The Hilton Head Real Estate Market has been playing catchup from a sleepy spring as sales surge in the Months of May and June. Prospective purchasers are not taking a chance on time! They have been rewarded with selection and low interest rates!
If you would like to find out what’s available, just give us a call at (843)785-7111 or shoot us an email. With this activity, inventory will certainly change. After all, we are an Island that is 100% developed near the beach. We are certainly seeing negotiations firm up on the Island with multiple offers on properties that are priced right! Stay Happy and Healthy!
These incredibles Sea Turtles are returning to the Island after leaving the Island as hatchlings almost 25 years ago. If you would like to adopt a nest, the cost is $25.00 and you will be able to follow your nest with updates from from Terri Johnson(see below). Hilton Head Properties this year will adopt a nest for every new buyer that works with us this year! Click here to adopt your own nest. If you would like to start shopping for your very own nest on the Island please click Hilton Head Properties!
“Take care of our world.”
~ Miss Andrea Siebold
August 25, 2021
Dear Sea Turtle Nest Adopters,
On May 10th (Mothers Day! How appropriate!!!), the first sea turtle nest of our season was found on Hilton Head Island!! In the middle of the night, a mother sea turtle dragged herself out of the ocean, on to the sand and crawled to a beautiful, scenic spot waaaay above the high tide line. We did not see the mother turtle (long gone by daylight) but we did see her unmistakable tracks in the sand leading into the dunes:
Once she got there, she busily dug a deep hole with her back flippers (not too easy to do!) and laid her eggs (usually about 120 of them) into the hole. After that, she covered up all of the eggs, filled in the hole, so that her eggs would be safe from harm for the next 60 or so days until they are ready to hatch. Then, exhausted, she dragged her tired body back into the ocean – never to visit her nest or see her babies again! Wow! What a lot of work for that poor mother! If you look carefully, you can see her tracks to and from her nest: Also notice the nice empty beach, perfect for peaceful sea turtle nesting!
The Sea Turtle Patrol has now marked the nest with three poles and an orange label to remind us all that this is the nest of an endangered species – they are not to be touched or disturbed.
We got off to a great start, despite it being such a cool, cool spring. 273 nests as the nesting season winds down!!
Thanks so much for your interest – we’ll keep you posted!
Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages:
“Take care of our world.”
~ Miss Andrea Siebold
July 20, 2021
Dear Nest Adopters,
In July and August, the Hilton Head Island beach is a busy place: During the day, tourists and locals fill the sand and water with fun, noise and laughter. But in the night, although most of the mother sea turtles have finished coming ashore to nest, a lot of hatchlings are leaving the nest racing to the ocean! Everyone on the island is working hard to educate our beach goers with simple instructions: leave the beach at the end of the day as you found it! Fill in the holes, flatten the sand castles and pick up the trash. This is sea turtle territory!!🐢🐢🐢
Our “Man On The Beach” (MOTB) has been up early in the morning checking on the nests near our house! It’s Hatching Season!! Our first nest laid (May 9th) was our first nest hatched a week ago (around 65 days incubation), so we are off to the “races”!!!!
Hatching is the always a big question. No one really knows when a nest will hatch (like waiting for a pot to boil or lightening to strike!!) – it can be any time between 45 and 65 days after it was laid. But we do know that hatchlings prefer to come out in the night – it is cooler, quieter and safer for them.
Here is how it happens: more than 100 eggs have been developing under the sand for almost two months. Gradually, the hatchlings start to break out of their shells – still under the sand. You can tell that this is happening when you see a depression in the sand that looks like a bowling ball was dropped on it – like this:
The hatchlings don’t just come out one at a time…..they wait until a whole bunch of them are ready to make a run for it – and lots exit the nest at the same time. This is called a “boil”. In the Coastal Discovery Museum, there is a model of what a nest looks like under the ground during the hatching.
Then they make a run for the nearest light – which is supposed to be the ocean. (If people have on lights in their beach front houses, the hatchlings will go that way and never make it to the ocean….very sad!)
If everything goes right, our Man On The Beach will see tracks coming out of the nest like these, all going the same direction straight for the ocean!
After a couple days allowing the nest to “boil out” the Sea Turtle Patrol will “inventory the nest”, counting hatched egg shells and checking to see if any babies where left behind. Last year MOTB got to see the Turtle Patrol scoop some of the babies that didn’t quite make it out of an inventoried nest and release them closer to the lapping waves. You can see a good bit of the video he took at the attached link! Remember, only certified members of the Sea Turtle Patrol can handle these babies!
If you happen to see a nest hatching, you are very lucky – but PLEASE keep a distance away, do not take any pictures, and use only a red turtle safe flashlight – pointed AWAY from the hatchling. We want to protect every one of those babies!
Over 13,000 eggs are incubating in the sands of HHI beaches…..more later, we are getting closer to those results!!!
Let me introduce you to our “Man On The Beach”, my husband, Steve. He is out on the beach at sunrise most every morning and has some wonderful interaction with both the Sea Turtle Patrol (those folks permitted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to both monitor and protect our precious mommas and nests) and the opportunity to photograph his adventures for us to enjoy!
May 1st is the “official” opening of Sea Turtle Nesting Season (right around the corner!!). It won’t be long now until you find out when “your” momma came on shore to nest! I will email you right away when that happens!!
Last year, our Man on the Beach had the great fortune of starting his morning sunrise journey with a momma ashore nesting right on the dunes by our home! He had a chance to film it and you can see those videos here:
You have as much a chance of seeing a momma come ashore to nest (they are notoriously shy) as being struck by lightning!
Remember, these animals are an endangered species and federal law prohibits anyone, but the folks licensed by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, to interfere or handle them in any way. So, if you are lucky enough to be on the beach during the late evening or early morning hours and see such an amazing thing, be sure to stay behind her and out of sight! Our MOTB had a very long zoom lens and was way out of her eye range when this video was shot.
More in the coming weeks! In the meantime enjoy this sunset view over the water taken from the dock of Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks……..
The beach is empty – the tourists and the sea turtles have departed. The 2020 hatching season has ended. We had a great season!
291 Nests
33,379 eggs 25,390 hatched eggs
55.5 days average incubation duration
114.8 eggs average per nest
95.8% nest success
Thank you for sharing the sea turtle journey with us in 2020 – your interest and enthusiasm have been inspiring! You are wonderful ambassadors to help save the sea turtles and our environment.
Our adopters came from almost every state in the US plus some providences in Canada. You are all awesome! This year’s adopters include:
Children and adults receiving birthday gift nests.
Couples anniversary gifts and new brides and grooms around the country becoming adoptive sea turtle parents.
Lost loved ones near and far honored with dedicated memorial nests.
Friends who travel around the world – and shared their experiences with us.
Book Groups
Mother and fathers who adopt for family members around the country so they can compare their nest success stats at the end of the season.
Grandparents who share in the joy of sea turtles with their grandchildren and continue the tradition of environmental stewardship and appreciation.
Realtors who adopt for their clients to share the lovely sentiment:
“Like the Sea Turtles that return to the island, it is our hope that will return to the Island again.”
Plus countless others.
To our local sea turtle lovers, we say thanks – the amazing Sea Turtle Patrol who does the “heavy lifting” every morning starting at 5:00 am, the Turtle Trackers who help clean up the beach in the evenings, the beach walkers who share their joy and pictures of mothers or hatchling sightings.
Special thank you to our Man On The Beach (my husband, Steve). He will be our eyes and ears for the 2021 season, therefore make sure you adopt for 2021 so you can follow along on his early morning adventures!
Thank you to the Coastal Discovery Museum staff who prepares and mails all of the certificates and shirts and who teach and inspire endless classes of school children, visitors, and locals.
A special thanks to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources who graciously provides us with the exciting details of each nest hatch.
A final thank you to our lovely Miss Andrea Siebold, who has shouldered the responsibility of keeping all adopters up to date and informed in her educational, entertaining way for the past 12 years. I am humbled and blessed to follow in her footsteps and look forward to new educational, entertaining journeys with our amazing returning adopters and those new to the HHI sea turtle nest adopting experience.
The 2021 nest adoption form is on the museum website www.coastaldiscovery.org, plus I’ve included the form with this email. Adoptions are already underway for next year so don’t delay to make sure you get the whole experience from the first momma sighting (around the end of April) to the last nest hatch (usually beginning of October)!
Because of our current pandemic situation, the Holiday Market at the Museum has been canceled, therefore I will be at the Farmers Market at the Museum on Tuesday, November 24 from 9 am to – 1 pm. Come over and say Hi!
Hilton Head Island & BlufftonReal Estate News February 2020
How’s your Zestimate? Today, many property owners use Zillow to determine the value of their Hilton Head Property(or any other property). Did you know that as an owner you can claim your property on Zillow and correct any inaccuracies? As well, once a property is listed for sale, the listing agent can log in and make any corrections to the property. If you need any assistance in correcting your properties descriptions, just let me know.
Hilton Head Island, SC – Hilton Head Properties R and R announces it’s annual Black Friday Vacation Sale* which expires December 31, 2019. This sale filled with vacation savings including vacation rentals, free activities and beach gear! Below is the scoop on this special offer!
Hilton Head Properties Black Friday Vacation Sale* includes:
2019 Pricing for 2020 or future vacations – Whether you book now or purchase a vacation gift certificate because you are not sure of the dates yet, this will give you 2019 pricing on our properties for a one week stay.
Free Activities – Every day of your stay we will include one round of golf, one zipline experience, one dolphin tour and one round of miniature golf. Each one is included! (These expire everyday.) Click Here for Details!
Free Beach Gear – Before your arrival, you will recieve a gift certificate for free beach gear! The gear includes choice of bike rentals, beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, surf boards and even corn hole boards! Click Here for Details!
To order today or if you have questions, please email us today or call one of our vacation planners at (843)785-2242. Thank you.
*Some restrictions apply. Call or email for details. Offer does does not apply to existing reservations. Beach Gear available for reservations after March 1, 2020. Minimum one week reservations. Gift coupons good for future reservations at 2019 pricing.
You’ve probably heard that spring and summer are the best times to sell your home, and we’ll be honest: they do have their perks. But with mortgage rates remaining low and motivated buyers steadily flowing into the market, this fall is shaping up to be a pretty profitable selling season.
If you’re gearing up to list your home soon, then you’ll need to pay extra attention to your outdoor areas. Here are the top five spaces to give a little TLC to before you sell!
The Lawn
Once you’ve raked up the leaves, you might think your lawn is all taken care of. But there’s much more to fall lawn care than bagging up leaves! If temperatures haven’t majorly dropped by the time you list, you’ll need to keep mowing your lawn—it’ll continue growing until the first hard frost.
If you’ve got a few bare spots in your yard, fall is also the perfect time for overseeding! Since the ground is relatively warm but the sun isn’t quite as powerful as in the summer, growing conditions are better than ever. Just be sure you’re providing your lawn with plenty of water, and those sparse spots should start to fill in.
The Garden
Since you’re planning a move, you probably don’t want to start planting new veggies, but there are other ways to give your garden a fresh look. First, you’ll want to make sure all of your leftover plants from spring and summer are cleared out, and your plot is weed-free. Once that’s taken care of, it’s time for the fun part!
Picked up a few pumpkins or gourds from the farmers’ market? Set them out near your doorstep. Need a home for a scarecrow or two? Give them a perch on either side of the garden. You can fill in any blank space with potted plants like mums or sunflowers or a decorative holiday banner!
The Roof
With trees shedding leaves and dead branches, you’ve probably got a decent amount of brush and foliage dotting your roof. Now’s the time to pull out the ladder and do a clean sweep. Plus, it’s the perfect chance to get a look at the condition of your shingles and see if any need replacing!
While you’re up there, be sure to sweep out your gutters, as well. There’s a good chance the extra debris has them more clogged up than usual, which could lead to flooding or exterior damage. Clearing them out will prevent any issues, and show buyers that you go the extra mile in maintaining your home.
The Porch
The crowning glory of your home’s exterior, the porch should act as the first taste of what the inside of the home has to offer. You want to strike the perfect balance between warm and welcoming and clean and clutter-free!
First, take care of spiffing the space up by sweeping the floors, ringing out the welcome mat, and dusting off any outdoor furniture. If you have one too many chairs or a crowded collection of potted plants, you should remove some of the clutter.
Then, add a little character! Put a few pumpkins by door, set out a scented candle or two, swap out your porch light for a warmer wattage, and update your throw pillows—just be careful not to overdo it. Since your porch space is likely relatively small, a little goes a long way.
The Front Door
It’s only a small portion of your exterior, but if you play your cards right, your front door can be one of the most eye-catching parts of your home. Nothing draws attention like a fresh coat of paint, so you should consider picking a shade that pops and matches your siding—like a warm red or a bold blue. At the very least, you should use furniture wax or dish soap to scrub out the dinginess.
Once you’ve revamped your door, it’s time to accessorize! Since it’s fall, you should be able to easily find a seasonal wreath to hang. If you really want to go the extra mile, think about replacing your house number or knocker with some shiny new hardware.
Need a Few More Tips?
If you want to make sure your home is staged to impress—in all areas—then we can help. In addition to our home-staging resources, we’d also be more than happy to do a walkthrough of your home and recommend a few personalized decor suggestions or DIY improvements.
From helping you stage to navigating closing, we’ll be there to help you through the selling process, every step of the way. Whenever you’re ready to get started, we’re just a phone call away!
If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably heard, “location, location, location!” on repeat. Finding the perfect city or town is one thing, but you’ll need to take it a step further. The right neighborhood matters more than you think, so before you start your search, we have some tips to help you find the perfect spot!
Do Your Research
Before you start driving through prospective neighborhoods, you’ll want to do some research at home first. Finding the right place to live can be time-consuming, but some quick online searches can help narrow down your options. Many agents also spotlight certain neighborhoods on their website and tend to offer more in-depth guides—as well as more listings and home-buying tips.
After doing your initial research, you’ve probably narrowed your list down to a few neighborhoods. Now it’s time to delve deeper and look at these places by the numbers. It’s worth looking at stats like crime rate, HOA fees, and average property taxes. You might want to start your search with sites like Neighborhood Scout and City-Data—these sites give you localized data on demographics, schools, and more.
Scope Out What’s Around
While the actual neighborhood might seem perfect, what’s around matters a lot, too. Remember, you’re buying more than just a home—you’re finding a new place to thrive. If you’re looking for convenience, a community far-removed from amenities you love might not work. Be sure to take your commute into account, as well as the driving distance to places you go all the time.
School districts also play a big factor in which area you choose, especially for your kids. Even if you don’t have children, home prices in good districts are consistently higher than others, so it’s still something you should take into account. Want the inside scoop? Compare options by looking up which schools serve a community and exploring their ratings on sites like Niche.com.
Take a Stroll
Now it’s time for some field research! Once you’ve picked some neighborhoods that seem like a good fit, go do some exploring—you’ll want to do more than just drive around, though. Get out of the car and take a stroll during different times of the day! This is a fantastic way to meet potential neighbors and see the condition of homes.
You’ll want to ask yourself some crucial questions during each visit. How well do residents maintain their homes? Do you see a lot of people outside, or does everyone seem to keep to themselves? Is there any common space or amenities you’ll want to use? This is the best way to picture yourself living in an area before actually committing to a home.
Narrow Down Your Options
If you don’t have a clear winner in your head after you visit each community, it’s time to down and weigh the pros and cons. You should also evaluate the market—there might not be a home for sale that suits your needs in the neighborhood you love, so consider all of your options.
If you have any other questions, be sure to reach out to a real estate professional. They’ll use their expertise to help you make an informed decision, and can also show you spots you might have missed!
Ready to Find the Neighborhood of Your Dreams?
No matter where you are in your home search, we’d love to help make the process easier. We’ve got you covered, whether you’re still searching for the right community or are ready to look at homes. Give us a call today so we can chat—we can’t wait to be your local experts!
Double TOP Secret!! The best season of the year on Hilton Head Island is the fall! Fall offers fewer crowds and lower lodging rates while maintaining temperatures that are still beach friendly.
With all kinds of fall festivals taking place each month, fall is the Islanders favorite season! Just don’t let anyone know who told you this!
You’ve seen the shows on HGTV, the brand new series on Netflix, the craze on sites like Pinterest and Instagram—tiny houses are all the rage. These smaller spaces come with gigantic opportunities—if you’re looking for an incredibly versatile and stylish home, you may want to look into one of the hottest housing trends of the past year. We’ve got all the details you need to understand the ins and outs of tiny homes—and maybe even buy your own.
What is a Tiny Home?
Less than 1,000 square feet and often towable, tiny homes allow their owners to be economical, environmentally-friendly, and enjoy life on the move.
These small abodes are built with an emphasis on organization and maximizing space. You’ll often see stairs repurposed into cabinets, smaller appliances, and loft areas for beds. However, many tiny homes are quite luxurious, with some featuring full sized appliances, bath tubs, and multiple floors. This is proof that “tiny” doesn’t necessarily mean bare bones!
An Inside Look at the Lifestyle
Where did tiny homes come from? Well, it turns out they aren’t just a recent trend—they’ve been around since the 1970s. The tiny house “movement” is becoming increasingly popular, especially due to shows on tiny house living and construction.
Many tiny home dwellers are fully committed to this unique lifestyle, but it takes some getting used to. The most difficult part is paring down what you own, as these tight spaces don’t come with the same amount of storage as a normal home.
However, you don’t have to give up everything you love. Many residents say that living in a tiny home allows them to tour the country and live without clutter. Additionally, a well-built tiny house will allow you to have plenty of space for privacy, hobbies, and even pets.
Discover Diverse Design Options
While tiny-home living might seem pretty straightforward, there are actually quite a few variations between homes.
One major option for tiny homes is towing ability. Having a towable tiny home means you can live wherever you’d like and move at any time, but a stationary tiny house is often larger and features more amenities like multiple floors and screened-in porches.
In addition, there are many different size variations and exterior designs to choose from. Some builders even make custom designs for each homeowner. Nowadays, tiny homes are even being built in shipping containers!
Are They Here to Stay?
Tiny homes may seem like a trend, but the number of homes being built are on the rise. In 2017, the tiny home industry saw a 67% jump in sales, with numbers steadily increasing. Tiny homes also remain easy on the wallet despite rising home costs. On average, a tiny home can cost from $15,000 – $150,000, which is significantly lower than the average home cost of $218,000.
As millennials begin purchasing their first homes, tiny houses are becoming increasingly popular. This is because many millennial buyers are choosing smaller houses and prioritizing travel, making tiny homes the perfect mobile option. They’re also a terrific choice for downsizing after retirement.
Tiny homes don’t seem to be going anywhere, and as more and more people are embracing this unique way of living, tiny home designs are becoming even more elaborate. Even Amazon has started selling tiny homes, so you can order one with just a few clicks!
Ready to Make a Move?
No matter what kind of home you’re looking for, you’ll always need a real estate agent to help guide you through the process. Whether you’re buying or selling, we’ve got the resources you need to lighten your load.
Ready to make your move? Give us a call and let’s chat—we’d love to help you make your real estate dreams a reality!
Picture this: you’ve finally found the home of your dreams. It’s got all the features you’ve been searching for, and it’s in the perfect neighborhood. There can’t possibly be anything wrong with it…right?
Though technically optional, a home inspection is highly recommended by most realtors, as it can save you thousands of dollars—or even prevent you from making a costly mistake all together. Here are some reasons why you need a home inspection before you move in—even if you don’t see anything wrong on the surface.
You Could Avoid Expensive Repairs
This is probably the biggest advantage of a home inspection. Certain problems can cost thousands to fix and may not be immediately visible. Wondering what kind of issues a home inspector can find and how much they’ll cost? Here are some of the biggest issues uncovered during home inspections (and typical costs to fix):
HVAC replacement: $4,000 – $12,000
Leaky roof: $300 – $2,000 for basic repair, $4,000 – $20,000+ for advanced repair
Foundation issues: $4,000 – $10,000
A great home inspector will fully sweep the home and point out any problems or potential issues. If there are any big-ticket expenses, you may want to reevaluate your purchase.
You’ll Protect Your Wallet
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make, and a good investment will generate more capital than what you initially paid. While a well-maintained home in a prime location can be a fantastic investment, expensive repairs can turn it into a financial disaster.
Once you have an inspection report detailing all of the issues with the home, you can evaluate the cost of repairs to determine if it’s a good deal. If you aren’t satisfied, you can walk away without losing much money.
You Gain a Negotiation Tool
While not all properties will require major repairs, even new construction homes may have issues you’ll want to take care of before moving in. You can use your inspection report as a negotiation tool to potentially lower the price of the home.
There are a few directions you can go from here. One option is to ask for money off of the price of the home so you can complete the repairs yourself. On the flip side, you can also ask the sellers to make the fixes as a condition of the sale. Either way, you’ll be saving yourself money in the long run.
You Get the Full Picture
While you may be in love with a home, it’s hard to know what potential issues to look for if you’re not a licensed professional. Think of a home inspection like a check-up, and the home inspector like a doctor—it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about the health of a home, from the roof down to the foundation.
The inspector can diagnose all kinds of problems and tell you what needs to be fixed (and for how much). After the inspection, you’ll be handed a comprehensive report that gives you a full picture of the home’s condition, allowing you a more realistic look at the details that you might not have noticed before.
Ready to Buy Your Next Home?
Buying a home can be a difficult decision, so make sure you have the tools you need to make a well-informed decision. For tips on smooth sailing during the buying process, give us a call so we can chat. We’ve got the resources you need to make the right choice.
Haven’t started the buying process yet? Check out our specialized search tool to find the home of your dreams, and let us know when you’re ready to get started.
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