| Spring
on Hilton Head Island – there is nothing quite like it. And while
we enjoy the last lull in vacation traffic before the popular Summer
season, many of us are taking advantage of our many favorite activities,
restaurants, beaches, etc. in this phenomenal weather.
Here’s
hoping all is well with you and yours – Happy reading this
month!
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59
Stoney Creek Road
$1,075,000 |
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Consider
this outstanding home located near Harbour Town on a private
cul-de-sac with beautiful and expansive marsh views. This 4
bedroom, 3 bathroom home is situated on a full size end lot
which also features a separate and free-standing guest house/studio
including a kitchenette, full bath and sleeping loft. The entry
foyer of the main house opens immediately into a spacious living
room with a central fireplace, a wood-plank vaulted ceiling,
palladium windows, marsh views and access through two sets of
French doors to the screened-in porch that spans the whole back
of this home. Attached to the screened porch is a large deck
with built-in benches perfect for entertaining and enjoying
the serene marsh views.
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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!)
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1st
Quarter Results
Wow…what
a market we are experiencing in Hilton Head Island/Bluffton.
Comparing results from the first quarter of 2005 to the first
quarter of 2004, the statistics show that the average sales
price of homes Island-wide increased by a whopping 33%. In
some locations, such as Sea Pines Plantation, that average
sales price increased by nearly 50%! So what is happening?
Its basic stuff, really – strong demand and low inventory.
Baby boomers and second homers have hit the market hard with
their interest in owning a piece of this beautiful area that
is essentially unmatched up and down the coast. And for those
who have taken the time to explore the coast to find this
out for themselves, they are running back to Hilton Head to
take advantage of its relatively outstanding property value
as compared to areas such as Kiawah, etc.. If you are contemplating
a purchase in our market, our advice is helpful, simple and
direct – HURRY! |
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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 last month’s question and answer:
Q: What is the potential
downside to making a low-ball offer even if we ultimately
end up paying a price that is agreeable to the seller?
A: You found the perfect
house and you made a very low offer. The sellers responded
with a counter-offer which was several thousand dollars lower
than their asking price. You came back with a slightly higher
bid, and they came down some more. After many days of back
and forth, you finally reached a meeting of the minds, and
you are very pleased with the results.
If you have driven a hard bargain in purchasing a house, be
sensitive to the seller's feelings as the transaction proceeds.
They may be suffering from the impact of a rough negotiation.
Try to minimize any additional requests you might make of
the sellers. As you move toward your closing date, keep in
mind that the sellers may not share your elation. If you are
considerate and avoid making excessive demands, you can help
everyone walk away from the transaction feeling satisfied
with the outcome. |
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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. |
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Heritage
Hospitality
Thanks to all of you who availed yourself of our Team’s
hospitality house on the 2nd fairway of the Harbourtown Golf
Links during the 2005 MCI Heritage of Golf tournament. After
Thursday’s unusually cold day combined with rain, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday posted spectacular weather to the delight
of record crowds attending the tournament. In our hospitality
house, visitors enjoyed complimentary snacks, sandwiches,
beer, wine and candy – all well suited for a quick drop-in
along the way to the next hole of golf action.
Greater-Bluffton
Division
Our goal has always been to provide truly outstanding service
to real estate clients buying and selling real estate in our
local market, and now we are excited to be embarking on expanding
that service into a dedicated division of agents who focus
primarily on the Greater Bluffton market area. Our sights
are set on finding a suitable office location within the Bluffton
market, but for now we are thrilled to be enjoying the benefits
of this announcement in the market by way of increased buyer
and seller business through our new division. If you or someone
you know would benefit from the experience of a Bluffton expert,
please give us a call today – 1-800-823-7516.
Joan
Pound Weaver
As our Team continues to grow, we are proud to announce the
addition of our newest buyer specialist agent, Joan Pound
Weaver. Joan is an expert in sales, having assisted thousands
through her career in the fashion industry through such retail
operations as Ann Taylor, The Limited and The Porcupine. Her
delightful demeanor, outstanding work ethic and smiling face
are sure to propel her quickly within the Team, and I hope
you will join us with an enthusiastic welcome as she comes
on board this month. |
Kent's
Home
For those of you who have graciously followed the news of
Chip’s folks moving to Windmill Harbour, I am pleased
to announce a very happy ending. The home at 32 Plantation
Drive in Sea Pines is now sold and closed, and Kent and Sallie
could not be any happier in their new location on Indian Hill
Lane in Windmill Harbour. With walking groups, bridge clubs,
tennis groups, lovely neighbors, the South Carolina Yacht
Club and “Vitamin Sea” all just steps away, Kent
and Sallie are truly enjoying their new location. |
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Hampton
Island
Our very own Mark Mayer is helping us expand our real estate
horizons through his efforts on Hampton Island, GA. Hampton
Island is a 4,000 acre conservation retreat community that
is currently being developed. Limited ownership offers extreme
privacy with only 20% of the property being developed and
a total of 130 homesites ranging in size from 1 acre to 100
acres. The community is located 20 miles south of Savannah
on the Georgia Coast and has gorgeous marsh and river views.
Amenities include Davis Love III golf, boating, sea plane,
fishing, equestrian center, fitness and spa facilities, and
all the other comforts you would expect from an exclusive
island. If this sounds like something that may interest you
or someone you know, please help us spread the word about
this exciting development/purchase opportunity and shoot us
an email at Info@MayerCollinsTeam.com! |
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278
Widening
Bluffton
is now just a week or so away from the beginning of road
construction which will widen Highway 278 from 4 to 6 lanes
from the bridges of Hilton Head Island out to Simmonsville
Road. The $16 Million project is expected to be completed
by November 2006, with the on-going promise from the contractor
that 4 lanes will be open during the entire term of the
construction. With the hope that the widening will resolve
heavy congestion problems that plague the transition between
Hilton Head and Bluffton, the project is sure to aggravate
the problem before it ultimately fixes it.
New
Boat Ramp
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Almost
nine months past its scheduled deadline, the construction
of a public boat landing/ramp and fishing pier is now scheduled
to be completed by early June 2005. The new facility is located
on the southern side of Broad Creek to the left (West) as
you enter onto the Cross Island Parkway bridge heading toward
the toll plaza from Palmetto Bay Road. This will be a welcomed
south-end facility for boaters who otherwise typically use
a similar boat landing/ramp located between the bridges heading
onto Hilton Head Island.
Sea
Pines 50th Anniversary Upcoming
Officials
are preparing for Sea Pines’ 50th Anniversary next year
and are asking for the public to get involved by sharing photographs,
articles, personal stories and memorabilia which can be displayed
throughout the year in 2006. Taking part in the action, local
publication Hilton Head Monthly has printed a 3-part series
about the history of Charles Fraser and the beautiful and
revolutionary development of Sea Pines Plantation that he
envisioned a half-century ago. If you would like a copy of
this compelling, informative and interesting series, please
email us today. |
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Congratulations
are in order for our April E-mail
Newsletter Drawing Winner
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Christy
Baker of Fremont, NE
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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. |
Located
in the heart of Sea Pines Plantation, the Stoney-Baynard
Ruins are one of the most compelling and attractive ruins
which are the remnants of the great antebellum Braddock's
Point Plantation, which dates from the mid-18th century.
For more information on this historic site, visit: http://www.lowcountrynow.com/cityguide/stoneyruins.html
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