Ashton Pointe Blog

Right now the housing market is stagnating and real estate brokers would have potential buyers believe that there is no better time than the present to buy a home. It is true, prices are down and mortgage rates are at all-time lows.

Unfortunately for the real estate brokers, many clients are not persuaded by that logic. Instead, in increasing numbers, they are choosing to rent instead of buy — unconvinced that the housing market has yet hit bottom. Would be buyers also understand that unless you plan to stay in your home for more than 10 years, buying a home may not be the right investment for everyone.

With apartments in Beaufort, SC that are conveniently located in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and offering apartment amenities that can’t be found in homes; renting is a great option for many. There is also a broad mix of tenants in the Ashton Pointe Apartment community: young single residents and families and empty-nesters that no longer have homeownership on their wish list.

For information on beautiful one-,  and two bedroom apartments in Beaufort contact Ashton Pointe Apartment Homes.

As if you needed another reason to move into an apartment in Beaufort, SC, but here is a good one, your kids.

An organization founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell has named Beaufort County one of America's best communities for youth.

The honor was announced Wednesday by the America's Promise Alliance. The alliance considers the reduction of school dropout rates, health initiatives and opportunities for students to help others.

The Beaufort application highlighted the work of several agencies, including Together for Beaufort County, a group of about 110 professionals who help coordinate services for children and families.

The award includes $2,500, a conference to share ideas with community leaders and access to grant money.

Powell and his wife, Alma, started the America's Promise Alliance in 1997.

Home owners and renters of apartments in Beaufort, SC can enjoy the 17th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1.

The South Carolina Shrimpers Association brings you this fun filled event. Deas Guyz will play live music while you enjoy crafts, shrimp and fun in the Waterfront Park in Downtown Historic Beaufort. There will be plenty of fun, food and kids activity, including a Children’s Shrimp Peeling Competition.

Saturday at 8am the 5k Popcorn Shrimp Run begins. There is also a craft market and children’s area. There will also be fresh South Carolina wild caught shrimp sold off working shrimp boats, 15 local restaurants serving wild caught local shrimp. But don’t worry there will be choices for those who only want turf rather than surf.

Some of the best eats are in the restaurant competition and the live entertainment on the Pavilion Stage. What a perfect way to bring in the fall in Beaufort.

Have we got a golf tournament for you this weekend! Take a short jaunt to Hilton Head Island from your apartment in Beaufort for the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament.

This tournament has been going on since 1979 and benefits over 20 area children’s charities to help provide a better way of life for our community’s children.

The tournament matches amateur golfers with a celebrity for a three day tournament. The celebrities are combines a mix of sports heroes with some of the best and most creative entertainers of all time.

This Labor Day weekend tournament is focused on family. Bring the entire family and take part in the tournament weekend. There are activities for spouses, children and guests.

Friday, Round 1 is at the Robert Trent Jones Course, Saturday, Round 2  is at the Pete Dye Course and  round 3 is on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links.

*The Ashton Pointe Welcome Center will be closed Monday, September 5th for Labor Day.

Ashton Pointe Apartments is teaming up with the “Breast Friends” team to support the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure.

On October 15, 2011, “Breast Friends” and Ashton Pointe will be running/walking in the race to help raise money and awareness.

If you are interested in joining or making a donation, please visit our site at http://www.komenlowcountry.org/ and be sure to click on the “Register Online” link and join the existing team, “Breast Friends” or simply click here.

Click here to Download Flyer.

When you live in an apartment in Beaufort, SC it is easy to discover it’s sophisticated charm. Nestled in the curve of a beautiful bay along the Intra-Coastal Waterway, this historic town offers a unique Low country experience that will leave you with lasting memories of southern hospitality. Here are some fun things to do around Beaufort:

Movies in the Park where all the movies are free!

A wonderful experience to watch a movie under the stars withour magnificent Beaufort River as a backdrop!  You bring the chairs and have a wonderful experience under the stars at the Henry C. Chambers Water Front Park.

Beaufort Taste and Toast
Beaufort's Best Chefs come together at the Dataw Island Club for a great evening offFood, wine, and a good cause! Many restaurants like the Breakwater Restaurant & Bar; Dataw Island Club; Maggies' Pub & Eatery are coming together to benefit CODA Citizens Opposed to Domestic Violence.

Sweet Grass Exhbit
Have you ever wondered about our Gullah tradition and culture of sweet grass baskets? Thru August 26th The York W. Bailey Museum at Penn Center is presenting the debut exhibition of "The Beaufort Basket" by sweetgrass basket maker Jery Bennet-Taylor. This will be the first in a series of exhibits celebrating Gullah traditional art in South Carolina.

When deciding whether to rent or buy, you are making the choice to rent an apartment home or renting the capital needed to buy a home. Most Americans don't consider that they are renting equity (from the bank) to buy a home. As you are aware, very little equity is built in the first few years of paying a mortgage. Many people are surprisingly still very unaware of this fact.

This following article explains how renting is financially better than buying in about 75% of cases!

For the Past 30 Years, Renting Was Generally Better Than Buying

If homeownership is the American dream, then the nation had better wake up. That's the message from a new research paper that examines whether buying or renting a home was a better financial decision over the past 30 years. Most would find the result surprising: over the period Americans were better off renting between 65% and 75% of the time, depending on the investment alternative.

The article essentially looks at eight-year periods and assumes that a person invests the money he or she saves by renting. Since buying is generally more expensive than renting, renters have extra money to invest. It also makes a number of assumptions favorable to homeownership, including gains from the mortgage interest tax deduction, the option to refinance, and the ability to walk away -- loss-free -- from an underwater mortgage. Still, renting wins approximately three-quarters of the time.

The staff at economic research organization e21 explains why this result actually shouldn't be so shocking:

Counter-intuitive as the finding may be to some, it is actually quite logical. Unless someone possesses the cash necessary to buy a residence, he or she will be renting one way or another. The choice is between renting the property directly or instead renting the capital necessary to buy the property. The amount of capital to be rented is a function of house prices, while the bulk of a mortgage payment is interest, which is the rental payment on this capital. After 2 years, the typical 30-year amortizing mortgage balance has been reduced by less than 3%. This means that a household that took out a $300,000 mortgage with a 5% interest rate to buy a home has only reduced its mortgage balance by $8,600 after two years despite spending nearly $39,000 in total over this period.

Housing advocates may respond by pointing out that at least the $8,600 in this scenario went towards home equity rather than simply being squandered on rent. But, as demonstrated in the Real Estate Economics article, the principal component of each mortgage payment - i.e. the portion of the mortgage payment that goes towards reducing the principal mortgage balance instead of interest - is an added expense renters don't have.

This turns the real estate industry's biggest talking point on its head: you aren't throwing rent into the wind each month, you're casting away equity.

Of course, that equity also provides a potential benefit. The analysis's eight-year rolling methodology appears to miss the biggest reward of owning a home: living rent-free once the home is paid off. After that 30-years is up, the longer a family remains in that home rent-free, the more buying pays off. Taking this into account would almost certainly change the result in some, if not all situations. Renting may be a better option initially, but there's no eventual reward.

An important point still needs to be made here: buying a home that you don't plan to live in for an extended period of time probably isn't a great idea. The rent you pay in the form of interest on a 30-year loan for five or even 10 years won't be any better than if you had just rented outright. But if you're planning on living in a home for 30-plus years, then you could potentially get some benefit from buying rather than renting.

Original article by By Daniel Indiviglio, The Atlantic

Some of the hottest weather of the summer is heading for South Carolina, the heat is still on! If you live in an apartment in Beaufort, SC, you have probably  spent some time in the pool. But there is a better and more exciting way to beat the heat this week. The Beaufort Water Festival begins this Friday!

The 56th Annual Beaufort Water Festival will continue the great traditions of the past festivals with all of the water and air shows, sporting events and musical entertainment planned for you along with crafts and great food. Even better, this year's festival coincides with Beaufort's 300 Year Tri-centennial Celebration.

Watch the video below to see how we stayed cool at a Water Festival Parade from the past.

 

As you know, excessive heat warnings have been issued for 17 counties. and they are saying it will feel like at least 110 degrees. Actually, they say the heat index could reach 117 along the coast from Charleston south to Beaufort. So stay cool.

Your retirement years are a time to improve your golf game, take up a new hobby, or just enjoy a well-deserved break. With gorgeous places to live and endless things to do, retiring in Beaufort, SC is perfect, and you can expand your intellectual horizons too at the University of South Carolina.

When Hollywood movie scouts need the quintessential southern setting, they frequently call on Beaufort. Tucked among South Carolina's Sea Islands, this 300-year-old town with antebellum mansions and moss-covered oaks has been the backdrop for such blockbusters as Forrest Gump, Prince of Tides and The Big Chill. But fame hasn't spoiled it. The town is still far enough off the beaten path that you have to really look for it. In fact, many people find Beaufort by boat because most of the town boarders an estuary leading to the Port Royal Sound.

Of course, newcomers will quickly realize that there's more to the town than just a pretty face. At the University of South Carolina, Beaufort, older learners are privy to dozens of one-day and multi-session classes in history, literature, religion, music and more.

Original article on CNN Money

Calling all swimmers in the Ashton Pointe Community. Here is your chance to swim in The Beaufort River Swim which is quickly becoming a Beaufort and Lowcountry tradition! This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 18th at 8:05am.

The River Swim began as a way to promote the sport of swimming while the Local Water Festival was occurring. But it soon became an event all its own! In 2008, The YMCA took charge of the event and hosted has hosted it since. The event is set as a 3 Mile Open water swim along the shoreline of Beaufort, highlighting the natural beauty of the area. The River Swim continues to grow in popularity. There has been an increase in participating swimmers of nearly 20% in each of the past four years. The Beaufort River Swim hopes to continue to grow and be able to raise money to serve more individuals in the community that want to learn to swim. Please come out and be a part of this great event!

Proceeds from the Beaufort River Swim benefit the YMCA of Beaufort County's Learn to Swim Program. Last year $4,000 was raised for the swimming programs. Individuals who wouldn't have had access or means to participate are able to learn through generous donations and support.

Swimmers of all levels participate in the River Swim: tri-athletes, recreational lap swimmers and competitive age groups. The Race starts at Port Royal Landing Marina, travels around the bend, passes the Hospital, and finishes at the Boat Ramp at the corner of the Downtown Marina, adjacent to Waterfront Park.  Registration is still open until 7:30am the day of the event.