Tisha Chafer

Why is it so hard to look at real estate on Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is a unique location to search for real estate. The island does not present the typical landscape where you can just drive around, find yard signs, and figure out what is for sale. Most Hilton Head Island communities are called "plantations" and are gated communities, which means you cannot get pass those security guards without a Realtor and our special card that we flash at them to gain entrance! You can get into Sea Pines if you pay $5, but there still won't be any yard signs up because they are prohibited. Just another reason why you need Tisha & Co. when looking for homes or condos in the Lowcountry....no yard signs! Nope, not one in these communities. So even if you happen to sweet talk your way in by batting your baby blues at the guard, you still will not know what is for sale! I told you it wasn't easy around here!

Each community on Hilton Head and Bluffton offers a unique lifestyle for their residents. This is where having a knowledgable Realtor comes in handy. You need an agent that has a good working knowledge of each community, what it offers, what the fees associated with the community are, and why you would want to live there. Are you a golfer, tennis player, boater? None of the above? All of this comes into play when searching for the right community to call home. Tisha & Co. Realtors have this knowledge because we have been an active part of the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton communities since 1996. We know the personalities of each community, which is far more important that just knowing the facts about a place! If you want a laid back atmosphere or a more formal one we know where to send you because we personally know people who live in these places and we know what they are like. We play tennis with them, we ride bikes with them, we run with them, we volunteer with them....we KNOW them!! This is knowledge that is more important than telling you the POA fee is $3,600 per year.

Short Sales "R" Us

Oh my how times have changed the past five years! Five years ago did anyone know what a short sale was? I didn't because things were booming on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, and everyone was riding the wave of rapid appreciation. You know the story, then the lights got turned off over-night and all of sudden the economy came to a skidding halt. The first short sale I did was in 2008 for a good friend of mine and we worked our way through it together, not really knowing what we were doing, but we somehow got it approved. All of sudden I was a short sale expert and that was a good thing because if I didn't know anything about short sales, or want to help clients that needed to do a short sale, I would not have survived through 2008, 2009, and 2010! Today short sales comprise about 80% of my business here on Hilton Head and Bluffton. All price ranges, all different types of people from different backgrounds and for different reasons.

The best advice I can give to anyone looking to buy a short sale or to sell their house short is to retain an experienced agent to help you. If I have a buyer that is looking at short sales and I see it's an agent that does not have their CDPE designation, or if I know the agent does not have a lot of experience in dealing with short sales I am a little nervouse to have my buyer make an offer on that property. Once you develop a reputation for being able to get short sales closed other agents will not be afraid to bring their buyers to your short sale listings. Sellers: hire an experienced short sale agent to represent you!!! Buyers: hire an experienced short sale agent to help you buy a short sale. Tisha & Co. has that expertise, we have our CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) designation, and we get short sales CLOSED!

Tisha & Co. Raving Fans

CONSIDERING THAT MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE EACH HAD 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, WE EXPECTED A LOT FROM TISHA. SHE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, KNOWLEDGEBLE, PROMPT, AND HAD A LOT OF PATIENCE TO HELP US FIND THE PERFECT SECOND HOME. WE THOUGHT SHE DID A GREAT JOB AND WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER TO ANYONE LOOKING TO SELL OR BUY PROPERTY THERE. Phyllis & Ed

I contacted Tisha and she got back to me immediately. She asked all the appropriate questions regarding my preferences and she got me in to see everything I wanted to see. She was available for a second showing of other properties as well almost immediately. She was very accommodating as I was on vacation while we were looking for property. She facilitaed every aspect of the showing and sale. She was also instrumental in contacting the seller numerous times and saw the deal through until closing. Jim & Lori