Hilton Head SC Real Estate - Collins Group Realty

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!

Villa Sales Very Strong
2004 has provided a terrific "recovery" for the villa market on Hilton Head so far, with villa sales brisk across the area. The demand for villas as easy-entry, low-maintenance properties that can earn rental income has climbed dramatically this year (over 2002 & 2003) with buyers expressing confidence in appreciation potential. The result of this trend is a significantly reduced inventory and rapidly increasing prices. As an example, in Sea Pines the villa inventory is approximately 1/2 of what it was this time last year! And just as we saw in 1998-2000, there are large "jumps" in prices from one comparable villa sale to the next as demand overtakes supply. Further, most rental companies are reporting a sharp increase in their bookings in 2004 over 2003, presenting villa owners with good opportunities to help defray their property carrying costs.

Plantation-Living Homes
With so many baby-boomers entering retirement, we have seen a heightened demand for substantial homes that have a true residential feel in our market. While some buyers are demanding locations near the water, others are settling for more of a "plantation" feel with homes offering generous land, established neighbors, etc. without paying the premium for a water-oriented location. To meet this demand, we are seeing more and more significant homes being built in mid-plantation areas. These beautiful homes offer outstanding floorplans, quality/custom finishes, and convenient access to enjoyable amenities. For more information on these types of properties, please email us today.

HHI Good Value
We continue to hear from buyer after buyer that Hilton Head Island prices are still very competitive to other similar coastal-Island communities, especially considering the beauty and conveniences that Hilton Head has to offer. With strong development controls in place and our continued ability to allude major storm damage, it seems as though the demand for real estate in our area will provide for outstanding appreciation opportunity across our area. We would be interested in knowing what YOU think...so please email us your thoughts on how Hilton Head compares to other areas you have considered...

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.

Click here

Congratulations
Heather Andricain (Listing Manager) and Jeff Prekop (Office Manager) have both completed their mandatory continuing education in order to earn their full-time South Carolina Real Estate Licenses. Congratulations Heather and Jeff...and thanks for all of your hard work!!!

Movie Shot on HHI
This week marks the last of 5 weeks of shooting for a family film being shot on Hilton Head Island. The film, planned to be called "Come Away Home," is slated for an October release and features local entertainer Gregg Russell. Filming locations included Harbourtown, Honey Horn Plantation (north end of HHI), Coligny Plaza, Plantation Drive in Sea Pines, the Forest Preserve in Sea Pines among others. Keep your eyes and ears out for this fun-filled story this coming Fall.

Tuesday Jams
If you are looking for something fun to do on Tuesdays during the Summer, join the Island Recreation Center for games, music and food in the late-afternoon (and into the evening for fireworks) at the Shelter Cove Community Park Tuesdays 6:30-10:00 p.m.

Traffic Tips
Now that we are in the summer vacation season, there are a couple of very predictable traffic patterns that you might want to make yourself aware of. On Saturdays, there is a large amount of traffic leaving the Island starting around 8-9:00 a.m...this is due to a standard check-out time of 10:00 a.m. for vacationers who are finishing their vacation. Likewise, on Saturdays there is a large amount of traffic coming onto the Island starting around 2:00 p.m. in anticipation of a 4:00 p.m. check-in for arriving vacationers. This can result in fairly lengthy delays, so plan your Saturdays accordingly.

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

Richard Sasso, Lords Valley, PA

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.

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve! This unfamiliar face is the handy-work of those who maintain the overall grounds in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. The preserve offers over 600 acres of undeveloped land, including large lakes ideal for fishing, a covered bar-b-que/picnic area ideal for outdoor entertaining, wildflower fields and picturesque nature trails.