Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
In 1951, there was one hotel on Hilton Head Island: the Sea Crest on North Forest Beach Drive. It had a grand total of two rooms, but expanded to eight by 1960.
The Sea Crest was built because day-trippers to this little-known island “were constantly getting stranded, having missed the last ferry trip of the day back to Buckingham Landing,” according to a newspaper column by Jim Littlejohn from the files of the Heritage Library on Hilton Head.
Demand to live in the Lowcountry has always been high
EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of Monthly’s yearlong 30th anniversary celebration, we are highlighting 30 years of different industries in each issue. This month, we feature the real estate industry and how it helped shape Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the surrounding Lowcountry.
The real estate industry has evolved and changed over the past 30 years.
Back in 1986, we couldn’t even fathom the idea of consumers having the ability to search real estate in the privacy of their own homes. Today, there are numerous platforms that allow consumers the ability to search properties, view pictures and receive neighborhood information.
HERMAN & DAVIS ADD NEW MEMBER TO TEAM
Ruth Parris is joining the Herman & Davis team. She was born and raised in Columbia and received a bachelor of arts degree in French and comparative literature from the University of South Carolina.
ENGEL & VÖLKERS HONORS TURNER WITH TOP AWARD
Engel & Völkers, the European-based premium real estate brand, announced that Rick Turner of Engel & Völkers Hilton Head Island-Bluffton has been inducted into the firm’s ultra-exclusive Private Office network. Turner is one of a select group of the brand’s advisors worldwide to be awarded with this distinction.
Since I moved to the area more than 10 years ago, March has become my new favorite month of the year. I love all the events and festivals that start the new season. Many visitors come back year after year to attend these events and will rent vacation homes.
It is clear by the year-end real estate numbers that more people are finding the Lowcountry to be the ideal place to live, work and play. Inventory is at a six-month supply, down 23.1 percent from the end of 2014. Closed sales are up 13.2 percent from 2014, and the median price point is up 7.3 percent to $276,900. If the number of pending sales is any indication, 2016 is off to a great start for the housing market.
There are many things homebuyers and sellers expect from a Realtor, including knowledge of the local market, strong negotiating skills and the ability to confidently guide clients through the buying and selling process. While Realtors are already the most prepared to do all this, they also bring a little something else to the table: past experience in other business sectors.
Just comparing Hilton Head to the mainland shows you can’t always trust national housing numbers.
When national housing numbers are released, it may not always line up with the local market. This is especially true in our own market. When area statistics are reported, it can encompass the tip of the toe of Hilton Head Island out to the Hardeeville/Jasper County area.
It can be difficult to define luxury; it means something different to everyone. However, once you find your dream home, it is luxury to you. Luxury real estate is a niche market and caters to a limited number of prospective buyers.
According to the 2014 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, only 10 percent of first-time and repeat homebuyers purchased a home with 3,501 square feet or more.
