May 2013

Riverland Park is a new construction community on James Island that is in its early stages of development. It offers a very convenient location to downtown (5 minutes away), Folly Beach (10 minutes), and West Ashley. If you are coming from I-26 East, take exit 221-A and get on Highway 17 South toward Savannah. Veer left following signs for SC-700 Folly Beach. Once you cross the Wappoo Bridge, turn right at the foot of the bridge onto Maybank Highway. Turn left onto Riverland Drive. Riverland Park subdivision will be on your right hand side.

Crescent Homes is proud to give new homeowners not only excellent quality construction, but also convenient access to all of Charleston’s offerings. Homes in Riverland Park begin in the low $300’s and go up to

Military men and women who are assigned to Charleston often search for homes close to the Air Force Base or the Naval Weapons Station. Due to the nature of their jobs, it is critical for these home buyers to live within a close radius of the AFB or the NWS. Eagle Run and Wescott Plantation are two of the best neighborhoods within a short drive to both of these locations.

Living Near Charleston Air Force Base and Naval Weapons Station

The Air Force Base and Naval Weapons Station are centrally located to everything in Charleston. The AFB is off Dorchester Road in North Charleston (the address is 5500 International Boulevard). The AFB is about 30 to 40 minutes from downtown Charleston, about 45 minutes to 1 hour from your choice of 3 beaches (Isle of

How is the Charleston SC real estate market? Has it been a good year? Whether you are purchasing or selling a home, 2013 is a fantastic year to be involved in the market. When comparing Charleston County’s 2013 year to date information to 2012’s year to date data, you will see that this year is doing leaps and bounds better than last year. By this time last year, sales volume was at just over $1.085 billion. For the current year to date, we are looking at a volume of over $1.425 billion in real estate sales. This is a $34 million increase in home sales volume in the Charleston area in just over a one year time period!

The average sales price for a home (including condos and townhomes) in Charleston County in 2012 YTD was $303K. However, the average

The Spoleto Festival starts this Friday in Charleston! Come check out a few of next weekend’s events:

• Children’s Festival presents Reaching for the Stars: On Saturday, May 25 from 10 AM to 3 PM. Enjoy live music and dance performances, hands-on arts and crafts activities, storytellers, performances by the Seed and Seed Marching Abominable band from Georgia, and more. This is free and is part of Piccolo Spoleto. Marion Square is located at the intersection of Calhoun and King Streets in Downtown Charleston.
• Sunset Serenade Showcases West Side Story: On Sunday, May 26 at 8 PM. The dramatic setting turns the city into a stage as the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the CSO’s acting Artistic Director, Yuriy Bekker, performs a concert version

Most people who consider moving to Charleston, South Carolina ask about the cost of living in order to compare our city to where they currently live. When you look at other coastal communities who are also thriving, Charleston’s cost of living is very reasonable. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index compares quarterly relative living costs for middle-management households in the United States’ cities and metropolitan areas. The South Carolina state and local tax burden is significantly lower than the national average for property taxes, sales and use taxes, and individual and corporate income taxes.

Living in Charleston, South Carolina overall is less expensive than the average city or metropolitan area in the United States. When using the 2011 U.S. Cities

How is the West Ashley real estate market? We get this question quite often from prospective home buyers who are searching for a home in the Charleston real estate market. West Ashley is one of the more affordable suburb communities of Charleston, and it’s located just southwest of the city proper. You’ll find a range of purchasing opportunities – from historic houses to brand new construction homes in West Ashley.

Current prices for West Ashley houses for sale start in the high $100’s for a nice starter home and go up to a couple million dollars for a home on the Ashley or Stono River. Most condos in West Ashley range from $100K to $250K for a larger floor plan. However, keep in mind that many of the condos on the lower end of this scale are cash

One of Charleston’s most popular annual events is coming up soon! From May 24 through June 9, the Spoleto Festival will take place at various venues around Charleston. This is a great opportunity to not only see world renowned artists but also to explore some of Charleston’s proudest and most historic settings such as Dock Street Theatre, Charleston Library Society, the College of Charleston’s President’s house, City Hall, Sottile Theater, Grace Episcopal Church, Gibbes Museum of Art (pictured right), and the Cistern Yard at College of Charleston, just to name a few. You’ll find just about all genres of visual arts to choose from such as opera, jazz, Shakespearean theater, and ballet.

Also, keep in mind that Piccolo Spoleto will be running during

As a real estate agent who is also a boater, I am often asked for recommendations on where to dock a boat in Charleston, SC. Personally, I prefer to have my boat storage as centrally located as possible because I know that I’m more likely to take it out if I’m only a few minutes from the Charleston Harbor, Morris Island, Shem Creek, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and the ocean. Many buyers assume that you have to buy a waterfront home in Charleston to enjoy the area’s boating. However, if you can find the right storage and facility, you can take advantage of deep water access anytime of the day. (Charleston homes for sale with good water access generally cost $400K plus – you can expect to pay around $600K plus for deep water homes.)

Ripley

Many buyers searching for a home in the Charleston SC real estate market request communities with a boat ramp. Having a boat ramp in your neighborhood is very convenient because it usually gives you a shorter wait time compared with public ramps. Anyone who’s boated knows that waiting to launch or waiting to get out of the water after a full day of fun on the water is a chore. Using a boat launch in your community may make the difference in whether you actually take advantage of your boat or not. Mount Pleasant is one area (of many) in Charleston that features a good selection of communities with a boat ramp and dock. Brickyard Plantation, Dunes West, and I’On are some of the most popular neighborhoods among home buyers.

Brickyard Plantation’s

Whether you enjoy food, beer, or wine, Charleston has a festival coming up for you!

• Charleston Greek Festival: Celebrate the music, food, and culture of Greece on Friday, May 10 at 11 AM; Saturday, May 11 at 11 AM; and Sunday, May 12 at noon. You’ll find extra parking with continuous shuttle service to the festival grounds from Joe Riley Stadium. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, and free for children under 12 and active military. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is located at 30 Race Street in Downtown Charleston
• Winestock Music Festival: On Saturday, May 11, from 12 to 6 PM, you can experience Irvin-House Vineyards’ version of Woodstock. Guests can enjoy live music, wine and Firefly tastings, food, a Best Hippie costume