Just this morning I received an inquiry from a potential purchaser who requested I be very honest with her; she wanted to know if her budget would allow her to purchase a home in the Hilton Head Area. Two and a half years ago I would have told her that to find a home that would meet her needs at the price she specified would be very difficult given the market. However, today the story is quite different and I am certain that we can find her a great house at an excellent price in the Low Country. One of the buzz words behind the recent activity in the housing market is affordability. I repeatedly hear purchasers, especially those whom are buying now for their future retirement, cite that while they would enjoy a 2^nd home, the main reason they are considering purchasing now is that prices are considerably better than they were several years ago. Many have the expectation that prices will increase prior to their planned retirement dates. For those purchasers who have the ability to purchase at this time, they find that the homes that were once out of reach, have grown more affordable and with interest rates still historically low, today’s buyers’ purchasing power is even more amplified. When prices or interest rates will rise is unclear, but undoubtedly, prices have dropped since their ’05 peak. Although it is easy to breeze by Bluffton in the race for Hilton Head real estate deals, off Island communities offer many affordable opportunities for purchasers who are looking for value. Looking just over the bridges in Moss Creek Plantation one can find well-priced homes in a great amenity community. If you are Hilton Head bound, in my opinion Hilton Head Plantation still offers lots of bang for your buck. It is refreshing to see buyers in all price ranges sticking to the price point that is affordable to them, from the first time home buyer to the beachfront buyer. The vast majority of purchasers I have worked with over the past year are choosing to stay within their comfort zone and with some great values in the market they are being duly rewarded. If you, perhaps in the past, have dismissed the idea of purchasing Hilton Head real estate or are waiting for the market to go up, now may be the time to reevaluate a purchase. The Hilton Head / Bluffton Community offers many affordable options and living here is certainly worth every penny!