Hilton Head Monthly Magazine Voice of the Lowcountry 
Since I moved to the area more than 10 years ago, March has become my new favorite month of the year. I love all the events and festivals that start the new season. Many visitors come back year after year to attend these events and will rent vacation homes.
It is clear by the year-end real estate numbers that more people are finding the Lowcountry to be the ideal place to live, work and play. Inventory is at a six-month supply, down 23.1 percent from the end of 2014. Closed sales are up 13.2 percent from 2014, and the median price point is up 7.3 percent to $276,900. If the number of pending sales is any indication, 2016 is off to a great start for the housing market.
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.
