Real Estate Update for Bluffton and Beaufort, SC
Over the past few weeks, there have been a number of real estate happenings in the Bluffton and Beaufort, SC areas. While there is that whole Fannie/Freddie thing happening in our nations capital, I’m going to let the others continue down the road of speculation as to how this will effect the housing market. For now, I’m staying local.
There are two recent, stand out stories for Beaufort County: Bluffton will likely gain its first truly Green community and Beaufort, SC has been named one of the top six places to retire near the water.
A few of the details on the newest Green development in Bluffton:
- Developer Michael Maloney, of Quinnco properties, has been granted preliminary approval by Bluffton Town Council for a closely monitored, environmentally sound community.
- The site, located west of SC rt. 46 and SC rt. 170 – along The New River - will be cover roughly 100 acres.
- The managers of Quinnco have requested 92 residential lots. Current Beaufort County zoning is set at allowing 33 lots. The increase of units/acre has been justified due to the higher cost of developing a totally Green community.
- The project has been termed a “milestone”, and there are hoped that the development will serve as a model for future projects in the area.
- Earthcraft, one of two regulating authorizes for Green home building, will be overseeing the entire project. This is the first development in the Lowcounty to completely comfort to Earthcraft standards. While previous developments have included Green homes within the plans, many have sited these leading efforts as “marketing tools”.
Why CNN Money has choose Beaufort, SC as one of the to six places to retire near the water:
- The beauty of the area was one of the primary reasons for Beaufort’s high ranking – siting the use of the city as a “backdrop” to a number of block buster films.
- The contrast of accessibility while still offering the feel of being off the beaten path is considered one of Beaufort’s main attributes.
- The most prized aspect is the historic feel of Downtown Beaufort with a number of renovated homes in and around the historic district; home prices starting near $500,000.
Even with all of the lingering answers regarding the over-all housing market, the Beaufort, SC area is continuing to set standards and make headlines. The fall months are a perfect time of year to explore the area, even if a buyer is waiting just a little longer for the housing concerns to smooth-out.
Posted: September 9th, 2008 under Beaufort, Bluffton, SC real estate, Green home building, South Carolina real estate.
Comments: 14


Irwin has been a resident of Hilton Head Island for around a year and his association with Paula Dean grew from professional to a strong friendship. There have been numerous stories both from Irvine, himself, and from other celeb chef spotters regarding the Food Network stars’ relationship.
mortgages will also benefit. Military personnel who are currently serving active duty will be extended a significant grace period on late mortgage payments before a bank can foreclose on their home, and individuals looking to “cash out” on the equity of their home with a reverse mortgage will also receive added bonuses, but one of the most interesting “stimulation” portions of the HRB offers a tax “kick back” to first time home buyers.
The number of foreclosures in the Bluffton, SC area are well below the hardest hit markets in the US — there are currently 63 bank-owned properties in the 29910 zip code and 102 in all of Beaufort County according to Realty Track, a national foreclosure web service — yet the number of foreclosure properties in Bluffton, SC is still at an all-time high.
What does this have to do with the real estate market on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, SC? Manhattan has typically been the leading indicator of national market conditions at both ends of the spectrum. When there are great swings in market conditions, Gotham is usually the first to experience price increased and the last to decline. Those folks who like to analyze feel that since there is now noticeable price reductions in all but the extreme luxury market of New York, the rest of the country may now be in the lowest point of the downturn.
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improvements in technology to existing schools. This will be the second referendum put to vote in the past two and a half years in Beaufort County.