Hardeeville

Sun City Hilton Head is the largest 55-plus, active adult community in the Lowcountry. Within its nearly 6,000 acres comes an impressive list of amenities that keep residents busy year-round. With fitness facilities and golf courses, racquetball courts and specialized clubs, folks are as busy as they want to be. Local Realtor Kevin Lombard says it’s all up to the resident. “That’s the beauty of Sun City. It’s your own special setting that can be as big or small as you want it,” Lombard says. He lives in Sun City and has sold homes for nearly five years with Weichert Realtors Coastal Properties. “You can stick to your small group of close friends or attend a 900-person outdoor concert.” Because there’s so much to do, folks are outside a lot. “It’s a very social area,” Lombard says. “And it’s one of those areas where everyone waves to each other.” Sun City has nearly 9,500 homes and over 60 distinct sub-communities, from Alexandria Village to Holly Hill. “You’ve got a mix of everything here,” Lombard says. “But the majority is single-family homes with some cottages and villas from anywhere between $300,000 and $1 million.” New housing development sprawls across Sun City’s northern quarter, including new traditional and colonial-style homes that cost between $700,000 and $1 million. Many new traditional and Lowcountry-style homes in the southern quarter were built in the early 2000s. These tend to cost between $400,000 and $600,000, affording around 2,000 square feet with four bedrooms. Duplexes are priced between $300,000 and $400,000, typically featuring between 1,300 and 1,500 square feet with two to three bedrooms. “Sun City is one of the most amenities-rich communities across the Hilton Head and Bluffton areas,” Lombard says. “There’s something for everybody. You’ve got pools, fitness centers, pickleball courts and over 100 social clubs and groups.” Locals have 72 chartered clubs and 43 registered community groups they can join, ranging from amateur rodeo club and bird club to contract bridge club and karaoke club. “If you have a hobby, there’s probably a group for it.” Sun City features three golf courses that contour the community’s marshlands: Argent Lakes, Okatie Creek and Hidden Cypress. Tennis, pickleball and bocce ball courts are scattered throughout the community, and nearly 8 miles of walking trails connect many sub-communities with amenities. Three fitness centers offer group fitness classes, personal training and state-of-the-art cardio equipment. Dogs have designated spots, like the Argent Lakes Dog Park or the Red Dam Dog Park. And six community pools, two indoor and four outdoor, remain busy year-round. There’s three places to eat in Sun City, one at each of the community’s golf courses. The Clubhouse at Okatie Creek offers a more casual experience, with classic comfort food served during lunch and dinner. Menu items include Atlantic salmon, chicken potpie and veal parmesan. The restaurant features two outdoor patios that overlook the 18th hole of the Okatie Creek Golf Course. It’s also a popular brunch spot on Sundays. Folks go to Jameson’s Charhouse for a fine dining experience. Residents enjoy fine steak chops and seafood while enjoying views of the Hidden Cypress Golf Course. The restaurant also offers catering services. Al’s Pub at Argent Lakes is the community’s newest spot at the Argent Lakes Golf Course. The pub provides hand-tossed pizzas and local craft beers. Publix is about a mile down Business 278 and is the nearest grocery store. Sun City is large, and while many locals walk to get around, they typically use golf carts or ride bikes to reach their destination. Old Town Bluffton is about 10 miles east, and Hilton Head Island is about 15 miles away. Business 278 is accessible outside the gates of the community’s main entrance. The Savannah Hilton Head International Airport is about 27 miles away, and Coastal Carolina Hospital is 9 miles west.

Oldfield is a private community along the banks of the Okatie River that reminds local broker and Oldfield resident Jani Stephenson of her Midwestern home. “When we first moved to the area in 2014, we lived in Sea Pines. We used to make a lot of trips back and forth to Indiana and would always pass Oldfield,” Stephenson says. “I would notice the white fences and horse pastures that grace the front entrance, and as a gal that grew up in the Midwest, it reminded me of home.” She moved to Oldfield to sell homes with Oldfield Realty, LLC. Through the front gates, brick sidewalks, natural gas lanterns and split-rail fences flow with winding streets that meet outstretched lakes and lagoons. Its setting along the river’s marshy banks is highly protected, earning the community its Audubon Sustainable Community distinction in 2018. The golf course, sports center and Clubhouse complement Oldfield’s environment, and its residents are stewards of preservation. “It’s a mother nature paradise,” Stephenson says. “Everything is perfectly assembled.” Oldfield has 540 housing sites. Some are undeveloped lots, ready for buyers to snag and build a custom home. Inland lots typically cost between $200,000 and $300,000, while waterfront lots can cost between $500,000 and $650,000. The rest of Oldfield’s housing sites feature the community’s original move-in-ready homes and houses designed by prominent builders Front Light and Stanley Martin. Most houses have Lowcountry influences, with wide front porches, lofty ceilings and symmetrical layouts. Porches are often decorated with rocking chairs, hanging plants and ceiling fans. Houses commonly have between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet, with at least four bedrooms. Housing prices generally run from $900,000 to $1.5 million. Homes along the Okatie River can cost between $1.5 and $3.5 million. “Oldfield is amenities-rich, from the Outfitters Center to the Equestrian Center,” Stephenson says. Two fully licensed fishing guides operate fishing adventures at the Oldfield Outfitters Center, found along the Okatie River. Also at the Outfitters Center, locals enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking and group quail hunts at Turkey Hill Plantation. “The Outfitters Center has a whole menu of excursions,” Stephenson says. The Oldfield Sports Club features a gym where locals can sign up for personal training or fitness classes. The Sports Club also has an indoor, heated lap pool and an outdoor lagoon pool with a large slide. The community’s six tennis courts keep busy throughout the year. The Oldfield Golf Club runs an 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed course with six tees for players of all levels. The Oldfield Equestrian Center holds a 12-stall barn, a riding ring and riding lessons. Plus, locals can ride horses on Oldfield’s trails.   The Oldfield River Club offers fine dining with traditional Lowcountry cuisine. The restaurant has outdoor porch seating that overlooks the Okatie River. The Magnolia Grill, located in the Clubhouse, offers casual fare. Menu items include wraps, sandwiches and salads. Oldfield frequently hosts community oyster roasts, with corn on the cob, potatoes and bottles of hot sauce. Residents enjoy food with views of the river and live music. The Oldfield Farmers Market has become a community staple over the years. The monthly event offers anything from fresh farm produce and local coffee to fresh herbs and handmade goods. Walmart Supercenter and Publix are about 5 miles outside the gates. The Beaufort County School District scores an overall A-minus on Niche and serves nearly 22,000 students. Okatie Elementary School receives an overall A-minus on Niche, and Bluffton Middle School has a B-plus. May River High School opened in 2016 to accommodate Beaufort County’s growth. It has several student clubs, like the French club and Vex Robotics Team, and an overall A-minus on Niche. Folks often use bikes or golf carts to shuttle around the community. Okatie Highway runs outside the gates, which leads about 4 miles south to Business 278. Coastal Carolina Hospital is about 10 miles away, adjacent to the Interstate 95 entry ramp. The Savannah Hilton Head International Airport is about 29 miles away.