With the the fist six months of 2009 behind us, I thought it was a good time to compare this year's home sales to 2008 sales in the same period. As most of us know, 2008 was considered to be one of the worst real estate years on record. So how does 2009 stack up? Unfortunately, 2009 numbers paint a not-so-pretty picture. While the most obvious numbers are down, I believe there are some positive signs.
In 2009, total residential closings are down 20% from 2008. Last there were 447 sold from January through June compared to just 355 in 2008. Even Beaufort's best selling community in 2008, Dataw Island, is down from 16 to 6 sales (though 6 are currently pending). But not all is as bad as as the data indicates. One statistic I found positive was that
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In what has become an annual ritual, Habersham SC has once again been named on Where to Retire Magazine's "Top Master Planned Communities" List. The criteria included location, cost and amenities. Magazine editors evaluated thousands of communities around the country in coming up with the most accurate list possible. Readers were also surveyed as to their Retirement Expectation and Relocation Experience. Residents indicated that neighborhood activity and neighborly interaction were a large factor. These were sites as helpful for a smooth transition to a new area.
Outdoor Life magazine has included Beaufort, South Carolina on it's
list of the "Top 200 Best Outdoor Towns". Calling it a "saltwater
paradise, The publication tabbed Beaufort at #108 on the list. The list
was based on a variety of factors that seemed to take into account
quality of life for humans and abundance of wildlife. Categories uses
to determine the list were: Median Home Value (2007), Cost of Living
Index (2008), Unemployment Rate (2007), Mean Commute Time (mins.),
Amenities, Gun Laws, Fishable Species, Huntable Species, Proximity to
Public Access, and Trophy potential.