A guide to Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area real estate, rentals and lifestyle
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The popular website "Only In Your State" (www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-carolina/sc-is-best-state-in-the-us/) gave South Carolina some love with a feature en tled "13 Ways South Carolina Has Quietly Become The Coolest State In America." The ar cle noted things we enjoy like great scenery, stunning beaches, an endless variety of outdoor ac vi es, friendly pe ople, 5 FARMER'S MARKETS In South Carolina fresh foods and flowers are available during months when cold weather is se ng in up north. Through December 28, Farmers Market of Blu on features local produce, plants, nuts, herbs, flowers, honey, cheese, milk, eggs, beef, pork, lamb, seafood and more. 6 WE SPECIALIZE IN THE UNIQUE The longer you're in Hilton Head, the more you'll discover unusual and intriguing experiences. Foot golf requires you to kick a soccer ball into a 21-inch cup in as few kicks as possible. Players of all ages can enjoy the 9-hole, foot golf course on Planter's Row at the Port Royal Golf Club. Or take the alligator, wine and cheese tour with H2O sports in a riverboat in the freshwater lakes of the Sea Pines Resort Forest Preserve. Visit the King Neptune Sundial standing guard at the Shelter Cove Harbour and enjoy the sunset and breezes off the marina. We have restaurants that you won't find anywhere else like Claude & Uli's Bistro, where the escargot and other fare is made with European flair, and Hudson's Seafood House where seafood is prepared fresh from the boat each day. 7 HISTORY IS ON DISPLAY Hilton Head is full of history. There are Gullah heritage tours that show how enslaved people preserved their rich culture and express it today. Visit Mitchelville, the first freedmen's town in America, and take a drive down Beach City Road, past the original churches, homes and a school building s ll standing there today. Stop at Mitchelville Freedom Park on your way for a view of the site of the Ba le of Port Royal and visit historical markers spotligh ng area history. Four forts were built on Hilton Head during the Civil War, and the remains of two earthen embankment forts, Fort Mitchel and Fort Howell, s ll fascinate Civil War buffs. Fort Walker was one of the targets of the largest naval ba le ever in U.S. waters. Cole e Stevenson is the CEO of MLS of Hilton Head Island, Inc. and a CMLX3 Cer fied Council of MLS Leader. HHIMLS Serves Licensed Agents & Realtors® from the en re state of SC, as well as GA and If you're considering a move to the Hilton Head area, contact an HHIMLS agent. We have access to the latest data, inventory, and tracking trends to help you find your perfect piece of the Lowcountry. With the most advanced pla orms to make the process smooth and sim- ple, we're ready to help buy- ers and sellers. Turn to HHIMLS to make Hilton Head your home today. www.HiltonHeadMLS.com 1 AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURE If random sigh ngs of deer, birds, and an alligator or two aren't enough to thrill you, we have Pinckney Na onal Wildlife Refuge, a great place to view some of the thousands of migratory birds that have Hilton Head in their flight path. The Refuge is a nes ng habitat for birds like ibis, egrets, and herons. If you love horses, check out the Sea Pines Forest Preserve with Lawton Stables. 2 THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Hilton Head is full of museums and theaters. Learn about the natural history and cultural heritage of the Lowcountry at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Take in a professional show at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Find representa onal drawings, pain ngs and sculpture by the na on's leading ar sts at the Red Piano Art Gallery, South Carolina's oldest professional gallery of fine art. At the Jazz Corner, an old-school nightclub, modern southern food and live jazz combine to keep you coming back. 3 SEASONAL FESTIVALS Star ng October 19, each Thursday there's the Shelter Cove Music & Taste on the Harbour fall outdoor concert series. Local restaurants offer specially priced light appe zers, wine, beer, and cocktails. The annual Italian Heritage Fes val (Nov 18), honors the Feast of San Gennaro with food and booths featuring Italian arts, cra s, and merchandise. The Winter Wonderland Fes val (Dec 1) provides a great environment to start your Holiday. Celebrate with carnival games, a children's parade, a golden candy cane hunt, and a visit from Santa, all at Shelter Cove Community Park. 4 ENDLESS FUN ON THE WATER From deep sea fishing to sailing, you'll never run out of op ons for making the most of coastal life. Creek Cat tours offer small outboard motor boats that cruise among the wildlife. Flying Circus We're seeing impressive growth in the Lowcountry. Our beautiful land and warm weather are big draws. Big growth means two things: More houses are going up. And, there is more competition for those houses, driving up prices. CoreLogic says home prices are up 6.3 percent from last year. And, it doesn't see any end in sight as far as increases. Strong employment numbers and economic conditions will continue to bump prices upward. To make sure you fi nd the house that's just right for you at the right price, you should work with a Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island (HHIMLS) agent or realtor®. HHIMLS members have access to the most home listings in the area and access to the most information available on all of those properties. When you're looking for a home, these are two of the most important things you should search out. Working with an HHIMLS agent or realtor has other advantages as well. 1. An HHIMLS agent has that personal touch you can't fi nd through an internet search. An agent can get to know you and learn exactly what you're looking for. ey can help you weed through listings, saving you unquantifi able time. Some are willing to check out properties for you to let you know if it's worth your time to see it in person. A good agent will make sure they're helping to put you in your perfect home, not just any home. 2. A local agent knows the nuances of an area in which you're looking. ey can tell you if there are any upcoming changes to surrounding areas that may aff ect your property value, good or bad. It's a huge advantage to work with someone who knows the value of a local area and the fl uctuations it has seen. 3. An HHIMLS agent has the most knowledge of property value and understands how to market the property. ey can educate you on negotiating the price of your home, what you can up sell, and what the perception is of the market. ey can also negotiate on your behalf. 4. ey have access to the most amount of listings in the marketplace. at means they know what's available and how properties compare as far as size, amenities, and value. ey can tell you where you can get a larger house for a better value and what you can expect to pay if you want to live closer to the city. 5. HHIMLS adopts the values and ethics of the Realtors Association and incorporates them into its agreement. So with HHIMLS members, you can rest assured that they have the clients' best interests in mind. HHIMLS has been in business for more than 40 years. It helped grow the area to what it is today and has become its experts in the real estate industry. You can trust an HHIMLS agent to perform in your best interest, to the best of their ability, with access to the most and latest listings and technology in the area and an industry as a whole. Turn to HHIMLS for your next home purchase. You can fi nd an agent, scroll through properties, and learn more about the area at hiltonheadmls.com. 21 Five Reasons To Work With An HHIMLS Agent Or Realtor® Make Sure the Right Agent is Working for You. Considering a move to the Hilton Head area? Our Members access the latest Real Estate data, inventory, and tracking trends to help you fi nd your perfect piece of the Lowcountry. By utilizing the most advanced tools in the industry, we make the process smooth and simple for buyers and sellers. Turn to an HHIMLS member to make South Carolina your home today. www.HiltonHeadMLS.com Colette Stevenson, CEO MLS of Hilton Head Island, Inc. and CMLX3 Certifi ed Council of MLS Leader HHIMLS serves Agents & Realtors® representing properties in SC and GA