"Palmetto Bluff"-Bluffton, SC (Hilton Head Island, Beaufort: to rent, HOA fees, crime)

[jjbjjb]

Anyone have an opinion on the 20,000 acre island community called Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, SC? does anyone have an opinion on the town of Bluffton, SC in general and in particular as a place to raise a young family?

[oz in SC]

Bluffton used to be a two street town with a lone grocery store and not much else.

It has now exploded into a huge bedroom community for people working on HHI.
Have you LOOKED at the prices of homes at Palmetto Bluff???
Palmetto Bluff - Gallery of Homes

[jjbjjb]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

Bluffton used to be a two street town with a lone grocery store and not much else.

It has now exploded into a huge bedroom community for people working on HHI.
Have you LOOKED at the prices of homes at Palmetto Bluff???
Palmetto Bluff - Gallery of Homes

ok--the prices i see are out of my league. but what about the "feel" of bluffton? is it a good place to raise a family? crime?

what about okatie? i'm also looking at oldfield. anybody know about okatie or oldfield? thanks for any heads up.

[oz in SC]

Originally Posted by jjbjjb

ok--the prices i see are out of my league. but what about the "feel" of bluffton? is it a good place to raise a family? crime?

what about okatie? i'm also looking at oldfield. anybody know about okatie or oldfield? thanks for any heads up.

Those prices are out of reach of most mere mortals....

Bluffton has changed a lot in the time I have lived here in Beaufort County and is experiencing the problems associated with very fast development.

Most of the business is situated along Hwy 278 which is good in one way but VERY bad in another.
Hwy 278 is the main road for everyone going to and from Hilton Head Island and so is VERY busy.There are 'regular' developments in Bluffton that you could look at,and right now prices are better than they were a year or so ago.Too many builders and not enough buyers.

Oldfield is nice looking but you would need to drive to go anywhere like a grocery store.It ranges from about $450,000 to over $1,000,000.

We have no children but I think you would send any children to the schools located on HHI or that way which would be better than those located north of the Broad River.

Crime?Most is property crime and drugs to a lesser extent and it is plainly obvious where those areas are.

If you don't mind me asking,where are you moving from?
Some places here might be a bit of a 'culture shock' to some extent,you get used to seeing twenty year old singlewide trailers next to million dollar homes.

My wife is connected to the building industry here and if you want I will ask her where is a nice development.

[msleeman]

I grew up in Bluffton and Hilton Head (moved here back when Hilton Head only had one stop-light!) but moved to California in high school. I came back 15 years ago - got married, had kids, got divorced. Now I'm planning on moving back out west. Frankly, I like the Lowcountry but I'm sick of the humidity and the bugs! You MUST have a screened porch if you want to take advantage of your backyard without getting eaten alive by mosquitos.

IMO Bluffton is a better place to live than Hilton Head - mainly because the traffic on the island is horrible during the tourist season and the prices of homes on the island are outrageous. Of course, the traffic affects 278 in Bluffton as well but now that the Bluffton Parkway is open it is much easier to get around. Crime is no different than any other area - just use common sense. If you can afford to live in a gated community, that's great - though personally I don't like all the rules and regulations - not to mention the HOA/POA fees!

As for schools - I've heard good and bad about all of them. My son started in Okatie and I liked the communication and the curriculum but I've heard recently that they're not up to par according to state ratings. Now both my kids are in Bluffon Elementary and I'm not too happy with the school. Mainly because my son is ADHD and no one seems to be trained to deal effectively with him. If I could afford it I would try one of the private schools.

Anywhere you live there is going to be good and bad - you just need to rent somewhere for a while before committing to buying a home (though I will say if you're looking for a 4 bedroom, 2 bath + office on .49 acres with beautiful live oaks and no POA/HOA fees, let me know...lol)

[kewell]

Palmetto Bluff is an awesome environment and concept with something for everyone. There are few permanent residents there at this time. I know a young man who bought a lot there who plans to build a home for his young family.
Kathy Ewell