With over 25 years in the real estate business on Hilton Head Island, I have often answered the age-old question: Is now a good time to buy Hilton Head real estate? More recently, that question has had a second part: What about  short sales/foreclosures and REO property?  The answer to both questions, of course, depends on the buyer. What is the buyer’s cash position… what are the buyer’s needs and desires… is it going to be an investment or vacation rental…will it be placed on the short-term rental market… or will it be for primary use. Obviously, everyone wants a ‘good buy’.

 If there are short sales/foreclosures or REO properties that meet the buyer’s needs, all the better. But not all short sales/foreclosures and REO properties are the same. There are, indeed, fine properties available on the foreclosure/short sale and REO property listings. There are also properties that may be overlooked in search for the ‘good deal’. Contact me at BillTrue.com—I will be happy to assist you with your island real estate needs.

Hilton Head Island short sales /foreclosures, along with attractive REO properties,  are available on all parts of the island, whether you are interested in purchasing real estate in the island’s exclusive plantations such as Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes or Wexford, or off-plantation in Forest Beach or Folly Field.  There are many attractive properties for sale—oceanfront homes, villas and lots. Short sales/foreclosures and REO properties are also available in Bluffton.

Keep in mind, however, once these properties go on the market, they most often go under contract quickly. Many times, multiple offers will be made on the same property. While purchase price is the first consideration that the lender will recognize, terms of the contract and the borrower’s ability to produce funding is paramount. In today’s competitive shortsale/foreclosure and REO property market, it is customary for the lender to require an approval letter from the purchaser’s bank if the borrower is not paying cash.

The Lancaster Real Estate Sales building at 1032 William Hilton Parkway is positioned to be in the hub of Hilton Head’s NEW DOWNTOWN.   For over five decades the Lancaster Building has been a familiar sight for residents and tourists alike who approached the Sea Pines Circle via 278, but now, the building with the contemporary roofline, reminiscent of Hilton Head’s 1950s architectural designs, stands high and proud alongside the big oak, testament to resilience and stability.

According to Town officials, traffic flow enhancements , easing congestion from the 278 corridor, augmenting secondary road access, safety improvements (including the removal of onstreet bikeways and creating a separate path on the west side of Arrow Road), and aesthetic revitalizations will be the major components in this much-needed community upgrade. With the recent demolition of the long-standing Hilton Head Playhouse Design, land is being cleared for Hilton Head’s NEW DOWNTOWN to take shape. Approval and funding for the new Arrow Dunnigan Roundabout is complete and, according to Town of Hilton Head officials, work on this project is set to commence by the end of this year.

Hilton Head Plantation real estate is encompasses a diverse area of Hilton Head Island and is located on the north end of the island. Second in size to Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Plantation is over 4,000 acres and features four championship golf courses, tennis, boating, multiple parks, ball fields, two nature conservancies, and miles of paved leisure paths for jogging, walking or bicycling.

Hilton Head Plantation is a very family-oriented community and offers an exciting array of activities for young and old, such as Dolphin Head (with two miles of walking beach, a park, a playground and a pavilion), Spring Lake Pavilion (replete with ball fields, a pool complex, a lake and lagoon system which is stocked for fishing, and a tennis center). Hilton Head Plantation real estate is a must for anyone looking to purchase on Hilton Head Island.

Foreclosures in Hilton Head Plantation vary by price point and by neighborhood. With over 3,850 homes within Hilton Head Plantation, recent foreclosure numbers have been favorable for those wishing to purchase for primary or second-home use.  Hilton Head Plantation is a 4,000 acre gated community on Hilton Head Island’s north end that offers homes for nearly all price points, beginning in the $200,000s and going up to $3,5000,000. 

I have participated in several transactions whereby my clients were the purchasing party. As is required by lenders to facilitate the process, the purchasers were pre-qualified and/or cash buyers. The banks were willing and ready to sell the properties and my clients were prepared and knowledgeable regarding the course of action and made realistic offers. Practicality and patience on the part of real estate agents, buyers and sellers (banks) is a prerequisite in negotiating foreclosure contracts. There are currently a number of well-priced foreclosures in Hilton Head Plantation with highly motivated sellers.    

Hilton Head Plantation homes for sale vary by neighborhood, square footage, architectural style, price point, view and location; however, this exceptional private gated community located on the north end of Hilton Head Island is known for its extraordinary leisure opportunities and family-oriented amenities. With more than 4,000 acres and approximately 3,850 homes, Hilton Head Plantation offers the finest in country club living. 

Hilton Head Plantation is divided into distinct neighborhoods, with each offering unique opportunities for clubs and activities for like-minded individuals.  Hilton Head Plantation homes for sale and price points for each range from the mid $200,000s to over $3,5000,000. With two miles of beach on Port Royal Sound, 24/7 professional security service, tennis courts, activity clubs, fine and casual dining within the plantation, four golf courses, two recreational areas, multiple parks, a pool complex and more, Hilton Head Plantation homes for sale are too good to pass by.

Within the gates of Hilton Head Plantation are the Cypress Retirement Community, giving its residents an easily maintained lifestyle, and Ribaut Island, a secluded neighborhood offering spectacular views of the ocean or marshes. Onsite amenities within Hilton Head Plantation are endless, including four 18-hole golf courses; Bear Creek, Dolphin Head, Oyster Reef and Hilton Head Country Club. Real estate in Hilton Head Plantation is convenient to the very best shopping and dining on the island.  

Hilton Head Plantation, the island’s second largest plantation occupying almost 4,000 acres, is located on the northern corner of the island. With spectacular views of both Port Royal Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway, Hilton Head Plantation real estate is much sought-after. Within the plantation are Dolphin Head Golf Club, Oyster Reef Golf Club, Bear Creek Golf Club and, of course, the popular Country Club of Hilton Head. With twelve tennis courts, a community recreation center, Skull Creek Marina, jogging trails, two miles of beach on Port Royal Sound and a nature conservancy, who could want for more.

The residents of Hilton Head Plantation enjoy all the attractions of a world-class resort.  Just outside the gates are Hilton Head schools, Hilton Head Hospital, grocery stores, banks, coffee houses, fine dining, boutiques and national chain stores. Hilton Head Plantation homes and villas are an excellent choice for retirees, families with children and couples just starting out. The pricing structure starts at approximately $375,000 and goes up to over $3,000,000.

HILTON HEAD BEACHES NAMED #1 BY FOX NEWS. As a longtime islander, this really isn’t at all surprising. They are uncrowded and clean, the people are friendly and, according to Fox, “full of white sand beaches, bike trails and the cutest town…Hilton Head is great for a family vacation.”

Hilton Head beaches, in addition to their already prized pristine and natural beauty, also ranked among THE CLEANEAST IN THE UNITES STATES, according to a report conducted by the National Resources Defense Council. Our waters never exceeded national standards for bacteria and the county was commended for stormwater drainage systems and contaminants control. Charlie Clark, spokeswoman for the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce commented, “It’s definitely part of our commitment to the environment as a destination. It’s part of who we are.”

Whether you are interested in real estate in Forest Beach, Sea Pines, Folly Field or Palmetto Dunes, expect the best that we have to offer. You are right on the beach and this is the right time to purchase.

Hilton Head Island is often referred to as the second largest barrier island on the East Coast. Hilton Head, however, is technically only half-barrier, since the north end of the island is a sea island. The south end of the island is a barrier island, and the two halves are separated by a land-locked tidal marsh known as Broad Creek. With a rich history starting with seasonal occupation by Native Americans thousands of years ago, the island has been home to exploring Europeans and was an important base of operations during the Civil War.

Approximately 70% of the island is within gated communities known as plantations. These plantations vary in size and are replete with amenities such as marinas, golf courses, tennis facilities, magnificent homes and condos, bike trails, beachfront entertaining facilities and nature preserves. Sea Pines Resort, Shipyard, Palmetto Dunes, Wexford and Hilton Head Plantation are just a few of the plantations on the island. A popular off-plantation oceanfront area of the island is Forest Beach, which contains many large homes available for short-term vacation rental.

Hilton Head Island is often referred to as the second largest barrier island on the East Coast. Hilton Head, however, is technically only half-barrier, since the north end of the island is a sea island. The south end of the island is a barrier island, and the two halves are separated by a land-locked tidal marsh known as Broad Creek. With a rich history starting with seasonal occupation by Native Americans thousands of years ago, the island has been home to exploring Europeans and was an important base of operations during the Civil War.

Approximately 70% of the island is within gated communities known as plantations. These plantations vary in size and are replete with amenities such as marinas, golf courses, tennis facilities, magnificent homes and condos, bike trails, beachfront entertaining facilities and nature preserves. Sea Pines Resort, Shipyard, Palmetto Dunes, Wexford and Hilton Head Plantation are just a few of the plantations on the island. A popular off-plantation oceanfront area of the island is Forest Beach, which contains many large homes available for short-term vacation rental.

Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island’s premier plantation, is located on the southern tip of the island. This oceanside community is replete with five miles of pristine beaches, 17 miles of bike trails, three golf courses (Ocean Course, Heron Point and the world-renowned Harbour Town Golf Links). Tennis, an essential element of Hilton Head life is offered via two world-class choices: The Sea Pines Resort Racquet Club at Harbour Town and South Beach Racquet Club next to South Beach Marina Village. A haven for recreational sports, Sea Pines Resort is also home to Lawton Stables, Stoney-Baynard Ruins, Sea Pines Beach Club and the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a 605-acre nature preserve with hiking, fishing, picnicking and wildlife viewing opportunities. 

Real estate within Sea Pines Resort is some of the most magnificent along the entire east coast. Housing density is low, with approximately 5,800 single-family homes, ranging from oceanfront splendors to condos and homes built along the golf courses or nestled within wooded areas. 

Hilton Head Island is experiencing a surge in vacation rentals as a result of the Gulf oil spill. Travelers are cancelling their trips to the Gulf shores and Florida coast, and are looking elsewhere to spend their vacations. This is exposing Hilton Head real estate to visitors who have never been to our market. Sea Pines, Forest Beach and Palmetto Dunes rentals are surging as the market advances into full season, and rental availability through the end of 2010—and into next year-- is booking well-in advance of normal. 

With this swell of bookings already into mid-2011, we are expecting an upward trend in both sales activity and rental bookings. Newcomers to our market are impressed with our clean, wide, white sand beaches, our world-famous golf, fabulous dining, endless shopping, and its family-oriented activities and amenities.  As a result, this increased visitor traffic has resulted in a boost of showing activity for properties, both homes and condos, that are for sale. 

The current market environment, similar to others I have seen during my 25 years as a Realtor on Hilton Head, has created a new buyer. This buyer is much more conscious of location, the uniqueness of the property, the performance of a rental. Today’s buyer is making the bold move to capitalize on tomorrow’s dream of living on Hilton Head, and knows that the market will come back.

Today’s buyer is in the superior position of looking ahead and knowing that one can capitalize in certain and uncertain times. Hilton Head real estate has been and will continue to be the optimal balance between opportunity and risk.  I know that to be true, for over the years, my wife and I have purchased, sold (and continue to own) multiple properties in Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, Forest Beach and  Folly Field. Putting the present period into perspective is different for all buyers and sellers, but one thing remains constant:  Purchasing a property on Hilton Head has never been more attractive.

 

 

Hilton Head Island is the prototype of the modern resort community and offers distinctive and exceptional properties, each within the first eco-planned destination in the United States. The pristine natural environment, along with 14 miles of white sand beach, championship golf courses, family-oriented activities and a relaxing, hospitable setting make Hilton Head one of the most desirable places to live in the country.  

Hilton Head is comprised of plantations, not unlike large subdivisions in metro hubs. Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, Wexford, Hilton Head Plantation and Long Cove represent several of the island’s private communities. Each plantation is unique and offers 24-hour security, manned gates and architectural review boards which protect the quality and character of the neighborhoods. Meticulously maintained grounds and bicycle trails, marinas, boutiques, restaurants and ocean views are some of the amenities offered, depending on the plantation, each of which offers diverse and exclusive amenities. Search BillTrue.com for more information on Hilton Head real estate sales.