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Yesterday, our vacation rental group greeted more than 250 arrivals for the big game weekend. We are so thankful that the many Georgia fans once again chose St. Simons Island as their celebration destination. We hope everyone has a wonderful, and safe, holiday weekend. Go DAWGS!
On Wednesday, October 21st, Grant’s Ferry Cove celebrated their grand opening with a Halloween Open House. Carol Weber, from BB&T Mortgage, provided $50 gift cards to Longhorn Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Crabdaddy’s and Cargo Portside as door prizes for our guests. Kate Moore from Ligon, Middleton and Lindberg provided us with two beautiful fruit and cheese trays as well as homemade cupcakes and cookies. We set the food up on the porch overlooking the pool so that guests could enjoy the view while they visited. The event was scheduled for 11 to 3, but lasted much longer as we had over 60 people join us to tour the clubhouse and model as well as the two new styles we have begun. We had stuffed a grab bag with over $500 in cash and each visitor enjoyed trying their hand at a chance to win up to $100 in cash!
A grand time was had by all and everyone was most complementary about our 6 new homes we are offering, as well as the beautiful decor of the clubhouse and model. We have had a number of folks ask us if we could build a two bedroom for them and have come up with a floorplan to offer. Please stop in to see us and let us tell you all about all of our designs. The sales center is open in the clubhouse from 10 to 4 Monday through Friday and 12 to 4 on Saturday. We can be here on Sunday as well by appointment after church.
When: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Where: Ft. Frederica
Tickets: $35/person for members; $55/person for non-members
Call: 912-638-9109 or visit www.sslt.org
Celebrate low-country style with mounds of succulent fresh oysters, local shrimp, and corn-on-the-cob! 30+ Local restaurants will be on-hand, along with hundreds of guests attending this popular island tradition. The annual Land Trust Oyster Roast raises money for the purchase of land on St. Simons Island for the purpose of preservation. Since the Land Trust began in 2000, they have preserved 145 acres of property on the Island.
The Land Trust’s newest project, Frederica Park, is the first new park on St. Simons Island in over 50 years. This project was made possible by a generous donation of land from the Sea Island Company, as well as donations from private individuals.
The 20-acre Frederica Park features a botanical trail and a playfield complex that will be available for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby and other activities such as kite-flying and bocce. Most of the park will be devoted to the botanical trail, where native plant species will be re-introduced to land that had been used for timber farming for many years. Island garden clubs have helped design the trail and a proposed botanical garden. The park will have ample parking, rest rooms, shelters, a play area and eventually, a hard surface jogging/running trail around the playfield.
Also donated to the Land Trust in 2008 was a $500,000 gift from part-time Sea Island residents Jim and Sarah Kennedy, made through the Atlanta-based PATH Foundation. This gift launched the Hampton Spur, a five-mile expansion of the Island-Wide Trail System from the Sea Island Stables to Hampton Point. The first 1.1 mile of the trail was formally opened in October 2008. Another 3 miles of trail were completed in August 2009 – taking the trail within one mile of the entrance to Hampton Plantation. The Land Trust recently secured funding for the final leg of the Hampton Spur, which is planned for completion by January, 2010.
A new public charter school located in Brunswick, Georgia is now open!
The Golden Isles Career Academy presents a new approach to learning, offering career preparatory opportunities for high school age students and college programs for citizens of all ages across the Glynn County community through a partnership with Altamaha Technical College.
The Career Academy is not a vocational school, although its core initiative is to provide hands-on career-driven learning and guidance. The Career Pathways Programs have been uniquely designed to provide essential learning tracks to 18 distinctive career curriculums – some of which are college preparatory focused through the Dual Enrollment Program, where students can actually earn college credit while still in high school. Career paths include: Veterinary Science, Automotive Service, Broadcast/Video, Construction, Dental Assisting, Culinary Arts, Graphic Design, and more.
After years of planning along with contributions from local businesses, the Board of Education, ESPLOST funds, a state grant and a land donation by the Development Authority, the Golden Isles Career Academy opened its doors on August 6, 2009.
Currently, more than 700 high school students are enrolled at the Golden Isles Career Academey. An additional 150 college students are enrolled in evening classes at the same campus.
This is a wonderful addition to our community. For more information, please visit www.gica.us
At last, news media from around the country are reporting positive trends in the real estate market. The general consensus is that the real estate recession is over. If you’ve been waiting for the bottom to invest in real estate, the time to buy is now. But, don’t take our word for it!
Economists and other experts, such as CNBC’s Cramer, are saying that residential real estate has finally found a floor. As Cramer told CNBC viewers in June, the sector’s long, steep descent is all but over. According to a June 16th article posted on the web by Tom Brennan, “New housing data reported today indicates a dramatic change for the better. The latest news, along with much lower prices and the working off of inventory, validate (Cramer’s) prediction that housing would stabilize this month.”
Among other encouraging statistics, the National Association of REALTORS’ Pending Sales Index, a forward-looking compilation of signed or “pending” contracts, has increased seven months in a row… a winning streak not seen since 2001! The last data available confirm that pending contracts were up 6.4% in August 2009 over July 2009.
Many parts of the country are reporting stabilizing prices amid increased sales. According to RealtyTimes, “In September, sales increased 8.2% in the Northeast, 7.6% in the Midwest, 1% in the South, and 16% in the West. On average, prices were 3.4% higher in August 2009 over August 2008.”
According to Jeffrey Humphreys, writing for Georgia Trend Magazine, “Georgia’s prolonged and severe housing downturn ended in the second quarter of 2009, when single-family housing starts bottomed at 12, 500 units.” Mr. Humphreys predicts that “… the upturn in new home construction and housing sales that began in mid-2009 will gain momentum in 2010.”
Evidence that prices are stabilizing and demand for real estate is increasing here in Coastal Georgia becomes more apparent each day. Inventories, which were never extensive along this section of the Coast, are shrinking, particularly in new products. During the last two years, builders have adjusted housing starts in response to market conditions. Increased interest from prospective purchasers, which began in early spring, is now reflected in pending contracts and closings. For example, increased transactions in the last three months are reminiscent of the hot sellers’ market of three years ago. Multiple offers on desirable, well-priced properties are increasing. Many real estate companies report that phones are ringing with inquiries; website traffic is also increasing.
For the near future, buyers will continue to enjoy the best real estate opportunities in a decade:
- Interest Rates Below 5%: Competition for money, including the Federal government’s extraordinary deficit spending, will drive interest rates up, and soon. But, for a limited time, the Federal Reserve Board is holding rates affordably low. The U. S. Weekly average for the first week in October for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 4.94%; that’s rock bottom pricing for long-term money! If you are waiting for prices to drop, stop waiting. A 10% decrease in price is required to offset a 1% increase in interest rates. Increasing prices and increasing interest rates are much more likely.
- A Pricing “Do-Over”: On certain properties, today’s pricing is on par with pricing from early 2000. During 2005-06, many of our purchasers opined, “If we had only bought in 2002, look how much we would have made on this property!” Our view is that 2002 has come again, as will 2005-06. If you are smart enough to enter the market now, you can have a “do-over!”
- Selection: The choices are plentiful in most price ranges. However, since limited new inventory, particularly new construction, is being added to the marketplace, these choices will diminish with each passing week.
- Demand Backlog: People have deferred important real estate decisions for more than three years, particularly the baby-boomers who plan to retire “south.” Improving market conditions will release this pent-up demand, which will absorb more of the available inventory. Prices will rise as demand increases and supply decreases.
- Tax Advantages: Both the Federal government and the State of Georgia will pay qualified individuals to buy a home, up to $9,500, in real money. If you qualify, you should move quickly, as this opportunity ends soon.
Market conditions are changing…. and quickly. As Mr. Brennan states, “…people are as blind to the bottom as they were to the top. You can’t wait for some analyst to make the call. You have to buy now if you want to make some money.” Thank you, Mr. Brennan. We couldn’t have said it any better!
The professionals at Hodnett Cooper know the best opportunities in today’s market. Request our “Best Buy” list and become a part of the real estate recovery. Sometimes, you can have a do-over. Don’t miss this one!
Join us at a high-spirited Halloween bash benefiting the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia at Bennie’s Red Barn. On the evening of October 28, the Red Barn will be converted into a ghoulish themed dinner party, where pets are welcome and costumes are encouraged. Dinner, music, dancing, games, and a special dance performance of “cats” are just a few of the evening highlights. For ticket information, please contact The Humane Society at 912-264-1191. This is sure to be a great time for a great cause!!
One-half mile south of Clam Creek Road on the eastern side of North Riverview Drive are the remains of the Horton House. The two-story tabby structure, one of the oldest in the state, was built in 1742 after Horton’s original structure was destroyed by retreating Spanish, who had just been defeated by Oglethorpe in the Battle of Bloody Marsh. An exceptionally large red bay occupies the northwest corner of the house. Across the street in a peaceful setting of cedars, oaks and pines is the du Bignon family cemetery. The du Bignons owned the island for nearly a century before selling it to the Jekyll Island Club millionaires. Major Horton Road, on the north side of the property, connects with Beachview Drive on the eastern side of the island. This road becomes a trail that passes freshwater sloughs and a pond open to freshwater fishing.
Maj. William Horton served as forward lookout on Jekyll Island for Gen. James Oglethorpe during the British colonial period. Horton, who commanded English forces after Oglethorpe returned to England, is best known for having the first brewery in Georgia, the ruins of which are seen south of this site on the western side of Riverview Drive.
- Trail: 1-mile.
- Directions: From Brunswick, travel south on US 17, cross Sidney Lanier Bridge. At causeway, turn left toward Jekyll Island. Continue across Ben Fortson Parkway to dead end. Go left. Horton House Ruins and trailhead are on left past Clam Creek Picnic Area.
by Katie Brown
There is nothing more relaxing and beautiful than boating in the Golden Isle of Georgia. The views from the water are breathtaking, and the excitement of the catch will keep you coming back for more!
Fishing has always been a part of life for me growing up in the Golden Isles. From a young age I would go with my father early Saturday morning and rig up for a day of fishing! My first big catch was a Jack Crevalle that I landed off of G Reef. I thought that fish was going to pull me into the water with it, but I was determined to get it to the boat and I did. My father has a rule that you have to land any fish you catch by yourself, or you won’t be going fishing with him again.
Now, I’m a member of the Pink Mullets, an all female angling team based out of St. Simons Island. The Pink Mullets are best know for the 2008 Golden Isles Kingfish Classic in which we sank our boat…..however, we did so after landing a beautiful Sailfish and a nice Kingfish. If you are ever on a sinking boat send out a distress call and mention that you are a boat of women….you will be amazed at the number of boats that come to your rescue!
Today I’m taking you to F Reef, and don’t worry…..we won’t be sinking any boats! The water is calm like a lake, that glorious smell of salt water surrounds you, and there is a chill in the early morning air! As we are leaving the Channel the sun is coming up on the horizon, and we make our run to F Reef (about 9 miles off the St.SimonsCoast) for a morning of bottom fishing. As we arrive to our marker we are greeted by a beautiful Sea Turtle. We then rig up with squid, drop the lines, and instantly start bringing up Sea Bass. We are hoping for Snapper or Grouper, but Sea Bass are tasty too! After 2 hours of ok fishing I think I’ve snagged the bottom, or have I??? The line starts racing, and I know I’ve got more than a Sea Bass on the line…..After a good fight I land my first Giant Redfish!!!! I’ve caught several Redfish inshore, but I’ve never caught a Giant before!! So here’s to another great day of fishing in Coastal Georgia.
