A Room with a View!

There is just NOTHING like being right on the oceanfront!

Particularly if you’re at DeBordieu. I was reminded of this just yesterday while showing some oceanfront villas at Pioneer Place, DeBordieu’s first, and still very popular beachfront enclave. Incredible values on the north end, within walking distance to the DeBordieu Beach Club!

There are two types….the original Pioneer Place Villas are right on the beach….sitting sort of on top of a huge, grassy dune. If you’re on the bottom, you can walk right out to the beach. If you’re on the top, you’ll have a few stairs, but you can see all the way to Pawleys Island and beyond! There are a couple of these villas available starting at $750,000.

The newer Pioneer Place Villas are townhomes, with covered parking, wonderful porches, and great views across the private pool to the ocean. These villas start at $985,000.
So for under $1Million, you have your choice of two excellent oceanfront properties that allow easy access to the beach, spectacular views, and a special place to create those very special kodak moments with your family.

Oh….by the way, we have a few Pioneer Place Villas on the rental market as well. If you are planning to vacation at Pawleys Island this Spring or Summer, and would like to consider DeBordieu, give me a call or hit the website and click on rentals.

There’s no place like home. And there’s NO place like DeBordieu!

Giraffic Park at DeBordieu?
Yes, there’s a story here….. This truly unique home is located at the southern end of DeBordieu, with a view of the ocean in front of Hobcaw Barony, which is part of THE largest piece of protected property on the east coast of the United States. (There is not another home on the ocean for 60 miles.) We call it the “Southern Serengeti” because it has some trees that are weathered at the top that make them look like they are “Out of Africa”.... you know what I’m talking about.

Anyway, the story goes that the sweet elderly matriarch of the family was on the upper deck when she was just SURE that she saw some giraffes scampering in the distance. Now…they were probably deer, but the name stuck, and the home became known on DeBordieu’s Rental Program as “Giraffic Park.”
It’s such a special home that it was once featured on the Travel Channel! (I have a copy of the show if you would like to see it!) It is now available for sale and is conservatively priced, fully furnished, at $1,395,000.

I was fortunate to be able to assist the current owner purchase the lot a while back. I remember her telling me she wanted a huge porch, with a little house attached. Well, she got a huge wrap-around porch, but with 3462 heated sq. ft., not such a little house.

Shaded by Live Oaks, the back porch, kitchen, breakfast room and dining room all have wonderful views of the lagoon. The living room overlooks Hobcaw and has a gas fireplace with a beautiful mantle and raised hearth. There are antique heart-pine floors throughout.

It’s a terrific floor plan with two bedrooms on the main floor, one is the master, each has its own private bath. Upstairs there are two more bedrooms with private baths, and a sleeping loft that could also be used as an additional study or den, with a full bath.

4 bedrooms, plus sleeping loft (2 master suites) 5 bathrooms, plus one half bath, Close to Ocean Green Boardwalk to Beach, Elevator, Fireplace, Ice Maker, Wraparound Screened Porch, Outside Shower, Fish Sink.

3462 heated sq. ft. 5900 sq. ft. under roof, Lot: (.58 acre) 190 x 177 x 161 x 135.

Girraffic Park.....it’s a great home, at a great price. (for more pictures and details, click on the words, Girraffic Park, and you'll get the link.)

There’s no place like home. There’s NO place like DeBordieu.

Snowmageden at DeBordieu!

"Sir, you want what? a place where you can ski in the morning and then walk to the beach? Riiiiiiiiiiiight!" Well, you could have actually done just that at DeBordieu today!
DeBordieu and the entire Pawleys Island area was blanketed with snow last night!

It happens quite regularly.....like once every 8 years or so! It falls like crazy, we all go nuts, and then it melts and goes away, leaving us with great pictures, warm memories and funny stories to tell.

Many thanks to my friend and DeBordieu resident Angela Tiller for sending me these fabulous photos to share with you! It's a winter wonderland! and we're all enjoying it while it lasts.

There's no place like home, and there's no place like DeBordieu.

DeBordieu...it’s for The Birds!
There’s a spot, right at the entrance to the DeBordieu Golf Club, at the corner of Bonneyneck and Luvan, that offers this glimpse of the largest gathering of pelicans I think I’ve ever seen. I think it’s due to a combination of the creek filling up with fish, and the fact that the high bank of the creek blocks the wind, making this spot a little more comfortable this time of year.
Alfred Hitchcock would have loved it!
There’s no place like home. And there’s no place like DeBordieu!

Not so Fast......
Dang it....the vote was actually 3 votes shy of being approved, see article below:
"COLUMBIA: Legislation that would have offered property tax breaks for people buying commercial real estate and second homes in South Carolina failed to garner a crucial two-thirds majority in a Senate vote Wednesday. The controversial point-of-sale reform bill needed 31 votes. It got 28. The fate of the bill was not immediately clear after the roll-call vote Wednesday afternoon. Senators had moved the bill forward on a voice vote late Tuesday after hours of debate and proposed amendments. It is the second compromise between real estate and local government groups to have failed."
So it's back to the drawing board.

The Eagle has Landed!
The Eagle has landed at DeBordieu in more ways than one! And no, I’m not talking about covert spy secrets.
First, we’ve been watching this majestic bird fly around for quite some time but yesterday, Grady Honeycutt from our rental office snapped a picture of Mr. Eagle when he actually landed on the causeway between DeBordieu’s mainland and the island. Gorgeous, eh?
Second, after MUCH debate, the SC Senate reached a compromise on the Point of Sale real estate tax. Click this link to read about it. Basically, on commercial property and second homes taxable values will stay the same this year, and next year, instead of being taxed at the full sales price, they will be taxed on just 80% of their sales price. Many thanks to those who rallied behind this compromise. It’s a great first step, and will mean a lot to folks interested in purchasing second homes in DeBordieu.
To get a bird’s eye view of some of those second home properties, similar to what Mr. Eagle sees flying around, visit the website at http://www.debordieu.com/.
There’s no place like home. There’s no place like DeBordieu.

Dancing in the Dark!
Last weekend I had a great opportunity to help one of my favorite realtors and her client “see the light,” (in more ways than one) about homesites priced UNDER $200,000 at DeBordieu, but because they didn't arrive on the property until LATE afternoon, when we first saw them….it was DARK outside!
See, we bumped into each other Saturday at a birthday luncheon for a mutual friend. She told me she was working with one of her favorite clients, who was in the market for a couple of good homesites under $200,000. She, like many others, didn’t think you could secure a lot in DeBordieu for under $200,000 these days. Well, GUESS WHAT……there aren’t many, but the ones we have under $200,000 are doozies.
There are a couple in Patewood North that back up to lakes, have gorgeous trees, and one that even overlooks the conservation easement as pictured on the right. And we have a couple in Colony Club, one of DeBordieu’s newer neighborhoods near the Tennis Center, that either offer lake views, or overlook Hobcaw Barony, which is part of the largest piece of preserved property on the east coast of the USA.
How would you like to have THAT in your backyard?
Anyway….the client was impressed in the dark, but when he came back Sunday afternoon, he was blown away. DeBordieu is a beautiful community, even in the dark. But in the light of day…..it’s SPECTACULAR!

(If you or someone you know would like information about these rare lots at DeBordieu priced under $200,000, call me, call your realtor, or visit the website.)

There truly is no place like home…..and there’s no place like DeBordieu.

What the HECK is an Anhinga?
A couple of weeks ago, when I listed a gorgeous villa at DeBordieu, the sellers told me that, at no extra charge, the villa came with it’s very own nest of Anhingas. “Wow!” I said…..pretending to know what an Anhinga was. Thank goodness for google! I now know that this very special waterbird is much like a cormorant. This family of Anhingas built their nest next to this villa because of all the fertile fishing grounds nearby, which also provides the owners of the villa a spectacular water view, and entertainment watching the Anhingas fish for their dinner.

So let me tell you about the villa….Marsh Lake Villa 17 is very unique in many different ways. The site was “cherry picked” by the developer, the floorplan expanded, and the ceilings raised to 10 ft. It’s best feature is the panoramic lake/marsh view from the oversized deck. The current sellers have added a 4th bedroom and bath and an elevator. With the New appliances, New windows, New HVAC, New roof, and New carpet….it looks and feels brand new! Other features include Heart Pine Floors, custom cabinets with pull-out shelves, crown moulding, and large transoms facing the deck. Light and airy, this Marsh Lake Villa truly must be seen to be appreciated. (Click the address and you'll be linked to complete information and pictures.)

Come take a look….and I’ll show you an Anhinga while we’re at it!
There’s no place like home…..and there’s no place like DeBordieu!