With the abundance of Hilton Head real estate, you'll find quite a few places to call home on the island.  If you like to remain near the ocean however, you may want to look near the southeastern end.  It's here where you'll find several homes for sale with a direct view of the oceanfront and easy access to the gorgeous sands of South Beach.

One of these homes for sale is 23 South Beach Lagoon Road, a stunning two story property comprised of nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms quietly shrouded among lushly verdant trees.  This ultra spacious residence has a whopping 6,728 square feet of living area and includes a number of great features that not only make it one of the best beach homes in the area but a great piece of Hilton Head real estate.  Explore the yard to check out the large patio area which includes a swimming pool and easy stair access to the deck on the second floor.  Go inside and see the hardwood floors, the majestic bedrooms and bathrooms, it's an amazing sight to behold.

To learn more about the 23 South Beach Lagoon Road property or other great Hilton Head real estate, please click here.

If you're a fan of golf and also happen to be looking for a nice piece of Bluffton real estate, Berkeley Hall is one of the best places to enjoy the best of both worlds.  This private community located north of Fording Island Road spans over 850 acres and is well known for its diverse array of golf homes.  We'll be highlighting one of these residences which we think you might like.

The 148 Good Hope Road property is a three bedroom, four bathroom home located just south of a small body of water.  The home sits on a gorgeous lot that's lushly verdant and has a circular driveway.  Inside, there's a little more than 4000 square feet of living area as well as features like a gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry, a spacious living room, a screened swimming pool with accompanying jacuzzi, an outdoor grill and a patio area.

To learn more about 148 Good Hope Road or other Bluffton real estate within the community of Berkeley Hall, please click here.

Barely thirty minutes to the north of Bluffton real estate is Okatie.  A large portion of the homes for sale are near or surrounded by water and plenty of foliage.  Okatie is also home to a few islands, one of these being Callawassie Island.  This community has everything from tennis courts (six of them in fact) and golf courses to swimming pools and a “River Club”.  With so much packed inside, it's definitely worth highlighting.

One of the Callawassie Island homes for sale is 64 Winding Oak Drive, a three bedroom and three bathroom property located just a couple of feet to the east of the Colleton River with a design that's elegantly modern.  The home has over 2700 square feet of living area and is well known for its dazzling sunset views.  As is typical of Okatie real estate and Callawassie Island real estate, the 64 Winding Oak Drive home is surrounded by beautiful trees and a natural ambiance that's simply delightful.

To learn more about 64 Winding Oak Drive and Callawassie Island real estate, please click here.

Less than a mile from the gate of the more famousSea Pines Plantation, is Shipyard Plantation.  Traditionally known for the Crowne Plaza, theVan Der Meer Tennis Academy, and the Shipyard Golf Club, it is Hilton Head Heath has recently that has put the national spotlight on Shipyard.  Featured onA&E's groundbreaking show, HEAVY, Hilton Head Health. 

But Shipyard more than its amenities. It also is place that offers more than its share of real estate opportunities.  Between its homes, viilas, and lots there are 83 active listings, starting at $134,000 and topping out at just under $700,000.  (Over the last 12 months there have been 61 closings).

What are some of the things that make Shipyard special? "I built my home in Shipyard 7 years ago and there’s hardly a day that goes by that I do not hear one of my neighbors, friends or clients say,' I love living in Shipyard'. Now that many of our owners are moving into, what was a vacation home or villa, Shipyard has evolved into a Great community." says Karl Sneed, a long time Hilton Head Island resident and Charter One Realty agent. 
 

Sneed continues, "There are 27 holes of Golf, Crown Plaza Hotel, a newer Beach Club, new Welcome Center, plus bike trails to the beach or to two security gates for ease of getting to groceries or any of the fine establishments on the island. We have all of this with one of the lowest POA, (property owners association) fees on the island. What else could you ask for?"

That's a great questions, what more could you ask for?

Forest Beach, on Hilton Head Island has been the place where visitors have been spending their time with family and friends for the last three decades.  Charles Sampson, a long time island resident and partner at Charter One Realty's North office reminices, "As a kid, in the late 50's my family would drive down to Hilton Head for the day from Aiken. At that time you could drive on the beach, we would set up a tarp and stay all day where the Forest Beach public beach is today( in front of todays Holiday Inn). In the 60's they would rent a house in North Forest Beach for a week and we would use the pool at the William Hilton Inn(where the Grand Ocean is today). Many fond family memories."

At the center of it all, is Coligny Plaza (a useful landmark if you've never been to Hilton Head is Coligny Circle).  On either side of the Coligy Circle are North and South Forest Beach.  Both of these areas offer a wide array of  real estate possibilties and price ranges.  This is one of the areas where Hilton Head Island really shines as a resort destination and is probably why its a popluar spot for vacationers.  But all is not just for the folks that stay for a week and leave.

As Andy Twisdale, also a long time resident and real estate agent at Charter One Realty's North Office tells it,  "In the late 70’s Forest Beach was the location of an end of the summer party. Mostly food and beverage employees had spent the summer working 6-7 days per week. After Labor Day on a Sunday groups would organize “ end of the summer “ parties. Mostly at homes on or near the beach. Large crowds and lots of sun, sand and beer. Goes along with “work hard and play hard'".

Whether you're just visiting or you're looking to make a the resort style life your way of life, Forest Beach may be the place for you.

Forest Beach Spotlight Listing: 14 Heron Street

6BR/6BA beach home - Ideal permanent home, 2nd home, or rental property. Private deck with pool, hot tub, direct access to full bathroom on 1st floor, & can be accessed from the 1st floor or by spiral staircase from ground level Activity Room. 1st Floor features Great Room, open Kitchen with s/s appliances, pool bathroom, Utility Room,& Master Suite, 2nd Floor has 5 bedrooms (including 2nd Master), & 4 full bathroom. Limestone flooring, 3+Car Garage, fireplace & more! Fully furnished and on rental market!

All things of this world age - some better than others.

Over 30 years ago Charles Fraser's concept of creating aplace that placed a premium on community and the preservation of nature came up out of the ground at the "toe" of Hilton Head Island. There are plenty of reasons why over thousands of visitors come to this island each year - more specifically, Sea Pines Plantation.

There's the PGA Tour's Heritage of Golf (with it new sponsor RBC), the miles of bike trails, not to mention the wide range of real estate opportunities. Here's just some of the highlights:

Price ranges: The 377 active listings (as of this writing)range anywhere from nearly $9 million dollars all the way to $154,900. (That's not a misprint - how many communities can you say have that sort of variety?) Of course there a homes that are move-in ready and then there are homes that need a littel TLC. No matter what you're taste (orskill with a hammer), there's bound to be a place for you here.

Market Activity: In the last 12 months, there have been 239 properties sales in Sea Pines Plantation. The bulk of those sales (138) were between $200,000 and $599,999. The quick math will tell you that the overall inventoryinSea Pines Plantationis about 19 months (still a buyer's market) - more on this in future posts - and while this is a relatively large number, it is way down from 2010. (In September of 2010, the inventory in Sea Pines Plantation was nearly 26 months).

Enough about geeky stats. "Why Sea Pines Plantation?" Sherry Pecora, one of Charter One Realty's real estate agents, was asked this. Her response?

" I have villa clients in Sea Pines Plantationnear Harbour Town who love it there. Once they arrive, they do their grocery shopping outside the gate for the whole week and then never leave the plantation. They rent bikes and bike everywhere, don't even use their car. There are not many other plantations that you can do that because there is so much to do in Sea Pines."

Where could you live (or vacation), not use your car for a week, and not miss a beat?