Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
ALLIANCE GROUP REALTY WELCOMES SEVEN AGENTS
The Alliance Group Realty, located in the Fresh Market Shoppes on Hilton Head Island, recently welcomed seven agents to its sales team.
Lexie Frazier and Alex Castellanos are new buyer agents with The McTernan Team. Frazier recently worked as an on-site agent for local home builder, while Castellanos is fluent in Spanish and will assist The McTernan Team with Spanish-speaking clients.
2017 WAS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR SELLERS, REALTORS
Except for damages caused by Hurricane Irma, 2017 was a pretty good year for the real estate industry on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. Experts say the good times likely will continue for sellers in 2018, but some buyers may find themselves competing for homes in their price range.
RON BURHANS AND ASSOCIATES ADDS AGENT
Tyler Day has joined Ron Burhans and Associates as a real estate agent. A native North Carolinian, Day launched his real estate career at the age of 19, becoming one of the youngest Realtors to ever sell a home in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. Day has a bachelor’s degree in management and entrepreneurship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and recently moved to Hilton Head Island to pursue a real estate career.
STAGING EXPERTS CAN MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK LIKE A HOME TO BUYERS
Preparing your house for sale can be an intimidating task, especially if you have spent years filling your space with personal decorations, memorabilia and furniture. If the thought of sorting through it all is overwhelming, area professionals offer home staging services that create fresh and inviting spaces and ensure your home is ready for the market.
VILLAGE PARK HOMES TO BUILD 2018 ST JUDE DREAM HOME
Village Park Homes of Bluffton based homebuilder has been chosen to build the 2018 St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in Richmond Hill, Ga. The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To date, more than 450 homes have been given away and the program has raised more than $378 million. The two-story, 3,800-square foot home will be built in The Commons neighborhood in Richmond Hill. Tickets for the home giveaway cost $100 and will be available starting in April. Only 6,500 tickets will be sold. The winning ticket will be drawn on live television on July 27, 2018 on WSAV.
CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON NEW TECHNOLOGY
More than 400 Realtors attended the South Carolina Realtors 2017 annual conference and expo Aug. 30 and Sept. 1 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville. Realtor members learned about topics including the use of drones for the real estate industry, home security systems and virtual reality tours. The conference also included a 26-booth trade show. The SCR board of directors also met at the conference to approve a new strategic plan and swear in new leaders, including 2017 incoming SCR president Laura Derrick, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker United in Columbia.
DIAMOND REALTY JOINS CENTURY 21, ADDS JOHNSON
Diamond Realty is now affiliated with Century 21 and will now be known as Century 21 Diamond Realty. The affiliation will offer the sales organization training, technology and an integrated national and international marketing platform. Bob Diamond continues to serve as the broker-in-charge.
Also, Diamond Realty has added Marlee Johnson as a real estate agent. She is a native of Illinois, a graduate of Western Illinois University, and also a certified nutrition counselor.
Let property management companies handle the details of rental properties
Whether you love the beach, golf or other amenities of the Lowcountry, owning rental property here can be a way to enjoy your investment while its value grows. A shortage of available rental properties means the rental market is hot right now, and prices for homes and villas in many communities are on the rise. Even if you don’t live here full time, as a Lowcountry 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.
Coastal Signature Homes aids local family
The Coastal Signature Homes team recently organized a fundraiser in support of a local family welcoming their child born with Spina Bifida. With the help of the Bluffton community, the event raised over $11,000 for Luis and Mercedes Calderon and their new baby, Ellis, to help with ongoing expenses.
Employees of the local custom homebuilder wanted to lend a helping hand when they learned that Luis Calderon, an employee of Stromer Plumbing - one of the builder’s most trusted and valued trade partners - was facing a challenging personal difficulty.
Lowcountry Realtors are waiting to help you buy or sell
When searching for a real estate professional, it’s helpful to start your search by talking with family or friends. People you know and trust who have used a real estate professional in the past often can provide recommendations. Once you’ve developed a list of possibilities, it’s a good idea to interview more than one real estate professional and get to know them by asking questions. You want to be confident you will have a good rapport with your Realtor.
