Have you ever experienced living in a coastal village? A place where the river estuary carries you through a variety of flora and fauna, leading to the heart of the town where distinct elements of coastal village architecture can be found? All this can be experienced in one of South Carolina’s best lowcountry coastal villages, the town of Bluffton, SC.
Located within the heart of the beautiful Beaufort County, Bluffton, with a population of approximately 32,000 (2021), has a real small town charm and is one of the friendliest places to live in the state. It is consistently rated as one of the top towns in the lowcountry area. Ideally situated between historic Hilton Head and the trendy city of Savannah, Georgia, residents of Bluffton have an opportunity to explore all the wonderful rural and urban destinations in the surrounding area.
Poular Neighborhoods
Residents and potential residents are treated to a wonderful selection of beautiful neighborhoods. Among these are attractive gated communities, tight knit subdivisions, family-friendly neighborhoods and private, secluded homes. Many of the neighborhoods found in Bluffton feature excellent community amenities including swimming pools, playgrounds, and clubhouses including fitness centers and athletic fields. The mixture of established, well-known neighborhoods as well as brand new developments offer residents the opportunity to enjoy both the old and the new in Bluffton.
Keep reading to discover the wide range of beautiful communities Bluffton, SC, has to offer.
Belfair
Driving through the half-mile long Avenue of the Oaks into Belfair Plantation, you know there is history here; no trees that magnificent could spring forth suddenly. The stately green canopy offers a sense of maturity and foundation that you can feel throughout Belfair Plantation. There are other South Carolina golf communities that might offer more glitz for those who seek it, but those who are looking for a community with world class golf, club and recreational amenities, and a sense of stability, it is here in Belfair.
In addition to two acclaimed Tom Fazeo designed golf courses, Belfair’s new 21,000 sq.ft. Sports & Lifestyle Campus offers a full range of amenities the entire family can enjoy. Members have access to four pickleball courts, full-service tennis and fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a splash pad and playground for children, and a new Bistro and social halls. In the heart of the property is an elegant clubhouse with casual and fine dining. The community is close to the town center with a supermarket and other retail services nearby. Belfair is convenient to shops, restaurants, historic sights, and the stunning beaches that have made South Carolina’s Atlantic shoreline one of America’s leading seaside resort destinations.
Real estate for sale at Belfair includes existing single-family houses at various price levels as well as a selection of residential lots for buyers who wish to build new homes in the Bluffton area. All property sales include golf membership with access to Belfair’s full suite of upscale services and amenities.
Berkeley Hall
Berkeley Hall offers warm, relaxing lowcountry living but with grandeur and amenities similar to a luxury resort. Resting on the banks of the Okatie River which accesses the Port Royal Sound, the private residential club community has distinguished itself as one of America’s 100 Premier Properties by both Links Magazine and Travel & Leisure Golf.
In addition to two Tom Fazio designed core golf courses, Berkeley Hall offers what might be the best golf learning center in the Southeast. Other amenities include a 45,000 sq.ft. clubhouse featuring six casual to fine dining options, and a spa and fitness center offering tailored regimens.
The spa and fitness center includes an indoor pool and whirlpool, yoga rooms, sauna and steam rooms, and a specialty coffee and juice bar. Adjacent to the center are tennis courts, an outdoor pool with private cabanas, a children’s playground, and pickleball courts. Down at the River Park along the banks of the Okatie River, the Community’s dock is where members enjoy fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sunset cruises, and oyster roasts with friends.
Inspired by distinct lowcountry architecture, Berkeley Hall homes range from grand estates to lowcountry inspired cottages. Whether your home is overlooking the river, nestled alongside the golf course, or situated in a close knit cul-de-sac, you are part of the Berkeley Hall family.
Palmetto Bluff
Palmetto Bluff could be considered a benchmark in lowcountry living as one of the finest master-planned communities in the Southeast. The gated community combines privacy with comprehensive amenities. Majestic age-old oak trees, twinkling gas lanterns, and the smell of the salty sea captivates your senses along with the stillness of the May River connecting to the Calibogue Sound.
Spread over 22,000 acres along the May River, Palmetto Bluff blends world-class amenities and a vibrant town center with quiet residential streets and natural preservation.
The features of this gated community are some of the finest, most authentic you can find such as the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, the state of the art equestrian center, tennis courts, resort style pool, restaurants, shops, and The Montage at Palmetto Bluff, a 5-star boutique hotelier. The Inn is a real treat to both guests and residents alike with spa treatments and accommodations that are arguably one of the best experiences found in the lowcountry.
Outside the village area are waterways making this large property a boating community navigable for boats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to bicycles and cars. The aesthetic charm leaves you with a feeling that Palmetto Bluff is an unforgettable destination rather than a development.
Palmetto Bluff cottage homes for sale begin in the $500k’s. Large estate homes on the May River can easily exceed $3 million. Village homesites are priced from the mid $100k’s, and marsh/riverfront homesites start in the $500k’s.
Colleton River
Many have said Colleton River just may occupy the finest piece of land in the lowcountry of South Carolina. The entrance to Colleton River can barely contain the raw natural beauty that lay just behind it, if privacy is a requirement in your consideration of South Carolina communities. The entrance winds two and a half miles through a 1,200-acre South Carolina nature preserve. It will never be developed and buffers this private community from the world outside.
Located 1.5 miles from the bridge to Hilton Head Island, Colleton River is a place of great natural beauty. Towering live oaks, lowcountry marshes, tidal creeks, and lakes create a memorable natural landscape. The environment is further enhanced by the magnificent views created by the Colleton and Chechessee Rivers as they flow into Port Royal Sound
Member owned and operated, it is situated on more than 1,500 acres with a low density of only 705 homesites, making it the lowest in the area.
Colleton River’s two golf courses, designed by legends Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus, have both earned national accolades. Their idyllic beauty was even showcased on the big screen by Robert Redford as the setting for his feature, The Legend of Bagger Vance.
In addition, the community also offers three restaurants, a fitness center, a Stan Smith tennis facility, an aquatics center, and miles of walking and bike paths.
Colleton River features residential properties ranging from lagoon-front to waterfront homes with deep water docks on the Colleton River and, of course, a wide range of golf course properties. Lots are priced from $50,000 to over a million, and homes start at $800k’s and can run to $5 million.
Hampton Hall
Nestled within 1,000 pristine acres, Hampton Hall is a private golf community that is already becoming a lowcountry classic. At Hampton Hall, you’ll find an extraordinary place to live, to play, and to proudly call your very own.
Hampton Hall offers a new style of living around an 18-hole Pete Dye golf course. Inspired by the close knit European villages, this community was created to cater to the lifestyle of every resident, both golfers and non-golfers alike.
All members enjoy Hampton Hall Club’s resort-style amenities and year-round social activities. The lakefront clubhouse features a casual pub and grille room, member library, billboards, banquet facilities, ballroom, and more. There is also a health & fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, golf shop, spa services, tennis, and pickleball.
Within the community, you will find single family homes, townhomes, and cottages, and lots are available with views of woods, lagoons, lakes, and golf courses.
Hampton Hall offers one-third to one-half acre homesites as well as custom homes and townhomes. Lots for sale range from $60k to $200k, villas from $395k to $470K, and homes from $480k to $1.5 million.
Hampton Lake
Located in Bluffton, Hampton Lake is the Hilton Head area’s premier private lake community. The jewel is the 165-acre freshwater lake that includes 7 miles of navigable waterways and 15 miles of shoreline. The lake, together with approximately 340 surrounding acres of nature preserve, creates over 500 acres of open space in the 900-acre community.
Great championship golf is just a cart ride away via a special cart path to Hampton Hall which is adjacent to the community and features a private Pete Dye golf course. Hampton Lake residents have access to the course through a variety of memberships from equity to a 6-month trial.
Hampton Lake’s lakeside facility houses the spa and fitness Center, the Tower Bar, waterfront Backwater Bill’s restaurant, and the Adventure Lagoon pool complex. Nearby is Dog Paddle Park, the first pet park at any private community in South Carolina.
There is an impressive array of Hampton Lake homes from which to choose. These include: villas, carriage homes, cottage homes, coach homes, and estate homes. Choose from wooded, lagoon, and lakefront settings. Prices range from $100,000 and up for home sites and from the high $300,000 to $1.5 million for homes.
Shell Hall
A newer neighborhood with appealing Charleston style homes, Shell Hall enjoys a superb location off Buckwalter Parkway that’s close to schools, churches, dining, shopping, and entertainment. The community boasts an idyllic Southern landscape with homes constructed around parks, lawns, and squares. Residents also have access to outstanding amenities including a 7,500 sq.ft. clubhouse which features a fitness center, pool, and tennis courts.
Old Town
Old town is the historic center of Bluffton. Residents have easy access to the May River and are within walking distance or a golf cart ride away from some of the best restaurants, shops, art galleries, and more.
Family Friendly Coastal Lifestyle
For such a small town, Bluffton has an historic depth, natural charms, and a friendly atmosphere that are unparalleled. It is all at once an attractive place to grow up, to raise a family, and to retire. Bluffton is a special place and its neighborhoods reflect that beauty and warmth of the town itself.
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