February 2013

A healthier Charleston real estate market is here! The number of local mortgage holders who owe more to the bank than their home is worth is trending downward. This is great news for Charleston’s housing market. The research firm CoreLogic analyzed the Charleston real estate market, and here is their assessment.

CoreLogic focused on the percentages of negative equity from the second quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2012. Almost 22.3 percent of homeowners in the Charleston metro area (Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville) had negative equity in the second quarter of 2012. How do home buyers get negative equity? Home owners end up underwater on their mortgages because the home has declined in value, they have refinanced and taken out more

The Charleston real estate market is on the upturn. Sales have increased, inventory has dropped substantially, short sales and foreclosures have slowed, and the average home price is coming up from 2012. It is a perfect year to be purchasing in the Charleston real estate market because interest rates are historically low, and home prices are the most affordable that they’ve been in years. If you’re looking for a good deal and want to get the most house for the money, Summerville and West Ashley are two of Charleston’s suburb areas that are known for their balance of quality and value.

Summerville is about 24 miles north of the City of Charleston located off Interstate 26, which is still within a reasonable commute to the city. There is a great deal

The annual BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival is coming up on February 28 and runs through March 3. This event celebrates Charleston’s excellence in the culinary arts and also benefits scholarship programs for the hospitality and culinary workplace. Visit charlestonwineandfood.com to purchase tickets and to get more details on each event. Here are just a few events to kick off the celebration:

• Adam Perry Lang, Daisy Mae's BBQ USA: Sat., March 2, from 3:30 to 4:15 PM, Chef Lang will offer fresh made samples paired with Avalon wines. Charleston Wine and Food Festival Culinary Village, 329 Meeting Street, Downtown
• Hank's Seafood and Peninsula Grill Cookbook Signing: Sat., March 2, from 11 AM to 2 PM, join Peninsula Grill Executive Chef Graham

The Charleston real estate market has 16 main areas to choose from, which makes our tri-county area overwhelming to many home buyers. In the past 10 years of selling real estate, we’ve received this question hundreds of times: “What are the best areas to live in Charleston?” We’ve included below our answers, and we hope this blog helps you narrow down your search based on the two most popular areas among home buyers in the Charleston real estate market.

Mt. Pleasant and James Island are among the top two suburb communities surrounding Downtown Charleston. Each community has its subtle differences that set it apart from the rest. By doing a little research and exploration, you will be able to choose a community that is fitting for you and your loved

We are extremely lucky in Charleston, South Carolina to be able to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year. Here are a few options to entice you and your family to get outdoors this winter:

• Swamp Nature Hike: On Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 AM, the Sewee Visitor Center is offering a free event. You can join guides for a hike along the rice dikes to discover what lives within the aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Located in Awendaw at 5821 Hwy. 17 North. www.fws.gov/seweecenter/
• Camellia Walks: On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11 AM, Middleton Place is offering special guided tours that focus on camellias throughout the original gardens as well as the “new” camellia garden of the 1950s. These ongoing tours will take place through Feb. 23,

David Weekley Homes presents new construction houses and townhomes on Daniel Island, which is located off Interstate 526 between Mt. Pleasant and North Charleston. Daniel Island is an exquisite master-planned community approximately 25 minutes to Downtown Charleston as well as the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island beaches. Traditional and Low Country style homes fill the neighborhoods of this island town. The 8 neighborhoods on the island encompass restaurants, beautiful boutique shops, schools, community green spaces, walking trails, churches, and all of the other conveniences of a modern lifestyle. Also, the private golf courses are nationally ranked. Daniel Island houses for sale, lots, condominiums, and townhomes all rest within the boundaries of

The Daniel Island real estate market was strong in 2012, and 2013 is proving to be shifting rapidly from a buyers’ market to a state that’s more advantageous to sellers. Daniel Island is believed to be at the leading edge of the market turn because of its association with the City of Charleston and because it is a master-planned community built with excellence and consistency. In 2012, more Daniel Island properties were sold than the previous four years combined. There was an increase in single-family home sales by 10% from 2011 to 2012, and home site sales increased 20%.

Daniel Island’s home inventory has gone down significantly for homes priced less than $1 million dollars. There are currently fewer than three months’ inventory of houses for sale

Rivertowne Country Club is a gorgeous community that sits conveniently off Highway 41 in Mount Pleasant, SC. The neighborhood encompasses townhomes and homes that range from $375K to about $1.5 million. Home sizes run from approximately 1,900 to 5,000 square feet. You’ll find lots that are interior as well as ones that back up to the golf course or marsh. Lot sizes are typically a slight bit larger than most Mount Pleasant neighborhoods, between 0.18 acre and 0.38 acre. The golf course is one of the biggest selling points of this community. Rivertowne Country Club is a public course (as are also the Dunes West Golf Club and Charleston National Golf Club). These 3 golf clubs are within 5 minutes of one another, so it is possible to play at all of them

Are you up for a challenge and want to learn something new? Take a look at some of the upcoming classes Charleston, SC has to offer! Of course, there are infinite options, but these will help joggle your brain for what interests you:

• Sweetgrass Basket Workshop: On Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, you can learn how to make a famous Charleston sweetgrass basket at the Charleston Museum. Price: $40/members, $45/non-members. The Charleston Museum is located at 360 Meeting Street in Downtown. www.charlestonmuseum.org
• Broadway Dance: These classes are ongoing and are taught by Broadway dancer Kirk Sprinkles. You’ll find instruction in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and hip-hop. These classes are geared toward all ages and ability levels. The

Ocean Neighbors is pleased to have Mungo Homes building new homes on 19 lakefront lots. Mungo Homes has been named America’s Best Builder 2012 by Builder magazine for overall achievement and excellence in housing. Mungo is a family owned company who has been building in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia since 1954. All of their homes are HauSmart certified which ensures the home is healthier for the environment and for your family. Currently, Mungo Homes has neighborhoods in Columbia, Summerville, Johns Island, and now James Island.

Ocean Neighbors is a medium sized community off Folly Road on James Island. (As you are headed out to Folly Beach, turn left on Battery Island Road, just before the Piggly Wiggly grocery store.) What sets Ocean