Newsletter – September 2012
| Welcome to the September edition of e-news!
Local children have returned to school, high school football is back in action and the still-warm days have slowly begun to get shorter. Here’s hoping you have a fantastic Labor Day weekend and enjoy some well deserved down time! Be sure to check back with us next month when we’ll have a important and exciting team-related announcement! |
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Real Estate News
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July Market Pulse The July market pulse is now available! For the very latest stats and expert opinion, click here: July 2012 Market Pulse Second Homeowners Vital to Local Economy The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce recently commissioned a survey to study the impact of second homeowners on the local economy and the results showed what we’ve known for years: second homeowners are vital to our area! According to the survey, the economic impact of second homeowners is estimated at more than $126M each year. The survey also showed that the majority of buyers make their purchase for personal reasons (vacation retreat) instead of business (investment purposes) and that the average income of second homeowners in this area is between $200k and $249k. Closing Costs Down Federal regulations put into place two years ago as part of the Real Estate Settlement Practices Act have begun to reduce the amount homebuyers mortgaging their purchase must pay at closing. According to CNNMoney, average closing costs have fallen by nearly 7.5% to $3,754 – about $300 less than last year. The money-saving regulations oblige lenders to provide an estimate that is within 10% of the actual amount required to close. Closing costs include application fees, credit checks, title searches, insurance and more. |
Below you will see a photograph taken of a very specific place… and all you have to do is guess where it is! Well, actually, we tell you at THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER, so don’t get too frustrated if you can’t figure it out. Have fun with it… and good guessing!
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Team News
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Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday wishes to Chip, who celebrates on September 14th and Bluffton Specialist Bill Weis, who celebrates on September 20th! Chip Back from StarPower Chip just returned from his annual trek to the StarPower Conference! This year’s event was held in Ohio and, as always, was a great opportunity to share ideas and network! Labor Day Office Closure In observance of Labor Day, both our Hilton Head Island and Bluffton offices will be open by appointment only on Monday, September 3rd. Please call us at 843-341-6300 if you need immediate assistance. We’ll be back in the office and resuming normal business hours (M-F, 8am to 6pm) on Tuesday, September 4th.
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Local NewsHilton Head Featured in Coastal Living Beautiful Islanders Beach on Hilton Head was recently featured among Coastal Living’s 21 Best Beach Vacations! Noted for its gentle water, proximity to the Westin and open space, the beach is located off of Folly Field Road and features a playground, picnic/grill area, and beautiful boardwalk. Food Drive for Bluffton Self Help Collins Group Realty is holding a food drive to benefit Bluffton Self Help, which is facing a critical food shortage! The non-profit, which distributes 2,000 food items each week, is in desperate need of boxed cereals, peanut butter, jelly, pasta sauces and paper goods including toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, diapers, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Donations can be made at our offices in Bluffton (14 Westbury Park Way, 101 Professional Center) just outside the gate of Westbury Park and on Hilton Head Island (852 William Hilton Parkway, Suite 2b) above the Savannah Bank Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm through August 31st!
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App of the Month
The American Red Cross has just released a great emergency preparedness app for use during tropical storms and hurricanes. The app, which features location-based and remote weather alerts, shelter locations, emergency preparedness planning checklists and advice, an “I’m Safe” social media alert and preloaded action-steps that are available even without connectivity. The Red Cross also has a great first aid app and promises the release of Tornado and Earthquake apps soon. The app is available for free: American Red Cross Hurricane App |
Low Country Living |
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While summer is obviously the busiest time for visitors in the Lowcountry, locals know that autumn is perhaps the most enjoyable season in southern South Carolina! In addition to incredibly pleasant weather there are always an abundance of fun events throughout the area… In Bluffton Boiled Peanut Cook-off If you’ve never eaten boiled peanuts, this is the place to try an interesting and quintessentially southern treat! The inaugural cook-off will be held on August 30 at the Bluffton Farmer’s Market (which is completely fun and always worth a visit and runs from 3 pm to 7 pm each Thursday on Calhoun Street). The peanut judging starts at 6 pm, however, if you want to enter YOUR boiled peanuts in the contest you must deliver one quart of cooked peanuts to the judge’s station between 4:30 and 5:30. There is a $15 entry fee. Register online: Bluffton Boilers See all you NUTS there! On Hilton Head Island Back to the Nest (formerly HawkFest) Back to the Nest has become a great Hilton Head tradition at the beginning of each school year. A community event in which all proceeds benefit Hilton Head High School Athletics, Booster Club, and the Island Rec Center, this year’s festival will feature the great local band, Lowcountry Boil who will play from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. In addition there will be a Kid Zone for children ages 2 to 5 and many great food and drink offerings (which are sold separately with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the school and Rec Center). Admission is $5.00 and the event takes place at Shelter Cove Park. Call 843-683-7204 for more information or visit: Island Rec Center. Celebrity Golf Tournament A Hilton Head institution, the 32nd Annual Hilton Head Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held Friday, August 31 – Sunday, September 2 and benefits 20 children’s charities. Celebrities will pair up with locals to play at the Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course (8/31), The Dye Course at Colleton River (9/1) and the Harbour Town Golf Links (9/2). For more information visit: HH Celebrity Golf |
| Answer to…
Where is it?
This pile of rubble was once Big Rocco’s (an island legend way back) which ultimately became Huge Seafood and then Pasta Garden. Sadly the building has been vacant for years and fell into disrepair before being torn down last week. |
| Start Spreadin’ the News!
You may be surprised to learn that, through our vast network, we can connect you with an agent in any corner of the United States and parts of Canada! If you need to buy or sell real estate outside of the greater Hilton Head Island/Bluffton area and are in need of a qualified real estate professional, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-823-7516 or drop us a line at Info@CollinsGroupRealty.com.We are more than happy to put you in touch with an agent in your marketplace! Also, if you’re a satisfied past client please keep us in mind when speaking with your friends, family and business associates about the real estate business. We would love the opportunity to earn their business as well and share with them our Client for Life philosophy! |
