This short sale saga began over a year ago and has finally come to a successful conclusion. Our market in Hilton Head and Bluffton, SC has always been enticing to investors. The allure of the coast appeals to baby boomers - and developers alike.  My owner had purchased raw land in a new development  in Bluffton. Created by one of our pre-eminent developers, Hampton Lake was, is, and will be one of the premier communities in Bluffton.  My owner was successful in purchasing the site during one of the initial lotteries - obviously the desirability was strong in 2005. After listing the homesite for him in late 2007 with the initial intent of building a spec home for a potential purchaser, our market for homesites - and new construction markedly slowed. By early 2008, we retained the site on... 08/30/2009

If you're in the Hilton Head Island area and have always wondered what's behind that waterfall at Moss Creek's front gate; ...come on by from 1PM to 4PM on April 5th to tour the community and see the homes available in this one of a kind Plantation. 32 properties will be showcased! There will be maps and information packets available as well as residents to explain everything Moss Creek has to offer. Attached are some photos of the Plantation and it's world class amenities. The public is welcome and guest check in is at the administration building on the right hand side as you enter the gate. If you're interested in attending or have any questions, feel free to call or email me direct: Brett Lance - 843.422.5757 - brett@thebestaddressintown.com 03/27/2009

I suppose like many men who are avid sports fans, I have periodically fantasized a life as a sportswriter. I've pictured myself many a time sitting in the press box wearing an old rumpled tweed sports coat and a crooked dirty hat chomping on a cigar and leaning to the reporter next to me saying something like "Sanders is dropping his right shoulder early. 20 bucks says he doesn't make it through the third." I had my chance to play sports writer last Saturday when I attended my first University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks game. My wife, Pam Cooper Hoel, a USCB faculty member, has volunteered for the past few games ( I had always found some reason to be otherwise engaged), with many members of the faculty, student body and community, to run the whole show at the Richard Gray b... 03/16/2009

This is a post from one of my other Blogs, "Finding Work in Tough Times"' http://jobsintoughtimes.blogspot.com, but the message has universal value for those who want to build their real estate business the "old-fashion" way, by calling people and asking for their business. Find Opportunities Your Competition Doesn't Even Know Exist I don't have the statistics, but my experience in the business world has taught me that many if not most of the jobs you would like to have aren't even posted on all of the sites we spend so much time scanning on the internet. Why is this?1. Companies are always in the process of assessing their needs and positions are available long before the "posting" process is completed.2. Many companies first look internally to find the right person for a position. But... 03/12/2009

I framed the title of this post as a question because I'm not certain I have the answer.  I have ideas however, and would invite others from around the world to comment.  I'm certain that many of the factors impacting our market, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina, are similar to those affecting other markets, and yet we all likely have our own unique problems. Let me start by talking a bit about why our southern resort location was touted as one of the best real estate markets in the country several years ago.  At least that's what we, here, were saying.  The economy was moving along smartly; baby boomers looking for second homes and eventually to retire were to be leaving on the next train from the north for our beautiful year-round climate; cash flow was still available ... 03/11/2009

Here is an excert from my Blog, "Finding Work in Tough Times" http://jobsintoughtimes.blogspot.com/ This is a pretty simple story to stress a very important point in any endeavor. I was married in college and my wife and then one year old daughter, Jenifer, needed to find a plagh timesce to live during my senior year.  I saw an ad in the paper for an apartment that offered a tremendous discount on rent for a resident who would also take on the responsibility for maintaining the grounds.  It was a big complex and mowing the lawn in itself was a challenge. But, we were poor students and I jumped at the opportunity.  I did what the many other interested renters did.  I called the number on the ad and told an answering service of my interest.  The woman on the line politely told me that sh... 03/11/2009

I havent't given up on real estate, not by a long shot, but over the years I have had many jobs and learned some valuable lessons and techniques for setting oneself away from the crowd in job searches.  Many of the principles apply to building a real estate business.  So I've created a separate blog to help those who are looking for work in today's difficult environment.  Your are welcome to take a look - http://jobsintoughtimes.blogspot.com/ Here's the first entry: Do You Really Want to Find a Job? I have had many jobs in my life - lemonade stands, Evanston Review delivery boy, newspaper deliverer, golf caddie, an egg route (yes we delivered eggs door to door but did so more gently than with the newspapers), summer camp maintenance and kitchen crew worker, camp counselor, lifeguard, bo... 03/10/2009

I wrote the other day about local attractions as a "Marketing Tool".  Since that post, I have received feedback and read other blog posts that remind me that this particular attraction in Savannah, The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, is much more than this.  For me it is full of inspiring stories of the bravery and courage of ordinary young men faced with extraordinary circumstances.  Each story helps me cope with the particular problems in our business and my life these days and frankly makes me somewhat ashamed of the extent to which I believe that I am facing tough times.  There were 10 men in the Mighty 8th who received the Medal of Honor, an unprecedented number from one segment of the war effort.  At the Museum, you can see the pictures and read the stories of why these men received... 03/05/2009

As a Realtor, lawyer and writer in Bluffton, South Carolina, I have often visited one of the most fascinating "attractions" in our area, specifically, the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum in Savannah.  It is of tremendous interest to many of my clients here and around the country who either were in World War II, or more recent wars, and the surprising number of people of my generation, the Baby Boomers, who have a connection to WW II through a parent or other relative. My father was in the "Mighty 8th" and the following story appeared in papers throughout the country in August 2003 Watch Survives WWII, Follows Him Home - ASSOCIATED PRESSEVANSTON, Ill. - Jim Hoel is glad to have his watch back, even though it had stopped working since he last saw it during World War II.  The last time he reme... 03/01/2009

Reading through the morning online news today a recent article from Business Week entitled "Boomtown Slowdown" (click on- http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/106554/Boomtown-Slowdown) gave an overview of the top boomtowns in each of the 50 states. I searched out the boomtown for South Carolina and low and behold wouldn't you know it, there was Bluffton, SC! Click on  http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/02/0205_boomtowns/41.htm to see more. There is lots going on in Bluffton. To find out more or to earch for homes online, click on http://teamfanning.com/ . Check out the video of Bluffton http://www.travelistic.com/video/show/11017/Bluffton,-South-Carolina,-by-Erik-Hastings I've lived and raised my family in Bluffton for the past 10 years. We love the lifestyle- the history, the... 02/15/2009

  Hey guys, its not too late! But, it’s almost Valentine’s Day. It is the perfect opportunity to show her you love her and you can go on a Valentine’s Day dinner date without leaving your Sun City Hilton Head Home!  This is not only inexpensive but it is a meaningful way to do something we men don’t do often enough.  Why Not Put Together A Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner I am going to make this real easy—you won’t have to prepare all the food, or even use the over—microwave is all you need. If you want to use the oven, that’s OK. All you’ll need to do is just shop for the best prepared and tasty frozen dishes—but you have to carefully prepare the meal, present it as if you were at a restaurant and  make it look great in the plate (I said this would be inexpensive but it will take some e... 02/11/2009

Rose Hill, Bluffton South Carolina,  sits on 2000 acres in Bluffton, South Carolina. It is has two separate security gates, one for each half of the community on either side of Highway 278. One side is commonly called The "golf side" and other the "estate or equestrian side" There are about 1000 homes in Rose Hill. Both sides are gated with 24 hour security. As you'd  imagine the estate side has larger lots, starting at 1 acre and up to 3. There are some homes that have views of the Colleton River. Equestrian Amenities: There are 3 Separate paddocks that are directly adjacent to Rose Hill's 7 miles of equestrian trails. There is also a state-of-the-art 32-barn Equestrian Center with polo fields Rose Hill Plantation holds anannual Equestrian Expo which includes  a parade of horse breeds,... 02/11/2009

With all that's going on in congress, with arguments over money and politics as usual, I thought this post would bring us back to how we remain free...   There are more Marine Corps Flags that adorn the front of homes then I can count—and the number of American Flags that wave along so many of our streets is wonderful to see.There are a lot of veterans in Sun City Hilton Head and the surrounding area. The Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot and The Marine Corps Air Station are our neighbors. Each Veterans day, the Marine Corps Band plays for the crowds that gather to honor our Vets. I think we need to be reminded often, not just on Veterans day that there is a price for our freedom.  What follows below  was sent to me by my brother-in-law who served in the Navy for 20 years, most of it ... 02/11/2009

WHAT IT TAKES TO SELL A HOME TODAY   Getting a home sold today begins with a comprehensive Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) that explains exactly what will be done so that the home sells quickly and at the highest price possible. One of the most important parts of the CMA is determining what the listing price should be. It is usually computed and expressed as a price range in which the home should sell. Although it is not a difficult computation, it is extremely labor intensive and very comprehensive.   In today's buyer's market, where there are many homes available for sale and a lot less buyers around to buy them, it is crucial to price the home right. A real estate agent MUST know the competition and be able to show the seller an analysis of all the competing properties. One of the b... 01/28/2009

Here are just two major suggestions that can go a long way to helping home sellers reduce the days that their homes remain on the market. (1) Price your home to sell, not sit. In mid-December, I listed a home in Rivers End (Okatie). Rivers End is a small subdivision outside of Bluffton in Okatie, where there are about 200 homes. There is new construction north and south--5-7 miles from this home-- at price points that compete with anything in River's End. All along route 170 new construction abounds. Builders are giving all kinds of incentives. This is tough competition for resales. This is what home sellers in Okatie and Bluffton are up against. Add to that, the fact that this month there are over 119 foreclosures in Beaufort County, South Carolina. That spells more competition for Buy... 01/21/2009

Hampton Lake has once again been recognized for their inovative land planning and marketing skills.  The development team of Hampton lakes has been highly successful in and around the Beaufort County area.  They have also been doing well in a depressed market which is also a sign of their overall team from design to implementation to marketing.  The Island Packet release a press release today about winning the "Best in American Living Awards ceremony, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders' Design Committee and Professional Builder magazine." Last year Hampton Lake won the "Best Community Facility" this year Palmetto Bluff won the award for Wilson's Landing, both facilities built by my brother Joe's company Fraser Construction http://fraser-construction.com/ My Blog abou... 01/21/2009

First time home buyers will find some welcome news in recently enacted federal housing legislation: you can get a $7,500 tax credit. Congress intends for the credit to make housing more affordable. But you need to hurry - the credit is only available for purchases before July 1, 2009. Here's how the tax credit works There are income limits: $75,000 for single purchasers, $150,000 for couples. The credit is not made to the buyer in the form of a check. Instead, the credit is an itemized deduction on federal tax returns (your buyers should consult with their tax advisor). It effectively reduces the purchase price by $7,500. The credit is limited to first time buyers. The credit must be repaid (at no interest) at the rate of $500 per year for 15 years. However, if the home is sold, the sel... 01/07/2009

  LIST PRICE: SOLD PRICE: DOM: HIGH LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN TOTAL PRICE LISTING COUNT $10,560,000 $12,000 $290,773 $150,000 $388,473,835 1336 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 3784 2 334 279   ACTIVE, LAND, HOMESITES, LOTS: Currently, there are 1336 pieces of land available/active listings on Beaufort MLS.  I removed 2 prior to pulling these numbers because one was a mobile homesite monthly rental and the other was a bird-waterfowl sanctuary/not buildable.  The lowest priced homesite is priced at $12,000 and the highest is $10,560,000.  The one for $12,000 is a 1 acre lot in Ridgeland/Point South (near Beaufort).  The highest priced at $10,560,000 is 26.6 acres on Robert Smalls Parkway in Port Royal South Carolina.   LIST PRICE: SOLD PRICE: DOM: HIGH LOW AVERAGE MEDIAN TOTAL PRICE LISTING COUNT $60,000,000 $2... 01/02/2009

The Town of Hilton Head and Beaufort County recently announced the purchase of 257 acres of pristine land that is located OFF island.  Now, this strikes me as just a bit odd due to the fact that Hilton Head Residents are funding this purchase.  However, let me stress that I am in favor of ANY land being protected from future developement if it is as pristine and beautiful as the Ulmer Family land that was included in this purchase.  The purchase was made possible through the Beaufort County Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program.  While the original owners will still retain some development rights, the ability to split it into tiny miniscule building lots has been removed.  They may still divide it into 25 smaller farm tracts but cannot develop it.  I'm sure there will be some Hil... 12/27/2008

Every other Tuesday morning, the Sea Turtle Cinema offers "Mommy and Me"  movies @ 10:30 AM.  Juice and cookies are served prior to the event.  Perhaps you're new to the area?  Or just visiting for a few days?   What a great way to get out and meet some other moms and keep the little ones entertained at the same time. Admission is $6 for mom and $2 for children with free admission for anyone up to 12 months.  The Sea Turtle Cinema is located on Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton.    12/27/2008