Bluffton, SC · Del Webb · ~500 homes · Gated · The boutique alternative to Sun City — Del Webb quality in a neighborhood that feels like a neighborhood, not a small city
The Haven at New Riverside is consistently the community that buyers discover late in their research — after spending weeks comparing Sun City Hilton Head and Latitude Margaritaville — and then say it is actually the best fit. It is a Del Webb community, which means the home quality and construction standards are identical to Sun City, but the community itself feels nothing like Sun City.
At approximately 500 homes in a gated enclave within the larger New Riverside development in Bluffton, The Haven offers genuine neighborhood-scale living. You know your neighbors. The clubhouse is welcoming without being overwhelming. The HOA covers lawn care, security, and access to a solid set of amenities. And because it sits in Bluffton proper, everyday conveniences — grocery stores, restaurants, medical — are minutes away.
Sun City Hilton Head has over 8,000 homes. The Haven has approximately 500. For buyers who have lived in large subdivisions before and want something that feels more intimate — where you can actually bump into the same people regularly and build real friendships — the scale difference is not a tradeoff. It is the point.
The Haven's annual POA fee is approximately $3,048 per year, or about $254 per month. This covers lawn care for individual lots, 24-hour gated security, and access to all community amenities. What buyers often miss are the one-time fees at closing on resale purchases:
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual HOA | $3,048/yr (~$254/mo) | Covers lawn care, security, all amenities |
| New member fee (resale) | 1/3 of 1% of purchase price | On $500K home: ~$1,667 |
| Community enhancement assessment (resale) | 1.25% of purchase price | On $500K home: ~$6,250 |
| Total closing add-ons on $500K resale | ~$7,917 — before standard closing costs | |
The community enhancement assessment of 1.25% is one of the higher resale fees in the Bluffton 55+ market. On a $500,000 home, it adds $6,250 to closing costs that buyers rarely budget for. This is not uncommon in Del Webb communities, but it needs to be in your financial model before you fall in love with a particular home.
The Haven's amenity package is sized appropriately for a 500-home community — a single high-quality clubhouse rather than three campuses, a zero-entry pool, fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, and walking trails through the wooded Lowcountry landscape.
The Haven sits in Bluffton's New Riverside neighborhood, close to the intersection of Bluffton Parkway and Buckwalter Parkway. This places residents minutes from Publix, Target, and other daily conveniences without the traffic patterns of communities further out on the US-278 corridor.
Hilton Head Island beaches are approximately 20–25 minutes away. Downtown Bluffton, with its restaurants, art galleries, and historic Old Town charm, is about 10 minutes. Savannah and its airport is approximately 30 minutes. For buyers who want Bluffton's walkable small-town core as a regular destination, The Haven's position in the community is a genuine advantage over communities on the far western edge.
The Haven sits entirely within Beaufort County. A $500,000 primary residence purchased by a 65+ buyer filing for the legal residence ratio and homestead exemption will pay approximately:
| Scenario | Est. Annual Tax |
|---|---|
| 65+ primary resident with homestead exemption | ~$1,250–$1,550/yr |
| Primary resident under 65 (no homestead) | ~$1,450–$1,750/yr |
| Second home / non-primary (6% ratio, full mills) | ~$5,200–$5,800/yr |
File for the 4% legal residence ratio with the Beaufort County Assessor within the year of purchase. The 65+ homestead exemption is filed separately with the County Auditor by December 31 of the qualifying year.
We can help you compare The Haven's true cost against Sun City and other Bluffton communities for your specific situation.
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