Archive for September, 2008

 Hampton Pointe and the New Jack Nicklaus Design Golf Course

Construction on the new Jack Nicklaus design golf course at Hampton Pointe is now finished.  Hampton Pointe is a private, gated community located in Hardeeville, South Carolina and the newest private golf community in the Hilton Head area.  A new aerial picture of the community is shown above.  Developer Toll Brothers wants the course to be perfect when it opens in September, 2009 and so they will let the grass grow and establish itself for one year.  The Developer says that this maturing process will build a strong turf that will last over time.   When open, the course is expected to be one of the best in the Hilton Head area. 

The Jack Nicklaus course will be private and available for play only to property owners of Hampton Pointe.   The dues at Hampton Pointe are only $298 per month and they include all club dues and property association fees!  Hampton Pointe is a high quality community with custom and model homes, outstanding recreational amenities but with low fees.  The combination of high quality and low fees makes Hampton Pointe one of the best, if not the best private golf community values in the Hilton Head Island area.  The clubhouse will be of exceptional size and quality and will be the social center of the community.  It is  scheduled to begin construction in May, 2010 and will be completed by May 2011. 

The Architect’s drawing of the proposed Hampton Pointe clubhouse.  The clubhouse wil begin construction in May, 2010.

Hampton Pointe is Bordered by a Forest Preserve

Value added at no additional cost to Hampton Pointe property owners by virtue of location is a 3,000 forest preserve that borders Hampton Pointe, also shown in the aerial picture above.  It is understood that this contributes a quiet enjoyment to Hampton Pointe property owners with abundant bird life and limited development in the area. I think that most people will agree that free is good and that these are positive benefits!

Home, Villa and Lot Sales at Hampton Pointe 

In the last 22 months, Hampton Pointe has sold 100 homes and 35 lots.  These sales indicate the attractiveness of the community and lifestyle that Hampton Pointe has to offer.  Today at Hampton Pointe, lot prices begin in the low $100,000s and home prices begin in the low $300,000s.  The completion of the Jack Nicklaus golf course is a big step toward the increased value of all properties at Hampon Pointe, one of the best private golf communities in the Hilton Head area.  The Developer has some great incentives right now and these change on a weekly basis.  Call the Gated Communities Specialist ®
Richard Kadesch of Go Gated Realty to discuss Hampton Pointe, the Developer’s incentives and your real estate needs today!  

Richard Kadesch, Owner and Broker-in-Charge The Gated Community Specialist ® Go Gated Realty ® Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Rich@gogated.com www.GoGated.com 1-800-333-5025 Read Some of My Clients’ Success Stories

The Biggest Issues Facing Hilton Head and Bluffton Schools Today 

According to a suvey by the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the  three biggest issues facing our schools today are the quality of instruction, school funding and the explosive growth of our community.  OnThursday, August 28, 2008 several top local school officials taddressed these issues and answered two other important questions: What makes our children prepared academicaly and what makes a well-rounded student?  The State of the Schools event was held at the Hilton Oceanfront Hotel and was sponsored by the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.   

The academic speakers were Fred Washington Jr, Beaufort County School Board Chairman; Dr. Valerie Truesdale, Beaufort County Schools Superintendent; Mike Lindsey, Headmaster, HIlton Head Christian Academy and Peter Cooper, Interim Headmaster, Hilton Head Preparatory School.   Athletic program speakers were Ron Peduzzi, Head Football Coach, Hilton Head Prepartatory School; Jerry Faulkner, Assistant Headmaster for Student Development, Hilton Head Christian Academy; Jeremy West, Head Football Coach, Bluffton High School and Tim Singleton, Head Football Coach, Hilton Head High School   The speakers’ comments are presented in six parts by the Go Gated Blog as follows:

1. Fred Washington Jr,  Chairman, Beaufort County School Board .
2. Dr. Valerie Truesdale, Superintendent, Beaufort County Schools.
3. Mike Lindsey, Headmaster, Hilton Head Christian Academy.
4. Peter Cooper, Interim Headmaster, Hilton Head Preparatory School.
5. Questions from the audience and answers from the Panel.
6. The Coaches speak about student-athletes and character.  

Fred Washington Jr, Beaufort County School Board Chairman

A beaufort native, Fred Washington Jr. graduated from Robert Samlls High School in 1964 before entering Boston University to earn a B.A in psychology. From 1980 unitl 2007 he worked as the director of the Beaufort County Department of Social Services.  He is currently a member of the Beaufort County First Steps partnership Board and the Coastal Community Foundation Board (Chair, Beaufort Advisory Fund).   He has previously served on the Beaufort City Council and on the Boards of the Beaufort County Joint Planning Commission, Low Country Council of Governments, Technical College of the Lowcountry, United Communities for Child Development, Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry, Beaufort Housing Authority and the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce.

  Beaufort County Schools are Better Every Day 

Fred Washington, Jr. Beaufort County School Board Chariman says, ”The state of our public schools in Beaufort County is better than it has been in the recent past and improving every day.  Public education in Beaufort County is provided by the Beaufort County School District, governed by an elected body of eleven 

Beaufort County School Board Chairman Fred Washington, Jr.

trustees and administered by an appointed Superintendant.  Within the past two years, six new members have been added to the Board of Education; coupled with five returning veterans, this new talented and diverse board has made a committment to put the learning and education of all our children first.  That must take priority over considerations of social and economic status, residency within tthe county, ethnicity, gender, race or political affilitation.  Our committment is reflected in our District’s belief statement.  Let me share four of those fourteen beliefs with you.

1. Every child can learn and be successful.
2. Every child has unique talents and skills. 
3. Every person in the organization contributes to the success of the children.
4. Beaufort County School District’s committment to the following will improve each child’s chance for a successful tuture, a) Placing the child at the center of all decision making.  b) Identifying and  addressing each individual child’s needs, c) Nuturing each child’s unique individual potential and d) Preparing all children to work and learn in a complex global society. 

Quality Instruction Addressed by Quality Leadership

How is Beaufort County School District addressiing quality instruction?  The Board initially addressed this through its decision to hire Dr. Valerie Truesdale, a Superintendent with a strong background with instruction and curriculum.  That is paramount.  You must have instructional leadership.  One of the things that this Board realized was that we faced certain critical decisions that permeate the rest of our system.  We think that we have to exercise good decision making skills and we have to have someone on the administration side who is that leader that can get everyone on board and can carry us in the right direction.  So we are very fortunate to have Dr Valerie Trusdale who is the President of the Association of  Supervision and Curriculum Development and who has international education credentials and experience.  We are addressing quality instruction by making sure that our leadership is of the highest quality.

The State Formula for School Funding is Not Equitable to Beaufort County

We do not belive that the present funding formula used by the State is fair and equitable to Beaufort County.  Therefore, we are continuing to work with our legislative delegation, County Council and Chambers of Commerce to advocate a change.  We know that most people perceive us as being rich and they think therefore we must not have any funding needs.  The realities are that we have needs in this county.  52% of our students receive free or reduced lunches.  There is poverty in this rich community that must be addressed.  The formula presently does not address that and it is not fair.  We need to work together to change that and we appreciate all that you have done to be partners in acheiving that.   

Proper Planning Based on Data and Processes

We are dealing with rapid growth by putting in systems and processes that will address needs based on data.  You have several representatives on Hilton Head Island who are advocates of systems and data processes and who will make decisions based on data.  So planning and having systems in place is important to address rapid growth.  We, with the leadership that we have in place now, have taken important steps to insure that proper planning is data driven and that we have the right people in the right places doing the right things.”  

Richard Kadesch, Owner and Broker-in-Charge The Gated Community Specialist ® Go Gated Realty ® Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Rich@gogated.com www.GoGated.com 1-800-333-5025 Read Some of My Clients’ Success Stories

Hilton Head Island’s Long-Term Plan

The Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission wants to regenerate a long- term comprehensive plan for the Island. The project has been branded  with its own logo and is called:  Charting the Island’s Future From Here to 2030.  The project will create a more workable plan that can help guide decisions about the Island’s future growth and development for the next 20 years.  The plan will serve as the policy framework for a wide range of decisions concerning land use, development, transportation, design and public investment priorities.  

Project 2030 Will Address Future Challenges of Governance and Regulation

The Town faces challenges of governance and regulation as it moves forward.  To address these challenges, the Planning Commission has had many interviews and discussions with leading figures and has had a workshop with the Town Council to get their insights and ideas on the future of the Island.  As a result, several themes, concepts and ideas have been developed including sensitive redevelopment, protection of natural assets, mobility, access and economic sustainability.   

New bike paths and pedestrian bridges under construction beside Pope Avenue in early 2008, now finished.  The paths are part of Hilton Head Island’s Bridge to the Beach Project.

The Town Planning Commission Wants Our Input

The Town’s Community Development Department wants our input for Project 2030.  In their quarterly newsletter they say:  “We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to consider the concepts and ideas that will revitalize our Island and preserve its unique character for the next generation of residents and visitors.  We hope that you will join in our excitement and help us chart the Island’s course for the next twenty years.  Your insights will help focus our efforts as we address the Town of Hilton Head Island’s transition from a developing Town to one of relative maturity.”

To engage the citizens of Hilton Head Island, many public meetings,work sessions, workshops and a Community Assessment Survey are scheduled to start early this fall.  The survey will be administered over the next few weeks by a consultant that will test the concepts resulting from the joint workshop of the Planning Commission and the Town Council.  This survey will also provide an opportunity to gain information from citizens.  The extensive public input and outreach effort will serve, in combination with the leadership direction and technical studies as the foundation for the Plan’s policies. 

Meetings Are Scheduled

A meeting schedule for the Comprehensive Plan Committee of the Planning Commission as well as individual Comprehensive Plan element working group meetings can be accessed on the Town’s web page through the following link: http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/Boards/plngcom/wkgrpmtgs.html.

Richard Kadesch, Owner and Broker-in-Charge The Gated Community Specialist ® Go Gated Realty ® Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Rich@gogated.com www.GoGated.com 1-800-333-5025 Read Some of My Clients’ Success Stories

Hilton Head home loans follow Fannie Mae guidelines and the guildelines of private mortgage insurance companies.  These guidelines are being revised almost every week because of increased foreclosure rates and late mortgage payments.  Moreover, new regulations in the recently passed Housing and Recovery Act of 2008 and new restrictions by the Federal Reserve are forcing Hilton Head mortgage lenders to become more stringent in their underwriting process going forward.  

Hilton Head Lenders Now Require 

• Higher credit scores and bigger down payments.
•  Documentation of income and ability to repay the loan. 
• Heavy limitations on easy to get stated income or “no doc” loans.  Self employed borrowers are reluctant historically to document all of their income and are cerrtain to be affected by this requirement. 

More Changes Are Coming 

• Beginning in October of 2009, escrow accounts for taxes and insurance will be required on all mortgage loans. 
• Loans with negative amortization are being eliminated.. 
• Loans with pre-payment penalties will be restricted.

Your Advantage Now

• You may still buy a Hilton Head area property with 5% down. In the future at least 10% down may be required. Regardless, this is still affordable for most borrowers.
• Mortgage rates are predicted to trend upward long term.  In the near future, you will get a better rate than if you wait. 

 Prequalify Again and Be Current