Dear Clients, Friends and Fellow Associates~
 
We would like to share our monthly market trend reports with you.  This crystal ball or trend report tells us where the most robust (busiest) price segments of the market are.  It will show us the active number of listings and the sales that occur each month in each pricing segment.  It also give us an actual listing to sale price, the days on the market and the number of months of inventory.
 
The most critical information that a Market Trend Report will convey is what we call the “Big Three”.  The Big Three are the 3 most vital statistics for any market place in any price range.  The big three statistics are as follows:

1.  Average number of listings taken vs. Average number of sales in a given period which will give us the number of months of inventory that we have.  

2.  Average Days on the Market for properties that do sell when they are correct in price.  

3.  Average List price to Average Sales Price which is an indication of negotiation and the firmness of the market.   

We thought the following packing list and a few cool things happening in the next few weeks would be helpful…

Fun Stuff:

1. Summer Savings Package…Book before 6/8/09 & receive 10-30% off all   daily or weekly rentals through 8/31/09(email us for more information.)
2.  HEADLINERS at Tunes & Brews Wednesday – June 10, 2009~ 5-8 pm at the Shops at Sea Pines Center
3.  Beach Bum Triathlon at Hilton Head Island – June 13, 2009

4.  Menopause the Musical…June 9-July 26, 2009 (Arts Center)
5.  Average Air Temperature 86 ~ Ocean Temperature 82 FULL MOON –    Sunday June 7th

6.  Email us and we will send more ideas!

Beach Packing List

Light colored swimsuits ~ It makes your skin appear tanner!
Camera~ bring zip lock plastic bags to protect them at the beach

Sunglasses that are polarized…Wal-Mart fishing section has the best!

Sunscreen ~  every two hours or after swimming/strenuous activity.

Flip flops ~ the cheaper the better…

Sneakers or tennis shoes depending on where you’re from
Sweat pants/sweatshirt(cold movie theaters)

Towels, buy them here, they are cheaper!

Lip Balm ~ No one likes chapped lips
Jam Box or IPOD for the beach.

Bring along some detergent (packing light is cool)

Bring a tiny flash light so you can find your way on the dark bike paths

Beach Umbrella, Folding chairs, Sand toys for kids are cheaper here!

A large mesh beach bag is good to haul all this stuff to and from the beach

Lastly, put together a beach first-aid kit. It should include things such as Aloe Vera cream, sunburn reliever, band aids and anti-bacterial ointments. Don’t forget the over the counter pain relievers and be sure to add any prescription medications that your family may need while they are traveling. 

Have fun at the beach, but be sure to take a look at real estate.  2009 will go down in the books!  Right now, we are selling some of the best real estate we have ever seen.  Buyers are being rewarded for making offers in this market. 

 
The real estate links below are interesting and can be very helpful.  By the way, if you need wireless internet access while you are on the Island, just pop by my office(#6 Queens Folly Road at the front entrance to Palmetto Dunes). Let the receptionist know you do not need any help, Robbie said it was O.K.

Cyber Homes   Click here to get some cool information about your property or the property you are looking at by simply adding your address of your current property.

Annual Credit Report   Are you ready to buy?  This service is free with Equifax, TransUnion or Experian.

All the best…Robbie Bunting and Jane Hyers

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Associates ~

I love being a “tourist for a day” on Hilton Head Island when friends and family visit.  There are so many exciting things to do and see.  They make me remember all the great things we have here as we rediscover the Island together.  As you make your plans this summer, feel free to contact us for maps, ideas and information about the area.  We have put together a list of ideas for fun including “local favorites”.  Keep in mind, this offer is not exclusively for tourists(locals may participate in the fun too)!

·     Kayaking ~ Outside Hilton Head 686-6996 Located in Shelter Cove Marina or Hudson’s off Squire Pope.  All kayak guides are trained Naturalist.  You will love the Tuesday Night Firework “Kayak Tour”

·     Historical Tours ~ Bluffton, Beaufort, Savannah & Charleston Sign up for a horse drawn carriage tour or we will arrange a small family guided tour with advance notice.  We can email easy directions to these historic cities.

·     Rent some bikes ~ Palmetto Dunes Outfitters 785-2449 Inside Palmetto Dunes across from the General Store.  You can explore 26 miles of bike paths from this central location  *Brand New Bikes… 10% off for families

·     Fireworks ~ Every Tuesday Night in Shelter Cove 6:30 – 9:30  Vendors including arts and crafts before the display June 3 – Aug 26  Go to “Up the Creek Pub” off Marshland Road at Broad Creek Marina. Enjoy the fireworks & cookout from this vantage point.

·     Coastal Discovery Museum- North Hwy 278 / Cross Island 689-6767  Take a 2 ½ hour red trolley tour w/ a stop at Harbour Town!  Tuesday and Thursday Nights at 8 pm take a loggerhead tour and talk (sightings not guaranteed) reserve. 689-6767 ext. 223

·     Lighthouse ~ Harbour Town in Sea Pines   Make the most of this trip.  Leave after lunch, go to Harbour Town and climb the lighthouse and play ground.  Take your rollerblades or bikes and visit South Beach to get a cool drink and a Salty Dog T-Shirt then dinner at Truffles in Sea Pines Center.  Keep your pass that you purchased at the gate and if you spend $100 or more in Sea Pines, the $5.00 is credited by that merchant

·     Shop ~ Tangar Outlet malls off Island or Unique Boutiques   Village of Wexford, Coligny Plaza, Harbour Town, Shelter Cove or Sea Pines Center… the shopping is fantastic.  Hit the shops early and on nice days as later in the week and especially on weather days the shops and restaurants are busy.

·     Daufuskie Island ~ Broad Creek Marina 342-8687  Rent a golf cart and check out all the Beach, Marshside Mamas Art Galleries on Daufuskie.  $23.00 Round trip ferry trips per person ~ Rent a 4 passenger golf-cart for $50.00 for the day and explore  $3.00 off per person Coupon in Where to Go Magazine!

·     Real Estate Tours ~ These tours will be informative and educational  and include exciting new opportunities around the Island.  Rainy days are not always the best for the beach, but they are the best days to preview our real estate! (if it looks good on a rainy day, you will love it on a sunny one!)

Our tours will take you into gated communities and into homes and villas that match the price point you are looking for. We have several tours a week(Mon-Sat and Sunday by Appt.) with price ranges as follows:            

             Tour 1 ~ Under $400,000
             Tour 2 ~ $400,000-$700,000
             Tour 3 ~ $700,000-$1,000,0000
             Tour 4 ~ Over 1 million

Let us know which tour you will be interested in.  On the tour you will receive a free Real Estate Information and Negotiation Package  which will include a list of current mortgage rates, a sample contract,  the top ten best buys on the Island, common addendums, a complete list of the foreclosures in the area and our very best listings for sale.   Island Real Estate Packages can be emailed or mailed to you before, after or during your visit.  Tours are not a requirement to request a package.  Thank you.

 Enjoy your summer!  Feel free to e-mail or call us to sign up for a tour or for maps to the Historic Cities above.  Our direct line is 800-932-3652 and our email is islandrealtor@hargray.com . Thank you.

~Happy Summer~

Robbie Bunting & Jane Hyers

Dear Property Owners:

If you want to have a free assessment of your property, our 15 point review can provide great insight.  Whether thinking of selling or just want an honest opinion, send us an email and we will complete a quick report including the information below.

This will be a simple exploratory report that gives you a “snapshot” of your property and the surrounding properties.  We will give you some honest feedback on the condition, the properties around it and what is happening in the neighborhood. 

After walking through your property, we will send you feedback including:

1.       The First Impression:

2.       Landscaping(front and back)

3.       Paint(interior/exterior)’

4.       Furnishings

5.       Layout of Interior

6.       Condition inside:

7.       Ease of Access:

8.       Condition outside:

9.       Best Selling Feature/Secondary Selling Feature:

10.       Biggest Objection/Secondary Objection:

11.       Improvement Ideas/Staging Ideas:

12.       Pre-Inspection requirement?

13.       Neighboring Properties        

14.       Areas that need attention

15.       Financing Availability

We hope this is helpful to you.  This report will not include pricing and listing information.  Upon completion of our preliminary study, a pricing and listing study may be completed upon request.  Thank  you.

All the best,

Robbie Bunting

Dear Clients, Friends and Fellow Associates~

We have been tracking the market for two years now by compiling a Monthly Market Trend Report.  This report is exactly what its name implies; it’s an “at a glance” report of current Home, Villa and lot trends for Hilton Head Island. 

This trend tells us where the most robust (busiest) price segments of the market are – i.e. it will tell us where the activity is and where it is not.  It will show us the active number of listings and the sales that occur each month in each pricing segment.  It will give us an actual listing to sale price, the days on the market and the number of months of inventory.

The most critical information that a Market Trend Report will convey is what we call the “Big Three”.  The Big Three are the 3 most vital statistics for any market place in any price range.  The big three statistics are as follows:

1.  Average number of listings taken vs. Average number of sales in a given period which will give us the number of months of inventory that we have. 

2.  Average Days on the Market for properties that do sell when they are correct in price. 

3.  Average List price to Average Sales Price which is an indication of negotiation and the firmness of the market. 

This information is a snapshot of how the market place has performed in the recent past, which is often a good predictor of future market performance. 

If you would like to receive a monthly report via email, plese email us today.  This is not only a good map of where we have been, it points to where we may be going.

All the best,

Robbie Bunting & Jane Hyers

Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates~  

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. 

For your visit we have put together a Free Map and the best places to dine.   The pdf below includes Islander Hints, Ideas, Guides and maps to better enjoy the Island.  

Included You Will Find:

·    The Top 10 COOL THINGS for FAMILIES TO DO Map of Hilton Head & Daufuskie Island

·     Latte Lou’s Guide to his favorite places to eat

·     An Islanders Double Top Secret Ideas to enjoy with your family

·     A menu of some of the areas best real estate for sale 

Click Here For Your Free Summertime Maps and Guides

Get ready to relax and recharge those batteries. Whether it is tennis, golf, kayaking, shopping, dining, the beach, or boating you deserve a getaway.  The weather is beautiful, the Island is wonderful and we hope to see you enjoying life on an Island. 

Happy Hilton Head!

Robbie Bunting & Jane Hyers

islandrealtor@hargray.com

800-932-3652

P.S.  If you have not yet made your travel arrangements, please feel free to shoot us an email or give us a call.  We have made arrangements with the Island Resorts, Hotels and individual property owners that we can share with you.  Feel free to share this blog address with a friend.  If you are a first time visitor and would like to recieve our e-letter….please be sure to sign up to the right.

P Before you print this e-mail, please think of our environment. Thanks!

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Associates ~  

Value must be seen by a buyer before a property will ever sell.  The higher the perceived value, the easier it is to justify a price.   One of the best ways to build the value for a property is to go over the checklist below.  As a fellow real estate friend once told me “we sell space and it is what comes with the space that adds additional value”.  Some call it Spanish Moss and Moon Beams, but whatever you want to call it our Island Real Estate is a value when you consider everything that you get!

Hilton Head Island Offers:

 1 – PGA Tournament
 2.38 – Million Visitors supporting our lifestyle
 3 – Plus colleges in the area area offering continuing education for retirees along with the sports they bring.
 3 – Great art centers in the area including the Art Center with Broadway type shows and talent.
 7 – top college golf tournaments, i.e. at Belfair, Long Cove, Haig Point, Palmetto Hall and others for the enjoyment of all.
 8 – Beach Parks with Access
 9 – Marinas
10 – Beautiful Gated Communities
10 – Great Schools
10 – Historical Landmarks
12 – Public Tennis Courts and over 300 total courts
12 – Miles of Pristine Beach
12 – Major Festivals and celebrations
20 – Island Parks
24 – Island Golf Courses
30 – Miles of Public Bike and fitness Pathways
42.1 – Square Miles of pure beauty
56 – Average Low Temperatures
76 – Average High Temperatures
93 – Beds in the Hilton Head Hospital(acute care)
37,918 – Population Year Round(small but great)
200 – plus college tennis teams come to HHI every year for spring practice giving access to Hilton Head residence to see them play.
200 – plus Days of Sunshine
250 – plus Restaurants
200 – plus Shops and Fantastic Boutiques
32° – 10′44″N  BY  80°44′35″W Latitude & Longitude
4.625 – 30 Year Fixed Conforming Rate
6.625 – 30 Year Fixed Jumbo Rate Today
4,700 – foot runway at Hilton Head Airport

Add these up and you have the best town on the coast to live life, vacation and experience.  Of course, fantastic prices, historical low interest rates and availability of prime properties are certainly subject to change, but the Spanish Moss and Moon Beams never ever change.  Please let us know if you have suggestions that we can add to the above list. We will re-post these additions at the end of the month.  Thank you.

From a great Island to live on,

we are:
Robbie Bunting & Jany Hyers
P.S.  CLICK HERE+ for our best villa, home and home-site values!

Selected Rates as of May 7, 2009:

Market Conditions

The latest report from the National Association of Realtors reports that pending home sales rose 3.2 percent in March.

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said the increase in buying power is quite remarkable. “Compared to a year ago, the typical family can pay much less in mortgage costs for the same home, or buy a better home without necessarily increasing their monthly payment,” he said. “For buyers who’ve been on the sidelines and have good jobs, the market has never looked more favorable. Homeownership has always offered immediate benefits and long-term value, but the advantages in today’s market are unique.”

Regionally, the South saw the best outcome in pending home sales, rising 8.5 percent.

The biggest decrease was seen in the Northeast, dropping 5.7 percent.

Written by Realty Times Staff
May 5, 2009 

10 Ways to Make Your House More Saleable

1.      Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2.      Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.      Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4.      Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.      Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6.      Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.      Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8.      Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.      Clean your gutters.

10.  Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell

1.      Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

2.      Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

3.      Get a pre-sale home inspection so you’ll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

4.      Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

5.      Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don’t forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.

5 Ways to Speed up Your Sale

1.      Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.

2.      Get your house market ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

3.      Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.

4.      Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

5.      Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

© 2005 – 2007 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®