real estate agent?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ latest profile of homebuyers and sellers, potential buyers should talk to friends and family to get their agent suggestions. In fact, 40 percent of buyers found their agents through a referral from friends, family members or neighbors, while another 12 percent used agents they had worked with before. On the seller side, 38 percent of sellers found their agents through referrals and 22 percent went with agents they had previously used.
The Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors is alerting its members and the public of changes to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA). These changes will take effect Aug. 1, and will significantly affect the closing process.
On Nov. 20, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its final rule to integrate RESPA and TILA disclosures and regulations. The ruling integrates existing disclosures with new requirements from the Dodd-Frank Act to improve consumer understanding of the mortgage process, make it easier to comparison shop and help prevent surprises at closing.
The best property management company can turn your ideal home into your prized nest egg
The surging buyer confidence underpinning the rebound in U.S. property prices — driven by mortgage rates near record lows — is spilling into resort communities like Hilton Head.
The national real estate website Movoto recently ranked the Top 10 cities in South Carolina cities to live in. Hilton Head Island came in at No. 2, behind Five Forks. To justify its ranking of the island, the site said, “Even without some of the state’s most beautiful beaches taken into account, this Beaufort County town still made it to the top of our list for its overall high score in quality of life.” Charleston tied Hilton Head at the No. 2 spot.
Hilton Head Island hosts more than 2.4 million visitors annually and over 40 percent of those guests stay in Home and villa rental properties
There are tremendous rewards for owning rental property on Hilton Head Island. It starts with being able to enjoy your own piece of paradise; a place to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with family and friends. As an island property owner you can take advantage of beach parks built just for you and enjoy discounts on golf, retail and restaurants. Your property can be a place to create long lasting memories for years to come, and may become your future retirement home.
