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Goin' Home View

 I was on my way home last night and as I made my way to the top deck, the view before you was presented to me. I have made many voyages to Daufuskie and I always ride "up top" no matter what the weather. But I never really stopped to appreciate the contrast presented in this picture. Thanks for sharing it with me.

The Thundering Herd

Are you a "Baby Boomer"? Well I am.....One of seventy seven (77) million. Now thats a lot of folks with grey hair, but these days full of life and spirit. My Bride and I made a lifestyle decision twenty two (22) years ago to move out of North Western Pennsylvania and move South. And it looks like from all available statistics we were definately in the minority to leave early. It seems the majority have stayed "up North" with jobs or whatever, but "STILL" are planning to move South for retirement. Statistics and surveys show that forty two (42) % plan on "coming down"!!!!! That's thirty (30) million people.....Mind Boggling.....Just think about that for a moment. Considering the fact that most coastal Georgia islands are owned by the "State" "not able to build on" and with all due respect, a lot of folks just don't care about Florida anymore......where are they going to end up. Lets say it again "STILL" are coming....but coming to where.

If all indications of the recent boom in Bluffton, just on the mainland.....a lot of them will go there, if for no other reason but lower priced housing. Even in.....if I may use the "S" word....The Current Slump....developers are "pressing on" with vigor. There is even a place called "Tradition" with two (2) big towers on 278 welcoming folks to their very own "Town". That's right a whole new town being built right now. These developers are not stupid and they know The "Thundering Herd" of Boomers are coming and they know it has to be soon. ...no matter what the "Press" is trying to peddle......Hey we are not getting any younger if you know what I mean.

So if I have got your attention and you are "up North" sayin' "maybe old LC Joe is onto something" ....what do you do. Think about it again...the "Thundering Herd" is coming "SOON" ....no matter what....and when they do you will see a housing boom like nothing we have ever seen in History. Inventory will be snatched up quick, waiting lists will once again be common and prices will rise fast. A way out is to buy dirt. There is a good chance you can't sell your home right now without giving it away....but you can buy the dirt at a great price and "stop the bleeding". A part of your future has been secured. I commented on this "dirt" thing in an included blog.

"Buy Now....Build whenever you're ready"...Hey ...that's not me talkin' .....that's a full page ad from Centex Homes in Sunday's Island Packet. Centex understands the market.

Now I didn't go to school to eat my lunch. I understand not everybody wants to live on an Island like Daufuskie and many just can't afford Hilton Head. So I brought on a new Partner, David D'Arcy, into my business last year to specialize in the Bluffton market. David and I know the Bluffton/Ridgeland areas are the Lowcountry's "next future" and we have put considerable time and effort into our WEB site and marketing. We are now putting our focus into selling Developer's inventory that provide "dirt options". We are able to sort thru all available situations....netting it out if you will. So on your next visit you can purchase the location of your dreams and know full well you have secured part of your future.

Have a great day.

Where there is smoke there is fire.

Well.....the smoking ban went into effect on Hilton Head Island yesterday. That follows Beaufort County's ban a few months ago. That means you can't light up in any bar/restaurant without getting a fine in this here neck of the woods. But just when City and County Council thought the smoke had cleared, big time smoke has blown in from Georgia wildfires. Thats right....I dont know how many cigarettes would have to be smoked to obscure the sun but Mother Nature figured out a way to do it with plain old brush. Now I know what it must be like to live in Los Angeles. Oh well.....as they say...this too shall pass and the crystal clear Carolina blue sky will once again prevail. Makes me appreciate the perfectly clean crisp salty air that is the norm in these here parts......

Anne of Green Gables

Now I know you are asking yourself......why in the dickens is LC Joe writing  about Anne of Green Gables. Well, its Spring and my mind keeps wandering back to Prince Edward in the Canadian Maritimes. On this relatively unknown Island that is nothing short of perpetual  "eye candy",  Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote  her "classic" book and the freshness of Spring played a part. A few years ago my Bride Mary and I purchased a cottage on a "Canadian Heritage River" just a few miles where Anne's literary home is located. Once on the Island I was simply overwhelmed by the popularity of Anne. Anne of Green Gables Musicals run frequently at Charlottetown's Confederation Centre and there is even an Anne of Green Gables store just down the corner where you can buy an honest to goodness Anne hat complete with red pig tails. Plus that....Anne of Green Gables farmhouse is wonderfully preserved and is visited by  tens of thousands of folks each year from around the world. Welllll.... after visiting the house , I was  compelled to read the book. Once read, I felt compelled to share my "other Island" that Montgomery so brilliantly and vividly portrays,  to anyone that will take the time to listen.

I was particularily "taken back" by Montgomery's writings about nature. At one point, she brings you to pristine PEI in the magic of the resurgence of Spring. Phrases like "clover sloped down to the hollow where the brook ran and where scores of white birches grew" make me want to jump a plane tomorrow. I guess it's because I discovered a little brook just like the one she describes when I was exploring the "lower forty" of my dear friend Judi's farm just up the river from our cottage. I sat along that moss lined brook for what felt like a lifetime one morning listening to the gurgling waters. I know it seems silly but I  truely  expected a "winged fairy" to fly out of the bountiful  fragrant ferns at any time. 

Well my visit to PEI will have to wait for a few weeks or so. The mile long country lane featuring PEI's famous red dirt that leads to our cottage is a bit muddy after snow melt. But soon it will dry and abundant colorful wildflowers will prevail.  Once again I will explore Judi's "lower forty" and once again I will sit and listen to the gurgling waters....and once again I will marvel at the brilliance of the writings of Lucy Maud Montgomery that brought the true meaning of my "other Island" to me.

Consider buying dirt

An article in Wednesday's “USA Today” from the National Association of Realtors discusses the existing home sales market. NAR’s chief economist reported sales fell 8.4% in March from February. He also projects that the market will not recover until the third quarter of the year.  Now if you are in the North East and are trying to sell I truly understand your concern. I can also tell you that there are a lot of Realtors in the Lowcountry with bald tires on their Lexus. If folks (Baby Boomers included) can’t sell up North they don’t have the money to buy down South…..But do they????.......Now they may not have the money to buy a house…but there sure have the money to buy a home site.

That’s right…..folks can easily buy a lot and in many cases get a home equity loan and write off the interest. Plus that, lot loans are readily available from local lending institutions.

In the Daufuskie Island market, as an example, there are relatively  few homes for sale, but we have a number of home sites available. I did a little research and found that fourteen “14”  lots have sold/closed  on the Island Jan. 1 thru April 1. Eighteen (18) lots are pending. In the same period of 2006,  twenty two (22)  lots sold and ninety one (91) sold for the entire year. Looks to me we are right on track with last year.

So if the market is so bad for existing homes why the steady, albeit slow,   sale of lots. The way I see it there are some very savvy buyers out there that realize if they want to have a home down South why not buy the dirt first and “stop the bleeding”. I am not here to tell you that lot sales are booming but when folks keep hearing bad real estate news many don’t think about the lot market. Don’t know about you but I have never seen an article in 2006 or 2007  “Lot Sales Down”.  Considering lot sales are steady but not at a blistering pace, prices have stabilized and come down in many cases. There are sellers out there that really would like to sell and have priced their dirt accordingly. This is the perfect scenario to buy a home site at a very fair price. And “stop the bleeding”.

In years past I have found that many of my buyers were in the 35 to 45 age group. They have no intention in building but want the lot for their future primary or second home. If you are in that situation by all means consider buying now  at  low prices that we will be “marveling about” in a few short years.

If you are an “investor” what better time to take advantage of some very good lot buys. As an example I have second row ocean lot listed for $499,000 and the seller is looking for offers. That same lot just across the water at Hilton Head is easily in the multi million dollar range. I also have some wonderful fairway view lots in the 179 K range. Do yourself a favor, get on the internet, and check out places like Bald Head North Carolina. Bald Head is accessible only by boat and  very comparable to Daufuskie Island. Check out their fairway lot prices. Or better still, call an agent and tell him/her you want to buy a fairway lot with a short golf  cart ride to the beach but only have under $200 thousand to spend.  Then hold the phone real far way from your ear so the laughter doesn’t hurt your ear drums.

The bottom line is  “Timing has never been better to buy Dirt”

Fish Sticks

There are beautiful mornings in the Carolina LowCountry and then there are "Beautiful Mornings". I spent a few minutes of today's morning making the "crossing" over Calibogue Sound. The water was flat as a pancake and the sky was crystal clear blue. This splendid combination made our velvety wake mesmerizing as it's blue tinted waters found their way to the white oyster shell laden shore. It  was one of those mornings when I just wanted to ride the ferry back to Daufuskie again and again and again.  I called my Bride and said "Hey Mary...ya gotta take the boat this morning.......I spent my first ten years in the LowCountry on Hilton Head and spent little time on the water. It was only when we purchased our home at Bloody Point and began my daily "water trips" to the mainland did I understand what the beauty of the LowCountry was all about. Folks ask me all the time "how can you ride that boat to work each morning?" I simply respond "how could I not." Anyway....I was riding "up top"  this morning with a few guys from Ohio that obviously have spent very little time on the water. One pointed to a bunch of floating spartina grass and said "fish sticks". Apparently one of the fellows was excited about seeing a fish on another "crossing" but it turned out to be just a bunch of old grass. They were in the process of razzing him big time when one of the biggest dolphins I have ever seen decided to put on a show and did a two turned out of the water back flip. It was one of those times when words had no meaning but the moment we shared will linger in those fellows minds from Ohio forever.

Wedding Bells

Well there are no wedding bells on Daufuskie Island that I know of but there are a lot of weddings. Seems like there are two or three every Saturday at Melrose. So wouldn’t it make sense to construct a big bell tower somewhere on the Island that could ring as soon as the I Do’s are said. What a great sound it would be….echoing over the ocean and tidal marshes. Man….I remember the bells at my wedding many moons ago. Mary and I were married at an incredible Cathedral in Erie, Pennsylvania. As we walked out of the church those huge bells in the steeple were just bangin’ away. Believe me…it reminded me that I was indeed married. Maybe that is the reason we have “lasted” 34 years.  Anywho there is a wedding going on as I pontificate at the beach gazebo in Melrose. Huge tents set up everywhere. This one must cost a Gazillion dollars……but not a bell in sight…..I hope they “make it”  as long as we have.

LCJoe

P.S. Any thoughts where we could build a tower.....

"Holy Bloggin" Batman

Well.....It's my first day tryin' to figure this blog stuff out so that ya'll out there in "blog land" can tell me what ya' think. www.LowCountryJoe.com has been well received evidenced by my  visitor log stats, but I want to hear from you. I want to know "what you want to know" about South Carolina LowCountry Real Estate. What would you like me to blog about so I can respond accordingly. Anywho....I have been manning a model home on the ocean at Melrose on Daufuskie.....so it ain't all that bad. Great weather and a lot of nice folks visiting from up-North. See ya....