About Bluffton's Hampton Lake

This short sale saga began over a year ago and has finally come to a successful conclusion. Our market in Hilton Head and Bluffton, SC has always been enticing to investors. The allure of the coast appeals to baby boomers - and developers alike. My owner had purchased raw land in a new development in Bluffton. Created by one of our pre-eminent developers, Hampton Lake was, is, and will be one of the premier communities in Bluffton. My owner was successful in purchasing the site during one of the initial lotteries - obviously the desirability was strong in 2005.

After listing the homesite for him in late 2007 with the initial intent of building a spec home for a potential purchaser, our market for homesites - and new construction markedly slowed. By early 2008, we retained the site on the market but removed the aspect of building a home for a purchaser and continued to lower the price on the homesite until finally receiving an offer in May of this year. By this time, it was well into a short sale scenario since it was listed at less than half of what my seller had paid and much less than what he owed on his mortgage.

After subitting the appropriate short sale package, myriads of paperwork, calling weekly, updating financial information, receiving and sending on the credentials of the buyer (this was a cash sale), and learning to recite the loan account number by memory, we received approval from the lender at the end of last week.

Our closing date is set for mid-September, the seller is ecstatic since he will avoid foreclosure and the buyer has paid $179,000 for a homesite that initially sold for $369,000.

Moral of the story for buyers and Realtors relative to short sales - perserverance and stamina and you can get tremendous deals!

Hampton Lake has once again been recognized for their inovative land planning and marketing skills. The development team of Hampton lakes has been highly successful in and around the Beaufort County area. They have also been doing well in a depressed market which is also a sign of their overall team from design to implementation to marketing. The Island Packet release a press release today about winning the "Best in American Living Awards ceremony, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders' Design Committee and Professional Builder magazine."

Last year Hampton Lake won the "Best Community Facility" this year Palmetto Bluff won the award for Wilson's Landing, both facilities built by my brother Joe's company Fraser Construction

http://fraser-construction.com/

My Blog about Last Years Award

http://hiltonheadrealestatenewsletter.blogspot.com/2008/02/hampton-lakes-lakeside-village-home.html

Below is the article from the Island Packet

Property of Charlie B Fraser 2009

Bluffton's Hampton Lake wins national award

By DON McLOUD
dmcloud@islandpacket.com 843-706-8139 Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009 <!-- Mycapture has changed their image location...commenting out for now

Enlarge Image

• Photo: Lakeside Village at Hampton Lake, as seen in this aerial photo, is one of the big attractions at the Bluffton community, which won a Best in American Living Award.
  Special to the Packet
  

Hampton Lake in Bluffton won a prestigious national award Monday, being named the Best Community with 151 Homes and Over in the country.

The lakefront community off U.S. 278 beat out developments from throughout the United States to receive the honor at the Best in American Living Awards ceremony, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders' Design Committee and Professional Builder magazine.

The awards are presented to outstanding builders, architects, designers, developers, land planners and interior designers nationwide in 36 categories.

Paul Deffenbaugh, editorial director for Professional Builder, said past winners of the award include companies of excellent international reputation. "It's quite prestigious," he said. "The kind of company Hampton Lake is keeping is very good."

Deffenbaugh said the judges look at a variety of criteria, including the quality of the land development, consideration of the environment, amenities and proximity to parkland.

The winner also must show success in marketing and sales. "If it doesn't sell, it doesn't win," he said.

Despite a slow economy, Hampton Lake has sold 450 properties since 2006, according to Gerrit Albert, president of Hampton Lake.

Albert, who is in Las Vegas at the International Builders' Show, said the other main contributing factor to the development's success is its amenities. The developer, Reed Development of Bluffton, conducted focus groups to determine what people wanted in a community and what they didn't want.

Because of those responses, Albert said Hampton Lake has property owners whose ages vary. "The majority of our owners are baby boomers, but we appeal to people in their 30s and 40s as well," he said.

The big draw is the Lakeside Village, built around a 165-acre freshwater lake. Amenities include a 340-acre nature preserve with nine miles of nature trails, a waterfront bar and grill, general store, nature center, spa and fitness center, resort-style pools, a boathouse and beach at the lake, an overnight camping island, a dog park and golf course. Tennis courts are being built.

"All of our amenities are clustered together," Albert said. "There's something to do for everyone."

Albert said he considered the award a testament to quality development occurring in the area, some of it as a continuation of the early development on Hilton Head Island by brothers Charles and Joe Fraser. Fraser Construction of Bluffton has done much of the major facilities construction in Hampton Lake, and John Reed worked with Fraser before forming his own development company.

"The legacy really does live on today," Albert said.

Other major players in Hampton Lake's development are Malphrus Construction of Hilton Head, PBG of Hardeeville and Wood+Partners of Hilton Head.

Other local winners

Other local winners of the 25th Annual Best in American Living Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders and Professional Builder magazine, are:

• Wilson's Landing at Palmetto Bluff won Best Community Facility (151 Units and Over). Hampton Lake's Lakeside Village won the same award last year. Both facilities were built by

Fraser Construction of Bluffton.

• Wayne Windham Architect, P.A., of Bluffton won the 2008 Home of the Year award for the design of a custom home in Palmetto Bluff. The firm also received an award for the Best One-of-a-Kind Home in the 4,000- to 6,500-square-foot category and the Best in Region Award.

• Erickson Home by Noro Co. of Port Royal won Best Single Family Detached Home (1,800 Square Feet and Below).

Hampton Lakes, located in Bluffton, SC intrigues me because of it's attention to green detail in the community. The developers chose to forego the golf course concept in favor of miles and miles ofwaterways, lakes and green areas. Below are some quick facts that detail the special aspects of this community:

900 Acre Community

165 Acres of Freshwater Lakes

340 Acres of Natural Wetlands

9 Miles of Greenway Trails and 7 Miles of Blueways

A committment to Wildlife

Recipient of a Best in American Living Award

First Private Lake Community in the Lowcountry

Spa and Fitness Center

Dog Paddle Park especially created for your pet

Energy Efficient Green Builders

Miles of Waterways for Kayaking

I would consider it an honor to provide information about Hampton Lakes or any communities in the Lowcountry areas of South Carolina. For more information, please visit my website.

It's certainly no secret that one of our newest Bluffton communities, Hampton Lakes, has created quite a buzz in the Lowcountry. Built upon a totally different model, this splendid community boasts miles and miles of waterways that meander around a 165 acre lake that encircles over 340 acres of pristine nature preserve.

But what REALLY caught my attention today, was an article in the Island Packet, our local newspaper, announcing that Hampton Lake's Lakeside Village recently won top honors from the National Association of Homebuilder's at their recent awards ceremony in Orlando, Fl. No small feat, indeed!

Currently, there are over 100 homes under construction with a variety of approved builders and model homes on site. The price point for homes in Hampton Lakes starts around $300K and ranges upwards.

Ameneties at Hampton Lakes include a family-oriented resort-style pool and resort area with an island and river rafting area.

State of the Art Fitness Center

Full-service spa

Lakeside Beach Area

Miles of Nature Trails

Gated Security Community

IF HAMPTON LAKES AROUSES YOUR CURIOSITY, PLEASE CONTACT ME, DIANE BELL, @ www.dianebell.com or give me a call @ 843-247-5419 (Cell) I'll be happy to provide you with a complete informational packet about Hampton Lakes or any other communities in the beautiful Lowcountry area.