North and South Forest Beach - Hilton Head Real Estate
While most of Hilton Head is broken-up into developments - commonly called plantations in the Lowcountry - loaded with amenities such as golf, tennis, a yacht basin and a clubhouse, there are a few of the traditional vacation home neighborhoods left. Two of the best known areas to fit the description of off-plantation Hilton Head are North and South Forest Beach.
A few key facts about North and South Forest Beach:
- There are currently 66 listings in the Forest beach area
- The prices range from $549,000 to over $5 million
- The properties range from Beachfront to 12th row
- Most of the lots are less than a 1/4 acre, although some are large enough for a pool and a detached garage
- A number of properties have be recently purchased by large development and rental companies, and have been either renovated or leveled and rebuilt.
- North Forest beach is close to Coligny Plaza, dining and shopping
- South Forest Beach is close to the secondary entrance to Sea Pines
- Both areas have great beach access
When I started selling real estate, I knew it would best if I chose a niche segment of the the market and concentrated all of my marketing research efforts in that one area. I choose private luxury and golf communities (Colleton River, Belfair, Hampton Hall, Wexford Plantation…) since that was from where I came in my previous career in Food and Beverage management. Yet, I still receive calls and e-mails from prospective buyers about off-plantation properties both on Hilton Head and in Bluffton, most recently being North and South Forest Beach. The North and South Forest Beach area are so named simply due to the fact that Forest Beach Drive is the main road leading to these neighborhoods. The area still offers a little of what many would remember of vacation cottage homes of the 1950s to 1970s era. But most of the area has been redevelops and revitalized. There are no common amenities, POAs or POA fees, the lots are usually rather small, and until recently, the streets were not paved in in both of the areas. Personally, I find a great deal of charm in, especially, North Forest, and I was a little saddened when the town decided to pave select roads. These areas are great rental properties, or even a secondary or primary home for someone not interested in the activates and fees associated with private communities.
Posted: March 11th, 2008 under Hilton Head Real Estate, Luxury Homes, South Carolina real estate.
Comments: 12
Comments
Comment from Sam in Austin
Time: March 14, 2008, 11:04 am
I have heard that homeowner’s insurance went through the roof in Florida after the summer of 4 hurricanes. Has your area felt an increase?
Comment from stacey
Time: March 15, 2008, 9:07 am
Sam,
You’re such a big ball of sunshine. 
Insurance for some areas on Hilton Head have increased in the past few years - some areas as much as 40%. Though, we have not experienced the same increase in the Bluffton area which Fla. residents have been subject. But, insurance has increased all across the nation over the past few years. Also realize, areas from Atlanta to Pittsburgh have suffered more damage than Hilton Head from the inland remnants of hurricanes.
Comment from North Georgia Property
Time: March 17, 2008, 8:16 am
I think when the conforming loans come into play you will see these properties sell. Many were just waiting for the lending process.
Comment from Luxury Homes For Sale In Florida
Time: March 18, 2008, 8:07 am
Insurance went up for sure and the closer to the water the more. But this is the price you pay for living everyday in paradise.
I am sure this area will rebound as locals and people from all over love this area and it’s golf.
Comment from Lake Blue Ridge Real Estate
Time: March 20, 2008, 8:33 am
I think many are waiting on conforming loans and they will begin to buy and they need the limit added to purchase these types of properties. It is a beautiful area was there many years ago and I am sure the market will begin moving soon.
Comment from Stacey
Time: March 20, 2008, 10:19 am
Unfortunately, the Bluffton and Hilton Head area will not benefit from the increases in conforming loans, for now. The D.C. area and Southern Fla. are the only two areas on the East coast granted higher conforming loan rates. Although, I understand there is pressure in The Capitol to expand the areas and lengthen (even make permanent) the availability of such loans.
Comment from http://www.hotstays.com/Las-Vegas-Nevada.html
Time: March 21, 2008, 8:57 am
Lets hope they change and expand the areas for the conforming loans to your area because that is what is needed to sell these properties other than buying them outright. Do you think they will go to rentals by fall if not sold?
Comment from Georgia Fishing Vacations
Time: March 23, 2008, 9:17 am
I think come fall we will see a differnt picture many I think will consider purchasing house and condo’s over the summer.
I like the charm of dirt roads. I was in Florida during the 2004 hurricanes visiting family and the ocean blew sand up and covered the roads along the beaches and they looked like dirt roads and all the locals loved it and then they came and plowed them. It was amazing the sand went up the streets in some areas a half a block.
Comment from Stacey
Time: March 26, 2008, 9:26 am
GFV, you may be right, only time will tell.
Comment from real estate in panama
Time: May 16, 2009, 2:34 pm
The neighborhoods of North and South Forest Beach comprise the popular shoreline between Sea Pines and Shipyard Plantations and are known for their casual, relaxed atmosphere. There are some new, large multi-family type homes and a lot of 1970s “beach houses”. The beach is just as good here as in, for example, Sea Pines.
Regards, Shane, Guy into real estate in panama
Pingback from North and South Forest Beach Hilton Head Real Estate Bluffton | Hammock Stand
Time: June 3, 2009, 8:43 pm
[...] North and South Forest Beach Hilton Head Real Estate Bluffton Posted by root 20 hours ago (http://stateofmindrealestate.com) Comment from http www hotstays com las vegas nevada html come fall we will see a differnt picture many i think will consider purchasing house and condo over the summer powered by wordpress theme design by andreas viklund Discuss | Bury | News | North and South Forest Beach Hilton Head Real Estate Bluffton [...]
Pingback from North and South Forest Beach Hilton Head Real Estate Bluffton | Cellulite Creams
Time: June 8, 2009, 10:40 pm
[...] North and South Forest Beach Hilton Head Real Estate Bluffton Posted by root 17 minutes ago (http://stateofmindrealestate.com) North forest beach is close to coligny plaza dining and shopping south forest beach is close to the secondary comment from http www hotstays com las vegas nevada html powered by wordpress theme design by andreas viklund Discuss | Bury | News | North and South Forest Beach Hilton Head Real Estate Bluffton [...]
Write a comment