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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The architectural roots of the porch go back further that the typical Queen Anne-style Victorian homes found in the mid-19th century. The word “porch” is derived from the Latin porticus and Greek portico, meaning “passage”, which refers to the covered openings of homes and buildings. These porticos were usually supported by a row of stately columns and provided a space for one to find shelter from the midday sun or marked the entrance of important buildings or temples.

Today, porches in the Lowcounty embody Southern charm and are ideal settings for social gatherings both planned and spontaneous. They encourage a sense of neighborliness and community and because of our pleasant year-round weather, they are typically a room for all seasons. 

These…

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC, June 2016 –  Charter One Realty has received the Readers’ Choice Award for the 2016 Best Real Estate Brokerage from the readers of the Bluffton Today newspaper.  Every year, Bluffton Today encourages their readers to select the “best of the best”, celebrating local businesses with their Readers’ Choice Awards. These awards recognize the top local companies in the Lowcountry, from restaurants and shops to mortgage lenders and real estate companies.  Winners are selected based on the company holding the highest number of votes in that category during a two-week voting period.

“We are so pleased that the readers of Bluffton Today hold us in such a high regard and thank them for voting us the Best Real Estate Brokerage.”…

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC, June 2016 – Charter One Realty is proud to announce that Allison Cobb of the Cobb Group, was awarded the 2016 Best Real Estate Agent in the Bluffton Today Readers’ Choice Awards.  This is the second year in a row and the third time in 4 years that Allison has received this award.

Allison was voted the Readers’ Choice winner in the real estate agent category among a list of several hundred local real estate professionals. The awards were announced in May and the winners were featured in a special section of the Bluffton Today newspaper.

“This award is special because it is voted on by the community and it really shows that we are succeeding in making client satisfaction our top priority.” Said Allison Cobb, REALTOR®.…

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