Charleston, South Carolina
Finding your dream home in Charleston is
no easy task, but only because there are
so many quality choices available for
you and your family. Where will you and
your family feel most comfortable? A
beautiful house built more than 200
years ago? Maybe a house overlooking the
ocean or a world-renowned golf course?
If that isn't your style, how about a
house nestled in a lovely neighborhood
where children play at the park, the ice
cream shop is only a bike ride away, and
you know all of your neighbors by name?
The good news is, no matter where you
choose to live, the surroundings are
beautiful, the people are friendly and
I-526, the James Island Connector and
the new Arthur B. Ravenel Bridge make
the entire Metro area more accessible
than ever.
Historic Charleston
Downtown Charleston
buildings date back
to the mid-1700s and
its "single-houses"
are treasured pieces
of the city's past
with double porches,
iron gates, and
courtyard gardens.
Since 1947 the
Charleston Historic
Foundation has
worked tirelessly to
protect and preserve
the houses,
buildings, and
neighborhoods that
make Charleston such
a unique city.
As exclusive as
Downtown Charleston
seems, home prices
vary. Living south
of Broad Street (or
as the locals call
it, South of Broad)
is luxurious living
at its best, with
homes ranging from
$1 million to more
than $6 million.
Revitalized
neighborhoods like
Mazyck-Wraggborough
include homes
starting at
$300,000. Multiple
family buildings
renovated into
condominiums are
gaining popularity
and start as low as
$250,000.
Downtown Charleston
is often referred to
as a pedestrian
community. Not only
are commercial
offices near many
residential areas,
but residents can
also walk, ride a
bike or rickshaw to
dine at world-class
restaurants, shop
for designer wear on
King Street, browse
the French Quarter
art galleries, and
visit the numerous
historic
attractions. This
convenience combined
with historic beauty
and close proximity
to area beaches
makes downtown
Charleston one of
the most desired
areas.
Mount Pleasant
A short drive over
the new Arthur B.
Ravenel Bridge is
Mt. Pleasant. Once a
quiet bedroom
community to
downtown Charleston,
Mt. Pleasant is now
home to more than
56,000 people. Its
close proximity to
downtown, the
beaches, plenty of
shopping,
restaurants, and
recreation make the
area popular. Mt.
Pleasant offers
something for
everyone: boating
communities, golf
communities, areas
that are reasonably
priced, and some
that are exclusive.
One neighborhood,
Raven's Run, even
has its own grass
air strip.
Some of Mt.
Pleasant's more
exclusive
neighborhoods
include I'On, Olde
Park, and the Old
Village. Houses in
the Old Village date
back to the 1800s
and look like
residences found in
a small New England
town. Listing prices
start around
$700,000.
Neighborhoods like
Park West offer
communities with a
wide range of
housing options from
condominiums, to
moderately priced
homes, to waterfront
homes priced over $2
million.
Buyers will find the
average price for a
four-bedroom house
in Mt. Pleasant is
$552,991. Some of
the more reasonably
priced developments
are in the
$250,000-300,000
range.
Daniel Island
Just 20 minutes from
downtown Charleston
by I-526, Daniel
Island has created a
popular
neo-traditional type
community. Most of
the houses are built
close together, the
garages are located
in the back among
alleys, and the
yards are smaller
than average. The
neighborhoods vary
in style with
recently opened lots
having access to the
Wando River.
Named One of
America's Top 100
Golf Communities in
Travel + Leisure
magazine, Daniel
Island celebrates
the recently opened
18-hole course
designed by Rees
Jones that now joins
a course by Tom
Fazio. The island's
parks and two sports
stadiums host
festivals, sporting
events like the
annual Family Circle
Tennis tournament
and Charleston
Battery soccer
games, events and
concerts. Shops,
restaurants and
schools are
conveniently located
near the six
traditional
neighborhoods which
include
single-family homes
and brick townhomes
in the high
$300,000's to homes
along the water,
marsh or golf course
from the $900,000's
to more than $3
million. The average
price for a
four-bedroom house
is $902,208.
Sullivan's Island
and Isle of Palms
Just 15 minutes from
downtown lies
Sullivan's Island
and the Isle of
Palms, two of
Charleston's barrier
islands. With 10
miles of sandy
beaches, beautiful
marshes and
luxurious living,
these islands have
given its residents
an escape from urban
living since the
1800s.
The East Islands are
especially
attractive to
relocating
executives, perhaps
because they are
only minutes from
Mt. Pleasant and a
short drive to
downtown. The East
Islands have quick
access to shopping,
restaurants,
hospitals and
businesses while
living the beach
life.
Sullivan’s Island,
located at the
entrance to
Charleston Harbor,
has a history of
proudly protecting
the harbor from
military invaders
and is the sight of
a major battle of
the American
Revolution. Today it
is an established
residential and
vacation community.
Quaint shops,
restaurants and pubs
welcome locals and
visitors. There are
no hotels, motels or
bed and breakfasts
on the island. Most
homes range from $1
to 7 million.
Right next door to
Sullivan's Island is
the
Isle of Palms,
a residential
community bordered
by the Atlantic
Ocean and lying 10
miles north of
Charleston, this
island, with its
salt marshes and
wildlife, offers the
best of both
worlds…vacation and
permanent living.
The Isle of Palms is
self-contained, with
shops, dining, an
array of beautiful
accommodations, and
two championship
golf courses.
Charlestonians have
been flocking to the
island for holidays
since 1898.
With new bridges and
easy access, the
island now offers
the seclusion and
charm of a sea
island, where people
from around the
world often turn
their vacation into
permanent living.
Just minutes from
downtown Charleston
and the culture we
all dearly love
about the South.
Wild Dunes,
a world-famous
resort and private
community, is
located at the
northeast end of the
island. Housing
options range from
oceanfront
condominiums to
luxury homes on the
ocean, marshland or
overlooking golf
courses. Boating,
Golfing, Fishing,
Crabbing or just
sitting around the
cabana listening to
low country
music…this resort is
a lively place to
visit and a happy
place to live.
West Ashley, James
Island and Folly
Beach
West Ashley is the
oldest suburb in
Charleston and
features many
neighborhoods lined
with moss-draped
oaks. Neighborhoods
closest to downtown
like Byrnes Down and
Avondale feature
cottage-style brick
homes built after
World War II. Newer
neighborhoods
feature reasonably
priced homes and
condominiums.
Executive homes with
deep-water lots and
views of the Ashley
River, tidal
marshes, and creeks
are in high demand.
West Ashley
residents enjoy the
convenience of the
Citadel Mall and
plenty of
restaurants, shops,
businesses, and
medical facilities.
West Ashley also has
its share of history
with Charles Towne
Landing, the
original site of the
first permanent
English Settlement,
and three beautiful
historic plantations
that are open to the
public year-round.
The Battle of
Secessionville, the
first major Union
effort to take
Charleston during
the Civil War, was
fought on James
Island. After the
war, only a few
homes remained and
the island reverted
to a sparsely
populated rural
farming area. In
1993 the James
Island Connector
opened, drastically
improving access to
James Island, which
brought increased
residential and
commercial
development.
Today James Island
is a popular,
family-oriented
island only minutes
from downtown and
Folly Beach. From
comfortable, older
neighborhoods to new
developments, the
island boasts a wide
variety of housing
options. Many
homesites have views
of the Charleston
Harbor. Those with
deep-water lots and
water views can cost
up to $3 million.
The wide-range of
neighborhoods
include homes priced
from $250,000 to
$500,000. Condos,
built with
executives in mind,
are priced around
$250,000.
Often referred to as
the "Edge of
America," Folly
Beach is an eclectic
beachtown 15 minutes
from downtown.
"Folly Beach is a
place where
community rules,"
says Eve Olasov,
broker-in-charge and
owner of Luxury Land
and Homes, Inc.
"This is a
tight-knit community
with a real sense of
belonging. Old meets
new while the spirit
and flavor of Folly
remains unmistakably
the same." Many of
its modest beach
homes, beginning
around $500,000
still remain, giving
Folly Beach a
comfortable, casual
atmosphere. "There's
something really
special about Folly
Beach and it doesn't
take long to fit in
and relax to the
beat and life style
unmistakably Folly
Beach," says Olasov.
John's Island,
Kiawah Island and
Seabrook Island
Like James Island,
John's Island is
benefiting from road
and bridge
expansions. Today,
the short drive to
downtown and West
Ashley is bringing
more residents to
Johns Island. In new
communities and
established
neighborhoods, home
prices start around
$300,000. Waterfront
properties with deep
water access cost in
the millions.
Development has been
slower and its
maritime forest
vegetation and
beautiful live oaks
give the island a
perfect spot for
relaxed living.
Only 21 miles from
Charleston is Kiawah
Island, a
10,000-acre private
residential resort
community renowned
for its natural
beauty and
environmentally
responsible
development. From
villas and cottages
starting around
$300,000 to
multi-million dollar
oceanfront homes,
Kiawah Island
attracts some of the
world's famous and
affluent people.
Seabrook Island is
also a private
resort development
located next to
Kiawah. Seabrook
Island is owned by
its residents and is
completely private.
North Charleston
Geographically,
North Charleston is
the third largest
city in the state
with a population of
over 80,000. The
area's commercial
business is booming
with quick access to
I-26, I-526 and
Charleston
International
Airport.
Homes on the Ashley
River with
deep-water access
cost in the
millions. Older
homes in established
neighborhoods can
cost less than
$100,000 and some of
the new construction
starts around
$130,000. In many of
the new
neighborhoods,
developers have
integrated fitness
centers, jogging
trails, parks and
community centers.
Overall, North
Charleston house
prices are less
expensive than other
areas.
Goose Creek, Moncks
Corner and
Summerville
It is said that
Goose Creek, Moncks
Corner and
Summerville are
towns that still
possess natural
beauty and a rare
sense of community
that is hard to find
in today's world. So
it is no surprise
that these
qualities, along
with the convenient
location off of I-26
just north and west
of Charleston, that
have made Goose
Creek, Moncks Corner
and Summerville some
of the hottest
housing areas in the
region. It's a
desirable region
whether you're
looking for land, a
charming historic
home, or a brand new
starter home. Rest
assured, affordable
housing is abundant
(the average home
price in the region
is $127,500) and
there are many new
starter
neighborhoods from
which to choose.
