Posts: 287
From: Spring Grove, Ill. 60081
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 05-02-2005 10:07               

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We fell in love with Hilton Head as soon as we arrived and have decided to retire there in the next year or two. If anyone has already done so, please give us some guidance as to why you chose the area, what you like about it, and life on a day to day basis there. We always thought Florida, but have now decided against it for several obvious reasons...hurricanes, humidity, etc.
Thanks so much, looking forward to all your tips, suggestions,
Bill

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Posts: 648
From: Southeast Missouri
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 05-02-2005 11:27               

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Janette on TUG lives in Sun City and has owned timeshares on Hilton Head for several years, I am sure she could answer all of your questions.

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Posts: 269
From: lyndhurst, ohio usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-02-2005 14:36               

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We have been coming here for 29 years, and recently pruchased a second home. We aren't retired yet, but know the area well.

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Posts: 2681
From: Brewster Green, Marriott Harbour Pointe
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 05-02-2005 17:50            

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We also fell in love with HHI. This will be our 4th trip. We are meeting with realtors this fall. Want to buy ahead of time seems to be the norm lately for many boomers.

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Posts: 3487
From: Penn. Owner-Melia Playa-CostaRica, Sandcastle-Cape Cod,Mayan Palace, Apple Valley-Ohio, FF Patriot's Place-Wmsbg, Dikhololo-SA
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-02-2005 19:24               

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I'm seriously considering Sun City. It seems to have what I am looking for. I plan on taking a tour when I go to HH for vacation in July.

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Pat

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Posts: 559
From: Punta Gorda, FL, OWN: Grande Vista, Orlando (2), Custom House, Boston, Harbour Club, HHI, Ocean Pointe, Palm Beach Shores, Surf Club, Marco Island,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-02-2005 20:23               

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We have considered HHI but having been through Hurricane Charley in Punta Gorda, FL we realize HHI is just as vunerable given the right set of circumstances (weather conditions)...I never thought I would be afraid to live anywhere but I can honestly say now, if you have never lived in the aftermath of a major hurricane, you have no idea of what you will have to deal with for years on end. If you are looking to retire....try thinking of somewhere that does not include hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes...the rest is up to God.

[This message has been edited by KC (edited 05-02-2005).]

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Posts: 974
From: Sun City Hilton Head own HHI (Sea Crest, GO, and Barony), Las Olas Satellite, Las Olas Cocoa, Blue Tree,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-03-2005 09:58               

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E-mail me with any questions you have. We love Sun City and welcome TUG visitors. Just let us know when you are in the area.

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Posts: 5
From: NY
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 05-03-2005 11:48            

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We always thought HH was our retirement dream, but over the last few years have changed our minds.

My husband has been going there for over 20 years, me, the last 12.
In that time the growth has been incredible. Traffic is ridiculous in peak season and still bad off season. Housing prices have moved way out of our league, not to mention property taxes. There is no "hometown" feel to the place. I need a Main st. or a town center of some sort to feel really at home. HH does not have that. Ten years ago they said they would limit growth, but we have yet to see it. There are still new hotels and timeshare resorts going up as well as way too many new retail stores and restaurants. Driving onto the Island is now like driving into any major metropolitan area. Car dealerships, strip malls, Superwalmarts, gas stations galore.-bleh. We understand about sprawl and there's not much you can do about it, but we miss it the way it was 12 years ago.

We will be looking for a town or city somewhere west of HH, maybe near Savannah, that has yet to be invaded. Sun City will be a possibility if we can't find something in our price range elsewhere. Then we will still have the best of both worlds. Visit the island in the off season and live in the moderate climate year round nearby.

Good luck with your decision. It really is a matter of perspective.

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Posts: 974
From: Sun City Hilton Head own HHI (Sea Crest, GO, and Barony), Las Olas Satellite, Las Olas Cocoa, Blue Tree,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-03-2005 12:57               

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You learn very quickly when to go and return from the island. There are cameras on 278 that can be viewed on the internet so if we are not in a patient mood, we check them before we leave. We certainly don't head to the island on Sat afternoons when most of the timesharers are arriving(this was us until last year). We went to the island yesterday to walk on the beach and have lunch and our dining out group is headed there tonight. As much as we hate development, we need stores just as anyone else. We do have road improvements coming. They are just a little late.If you want an active retirement life style, Sun City is the place to be. Gotta run. Don't have much time for computer chat!

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Posts: 269
From: lyndhurst, ohio usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-07-2005 17:30               

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Our property taxes on our home at Moss Creek are 50% lower than our home in Ohio. Traffic is a problem, but only at selected times of day. I agree highway 278 does have more than its share of "development trappings'. However, once you disappear into any of the neighborhoods or plantations on island or near island like Moss Creek, all that is left behind. Just outside the gate at Moss Creek is a small strip mall with restaurants, dry cleaners, gas stations, and other retail offerings. All can be reached without venturing onto Hwy. 278, which they are starting to widen this fall. I do agree that price is becoming an issue at HIlton Head. Prices are 20-40% higher than 6 months ago. Glad we bought in November.

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Posts: 193
From: Brandon, FL USA - Island Links, Atlantic Terrace, Merriweather, Krystal
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-10-2005 17:09               

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My husband & I look forward and truly enjoy our 2-3 visits to various timeshares on Hilton Head every year. Yes, living there would be nice, but then I wouldn't have the pleasure of visiting.

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Posts: 559
From: Punta Gorda, FL, OWN: Grande Vista, Orlando (2), Custom House, Boston, Harbour Club, HHI, Ocean Pointe, Palm Beach Shores, Surf Club, Marco Island,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-10-2005 18:19               

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We are headed for HHI on May 22 and will tour Sun City when we are there even though I have said I didn't want to be anywhere a hurricane may be able to strike. We just have to find a place we really like and then my fears will disappear, I hope. Linda

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Posts: 269
From: lyndhurst, ohio usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-10-2005 19:23               

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I would also recommend you visit Moss Creek. IMHO, you will be impressed

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Posts: 2681
From: Brewster Green, Marriott Harbour Pointe
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 05-11-2005 03:59            

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jwa
Is Moss Creek age restricted? We are beachlovers and cannot afford direct OF and are concerned about being off island and not getting to the beach. This is what bothered us about Sarasota Florida. We are going to look this October but are 15 years from retiring.

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Posts: 974
From: Sun City Hilton Head own HHI (Sea Crest, GO, and Barony), Las Olas Satellite, Las Olas Cocoa, Blue Tree,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-11-2005 07:31               

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The nicest thing about being owners at Grand Ocean and Barony is that we get day passes and can go out and enjoy those facilities often. We do go to the island to enjoy the beach, but we plan our day to minimize traffic problems.

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Posts: 559
From: Punta Gorda, FL, OWN: Grande Vista, Orlando (2), Custom House, Boston, Harbour Club, HHI, Ocean Pointe, Palm Beach Shores, Surf Club, Marco Island,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-11-2005 13:25               

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Janette, where do you get the day pass to go to Barony or Grande Ocean...at the resort itself or at the central check in place? Thanks. Linda

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Posts: 45
From: Irwin, Pennsylvania USA
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 05-11-2005 18:21            

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We love the Hilton Head area as well and are considering Sun City as one option; it has everything and the grounds are beautiful. One concern is age - we are the early boomers, 58 /49. Is this a good fit or would we find ourselves ahead of our time for this type of retirement living?

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Posts: 269
From: lyndhurst, ohio usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-11-2005 19:59               

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No. Moss Creek is not age restricted. Even though you would be off island, the nearest beach is about a 10-12 minute drive. Not exactly walking distance, but we go to the beach quite often when we visit our home there.

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Posts: 269
From: lyndhurst, ohio usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-11-2005 20:01               

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Our neighbors in Moss Creek are retired, both in their mid-late 50's. Lots of 50 somethings in our development, at least Isee them golfing and dining.

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Posts: 974
From: Sun City Hilton Head own HHI (Sea Crest, GO, and Barony), Las Olas Satellite, Las Olas Cocoa, Blue Tree,
Registered: Dec 2000

posted 05-12-2005 04:17               

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We get the day passes at the desk at the resorts. They look up our phone number to verify our ownership. Age is not a problem in Sun City. The average age is early 60's and seems to be going down. I will be 60 in July and have good friends here from early 50's to 80's. I have a wonderful friend in my water aerobics class who is 84. She was the oldest person to finish the 3.2 mile walk in the Sun City challenge. Our life style has no age barriers.

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Posts: 66
From: Penfield, NY/USA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 05-13-2005 09:52               

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We bought a retirement home in Shipyard three years ago. In that time, the value has nearly doubled. We are now in the process of buying an investment property in Bluffton to rent out and then sell in 5-7 years. We plan to do winters in our shipyard home in about four years and then move down full time in seven years.

If you are seriously considering buying in HH, do it NOW or the prices will be untouchable. true, it will plateau at some point, but prices will not decrease.

Good luck!!!

Oh yes, about needing a main street (as another post suggested). All the plantations save that kind of community atmosphere, but it is probably true that off plantation might be a different experience.

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Posts: 5
From:
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 05-13-2005 17:42            

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KC: I appreciated your comments regarding the devastation in Punta Gorda. I live in the Tampa Bay area and can share your feelings. It is, however, silly for some of these folks to think they are exempt from hurricanes in HHI, South Carolina. The Carolinas have been severely hit by hurricanes in the past, and can, with a fair degree of certainty, expect to be hit again anytime in the future. Actually, no one is assured an escape from nature's fury, so I'm staying right here. My wife and I love it!!

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Posts: 269
From: lyndhurst, ohio usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 05-15-2005 16:13               

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The "carolinas" have been hit with several severe hurricanes, BUT Hilton Head has not been hit with a hurricane since 1896. That doesn't mean it can't be hit, but lumping Hilton Head in with the often hit areas of Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and the Outer Banks is not accurate, yet.

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Posts: 565
From: Florida
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-16-2005 08:33               

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I have a question for those that have purchased a second home, but are not retired. What are you doing with your property until you retire? Are you renting it out, or is it sitting vacant? We have also thought about purchasing, but we have at least 15 years until retirement.

Brenda

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Posts: 361
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 05-16-2005 09:29               

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I find this topic most interesting. My wife and I stayed at Hilton Head for the first time this March. We also fell in love with the idea of retiring to the area. But I don't know if we can afford to jump into such a hot (perhaps inflated) real estate market. Has it really increased as rapidly as some posters indicate? Such huge increases would scare me away.

Bob

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