The Hilton Head Real Estate Blog

Take away the concern

Bill Brannon — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:00:06 +0000

When you decide to sell your home, keep in mind the older your home is the more the potential buyers worry about appliances, heating/ac units, plumbing etc. You can remove that concern by purchasing a Home Warranty plan from a number of reputable firms.

These plans provides coverage for the repair or replacement of many frequently occurring breakdowns associated with heating and air conditioning systems, ductwork, plumbing/whirlpool motor & pump, plumbing stoppages, electrical systems, water heaters, built-in microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, ranges/ovens/cook tops, exhaust/vent/attic fans, trash compactors and more. One company I know of actually will let you design the program you want and cover what you want covered. When a buyer looks at your home and sees you are providing a Home Warranty, it gives them more confidence in your home and its condition. One more reason to buy your home rather than someone else.

Lesson from a 5 year old

Bill Brannon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:15:47 +0000

My Grandmother and I am sure everyone else’s Grandmother used to say “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression!” Keep this in mind when you get ready to sell your home. I took my 5 year old Granddaughter, Gracie, with me to see a couple of homes the other day and when we got out of the car at the first home she pointed out to me the plants next to the steps were dead and when we walked in Gracie said, “Pop Pop, this house smells bad!” Two impressions, one outside and one inside and neither of them good, and this was a 5 year old. If you are serious about selling your home, do all you can to make the best first impression you can. A bad first impression puts you in a hole you might not be able to dig your way out of.

Romance and Real Estate | Hilton Head Style

Charles Sampson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:13:09 +0000

Here is an idea which will make your significant other know just how much you love them. Speaking as a guy, it is always hard to do the right thing for Valentine’s Day that is meaningful and lasting. Those big heart shaped boxes of candy are out! Flowers are great; however, if you are smart you already give fresh flowers every week or so. I have come up with an idea that may help.

Plan a long weekend visit to Hilton Head Island. February 14, 2010 is on a Sunday. With Friday the 12^th as Lincoln’s birthday, one of our countries best Presidents that is a great reason to begin your romantic weekend early. Monday, the 15^th is Presidents Day and the banks and such are already closed so that is another good day to take off.

To make it a special weekend—one you and they will not forget, when you get to Hilton Head Island, let’s get together and look at some real estate. The buys today are just too good to pass up! I am sure we will be able to find just what you are looking for, whether it be a home or villa one of the golf courses, a property near the beach which you can use as a second home or a rental property or a home which you buy today, put a long term renter in and then move into as your home sometime in the future. Friday night go out to one of the Island’s finest restaurants (we can give you some ideas). On Saturday we can get back together early and write an offer on the property you liked the most. After that you may even have time for a little golf, but if your significant other does not play golf, you may want to leave the sticks home! Don’t forget, the weekend is Romance and Real Estate and you want to make sure you do not do something that mess things up.

On Saturday night you can have an early dinner and then take in a play at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, www.ARTSHHI.com . Boeing-Boeing is a comedy about a pilot who has three fiancés in different cities and for some reason all three show up at his Paris apartment at the same time. Not sure I see how or why that would be considered a comedy.

With your real estate purchase contract completed on Saturday, you may want to sleep in on Sunday, take a long walk on the beach and have a picnic. Sunday is the actual V-Day, so you need to end your Romance and Real Estate weekend with a bang, a great dinner and then attend a Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra performance. The Symphony will perform some of George Gershwin’s best. Check it out on a link from my site or at www.HHSO.com. If you are here Monday night, the same performance will be repeated, please say hello, we sit on the back left row.

Let me tell you this will work and I have been happily married for over 40 years. A great fun filled weekend on Hilton Head Island and owning a place at the Beach for the future! It doesn’t get any better. Unless you considered coming with some friends who would also want to own a piece of Hilton Head Island or the Lowcountry.

Any questions with any of these ideas, please give us a call. Please feel free to pass this information on to your family and friends. Also bookmark our www.HiltonHeadInfoBlog.com

Moss Creek & More

Anne Wilson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:00:49 +0000

B-109 Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Ocean Villa | Completely remodeled first floor unit. Pristine condition with all new appliances and newer a/c unit. All new tile and furniture, AND new bathroom What a Steal. Easy access to beach and pool, shows just like a model, a true rental machine. A must see!

49 Timber Lane | This is the PERFECT lagoon and golf view. Remodeled 2 bedroom on the BEST LOT. All new appliances, newer bathrooms and all new paint, Ready to move into. Great retirement home , 2nd home or permanent home. Endless possibilities. Media shows home previously staged.

15 Loblolly Lane | Gorgeous lagoon view. Nothing like this left in Moss Creek ! Build you r dream home on the high elevation home situated on a private cul-de-sac, beautiful trees on this full size lot.

The Sonny Side of Things: Its Just Not Fair

Sonny Huntley — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:54:13 +0000

One of the things not fair and possibly unconstitutional is the Point of Sale (new sales are taxed at the sale price) provision in the 2006 Tax Act 388 . Quite possibly the entire act itself may be deemed unconstitutional in upcoming legal challenges.

For the present, the South Carolina Realtors Association is trying to work with the house and senate to change the current tax policy to make all transactions subject to the 15% cap on tax assessment evaluation unless the sale price is lower than the current assessment, in which case the assessment would reflect the lower valuation.The Realtors Association has mounted a huge ad campaign to gain support for the changes in the tax act.The lead internet site is www.itsjustnotfair.org where anyone can read the material and sign up in support of the effort .

I encourage everyone interested in a fair and equitable property tax system in this state to familiarize themselves with this issue and support the effort to change our entire property tax policy. This is not an issue for Realtors, it is an issue for EVERY PROPERTY OWNER IN THE STATE.

Think about doing this BEFORE you buy a home this year

Sherry Pecora — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:30:33 +0000

If you are considering buying property on Hilton Head this year, and with interest rates and prices low, you’d be nearly crazy not to, I’d like to offer some tips so you will be prepared. Consider talking to your lender before you find that property. You’ll feel comfortable with your price range and know for sure that financing is available. If you can get pre-approved, all the better. The lender can also help us with writing the contract to avoid any pitfalls during the lending process ( i.e. a separate bill of sale for the furniture). Working together, we’ll get through these extra requirements with lenders today. Happy house hunting.

Remember the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared

Bill Brannon — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:20:13 +0000

Remember when you wanted to leverage a piece of property and you would call the bank and say, “Hi, this is Bill Brannon. I am a nice guy, work hard and make good money. I want to borrow “x” dollars to buy this house/condo/lot”. The banker would say “Fine Bill, come on down. We can have this taken care in a couple of days.” I hope you took a picture of those days because they are gone. If you want to pick up a home/condo/lot today you should:

1. Get pre-approved before you start looking. This will save you a lot of time once you find the property you want, and make you a stronger buyer in the sellers eyes.

2. Notify your closing attorney you are looking for property and to expect to hear from your lender.

3. Count on at least 21-30 days to get final bank approval for you. Maybe longer if you are purchasing a condo that is not already approved by your bank.

4. Have your loan pack ready for the bank. This would include: A: Pay stubs for the past 30 days. B: Last2 years W2s. C: Last 2 years tax returns, the whole thing not just the first two pages. D: Last 2 months bank/asset statement including all pages.

5. Current financial statement.

6. Any other documents that might affect your loan application.

Having all this at the ready and getting pre approved will make the process of purchasing property here on Hilton Head Island or anywhere, go much smoother with less stress and pressure on you.

South Carolina Estate Market over the Past Decade

Charles Sampson — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:00:31 +0000

The South Carolina REALTORS have just provided a couple graphs that show the real estate sales activity for the entire state between 1999 and 2009. The past ten years was truly a unique decade to the real estate activity Hilton Head Island area and statewide.

The facts show where 2005 was the high in number of sales for South Carolina real estate activity and that the top for prices was in 2006. With the Hilton Head Island area market starting in 2000 our market did not change very much until 2002 and from 2002 to 2005 the values/prices increased by about 40%. Between mid 2005 and 2006, the values flat lined and since mid 2006 to today, the market has given back between 20% and 35% to 40%. Locally, the residential market has not given back as much as the resort/second home market.

Locally the numbers of transactions has also mirrored the state activity. In 1999 the Hilton Head MLS have a little over $1 Billion in transactions. The top was 2005 with approximately $5.3 Billion and 2009 will and with approximately $1.6 Billion. It is safe to say Hilton Head Island area real estate prices/values are back to the 2002 or 2003 values.

Now is a great time to buy. Bank rates are low, inventories are good and prices are very attractive. There are government tax advantages for some contracts written prior to April 30, 2010. The REALTORS at Charter One Realty are ready to help—-give us a call!

If this can sell, yours can sell!

Bill Brannon — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:28 +0000

Worried because your home has not sold? Concerned there may not be a buyer for it. Quit worrying. A home in Greenwich Village, NY that is 9.5 FEET WIDE and 42 FEET LONG just SOLD for $2,100,000. If there was a buyer for this, there is someone just around the corner ready to purchase yours. That does not mean you can just sit around and wait. Your home needs to:

be in good repair
have an nice streetscape
show well,
be priced properly.

These four together cannot miss. If it works for a home 9.5 feet wide and built in 1873, it will work for you.

NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVING HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON AND BEYOND

Phyllis Spearman — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:00:40 +0000

The Ribbon Cutting for The National Health Care was well attended by Beaufort County Residents. National Health Care is pleased to be a part of the health care community. The state of the art center offers rehabilitation services, including physical, speech, occupational and respiratory therapies. The long term unit is beautiful and feels like home, designed with health and happiness in mind. The specially designed memory care unit will be managed by a memory care specialist, who has expertise in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. The facility hosts 120 large, bright and fully equipped patient residences with private bathrooms. NHC makes a difference “Caring In A Better Way – Day By Day.”