Our weekly newsletter article.

Growth in Gated Communities. Amenities are not Free.

I think we can all agree that almost everybody living in gated communities are usually wanting “more and more” in the way of amenities, and likewise, neighborhood boards believe growth is necessary in order to maintain community strength and values. Members want “more and more” and boards love to build. Often both groups do not understand the long-term ramifications of this phenomenon. Many gated communities have one financial characteristic in common, qualified employees are becoming harder to find and it will cost considerably more money to retain them in the future. There is definitely a long-term problem brewing in the Bluffton and Hilton Head Island areas in trying to solve low-cost housing for…

121 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Have you heard of Frank Lloyd Wright? He was an American architect known for his innovative designs and use of organic architecture, which sought to harmonize buildings with their surroundings. Wright's work significantly impacted the field of architecture, and his homes are highly sought after for their unique beauty and design.

There are many people who seek to have their home represent the architecture of his unique homes. There are architects and designers alike who tout their abilities to be Frank Lloyd Wright-esque. There are many books and publications that represent his body of work. You can get a gorgeous coffee table book that showcases it all. You can also purchase wall art that is inspired by his design;…

116 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Hilton Head Island and Bluffton are filled with anomalies and fun facts. Both of these towns evolved from small seaside communities and have grown by leaps and bounds, and through their evolution remnants of the past have lingered adding to their quirkiness. There are reasons behind decisions that helped with growth and made sense at the time but now can seem antiquated. It is these anomalies that permeate our unique, beautiful, and fun-loving Lowcountry. Throughout the growth there is an animated, laid-back southern vibe that keeps the Lowcounty mentality alive and keeps vacationers coming back and oftentimes returning to become locals themselves. Let us know if you have a local tidbit to share or if you have a question we can research and…

221 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Experience matters! Having a Realtor that shares all of their accomplishments and victories is impressive but what you really want is a Realtor that always has your best interests in mind. Just hearing that your Realtor is the “best” is not always the best for you. You need a Realtor that makes you feel like you are #1. You want someone with an arsenal of tools to solve every problem that comes along. You need a Realtor that has a team behind them of trustworthy inspectors, contractors, and attorneys.

Listen to what other industry leaders and vendors say about the Realtor you are interviewing to help you with your transaction. These are the folks in the trenches that know all the local players. Integrity, trust, and dedication go a long way. You want a…

46 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

We are almost to the new year, and overall 2022 was a super year. When we look back on all we accomplished and learned we had many successes. This is a great time to set aside an hour or so of uninterrupted time to do a quick review of what you want to be different in 2023. Use this time to reflect and evaluate your goals to keep you moving towards the future you are creating for yourself. We can never predict exactly how the year will evolve, but having a general road map will keep you on track and it makes surprises along the way much easier to navigate. 

Ask yourself the following questions:

REFLECT:

  • What have you accomplished over the past six months (goal related or not)?
  • What goals did you achieve or make progress on?
  • What are your…

43 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

There is nothing we love more in the winter than a toasty, crackling fire but our warm weather, flip-flop wearing paradise does not always cooperate. Icy weather is headed our way in the next couple of days, and we are gearing up for some firey evenings. In fact, we just had wood delivered today from Carolina Morning Firewood so we will be ready. We don’t get to use our fireplace as much as our cold weathered neighbors so when we do, it's a real treat. No fireplace? No problemo! Turns out you don’t have to have a hearth in your home to get that hygge feeling we all crave. We have some options for you that can give you that same ambiance without an actual fireplace. 

Burn Some Candles

Scent options are endless and there are even some with a…

90 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

After the past few years of climbing home prices—and a pandemic that made even spacious homes feel cramped—you’d be forgiven for fantasizing about moving your brood into a big country house.

One way to make it happen? A barndominium is what you get when you convert an old barn into a luxurious condominium-style abode. (You can also build your own from scratch.)

We’ve been just as curious as you are about these nontraditional country homes. So we talked to folks who have lived in (or sold) these unique homes. Here are the main pros and cons for all would-be barndominium dwellers.

Pro No. 1: Rural lifestyle

All the barndominium owners we spoke to echoed a similar line of thought: Living in one is a great option if you’re looking for a…

100 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If you’ve ever looked over real estate listings and came across an ad for a “luxury home,” you might have thought, “Wow, this one must be special!” But what exactly defines a luxury home, anyway? Is it determined by price, location, square footage, or some magic combination of all of the above?

Well, for starters, “luxury” isn’t strictly about how much cash you blow on the purchase. It’s much more subjective, and a moving target based on what a particular area’s high-end buyers have come to expect.

“It isn’t simply a price per square foot metric,” says The Agency’s Daniel Stevenson, who specializes in selling luxury listings. “Many times luxury is simply in the eye of the very covetous neighbor.”

While it’s hard to pin down an exact…

61 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The holidays are coming, and we've put together a list of essentials to have on hand when company comes over. It's the most wonderful time of year if you are prepared. 


1. nuts/cheese/stuffed olives

These easy staples can be stored in your cabinet and easy to pull out when guests come over. 


2. wine

Stock up on a few extra bottles. You can use them in case you underestimated how many people were coming over or as a quick hostess gift when you're heading out for a party.


3. local goodies

It is always fun to put out local treats like honey or olive oil and balsamic vinegar from the oilerie down the street.  


4. plenty of kitchen towels

Holiday themed kitchen towels spruce up the room. Whether they are quirky or traditional,…

84 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

"They were this gorgeous, greenish-teal, and they looked great in my laundry room," says Eliesa Prettelt, avid DIYer and author of "A Pinterest Addict" blog.

The washer/dryer combo was perfect. Such a delightful way to brighten laundry day — with a cheerfully colored front-loader set. They could actually make laundry fun!

But after barreling through three sets in four years, she knew she'd made a mistake. "They looked so pretty, but I had nothing but problems with them," she says.

She eventually gave up and got nondescript, white, commercial-grade top-loaders she scored for less than half the cost of her original machines. They may be plain, she says, but "I've had no problems since."

Lesson learned. The hard way. Now for learning the easy…

138 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post