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Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the large Sea Islands along the southeast Atlantic coast of the U.S. It is one of the few towns with its entire downtown designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a historic district. The town was filled with mansions built by the wealthy plantation owners before the Civil War. It was one of the only Southern towns occupied by Union troops, rather than destroyed during the war. More than 50 historic structures have been identified and include many lovely private homes beautifully restored and enjoyable on tour by professional guides, either walking or via horse-drawn carriage or bus. Spring and fall events offer special opportunities for visitors to tour several private homes and gardens. Art galleries, antique shops and modern boutiques are also within the downtown walking area, not to mention fine dining and quick eateries. The moderate climate hosts outdoor relaxation for meals or park enjoyment almost year-round.
Parris Island is the principal east-of-the-Mississippi Boot Camp for the Marine Corps. 18,000 recruits graduate every year. Also home of the Drill Instructors school, Parris Island covers 8,095 acres of islands and marshlands at the southern coast of South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil
VA FUNDING FEES
VA Funding Fee Explained
- The Funding Fee is calculated by looking at 5 different factors: Loan amount, loan type (Purchase or Refinance), type of service, down payment (if any) and prior VA loan use. Take a look at the charts above to see how the VA funding fee varies based on these factors.
- The VA Funding Fee is paid directly to the Department of Veteran's Affairs and is the reason they can guarantee this no-money-down loan program. This fee is paid so that VA eligibile borrowers can enjoy loan benefits such as $0 down financing and no PMI payments.
- The funding fee doesn't need to be 'paid' separately and is typically rolled into the loan. This is a big benefit to borrowers looking to take advantage of the $0 down benefit of the VA loan. Not only do borrowers not need to put anything down, but they can also finance the VA funding fee as well.
- Borrowers are exempt from paying the funding fee if they receive any disability payments from the VA or are considered at least 10% disabled.
If you have any questions about your VA loan benefit, the Funding Fee, Funding Fee Exemptions or how the VA Funding fee chart works please feel free to contact one of our Mortgage Specialists in your area by clicking here.
Click here to find out more about the VA Home Loans Program!
During the Summer, this event includes sport tournaments galore, races, crafts, fishing, music, food and much more!
Beaufort Shrimp Festival
During the Fall, enjoy Live Music, Fresh Local Shrimp, 5k Run & Walk through History
Beaufort Kaleidoscope: Film, Food & Fine Arts
In the Spring, this event showcases Beaufort's plethora of rich arts and fine food coupled with its quaint, small-town atmosphere
Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is located in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry and is among the United States military's most important and most historically colorful installations. Consisting of some 6,900 acres 70 miles southwest of Charleston, South Carolina on Highway 21, the installation is home to seven Marine Corps F/A- 18 squadrons. Two additional Navy F/A-18 squadrons joined the Fightertown community in March 2000, strengthening the installation's economic contribution to the local area.
Beaufort Naval Hospital
Beaufort Naval Hospital is located in Beaufort, SC. Beaufort consists of the hospital itself and branch medical clinics at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. There are over 450 active duty and 200 civilians on base.
Parris Island Museum
Come explore the long and rich legacy of the Marine Corps as well as the exciting history of the Port Royal region at the Parris Island Museum. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the varied stories within the exhibit galleries. Located on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, the museum is open daily to the public. Admission is free.
John Mark Verdier House
(843) 379-6335
801 Bay St., Beaufort
Built circa 1805 for a wealthy merchant-planter, restored by the Historic Beaufort Foundation.
The Beaufort Museum
(843) 379-3331
713 Craven St., Beaufort
Housed in the 1795 Beaufort Arsenal. Exhibits tell the story of cotton, rice and indigo creating plantation life, then the wars which changed the character of the area along with that of the country.
Parris Island Museum
(843) 228-2951
Marine Corps Recruit Depot
No admission fee
Military history and island settlements from the 1500s.
Penn Center
York W. Bailey Museum
843-838-2432
St. Helena Island
Campus of the first African American school when freed slaves were educated after the Civil War, designated as a national historical landmark. Rare artifacts and an overview of Reconstruction.
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
U.S. 21, Sheldon
Remains of Prince William's Parish Church, 1745-55.
Burned by the British during the Revolutionary War.
Reconstructed in 1825 and burned by Sherman's troops in 1865.
Cole-Heyward House
52 Boundary St., Bluffton
843-757-6293
Museum typical of the West Indies style home, circa 1840, partially restored and managed by the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society. Seven additional homes are in Bluffton's national historic district.
The Baptist Church of Beaufort
600 Charles St., Beaufort
843-524-3197
Built in 1844, example of Greek Revival architecture. During the Civil War the church was used as a hospital.
St. Helena Episcopal Church
507 Newcastle St., Beaufort
843-522-1712
Part of St. Helena Parish that was formed in 1712. Construction on brick and stucco church began in 1724. During the Civil War the church was used as a hospital.
Chapel of Ease
Lands End Road, St. Helena Island
Church built between 1742 and 1747 to serve the planters on St. Helena Island. In 1886 a forest fire destroyed part of the brick and tabby chapel. The ruins and a small graveyard remain.
Hunting Island State Park
2555 Sea Island Parkway, Hunting Island
843-838-2011
Secluded family park, nature trails, nature center, fishing pier, lighthouse, visitor center, campground and cabins.
Lowcountry Estuarium - A Coastal Learning Center
14th St. and Paris Ave., Port Royal
Home to indigenous species from local waters.
Union Church
11th Avenue, Port Royal
Historic Port Royal Foundation maintains a small museum in the historic church and offers a town walking tour.
Ft. Frederick
Port Royal
Built by the British in 1794, ruins on the Naval Hospital grounds.
The Lowcountry’s salt-marsh ecosystem, one of the world’s most productive and unspoiled, is remarkably easy to explore from a Beaufort base. The A.C.E. Basin is the vast wilderness created at the juncture of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. Guided boat tours allow visitors to photograph hundreds of species of birds, and guided kayak tours offer a more active role in coastal discovery, while boat rentals let adventurers explore on their own.
Bray’s Island Plantation - (843) 846-3100
18 Holes, Private Club
Callawassie Island Club - (843) 987-2161
27 Holes, Private Club
Dataw Island - (843) 838-8250
Cotton Dike & Morgan River, 36 Holes, Private Club
Fripp Island - (843) 838-1576
Ocean Creek & Ocean Point Courses, 36 Holes, Resort Courses
Lady's Island Country Club - (843) 524-3635
Pines & Player Course, 36 Holes, Public Club
The Legends at Parris Island - (843) 228-2240
18-hole, Public Course
South Carolina National - (843) 524-0300
18 Holes, Public Club
Spring Island Old Tabby Links - (843) 987-2000
18 Holes, Private Club
Beaufort County School District
Battery Creek High School
1 Blue Dolphin Drive
843-322-5500
Beaufort High School
84 Sea Island Parkway
843-322-2000
Beaufort Middle School
2501 Mossy Oaks Road
843-322-5700
Lady's Island Middle School
30 Cougar Drive
843-322-3100
Robert Smalls Middle School
43 W.K. Alston Road
843-322-2500
Beaufort Elementary School
1800 Prince Street
843-322-2600
Coosa Elementary School
45 Middle Road
843-322-6100
Joseph Shanklin Elementary School
121 Morrall Drive
843-466-3400
Mossy Oaks Elementary School
2510 Mossy Oaks Road
843-322-2900
Shell Point Elementary School
81 Savannah Highway
843-322-2800
Technical College of the Lowcountry
921 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC
(843) 525-8324
University of South Carolina at Beaufort
801 Carteret St., Beaufort, SC
(843) 521-4100
Webster University
US Naval Hospital
(843) 524-1851
Colleges & Universities
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Area Attractions
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