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 are defi nitely in a sellers' market. Home prices are expected to continue to rise in 2018. Mortgage demand remains strong which, in turn, is because jobs continue to grow. A lot of people are trying to buy property before mortgage rates climb any higher. "As inventories decline and prices go up, real estate is a solid investment in today's market," said Colette Stevenson, chief executive offi cer of HHIMLS. "Now is the time to start looking for a home. Many times, that means putting your current home on the market. We can help with both." HHIMLS facilitates more than $3 billion in real estate transactions annually. It helps the home buying and selling process by keeping inventory of homes for sale, real-time statistics, and tracking trends. In order to get top dollar for your property, you may be wondering where to make improvements that will bring the greatest return. Besides, you'll have to compete with all that new construction. e Associated Press reports home construction is at its highest level since October 2016. Here are the most cost-effi cient ways to make sure you get the most bang for your buck on home improvements. 1 Kitchen remodels are usually the best way to increase your home sale. Clean up your cabinets with a fresh coat of cabinet paint or even a faux wood paint that looks like cherry. A nice backsplash can make all the diff erence. Choose timeless styles, like subway tile or natural stones and neutral-colored tile. And people love the cold feel of stainless steel appliances. 2 Bathrooms usually come in second when it comes to a return on investment. New faucets can really change a room, as well as drawer pulls and shower heads. Be sure to use the same fi nish to keep the room looking cohesive. Granite countertops give an upscale feel. Wall mounted lighting and new grout can make an older bathroom seem fresh again. 3 Paint in neutrals. Neutrals appeal to most buyers. A can of paint typically runs $25 and can make a world of diff erence. For living rooms, traditional beige seems to get top dollar. Gray is becoming an increasingly popular color throughout homes as well. Or, you can go with what they now call "greige," yep, a mixture of gray and beige. Gray with shades of blue may be better than plain gray for a bedroom or bathroom. 4 Landscaping can change curb appeal. Look for native plants for minimum maintenance. Plus, they'll blend well with the natural landscape. Plant plenty of trees. Over time, they'll appreciate. Make sure you maintain what you already have. Keep things trimmed and weeds from sprouting. 5 Keep it clean. Uncluttered, straightened, sparkling homes always go faster. at could be as big as replacing worn carpet or as small as taking down personal pictures. When buyers see clutter, they think there must not be enough room. Make sure any damage is repaired and any wall scratches are repainted. Give it a good scrub. If you think about it, would you rather have the just-a-bit- dingy home or the sparkling home down the street? Buyers are also looking for the latest home trends like tech readiness, connectivity, ease of doing business, and being green. Smart home technology that allows owners to control their thermostat, lights, and security systems is becoming more popular. Good wi-fi and being able to work from home is becoming a norm. And, green homes are growing in demand. Energy-effi cient appliances, solar panels, and water saving faucets are becoming more standard. Now, more homeowners are also looking for building materials that are chemical-free and non-toxic or recycled and locally sourced materials. HHIMLS agents are educated on the trends in real estate. Our members have all the latest technology to help your home move as quick as possible. You can fi nd an agent at hiltonheadmls. com. 25 5 Improvements that Increase Your Home's Value How To Sell Your Home For Top Dollar 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