Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates~ We missed the bullet!   Hilton Head Island is 97% developed with a limited and finite resource of land and we did not have the investors and flippers buy our real estate.  Of course, the beauty of our market right now is we have a surplus of inventory on Hilton Head Island, but this will change faster than these other areas.  Hilton Head did not have much land or huge coastlines to develop.  As a potential buyer getting ready to purchase Hilton Head Property it is very important to know the rules associated with our market.  Therefore we have put together a list of rules for buyers below for your review. Rules for Buyers on Hilton Head Island Rule #1  - Know the Market Buyers need to know the market trends of the area they are buying.  Some o... 10/10/2009

Trades allow sellers and buyers to move faster in a slow market.  Many of our clients do not know how the trade works and the benefits a trade offers.  I have found many sellers initially say no to a trade only to accept a trade once they fully understand the opportunity they present.  Here are just a few benefits my trade down sellers have experienced:  Principle reduction   Cash out  Lower fees associated with ownership  Trades only work when you have a buyer and seller that work from an appraised value, a retail value or a wholesale value.  Buyers and sellers must work from the same value method or same page.  A one sided trade never works.  That said, here are my latest and greatest trade properties: #3 Interlochen/Leamington (remodeled 4 BR home listed at $589,000)                 ... 10/10/2009

Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates~ We are often asked for links and ideas relating to Hilton Head Island and the surrounding areas including Beaufort, Daufuskie Island, Charleston and Savannah. We have put together a list of links that only require a "click" to visit. The links below include everything from ownership to vacationing ideas. Enjoy! Click HERE for air fare deals to Hilton HeadClick HERE for Hilton Head Island & Blufftons Events Calendar this month.Click HERE for links to the great restaurants around the areaClick HERE for restaurants in Bluffton and town informationClick HERE for a great weather website with wind, tide and weatherClick HERE for Vacation Rentals by owners (VRBO)Click HERE for the value of your real estateClick HERE for searching all of our real est... 10/10/2009

  Dear friends, clients and fellow associates: We hope you enjoy the information below.  These links inlcude top 10 things to do, island maps, top restaurants, and fun ideas to share with friends, family and fellow associates.  Simly click on the "Forward email" in the bottom left of this page.   Thank you. Vacation Time!  Everyone needs one!  Despite the recession, with summer right around the corner, the family simply will not be satisfied vacationing in the backyard.  Fortunately Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is an easy one day drive from practically anywhere in the northeast.  We have several special vacation programs available including oceanfront condos, big chill rental homes and resort villas.  Give us a call or shoot us an email for our latest vacation destinations... CLIC... 10/10/2009

Robbie Bunting's Pass or Fail exam for sellers on Hilton Head(or anywhere else): On a 1-10 scale how would you rate your motivation to sell? Describe the condition of your property on a scale of 1-10? On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the location or view? Have you thought, heard or know how much you would accept for your property?  What would it do to your plans if you couldn't sell it at that price? How much do you owe on the property?  Any 2nd mortgages or home equity loans?  Are you current with your mortgage?    Is your motivation to get a certain price greater than your motivation to sell? Where do you think the direction of market is going?  UP, DOWN  or SAME (Circle one) Is there anything you see in the future that can increase your motivation to sell or inspire you to take ... 10/10/2009

Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates~ Don't be a Dinosaur.  The real estate market is changing quickly and as a buyer, seller, or agent there are some great opportunities that come with this change.  These changes will take place and there is nothing we can do to stop them.  While other conditions are simply beyond our control we believe that OUR TOP TEN LIST FOR REAL ESTATE SURVIVAL IN 2009 can help you buy a home, sell a home or earn a commission.  If you are ready to make a move here are some suggestions for this changing market: The Top Ten List for Real Estate Survival in 2009 Communicate - Information now travels at the speed of light and because of this we are expected to respond  faster.  Let's all communicate faster right now! Embrace - Technology will continue to change... 10/10/2009

Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates~ Buyers in the recent past have been a lot like my hound dog.  Every once in awhile you get their attention, but if a butterfly floats by or a poor day on the stock market takes place, the buyer and the hound head off in a different direction.  I started thinking about this the other morning when I was out walking my hound dog Sheeba.  As she poked around looking for scent, I called her several times and finally got her attention.  As she started heading in my direction, something distracted her and off she went back on her original course.  My buyers on Hilton Head were a bit distracted too.  Given the news in the economy in the past year, many buyers simply could not focus on anything including real estate. Every day  now it seems that there... 10/09/2009

The previous conversations relative to Short Sales may be followed by following the links below: What is a Short Sale?  How to List Your Home for a Short Sale: Step One Step Two: Short Sale Package Step Three: Finding a Realtor to List Your Property for a Short Sale Should I buy a short sale in Hilton Head requires preparation on the part of a buyer.  Most importantly, it requires just as much, if not more, commitment to a successful closing. People who have been renting for quite a while may realize that the market has adjusted. There is solid inventory in various price ranges in the Hilton Head and Bluffton area in South Carolina. If you have been renting and saving money to buy, now is a great time. A short sale may provide an opportunity UNLESS you cannot extend your lease, your lea... 08/30/2009

Step Three is finding a Realtor to list your home for a short sale.  Because of the sensitive and personal nature of your financial information, you may want to consider a professional full-time Realtor rather than a friend who is in the real estate business.  The National Association of Realtors has made available much information as well as a specific designation for Realtors providing increased expertise. Interview several Realtors and be sure that you are satisfied with their degree of knowledge and expertise in this field. Having one other short sale listing, or one short sale closing, does not make them an expert. They must be very strong negotiators, highly organized, patient, and able and willing to communicate with you on a consistent basis. You will need to provide written aut... 08/30/2009

If you're here on Step Two: Short Sale Package, you've probably already determined that a short sale is your best option and have read How to List Your Home for a Short Sale: Step One. Step Two: Short Sale Package generally consists of documentation required by your lender(s).  After initiating the conversation be prepared to put together as much, or more, information as was required when you initially received your loan.  Create a short sale file so that all documentation is in one place. Most lender(s) require a hardship letter. As outlined in How to List your Home for a Short Sale: Step One, this will involve determining exactly why you are in the circumstance you're in, why it is most likely that this will not change, why you cannot make the monthly payments at the current rate, why... 08/30/2009

How to List your home for a short sale is not as difficult as you might think.  However, it can't be considered just because you want to move and can't get as much money for your home as you thought. If your employment circumstances have changed, you may have to list your home for a short sale. either your hours have been cut, your job has been re-tasked causing you to have less hours or your job is re-defined, or you're under-employed, or you have even lost your job entirely.  This could be considered a legitimate hardship by your lender(s). You have had a medical emergency or recent diagnosis that prohibits you from working full-time, or at all. If your insurance coverage does not include a clause for lost wages, you may find yourself struggling to make any mortgage payments at all. A... 08/30/2009

What's a Short Sale? Though the circumstance has been around for quite a while, lately it has been getting lots of press.  A short sale is a transaction in which the home seller's proceeds cannot cover the mortgage(s), liens and closing costs.  Basically, a short sale means that the amount of the seller's mortgage is more than the market value of the home.  Because the payoff will be less than the seller owes, the lender(s) will have to approve any repayment. A seller may consider a short sale if they have missed payments and could be at risk of foreclosure. The short sale scenario may be created by job loss, divorce, medical bills, interest rate changes, relocation, and/or depreciation. A seller does NOT have to wait to have missed payments to approach the lender(s) and ask about a sho... 08/28/2009

Moss Creek Real Estate Blog Post 08/19/2009

...hasn't seen the recent ocean front activity on Hilton Head Island! In the last 30 days there have been 6 ocean front homes sell for a total of just under $30 million. The sales have occurred in Sea Pines Plantation, Palmetto Dunes Plantation and Port Royal Plantation. These are signs of encouragement during a time of year that is relatively dormant compared to the spring and fall months. Pricing seems to be the single handed most important motivating factor for buyers today. Everyone is on a budget and watching their every penny. Condition and location have taken a back seat to the "bottom line". In the past, emotion played a big role in a buyer’s decision and over spending (or spending more than what was budgeted) was common. It's been awhile since I've seen folks "falling in love" ... 08/18/2009

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is a world class luxury resort. One of our best kept secrets is Hilton Head Plantation. For retirees looking for an active lifestyle in a diverse age resort community rather than an age restricted community(55+), the choices are extraordinary. Our mix of homes and villas in a private setting allows for flexible retirement planning for a primary or second home. There are also lots for sale to build that"dream home." We enjoy biking or walking to our private Beach Park and a variety of sports and social activities year round. Everything else you need is just outside of our gates is an area we call Main Street: restaurants, super markets, dentists, doctors, banks and more! We have it all! Call me to find out how I've helped my clients achieve affordable r... 08/17/2009

Hilton Head Island in the Summer, does it get any bettet than this. Well if you are reading this you know how wonderful the Island is. Lets talk about the real estate market, after all , everyone I meet asks, how is the market, bad right. It's the general feeling around that everything is bad. I just say, look around you, does it look bad. Of course just because people are visiting does not mean they are buying, but truth be told, most people come here as a visitor and then sooner or later end up buying here. According to some stats I got today, the sales are up by 44% from last month to this month. As Bill Baldwin stated in the latest Palmetto Previews- Attention Shoppers! For a limited time only, Hilton Head Island is ON SALE. Why buy in a recession? According to Baldwin, an economic... 07/06/2009

Anyone ever heard of fractional ownership. I just held a wine and cheese party at Harbour Side III in HiltonHead Island in Shelter Cove. What fractional ownership is, is when (in this case) there are four owners of a unit that each set of owners is deeded fee simple. They each have 13 weeks of the year to use it, or rent it out if they like. There is a maintenence fee, so you never have to worry about a thing. They just remodeled the building I am referring to. ALl rooms are the same. So, back to the idea, how wonderful is this, you get to own a part of something that you never have to take care of, and you can rent it out to offset the cost, which by the way is run by the rental office if you choose.  Also, you can trade for other locations in the RCI program.  I have held two of these... 07/05/2009

Hilton Head Plantation is a private gated community on the North end of the Island. We are the second largest planned community with over 4,000 acres of green space and amenities for our residents. We have an age diverse population of almost 10,000 residents who are working and retired. Our amenities include  4 golf courses, a central recreation center for tennis, swimming, and outdoor events. We can fish in our lagoons and creeks or from our private beach area on the Port Royal Sound. Our bike and jogging trails are extensive. There is also a full service marina inside the gates as well as the facilities of the Country Club of Hilton Head. We have it all!! To learn more about resort living, contact me anytime! 06/30/2009

I was previwing property for clients and shot this photo out of my car window: An egret was walking across the street towards the Captains Walk in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island! We sure live in a beautiful island and the birds seem to concur! (Squirrels too!) Hope everyone reading this is doing well. Best wishes always, SUSAN OCHSNER 06/01/2009

Palmetto Hall Plantation is a relatively new golf community that is secluded, private and gated. It is a choice setting and is located mid-island, with beautifully landscaping. It sits on 750 acres with wooded, golf, and lagoon views, has two courses—one designed by Arthur Hills, the other by Robert Cupp. The southern-style homes are comfortable and well-hidden from the main streets of Hilton Head Island. Palmetto Hall is strictly a residential community and does not comprise any resort or commercial entities—hotels, condos, or beach rentals--within the gates, although a short bike ride will lead you to Pineland Station, a chic shopping center with clothing stores, a bank, a party shoppe, a coffee café and several upscale restaurants. Also nearby are Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Hilton Head... 05/28/2009