Bluffton’s New Wetland Rules: What Homebuyers, Sellers and Property Owners Should Know

Bluffton's May River Wetlands

When you picture owning property in Bluffton, you may imagine a beautiful setting, room to spread out, or a home designed around the way you want to live. Before those plans become specific, there is another question worth asking: How might wetlands affect the property?

Bluffton’s comprehensive wetland ordinance was adopted on August 11, 2026, and is now in effect. Among its provisions is a 50-foot undisturbed buffer around wetlands, with different treatment for properties inside existing Planned Unit Developments, or PUDs, and certain permitted projects.

For anyone exploring Bluffton real estate, the practical takeaway is straightforward: understand what…

18 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Hilton Head Isn't Resting on Its Reputation

Hilton Head Island Coastline

Hilton Head Island has another national accolade to add to a remarkably long list.

In the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Hilton Head Island was once again named the No. 1 island in the United States, continuing a run of national recognition that has helped make the island one of the most recognizable coastal destinations in the country.

But the award itself may not be the most interesting part of the story.

Look around the Lowcountry right now and something larger is happening. While travelers continue to rank the area among their favorite destinations, major hospitality properties are continuing to invest in what comes next.

That combination of recognition and reinvestment…

20 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What is your specialty, and how does your background help buyers?

Tammy Silvey: New construction is my specialty. I spent 18 years working directly for home builders, so I know the process from the inside: choosing a homesite, comparing builders, understanding upgrades and incentives, and recognizing construction pitfalls buyers may not see coming.

I use that experience to help people relocating to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island understand their options and make informed decisions throughout the process.

What mistake do you see out-of-state buyers make when considering new construction?

Tammy Silvey: Walking into a builder’s model home without first talking with their own agent. The salesperson works for the builder, and buyers…

31 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

20 Sanddollar Road Sells for $6.35 Million, Setting a Folly Field Record

An oceanfront Hilton Head Island home sold before reaching the market, at its full listing price.

20 Sandollar

A new high-water mark has been set in Folly Field. 20 Sanddollar Road on Hilton Head Island sold for $6,350,000, the highest-priced home sale in the neighborhood to date, according to Charter One Realty’s transaction information.

The oceanfront property was listed by Chip Wedgeworth and The Wedgeworth Team and sold by Richard MacDonald and Associates, both of Charter One Realty. The transaction was completed pre-market at the full listing price.

A home made for the oceanfront

Built in 2018 and never used as a rental, 20 Sanddollar Road offered the rare combination of…

61 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

New in the Lowcountry: Places to Shop, Explore and Gather in October 2026


A place begins to feel like home through the stops you make between home and work: the shop where you find a gift, the studio that fits your schedule, or the gallery that teaches you something about the community. This October, new Lowcountry businesses offer more ways to make those connections.

Here’s what has opened, plus a few places to watch in Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Port Royal and Hardeeville. Opening plans can change, so check directly with a business before making a special trip.

Now open in the Lowcountry

American Gullah brings a cultural heritage house to Port Royal

824A Paris Ave., Port Royal

Artist Sonja Griffin Evans has opened American…

82 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What I Wish I Knew Before Moving to the Lowcountry

There is a version of the South Carolina Lowcountry people discover on vacation.

It has live oaks draped in Spanish moss, boats slipping through tidal creeks, golf beneath blue skies, oyster roasts, beaches, historic streets and sunsets that make even longtime residents stop what they're doing for a minute.

Then there is the version you discover when you actually live here.

You learn about tides. You learn which bridge to avoid at 4:30 on a summer Friday. You discover that "close to Hilton Head" can mean several very different things. You learn the difference between a flood zone and an evacuation zone. You learn that some private communities have fees beyond the HOA. And eventually, you stop…

67 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Lowcountry Events in October: Your Guide to What’s Happening in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort, and Savannah this month

October is one of the best months to experience the Lowcountry. Cooler temperatures arrive, oyster season is underway, and the calendar fills with food festivals, live music, art, historic home tours, fall celebrations, and community traditions. Whether you are searching for things to do on Hilton Head Island, planning a weekend in Old Town Bluffton, exploring Beaufort, South Carolina, or making the short trip to Savannah, October 2026 offers plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the Lowcountry lifestyle.

Hilton Head Island Events in October

Lowcountry Fish & Grits Music Festival

When: October 3, 12PM - 6PM

Where:…

132 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Charter One Realty Earns Multiple 2026 Lowcountry’s Best Honors

Community recognition carries a different kind of weight.

Charter One Realty is proud to celebrate multiple honors in the 2026 Lowcountry’s Best Readers’ Choice awards, including Tom Reed, Broker-in-Charge of Charter One Realty, being named Lowcountry’s Best Real Estate Broker.

The recognition did not stop there.

Charter One Realty was also recognized among the Lowcountry’s top real estate brokerages, while Kevin King Associates and Herman and Davis Properties, both of Charter One Realty, were recognized among the area’s top real estate teams.

Together, the honors reflect something larger than a single award. They represent the strength of Charter One Realty’s leadership,…

257 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What’s Changing at the Gateway to Hilton Head Island? A Guide to the $125.8 Million U.S. 278 Improvement Plan

For anyone considering a move to Hilton Head Island, one question tends to come up sooner or later: What is being done about traffic getting on and off the island?

There is now a much clearer answer.

The Town of Hilton Head Island has unanimously adopted the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Master Plan, an approximately $125.8 million vision for transportation, safety, pedestrian and roadway improvements along the U.S. 278 gateway to Hilton Head Island.

The plan extends from Jenkins Island through the historic Stoney neighborhood and the Squire Pope Road area to the busy Spanish Wells Road and Wild Horse Road intersection. It…

343 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Nationally, the Best Week to Buy Is Coming. Does That Hold True in Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort?

Every fall, the housing market tends to give buyers a little more breathing room. In 2026, Realtor.com has put an actual date on it.

According to new Realtor.com research, September 27 through October 3 is projected to be the most buyer-friendly week of 2026 nationally, based on the historical combination of inventory, competition, pricing and market pace.

That sounds fairly definitive.

But anyone familiar with Lowcountry real estate knows what comes next: national housing statistics and the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort markets do not always ride the same horse.

So, is September 27 through October 3 really the best week to…

198 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post