Harbor Ownership Costs

Harbor Island Property Ownership Costs

 Note: this information is supplied as a guideline only - it is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate, and is subject to change without notice. Please contact the entities concerned if you require exact up-to-date information.

The Harbor Island Owners Association is the local governing body, elected by the property owners on the Island, to assess fees in order to care for essential services not covered by BeaufortCounty taxes. The fees cover such things as maintenance and landscaping of the common areas on the Island, roadways, beach access cross-overs, security operations, and the Harbor Island Beach & Racquet Club operations (No additional membership fee is charged). The yearly fee, currently $1,007.22, is adjusted annually (increase restrictions are in place). The association’s fiscal year runs from November 01 through October 31 of each calendar year.

Please note that the HIOA charges a $500.00 Property Transfer Fee to cover administrative costs to the Association. The fee must be collected and remitted to HIOA upon closing. Who pays this fee is up to the buyer and seller to negotiate.

Harbor Island also has its’ own Public Service District, which is responsible for the water and sewer facilities that service the Island. You can contact Harbor Island Utilities by email at claudia@beaufortgroup.net , call them at 843-982-0405 or fax them at 843-982-0707.

Estimated average utility costs

                        Electricity                                                       $180/month

                        Water & Sewer                                              $75/month

                        Telephone                                                      $35/month

                        Cable TV                                                        $45/month

                        Trash Service                                                $35/month

Beaufort County Property Taxes

The tax assessors’ office calculates an appraised value for each piece of real estate in BeaufortCounty based upon comparable sales, terms and condition, etc. This appraised value is multiplied by a factor of 4% for permanent residents and 6% for non-residents and commercial/rental properties. The assessed value is then multiplied by the HarborIsland district's millage rate to calculate property taxes. The millage rate for 2009 is 192.54/ $1,000.00 (Remember - property taxes are paid in arrears!)

Example:  A home appraised at $500,000 for a resident would equate to $2,045.60 property tax. ($500,000 x .04 x .10228)

Note: Primary residents receive a special exemption from property taxes imposed for school operating expenses. This reduces the 4% tax basis by an average of 25% minimum. However, those residents pay an extra 1% state sales tax in lieu of the local school operations tax plus a state income tax of 6% plus personal property taxes.

For more information on property taxes, please go to the Beaufort Tax Assessors’ website:

http://www.bcgov.net/BC_Assessor/ 

 2010 Estimated Insurance Costs

Estimated insurance costs per $100,000 of structural value: (land value is not included!)

          Hazard/Wind and Hail                        $1,000 to $1,300 per $100,000 of structure value
          Flood                                                    $225 per $100,000 of structure value

Note: Insurance costs are a hot topic as regards to coastal properties and tend to change considerably from year to year depending on hurricane activity levels, age, size, use (rental vs. personal use), first floor elevation, distance from ocean, etc.

Subdivision Associations

Pelican Point Association                                                $1420/year

(includes landscaping, trash removal, pest control and beach access maintenance.)

Sea Cottages                                                                       $74.40/quarter

(Includes maintenance of pool and common areas)

Nautical Watch Association                                            $825/year

(Includes common water and electricity, common area landscaping & pool maintenance.)

Harbor Key Association                                                   $575/year

(Includes admittance to HarborIsland facilities and maintenance of common areas and roads.)

Please note that the above fees do not include homeowners, flood or wind & hail insurance!

Condominiums (Villas): 

                                                                        Regime Fee                     Yearly Insurance Cost

Cedar Reef Villas:              1 BR                 $690.12/Qtr.                              $2,741.85

                                                2 BR                 $894.24/Qtr.                              $3,552.82

Includes building maintenance and landscaping, trash removal, pest control and termite bond, common areas electric and water, pool maintenance and Cable TV service.

Beach House Villas:          1 BR                $458.58/Mo.                              $2,014.88

                                                2 BR                 $561.01/Mo.                              $2,488.27

Includes landscaping and building maintenance, trash removal, pest control and termite bond, common areas electricity and water, pool maintenance, unit water and sewer and Cable TV service and new roofing assessment.

Note: Contents and personal liability insurance is the responsibility of each unit owner.