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

IF YOU'RE VISITING HILTON HEAD ISLAND THIS YEAR, I BET YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN THESE TOP TEN FREEBIES FOR FAMILIES---REMEMBER, MANY TIMES, THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE!

1.  Enjoy early morning walks on the beach

2.  Visit the Shelter Cove Fireworks each Tuesday evening

3.  Let Gregg Russell entertain you at the Liberty Oak tree in Harbourtown

4.  Take the kids crabbing--All you need is twine, some chicken nets, a net and bucket

5.  Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum @ 100 William Hilton Parkway

6.  See Cappy the Clown at South Beach Marina evenings from 7 to 9 pm

7.  Visit one of the many art galleries in Hilton Head and Bluffton.  We have some very talented artists.  Their works are amazing.

8.  Hilton Head Public Library holds Story Hour each Saturday morning @ 10:00 AM

9.  Coligny Movie Theater holds free family movies each Saturday @ 11 AM

10.  Last but certainly not least, Visit one of our local churches on Sunday morning. 

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HILTON HEAD OR BLUFFTON REAL ESTATE, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE

Allow me to introduce Mr. Max, the dog that I serve 24 hours a day!  Sitting at an open house all afternoon (which incidentally was a fabulous home) I decided to share my little precious furbaby with my blog friends.  Max is a Cavalier King Charles, 4 years old and is absolutely the sweetest little guy in the whole world .  Max says that living in Hilton Head Plantation is just the ticket for Cavaliers--Now can we find him a girl friend??? 

For information about Hilton Head and Bluffton, SC real estate, please visit my website.

Residents of Hilton Head Plantation have a multitude of fitness activites available that offer a phenomenal value.  I often think how nice it is to catch a fitness class at the end of the day and without even having to leave the Plantation. 

My most recent quest has been the Yoga classes that are held each Monday evening at the Plantation House Clubhouse.  With the stressors that Real Estate produces, these classes work wonders for me, not to say how much better I feel and sleep. 

Listed are some additional fitness opportunities. 

LAND AEROBICS

STRENGH CLASSES

YOGA/PILATES MIX

HATHA YOGA

PILATES

TOTAL FITNESS

WATER AEROBICS

DEEP END WATER AEROBICS

TAI CHI

Most classes cost no more than $5 or $6 and discounts are available if you purchase coupons in bulk. 

If you are interested in the Hilton Head Plantation lifestyle experience, I invite you to visit my website. 

I've decided the best deal in town this year may very well be the community garden plots that are available to Hilton Head Plantation residents. 

Located along Seabrook Landing Drive near the back area of the Plantation, the community garden plots only cost residents $25 for a 25x25 foot sized plot.  With irrigation in place plus fencing to keep the critters at bay, don't you think this may be a great way to get the family involved in growing fruits, veggies and herbs?  Flowers too!  And with those grocery store prices, the timing couldn't be better. 

On Saturday mornings, residents can purchase produce and flowers that has been picked fresh but get there early because the inventory doesn't last long!  I've gone at 9AM only to find that everything is sold out. 

For more information about Hilton Head Plantation, visit my website.  I love living in Hilton Head Plantation and  can easily give you a thousand reasons why you SHOULD too!

While riding my bike this evening, I noticed the Crape Myrtle Trees are in full bloom--a bit early this year and probably due to the hot weather we've been experiencing. 

If you're not familiar with Crape Myrtles, you're missing out on an absolutely beautiful tree that is prevalent in the south, hardy and will sometimes bloom twice during the season (late spring and early fall.)  Crape Mytles come in colors of pinks, rose, and white.  I don't know of any blues but it sure would be a beauty if someone could figure out how to grow this color.  Here are some photos that show the true beauty of this species. 

Oh, just a word of caution---Many southerners frown on the excessive pruning that landscapers do at the end of the season.  Here, it is referred to Crape Murder!

Today I came to the conclusion that I have a sticky note attached to a certain part of my anatomy that says --KICK ME, I'M STUPID!

Here's what happened----I received a notice in the mail from Wells Fargo that my 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage will adjust upwards (of course) in October. Now I've been well aware of that and plan to refinance in the near future. Not a problem to refinance but just had to decide where and when. Thinking that perhaps Wells Fargo might have a program where I could pay a modification rate and accept a higher rate without refinancing, I called their phone number, only to be put on hold for 30 minutes, routed through 3 different people and then told the following: "I'm sorry, we don't have a program like that. Well actually, we do but it's only for people who are 90 days delinquent on their mortgage and you've never been late so we really can't help you. Interestingly enough, I work with 2 people who recently were offered this same type of deal from their mortgage company. But they were never late.

 The lesson I learned today? THIS COUNTRY IS ALL SCREWED UP---I CAN'T GET A BETTER DEAL BECAUSE I WAS NEVER LATE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Thanks to an incredible group of volunteers, it looks like it may be a good season for Loggerhead Nesting here on Hilton Head Island.  During nesting season, each morning at 5 AM, the Sea Turtle Patrol checks the entire length of Hilton Head's beaches (12 miles in all) for turtle tracks that lead to nests that may need to be protected.  If the nests are situated too close to the high tide line, the volunteers will relocate and mark the nests. 

So far this year, 96 nests have been identified and the season has just started!   But did you know the biggest challenge to the survival of the Loggerhead turtle survival is LIGHTS ON THE BEACH?  For that reason, it is mandatory that all beach homes keep their lights off during season so the turtles will not get disoriented and crawl towards the light instead of back to the water.   With the survival rate at only 1 in 10,000 (yes, how do you like those odds?)  we must do all we can to protect this species. 

If you would like to adopt a nest please call 689-6767 for more information. 

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON REAL ESTATE.

I never cease to be amazed at how some of my customers/clients find me these days!  Most of the time, it is from Active Rain and believe me, I'm so thankful for this portal. 

But recently, I had some interesting success in selling a home through Active Rain.  An older Realtor from North Carolina contacted  me and said he had concluded that  " I WAS THE AUTHORITY FOR  REAL ESTATE IN HILTON HEAD."  This led me to wonder how  he came to that conclusion.  He didn't really know that he had found me through Active Rain but HE DID know that he BELIEVED I was the Realtor who knew more about the area than anyone else (in his mind.)  He didn't really have a clue what Active Rain was but I KNEW that was how he found me.

Next, he asked me if I would cooperate with him on a transaction.  Gee whiz, why wouldn't I do that?  He selected one of my listings to show his client and the end result was a closing last week with a happy seller and buyer (Not to mention the 2 Realtors.) 

The moral to this?  The Realtor perceived me as the expert in my area due to my presence on Active Rain and my Localism Blogs.   Active Rainers, don't forget to post at Localism----It's a very powerful tool in your arsenal!   Happy Selling to All.....................

Visit my website for information about Hilton Head and Bluffton, South Carolina Real Estate

A recent article in the Island Packet  convinced me that a  great family activity during a visit to Hilton Head might be catching some Blue Crabs.  Now I'm not saying you HAVE to eat them----you could catch them and provide a nature experience for the kids.  Then let them go and you'll forever be happy you taught the kids to catch and release!

Just how easy is it to catch these critters?  They say that anyone with a ball of line tied to a chicken neck can catch a crab.  Sounds easy to me!  Add a long handled net and voila, you'll have a family event that costs next to nothing and the kids should really enjoy the experience.  Once the crab finds the chicken pieces, they grab on with their claws---then you slowly pull in your line and scoop up the crabs with your net. 

You know the best thing about this?  It's absolutely FREE!

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES.

There is good and bad news on the unemployment rate in South Carolina.  First the bad-----Rising gas and food prices are affecting more residents thus sending the unemployment rate in South Carolina to it's highest rate in 2 years. 

You might then wonder where there could possibly be any good news?  Ah yes, there is!  Beaufort County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the state, coming in at 4.4 %.  

Visit the official Beaufort County website for more area information.

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON REAL ESTATE.