Where to Live in Charleston, Sc

Posted by admin | Posted on 25-08-2010

Category : Region I

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Where to Live in Charleston, Sc

People moving to Charleston, SC often have questions about where to live (or where to invest). As a real estate agent, I always ask them, “What are you looking for?” In order to help people who are relocating to the Charleston area, I have organized my suggestions into 7 answers.

1) Folly Beach is a great investment because there will pretty much always be a great demand of people who want to live at the beach. Folly Beach is the most popular beach in the Charleston area, especially for college students and young professionals. Add this popularity with its proximity to downtown Charleston, and you will find that Folly Beach is a great rental area.

2) James Island is a little more affordable than Folly Beach, and it is even closer to downtown Charleston (about a 5 minute drive). James Island is mostly a residential area, but there are some restaurants (most of which are independently owned). James Island is very laid back, and many students from College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina live here. The young population and proximity to Folly Beach makes James Island a great rental area for investors.

(3) Johns Island is ideal for people who want more space – larger yards, less traffic, and fewer neighbors. Also, land in Johns Island is a great investment because there are plans to extend the Interstate to the area. Johns Island will slowly become less rural and more developed.

4) West Ashley is more affordable compared to James Island, Johns Island, and Mt. Pleasant. And, it is still very close to Folly Beach (about a 20 to 30 minute drive) and to downtown Charleston (about a 10 to 15 minute drive). West Ashley has more commercial real estate compared to James Island and John’s Island – there are lots of chain restaurants and shopping centers.

5) Downtown Charleston is a highly desirable place to live because it is so rich in history and culture. Downtown Charleston has beautiful old houses, but they are much more expensive than some of the other areas in Charleston. Also, taxes have soared over the past few years – so take the taxes into consideration when comparing prices of homes in Charleston.

6) Mt. Pleasant has the best public schools in Charleston County. There is also plenty of shopping and restaurants in this somewhat upscale area. Mt. Pleasant also has a great location – about 10 minutes to the beaches and about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Charleston. The main drawback is price – Mt. Pleasant is more expensive compared to other non-beachfront real estate in Charleston.

7) Summerville rivals Mt. Pleasant when it comes to public schools, but Summerville is much more affordable. It has a small town feel, but real estate there has grown rapidly in the past five years and will continue to grow. The biggest drawback to buying a house there is location. Summerville is about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston and a little less than an hour to the closest beach. Summerville is less of an investment area compared to James Island or Johns Island simply because of appreciation. However, if you are looking for a place to live and have a tighter budget, Summerville would be a good area to consider.

Charleston has so many communities to choose from. The seven I discussed are some of the most popular. If you are buying real estate as an investment, be sure to get statistics on appreciation and possibly rental history. If you are buying real estate as a primary residence, be sure to talk with someone who has lived in the area so that you can learn about real estate specifically in the area you will be buying.

Good News for the Charleston SC Real Estate Market

Posted by admin | Posted on 08-07-2010

Category : Region I

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Good News for the Charleston SC Real Estate Market

The Charleston, SC real estate market has slowed down considerably in the past two years.  Home prices are currently down about 11 percent on average for the various metro areas compared to where they were last year.  Although Charleston has become a strong buyers market, it was still listed by Forbes earlier this year as the ninth strongest real estate market in the country.  So, compared to most other real estate markets in the United States, Charleston has held its own quite well.

 

The past few months have shown good signs for sellers, as the number of homes under contract has increased every month for the past five months.  The number of showings has remained the same (or increased in some cases) for the past two months.  It seems that Charleston’s real estate market is starting to play catch up at the current rates of increase.  By the end of the year, Charleston is expected to have more homes under contract compared to the end of last year.

 

Many first time home buyers are trying to meet the November 20 deadline for the ,000 tax credit.  This surge in demand should continue to help boost the market and will prolong the usually seasonal market.  April to September sees the most activity in Charleston’s real estate market, with May to August having the peak of sales.  Most buyers don’t want to move around the holidays, and many sellers take their homes off the market around the end of October for the same reasons.  However, the November 20 deadline for the tax credit is expected keep a steady stream of home buyers in demand (and mostly in the under 0,000 price range).  As a result, we’re expected to have a milder late fall than usual.

 

Charleston’s real estate market was expected to bottom out this fall, but many local experts believe the bottom will come in early 2010.  It is certainly too early to tell, but we’re seeing good signs of pickup in the market.  Multiple offers are becoming common place again, meaning that many buyers are not able to get the home of their first choice.  Although this is bad news for some buyers, low interest rates and low home prices are good incentives for buying now. 

 

Recent news for the state’s overall economy also shows positive signs.  Economic indicators from the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina suggest that the state’s economy is hitting bottom right now.  Unemployment (12.1 percent) is the highest since 1976 and may continue to get worse even when the economy starts to recover.  However, unemployment insurance claims are down, residential construction is up, the manufacturing workweek is up, and the Coincident Index (which tracks the overall state economy) is at the lowest rate of decline in six months.  Although it is too early to know when a recovery is under way, it’s good news that the worst of the economic downturn for the state may be over. 

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Sc Osha Cites Charleston Fire Department

Posted by admin | Posted on 18-06-2010

Category : Region I

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Sc Osha Cites Charleston Fire Department

Charleston, SC (September 21, 2007) — South Carolina OSHA didn’t waste any time issuing its report on the June 18th Sofa Store fire in which nine Charleston Firefighters lost their lives. The summary, which was issued by the agency earlier today, cites the City of Charleston Fire Department with willful and serious violations that led to the death the firefighters.

In the notice of citation and penalty, there are four separate violations beginning with the willful violation. SC OSHA reports that the CFD “…knew or should have known that the command system does not provide for the overall safety of emergency personnel and their activities.”

The report adds three serious violations which include, no operating procedure for fighting a fire in a trussed roof building; that body protection was not required to be worn by the nine dead firemen; and that self contained breathing apparatus was not required to be worn at all times by four firemen who were exposed to smoke and toxic substances.

The total fine levied against the CFD is less than ,000. But according to firefighter safety advocate, Chief Billy Goldfeder, “The fine dollar amount isn’t really the issue at this point.” He continues, “The fact that they (the department) were found in violation and those violations directly contributed to the Line of Duty Deaths of nine CFD Firefighters is the issue.”

The citations, especially the willful violation, have rocked the firefighting world. In South Carolina, response from professional firefighters was quick. Michael Parrotta of the South Carolina Professional Firefighters Association says firefighters have lost faith in Chief Rusty Thomas, and called for his immediate resignation.

Just one day after the blaze, many firefighters urged that Thomas be suspended. But Charleston mayor, Joe Riley, has noted on several occasions that as long as he’s mayor, Thomas will remain the city’s fire chief. But TV journalist Sarah DeMarco notes in a recent report, “Some say if that’s the case, then maybe it’s also time for Riley to find a new job.“

“The new report is a clarion call for change.” says Charleston Firefighters Association Local 61 President Roger Yow.

“It’s no longer just fire fighters who claim the Charleston Fire Department is run in an unsafe manner,” Yow notes. “Now state officials also are condemning Chief Thomas’s failed leadership.”

Mayor Riley says the city will vigorously challenge citations for the safety violations issued by SC OSHA. He feels that the state agency “…has wrongly punished the city.

The sofa store fire that claimed the Charleston Nine is the worst on-the-job loss for the North American fire service since the events of 9/11/01, and the story is being followed closely by fire-rescue agencies around the world.

SC OSHA’s report is a wake up call for the fire service and has national ramifications. It sends a message to mayors, county executives and fire department board members, nationwide, to choose their leaders based on skill – not popularity.

During the past generation the fire service here in America has seen more change than it did during its first 300 years. In my mind it was just a matter of time before an incident, like the sofa fire in Charleston, took place. Quite possibly it could have occurred in some other American city, because CFD isn’t the only fire rescue agency that still operates in the past.

Chief Thomas’ choice to ignore firefighting procedures that have been universally accepted is clearly a disregard for the men and women who serve under him. It’s time for Thomas to step down, and allow the Charleston Fire Department to be rebuilt. It’s the best scenario for the citizens of one of America’s most beautiful cities – one that will allow Charleston firefighters to demonstrate their true skills and potential.

Resources for this commentary:

(1) SC OSHA Report http://media.charleston.net/pdf/OSHAreport.pdf

(2) News 4 Charleston

(3) The Secret List

(4) Photos by: Tyronne Walker

Historic Charleston, Sc Neighborhoods

Posted by admin | Posted on 07-02-2009

Category : Region I

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Historic Charleston, Sc Neighborhoods

Charleston, South Carolina is one of the oldest port cities in the United States.  The Charleston Harbor has a rich history involving wars and pirates, and this history brings millions of visitors each year to the area.  Charleston is also known for preserving its history through its homes and buildings, and you’ll find a range of historic homes to buy.  Some of these are listed on national and state historic registers and have the official paperwork proving the home’s historical relevance.  These homes are, of course, the most expensive.  But, you’ll also find a good selection of older homes in historic neighborhoods without all of the documents.  Home buyers often choose these homes not only because they’re more affordable, but also because there are fewer rules regarding the home’s upkeep and appearance.

Downtown Charleston is the most popular area for buying historic real estate.  After all, it has the highest concentration of homes built before 1900 in the area.  In fact, you’ll find homes dating back to the early 1700s.  This area also has the widest range of historic homes in that buyers looking simply for an older home can find one built in the 1950s, for example.  But, those buyers looking to purchase a piece of Charleston’s history with all of the official paperwork can also find what they’re looking for downtown.  Some of the oldest homes in downtown are in neighborhoods like South of Broad (which includes the Battery and Rainbow Row) and the French Quarter.  Harleston Village is also highly sought after, and it’s located further up the peninsula, near the Medical University of South Carolina. 

Other historic communities in downtown include Ansonborough, Cannonborough, Elliottborough, Radcliffborough, Wagner Terrace, Hampton Park Terrace (located beside the Citadel), and Mazyck-Wraggsborough.  Historic homes in these neighborhoods will generally be less expensive because they don’t carry the big names as, say, South of Broad.  But, they still have a lot of older and historic homes to choose from.

Outside of downtown Charleston, you’ll find the most historic homes on Sullivan’s Island and the neighborhood Old Village.  A lot of the homes on Sullivan’s Island were built from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.  During this time, wealthy Charlestonians spent their summers here to be near the breezes of the beach.  These homes have larger lots compared to downtown Charleston, but they’re also generally more expensive for what you get.

Old Village is a historic neighborhood in Mt. Pleasant that overlooks the Charleston Harbor.  It is just southeast of Patriots Point.  It has a close proximity to downtown Charleston (about a five minute drive) and to the beach (about ten minutes).  The oldest and most expensive homes are, of course, the ones that overlook the harbor.  But, you can also find nice historic homes further back in the neighborhood and still be in a prestigious community.

Besides these areas, you’ll find historic homes scattered throughout the Charleston area, from West Ashley to Rockville.  However, the highest concentration of homes (and the most sought after homes) are located in downtown, Sullivan’s Island, and the Old Village.  So, these would be the best places to start your historic home search in Charleston.