People ask me all the time what makes Hilton Head Island different.

And there are plenty of easy answers.

The beach.

The weather.

The golf.

The water.

The restaurants.

But I think the real answer goes back much further than that.

My wife and I moved here in 1972, so we've been fortunate enough to watch a lot of this area grow up around us. And one of the things I've always thought was special about Hilton Head is that there was a vision behind how this Island developed.

I was thinking about that recently while standing at Shelter Cove Harbour on Labor Day weekend.

People were walking around, having breakfast, shopping, heading toward the beach and just enjoying the morning.

And when you look around at Hilton Head today,…

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A Solid, Sustainable Market: What July Tells Us About Bluffton & Hilton Head Real Estate

One of the questions we get asked all the time is, “How’s the market?”

And I think sometimes people are expecting me to tell them one of two things. Either the market is still crazy hot, or things have really slowed down.

The truth is, neither one is really accurate.

Here in the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area, we have a good, solid real estate market.

More importantly, I think it's a sustainable market.

During the pandemic, things were crazy. Prices were going up so quickly that you knew that pace couldn't continue forever.

What we're seeing now is much healthier. Sales are up. Prices are up. But they're moving at a pace that makes a lot…

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The Bluffton & Hilton Head Real Estate Market Is Stronger Than Many People Realize

One of the questions I hear almost every day is:

"How's the real estate market?"

Whether I'm talking with local homeowners, prospective buyers, or people considering a move to the Lowcountry, the question comes up constantly. And now that we've reached the halfway point of 2026, it's a good time to look at what the numbers are telling us.

The short answer?

The Bluffton and Hilton Head real estate market continues to perform remarkably well.

What the First Six Months of 2026 Tell Us

Through the first half of 2026, the number of home sales across our market is up nearly 5% compared to the same period in 2025.

Home prices have also continued to move…

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Why So Many People Continue to Choose Bluffton and Hilton Head Island

One of the questions I'm asked most often is simple:

"How's the market?"

The answer remains largely unchanged from what we've been seeing over the past several years. The Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Okatie real estate markets continue to perform well.

Through the first five months of 2026, the number of home sales is up 3.6% compared to the same period last year. Home prices have also continued to rise, increasing 1.6% year-over-year. While every market experiences shifts and seasonal fluctuations, the overall trend remains positive.

The more interesting question I receive is:

"Why is the market so strong here?"

The answer isn't just one thing. It's a…

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Well, hello there. Fancy meeting you here! You’re obviously hungry and I can’t blame you. With so much belly-rubbing good food here in our beloved Hilton Head, it’s impossible not to want to take advantage of it at every turn. I mean, we’re Southerners. Great food is what we do. 

I received so many great reviews (and a few sauce-laced handshakes) from my SC BBQ Trail post that I’ve decided to give the people what they want again, and that’s referrals for more legendary eats. This time we’re going to go swimming in the best seafood you’ve ever had the pleasure of placing on your tongue. 

Something Fishy Is Goin’ On Here

I can say unequivocally and without bias* that Hilton Head has the best seafood in the world. By the way, that asterisk indicates…

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Bunker ShotThe rumors are most certainly true, folks. Our beloved Hilton Head has long been praised as one of the best places to play golf in all of the world. Personally, all bias aside, I believe that it tops that list. Yes. Bias aside. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Are there other wonderful areas to fly your Titleist? Sure there are. But none also spoil you with the luxuries and charms of the Hilton Head Island area. Golfing here is the equivalent of driving 200 yards off the tee on (you guessed it) a 200 yard Par 3 while the others provide you with 160. 

To be honest, the 160 yards is very impressive, however, the extra 40 yards matter. It can easily be the difference between a birdie and a hole in one. No matter what your palette is, ‘bragging…

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It’s times like this that really remind me of how difficult it is to show my love for this wonderful area and community. For years I’ve loved living in, appreciating, and selling the beauty of Hilton Head area real estate and to be recognized by such a great publication such as ‘Celebrating Hilton Head’ is both endearing and humbling. At times such as these when you have so much to say, sometimes all you can say is “thank you”. With that being said, thank you to all involved!

Recently, I wrote an article detailing how area Hilton Head real estate is starting to buoy due to distressed sales no longer anchoring the values in the market. I was just notified that the wonderful publication ‘Celebrating Hilton Head’ picked up and published my write up. This…

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The Hilton Head area real estate market has been incredibly successful over the past several years as it is recovering from the Great Recession. Rather surprisingly last year was the strongest EVER IN HISTORY for Hilton Head area home sales! I say “surprisingly” because who would have expected 2013 to be the all-time record for home sales; yet it was. Not only that, but statistics show that this year's home sales market is on pace for another newsworthy showing. One of the primary causes for 2014’s success is the rapid decrease in distressed sales, foreclosures and short sales, which suggests that the area's overall real estate market is settling in for an era of prosperity and stability.

What Exactly is a Distressed Sale?

You may be unfamiliar with…

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Tons of families flock to Hilton Head Island's beaches each year to vacation and have an absolute ball. And you can count my family in that mix as well!

One of life’s highlights for my wife and I is enjoying some quality time with family members right here on the beaches of Hilton Head Island. For my children, the beaches are a nostalgic place to remember fond family memories. And for my beautiful grandchildren, they’re a place to form priceless new ones.

So what makes our beach communities so attractive compared to all of the other beach communities in the state? Well... How much time do you have?

What Makes Hilton Head Island Special?

Here are four reasons why families love our community its beaches:

  • We offer 12 miles of incredible,…

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We have updated our popular e-book here at Rick Turner and Associates. Many have reported to us that it was of great use in navigating the Hilton Head golf real estate market.

This book, titled “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Private Golf Club Communities,” is a treasure trove of information that will help you not only discover what makes a private golf club community different from other neighborhoods (hint: It’s not just about the golf) but will also help you find the right community for you.

So What Should I Know About Private Hilton Head Golf Club Communities?

First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page: A Private Golf Club Community is a gated, upscale community in which the community and the club are essentially the same. All…

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