Beaufort, SC Real Estate InformationDear Mr. and Mrs. Property Seller,Do you have an interested buyer who has been circling your property for days or weeks?  These prospective  buyers are asking all the right questions -- they have requested plats, disclosures, tax and insurance information, but, at the end of the day......cricket noises.But when your Realtor calls the buyer's agent, the buyer's agent assures your listing agent that the buyer is still mulling things over. And then, more cricket noises. What can you, Mr. and Mrs. Seller, do to knock your prospective buyers off the fence and get these buyers into the game?How about trying a Reverse Offer? A Reverse Offer is just what it sounds like. You, Mr. and Mrs. Seller, have your Realtor write up and sign a contract with sales terms ... 08/02/2015

Islands of Beaufort is almost three communities in one. Located minutes from downtown Beaufort, the main portion of the community, which sits on a peninsula which juts into Battery Creek, while Deer Island and Cotton Island straddle the peninsula.As of 8/2/15, there were four homes available in Islands of Beaufort at a median asking price of $522,000,  with two sales recorded since Jan. 1 of the year at $492,000 and $495,000.Brealomg gound in the late 1990s, the original Islands of Beaufort development team sought to establish an upscale neighborhood with homes starting in the $400,000 range. Beaufort wasn't ready for this price point and the neighborhood struggled at first. But, Beaufort Real estate market has evolved, and Islands of Beaufort is now a thriving community, replete with o... 08/01/2015

BY Keith StrawnBallenger Realty There may not be another community like Spring Island in the Carolina Lowcountry.If you are seeking exclusivity and privacy, Spring Island, SC could be just the ticket. Located just outside of Historic Downtown Beaufort, SC, Spring Island seems like a world away. From it's Fox Squirrels, to its tabby ruins, to its world-class golf course, Spring Island is a true original.Since December 2014, 13 homes have sold on Spring Island, ranging in price from $680,000 up to $3 million. It truly is one of the most private and exclusive communities in South Carolina. Set amid the creeks and waterways between Historic Beaufort and Hilton Head, Spring Island is a 3,000-acre nature preserve, featuring stunning wildlife, foliage and landscaping.Although home to a golf c... 07/31/2015

  Distant Island may be the top deep-water community in Beaufort, SC. Located at the confluence of Distant Island Creek and Cowan Creek, the Distant Island neighborhood offers numerous deep-water properties.For more info on Beaufort's top deep-water communities, visit www.explorebeaufortrealestate.com Distant Island is less than 10 minutes from Historic Downtown Beaufort, and about 20 minutes from the beaches of Hunting Island.Distant Island offers two community docks and boat launch.The attractions Distant Island  presents to boaters are the protected calm, waters of Distant Island and Cowan Creeks,  which extends the life expectancy of docks, and docked boats, which can take a beating when docked on more "open" waters.As of the week beginning July 27, 2015, there were four homes avail... 07/30/2015

I was showing property the other day at Habersham, one of Beaufort's really fine communities. While going from house to house, the issue of "cost-per-square" foot arose.You arrive at the cost-per-square-foot by dividing the price of a home by the square footage.I got to thinking how tricky this measure of value can be.A builder whom I once asked about "cost-per-square foot" very cheekily responded, "Well, you know, porches and landscaping don't cost anything to build." His point was well-taken. Cost-per-square foot does not factor in porches, which can be among the most expensive features of the home.Back to Habersham for a moment, some of the homes we viewed had spectacular landscape packages, tens of thousands of dollars spent on arbors, trellaces, pavers, fencing, and beautiful folia... 07/23/2015

Battery Point is one of Beaufort's most sought after communities. It is the namesake of Battery Creek, which flows by this Beaufort community.Located just minutes from downtown Beaufort, Battery Point was developed in the mid-1990s.  Battery Point is one of the area's "neo-traditional" neighborhoods which combine the charm of early 20th Century coastal architecture with the modern conveniences of new homes. Battery Point was developed along the shoreline of Battery Creek, one of Beaufort's main waterways. The community features some of the best amenities in Beaufort, from the community boat dock and boat ramp to the tennis court, walking trails, and pool.  Battery Point is located about five minutes from the shops and restaurants of downtown Beaufort, Some Battery Point residents are kn... 07/17/2015

Splish Splash Time for 2015 Beaufort, SC Water FestivalAll manner of folks anxious to decorate their boats for judging, or committed to try the raft race, or the river rally, or the bed race will be flocking to Beaufort beginning FRIDAY, JULY 17. This frolicking good time is for everyone since there are so many things to do!This is the 60th year for this event in the usually sleepy little town of Beaufort, SC - (say BEW-FERT - as opposed to how our North Carolina neighbors pronounce their own Beaufort - and BOW-FORT). No matter how you pronounce it, you need to get here for the Water Festival!Obviously an event like this could not happen without loyal sponsors. They are ranked with very cute nautical names with the major ones being: Admiral of the Fleet - Lee Distributors and Flagship A... 07/16/2015

If you are seeking exclusivity and privacy, you may want to consider Spring Island, SC, just outside of Historic Downtown Beaufort, SC.  Since December 2014, 13 homes have sold on Spring Island, ranging in price from $680,000 up to $3 million. It truly is one of the most private and exclusive communities in South Carolina. Set amid the creeks and waterways between Historic Beaufort and Hilton Head, Spring Island is a 3,000-acre nature preserve, featuring stunning wildlife, foliage and landscaping.Although home to a golf course considered by golf enthusiasts to be among the finest in America, Spring Island is not a “golf community.” Spring Island is home to two superb restaurants, a 13,000-square-foot fitness and pool facility, tennis, equestrian programs, fishing and water sports of al... 07/06/2015

Fellow Realtors, don't let anyone ever tell you Realtor's are not worth every penny of our commission.I recently had an owner/client with an uncooperative tenant. Showings were difficult to arrange, even with ample notice.After having a number of showings killed by the tenant over a 3-month time period,  I recommended the seller give the tenants 30 days notice, making the home vacant and easy-so-show.This is not always an easy recommendation to make, as vacant home could become a financial hardship on the owner if the home does not sell in short order.Well, within two weeks, we had an accepted offer, and within 6 weeks of the owner heeding my advice, the home was closed.Realtors bring tremendous value to every transaction. We bring time value, and lots of expertise.I am really proud of ... 06/18/2015

Located minutes from downtown Beaufort, SC, the community of Habersham is a true original. The community was inspired by the coastal towns of 100 or so years go. The development team of Habersham -- which also developed the very successful Lady's Island community of Newpoint, have created a totally unique community along the banks of Habersham Creek, and the Broad River. Streets and intersections wrap around majestic oak trees, and the community pool overlooks the Broad River. My family resided there several years ago. It is a wonderful place to call home, with a great sense of community. Habersham has been recognized as one of the nation's premier neighborhoods in recent years. Habersham is sprinkled with something like 2-dozen parks, many of which overlook Broad River. The developer ... 05/16/2015

I just got an abject reminder of what  the importance of quick action when  you find a property which checks all of  your  boxes.Timeliness is everything.It's one of the oldest axioms in real estate," The home you saw today and are thinking about offering on tomorrow may be the same home someone else saw today and are offering on    today ."So, don't think for a second that you have a day or two  to think about your offer. You may  not even have an hour or two. This is true.Have a great day!!  05/09/2015

The beautiful  thing about real estate is that you learn new thing constantly. You couldn't make this job routine if you wanted to.Yesterday, May 6, I was seeking out information on whether a property at the Islands of Beaufort in Beaufort was "dockable," and, furthermore, whether it could accomodate a floater, which allows you to dock the boat in the water. I had some clients interested in the property, but a floater was a critical part of the deal.The Office of Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) is the entity which issues permits, so I called a friend at the OCRM  yesterday to get his thoughts. Although  you are never permitted until  you go through the process, my friend can usually provide pretty accurate information on whether a dock is possible.After consulting his maps and charts... 05/06/2015

Kelly, Thanks for the email. It is great to hear from you. We will continue to provide update information on possible properties of interest.  Don't worry. You are not starting too soon. January 2016 will be here before you know it!!We are very excited about your move to  Beaufort, which we think you will love. Beautiful weather, nice people, endless water vistas. You have indicated in previous emails an interest in communities like Walling Grove, Habersham and Willow Point, all of which are established communities within 20 minutes of Parris Island. Of these, Walling Grove homes features larger homesites, generally speaking about a half acre and up. Willow Point and Battery Point are higher-density neighborhoods, in the style of old downtown Beaufort, with large porches and a great nei... 05/05/2015

I was asked by a buyer recently about a property which was listed twice --  at $60,000 and also at $289,000. What do you do when your raw land is not moving? You put a house on it.  This is an old real estate strategy to generate interest in a piece of land, in which a seller (usually at the advice of his/her Realtor) lists the land while also listing a home "to be constructed" on the same property.  I saw this done a few years ago at a local community, which had been struggling to get off the ground selling lots. So, the developer and his very smart agent changed the product, lowered the price of these homes, and sold out in a  year or so. To be sure, the developer did not make as much money as he had originally intended, but did manage to rid himself of the burdensome carrying costs ... 04/29/2015

I received an email this morning from a young fellow who had a few questions regarding fees associated with purchasing a home, so I thought I would share my response....Spencer,  Good morning. Thanks for your email. I would be happy to try and address some of your questions.  Your assessment of the Beaufort area is accurate -- We do enjoy fantastic weather, and we are convenient to several metro areas, like Charleston and Savannah, each of which is about an hour away, to Columbia and Jacksonville, which are 2.5 to 3 hours away, respectively. Regarding your question about fees associated with purchasing a home, you will have a good handle on all the fees involved with buying a piece of property at the beginning of the process.  Your lender will issue a "good faith estimate," which detail... 04/08/2015

No doubt about -- Zillow and Trulia are fun sites to use. A friend of mine compared it to the Pottery Barn Catalog.  Buyers and sellers need to understand, though, that the information is not "real time," and many of the homes shown as "available" are not. These homes found on Trulia and Zillow as "available" often times are under contract, sold, no longer on market, or is priced differently. In other word, there is a huge accuracy gap with Trulia and Zillow. I got an inquiry this morning regarding an "active" listing in Beaufort which has gone under contract. This is not an uncommon occurrence. With all of this technology, there is still no substitute for a  Realtor working for you, an who can provide up to the moment information.  02/17/2015

We visited the two Congress Street homes today in Beaufort's Historic District, on behalf of a pair of out-of-town clients.    These homes will require considerable work, but the payoff for this kind of project can be dramatic.   Both homes have great locations in upcoming areas of the Beaufort Historic District. The home at 712 Congress Street is listed at $119,000, and is just two blocks from the waterfront. 1304 Congress Street listed at $50,000.   Please note that the historic nature of the homes, the Beaufort Historic Society will not permit the home to be torn down. The Historic Review Board will require the homes be renovated to the style of the era they were constructed. This can be quite pricey, but the payoff can be terrific.   Through the years, I have been part of many down... 01/03/2015

Located about 20 to 25 minutes from Historic Downtown Beaufort, SC, Paukie Island is a true boater's paradise. Although downtown Beaufort is 20 minutes by car, it is just around the corner by boat.   Homes in Paukie Island range in price from just under $200,000, to deep-water homes currently on the market in the $300,000.   This rural setting is popular for boating enthusiasts, as the community has both a community dock and a community boat launch, which comes in handy on busy summer days, when the  public launches are packed.   The community is also popular with those seeking a weekend getaway in the Beaufort area.   The community is in the Marine Corps Air Station's noise zone, so you would occasionally hear the jets coming and going. I lived for two years in the noise zone, and we f... 01/02/2015

2014 was a banner year for Beaufort's Pinckney Retreat, a 77-homesite, gated coastal community in Beaufort, SC. Pinckney Retreat had a record 22 sales in 2014, with 11 homes currently under construction as of this blog post, according to sources  from Pickney Retreat. The development team is hoping 2015 will be even better. Pickney Retreat is offering the last section of waterfront homes in the community, with these homes are priced from the $600s, with homesites from the $200s. In addition, the development  team of Pickney Retreat is pleased to announce plans for a new downtown community within walking distance to historic downtown Beaufort. City Walk will offer single-family homes featuring garages and first floor master suites, priced from the $300s. For more information on Pickney R... 01/02/2015

There is a saying, "It's not closed until it's closed." Sometimes, it's not closed until after closing.  Take my closing yesterday. After closing, the lender sprung a couple of conditions on us. I won't boar everyone with the details, but the buyer's agent and seller's agent got on the phone and made sure the conditions were satisfied. Within an hour, the buyer went from closed to not closed back to closed.   I don't want to overplay this "crisis." It wasn't a crisis, but there was uncertainty with the buyer's, who had done everything asked of them throughout the process. Without professional Realtors overseeing this transaction, it could have been a crisis. Merry Christmas, Bill and Tara!! 12/23/2014