What the Bluffton & Hilton Head Market Is Doing Right Now | May 2026

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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Why So Many Buyers Choose Gated Communities in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island

One of the more common questions we hear from buyers relocating to the Lowcountry is whether a gated community is truly worth the cost.

For many, the idea of higher HOA fees or restricted access can feel unfamiliar at first. But after years of working in the Bluffton and Hilton Head markets, we’ve seen a consistent pattern—buyers who choose these communities tend to quickly understand the value once they experience the lifestyle firsthand.

Recently, Julie Norcross on our team shared her perspective after living in several gated communities locally, including Wexford, Berkeley Hall, and Moss Creek. Her experience mirrors what we regularly see with clients making the move here.

1. A Built-In Community and Lifestyle

One of the biggest…

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Hilton Head Is Everyone’s ‘Cup’ of Tee

The 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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‘Celebrating Hilton Head’ Magazine Recognizes Rick Turner!

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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Distressed Sales No Longer Dragging Down Home Values

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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Why Families Love Hilton Head Island Beaches

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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Learn Everything About Private Golf Club Communities in Hilton Head with Our New eBook

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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Home Buyers Can’t Beat Hilton Head Island, SC Area Weather!

When it comes to having near perfect climate conditions, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to live than Hilton Head Island!

This South Carolina community boasts incredible weather that enables residents to enjoy the beach and the great outdoors most days of the year!

In fact, it’s one of the main draws for people thinking about relocating to Hilton Head - in addition to other perks, such as incredible homes for sale and ample recreational amenities to enjoy!

Why The Hilton Head Climate is So Incredible

Hilton Head’s location means that residents only experience roughly 10 nights a year that go below freezing.

What’s more, because of this community’s seaside location, it has cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter…

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Hilton Head is the #1 Hottest Real Estate Market in South Carolina!

The Hilton Head area real estate market is going crazy! In fact, it is the #1 HOTTEST MARKET IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

First, it is the only market in the entire state in which more homes were purchased in 2013 than any previous year in history. Second, median prices increased in 2013 12.4%, which is the highest increase of any market in the state. Home prices are still 28% below the peak set in 2007 and are just now beginning to rise quickly. 

With today's incredibly low, but rising interest rates and prices, now is an excellent time to purchase Hilton Head area real estate. If you find a home you like, you should be able to save quite a bit of money, but only if you act now. Be sure to go to HiltonHeadMarketInfo.com for the full up-to-date scoop on…

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Berkeley Hall Real Estate Market Successful in 2013

2013 was a positive year for the Berkeley Hall real estate market. With 20 homes sold, it was the second best year in the last decade in terms of the number of homes sold. Actually, in an analysis of the years prior to 2004, last year was the second best year EVER for Berkeley Hall home sales, and only 2 homes less than the peak of 22 homes sold in 2011. Berkeley Hall's real estate market seems to be on the same positive trend as the rest of the Hilton Head area, where the MOST HOME SALES EVER IN HILTON HEAD'S HISTORY were recorded in 2013 with 2,730 homes sold.

Berkeley Hall, South Carolina Home Sales Over the Past 10 Years

In the graph I have created below, you can see the recent success of the Berkeley Hall real estate market. In fact, the…

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