It’s beach and pool weather on Hilton Head Island, and we have fallen into the predictable and consistent weather-forecast of low-90’s during the day, low-70’s at night and the ever-present chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Here’s hoping all is well with you. Happy reading…!

51 Ribaut Drive
$3,200,000
Ribaut Island. A truly spectacular waterfront masterpiece, featuring 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and nearly 6,500 heated square feet of living space. 51 Ribaut Drive provides all of the amenities and quality finishings you would expect for a home of this stature and location, including: Direct sound frontage, just minutes to the Atlantic Ocean; Deepwater dock with 13,500 lb. electric boat lift; Infinity-edge heated pool with integrated spa; In-home theatre; 6-car garage plus large workshop; 3-stop elevator; 2 master suites (1 up, 1 down); Private, gated community, Convenient access to golf, tennis, beach, and more.
As a means of exposing you to different areas of Hilton Head Island / Bluffton, we present this interesting and entertaining section of our email newsletter. Below, you will see photographs 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!)

Don't Worry - Be Happy
For those of you who own second homes and have concerns about the property while it is unoccupied, consider the peace of mind of having a second-home check service by your eyes and ears while you are away. One of our clients owns/operates a small company called Safe Haven Home Services, LLC, and they are interested in talking with new prospective clients about the services they provide. For more information, call Hamp and Elizabeth at 843-384-3541 or visit them on-line at www.safehavenhhi.com.

A Golfer's Hole-in-One
Avid golfers who love to travel and play world-renowned golf courses might have an interest in considering an exciting development in real estate ownership. The Markers – Golfers Residence Club offers the opportunity to be
an equity member/owner in a portfolio of high-end, luxury real estate properties located in the most popular and distinguished golf destinations in the country. Sound interesting? Charter memberships are now available – email Chip for more information at Chip@MayerCollinsTeam.com.

We Give You Credit
Well, actually Equifax, Experian and Transunion seem to hold the key to your credit. Credit scores are a key indicator/qualifier for lenders to use in assessing a mortgage applicant’s application. While scores range widely, a 720+ is excellent, 660-719 is okay, and below 600 requires some repair. The five factors affecting your credit score are Payment History (35%), Outstanding Credit Balances (30%), Credit History (15%), Type of Credit (10%) and Credit Inquiries (10%). For more information on your personal credit, you can contact www.equifax.com, www.experian.com, and/or www.transunion.com – but keep in mind that Inquiries can cost a few points on your score.

Condo Conversion
If anyone is interested in learning more about a conversion soon to take place for apartments in Bluffton into condominium/villas/whole-ownership, please email us back and we can forward you an information packet. This could potentially create an interesting opportunity for investors.

Real Estate Question of the Month
We are proud to offer another new feature to our monthly email newsletter, where readers are invited to email us questions about our real estate market. Please email your question to Chip@MayerCollinsTeam.com and we will plan to feature some of the most helpful submissions in future email newsletters. Thanks.

Here is this month’s question and answer:
Q: Is it possible that nobody reading last month’s newsletter actually has any questions at all about the Hilton Head Island area real estate market?

A: While I find it doubtful that there are no questions we can help with, nonetheless we did not have a specific submission for the E-newsletter. So…don’t be shy out there – let us know what is on your mind so we can share some helpful information with you and others.

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.
Summer Intern
Our thanks go out to Ollie Wingfield (Chip’s brother-in-law) who is spending the summer helping our team in our marketing department. Ollie will be finishing at University of Georgia this coming school year, and has expressed an interest in potentially pursuing a career in real estate. Perhaps more news to follow on this in a year...?!

Hurricane Dennis Rains $$$ on HHI
In speaking with two prominent vacation-rental companies on the Island, occupancy is essentially at 100% (typical might be 90% or so) due in large part to the change of plans vacationers have had to make as a result of property/beach damage from Hurricane Dennis on the gulf-shore. Committed to their vacations, people are choosing Hilton Head Island (and presumably other east-coast destinations) to spend their vacation time. We may find that Hilton Head Island will “win-over” some vacationers as a result, bolstering repeat visitors into the future.

Good-Bye Remy's
For many, this long-standing establishment and its neighboring businesses such as Rock’s Party Store, the vegetable stand and even the open-barbeque that poured smoke into the street on a daily basis

were social and visual reminders of the Hilton Head Island of yore. Located at the intersection of Hwy 278, Arrow Road and Dunnagans Alley (just North of the Sea Pines traffic circle), the corner property was recently purchased by the Town of Hilton Head, which subsequently razed the structures in order to create an additional open-space park on the Island. (So…for those of you who may still be trying to figure out the Where Is It? this month – this is a pretty big clue.)

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

Steve Metzbower of Ellicot City, MD

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.

As discussed above in the Local News, this is what the corner site looks like now after the shops and restaurant have been razed. Landscaping is in the works as this parcel is converted into a park that is a park of the town’s Bridge to the Beach project, running from Palmetto Bay Road down to Forest Beach.