Margi Rice Realtor

Before September comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to commemorate REALTOR® Safety Month and a side of this business we don’t talk about enough: our safety.

Real estate is built on relationships and trust—but our job also means meeting strangers, entering vacant homes, hosting open houses alone and working in unfamiliar places.

A few reminders worth carrying with us long after September:

🔑 Know who you’re meeting
📍 Let someone know where you are
🏡 Know your exits
📱 Keep your phone accessible
👀 Stay aware of your surroundings
⚠️ If something feels off, trust your gut

And to buyers: if an agent asks for identification or information before meeting, there’s a reason. These precautions help us serve you while keeping everyone safe.

To my fellow agents—look out for each other, check in and never feel guilty for setting a boundary.

No showing, client or commission is worth compromising your safety. 🤍

Save this. Share it with a fellow agent. And tell me: what’s one safety practice you never skip?

Let’s Make the Move ✨
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®
𝑪𝑶𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝑿𝒑 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®

🍂 Fall buyers, this one’s for you.

The fall market can bring a different set of opportunities—but knowing how to take advantage of them is key.

More days on market doesn’t always mean something is wrong with the house. The list price isn’t always the only thing worth negotiating. And your maximum pre-approval amount definitely doesn’t have to become your shopping budget.

The goal? Buy strategically, not emotionally.

A few things I’m telling my buyers this fall:

🍂 Pay attention to homes that have been sitting
🍂 Find out what matters most to the seller
🍂 Know your comfortable monthly payment BEFORE you tour
🍂 Explore concessions, closing costs & rate buydowns when appropriate
🍂 Be prepared to move when the right opportunity comes along

You don’t need to perfectly time the market—you need a strategy that makes sense for you.

Thinking about buying in Hilton Head or Bluffton this fall?

👇 Comment “MOVE” and I’ll help you build a game plan.
📩 DM me if you’re wondering what your buying power looks like right now.
🏡 Follow 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹® for more Hilton Head & Bluffton real estate tips.

Let’s Make the Move ✨
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®
𝑪𝑶𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝑿𝒑 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®

Same $1M budget. Two VERY different versions of Lowcountry living. 👀

One of the biggest mistakes I see buyers make is starting their search with the house instead of the lifestyle they actually want.

On Hilton Head, that $1M may mean sacrificing some square footage in exchange for island living, beach proximity, bike paths, established communities and having so much recreation right outside your door.

In Bluffton, that same budget can often stretch into more square footage, newer construction, larger homesites and amenity-rich communities—while still keeping Hilton Head within easy reach.

Neither is the “better” investment or place to live.

The better question is: what do you want your $1M to do for you?

Do you want the beach nearby? More house? Golf? Boating? Rental potential? A lock-and-leave second home? More land?

That’s where working with someone who understands both markets becomes important—because sometimes the home you think you’re looking for and the lifestyle you actually want are two different things.

Ready to compare your options?
→ Comment “$1M” and I’ll send you examples of what that budget can buy in both markets.
→ DM me and tell me your top 3 priorities—I’ll point you toward the areas I’d start with.
→ Save this for your Hilton Head vs. Bluffton home search.

Let’s Make the Move ✨
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®
𝑪𝑶𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝑿𝒑 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®

September isn’t just the beginning of fall—it might be the beginning of your next move. 🍂🏡

If being in a new home by January is the goal, waiting until January to start looking probably isn’t the move.

September is for getting pre-approved.
September is for figuring out what you actually want.
September is for touring homes while everyone else says, “We’ll wait until spring.”
September is for writing the offer, surviving the inspection report 😅, and making decisions based on real numbers—not your Zillow Zestimate.

Because buying a home doesn’t start when you find the one. It starts months earlier with a conversation, a plan, and understanding what’s realistic for you.

And if January rolls around and you’re unpacking boxes in your new home? September you deserves a little credit. ✨

Thinking about making a move this winter?
→ DM me and let’s talk through your timeline.
→ Comment “SEPTEMBER” and I’ll help you figure out where to start.
→ Save this for the day you decide you’re officially done “just looking.”

Let’s Make the Move ✨
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®
𝑪𝑶𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝑿𝒑 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®

The Hilton Head area market is shifting 📊—but that doesn’t mean the opportunity is gone. It means strategy matters more.

August’s numbers tell an interesting story: prices have softened, homes are taking longer to sell, and buyers have more leverage and negotiating power than they did in the frenzy of the last few years.

But we’re also seeing fewer new listings come to market, which means the right homes can still attract serious attention. 🏡

For buyers, this may mean more room to negotiate on price, repairs, closing costs or even strategies to help lower your interest rate.

For sellers, the days of simply putting a home on the market and waiting for offers are behind us. Pricing, preparation and positioning from day one matter. 🎯

And this is exactly why I believe market statistics are only useful when you understand what they mean for your specific property, neighborhood and goals.

Thinking about making a move?

→ BUYERS: DM me “BUY” and let’s talk about where I’m seeing opportunities in the Hilton Head + Bluffton market. 🔑

→ SELLERS: DM me “VALUE” for a complimentary home valuation with tiered pricing and a strategy based on current market conditions.

→ LOCALS: Save this post 📌 and follow along for monthly Hilton Head area market insights—without the real estate jargon overload.

**Market conditions vary by property type, price point and community. Mortgage rates vary by borrower, loan program and lender.**

Let’s Make the Move ✨
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®
𝑪𝑶𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝑿𝒑 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®

Calling all Lowcountry professionals—this invitation is for YOU. 🌴

Whether you’re just beginning your career, growing an established business, stepping into leadership, or looking for a way to become more involved in our community, Emerging Leaders is about bringing ambitious people together—regardless of age or industry.

This is your opportunity to CONNECT. COLLABORATE. LEAD.

Come meet professionals from across the Lowcountry who want to expand their networks, exchange ideas, support local businesses, and become pioneers in their respective fields by taking an active role in the community we all share.

Join COAST brokered by eXp Realty and the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce as we co-host an evening of networking, conversation, and connection in the heart of Old Town Bluffton.

📅 Tuesday, October 13
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM
📍 COAST brokered by eXp Realty
65 Lawrence St., Bluffton, SC
🥂 Appetizers, b**r, w**e & seltzers provided

$10 Chamber Members | $15 Non-Members
$25/year Emerging Leaders Membership

You don’t need a certain title, age, or number of years in business to lead. You just need a willingness to show up, connect and contribute.

→ Register using the QR code on the flyer
→ Tag a professional you’d love to bring with you
→ Share this with someone looking to expand their Lowcountry network

Bring a friend. Bring a colleague. Come ready to make a few new connections. We hope to see you there!

Let’s Make the Move ✨
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®
𝑪𝑶𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒆𝑿𝒑 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚
𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒆 | 𝑯𝑯𝑰 𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑶𝑹®