Buyer demand continued to be robust in February, leading to many multiple offer situations as housing supply continues to remain severely constrained in most segments. This imbalance of prospective buyers to available homes for sale will continue to support multiple offers and, with it, higher home sales prices, as we go into the typically busy spring market.

Hilton Head & Mainland Real Estate Market Update - February 2021

For the 12-month period spanning March 2020 through February 2021, pending sales in the Hilton Head region were up 37.6 percent overall. The price range with the largest gain in sales was the $650,001 and above range, where they increased 110.8 percent.

Market-wide, inventory levels were down 67.4 percent. The property type…

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Spring Housing Market

Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year. Here’s what a few industry experts have to say about the housing market and how it will bloom this season.

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com:

Despite early weakness, we expect to see new listings grow in March and April as they traditionally do heading into spring, and last year’s extraordinarily low new listings comparison point will mean year over year gains. One other potential bright spot for would-be homebuyers, new construction, which has risen at a year over year pace of 20% or more for the last few months, will…

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Turn to an expert

As we approach the anniversary of the hardships we’ve faced through this pandemic and the subsequent recession, it’s normal to reflect on everything that’s changed and wonder what’s ahead for 2021. While there are signs of economic recovery as vaccines are being issued, we still have a long way to go. It’s at times like these we want exact information about anything we’re doing. That information brings knowledge, and this gives us a sense of relief and comfort in uncertain times.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home today, the same need for information is very real. But, because it’s such a big step in our lives, that desire for clear information is even greater in the homebuying or selling process. Given the current level of overall…

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Winning Offers

Today’s homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers’ market, which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number of available homes. As a result, it’s essential to understand how to make a confident and competitive offer on your dream home. Here are five tips for success in this critical stage of the homebuying process.

1. Listen to Your Real Estate Advisor

An article from Freddie Mac gives direction on making an offer on a home. From the start, it emphasizes how trusted professionals can help you stay focused on the most important things, especially at times when this process can get emotional for buyers:

Remember to let your homebuying team guide you on your journey, not your emotions. Their support and…

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Mudroom Designs 

Photo: Petite Haus

Today’s article features what we feel are the best mudroom designs in regard to the use of space. Lots of new homes are being built with an owner’s entrance (also called a mudroom) but lots of homes don’t have a dedicated space for this function. Many are taking to converting their laundry rooms into “two-fers” that serve as both a laundry space and the organized catch-all we call a mudroom.

The springtime energy creates a buzz to be out and about, and the best mudroom designs can very well make our lives easier. Regardless of why you’re designing this ultra-useful space, remember the most important thing when you start designing: how your family functions.

Ask yourself a few questions before you lay out your ideal room:

…

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One of the greatest benefits of living in the Lowcountry is easy access to amazing seafood restaurants. We recently listed several top restaurants in Bluffton, including a couple of seafood favorites! For this article, we chose different locations, so be sure to check out our previous article for a complete list of local food favorites. 

When it comes to fresh, the Lowcountry offers the best seafood restaurants for local delicacies like oysters and blue crab. Our waterways are full of delicious fish species and so many of our waterfront eateries get their catches fresh every day.

Whether you are looking for casual or upscale, you just can’t go wrong when eating at a seafood restaurant by the water. When preparing this list for you, we considered a…

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In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time that more buyers aimed to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates and purchase a home, housing inventory dropped even further. Experts consider this to be the biggest challenge facing an otherwise hot market while buyers continue to compete for homes. As Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explains:

With buyers active in the market and seller participation lagging, homes are selling quickly and the total number available for sale at any point in time continues to drop lower. In January as a whole, the number…

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If you’re looking for a home to purchase right now and having trouble finding one, you’re not alone. At a time like this when there are so few houses for sale, it’s normal to wonder if you’ll actually find one to buy. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), across the country, inventory of available homes for sale is at an all-time low – the lowest point recorded since NAR began tracking this metric in 1982. There are, however, more homes expected to hit the market later this year. Let’s break down the three key places they’ll likely come from as 2021 continues on.

1. Homeowners Who Didn’t Sell Last Year

In 2020, many sellers decided to pause their moving plans for a number of different reasons. From health concerns about the…

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When selling a house, most homeowners hope for a quick and profitable transaction that puts them in a position to make a great move. If you’re waiting for the best time to win as a seller, the market is calling your name this spring. Here are five reasons why this is the perfect time to sell your house if you’re ready.

1. There’s high demand from homebuyers.

Buyer demand is strong right now, and buyers are active in the market. ShowingTime, which tracks the average number of buyer showings on residential properties, recently announced that buyer showings are up 51.5% compared to this time last year. Daniil Cherkasskiy, Chief Analytics Officer at ShowingTime, notes:

As anticipated, demand for real estate remains elevated and continues to be…

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Last March, many involved in the residential housing industry feared the market would be crushed under the pressure of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Instead, real estate had one of its best years ever. Home sales and prices were both up substantially over the year before. 2020 was so strong that many now fear the market’s exuberance mirrors that of the last housing boom and, as a result, we’re now headed for another crash.

However, there are many reasons this real estate market is nothing like 2008. Here are six visuals to show the dramatic differences.

1. Mortgage standards are nothing like they were back then.

During the housing bubble, it was difficult not to get a mortgage. Today, it’s tough to qualify. Recently, the Urban Institute released…

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