Real estate market at a glance: $525K Hilton Head, Beaufort, Fripp Island and Bluffton homes

Depending on where home buyers are looking in Beaufort County’s nearly 600 square miles of land, many houses priced at $525K look very different.

That amount sits on the lower end between the Hilton Head area’s $485,000 median sales price and $692,549 average sales price in 2022, according to Hilton Head Area Realtors Market Reports. The report includes homes sold in Hilton Head Island, Fripp Island, Beaufort and Bluffton.

Hilton Head Island | $525,000

A modern townhome with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

With lagoon views, the home is nestled into the Quartermaster community of Broad Creek Landing, which is located between Sea Pines Plantation and the Cross Island Expressway on the South end of the Island. The expressway gives easy access off the island by car, and it’s less than a five-minute drive from the Palmetto Bay Marina for those with a boat. The marina also has restaurants, live music and beach shops. Hilton Head’s multitude of beaches are a short drive away, barring traffic.

The Quartermaster community provides access to a community pool, tennis courts and a playground.

Size: 2,260 square feet

Price per square foot: $232

Indoors: Out of its block of five townhomes, this home, built in 2002, sits in the middle with the largest windows and dark gray color. Stairs leading up, over the two-car garage on the ground level, open onto hardwood floors in the entry hallway. Directly to the right is a bedroom and bath. The hardwood floors continue into the kitchen, which flows into the main living area. Natural light floods in through one of the two covered porches, which look out onto a lagoon.

To the left, hardwood makes its way to the carpet at the stairs zig-zag up to the remaining two bedrooms. Both bedrooms are complete with full tile-floor bathrooms, but one has his-and-her sinks, the second of the two covered porches and a large walk-in closet.

There is a mudroom with washer, dryer and sink.

Outdoors: The home has two covered porches.

Taxes as a primary residence: $2,608 (estimated)

Taxes as a secondary residence: $7,869 (estimated)

HOA/POA fees: $282 per month

Contact: Rick Saba, The Rick Saba Team; eXp Realty; (843) 683-4701; thericksabateam.com

Beaufort | $524,000

A newly renovated ranch-style home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms on a .78 acre lot.

Located in Royal Pines, about a 10-minute drive from Downtown Beaufort, this home sits next to the community’s golf course. It’s close to the historic district, Bay Street’s quaint shops, and the Woods Memorial Bridge. Hunting Island State Park is about a 30-minute drive away.

Size: 2,453 square feet

Price per square foot: $214

Indoors: A bright aqua door stands at the entrance of the first — and only — floor of this home. A brick foyer quickly turns into hardwood floors and opens to a spacious living room, tied together with a brick-surround fireplace and overlooking the pool outside. From the living room in the center of the home, a hallway breaks off into the kitchen. The coastal-inspired aesthetic is apparent throughout the home, but especially in the kitchen with quartz countertops and room for a breakfast table, separate from the full dining room which is just behind it. The left side of the home also boasts a recreation room. The home was built in 1978, but newly renovated.

The home’s three bedrooms are all to the right of the living room. The primary bedroom has a large tile bathroom, closet and windows overlooking the backyard. The other two bedrooms share a separate bathroom in the hallway.

Outdoors: An over 200-square-foot covered patio overlooks the grassy backyard, which is bordered by a Southern live oak, tall pines and a fence. A pool sits on the left side of the backyard with a concrete border and overlooks the Royal Pines golf course. There isn’t a garage, but a concrete driveway snakes around the home for parking.

Taxes as a primary residence: $3,119 (estimated)

Taxes as a secondary residence: $8,627 (estimated)

Optional voting rights fee: $85 annually

Contact: Lisa G. Newton; HomesFinder Realty Group; (843) 304-2288; lisa@lisagnewton.com

Fripp Island | $536,000

A ocean-view cottage with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Located on Fripp Island, this home was the closest to $525 for sale on the Island. Fripp Island is about 20 minutes from the nearest major grocery store and ten minutes from Hunting Island State Park, if owners want a beach other than Fripp’s. To get access to the resort, which recently changed hands, owners must pay a $25,000 initiation fee and between $3,000 to $5,000 per year depending on their membership level, according to the listing agent. The resort is a private business on Fripp Island that operates amenities including golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, a marina, pools, restaurants and a nature center.

Size: 1,421 square feet

Price per square foot: $377

Indoors: Built in 1978 and recently remodeled, hardwood floors, light walls and natural light epitomize a beach home. A full kitchen is down a hallway on the first floor, and so is a washer and dryer. Steps lead upstairs to the homes’ bedrooms and two full bathrooms.

Outdoors: Stairs to enter the home lead up to a front porch, which overlooks a front yard and golf-cart parking. A golf cart comes with the home.

Taxes as a primary residence: $2,903 (estimated)

Taxes as a secondary residence: $8,394 (estimated)

HOA/POA fees: $1,150 annually

Contact: Gail Shinall; HomesFinder Realty Group; 843-597-2234; gailshinall@gmail.com

Bluffton | $525,000

A three-story Colonial-esque home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Located in Bluffton’s Parkside neighborhood, this property is a short distance to Baynard Park’s amenity center which has a pool, covered pavilion, fitness center and tennis. It’s less than a 15-minute drive from Old Town Bluffton and about 20 minutes to the Hilton Head Island bridge.

Size: 2,464 square feet

Price per square foot: $213

Indoors: A walkway framed by hedges leads to the front door, which opens to vinyl floors. There is an open-concept kitchen and breakfast area, meaning that from the living room, the maple cabinets and kitchen bar are visible. The four bedrooms are split between the first and second levels, with the primary bathroom on the second. There is a carpeted room on the third level, which could fit extra storage or serve as an office space. All three of the bathrooms are full, and there is a laundry room with washer and dryer. The home was built in 2009.

Outdoors: A covered porch overlooks a bright green and well-manicured lawn. Stone steps connect the porch to the detached garage, and go past a fire pit. Just beyond the fenced-in lawn is a lagoon.

Taxes as a primary residence: $3,501 (estimated)

Taxes as a secondary residence: $9,207 (estimated)

HOA/POA fees: $120 per month

Contact: Joey Doyle; Charter One Realty; 843-290-5055; JoeyDoyle@CharterOneRealty.com