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When you are ready to buy your dream home, you might wonder whether building vs. buying makes the most sense. While custom homes can be an exciting way to meet all your home needs, they can also take a lot of time and money. On the other hand, buying a house with history behind it can be a fun experience as you work at making it your own.  Regardless of where you currently sit on the build vs. buy spectrum, both routes have pros and cons. Below, we will dive into each of these routes, discussing their strengths and weaknesses and ultimately determining which option might be right for you. So grab your hammer and nails as we delve into the build vs. buy debate! Building Pros Customization: The most obvious benefit of building your home is the opportunity to customize everything to your taste. From the floors to the lighting, appliances, cabinets, and much more, you can pick and choose. So, whether you prefer a rustic farmhouse feel or a mid-century modern, the choice is yours. Learn More: Built-For-Sale vs. Custom Building Reduced Maintenance: Newly-built homes must meet all current building codes and have up-to-date technology, so you won’t have to worry about major repairs or maintenance issues for the first few years. Perhaps best of all, you won’t have to worry about discovering any of the previous owners’ repairs. No Competition: When the real estate market is competitive, it can be a stressful experience trying to lock down a home when there are multiple other bidders. When you own the land and build on it, you don’t have to worry about fighting to secure a house just days after it reaches the market.  Lower Energy Costs: New homes often come with the latest energy-efficient appliances and materials, ensuring you receive much lower energy bills. In the long run, this is beneficial as older homes can end up costing a fortune in energy bills and the replacement of older, less efficient systems.  Cons Time: On average, constructing a new home takes seven to twelve months. Closing on an existing house typically takes 30 to 45 days. For some, the time it takes to build a home is already too much; for others, the cost of continuing to live somewhere else while the house is being built is too great to bear financially. Noise and Mess: This doesn’t apply to every scenario, especially if you are building somewhere remote, but noise and mess can be a major issue if you are building near other new homes. While you may be moved into your new home, other homes in your neighborhood may still be in progress, meaning a lot of noise and a potentially messy commute for you. Fixed or Growing Cost: Most home buyers go into the purchasing process expecting the ability to negotiate a lower price, which can often work out in their favor. Additionally, on average, the cost to buy a home in 2022 was $535,500, while the cost to build was around $645,000, meaning it was over $100,000 more expensive on average. Learn more about different architectural styles in our Complete Guide to South Carolina’s Architectural Styles. Buying Pros Better Choice of Location: As mentioned above, building a home can be costly. The money you save from buying an existing home can go towards snagging a great location. There may be a home in a historic neighborhood you have eyes on or a community you always loved growing up. Buying a home can allow you to move into nicer areas if that is one of your priorities.  Ability to Negotiate: As a buyer, you can negotiate the price on the home as well asrepairs and maintenance that need to be done before moving in. Negotiating closing costs is another way to save money when buying a home. Time Saved: When buying an existing home, you won’t need to wait for your contractor to finish up your hardwood floors or kitchen cabinets. Most transactions close within 30-45 days, so you can get into your new home quicker. Cons Updates and Repairs: The previous owner may have loved their leopard print wallpaper and orange tiled sink, but those may not match your style. When buying a home, you will most likely face updates that need to be made. On a similar note, you might also need to make some repairs, especially if you are purchasing an older home. So, it’s vital to always consider the age of your home when buying. Environmental Issues: While this isn’t applicable in every case, if you buy a really old home, you may need to deal with harmful chemicals, like lead paint or even asbestos. This would be another additional cost that you should consider in your home-buying process. Compromises: Chances are you won’t find a home that checks off everything on your wishlist, meaning you might have to settle for some things you don’t like or not everything you were hoping for. And while this is to be expected when buying a home, it is worth noting when considering building or buying. Related: When is the Best Time to Buy A Home on Kiawah Island  Which is Right for You? The debate between build vs. buy all comes down to your priorities. Building might be for you if you genuinely value making a home entirely yours and aren’t worried about additional cost or time. On the other hand, buying a home might be right for you if you value a great location in a great neighborhood and a home with some character. Either option can work for you if you go into it with the right mindset and understand that there are bound to be hiccups along the way, but they are challenges you can and will get through. Buy or Build Your Dream Home on Kiawah Island Regardless of your preference, we would love to have you join our fantastic community on Kiawah Island. We have beautifully designed existing homes, built-for-sale homes, and homesites available for viewing. Browse our properties below and reach out to our team to schedule a viewing!            

Home to unmatched natural beauty, pristine beaches, and professional golf courses, Kiawah Island is adored by its residents and Members. The Island houses various communities, each magical in its own way. With all the great communities on the Island, choosing just one can be a challenge. Allow us to do the work for you. Below, we break down each community and highlight its distinct characteristics. Later, we will provide a step-by-step guide to finding your perfect community on Kiawah Island. Cassique The unparalleled Cassique community is nestled where the Kiawah River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Each home in the community is expertly designed with an island-living feel sprinkled with Lowcountry style. Houses on large, well-planned sites with golf, creek, marsh, and long ocean views scatter this majestic community, making it one of the most beautiful districts on the Island. West Beach The West Beach community is nearest the main gate, providing convenient access to Charleston and other nearby destinations. The Sandcastle Community Center offers a variety of activities, including a gym, two pools, and seasonal dining options. West Beach offers multi-family and residential offerings, along with a plethora of oceanfront and river views. The addition of the Cougar Point Golf Course with its newly-designed Clubhouse shines a light on the community’s golf offerings.  East Beach The centralized location of the East Beach community provides easy access to all the Island offers. Outdoor enthusiasts delight in access to Night Heron Park and the Nature Center, while East Beach’s status as the central hub for tennis on the Island makes it ideal for athletic devotees. This community also includes two new pools and the top-ranked Turtle Point Golf Course, designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus.  Related: The History of Golf on Kiawah Island Vanderhorst The Vanderhorst community offers residents additional privacy with a second gate and spacious lots. Water lovers will find Vanderhorst enticing with its abundant water access, including Rhett’s Bluff Boat Landing, Eagle Point Landing in The Preserve, and the Cinder Creek Pavilion for all your canoe and kayaking needs. Golf lovers will find that Vanderhorst is home to three spectacular golf courses, including Osprey Point and the private River Course. Ocean Park Ocean Park is found on the Island’s eastern tip and rewards its residents with large homesites, spectacular nature, a mile-long ribbon park, and incredible views of the marsh, river, and ocean. This luxury community is also home to The Ocean Course, host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, and the future 2031 PGA Championship. Golfers who brave this course are treated with views of the Atlantic Ocean, marshland, and the 250-acre Little Bear Island preservation area. Residents of Ocean Park also enjoy access to Marsh House—a private community gathering spot spectacularly situated on Ocean Park’s expansive southern marsh. Finding the Right Kiawah Island Community for You Each of the communities on Kiawah Island has unique offerings that fit specific interests better than others. So, how do you find the right community for you? Follow along as we break down some steps you can take to determine which of our five communities may work for you. Learn More: Kiawah Island: A True Community 1. Determine Your Priorities With an abundance of available properties on Kiawah Island, the options are endless. To narrow your search, it’s essential to understand your priorities and how they should impact your community choice. Do you want to be closer to Charleston and nearby areas? Would you prefer being close to social action or living a more reserved and private life? Are athletic activities such as golf or tennis important to you? By answering these questions, you should be able to determine which communities check some or all of your boxes. 2. View Available Listings Once you have at least a general idea of your priorities, it’s essential to look at properties that may meet those needs.  Click here to view our current listings. What is great about this step is that you may surprise yourself and find some properties outside of your previously defined “priorities. ” This means you may need to reorganize your wants and needs and consider something a little outside your comfort zone. This type of mindset is a great way to ensure you are thorough in the search for your next home. 3. Speak to a Member of Our Team Once you have a few properties in mind, you should learn more about them and the communities they inhabit. A great way to gain additional insight into your desired properties and communities is to contact a Kiawah Island Real Estate sales executive. Our team of Island experts can help answer any questions you may have and also assist in narrowing down your search to a few properties or communities. 4. Schedule a Tour Doing your due diligence and researching online, coupled with speaking with our sales team, is definitely a good start, but to truly understand which community is right for you, it’s important to experience them in person. Talk to a sales team member about scheduling a tour, or stop by one of our offices during business hours, and a team member can take you around our beautiful Island.  Live Your Dream Life on Kiawah Island No matter which community you end up in on Kiawah Island, we are confident that you will love your choice. Let us help you in your home search. Reach out to a member of our team below. We look forward to helping you live your desired life on Kiawah Island!

Our luxurious communities, situated on 10,000 acres of coastal land, satisfy many unique tastes without compromising on the Island’s natural beauty. Whether you prefer ocean, river, or marsh views, there is surely a home for you here. Our communities all offer an assortment of luxurious amenities while maintaining uniqueness, setting each community apart in its own way. With so many Kiawah Island homes for sale, it can be hard to choose one that’s perfect for you. Our team here at Kiawah Island Realt Estate wants to make this process as seamless as possible for you. Our wonderful Island wouldn’t be what it is without the fantastic properties and homesites built on it. While we have many incredible listings available to view now, this blog will focus on our featured oceanfront homesites. With these homesites, you have the ability to build your dream home and make it completely yours. Below, we will break down three of these homesites and describe the unique features each one offers. 97 and 99 Flyway Drive These three-and-a-half-acre properties are the two largest remaining oceanfront homesites currently available. These properties offer 125 feet of oceanfront and 1200 feet of depth, impressive views, and unrivaled privacy. Lush with native greenery and filled with beautiful coastal dunes, these homesites immerse one in nature from sunrise to their beautiful sunsets. Both locations are conveniently a short bike ride from The Beach Club, meaning future residents will enjoy convenient access to all the Island offers.   97 Flyway and 99 Flyway provide an ideal space for building a family retreat away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The properties also offer access to a Social Membership to Kiawah Island Club, which provides endless opportunities to build life-long connections and memories on the Island.  112 Flyway Drive This rare piece of oceanfront property represents the first time in 12 years that a homesite has been listed for sale on Flyway Drive. This property is a transitory opportunity to purchase oceanfront property on one of the most beautiful Islands in the Southeast. Situated on one acre, 112 Flyway has spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, facing both the South and the West. This property is large enough for an estate-sized home of up to 12,000 heated square feet. A Kiawah Island Golf Club Membership is also available upon purchase of this property, giving its residents unrestrained entrance to the Club’s world-class amenities. This type of Membership offers residents access to dining options, fitness, golf, tennis, pools, and much more, all just a short walk or bike ride away! Club Membership Benefits Both properties offer Club Membership, sweetening the purchase price of these homesites. Future residents of these lots will have access to dining run by award-winning chefs, PGA-level golf courses, and meticulously designed gathering spaces for the entire family to enjoy. Becoming a Club Member truly enhances your Kiawah Island experience.  Club access offers more than the luxurious amenities mentioned above. It also provides access to exciting experiences such as a dolphin-watching cruise, full-moon kayaking, clay shooting, and unparalleled spa services. Club Members experience Island life at its very best. Find Your Dream Property Today!  Living on Kiawah Island is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with many activities to partake in. The Island is also a place for serene tranquility, offering residents a retreat from busy life and a reconnection with nature. Whether you enjoy swimming, biking, hiking, floating, or boating, the Island provides it all. We look forward to helping you find your next dream home!

Many prospective buyers wonder when the best time to buy a home is. While nuances are involved in answering this question, the simplified response would be in a buyer’s market. This then begs the following questions: what is a “buyer’s market,” and what are the differences from a “seller’s market?”  Below, we will explore the differences between a buyer’s and seller’s market, the best time to buy on Kiawah Island, and how Kiawah Island Real Estate can help you find your dream island home.  A Buyer’s vs. Seller’s Market In the simplest terms, a “buyer’s market” is when there are more properties available than there is demand. Home prices are driven downward for this type of market, and buyers can usually get better deals. During a “seller’s market,” the demand for houses exceeds the number of available properties. In this type of market, the opposite happens, and home prices are driven upward, often putting buyers in a tough spot financially.   It’s vital to remember that even in a buyer’s market, housing prices can shift quickly. So, when you believe you have found the right house at the right price, it’s better to act promptly to reduce the risk of missed savings. Usually, the most savvy buyers know when to act and, in turn, walk away with the best deals.  Buying a Home on Kiawah Island Many in the home-buying industry agree that winter is the best season to buy a home. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays and family events, there are often fewer buyers to compete with, making it a buyer’s market. This same philosophy applies to Kiawah Island. With a growing inventory, especially at the start of a new year, buying in January and February is often a great time to secure your summer home. Inventory on Kiawah Island has been growing over the last few years, making now also a perfect time to purchase a home here. The Kiawah Island market is booming, with transactions happening regularly and confidence remaining stable.   New amenities are continuously added to our communities, such as The Cape Club, making an investment in property on the Island an even better deal. As a Kiawah Island Club Member, you can access a collection of exclusive dining options, a spa, sporting activities, and social events. Now is your time to secure your spot on the Island and gain access to all of the fantastic benefits offered!  Things to Consider Before Buying Your Home on Kiawah Island While finding the right time to buy is important to your home-buying process, other factors should also be considered before purchasing a home. Read our list of other considerations below to ensure you make the most informed purchase decision possible. Location While the location of your home may seem like a prominent aspect to think about, it is often missed in the hustle and bustle of finding a home that meets all of your needs. With a collection of unique communities to choose from, you’ll have much to consider when deciding on a house on Kiawah Island. If you are a golf fanatic, you may select our Ocean Park Community, which includes the 2012 and 2021 PGA Tour Championships site—Pete Dye’s Ocean Course. If being central to all the action is your thing, our East Beach Community might suit you with its proximity to all the happenings on the Island.  Budget The most accurate way to determine your ideal home-buying budget is by speaking with a financial advisor. If you plan to buy in the future, they can help you build a savings plan. Or, if your purchasing plan is more immediate, they can discuss budgeting options for you based on your current financial situation.  Amenities Determining what amenities are important to you may help you decide where to buy your luxury island home. On Kiawah Island, our qualifying homeowners can access the Kiawah Island Club, which offers private golf courses, five-star dining, and special Members-only activities. Each of our communities also offers unique benefits not found elsewhere, meaning it’s vital to do your research before choosing a community and home. Home Type Considering what type of home you want is essential to home-buying. Will you need a single-family home with multiple bedrooms or a smaller cottage for two? For those looking for a more custom look, building your home may be the better option. Check out our latest developer releases, The Burn and Front Nine Lane, for a collection of luxurious built-for-sale homes. Related: The Step-By-Step Process to Building a Home on Kiawah Island      Find Your Dream Home Today! There will never be a “perfect” time to buy your next home, and at some point, you’ll need to make a decision based on your goals and current financial situation. Our team at Kiawah Island Real Estate is here to help you along this decision-making process. Whether you’re purchasing a home during the late winter lull, or buying a home during the summer, our experienced agents are available to answer your every question. Reach out to us below to start the conversation!

Step into a world of coastal luxury with 71 Eugenia Avenue, a breathtaking three-story oceanfront estate at Kiawah Island. This distinguished property of Kiawah Island Real Estate offers unparalleled views of the Atlantic Ocean from every level and provides direct access to the Island’s pristine beach through a private boardwalk. With its understated elegance and exceptional amenities, 71 Eugenia Avenue presents you with the opportunity to experience Island living to the fullest. A Kiawah Island Coastal Retreat Upon arrival, the timeless charm of 71 Eugenia Avenue is immediately apparent. The three-story oceanfront stately home, surrounded by meticulously landscaped grounds, sets the tone for the refined elegance found within. As you enter through the custom-crafted front door, a sense of serenity washes over you, inviting you to explore the wonders of this coastal oasis. 71 Eugenia Avenue is not just a luxurious property but a piece of architectural brilliance that reflects the rich history and culture of Kiawah Island. The estate’s design pays homage to traditional Southern architecture while incorporating modern elements that ensure comfort and convenience. The classic black-shuttered exterior is a nod to the Island’s historic homes, while the interior boasts state-of-the-art features that cater to contemporary living. Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living Designed with relaxation and entertainment in mind, 71 Eugenia Avenue seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor living spaces. The spacious family room, adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows and a wood-coffered ceiling, offers stunning views of the Atlantic waves crashing against the shore. Adjacent to the family room, a well-appointed wet bar beckons, providing the perfect setting for casual gatherings or evening cocktails. The outdoor spaces at 71 Eugenia Avenue are designed to maximize the enjoyment of Kiawah Island’s natural beauty. The expansive deck, complete with comfortable seating and a dining area, is perfect for dinner parties and entertaining guests. The private boardwalk leads directly to the beach, where you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and shoreline exploring. Additionally, the landscaped gardens provide a tranquil retreat for relaxation and reflection. A Chef’s Dream Kitchen For those who love to cook, the gourmet kitchen at 71 Eugenia Avenue is sure to impress. Featuring curved cabinetry, granite countertops, and top-of-the-line appliances, this culinary haven is as functional as it is beautiful. With ample space for meal preparation and a wine cellar for storing your favorite vintages, the kitchen is sure to be the heart of the home. Luxurious Accommodations Retreat to the privacy of the primary suite, located on its full floor and offering panoramic ocean views. The spa-like ensuite bathroom features a sauna, a walk-in shower, and a spacious California closet, providing the perfect sanctuary for relaxation. Additional guest suites on the second level offer comfort and convenience for family and friends, ensuring everyone feels right at home. Entertainment for All Whether hosting a formal dinner party or a casual game night, 71 Eugenia Avenue offers ample space for entertainment. The club room, complete with a fireplace and built-in shelving, provides a cozy setting for evening gatherings, while the billiards room offers a unique space for leisurely activities. Proximity to Kiawah Island Attractions Kiawah Island is home to a wealth of attractions and activities that cater to a variety of interests. From world-class golf courses and tennis facilities to exquisite dining and shopping options, there is something for everyone. 71 Eugenia Avenue’s prime location ensures that you are never far from the best that the Island has to offer. Real Estate Market Trends on Kiawah Island For those interested in the real estate market on Kiawah Island, it is worth noting the trends and factors driving demand. Kiawah Island continues to be a sought-after destination for luxury homebuyers, with properties like 71 Eugenia Avenue setting the standard for upscale living. Understanding the market dynamics can provide valuable insights for potential buyers and investors. A Kiawah Island Club Membership Enhance your Kiawah Island experience with a coveted Kiawah Island Club membership, offering access to world-class amenities including golf courses, tennis facilities, and dining venues. Through purchasing this home, a Kiawah Island Club membership may be available! Suggested: A Day in the Life of a Kiawah Island Resident Experience Coastal Living at its Finest Don’t miss the opportunity to call 71 Eugenia Avenue home. Contact Kiawah Island Real Estate to schedule a private viewing and discover the unparalleled luxury of Lowcountry living. With its prime location, exceptional design, and exclusive amenities, this oceanfront estate is truly a rare find. Click the button below to search our available properties!