March 2013

The Bridge Run and the Family Circle Cup are two of the most popular annual events in Charleston! It is a beautiful time of year to participate in these time honored Charleston traditions:

• Cooper River Bridge Run: On Saturday, April 6, a world-class 10K foot race will take place from Mount Pleasant over the Ravenel Bridge into Downtown Charleston. This year the race will feature 21 bands stationed every quarter of a mile. Whether you are a marathon runner or just like a good walk, thousands of people from all over will come to experience running over Charleston’s iconic bridge. There are generally after parties all over downtown and in Mt. Pleasant where folks fuel back up after sweating it out. Registration is $45.
• Family Circle Cup: If you

Many Mount Pleasant home buyers want to find a neighborhood where they can walk to local shops and restaurants. Since Charleston has a temperate climate, it’s the perfect place to utilize your two best assets year round – your feet! There’s something about getting outdoors and in the sunshine that can put a little hop in your step. The Mount Pleasant area has a few neighborhoods that are quite conducive to this active, convenient, and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Seaside Farms, Sweetgrass neighborhood, and Hidden Lakes in Mount Pleasant are within a short walk to The Shoppes at Seaside and a little longer walk to Towne Centre. Prices range from about $115k-500K for a condo or townhome, and $275-950K for a single family home. So, these

Many home buyers ask us to recommend homes and neighborhoods that will keep them within walking distance to shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. West Ashley can be a great fit for these home buyers because – if you know where to look – it offers a convenient lifestyle for those wanting walkability. A few of these convenient neighborhoods in West Ashley are located near the revitalized Avondale district, the Coburg shopping center, and the South Windermere shopping center.

West Ashley’s Avondale commercial section has recently been renovated into a trendy district that has even started an Avondale Restaurant Week. Five area restaurants came together to put on this event that took place in February. Restaurant Week was organized by the Triangle

Celebrate spring with your family by attending one of the many Easter events held in Charleston, South Carolina:

• Easter EGGstravaganza: Saturday, March 30, 11 AM to 1 PM. Participate in the city's largest egg hunt. There will also be pony rides, a climbing wall, games, prizes, music, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The age range for this free event is 12 and under. Located at Hampton Park, 30 Mary Murray Blvd in Downtown Charleston.
• Middleton Place Easter EGGstravaganza: Saturday, March 30 at 10:30 AM. Hunt for eggs in the plantation gardens, then take the kids to the Stableyards to be dyed. Children can also play colonial games, participate in the Egg Roll and Egg Toss, hear classic stories, and make Easter crafts. $25/adult, $15/student,

Sweetgrass Village is one DR Horton Homes’ newest neighborhoods in the Charleston real estate market. It is located in Mount Pleasant, just north of the Isle of Palms connector on Six Mile Road between Highway 17 and Rifle Range Road. It takes about 2 minutes to drive to the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and The Shoppes at Seaside Farms, and it takes only 5 minutes to get to Isle of Palms beach or Sullivan’s Island beach. Downtown Charleston is just a short 20 minute commute, and if you get onto the new Hungryneck Boulevard, you could be on Interstate 526 in just 5 minutes. Also, a new Harris Teeter grocery store is on Six Mile Road for the convenience of Sweetgrass Village residents.

DR Horton has been building homes across the nation on a large scale

Charleston, SC has a range of things to offer young professionals – from outdoor activities to shopping, movie theaters, nightlife, and some of the best restaurants in the country. Although many of these entertainment options are in Downtown Charleston, the real estate is generally too expensive for young professionals and first time home buyers. The nearest suburbs of Charleston (James Island, Mt. Pleasant, and West Ashley) offer more affordable homes without sacrificing a great location.

James Island’s laid back atmosphere and local eateries make it a prominent suburb to live. And, its prime location makes it easy to commute to Downtown Charleston (10 minutes or less, usually) for work or entertainment. Folly Beach is also just a 10 minute drive

Charleston, SC is one of the most family friendly places to live in the southeast. There are plenty of fun indoor and outdoor activities and recreation options for families year round. Parks, beaches, plantations, restaurants, shops, annual festivals, and water sports are just a few of the many exciting things Charleston has to offer. Charleston has something for everyone’s interests and lifestyle, which is why over 120,000 people call Charleston home. Whether you choose Mount Pleasant, James Island, or West Ashley, you will find a warm welcome in every community in our city.

Mount Pleasant is a suburb just across the Aurthur Ravenel Bridge from downtown Charleston. There are currently about 40,000 people who reside here. Mount Pleasant has many

Charleston, SC is one of the country’s best places to retire for a multitude of reasons. The taxes are some the lowest in the nation, the weather is gorgeous year round, the city is full of history, the restaurants are amazing, and there are more than enough activities to keep up an active retired lifestyle. AARP has named Charleston as one of the top places to retire in the country. Also, Forbes magazine has written that Charleston has the lowest tax bite of all, a general low cost of living, and plenty of physicians. Other recent rankings for Charleston include Most Mannerly City, Most Livable Cities, America’s Friendliest Cities, and Best Shopping Districts.

The population of Charleston is about $120,000, and the median home price is $199,300.

Most areas within the Charleston real estate market have undergone significant changes over the past month. In the most popular areas, we’re now commonly seeing listings get multiple offers within just a few days of coming onto the market. The inventory of homes for sale has been slowly diminishing over the past year, but only recently has the number of MLS listings reached the 4,000 mark. Some areas are seeing less than a 2 months’ supply of homes, which shows a strong sellers’ market.

If your time frame is more than 2 months, know that most of the homes we’re sending you will not be available when it comes time for you to purchase. However, these homes can certainly help you to keep an eye on the Charleston real estate market, learn what you can

When searching for the perfect place to make a home, many buyers want to know where the best schools in Charleston are located. Whether you have children or work as a teacher/staff member – or whether you simply want the quality of schools to help with future resale value of your home – know that Charleston has wonderful public and private schools throughout. Two great areas to start your search will be Mount Pleasant and James Island. According to SchoolDigger.com, here is how the Mount Pleasant and James Island area schools ranked in 2012:

Mount Pleasant real estate: This community has many master planned neighborhoods which include amenities such as pools, walking trails, tennis, golf, play parks, grocery stores, shops, and even schools inside the