Willy Fanning

Greetings from Shipyard! Now that the Presidential Election is past and we all know who will lead the new administration, we can look forward to the upcoming Holiday's. Believe it or not, last night the Mrs. and I saw Holiday lights on the trees being lit here on Hilton Head. Can Santa be far behind? Let's not too far ahead of ourselves, this being November, let's talk Turkey!

Thanksgiving has always been a major Holiday in our home. As a child, it was a time to gather with my aunt's, uncle's and cousins at Nana and Poppa Fanning's farmhouse in Southampton, NY. I became a father for the 1^st time on Thanksgiving and two years later for a 2^nd time, as well. It has always been a festive day to gather and give thanks for the blessings we have. This year is no exception. I hope you will be spend time and enjoy the day with those you love.

Financial News Update: This past Tuesday was Election Day and a national clebration of American Democracy. What a priviledge to have the ability to go the polls (6:45AM) and cast a vote. The results were historic and now as President Elect Obama begins to appoint his transition team, the economy remains item #1 for his upcoming administration. It is our hope and prayer that he will assemble a group that will lead the country out of the Recession and stabilize the economy. It is an immense task!

The key will be a Housing Stimulus Package. It was Housing that put us into this mess and Housing will lead us out. We have seen Bank of America and JP Morgan begin to renegotiate mortgages in an attempt to slow foreclosures and begin to stabilize the housing market. Other institutions will need to follow their lead and allow homeowners to stay in their homes and stop the steady decline of home values with foreclosure after foreclosure making everyone see their homes value go down. We would like to see the 1^st time buyer tax credit ($7,500) extended to all home purchases, interest rates lowered into the 4.5% range, the increased loan limits made permanent and Washington focused on stabilizing the housing market rather than giving money to Wall Street and Banks who use the money for mergers and acquisitions.

If the housing and mortgage sectors can be stabilized, homeowners will begin to feel more comfortable again and begin to purchase big ticket items and the rest of the economy will begin to recover. For now, we sit and wait.

Hilton Head's real estate market has stabilized- flat lined really and just sits along with the rest of the economy waiting, waiting, just waiting.... I've said it before and will say it again, it's a great time to buy! Home prices have come way down and there is a great selection to choose from. Villas will continue to see pressue on pricing for the foreseeable future.

If you needed to wait until after the election to come down for a getaway, then stop by or give us a call. If your unable to get away and still dream of palmettos and sunsets along the beach, go to our website and search to your hearts content. It's free! We won't ask you to sign anything and we promise not to harrass you, but we are always here to offer you assistance and insight should you need it.

We promise to listen to and focus on your wants and needs.

We serve the Hilton Head-Bluffton-Sun City areas and want to be your Realtor!

Click to search the MLS:

http://www.willyfanning.remax.com

What's happening on Hilton Head? Click Here:

http://www.hiltonhead.com/calendar_index.cfm?subcategoryID=31

Need a lender or have Real Estate questions?

Call me toll free at: 800-964-3928

or

Email me at : Willy@TeamFanning.com

Ask about our Holiday Buyer Incentive!

We're getting in the Holiday Spirit early and offering a super Buyer incentive- ask and yee shall receive.

Greetings from sunny Hilton Head Island!

My web meanderings brought me to an interesting site for golfers at Stracka.com. I was able to take a look at the local golf courses here in the Lowcountry, their layouts, get weblinks, post handicaps and more.

The link is: http://www.stracka.com/golf-course/city.asp?state=SC&city=Hilton%20Head%20Island

If you have an interest in Hilton Head golf this sit emay be of interest and worthy of a look.

I was out previewing a home in the Forest Beach section today for a potential client which just happened to be 2nd row. Looking out over the roof tops to a deep blue glistening sea gave a quick reminder why I love to be here.

If you or someone you know might have an interest in knowing more about Hilton Head Island, Bluffton or Sun City Hilton Head, let me know. I'm here to help, let me know how I can be of service.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday and have your say. If you don't vote, you can't comment on the new administrations policies for the next 4 years-those are the rules! Long lines are anticipated so go early and if you live in Ohio, vote often....just kidding.

Lowcountry eNews

October, 2008

Greetings from the SC Lowcountry! There has been a lot going on nationally both on Wall Street and in Washington, to keep people preoccuppied and quite frankly ratcheting up the anxiety level for just about everyone over the past month. Most everyone has had a crash course in Macro and Micro Economics that they really would have preferred not to have to learn, especially at the hands of their own personal portfolios.

All this has been going on while a national election, in just 20 days as of this writing, making all news and the candidates response to it, newsworthy. I have learned more about people and places I never knew existed and for the most part, would have prefered not to get to know.

Fortunately, the weather has been just gorgious here on Hilton Head and a bike ride or walk on the beach is the surest way to clearing ones' head and preserving ones' sanity. There are no recessions and impending doom watching the tides on their daily journey from low to high to slack and back again. There is something about the rhythm of the sea and its vastness that brings comfort. It's as if someone or something greater than yourself is in control.

Financial News Update: Let's just say gas is $2.88 a gallon on Hilton Head and looks to keep dropping in price. Conventional 30 year mortgage interest rates are still in the low to mid 6% range. Buyers with good credit, a down payment of 20% and who can prove they can repay the loan will find some incredible values. Banks have money to lend but you will have to prove you are a worthy borrower. The easy money days of little to no documentation and buy ‘n flip, are over.

What does it all mean? Where do we go from here?

Hilton Head is not South Florida nor Southwest Florida; it is not Las Vegas and it is not Phoenix. We do not have an 8%-10% foreclosure rate as they do in those vastly overbuilt areas. The stability and values in our market will continue to attract buyers and quite frankly, help to make Hilton Head the destination it is.

That said, there are foreclosures in Sun City, Bluffton and on Hilton Head. Contact us today for your free list of Lowcountry Foreclosures!

Are there good buys? Yes, prices have come down in the neighborhood of 15%-25% from 2005 highs. I would encourage anyone who has wanted a home on Hilton Head and thinks that maybe now is a good time to buy to consider doing so. If you were priced out of the market before, you very well may have been given a rare second chance.

Are homes selling? Yes, but there is a shrinking buyer pool due to recent Wall Street declines. We are here 24/7 and continue to help folks realize the dream of having their own place in the Lowcountry.

Won't prices go lower? Won't they retreat another 25% or more? I believe that our lifestyle, weather, flora and fauna will continue to attract buyers which in turn helps to stabilize our housing market. We're not selling securities and investments, we're selling homes for people to make lasting memories in.

I relocated from Long Island almost 20 years ago to get away from the weather, taxes and congestion. We just don't have a lot of people itching to get out of town for greener pastures. We are the greener pasture!

Lower home prices + Lower interest rates + Available inventory = Great Opportunity!

We promise to listen to and focus on your wants and needs. We serve the Hilton Head-Bluffton-Sun City areas and want to be your Realtor of choice!

Let us know how we can be of service and ho we can help you find your place in the sun.

Greetings from beautiful Hilton Head Island! Things are really heating up here on this sub tropical barrier Island. Try driving around with all the Spring Breakers, tourists and folks just getting outside, riding bikes, golfing, walking and beach goers. There is a celebration of Spring happening!

On a personal note we have 2 Spring Breakers at our home with another due to arrive tomorrow and an entire herd on Sunday. My empty nest is and will be compromised and my wallet has been thinned. There is a lot of energy happening when the kids come back. Those who have been there know what I'm talking about. Those with younger children haven't a clue and those who haven't had kids, well.. I guess could care less!

Tomorrow, Friday is the annual St. Patrick's day parade in Savannah. It is being held before the 17th due to observances of Holy Week. Savannah always turns out enforce for the 2nd largest Irish Celebration in the country. It makes my Irish blood heat up just thinking of it. 10's of thousands will be Irish for a day, The River will run Green, beer will be Green and even the grits are Green for a day!

Sunday will be the annual Parade here on Hilton Head. Those who haven't had enough celebrating will venture over and participate. It always proves to be lots of fun, too. We usually get about 10,000+ folks along the parade route.

We have just listed 26 Fernwood in Hilton Head Plantation today, a 2BR golf cottage for just $255,000 and earlier this week 1655 St Andrew's in Palmetto Dunes for $269,000. 1655 SA is a real rental machine grossing over $20,000 annually for a 1BR.

One of the best kept secrets here on Hilton Head is the fact that 1BR villas typically rent as well if not better than 2BR's. Rental companies use them almost like a hotel room for 2 and 3 night minimums. Give us a call or stop by www.TeamFanning.com for more info or answers to your questions about rentals, investment properties or the buying and selling process here in South Carolina.

Greetings from Shipyard! The good news in Shipyard is Spring has sprung! We see the signs of Spring everywhere with azaleas blooming, alligators sunning themselves and birds happily chirping. Vacationers are jogging, riding bikes, playing golf and taking advantage of the 60 & 70 degree weather with walks on the beach. We have 225 college tennis teams who have come, or are coming, to the Island over the next few weeks for the annual Spring Break Tennis. Teams can be seen across the Island competing. This weekend Winefest will be here. Put on by the Hospitality Association, it is one of the better attended and fun filled get together's on Hilton Head. Of course, Easter is just a two weeks away and don't forget that the Heritage is next month! It's a great time of year and should only get better.

FINANCIAL NEWS- We have watched as traffic has increased over the past 4-6 weeks in our properties and many other properties Island wide. We suspect that buyers are finally sensing that the bottom is near. Many have taken advantage of current inventories to find the home or villa of their dreams. Knowing full well that the properties they see now, will not be there with such an ample selection, at such attractive prices and with sellers as receptive to offers by years end. We have seen South Island homes average selling prices in the 93%-95% range of their asking price over the past 12-18 months. While villas over the same period are averaging in the 90%-95% range. Shipyard home and villa prices are off their highs of 2005 but we see 5 and 10 year property value increases of between 66%-210%!

Mortgages rates are volatile. Rates can be under 6% one day and over 6.5% the next. Projections are for 30 year fixed rates to continue to float in the 5.75%-6.75% range for the near future with continued volatility until the credit markets stabilize. It is a good time to speak with your mortgage professional to review your loan or about getting pre-qualified and lock in your rate to purchase some of the exciting properties available.

Time to Buy? More buyers have been coming into the market causing an up tick in activity and sales. ‘Smart Money' says that now is a great time to take advantage of the excellent inventories of homes, villas, lots and bank owned properties! The Hilton Head area continues to be poised for growth. Why not put us to work for you as your buyer representative. No one knows the market better or will work harder to find you your place in the sun. We will save you time and money!

Thinking of Selling? If you're thinking of selling in this ultra competitive market, please understand that buyers are looking for the best property, at the best price and in the best condition. If you are ready to move up or need to downsize please give us a call, we specialize in oceanfront and ocean oriented properties and are full time professionals with a level of experience and integrity that is second to none. Allow us a chance to provide you insight into our results driven marketing plan. We want to be your Realtor and ask for a chance to win your business. Call or email us and let us know how we can be of service for you.

We'd love to hear from you and answer your questions.