Two points to consider: there’s a storm surge of Baby Boomers coming and while the lifestyles and leisure habits of these folks are constantly changing, the potential of their economic impact remains extraordinarily strong. Secondly, the traditional supply/demand theory has never been more relevant when it comes to ocean-oriented property. As they say, they ain’t making any more of it. Though not quite a perishable as, say, an unused tee time, there’s an opportunity cost that comes with such investments. You strike when the time is right.

So enough with the econ lesson: Nothing compares to the coastal regions of the Southeast for quality, variety and uncompromising beauty. From North Carolina to Georgia, the Atlantic Coast abounds in outstanding opportunities for permanent residency or a getaway retreat.

Just put down the business pages long enough to spend a few days in the South Carolina Lowcountry or along the North Carolina coast. You’ll get it.

...To see the Side Article "Tom's Traditions" please go to page 9. BERKELEY HALL Bluffton, SC

Located in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Berkeley Hall Club is an 860-acre private club community just 15 minutes from Hilton Head Island.

Berkeley Hall features two Tom Fazio-designed core golf courses and a 30-acre Golf Learning Center that has garnered worldwide acclaim There is also a full-service Spa & Fitness Center, and a majestic Jeffersonian-style clubhouse with a variety of dining options and one of the country’s top-rated men’s locker rooms.

Club membership is included with real estate purchase at Berkeley Hall, which was named one of “America’s 100 Premier Properties” for 2007 by the editors of LINKS Magazine. Call (843) 815-8494 or visit www.berkeleyhallclub.com for more information.

Blessed with arguably the finest piece of land in the Carolina Lowcountry, Colleton River Plantation is nestled on a 1,500-acre peninsula surrounded by the Port Royal Sound, Chechessee River, and Colleton River. 

It is one of a handful of private communities to offer nationally-ranked golf courses by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, as well as a nine-hole par-3 course. The club also offers a Stan Smith Tennis Center, a fitness center, two clubhouses, and a community deep-water dock.

Single-family homesites range from $160,000 to more than $2 million, and homes range from $800,000 to more than $4 million. Contact Gateway Realty at (866) 475-0932 or visit ColletonRiver.com.  

It was designed as a self-contained small town with residential, commercial, educational and recreational opportunities. But the evolution of Daniel Island has resulted in much more.

It is the only 36-hole golf community in Charleston, SC. It is home to several of the region’s top employers and schools, and special events including professional soccer and the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament. Its “island town” setting offers spectacular golf and recreational amenities, just minutes from the culture and charms of Charleston. Daniel Island’s master plan has been recognized with awards including the coveted Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute.

Daniel Island’s country club provides nationally-ranked golf (the country’s only single-property pairing of private courses by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones) and exceptional recreational amenities to those interested in a private club lifestyle. Three schools serve children of all ages, and the island’s centrally-located downtown is home to an array of shops, restaurants and services. 

The housing mix accommodates a broad range of market segments, from condominiums and townhomes to custom homes within the community’s golf neighborhood, ranging from the high $100,000s to more than $5 million.

Please call (866) 253-7059 for more information or visit online at www.danielisland.com.

DATAW ISLAND Beaufort, SC  

A secluded 870-acre gated community, Dataw Island has long been recognized as one of the top coastal residential communities in the Southeast. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and lush marshes, this private Lowcountry community features outstanding golf, elegant dining and an active lifestyle.

Dataw Island provides a host of impeccable amenities including two breathtaking golf courses—Tom Fazio’s Cotton Dike and the Arthur Hills Morgan River Signature Course—that offer stunning views of the surrounding waterways. There’s also a 24-hour tennis center, a deepwater marina, and a 16,000-square-foot community center featuring an indoor pool, whirlpool spa, fitness room, dance and aerobic studio, and massage room.  

Dataw Island offers a stunning mix of residential options, with each home viewing either water or the golf courses. The community is a mix of single-family homes, single-family patio homes with less land to maintain, villas that offer maintenance-free living and a limited number of resale homesites. Homes range from $300,000 to more than $3 million, villas from $250,000 and homesites from 75,000 to $900,000.  

Dataw Island is located just outside of historic Beaufort, SC. Call (866) 68-DATAW or visit www.LiveonDataw.com for more information.

HAMPTON ISLAND PRESERVE

Sometimes the most luxurious way to live is by leaving conventional luxury behind. Nestled along South Georgia’s extraordinary coast, Hampton Island Preserve is a pristine, private retreat bathed in natural beauty and offering impeccable amenities and services. 

Surrounded by 12 linear miles of rivers and tidal saltwater marshes, Hampton Island Preserve offers 370 select homesites ranging from expansive equestrian farms of up to 100 acres to one-acre sites, all offering stunning natural views of lakes, rivers or marsh. Lot prices range from $399,000 to $3,950,000.

Hampton Island is a true sportsman’s paradise. It is home to Ricefields, a Davis Love III championship golf course that winds around stocked freshwater ponds and through 20 acres of restored, 200-year-old rice fields.

The community recently opened its $8.85 million stable, the centerpiece of its world-class Equestrian Center, and its Treehouse Spa offers an array of therapeutic services and a stunning 360-degree view of the pristine, natural surroundings. Hampton Island also offers some of the finest inshore and offshore fishing and boating on the Eastern Seaboard, and plans are underway for a state-of-the-art marina as well as a general store, chapel, and tennis and pool facilities.

Hampton Island Preserve is located just 35 minutes south of Savannah. For more information, please call (912) 880-8888 or visit online at www.hamptonisland.com. HAMPTON LAKE  Bluffton, SC 

An impressive array of amenities and model homes are in place at Hampton Lake, a 955-acre Lowcountry community about 12 miles from Hilton Head Island.

The Lowcountry’s first private lake community, Hampton Lake features a 165-acre freshwater lake as well as a full-service boathouse, fitness center and spa, a lakeside clubhouse and restaurant, swimming pools, hiking trails, a family campsite and a kids playground and dog park. Golf memberships are available at some of the area’s top private clubs.

Hampton Hall homesites start from the $190,000s, villas from the upper $300,000s, Carriage Homes from the $400,000s, Cottages from the upper $400,000s, Coach Homes from the upper $500,000s and Custom Homes from the $600,000s to $1.3 million.

Call (888) 363-5810 or visit www.hamptonlake.com for more information.

KIAWAH ISLAND, Kiawah Island, SC

Located just 21 miles from historic Charleston, Kiawah Island is an idyllic retreat nestled within 10,000 acres of maritime forests and tidal marshes with one of the East Coast’s most secluded stretches of beach.

Several new neighborhoods are now being offered at Kiawah Island. Maritime at Kiawah Island consists of luxury villas set within an oak forest near the beach and adjacent to many of Kiawah’s award-winning amenities. Cassique Garden Cottages offer convenient one-floor living with surrounding private garden courtyards. And Kiawah's premier seaside neighborhood, Ocean Palms, is a private beachfront enclave characterized by beautiful stucco exteriors, loggias, a palm colonnade, and water features. 

All Kiawah residents enjoy an abundance of recreational opportunities including 30 miles of paved biking and hiking trails, five highly ranked resort golf courses, two tennis centers, and a nearby marina with fishing and boating.

For those who prefer the exclusivity of a private club, The Kiawah Island Club features The River Course and Cassique (both internationally heralded golf courses designed, respectively, by Tom Fazio and Tom Watson), The Beach Club, and Sasanqua, a full-service, members-only spa. Kiawah Island Club membership opportunities are available.

For more information on Kiawah Island Real Estate, visit www.kiawahisland.com, or call 866-354-2924. OLDFIELD, Okatie, SC

If ever a development was created out of reverence for its location, it is the South Carolina community of Oldfield. Situated on 860 acres along the Okatie River in the Carolina Lowcountry, Oldfield reflects a character and lifestyle reminiscent of its 18^th century roots.

Homes are built among ancient oaks—all carefully preserved during development – and reflect a traditional Lowcountry design with a “main house” and smaller “outbuildings. Residents range from young children to retirees, and while there is something of interest for everyone at Oldfield, the focus here is on water—from the Okatie River that borders much of the property to numerous lakes that are ideal for fishing, boating and exploring.

Amenities include a River Club and Outfitters Center, Sports and Fitness Club, an 18-hole Greg Norman golf course and clubhouse, and Equestrian Center, all with on-staff, full-time “experts.” Special access is also afforded to beautiful beaches on nearby Hilton Head Island as well as the Dorchester Shooting Club.

Single-family homes ranging from approximately 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, most situated on homesites of approximately 1/2 acre. Homesites are priced from the mid $100,000s, and home/homesite packages begin in the $500,000s. For more information, call (866) 653-3435 or visit online at www.oldfield1732.com

PALMETTO BLUFF  Bluffton, SC

One of the largest remaining waterfront properties on the East Coast, Palmetto Bluff has evolved into an extraordinary residential community and conservation preserve.

At the heart of Palmetto Bluff is Wilson Village, a gathering spot for residents, guests and visitors. Its centerpiece is the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, managed by Auberge Resorts. This waterfront retreat provides the highest levels of service, extraordinary culinary offerings and a one-of-a-kind spa experience. Guests can also enjoy an abundance of activities, from fishing, trail hiking, and kayaking to Jack Nicklaus Signature golf. The May River Golf Club, one of Nicklaus’s most celebrated courses, flows through ancient oak forests and along the scenic May River.

The residential neighborhoods at Palmetto Bluff are diverse, ranging from the intimacy of the homes within Wilson Village; Headwaters, consisting of 10 spectacular family compounds overlooking the May River; and May River Forest, where one-half to eight-acre homesites provide a link between the Headwaters and The Village.

Homesites at Palmetto Bluff range from $300,000 to $4.95 million, and homes range from $1.2 million to $3.975 million. To learn more about this extraordinary Lowcountry community, call (866) 316-5262 or visit online at www.palmetto-bluff.com  RIVER LANDING Wallace, NC

A private residential golf community located along the tranquil Northeast Cape Fear River, River Landing covers more than 1,400 unspoiled acres and enjoys the best of North Carolina's beauty, wildlife, weather and recreation.

Stately homes and 36 holes of award-winning championship golf designed by Clyde Johnston take full advantage of the pristine beauty of the river, the stunning landscape and woodlands. The golf course features bent grass greens, Bermuda grass fairways and roughs, and a backdrop of the Northeast Cape Fear River.

A full-service clubhouse is slated to open in 2009 and will complement River Landing’s Swim & Tennis Center, Fitness Center and Spa, and open-air River Lodge. The port city of Wilmington is just 35 minutes away via I-40 and offers a wide variety of shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural activities.

Nearly all of the homesites at River Landing have fairway, riverfront, lakefront, or wooded settings, with three distinct neighborhoods from which to choose. Homesite prices range from approximately $85,000 to $599,000. Current home prices range from $350,000 to more than $1 million.

River Landing now offers a trio of new getaway packages. To learn more, call (888) 285-4171 or visit online at www.riverlanding.com.

SUN CITY HILTON HEAD  Bluffton, SC

Located in the thriving Bluffton area of the Lowcountry, Sun City Hilton Head is a private, gated community with an array of amenities that encourage year-round outdoor activity. Most notable are its two outstanding Mark McCumber-designed golf courses: Okatie Creek Golf Club, which also offers a 10,400-square-foot clubhouse, and Hidden Cypress Golf Club, which features a fitness center, restaurant and pool.  

But golf is just a small part of the Sun City Hilton Head lifestyle. The community’s recreation campus--designed to resemble a Southern town square complete with a picturesque clock tower--provides a balance of old-world charm with state-of-the-art amenities. Workshops are offered in ceramics, painting, sewing and computer, and a multi-purpose ballroom offers dancing, movies and entertainment. More active pursuits are found at the Purrysburg Fitness Center, with the latest exercise equipment, a dance and aerobics studio, an indoor heated pool and therapy spa. And the 20-acre Lake Somerset is ideal for fishing and non-motorized boating.

Single-family homes at Sun City Hilton Head, including a variety of model home plans, range from $180,000 to $459,000. Sun City Hilton Head also offers a special Vacation Getaway. Call (800) 978-9783 for more information or visit online at www.delwebb.com. THE LANDINGS  Skidaway Island, GA

An exclusive gated community, The Landings on Skidaway Island is located on a protected interior barrier island just 12 miles from Savannah, GA. Long regarded as one of the Southeast Coast’s finest private residential communities, The Landings maintains a firm commitment to preservation of the natural surroundings. 

The Landings is home to six private championship golf courses designed by Arthur Hills, Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio and Willard Byrd. Set against a stunning backdrop of stately hardwood forests, unspoiled saltwater marshes and pristine tidal creeks, all six courses are Audubon certified.

Other outstanding amenities include two deepwater marinas, three tennis centers, a fitness center and four swimming pools—including a 25-meter pool with a water slide. The Landings also offers two athletic fields, a dog park, more than 40 miles of paved walking and biking trails and fine dining at four clubhouses. Membership at The Landings Club is available to homeowners only.

Residential options range from single-family homes, townhomes and condos in a variety of styles. Homes range from $350,000 to more than $2 million, and homesites range from $250,000 to more than $1 million.

For more information, call (800) 841-7011 or (912) 598-0500, email: info@TheLandings.com, or visit online at www.thelandings.com.

THE VILLAGE AT WILD DUNES  Isle of Palms, SC

Located within Wild Dunes® Resort, The Village at Wild Dunes represents one of the last opportunities to purchase property just steps from the beach on the Carolina Coast. Fully furnished studios to penthouse units range from the $400,000s to more than $2 million. Club memberships are available. Call (888) 567-5330 or visit www.WildDunesVillage.com.

Located in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Tradition Hilton Head is a totally self-contained community offering a comfortable, secure lifestyle with an array of 21^st century amenities and services.

At the heart of Tradition SC will be a charming Village Square, the retail and social center of the town with food market, shops, cafes and restaurants as well as Tradition’s 50,000-square-foot recreation facility. Residents are also offered exclusive access to the new Tommy Fazio-designed Tradition National Golf Course (see sidebar below), as well as a six-hole, par-3 Learning Center and Clubhouse. 

Tradition Hilton Head will feature homes in a range of sizes and styles from townhomes to estates. It is also the site of HGTV’s first “green” home, a traditional Lowcountry cottage featuring construction and design elements that contribute to an energy efficient, cleaner and healthier environment. The home will be featured on the HGTV Green Home 2008 special on Sunday, March 23.

Tradition Hilton Head is located on US 278 in Hardeeville, SC, approximately 20 minutes west of Hilton Head Island. Homesites begin in the $160,000s, and homes range from the $290,000s to $1.5 million.  

For more information, call (888) 828-5065 or visit online at www.TraditionHH.com.

The name is Tom Fazio II, but any resemblance between senior and junior is purely coincidental.

The third generation of golf’s most respected family of designers goes by “Tommy” and looks as if he would be more comfortable on a surfboard than a bulldozer. But don’t be fooled by the shoulder-length hair and matinee-idol looks. The son of Jim, the nephew of Tom and the grand nephew of George, Tommy Fazio has created his own niche in the family portfolio. He’s become the designer of choice for Donald Trump and recently unveiled his eighth solo project, Tradition National, at the new South Carolina Lowcountry community, Tradition Hilton Head.   

Fazio left his father’s design firm in 1995 and set off on his own. Growing up in the family business, he got plenty of hands-on experience in the construction of golf courses. So, perhaps as a way of establishing his own credibility, Fazio positioned himself as a true one-man operation, assuming personal responsibility for all aspects of the development process. In seven of his eight projects, Fazio has served as both designer and construction manager.

The philosophy seems to work. Fazio is considered by many to be the most knowledgeable golf course designer in the area of golf course construction. Particularly impressed is The Donald himself; Fazio built Trump National courses at Bedminster, NJ and Briarcliff Manor, NY.  

“I sweat the land,” said Fazio during a recent visit to Tradition National. “In fact, I probably over-think a lot of my stuff.”

At Tradition National, the open fairways seem generously receptive from the course’s five sets of tees. But wind is a constant factor across the relatively flat Lowcountry terrain and, in keeping with the Fazio pedigree, the raised green settings require skillful approaches.

“My philosophy is that you start at the green and then design back from there,” said the 41-year-old Fazio. “You can determine all of the different shots that will be required. My goal is to be in the golfer’s head from the tee shot to the first putt.”