Upon seeing the aftermath of Hurricane Charley in Florida, we are all extremely relieved that our beautiful Island has once again been spared the brunt of the damaging winds and flooding that accompany major storms in the late-summer and fall each year. We continue to hear more and more just how wonderful Hilton Head Island is compared to so many other coastal islands and locations, and it is clear that our abundance of trees and vegetation add so much to the overall appeal of the area.

Enjoy the following newsletter…and thanks for your time and interest…
20 East Beach Lagoon
$5,500,000 Furnished
Character abounds throughout this charming and substantial oceanfront home along the heart of Sea Pines Plantation's oceanfront property - The Gold Coast. Originally constructed in the late-1960's, this charm of this home has grown even finer with time with the help of thoughtful and attractive renovations/additions over the years. Currently boasting over 4,700 heated square feet, the property features a total of 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms across two stories. With a focus on accentuating the gorgeous ocean views, the living spaces of the home are presented with an eye-catching amount of glass and windows to maximize the inherent value of this property - the views over the beaches and water of the Atlantic Ocean.

As a means of exposing you to different areas of Hilton Head Island / Bluffton which are off the beaten-path, we have developed this fun, new photo section of our email newsletter. Below, you will see a photograph taken of a very specific location in our area...and all you have to do is guess where it is! Well, actually, we tell you at THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER, so don't get too frustrated if you can't figure it out. Have fun with it...and good guessing!

Beaufort County Reassessment Causing Stress
The latest reassessment of real estate property values in Beaufort County has created a huge buzz, pushing tax assessor values up as much as 3-4 times their preceding amount in many cases. Waterfront properties, which were historically under-valued by the county, have seen some of the most dramatic increases, causing property owners to worry about the implications the increase will have on their annual ad valorum real estate taxes. In the fall-out of this development, a County councilman has proposed that the tax assessor’s office should have values reassessed at the time of sale of each property, instead of doing a mass-area reassessment every 5 years. If you are a current property owner in this area and need assistance in gathering info to file an appeal against your new property valuation, please let us know if we can be of service to you.
2004 Mid-Year Market Reports Available
Comprehensive reports on the first half of 2004, including transaction details, statistics, graphs and commentary on driving factors in the market are now available FREE on Sea Pines Plantation and Hilton Head Plantation. For your complimentary copy, please email us and we will mail them to you…

2nd Quarter Posts Existing Home Sales Record
Strong housing market fundamentals propelled total existing-home sales to the highest pace on record in the second quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales rose by double-digit rates in 34 states and the District of Columbia compared to the same quarter in 2003 and no state recorded a decline. Complete data for two states was not available. David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, said low mortgage interest rates are only part of the picture. "Technology streamlining in mortgage origination has reduced costs in recent years through increased efficiencies," he said. "Combine that with low interest rates and a strong demand from both the growing and aging segments of the population, along with rising consumer confidence in an improving economy, and you have both the wherewithal and the need to create a record housing market."

Villa Market Hot
Throughout the Island, villas have been selling steadily and quickly throughout this summer, and inventory is low as a result. We are experiencing a villa market similar to that of 5 years ago when properties were selling nearly overnight. Villas represent a great opportunity to own a turn-key property that receives rental income and provides a comfortable entry-point into the local market. If you would like information on some of the best villa values available in today’s market, please email us today…

Across the Country
In order to help put our local market into perspective, we have provided some nationwide real estate news that we hope you will find interesting. Just click on the USA map to the right to access this section of our newsletter...and be sure to let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Chip Collins Speaker/Instructor at StarPower Conference - San Antonio, Texas
Chip Collins recently attended and instructed classes at the annual StarPower Conference in Texas, providing insight on real estate business management and development to 1,000’s of creative real estate agents from across the country. StarPower is a powerful network group that excels at sharing and developing ideas that individual that Team-agents can put to use to enhance the services that they provide to their real estate clients.

Birthdays
Jeff Prekop celebrated his 33rd birthday at the tail end of July. Gail Bonnett celebrates her birthday this month. Christian Marocco celebrates his 23rd this month. Chip Collins celebrates his 36th next month.

Island Ambassador Program
Jeff Prekop and Ann Eden recently completed stage 1 of the Island Ambassador Program, offered through the Hilton Head/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors. This fact-filled seminar provides outstanding insight into the history and statistics that help shape our area and make it such a spectacular place to visit and/or call home.

Sale of Sea Pines Resort
The Board of Directors of Sea Pines Associates has approved a merger agreement with The Riverstone Group, LLC, a company controlled by the family of William H. Goodwin. Goodwin is a long-standing property owner in Sea Pines and currently owns approximately 27% of Sea Pines Company’s common shares. Goodwin’s company purchased Kiawah Island Golf Resort in 1993, where he is opening The Sanctuary (an ultra-luxury oceanfront hotel) this month. Goodwin has also been involved more locally with Colleton River Plantation. The sale/merger can only take place if at least 80% of the common shareholders of Sea Pines Associates approve it. More news to follow as this important development unfolds…

Congratulations are in order for our July E-mail
Newsletter Drawing Winner

Leslie Devine-McGovern, Hilton Head Island, SC

As a recipient of this e-mail newsletter, you are automatically entered into our drawing for next month's giveaway. Good Luck...and don't forget to pass this along to a friend so they can sign up to be a recipient of the newsletter and an entry in our drawing! Thanks! Simply click here to enter.

This scenic waterfront view is from the banks of Lake Mary in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, a 600-acre nature preserve featuring lakes ideal for fishing and canoeing, trails for biking/hiking/horseback riding, wildflower fields, outdoor picnics/BBQ’s and much more. Car access is located off of Lawton Road, while pedestrian and bike accesses are available off of Greenwood Drive.