A Day at the Beach - on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Photo courtesy Kristel Kretchmer

Living on Hilton Head this summer has been like living in the tropics with almost daily rains interspersed at night by the sounds of croaking frogs and other wild creatures.  Actually, the frequent rainfall just made the island look more beautiful, so green and lush. Crepe myrtles and other flowering shrubs appear to have larger and denser flower clusters – so colorful and pretty.

There have been more vacationers on the island this season than we have seen in a long time.  Beach activity is constant and joyous despite intermittent cloudbursts.

Families trekking to the beach with their loads of folding beach chairs, beach towels, baby carryalls, carriages, umbrellas, picnic baskets, wagons, coolers – look like Hannibal’s burdened elephants, crossing the Alps.  The smell of coconut oil permeates the air.

A group of Hilton Head’s resident visionaries has formed to plan a variety of stimulating programs modeled on successful programs around the country such as the Aspen Institute in Colorado, the Chautauqua Institute in New York, and the Matrix Midland Festival in Michigan.

The new Hilton Head Island Institute has planned a four-day ideas festival, ImagiNATION 2013, where attendees will hear thought provoking talks, exchange innovative ideas, imagine a more vibrant and sustainable future for our community.  It is scheduled for October 23-26.

In the Institute’s first year there is an exciting lineup of speakers that include William Paul Young, best-selling author of “The Shack” which has sold over 10 million copies; Randi Zuckenberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media and Facebook pioneer.  Randi’s brother Mark revolutionized how we communicate throughout the world via Facebook. Randi participated in that endeavor.  Also included will be Tony Wagner of the Harvard Technology & Entrepreneurship Center.

Hilton Head seems to be mentioned in national publications almost every week!  Now Parents magazine with 2.2 million readers and 817,000 visitors each month to its website have chosen Hilton Head Island as the number 1 beach town in the nation.  More importantly, the Town maintained high marks by bond rating agencies who cited, among other things, the “strong financial policies’ the town employs.  Parents magazine credited our beaches, view of the stars, children-focused museums and recent, significant redevelopment on the island.

One thing that won’t change on our island is the 42 square miles of subtropical Lowcountry beauty, 12 miles of pristine beaches, forests of greenery, and the friendly nature of our residents.  All of this impacts on real estate sales where we are seeing strong gains in sales the first half of this year.  Closed home sales island-wide number 397 (up 9% in Sea Pines with closed home sales of 101 through June) although the average price of $775,099 (Sea Pines) reflects a lack of sales of expensive oceanfront and beach properties.

Island-wide villa sales through June 2013 have been 410 with an average price of $270,461. Total villa sales in Sea Pines in June 2013 were 74 with an average price of $401,934.  Inventory continues to decline while interest rates are inching up.

To contact Diann: diannwilk@roadrunner.com