Market Report - Beaufort South Carolina
It took us several trips to the Low Country to understand why so many Baby Boomer's want to find Beaufort SC neighborhoods and call them home. Is it the chance to live among salt water marshes which attract bottlenose dolphin playing on the surface as elegant herons and egrets stand guard? Or to see every day, the largest tide fluctuations in the U.S. exposing beautiful oyster beds? After visiting over 150 master planned communities each year, you'd think they all start to look the same to us. That’s hardly the case.
Each South Carolina coastal community we’ve scored in Beaufort SC is distinctly different from one another. The biggest questions you'll have to ask yourself is do you mind living in a vacation resort community and how much money are you willing to pay for monthly HOA fees and club dues. You'll see from this graph, Beaufort home prices are clearly trending upward. If you’re considering a Beaufort SC neighborhood, we hope you'll recognize it’s time to buy property now.
Here’s what’s happening at the best master planned communities in Beaufort. If any of these Low Country real estate developments interest you, ask us to introduce you to our trusted colleague in Beaufort who can keep you posted on hot deals. Write us at info@communityfinder.com
Coosaw Point - Lady's Island South Carolina
This Low Country charmer caught our eye last year as we were exploring the Sea Islands. Developed by the Gallant family, one of the founders of Belk department stores, this 400 home South Carolina coastal community borders the Saint Helena Sound. Reminding me of my childhood, this meticulously manicured neighborhood is an inviting outdoor playground, where you can play ball in the streets, just like the good ole’ days. This debt free community is quiet and serene with wide open green space and street corridors canopied by massive live oak trees. The community’s stunning waterfront clubhouse and resort-style swimming pool area are the social hub of the community.
Folks searching for Beaufort SC neighborhoods who don’t want to pay high membership fees or hear loud close range fighter jets interrupting their afternoon siesta, will find Coosaw Point a great option to consider. In case you didn’t know, the Marine Corps Air Station is located in Beaufort on the mainland and Coosaw Point is only 5 minutes from downtown on the Sea Islands. The photo’s of this community on our website paint a beautiful picture of what to expect. As you meet the neighbors who live at Coosaw Point, you’ll sense the harmony Robert Gallant has brought to his community. With only 85 homes built to date, you can still find a variety of property in all different price points to build your dream home. Ask us to introduce you to Robert Gallant.
Dataw Island - Saint Helena Island South Carolina
Our first stop at Dataw Island was to see the interior construction progress on Dataw’s golf clubhouse. Walls have been torn down opening up beautiful waterfront views. The renovations are expected to be completed in October 2012 and will expand the dining choices. The $4.5 million dollar golf course renovation was also approaching completion. The Tom Fazio designed golf course named Cotton Dike is now open again. The Arthur Hills designed Morgan Course is expected to be complete in September. We wondered, who’s paying the tab for all these improvements? The answer, Dataw property owners. The Dataw Island POA is assessing property owner’s an additional $115 a month until the debt is paid off in addition to an annual assessment of $1,813 for road maintenance. By our calculations, annual fees at Dataw Island without club a membership quickly add up to $5,000 a year. Despite the big price tag, property owner comments we received in 2011 from our scorecards reflect how happy property owner’s are.
Dataw is predominately a vacation and second home South Carolina coastal community. The curb appeal is undisputed. Dataw Island appears to be on top of their game when it comes to social activities. As we toured the community, we heard all about the social clubs such as the Visual Arts Club and Island Friends Club, the two most popular social clubs on the island. Dataw Island has a long list of community amenities. Ask about being our guest to experience the Dataw Island lifestyle for a weekend, if you’re considering Beaufort SC neighborhoods.
Habersham - Beaufort South Carolina
This was our fourth year visiting Habersham. We shake my head every time we go there as this is the only best master planned community on our website without a welcoming entrance. To us, construction type signs with directional arrows don’t count at this stage of the game. Habersham’s lack of a defined entrance is a disappointment. No one else will say, but we just did. But don’t quickly judge this community by the first impression. Beyond the entrance, Habersham is one of the best examples of Savannah-style new urbanism. As you drive through The Habersham Marketplace at the beginning of the community, you’ll begin to sense the grandeur. Large park-like squares frame out all the different neighborhoods. Habersham won Best Neighborhood Design in 2005 by the National Association of Home Builders.
Not much new was happening during our visit. Habersham has been actively engaged with the community for years by hosting its First Fridays, a monthly event providing live entertainment, a Farmer’s Market and activities for the whole family to enjoy. The Habersham Marketplace has a number of retail businesses and restaurants in the neighborhood. Habersham hugs Habersham Creek which connects to the Broad River. This coastal community offers a number of attractive home style choices, from small footprint Lowcountry cottages to luxury plantation-style homes. Amenities include an outdoor resort-style swimming pool, community parks and a day boat dock adjacent to the River Retreat Pavilion. Habersham is located on the mainland and is in close proximity to the Marine Corps Air Station which you will discover quickly when the loud sounds of the military jets catch you by surprise. Overall, property owners appear to be happy living here. If you’d like to know more about Habersham, our trusted colleague in Beaufort will be happy to show you Beaufort SC neighborhoods.
NEW APPROVED COMMUNITIES:
Fripp Island - Sea Islands South Carolina
The land of flip flops, t-shirts and pastel colored golf carts defines Fripp Island best, a vacation home hot spot at the tip of the Saint Helena Sound. Your toughest choice owning here would be, how to spend your day on the island. Should you scoot off deepwater fishing, kayak the salt water marsh, spend the day on the links or play hide and seek from your grandkids under a beach cabana? Fripp Island is unpretentious and friendly. The Smith’s who live there, could careless if you have make up on or are still wearing your bathing suit at dinner time. People who live on Fripp Island are there to have fun and you can sense the joy immediately.
Fripp Island has two award winning golf courses, a deepwater marina, ten resort-style swimming pools, three community clubhouses, eight restaurants and ten tennis courts. Other than the initial $20k deposit, membership fees are pretty cheap at $2,705 a year. The island has no rental restrictions allowing property owners to rent out their homes for the short term or long term. You might be surprised to know, properties are moving fast at Fripp Island. If you’d like to be placed on our alert list, send us an email with your home criteria and we'll send you a list of homes for sale at Fripp Island, as quickly as they surface.
Oldfield Club - Okatie South Carolina
A Casey favorite, we've visited this South Carolina coastal community on several occasions over the years. We hesitated to include Oldfield Club on our list of the best master planned communities until we knew the Crescent Resources LLC Bankruptcy which effected Oldfield was resolved. SF Capital Group bought the community recently and the place looks great! In the Low Country, you will find several types of topography. Some communities with dense live oak trees shading the neighborhoods, while other communities are bright and sunny, with wide open space and elbow room. In the Low Country, there are also landlocked communities with man-made lakes or true coastal communities with access to the Low Country salt waterways leading to the Atlantic Ocean.
Oldfield Club is a classic example of the latter. If you’re looking for a resort-style community that is not filled with short term vacationers, Oldfield is a must see. The Carolina farmhouse architecture is particularly appealing. About 225 homes of the 500+ are built to date. Although the community has Greg Norman’s first Lowcountry Signature Golf Course, property owner’s can enjoy the golf course a la carte meaning they don’t have to join the golf club to access the course. Only a social membership is required to access all the resort-style amenities excluding the golf course.
This South Carolina coastal community is located on the south end of Beaufort, closer to Bluffton. Directly across the street from the main entrance is a proposed Publix grocery store and retail shopping center. Oldfield’s location is convenient, providing fast access to US-278 connecting with Interstate 95 in about 20 minutes total. Oldfield is far enough from the busyness of Hilton Head Island yet close enough to appease the most finicky shopping diva and foodie who want more variety nearby. Ask us about being our guest at Oldfield Club, to explore the lifestyle this coastal community can offer you.
Callawassie Island - Okatie South Carolina
Average Americana is how we would describe Callawassie Island. Not too much, not too little and for some, just right. The island is completely surrounded by salt water marshes leading to the Lowcountry rivers. This coastal community began in 1986 by Chaffin & Light Real Estate. Now 26 years later, Callawassie Island has invested in some amenity renovations. In 2009, the $4 million Tom Fazio 27 hole golf course renovation was completed. To me, a statement of financial strength by undertaking such an expense during the height of a real estate recession. The debt for the golf course renovation is already factored into the monthly golf club dues. Community amenities are owned and controlled by the property owners. Amenities include six Har-Tru tennis courts, two outdoor swimming pools, main golf clubhouse, fitness center, a restaurant and poolside River Club on the Colleton River. The 26 year old clubhouse and poolside River Club are slightly outdated. Although Callawassie Island is surrounded by water, the community does not have a boat ramp to access the waterways, although there are public boat ramps nearby. The South Carolina coastal community does have a boat day dock and kayak launching areas near the River Club.
About 700 homes are planned in total with 515 built to date. The Low Country homes here are not painted flashy colors and do blend beautifully with the natural environment. The island is a certified National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat where property owners live amongst the birdlife, bottlenose dolphin, wild deer, and even alligators. Don’t let alligators scare you. Like sharks and bears, these animals are just as much afraid of you as you of them. Like us, you will quickly learn how to avoid alligator encounters when you move to the Southeast. Callawassie Island has more than two dozen active social clubs which provide plenty of opportunities for folks to meet new friends and socialize. Homes for sale at Callawassie Island can be found starting in the mid $100k’s and lots for sale start in the $15k-$20k range. Our trusted colleague can tell you more about the future plans for Callawassie Island and show you around the island. Ask us to introduce you.
Spring Island - Okatie South Carolina
Just beyond the gated entrance to Callawassie Island is a larger Lowcountry island named Spring Island. Driving from one of the end island to the other seemed endless, as the island spreads across 3,000 acres. The island fascinated us because it is so secluded. If you’re a celebrity and wanted to avoid the Paparazzi, here’s where you would want to live in the Low Country. Long driveways hidden behind tall live oak trees lead to magnificent homes on the island. Only 410 homes will be built on the island which equals one home per 7 acres. On the northwest side of the island is the community’s River House, Sports Complex, swimming pool, tennis courts and Equestrian Center. On the east side of the island is the community’s Arnold Palmer and Ed Sea 18 hole golf course which is currently under renovation. The golf course is named Old Tabby Links.
During our tour of the island, we felt like a treasure hunter when we stumbled upon the St. Francis of Assisi Statue in a huge park-like setting. Although the internet states the bronze statute is only 10 foot tall, it felt like the statute was 50 feet tall to me, by the way it is positioned under the umbrella of live oak trees. What a place for a picnic lunch! As we turned directly around, a pathway lead us to the protected Tabby Ruins which was originally the home of the George Edwards family in 1850. My drive continued to the Old Tabby Links clubhouse showcasing gorgeous views of the salt water marsh. The architectural style of this South Carolina coastal community amenities is interesting, a combination of modern contemporary at the Sports Complex and classic American Country at the clubhouses and Equestrian Center. You can find homes under $500k at Spring Island. As we expected, the majority of the homes exceed $1 million. The community offers waterfront homes, golf course homes and equestrian paddocks. Our scorecard for Spring Island will be uploaded shortly. Write us a reminder note and we'll let you know when it’s posted for you to read.
We hope you find our Market Report for Beaufort South Carolina helpful. Don’t go it alone, if you’re searching for Beaufort SC neighborhoods. We have a team of trusted colleagues who are experts in the area and are happy to help. Call us toll free at 866.384.1799 or write info@communityfinder.com and we will introduce you.
