A Cut Above: Prince George Takes Real Estate To A Higher Level

The focus on development today seems to be more on quantity than quality, with the emphasis on number of houses per acre rather than on environmental concerns and preservation of our limited natural resources. We have all seen it: a pristine parcel of land teeming with visual history; towering live oaks that might once have led to a country gentleman’s estate; rice fields that whisper softly of a different era and lifestyle; and perhaps even wood pilings almost completely submerged in the murky waters of a secluded pond, triggering a memory of a grandfather teaching his grandson to fish.

Prince George Properties has maintained a reverence for the land that harkens back to those idyllic days, proving that owning a profitable real estate firm and practicing smart land management can be synergistic philosophies.

In business since 1997 and originally the exclusive real estate firm in prestigious Prince George, partners Phillip Lammonds and Carol Jayroe decided to take their successful real estate expertise into Georgetown County and the surrounding areas. Focusing on properties with unique characteristics such as river to ocean waterfront, large acreage tracts, properties with historical significance, conservation properties, low-density development and plantation estates, Prince George Premier Properties has the real estate know-how to satisfy even the most discerning buyer.

People from all over the United States and from other countries are discovering the pleasant climate, wide variety of activities and unsurpassed natural beauty of the South Carolina coast. Conveniently located near both the Charleston and Myrtle Beach areas, Prince George Premier Properties offers properties geared toward a special buyer. While shopping and entertainment is nearby, the communities marketed by Prince George Premier Properties are secluded natural havens full of wood ducks, red foxes, bald eagles, whitetail deer and thousands of varieties of indigenous flora.

"We love living near the beach, we love the privacy and we love the neighbors," said Franklin Daniels, a local attorney who lives at Prince George with his wife and two children. "Most of all, we love living in an environmentally friendly neighborhood."

A major component of Prince George Premier Properties is its owners’ commitment to the environment through conservation easements, land trusts and low-density development, all key features of Prince George. This coastal haven stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Waccamaw River, creating a one-of-a-kind residential community. Its 1,900 acres includes only 150 home sites, averaging just one dwelling per four acres. Much of the land, 1,200 acres, is held in a land trust by the University of South Carolina Development Foundation to serve as a research and education facility.

Another clear picture of responsible, low-density development has emerged in Prince George’s marketing of Whitehall Plantation, a private residential community with deepwater access to both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. This property offers a total of seven home sites on over 47 acres. With an unpaved main road, groves of stately live oaks and spectacular views of Winyah Bay, the pastoral plantation atmosphere has been preserved.

More of Prince George Premier Properties’ offerings include Allston Bluffs, 51 acres of preserved marshlands and breathtaking Waccamaw River views, which is zoned for 20 homes, each with a private boat slip; and Kensington Plantation, a private gated community located on over 350 acres overlooking the Black River. At Kensington Plantation, the rice fields are being restored and the age-old live oaks are being preserved in their natural state in keeping with the authenticity of a Low Country estate. The number of homes is limited because the majority of property is protected by a conservation easement held by Ducks Unlimited.

For clients looking for the ultimate in privacy, Prince George Premier Properties lists the The Bunnelle Estate. Governed by a conservation easement, the 59-acre estate includes wooded acreage, green pastures, fishing ponds and a magnificent home on an Intercoastal Waterway bluff. Positioned to take full advantage of spectacular sunsets, the home also has a private boat dock on a protected canal. Because the majority of Prince George Premier Properties communities and estates are located on bodies of water, the majority of amenities are water-driven. Residents can enjoy private boat slips, community docks, pools, private marinas for small and medium-sized pleasure boats and clubhouses overlooking a variety of rivers and, in some cases, the Atlantic Ocean. Each Prince George Premier Properties offering is marketed based on its unique characteristics and for its best use, and the company takes the time to educate its clients about the long-term values and tax benefits of conservation easements and land trusts.

A major component of Prince George Premier Properties is client relationships. Because of its reputation, the firm represents buyers and sellers searching for and seeking to sell a caliber of property that in some cases is difficult for the average real estate firm to obtain. Among them is Dr. W.S. Edwards, an orthopedic surgeon who lives in Florence and has a home at Prince George.

"They have helped me through tax exchanges and helped me make money on my investment property. They make the transaction seamless," he said. "I have the highest praise for Phillip. In fact, my friends and colleagues have bought property sight unseen from him based on our relationship."

The owners of Prince George Premier Properties believe that land is to be treasured, and the philosophy of the company reflects that sentiment, from their working knowledge of conservation easements and land trusts to their relationships with low-density developers.

"We clearly represent some of the most beautiful property in the area, and we work hard to meet the needs of our clients," Lammonds said.

With backgrounds grounded in banking and marketing, it is obvious with the continuing success of Prince George Premier Properties that Lammonds and Jayroe have taken real estate to a higher level.

"We believe our success is based on the fact that we truly understand the properties we are marketing and the clients we represent," Jayroe said.