South Carolina’s Grand Strand has been, for decades, a mecca for tourists, second homeowners, and retirees seeking a sublime escape. Stretching from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina, it consists of more than 60 miles of essentially uninterrupted Atlantic Coast beachfront. But its pristine beaches aren’t the only contributor to the region’s popularity as a tourist destination. There’s also golf — lots and lots of golf. The Grand Strand is home to more than 125 courses, (more than 1,800 holes of golf) — all kinds — all sizes — all skill levels – designed by a bevy of celebrity golf course architects. And the best part of Grand Strand golf is that the vast majority of the facilities are open to the public.
Located in North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Resort and Golf is marking its 10th anniversary this year. Barefoot is one of the most popular destination golf resorts in the country having four championship layouts designed by golf greats Greg Norman, Pete Dye, Davis Love III and Tom Fazio. Barefoot Beach Resort is well known for the most highly anticipated debut in golf history with the opening all four of its acclaimed layouts on the same day on April 13, 2000. But the amenities don’t end with golf. A 40,000 square foot clubhouse; an 8-acre Resident’s Club including fitness facilities, an outdoor pool with lap and wading areas, lighted tennis courts, a variety of kid-friendly features, restaurants, a private Beach Cabana with a furnished sundeck, beach showers, and privileged beach access and much more make Barefoot a unique resort community. Future plans call for the development of a hotel, marina and water complex, a town center, and a full-service spa. Centex Homes, rated “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with New Home Buyers” by J.D. Power and Associates, is the master builder offering a broad array of single-family homes, townhomes and villas. In the spirit of celebrating its past and in excited anticipation of its future, Barefoot will be offering a variety of promotional packages this spring.
Posted in Affluent Lifestyle, Destination Amenity Communities, Golf Living, Luxury Real Estate, Second Homes, Vacation Homes, golf communities
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If you’ve ever driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, you know the feeling. Breathtaking vistas for miles around are picture-postcard perfect. A temperate four-season climate, abundant recreation and extensive and diversified housing opportunities have been attracting visitors and new residents to the western North Carolina Mountain Region for decades. Strategically located less than a days’ drive of 70 of the nation’s top 100 metropolitan areas, the region is uniquely suited as a second/vacation home destination. A significant influx of retirees and pre-retirees has spawned a variety of ancillary services and amenities. As part of the local campus of UNC, the Asheville-based North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement is today regarded as one of the nation’s top institutions for adult learning.
Nestled amongst majestic mountains, the eclectic city of Asheville has popped up on many national rankings over the years including AARP’s “Best Places to Reinvent Your Life,” and “The 50 Most Alive Places To Be.” American Style magazine recognized it as one of “America’s Top 25 Arts Destinations,” and it has also been cited as one of the happiest places in the U.S. in Eric Weiner’s 2008 book, The Geography of Bliss. Therefore, it was not surprising that it showed up on Barron’s 2009 rankings of the “Best Places for Second Homes.” Currently available luxury homes located in and around the Asheville market are priced from $600,000 to several million dollars for an average list price of $1.2 million.
Just a short drive from Asheville is Burnsville, the “Gateway to Mt. Mitchell,” the highest point east of the Rockies and home to The Preserve at Wolf Laurel. The 1,300-acre master-planned community marks the final phase of the larger Wolf Laurel Resort development. The community’s established environment and copious in-place amenities make for a distinct sense of community. “Down home pleasures” are 
commonplace at The Preserve and have included the gathering of 700 residents for a 4th of July celebration. This spirit of community lifestyle is showcased in the preservation and restoration of the The Buck House, the former homestead of original property owners David and Pearl Buck and their eight children. Eighty-five percent of the 13-room Colonial Revival structure’s wood is original, and the property, which is operated as a B&B to accommodate potential property owners, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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A leader for 85 years in wealth analysis, Barron’s, recently named Pebble Beach #6 on its list of the “10 Best Places in America” for second homes. Located on the Golden State’s pastoral Monterey Peninsula, Pebble Beach has long been known for its superlative golf. Rated the #1 public golf facility in America by Golf Digest for 2009-10, the Pebble Beach Golf Links have hosted four U.S. Opens and will be the site for the 2010 challenge slated for June 14-20. But Pebble Beach isn’t the only game in town. There are more than 20 other golf opportunities, some of which are located within the verdant Del Monte Forest, which surrounds the community of Pebble Beach. Estate homes, with panoramic views of Monterey Bay are abundant. According to Barron’s, the median home value in the marketplace is $1.1 million reflecting a 20% reduction from peak pricing.
Just minutes from Pebble Beach lies the quaint seaside village of Carmel. Well-known as the home of Clint Eastwood, a former mayor of Carmel, this charismatic town has been a world-renown destination resort and artist colony since the turn of the last century. California’s “jewel city” is at once eclectic and bucolic and has been cited as the “dog-friendliest” city in the country. From inception, preservation of the natural environment has been a vital consideration as the city founders constructed roads to weave around existing trees in an effort to preserve the area’s ambiance.
And the concept upon which the town was founded has never been forgotten. Sustainable development is the principle upon which Tehama is emerging. This contemporary development overlooking Carmel Bay comprises 2,000 rolling acres but is planned for just 90 homesteads.
The development of Tehama, which is a Native American word meaning “abundance of nature,” has been guided by Clint Eastwood’s dedication to sustainable development – more than 85% of the land has been permanently preserved as open space and the project has been honored with California’s Golden Bear Award for diligent protection of the environment. In addition to its abundant natural assets, the community includes an 18-hole Jay Morrish-designed golf course, tennis, swimming and fitness facilities.
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For the first time in more than 30 years the American home is shrinking. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the median home size grew continuously between 1973 and 2008, when it shrank 11%. NAHB also reports that 90% of homes built by its members in 2009 were smaller than those constructed in 2008, and 59% of builders surveyed in 2009 plan to build smaller homes in 2010.
In direct response to the new frugality imposed upon homebuyers by an economy that continues to frustrate, “value” is, once again, driving sales. The “smaller is better” momentum has been jump-started by downsizing Baby Boomers who no longer embrace conspicuous consumption. Austerity has become the new buzzword, and conservation the mantra of a generation that spawned the McMansion. But the Baby Boomer whose chicks have flown the coop has something in common with the up and coming next big generation, aka the Millennials. Those born between 1979 and 1993 have yet to start families, making their housing aspirations similar. The shear depth of this potential consumer group will continue to fuel the ensuing wave of “small is better” housing demand. As early as this year, the “Millennial” homebuyer could outnumber the Boomer, supplanting them as the group having the most impact on the housing industry in contemporary history. There will be five million more of them than there were Boomers when that generation first began swelling the housing market. That said, GenY’s comparatively moderate incomes will keep affordability on the front burner.
Production builders are rallying to the cry for affordability as competition from foreclosed properties has served to raise the bar on what constitutes affordable. The most efficacious way they have found to lower prices is to downsize. San Diego-based Newland Communities, Centex Homes and Lennar have all introduced smaller versions of some of their most popular floor plans resulting in the ability to lower prices and meet de
mand that continues to be fueled by the new frugality mentality. This strategy has worked well, particularly in light of the tax incentive program for first-time homebuyers. At Centex Homes’ RiverMist at Dutchman Village, single-family home sizes begin at approximately 1,400 square feet. At Lennar’s Colonial Heritage in historic Williamsburg, VA, single-family homes begin at 1,475 square feet and the largest is approximately 2,500 square feet. At Newland Communities’ FishHawk Ranch single-family home sizes start at approximately 1,300 square feet. While downsizing has resulted in lower prices, quality has not been neglected and many upgrades are now standard features making these little “jewel boxes” a win-win opportunity.
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Tagged builders, downsizing, Housing Market News, International Second Homes, Private Communities, real estate industry, real estate market, Real Estate News, real estate trends, Retirement, Retirement Homes, Second Home, Second Homes, smaller homes
The increasingly popular anti-sprawl movement that promotes compact community design, walkability, and neighborly socialization is known as “New Urbanism.” The sister model associated with satisfying contrasting demand for unencumbered space 
is known as “New Ruralism.” In its truest form, this very private community concept focuses on a deep and abiding connection with the land, and accommodates uses that are atypical in a more structured environment, such as farming and equestrian activities.
City and suburban dwellers alike, weary of the congestion associated with civilization and longing to own a tractor – or at least a pickup truck and a couple of large dogs — are finding their way to the outer “exurban” limits of metropolitan areas in an effort to satisfy an innate desire for a relationship with Mother Nature. If you find yourself tired of crowded highways and a high-density lifestyle, and are desirous of an environment synonymous with Walden Pond, a family compound may satisfy your craving.
Owners of large open spaces are often motivated by a desire to preserve the land in its natural state and consider themselves stewards of the environment. While many use their property purely as a recreational venue, a growing number are opting for full-time rusticity.
A property such as Shoal Falls Farm can satisfy either inclination. This 145-acre property is located midway between Brevard and Hendersonville in western North Carolina, both of which have eclectic and vibrant downtowns and abundant community services and cultural activities. The historic city of Asheville is just minutes away, while the bucolic surrounding area includes the 10,300-acre DuPont State Forest with miles of walking, biking and horseback riding trails that are easily accessible from this very private retreat. The property boasts 65 acres of mature hardwood forest, 80 acres of pasture, and twin 45-foot waterfalls and creeks meandering throughout. Two farm homes, a barn apartment and a log cabin can provide full or part-time residence for family, extended family, and vacationing guests. Shoals Falls Farm also has conservation easement potential that can provide substantial tax savings while serving to sustain the property’s pristine ecology.
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South Carolina’s Grand Strand has been, for decades, a mecca for tourists, second homeowners, and retirees seeking a sublime escape. Stretching from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina, it consists of more than 60 miles of essentially uninterrupted Atlantic Coast beachfront. But its pristine beaches aren’t the only contributor to the region’s popularity as a tourist destination. There’s also golf — lots and lots of golf. The Grand Strand is home to more than 125 courses, (more than 1,800 holes of golf) — all kinds — all sizes — all skill levels – designed by a bevy of celebrity golf course architects. And the best part of Grand Strand golf is that the vast majority of the facilities are open to the public.
