Hilton Head Island Area Real Estate

Pat's Newsletter

Retirees Seek Upscale Homes In Natural Settings

Affluent retirees and semi-retirees are younger, hipper, more active, and more interested in purchasing a home with natural surroundings than reserving a room in a retirement village, says David V. Johnson, chairman of Victor International, a developer of environmentally sensitive homes.  Wealthy seniors are increasingly overlooking historical retirement destinations like Florida, Arizona, and California in favor of environmentally protected home sites in Washington, Michigan, and the Carolinas, with the intent of passing their homes on to future generations.

70 Million Have Internet Access: (Inman News)

The number of U.S. households subscribing to online services rose 3 percent to 70.7 million in the second quarter of 2001, according to Telecommunications Reports International and reported by Nua Publishing.

Rise In Home Values Helps Avert Recession: 

The jump in home values has been essential in averting a recession despite downturns in the stock market and the manufacturing and technology sectors this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testified before the Senate Banking Committee.  Source:  Washington Times.

Low Rates Fueling Housing Market

Although other sectors of the economy have suffered in the recent downturn, low interest rates have kept the housing market ahead with rising sales and prices.  Although the market faltered after the terrorist attacks in September--with sales of existing homes falling 11.7 percent, sales of new homes dipping 1.4 percent, and the median price of existing homes dropping 4 percent to $148,100--sales for the year are still expected to be the second-highest ever on record.  Action by the Fed to lower interest rates and Federal emergency programs should lead to a recovery and strong sales in the Spring of 2002.

Average U.S. Age Tops 35

A Census Bureau report on aging reflects contradicting forces in American life:  That better nutrition and modern medicine are driving up the median age in the country - but the number of people actually turning 65 is down because of low birth rates during the Great Depression.  The Census Bureau says the median U.S. age in 2000 was 35.3, two years higher than it was in 1990 and the highest its ever been.  At the same time, the 65-and-over population increased at a slower rate.  "The slower growth of the population 65 and over," said senior demographer Campbell Gibson, "reflects the relatively low number of people reaching 65 during the past decade because of the relatively low number of births" during the Depression years preceding World War II.

This Is How Your Local
Property Tax Dollars Are Spent

The information below graphically illustrates the percentage breakdown of how local property taxes are allocated for various taxing districts within Beaufort County for fiscal year 2000-2001.  (Information:  Beaufort County Council)