Announced on June 28, 2016, Allegiant Air is offering new non-stop service from several cities to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV). Currently, Allegiant Air offers year-round non-stop service to Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and will add Newark (WER) on November 16, 2016. Recently added to the seasonal non-stop services to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport include flights from Indianapolis (IND), Pittsburgh (PIT) and Lexington (LEX).

With these added routes, Allegiant Air will offer service from eight major cities to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport also offers non-stop service from an additional 18 US destinations including daily flights from Charlotte to the Hilton…

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If you’re sitting on the fence about listing your Hilton Head Island or Bluffton home for sale, here is the #1 reason why you don’t want to wait.

Historical data and the Existing Homes Sales Report show that buyer demand continues to outpace the supply of homes for sale. The National Association of REALTORS’ (NAR) Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun had this to say this on the inventory shortage:

“With demand holding firm and homes selling even faster than a year ago, the notable increase in closings in recent months took a dent out of what was available for sale.

Realtors are acknowledging, with increasing frequency lately, that buyers continue to be frustrated by the tense competition and lack of affordable homes for sale in their market.”

…

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Blog by George Cobb

The Cobb Group at Charter One Realty

 

It is clear that supply and demand drive real estate decisions, but you would be amazed how important “timing” is in real estate and how it makes a difference in winning or losing. For example, if the market is in a stall period, it is easy for buyers and sellers to sit back and watch without having to make any critical commitments.

However, if you want to be a winner, one needs to pay attention to the statistics on change. Currently, the real estate business is under slow but constant improvement. Inventory is decreasing and prices are moving up. Days on market are decreasing, and accurately priced homes, villas and lots on the market are selling very quickly.

If you’re a buyer…

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Here is a great infographic by Keeping Matters Current regarding national real estate sales. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Freddie Mac:

  • Sales of existing homes have reached the highest annual pace in over 9 years at 5.29 million. 
  • Inventory continues to stay below the 6-month norm while prices continue to rise.
  • Intrest rates continue to stay at historic lows with rates dipping below 3.5%.

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The summer is in full swing and buyers are coming out ready to purchase their dream home. For this reason, the summer is a great time to list your home for sale. Here are a few reasons that support this statement:


1. Strong Demand
According to the latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyer demand remains very strong. Across the country, buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase…and they are searching right now. It is a great time to take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.

2. Supply of Homes Is Down
As reported in NAR’s latest Existing Home Sales Report, the supply of homes for sale is still under the 6-month supply that is needed for a normal housing market at 4.7 months.…

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U.S. home buyers and homeowners seem to be reaping a benefit since Britain’s vote to leave the European Union – mortgage rates that are quickly dropping. Interest rates have remained at historic lows for the past several years, and rates have remained low throughout the first half of 2016. In light of the recent Brexit vote, economists expect them to head even lower.


On June 27th of 2016, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.46%. This is nearly the lowest average since 2012, according to Realtor.com. “Lower rates produce lower monthly payments and greater buying power—those who are well qualified can afford a home that’s 8 percent more expensive than at the beginning of the year,” Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com®’s chief economist, writes…

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July is full of exciting events here in the Lowcountry including several 4th of July celebrations with fireworks, Shelter Cove’s Harbourfest, sunset celebrations at Shelter Cove, art exhibits, and live outdoor entertainment. The possibilities for fun are endless here on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton.

All Month Long
The Coastal Discovery Museum provides tours, walks, programs, and exhibits about the Lowcountry. Events are scheduled daily. To learn more about the Coastal Discovery monthly events, contact 843-689-6767 or visit CoastalDiscovery.com


HarbourFest
Enjoy live music and family fun at the summer long festival known as HarbourFest. A favorite among locals and visitors, HarbourFest runs every week night at 6pm and features fireworks every…

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Charter One Realty voted Best Real Estate Brokerage in the Island Packet 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards


Charter One Realty has received the Readers’ Choice Award for the 2016 Best Real Estate Brokerage from the readers of the Island Packet newspaper.  For over a decade, Island Packet has counted on the community to identify the “best of the best” in Hilton Head and Bluffton. Readers were encouraged to pre-nominate individuals and businesses that they felt best deserved the recognition in southern Beaufort County. Almost 6,000 businesses and individuals were nominated then placed into their respective categories. Voting took place online back in May of 2016 where participants chose their favorites from “drop down” boxes. Participants were allowed to vote…

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Exciting news for Bluffton residents, business owners and visitors. Initial plans are underway for a 13 room luxury bed and breakfast right in the heart of Downtown Bluffton.  Reported by WJCL on June 21, 2016, Landmark 2 Developers LLC is proposing to build a boutique inn at the intersection of May River Road and Bluffton Road. The proposal will include 13 rooms with architectural designs favoring the Federal Style with hints of Georgian and Lowcountry influence.  Each room will be uniquely designed to a specific theme and individually named with the 2nd & 3rd floor rooms having access to private balconies. Luxury appointments and finishes will be found throughout the inn and room rates are predicted to start at $250/night.  The inn also plans to cater…

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This is a common question that home buyers and sellers in the coastal Lowcountry consistently ask themselves.  In early June 2016, the leading economists in real estate converged on The Big Easy as they presented their answers to this question and many more at the 50th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference for the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

Here are some of the top takeaways from this four-day conference:

Millennials and first-time home buyers and their impact on the market were the topic of many conversations at the conference.  Chief Economist for Realtor.com, Jonathan Smoke, was quoted to say:

“At any given time in our history, demographics would explain 60-80% of what’s happening [in the market], and we are in a…

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