For the last month it seems like everyone who called me was complaining about the stock market because their assets kept going down in value.  I’m so excited to see that we have had about eight or nine days of good news in the stock market – I think that has a positive influence on the overall real estate market.

I have had people ask “why does that affect the Hilton Head real estate market”?  It is simple – the most important factor in real estate is consumer confidence.  In other words, when people feel good about their net worth, they are much more likely to go out and buy real estate – especially secondary resort real estate in places like Hilton Head Island.  When people feel bad about their net worth, they are less likely to spend for those “extras”. 

It is my hope that the stock market has bottomed out, prices are up and I think we will see a corresponding trend and increased activity in real estate.  There have been a lot of people sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right time to buy – this may be it.