Islands of Beaufort®

And when we began our search, we knew exactly what we wanted: •To be in Charleston. •To be on (or near) the beach. •A home with quintessential, southern architectural design. •A (short) deep water dock. •A killer view. (I know, not much to ask for, right?) And so we looked, and looked, and looked… When we weren’t in Charleston touring some 5-8 houses per day, we were bogging down the internet’s bandwidth with marathon searches. We became so close with our Charleston-based realtor that we even got an invitation to his wedding. Without exaggeration, we must have seen over 70 homes. One could easily accuse us of being too picky, or indecisive. But, there was an unvoiced expectation that when we found the right house we would know it - like falling in love. And that’s exactly how it happened. Only, the house we fell in love with turned out to be nothing like what we thought we wanted. It’s not in Charleston, or near the beach. There is absolutely no “southern anything” in its design. It does have a very short, deep water dock. But, it’s the view that stole our hearts. It’s on the end of Deer Island in Islands of Beaufort (IOB) surrounded by water. As we went thru the house for the 3rd time (OK, maybe a bit indecisive), we noticed two very large birds coming up Battery Creek. What ensued was an aerial battle between an osprey and a bald eagle in which the eagle robbed the osprey of his catch – right in front of our window. It was at that moment that we knew that we had found the home we were looking for. What we didn’t know, was that we would fall equally in love with the IOB community. We really hadn’t given the community much consideration in our purchase decision, other than we were impressed with the privacy, layout and overall appearance. But, we had no idea what made IOB so special. Because, you can’t see it. It’s not the landscaping, or the architecture, or the amenities. It’s the neighbors who live here. When we arrived with the moving van, we knew no one. Not a soul. Within months, we were acquainted with everyone in the community, and close friends with many. We are now surrounded by kindred spirits, who have made the same lifestyle move from all corners of the globe, and as such have welcomed, and assisted us in making IOB our new home. The net result of which is that we have an exhaustive social life, and are doing more than we have ever imagined. I would encourage you to do exactly as we did - search to buy (or build) your dream home. Just don’t be surprised if it’s not what you thought you were looking for. And, be prepared to be surprised, if none of your well planned expectations is really what wins your hearts. Don’t get me wrong, we love our house. But, it’s the people that live here that make us love where we live. That’s the big secret about IOB…

And when we began our search, we knew exactly what we wanted: •To be in Charleston. •To be on (or near) the beach. •A home with quintessential, southern architectural design. •A (short) deep water dock. •A killer view. (I know, not much to ask for, right?) And so we looked, and looked, and looked… When we weren’t in Charleston touring some 5-8 hous ...

We first visited the Islands of Beaufort community in 2004 and fell in love with it at first sight. We purchased our marsh-front lot that same weekend. Five years later, in 2009 we built our dream retirement home overlooking the tidal marsh on the lot we purchased in 2004. The planning and building process went smoothly and we were so very happy to be located in this great place ! The people located here come from all parts of the US. We have social events and activities together with a great sense of community spirit. Because the Islands of Beaufort is gated, it offers the serenity, beauty and peacefulness of the Lowcountry while being very close to shopping and historic downtown Beaufort, only a few minutes away. It's great getting up every morning and looking out at the water, wildlife and forest beauty. We truly know we are home !

We first visited the Islands of Beaufort community in 2004 and fell in love with it at first sight. We purchased our marsh-front lot that same weekend. Five years later, in 2009 we built our dream retirement home overlooking the tidal marsh on the lot we purchased in 2004. The planning and building process went smoothly and we were so very happy to ...

My wife and I were introduced to our great community over 15 years ago during the tour of homes in the “Village”. After considering other options around Beaufort, we purchased our Phase 3 home site in March 2000. After completion of the roads and utilities, we began construction of our home in June 2001. We moved from Atlanta and have been happy residents since January 2002. My wife and I enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of our community. Yet, we are minutes away from shopping and the historic district. We are often seen riding our bikes or walking with our dog. Since coming to Beaufort, we are active in our church and have gotten back into boating, getting away as much as possible to explore our numerous tidal waters.

My wife and I were introduced to our great community over 15 years ago during the tour of homes in the “Village”. After considering other options around Beaufort, we purchased our Phase 3 home site in March 2000. After completion of the roads and utilities, we began construction of our home in June 2001. We moved from Atlanta and have been happy ...

Beaufort had been on our list of places to visit for some time -thanks to having seen The Big Chill countless times. We came to the area in early 2010 "just to look around" and lucked out with a realtor who took us to the Islands of Beaufort. It was instant attraction. We loved the serenity, the big live oaks with Spanish moss, the water on almost all sides, the diversity of the homes and the feeling of privacy without being alone. We also loved the proximity to downtown Beaufort and all that town has to offer. We came back several months later to "look at lots". That turned into spending the day in the community, getting invited to a Derby party hosted by one of the neighbors and there meeting most residents of the community. The next day we bought a lot, ultimately selected a builder and broke ground the following year. We moved into our new home in August 2011 and have not regretted one single aspect of our decision. IOB has felt like home from day one and we "blended" with our neighbors as if we had been here for years. Nearly all of us in IOB is a transplant so we are eager to get to know each other and plan activities year round. From progressive dinners, to wine auctions, to July 4th parades and picnics, to Yankee Swaps, there are plenty of opportunities to engage and have fun. We consider ourselves lucky beyond belief to have found this gem in the Lowcountry.

Beaufort had been on our list of places to visit for some time -thanks to having seen The Big Chill countless times. We came to the area in early 2010 "just to look around" and lucked out with a realtor who took us to the Islands of Beaufort. It was instant attraction. We loved the serenity, the big live oaks with Spanish moss, the water on almost ...

If your realtor hasn't shown you the Islands, you've missed out. We have been absolutely delighted with our home and our neighbors. Where to start? First the people have become our family. We are a socially diverse and active group. Kids can play in the streets and sell lemonade, olde farts like me gather on the docks for evening cocktails and local gossip. We have found friends to share every aspect of our interests here. Its comfortable and inclusive. The amenities and infrastructure are all in, well maintained and the finances of the Association are solid. Fees are affordable. The Directors have managed IOB in a business-like fashion, avoiding the turmoil and financial challenges of some other Associations. We don't have a golf course or marina, but we are near dozens of courses and Beaufort is loaded with services for the boating enthusiast. While the homes are delightfully traditional on the outside, many have been built with quite modern interiors. Porches and sidewalks, along with the beautiful setting create a walking community where you may run into folks on their front porches and end up spending the evening. The City of Beaufort is also a wonderful hometown. Welcoming, affordable and conveiniently located. Excellent weather. A business and social environment that rates as small but sophisticated. Taken as a whole, Beaufort and the Islands, the combination is probably why we continue to see building activity of high end homes in the Islands of Beaufort even through these tough times.

If your realtor hasn't shown you the Islands, you've missed out. We have been absolutely delighted with our home and our neighbors. Where to start? First the people have become our family. We are a socially diverse and active group. Kids can play in the streets and sell lemonade, olde farts like me gather on the docks for evening cocktails and ...