Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how HomeTown Realty (“we,” “us,” or “our”) handles personal information when you visit hometownsc.com, contact us, request a valuation, use property-search features, save listings or searches, or sign up for alerts.

Some property-search and lead features are provided by iHomefinder. When you interact with those features, iHomefinder may collect information directly and process it for us and for its own stated purposes. Its practices are also governed by the iHomefinder Privacy Policy.

Depending on how you use the Site, we or our service providers may collect:

• Contact and inquiry information: name, email address, phone number, preferred contact method, message, property address, and other information you choose to submit.
• Property-search information: searches, filters, viewed or saved listings, favorites, alert preferences, and IDX account details if you create an account through iHomefinder.
• Communications: emails, text-message preferences and consent records, call or message details, and information needed to respond to you.
• Device and usage information: IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page or campaign, pages viewed, dates and times, approximate location derived from IP address, and interactions with Site or IDX features.
• Cookies and similar technology: identifiers used to maintain a session, remember preferences, understand referrals and Site activity, and operate property-search features.

We collect information from you, from your browser or device, from our IDX and technology providers, and from real estate professionals who are helping respond to your request.

• respond to questions, schedule conversations, and provide requested real estate information;
• deliver property searches, saved listings, valuation requests, and listing alerts;
• match an inquiry with an appropriate HomeTown Realty agent and maintain follow-up records;
• send service messages and, when permitted, marketing communications;
• operate, secure, troubleshoot, and improve the Site and understand how its features are used;
• detect misuse, protect rights and safety, comply with legal obligations, and resolve disputes; and
• carry out another purpose disclosed when information is collected or with your direction or consent.

We may disclose personal information to:

• HomeTown Realty personnel and agents who need it to respond to or support your request;
• service providers that support IDX search, hosting, communications, security, website operations, and customer relationship management, including iHomefinder;
• professional advisers and authorities when reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to legal process, protect rights or safety, or prevent fraud and misuse;
• a successor organization in connection with a merger, financing, reorganization, or sale of all or part of the business, subject to appropriate safeguards; and
• others at your direction or with your consent.

We do not knowingly sell personal information for money. iHomefinder’s IDX tools may use cookies, lead-source tracking, analytics, and marketing or CRM partners as described in its own privacy policy. We do not control how independent third parties handle information under their own policies.

The Site and embedded IDX tools may use cookies or similar storage to keep features working, remember choices, measure usage, understand how a visitor reached the Site, and support saved searches or alerts. iHomefinder states that its tools may also use clickstream analysis and, when required by an MLS, ListTrac visit-data tools.

Most browsers let you delete or block cookies and control site permissions. Blocking cookies may prevent property search, saved-search, or account features from working correctly. Browser “Do Not Track” signals are not governed by a single common standard, so the Site does not respond to them uniformly.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails through the link in the message. We may still send non-marketing messages that you request or that relate to an active transaction or service.

If you separately opt in to text messages, we use your mobile number and consent record to send the messages you requested. Message frequency varies and message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out and HELP for assistance, or contact us using the methods below. Mobile opt-in information and consent are not sold, rented, or disclosed to third parties for their own marketing; they may be provided to vendors that deliver the messaging service.

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including responding to inquiries, maintaining business and transaction records, honoring communication choices, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and meeting legal or regulatory obligations. The period varies based on the type and sensitivity of the information, the relationship, provider settings, and applicable requirements. We then delete, de-identify, or securely dispose of information when reasonably practicable. iHomefinder controls retention within its systems under its policies and our service arrangement.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information we handle. No website, transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please do not send sensitive financial information, government identification numbers, account passwords, or wire instructions through a general website form, email, or text message.

You may ask to access, correct, or delete personal information you provided to us, withdraw consent where processing relies on consent, or object to certain uses. Depending on where you live, applicable law may provide additional rights, including the right to receive a portable copy, opt out of certain targeted advertising, sale, sharing, or profiling, appeal a decision, or use an authorized agent.

Submit a request through our contact page, call us, or write to us using the details below. Describe your request and the information or service involved. We may need to verify your identity and authority before acting. We will respond as required by applicable law and will not discriminate against you for exercising a privacy right. For information held in an iHomefinder account, you may also use its account tools or contact iHomefinder directly.

The Site is intended for adults seeking real estate information and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information through the Site, contact us so we can review and delete it where appropriate.

The Site may link to websites or services we do not control. Their privacy policies, security, and practices apply to information you provide directly to them. Review those policies before providing personal information.

We may update this policy as our practices, providers, or legal obligations change. We will post the revised policy here and update the effective date. If a change is material, we may provide additional notice when appropriate. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

For privacy questions or requests, use our contact page, call (843) 522-0066, or write to HomeTown Realty, Attn: Privacy, 182 D Sea Island Parkway, Beaufort, SC 29907.