Fripp Island Real Estate - Harbor Island Real Estate - Beaufort County Real Estate
Fripp Island & Harbor Island - the best real estate values on the Eastern Seaboard!
PLEASE NOTE: We have received emails from some of our devoted website followers complaining that we have removed a lot of popular links, such as those to the MLS listings, from our Home Page... Simply click on the FRIPP or HARBOR photos below and you will find all of the old links, information, and more! Happy Surfing.
Click on the photo above to go to our NEW Fripp Island Home Page.
Click on the photo above to go to our NEW Harbor Island Home Page.
There is one thing that we have learned in our many years in the real estate business - there are a lot of factors to consider other than "a hot price", "a buyer's market", or "a great mortgage rate".
We ran across this very well written article that gives prospective puchasers 10 very important questions to answer before leaping into what might appear to be a "hot deal". Just click on the link above to take you to the article... we know that you will enjoy this valuable information!
With the demise of the American Investment Banks and the government's efforts to staunch the bleeding in the markets and threats of new regulations for both the banks and the equities markets seems to have all of us swimming in a sea of uncertainty.
However, the media has been reporting increases in real estate sales and a drop in inventory levels nation wide, indicating that that market is now definitely in the process of bottoming out!
In October, sales of Fripp properties increased over the same month in the previous year for the first time since 2005!
(And if you know of anyone, right now, who is wanting to purchase property on Fripp or Harbor Islands, please refer them to us... we would really appreciate it! ) We are currently mildly bullish on the Fripp and Harbor Island markets, and look to slow but steady increases in sales in the months and year ahead as people are once again touring properties with an eye to buying something as the market turns around, making their purchase before all of the best buys are gone!
Take a look at the 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage rate chart shown below... Rates dropped like a stone after the Fannie Mae-Freddie Mac bailout! Now that the government is "in charge", it is reported that they plan to help keep the rates low in order to help improve the housing market situation. The Fed has lowered the prime rate to virtually "0%" in an effort to stimulate the national economy and is promising to keep mortgage rates even lower in its attempt to stimulate the real estate sector.
"In the last few months of 2008, mortgage rates will have been seen to plummet to 37-year lows -- at least. The average rate on a 30-year fixed is 5.19% this morning (12/22/2008), the lowest since Freddie Mac began keeping track in 1971.
Rates have been falling for the last seven weeks, but plummeted 27 points in the wake of the Feds rate cut and plan to buy up mortgage-related assets, reiterated last week and first announced in November. "
Going back over the past 3 years I noticed that the 30 year mortgage rates have been stuck in the 5.5% to 6.5% range - considered by the experts to very inviting... and now our incoming government is promising even lower rates to come!
When you take into consideration the "REAL" rate of inflation today, a mortgage loan is really "FREE" money!
You have probably heard that the government has raised the loan amount that is considered to be a jumbo loan, sometimes as high as $729,950. Unfortunately, our market area is not affected by these changes. So, a jumbo loan will still be considered one that is over $417,000. We can show you how to save a lot of money if you are planning the purchase of a coastal property. Do you have a property for sale on Fripp or Harbor Island? This housing slump has been protracted, and some would-be sellers are getting anxious! Our market continues to exert downward pressure on prices, but if you know how to handle the situation in a buyers market you can still manage to bring about a sale and accomplish your objectives. Click on the link below for assistance on how to realize your goals in todays real estate market.
Seller's Gems of Wisdom for Today's Real Estate Market. Did you know that investment real estate can be held in your Self Directed IRA as another form of tax-sheltered retirement investment? If you are contemplating investing in real estate, we have added an Investor's Corner. page containing many hints and other useful information to help you succeed in your endeavors. We include this material because we have found through experience that investing in coastal vacation properties is very different than investing in normal residential rental properties.
Beaufort County real estate is broken up into two main areas - the Beaufort area north of the Broad River, and the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton area to the South.
We specialize in properties on Fripp Island and Harbor Island, which are Barrier Islands located a few miles east of Beaufort. We supply you with links to all available MLS listed properties from our Fripp and Harbor Island home pages. You can search for other properties in the Beaufort area by searching the Beaufort Area MLS System.
For more information on your selected properties, or to make arrangements to view them, please Contact us.
(Remember:Fripp Island and Harbor Island are private, guard-gated communities closed to the general public, as are many of the "plantaion communities" through-out Beaufort County).
Please let us make the proper arrangements to enable you to visit the properties of your choice!
Buyer/Seller Tips: Read through helpful tips of information on buying or selling your home!
Rick & Kerry Friesen - your Fripp Island Area Specialists Year-Round Fripp Island Residents since 1998 Providing over 50 years of friendly, professional marketing & sales experience. Is a real estate purchase in your future? We provide buyer representation!
Rick & Kerry Friesen are the owners and Rick is the Broker in Charge of Fripp Virtual Realty, Inc. 1551, Ste. 202, Sea Island Parkway St. Helena Island, SC 29920
Residence: 352 Blue Gill Road Fripp Island, SC 29920 Direct (toll free) 800-875-2052 Rick (Cell): (843) 597-5356 Kerry (Cell): (843) 575-0719 E-Mail: Rick & Kerry
The information given on this website is supplied by third parties, most of them considered to be reliable. But it is the readers responsibility to verify all information prior to taking any actions relating thereto.
RICK & KERRY FRIESEN: Rick: 843-597-5356 - Kerry : 843-575-0719
