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…

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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…

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What’s New at the Lowcountry’s Private Golf Communities in 2026?

For buyers exploring Hilton Head real estate, Bluffton real estate and Okatie-area homes, comparing houses is only part of the decision.

In the Lowcountry's private golf communities, buyers are also buying into a club, a lifestyle, and an amenity package they may enjoy for decades. That makes another question increasingly important:

Is the community continuing to invest in itself?

Across the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area, several of the region's established private clubs are answering that question with significant improvements to golf courses, clubhouses, dining venues, wellness facilities and recreational amenities.

The latest example comes from Oldfield, where a…

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August 2026 Lowcountry Real Estate Market Update: Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort

The August 2026 Lowcountry real estate market delivered a familiar message in several different forms: real estate remains highly local.

Across the Hilton Head Area REALTORS® region, pending and closed sales increased over the rolling 12-month period, while overall inventory and the months’ supply of homes declined. Individual August results, however, varied considerably among Hilton Head Island homes, Hilton Head villas and condos, and Bluffton real estate.

The Beaufort-Jasper County REALTORS® region followed a somewhat different course, recording more pending and closed sales, modest price appreciation and a slight increase in available inventory.

For buyers…

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The Fall 2026 housing market is giving buyers something they have not enjoyed in several years: more choices.

For sellers, that does not mean homes have stopped selling. It means the margin for error has narrowed. A property that is priced accurately, presented beautifully and marketed to the right audiences can still attract serious interest. A listing that enters the market with an aspirational price, dated photography or an incomplete marketing plan is more likely to be compared, postponed or passed over.

That distinction matters throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry, including the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Okatie and Beaufort real estate markets. Buyers are no longer forced to compete for every acceptable property. They can compare homes,…

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Charter One Realty Earns Two LeadingRE Honors for Relocation and Referral Excellence

Charter One Realty has been recognized by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® with two distinguished honors: the Highest Residential Seller Referral Award and the Goal Achiever Award.

The awards were presented during the 2026 LeadingRE Relocation Forum, held in Chicago from August 31 through September 1. Nicole Adkins, Relocation Director at Charter One Realty, accepted the honors on behalf of the brokerage.

For Charter One Realty, the recognition reflects more than referral volume. It represents the strength of trusted relationships, attentive relocation support and the ability to connect clients with experienced real estate professionals wherever life…

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What type of buyer or property do you know best?

Lorri Hunter: I have a broad knowledge of communities throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Okatie. I work with buyers considering waterfront homes, private golf club communities, resort neighborhoods, and land on which to build.

Selecting a home can feel overwhelming when the options are so different. I begin by listening carefully and helping buyers determine which community and lifestyle suit them before we narrow the search to individual properties.

How do Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Beaufort differ?

Lorri Hunter: Hilton Head Island is ocean-oriented and resort-influenced, with full-time and seasonal neighborhoods, extensive dining choices, beaches, and numerous golf…

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A local perspective on choosing a Lowcountry home

Chip’s advice begins with lifestyle, then works backward to the community, property type, and individual home.

What type of buyer or property do you know especially well?

Chip Wedgeworth: I love working with couples who are moving here for retirement or buying a second home they eventually plan to retire to.

This usually is not just a real estate decision. They are trying to figure out what the next 10 or 20 years of their lives will look like. Do they want Hilton Head or Bluffton? Golf or boating? A house or a villa? Do they want to ride a golf cart to dinner? Would they prefer a large social community or more privacy? Where will the children and grandchildren stay when they visit?…

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Why Major Investors Continue Betting on Hilton Head Island

What major hospitality acquisitions, resort renovations, airport improvements and luxury sales mean for Lowcountry buyers and sellers

Hilton Head Island has never depended on one headline to make its case. Its appeal has been built over decades through beaches, boating, golf, protected natural beauty, established resort communities, and a lifestyle that repeatedly turns visitors into homeowners.

Still, the latest wave of major investment is worth watching. Travel + Leisure Co. has entered into an agreement to acquire Spinnaker Resorts as part of two transactions with a combined upfront purchase price of $343 million. Meanwhile, new ownership is preparing a substantial renovation of The…

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What Relocation Buyers Really Want in a Lowcountry Home in 2026

If you’re thinking about selling a home in the Lowcountry, the most useful question isn’t just “What’s my house worth?”
It’s “What are the people moving here actually looking for?”

In 2026, buyers relocating to Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Beaufort are less focused on pure square footage and more interested in how a home will fit the life they came here to live. Outdoor living, flexible spaces, first-floor living, easy access to golf or the water, storage, storm protection, and lower-maintenance ownership all rank high. They want a place that feels ready to enjoy, not a project waiting for them after the moving trucks leave.

National data backs this up. Zillow’s recent…

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