Realtor Diane Bell's Hilton Head and Bluffton Real Estate Blog

The past few blogs I've written all concentrated on flowers and bushes that flourish in  my spring garden.  With the upcoming warmer days, I will sadly say "adieu" to my winter flowering Camellia bushes that provided such exquisite and varied  color all winter long in the gardens of Hilton Head residents.   

The Camellia plant emanted to this country from Asia and Japan where it  originated.  Also  interesting is  that Camellia Oil is made from the flowers and is highly beneficial to healthy skin.  I almost always have a bottle of Camellia oil in my refrigerator (to keep it fresh) and use it as an additive to facial and hand creams that I use.  To purchase Camellia Oil, visit Garden of Wisdom , a company that specializes in fine quality essential oils offered at attractive prices. 

Consider adding some Camellias to your landscape plantings.  You'll be richly rewarded with an easy to grow plant that needs virturally no maintenance or upkeep. 

Honeysuckle is another beauty to consider for your Lowcountry gardens.  Known for it's lush deep orange range of shades, it is widely used in Florida gardens and sometimes doesn't survive a South Carolina winter.  But, I've had phenomenal success with mine by doing some serious leaf mulching around the root base at the first hint of cold weather.  Remember that Hilton Head lies in a sub tropical zone so we have a bit more freedom with this variety.  Planting this in your garden will give you several months of colorful blossoms plus the added bonus of an occasional family of hummingbirds frequenting your garden. 

You guessed it---The lovely spring weather we've been experiencing in Hilton Head has awakened my gardening instinct.  Today, I'll tell you about another one of my very favorite plants, the Mandevilla, that thrives in our Lowcountry climate.  Although this vine that is sometimes referred to as Diplodenia, will most likely not survive the winter, it is easy to duplicate it each year by visiting the local nurseries.  Each year, I purchase several and plant them around various trees in my yard.  The result is a profusion of exquisite colors all summer long.  The extra bonus is finding a Hummingbird partaking of the nectar. 

Today was special because I found new buds on my Night Flowering Jasmine that a dear friend of mine planted late last year in my garden.  I wasn't sure if it would survive the winter but sure enough, my day was made when I saw the new growth. 

Sometimes known as the "Tree of Sorrow" because the flowers lose color during the heat of day, this variety of Jasmine produces a rich succolent fragrance late in the night.  I am particularly in love with the fragrance that emanates during warm summer evenings.  If anyone has visited Hilton Head during the spring and summer and experienced the lush Jasmine, it will forever be imprinted in their minds.  If you find one of these plants at the nursery, just be sure you don't leave it behind. 

Yes, it's that time of the year when Realtor.com starts the relentless calls to remind me that I need to renew my Listing Enhancement subscription.  I made the mistake this year of not tracking what business came my way as a result of my yearly contract with them.   Of course, sometimes, it's just downright difficult to know where that buyer came from now that we have the AR miracle and buyers so readily find us through the search engines.   How many times do we ask buyers how they found us and they fuzzily tell us something that we feel comfortable attributing to AR just because we know it's so.  One thing we know for SURE, IS THAT ACTIVE RAIN WORKS!!!

My friends, I hope you'll report back to this post and let me know if you are using Listing Enhancements on Realtor.com as well as your nays and yays.  I guess I'll have to make the renewal decision soon but quite frankly, I'm starting to wonder if it still has the impact.  OPINIONS PLEASE???

It's official!  The HGTV Green Home located at Tradition, Hilton Head is now open for tours.  This is the first green home sponosored by HGTV that some lucky family or individual  has a chance of winning!  What better way to move to the Lowcountry than with a free home and no mortgage. 

Tours are available through May 18 from 9AM to 5PM weekdays, Saturdays from 10 to 5 and Sundays  from Noon to 5 PM.  Admission is $20 with proceeds going to the United Way of the Lowcountry. 

Make sure you vote every day at the HGTV Website.  The lucky winner will be announced May 18th. 

Visit Hilton Head Real Estate for information about Real Estate in the Hilton Head, Bluffton and Hardeeville Areas of South Carolina.

This has been a crazy week for us with buyers literally coming out of the woodwork.  After all, it's Easter on Hilton Head Island---why would we expect anything different? 

One of the "psuedo" buyers who came our way REALLY caught our attention:

10 REASONS TO DOUBT A BUYER'S LEGITIMACY!

1.  I have 3 kids under 4 years old and am looking  at homes up to $6,000,000

2.  I don't need a mortgage.

3.  My cell phones have 2 different area codes, one of which is Utah and one in San Antonio.

4.  My husband works out of his home and doesn't depend on his income to purchase a home

5.  We have plenty of family inheritance.

6.  Our names cannot be googled.

6.  My husband is a professional psychologist but cannot be located on the internet?

7.  I can't meet you at the office.

8.  I live in North Caolina but there is no listing for me in the town I said I lived.

9.  We don't have a home that we need to sell but we're building a home in Colorado.

10.  I'm insulted that you would suggest we need a letter of credit to look at $6,000,000 homes!

11. Oh yes, there is a number 11-  My first name and my husband's first name are the same as the first and last of the last Democratic president's daughter.

Sounds too good to be true, right?  Yes, folks, I'm sure it is.  The moral to the story--BE VIGILANT AND VERY CAREFUL WITH THE PEOPLE YOU CHOOSE TO WORK WITH.

Some days, it just seems like we can't get even a shred of good news but today I have good news if you're considering a move to the South Carolina Lowcountry area of Hilton Head and Bluffton. 

The March-April 2008 issue of Where to Retire  includes a feature article entitled "Tax Heavens and Hells."  which lists the best and worst areas for taxes after retirement age.  I am very pleased to note that South Carolina is now the # 1 tax-friendly state for retirees!  What made this report so significant is that the research included ALL TAXES, income, state and local.  Here is what Where to Retire had to say: 

"South Carolina has come on strong as a retirement destination, with a moderate climate and coastal, mountain and lake destinations.  It gives generous tax exemptions to those age 65 and older, the major factor in its rankings.  While it has a state income tax, those age 65 and older get a retirement income deduction of up to $10,000 per person and Social Security benefits are exempt.  There's also an age reduction up to $15,000 per person age 65 and older, though this is reduced by any retirement deduction taken.  For those age 65 and older who have been residents one year, there's a Homestead Exemption of $50,000 off the market value and a $100,000 deduction off the market value of a portion of the school operations levy.  The results:  minimum, if any state income tax paid and low property taxes."  (WTR, March-April 2008)

Visit Hilton Head and Bluffton Real Estate for all of your real estate needs. 

   It's no secret that I believe  Hilton Head Plantation is one of the finest Plantations on Hilton Head Island.   From time to time, I report about real estate activity in the Plantation.  With spring in full swing and Heritage week soon to come, it appears that we are on track to see a healthy real estate market this spring.  Below is a market snapshot of real estate activity.  

VISIT HILTON HEAD PLANTATION FOR AN OVERVIEW OF REAL ESTATE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. 

ACTIVITY YEAR TO DATE OF 2/29/08  (SINGLE FAMILY HOMES)

 ACTIVITY YEAR TO DATE OF 2/29/08 (VILLAS)

Information has been reported from the Hilton Head MLS.

Certainly, you know that Hilton Head is known for it's beautiful homes, tranquil beaches and golf courses everywhere.  But did you know we apparently now have a little SQUIRREL PROBLEM?   Yes, that is true!  According to a recent article in our local newspaper, The Island Packet, we have a burgeoning problem. 

Now being politically correct as well as environmentally conscious, we sure can't shoot the pesky critters so the powers to be are now considering a program that would put birth control in the food that squirrels feast on.  This study was done at Clemson University and looks to be very promising as well as humane.  But never fear, the next time you visit Hilton Head, rest assurred, we'll have plenty of squirrels to amuse you during your whole vacation.  And folks, just for the record, this IS a true story!

For Real Estate Information about Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina, visit my website:  www.dianebell.com