The hangover from the pandemic remains. Most high quality and popular golf communities in the Southeast have the skinniest inventories of homes for sale in their histories. A few examples will suffice.
The 10 golf communities comprising the Pawleys Island market area show a total of 43 properties for sale. These include just three at Pawleys Plantation – listed at Realtor.com -- that are not either sold or in contingent status, awaiting financing or other conditions to be met. I count five homes at Realtor.com for sale at The Reserve at Pawleys Island and four at the Heritage Club. Porters Neck Plantation in Wilmington has just two homes for sale and five homesites. In the 8,000-acre Savannah community known as The Landings, just 11 homes are currently for sale. I could write more, but you get the point.
This paints a pessimistic picture for those searching in earnest for a golf community home in a warm weather location. But there are some popular and well-rated golf communities in the Southeast with a good selection of properties for sale. The long-standing private Champion Hills community in Hendersonville, NC, for example, currently lists eight homes for sale ranging in price from $695,000 to $2 million. Those considering building their dream golf home will find 28 lots for sale, ranging in price from $17,500 to $149,900, that latter homesite located on Bobby Jones Drive and the 5th fairway of the Tom Fazio designed golf course. As if Bobby Jones Drive is not a conversation piece, the lot is currently owned by Mr. Fazio himself.
There seems to be an abundance of properties for sale in the communities surrounding Greenville, SC, a city that ranks highly with retirees aiming for a golfing lifestyle. In Travelers Rest, just 18 minutes north of the city and close to the beautiful campus of Furman University – excellent public golf course as well – more than 75 properties are listed for sale among four communities, two of them part of the Cliffs group of communities. Cliffs Valley and Cliffs at Mountain Park are showing a total of 67 properties for sale, Green Valley just three properties but reasonably priced, and Cherokee Valley with just one home for sale (pending financing) at $550,000, but 12 lots priced from $31,500 to a high of $89,500.
The following is a selection of popular golf markets in South Carolina, with a list of golf communities in each and the total number of properties currently for sale. I have visited virtually all of these communities and written about them. In many cases, I have helped people find a home there. If you are interested in any of these in the Palmetto State or in any of the other Southeast states, please
Aiken (6 communities, 69 listings)
Houndslake Golf Club, Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken Golf Club, Golf Club at Cedar Creek, The Reserve at Woodside Plantation and Woodside Plantation Country Club
Daufuskie Island ( 3 communities, 31 listings)
Haig Point, Melrose, and Bloody Point (Note: Majority of properties (27) at Haig Point; the golf courses at Bloody Point and Melrose filed for bankruptcy and have closed).
McCormick (1 large community, Savannah Lakes Village, 44 listings)
Seabrook Island (1 community, Seabrook Island, with 13 listings)
Sunset (2 communities, 22 listings)
The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyard and The Reserve at Lake Keowee
Travelers Rest (4 communities, see above, 75 listings)
Westminster (1 community, Chickasaw Point, mostly lots, some homes in $300s)