Hilton Head visit for real estate

We are travelling to Hilton Head in November to spend about three days doing a very preliminary first look at the possibility of buying a condo or small freehold property on the island over the longer term.

We are Canadians thinking about our eventual retirement in about 8 years and so many people rave about HHI that we think we should take a look there instead of Florida, which we know well.

So it will not be a proper vacation, more of an orientation trip for first-timers.

What part of the island would we want to look at for a hotel that would allow us to get a good feel for the island and help us get our bearings? And which hotels?

Many thanks.

Hilton Head visit for real estate

My wife and I were much more deliberate in determining to move here. Professionally, i work with the island%26#39;s retiree population and I must admit, that I feel that you are going about this the wrong way.

When we started coming to HHI in the eighties, we started by renting and staying in the different resort plantations. As a result when we started looking for a place we knew where we were going to buy.

When my wife and I moved here we lived in our oceanfront Captains Walk Condo. As nice as it is, It became obvious to us that we didn%26#39;tike having new neighbors every week, and concerned about how some renters treated the property. As a result, we decided to buy a house elsewhere.

We bought in Hilton Head Plantation, where most of the owners are locals and we have a real community.

There are other areas on the island where you can find a real community. that does include some sections of Palmetto Dunes.

We have Canadian Friends who bought a condo in Windmill Harbor. This north island community is more boating oriented, and there is little if any short term rental.

since you stated you have 8 years til retirement, take some time. Don%26#39;t make a hasty decision, and see all that Hilton Head can offer you.

As for Hotels, I would recommend the Hilton Resort, but better try renting a condo. Many will rent for less than a week out of season.

Stan (hhiguy)

Hilton Head visit for real estate

Thank you for your reply. I am actually in agreement with you about taking the time and making sure about what we are doing. I probably should have been more clear. This is simply a first trip to the island during which we will do what we have always done in any new neighborhood we might be considering - just having a preliminary look. We have to start somewhere!!

As you may have noted, we are looking at an 8-year time frame, so what we do from here is entirely open. We just want to get our bearings, get a rudimentary overview of what is on the market, and see what%26#39;s where. I didn%26#39;t mean to leave the impression that we were buying now. Anyway, I appreciate the advice.

Our friends who have done this have rented from VRBO using it like a ';base';, and set up appointments with Realtors.

A couple of Realtors, who really gave them the inside scoop. HH is not like most areas, where you can get an idea of what the northern part of town is VS another part. Also be aware that on and off plantations offer different expereinces and expences. Our friends fell in love with a town home and were thrilled the asking price was with in their price range. When they sat down and added in the HOA and other monthly fees, insurance, taxes they were way out of their comfort zone. Realtors can answer your questions. As Stan has mentioned here and on other posts, folks start off with one unit and then trade into others as their needs change.

Stan%26#39;s stickys are very helpful, for orienting.

Hilton Head is a good place to start your search, especially since you have friends who love it and who, I suppose, might retire there themselves. Hilton Head is highly developed - many restaurants and entertainments in addition to golf and beach. Its proximity to Savannah is a plus.

That said, choosing Hilton Head in advance of having visited is a bit like choosing Sanibel/Captiva without ever having looked around Florida at the many vacation/retirement options in that state. (Since you know Florida well, you will understand my point.)

On future visits, but before you buy, you might want to consider the other barrier islands in the lowcountry, ranging from Amelia Island, in north Florida to Isle of Palms, in SC north of Charleston.

Amelia, Daufuskie, Hilton Head, Fripp, Edisto, Seabrook, Kiawah, Isle of Palms, etc., all have their particular characters and amenities.

Before we settled on Kiawah Island we spent years touring the around the lowcountry, visiting different islands (even if only for a day), and spending time in Savannah and Charleston. We also rented homes in all different parts of Kiawah and tried out everything the island had to offer.

Thank you all - great advice. Very much appreciated.

I%26#39;ll just say this once, (well, at least in this thread). :-)

There are many choices, but there is only one Hilton Head Island. While it is not for everyone, you will not find an island populated with more full time residents who decided to move there permanently after visiting one or multiple times.

Count me as one more who will succumb to its lure within the next 6 to 8 years.

As I like to say, Isle be back.

I think what HHI has that some of the other places don%26#39;t have is a real sense of community. There are schools on HH, people actually LIVE on HH and raise families. It isn%26#39;t just a tourist destination nor is it a retirement community. Everyone we have met is very young ';at Heart';. There are community events- not just tourist attractions. Yes they have the Heritage and various Tennis tournaments but they also have many events year round for residents. they have live theater, concerts , there is even a college campus just off the island with courses that are available to take.

We all love HH and hope you do too. Secretly, I am jealous. If only we had bought 18 yrs ago when our kids were babies. Now with 2 in college it will be a while!

Enjoy!

There are several nice communities just off the island in Bluffton that you should also include in your ';searchings.'; We live in Moss Creek Plantation, a private gated community, for five or so months a year and it has 2 private golf courses, tennis, a marina, a clubhouse with a great restaurant, AND reasonable home prices and association fees. Moss Creek is just before the bridge to the island. There are quite a few Canadians living there, and every March there is the ';Canadian Open'; golf tournament for residents!