Ashton Pointe Blog

One of the most popular home ownership myths in Beaufort, SC is that owning a house is a huge tax break as compared to renting.  I don’t know how many times people have personally told me that they want to buy a home because they NEED a tax deduction!  I just shake my head in disbelief because I have done the math.  

If your mortgage interest and other qualifying expenses such as charity contributions aren’t more than the standard deduction, ($11,600 for joint filers in 2011), there is no tax advantage to owning a home as opposed to renting an apartment in Beaufort, SC .  Assume that you buy a $200,000 house with a 5% downpayment at a 6% interest rate.  Your mortgage interest for the year would be $11,336.  The Standard Deduction for joint filers is $11,600.  

In this example, there is NO TAX BENEFIT.  Even when there is a tax benefit, you most likely paid much more money to maintain the house than you are saving in taxes.  If your mortgage interest is more than the standard deduction and you choose to itemize, there is little to no advantage.  

For example, assume that your mortgage interest in 2011 is $15,000.  You would get to deduct an additional $3400 if you itemize BUT you spent $15,000 in mortgage interest to save $850 on your taxes (assuming 25% tax bracket).    

Don’t forget that you would also have all of the other expenses of home ownership that you would not have incurred when renting an apartment in Beaufort in an HHHunt community.

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.

Southern Living readers consistently rate Beaufort as one of the “Best Small Towns in the South” in the magazine’s annual survey, and the area also makes a regular appearance on lists of the “best places to retire.” Proud to be a bit off the beaten path, Beaufort is often described as a smaller version of its historic big city sisters, Savannah and Charleston.

Beaufort’s year-round temperature averages about 65 degrees. Coastal residents and visitors alike adore the area’s temperate climate, because it allows outdoor recreation twelve months of the year. With beautiful apartments in  Beaufort, SC, this fun, relaxing and completely southern town can be your home.

And, Beaufort is turning 300! We've had 300 years to perfect the best of everything the Lowcountry has to offer; history, southern cuisine, outdoor adventure, beaches, art, romance and more. Call Ashton Pointe today to find out how to make this your home.

I'm proud to be a Beaufort Dog!

Beaufort Dog at Habersham offers a doggie daycare, boarding, grooming, and training services. You’ll be hard pressed to find a doggie daycare that offers all of those features!

It’s important to send your dog to the right places. You want your dog to be treated like family, but you also want him or her to have fun!

When you need to go run some errands, drop your dog off early and they’ll give him or her a nice bath with all the trimmings!

When you’re at work or on vacation and you can’t give your pooch all the love it needs, the staff at Beaufort Dog will make sure your dog has a blast and is treated like royalty!

The daycare is headed by a professional behaviorist, so your dog will get optimum play and discipline. By the time you come to get your pet, they will be all played out!

Visit Beaufort Dog at Habersham online to find out more about this great doggy daycare!

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ashton Pointe Apartments is located in the busiest part of the Low Country. Our Beaufort location puts us near many of the tourist destinations in the Low Country. The charming town of Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, and Fripp Island are popular among tourists all year long. One well-known venue among locals and tourists is the Jazz Corner (1000 William Hilton PKWY) on Hilton Head Island.

This weekend catch a show by the celebrated Savannah jazz singer Gina Rene at the Jazz Corner. She has performed at prominent events including the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympics, the Savannah Jazz Orchestra, The Savannah Jazz Festival, and many more. Get out and experience all the great things Beaufort has to offer.

Have you visited the Jazz Corner? Who was your favorite performer there? If you attend this weekend’s event please share your experience with us on the comments sections of our blog.

The city of Beaufort is a charming small town. It is no surprise that Beaufort was named “Best Small Southern Town” by Southern Living magazine. The sophisticated charm and elegance of downtown Beaufort, the far-reaching marshes, and water views would grab the attention of anybody. Beaufort is not only a big hit among tourists, but it is also a favorite among filmmakers. Beaufort has been featured in several Hollywood hit movies including Forrest Gump, The War, G.I. Jane, Forces of Nature, Something to Talk About, and many more.

For the past five years Beaufort has celebrated its popularity among film makers by hosting the Beaufort International Film Festival. This film festival introduces many to the city of Beaufort as well was started to develop and encourage an appreciation for the art of filmmaking.

Event: Beaufort International Film Festival

When: Wednesday, February 16^th – Sunday, February 13^th , Various Locations

Visit Beaufort Film Festival website for more information

Valentine’s Day started out as a celebration for couples, but now it is a way of showing your friends, family, and yourself how much you love and appreciate them. So for those of you who are single do not look at it as being a bad thing. Use this Valentine’s Day celebration to fall in love with yourself all over again, inside and out.

One of the best things about living at Ashton Pointe Apartments is that pampering yourself is easy. Spa retreats are nice, but when you have an Oval Soaking Tub in your master bathroom, you come home to a spa everyday. Run a warm bathwater and add your favorite scented oils and rose petals to the water. This will help you to relax and give you soft, silky, and smooth skin. Dim the lights and light scented candles to further set the mood.

Check out all of the other great amenities Ashton Pointe Apartments offer.

24 hours to kick-off! Are you ready? Not for the game, but for the party at your apartment. A Super Bowl party is fairly easy to prepare for since you already have the entertainment. The next major item on the list for a Super Bowl party is the food and beverages. Your living room is going to be full of empty stomachs and parched mouths that came to feast at your party. If you have these food items on the list everyone will be happy.

A Super Bowl party is also finger-food heaven. You cannot have a Super Bowl without them. You should have finger-foods including cheese sticks, hot wings, southwestern eggrolls, chicken tenders, popcorn, chips and dip, nachos, and more. This sounds like the menu at Chili’s and everybody is a fan of Chili’s. It is also a good idea to have a couple of fruit and vegetable platters. Click here for more tips.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good bowl of chili? The weather is cold so what better way to warm up than with a nice big bowl of beefy chili? Well, this Saturday you can have several big bowls of chili at the Habersham Marketplace Chili Cookoff. Taste some of the best chili around town prepared by local chefs and residents. If you are thinking no one has better chili than your momma than tell her to come out Saturday to compete for the best chili. This is an all day event that has great entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Spend a day eating delicous chili, listening to live music, and enjoying the Habersham Marketplace shops and street vendors. Come out for a spicy good time.

What: Habersham Marketplace Chili Cookoff

Where: Habersham Marketplace in Beaufort

Time: 1P.M. – 4P.M.

Admission: Adults $10 Children 12 and under are FREE.

More Information

See you there!

Renting an apartment for your first time is a memorable experience. You are signing your first lease, getting your first key, and decorating your first apartment. You should be very proud of yourself for taking this next step into adulthood.

As a new apartment renter one of the first things you have to do is decorate your apartment. At this point all of your walls are bare so you have unlimited options in home décor. Before you go shopping there are simple questions you must know the answer to in order to decorate your apartment quickly and efficiently. What is your style preference? What is your budget? Where do you plan on shopping? Once you know your style you can shop at home and furniture stores that cater to your preference. Keeping your budget in mind while you are shopping will keep you from overspending and prolonging your decorating tasks. Do you have any decorating tips for first time renters? Please share. More Décor Tips