Golf Real Estate’s New Golden Age: Surging Demand, Changing Lifestyles
Golf Real Estate’s New Golden Age: Surging Demand, Changing Lifestyles
Blog Article
On Kiawah Island in South Carolina, a select number of homes sit on a golf course and have ... [+] oceanfront views.
Kiawah Island Real Estate
Like golf itself, the landscape of golf real estate is experiencing a renaissance, driven by a perfect storm of factors that extend well beyond the traditional appeal of a links lifestyle. While the sight of homes along fairways probably won’t excite most golfers mid-round, the dream of owning property alongside a course or in a residential golf community is in exceedingly high demand.
This resurgence is evident in golf communities across the country, from the coastal shores of South Carolina to the Hill Country of Texas and the Hawaiian Islands.
Take Kiawah Island, where 2024 marked the most successful year in the resort island’s history, with over $1 billion in total sales volume across 447 transactions, surpassing even the COVID-era peak of 2021. The average sale price reached $3.8 million, with 20 home sales exceeding $5 million on Kiawah Island, which has five resort courses and two private layouts, with a third on the way.
"The continuing strength of the real estate market on Kiawah Island further solidifies our belief that the desire to be a part of this exceptional community is much more enduring than a cyclical trend," says Chris Randolph, Managing Partner at South Street Partners.
Real estate sales on Kiawah Island surpassed all previous real estate records in 2024, with over $1 ... [+] billion in total sales volume, buoyed by strong demand for year-round outdoor activities highlighed by the seven golf courses on the island in South Carolina.
Kiawah Island Real Estate Fundamental Shift
A key element in play is a fundamental shift in how people view these communities.
Rob Duckett, President of Operations at South Street, has observed a significant transformation in residential patterns. "There’s been this migration to these safe-haven communities, and COVID heightened the demand,” Duckett said, pointing to Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina as an example. The Lowcountry community has seen full-time residency climb past 50% – up from 30% to 40% just five years ago and from 20% when the property first opened.
Palmetto Bluff opened a reversible short course called Crossroads at the start of 2024 and more recently unveiled plans for a new 18-hole course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw that will anchor the community’s third village. The new offerings could help Palmetto Bluff surpass what was a near record-breaking year in 2024, with over $384 million in sales, just $7 million shy of the community’s 2021 historic total.
The May River Course at Palmetto Bluff, which recently added a short course (Crossroads) and ... [+] announced the development of a new 18-hole course from Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in addition to another new community.
Palmetto Bluff
And the trend extends well beyond the Southeast U.S.
While the prestigious South Carolina enclave of Timbers Kiawah has been sold out since 2021 due to increased demand – with buyers from the Northeast in particular seeking year-round golf and other outdoor activities – Timbers Kauai in Hawaii is experiencing record sales because of new offerings. This ranges from shared ownership interests in Hokuala’s private residence club to full ownership residences in Timbers Kauai and vacant lots in a new subdivision for families to build a dream home on the Garden Isle.
The newest Laola Nani luxury townhomes along the signature 15th hole of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course, which traces the shoreline of Ninini Point Bay, range from $6.1 million to $7.5 million.
An interior view of the Laola Nani residences that sit along the fairway of the Ocean Course at ... [+] Hokuala on Kauai, with views from the Ninini Point Lighthouse to the southern horizon.
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