| People moving to Charleston, SC often have | | | | 5) Downtown Charleston is a highly desirable place to |
| questions about where to live (or where to invest). | | | | live because it is so rich in history and culture. |
| As a real estate agent, I always ask them, "What | | | | Downtown Charleston has beautiful old houses, but |
| are you looking for?" In order to help people who are | | | | they are much more expensive than some of the |
| relocating to the Charleston area, I have organized | | | | other areas in Charleston. Also, taxes have soared |
| my suggestions into 7 answers. | | | | over the past few years - so take the taxes into |
| 1) Folly Beach is a great investment because there | | | | consideration when comparing prices of homes in |
| will pretty much always be a great demand of people | | | | Charleston. |
| who want to live at the beach. Folly Beach is the | | | | 6) Mt. Pleasant has the best public schools in |
| most popular beach in the Charleston area, especially | | | | Charleston County. There is also plenty of shopping |
| for college students and young professionals. Add this | | | | and restaurants in this somewhat upscale area. Mt. |
| popularity with its proximity to downtown Charleston, | | | | Pleasant also has a great location - about 10 minutes |
| and you will find that Folly Beach is a great rental | | | | to the beaches and about 15 to 20 minutes from |
| area. | | | | downtown Charleston. The main drawback is price - |
| 2) James Island is a little more affordable than Folly | | | | Mt. Pleasant is more expensive compared to other |
| Beach, and it is even closer to downtown Charleston | | | | non-beachfront real estate in Charleston. |
| (about a 5 minute drive). James Island is mostly a | | | | 7) Summerville rivals Mt. Pleasant when it comes to |
| residential area, but there are some restaurants | | | | public schools, but Summerville is much more |
| (most of which are independently owned). James | | | | affordable. It has a small town feel, but real estate |
| Island is very laid back, and many students from | | | | there has grown rapidly in the past five years and will |
| College of Charleston and the Medical University of | | | | continue to grow. The biggest drawback to buying a |
| South Carolina live here. The young population and | | | | house there is location. Summerville is about 45 |
| proximity to Folly Beach makes James Island a great | | | | minutes from downtown Charleston and a little less |
| rental area for investors. | | | | than an hour to the closest beach. Summerville is less |
| (3) Johns Island is ideal for people who want more | | | | of an investment area compared to James Island or |
| space - larger yards, less traffic, and fewer neighbors. | | | | Johns Island simply because of appreciation. |
| Also, land in Johns Island is a great investment | | | | However, if you are looking for a place to live and |
| because there are plans to extend the Interstate to | | | | have a tighter budget, Summerville would be a good |
| the area. Johns Island will slowly become less rural | | | | area to consider. |
| and more developed. | | | | Charleston has so many communities to choose from. |
| 4) West Ashley is more affordable compared to | | | | The seven I discussed are some of the popular. If |
| James Island, Johns Island, and Mt. Pleasant. And, it is | | | | you are buying real estate as an investment, be sure |
| still very close to Folly Beach (about a 20 to 30 | | | | to get statistics on appreciation and possibly rental |
| minute drive) and to downtown Charleston (about a | | | | history. If you are buying real estate as a primary |
| 10 to 15 minute drive). West Ashley has more | | | | residence, be sure to talk with someone who has |
| commercial real estate compared to James Island and | | | | lived in the area so that you can learn about real |
| John's Island - there are lots of chain restaurants and | | | | estate specifically in the area you will be buying. |
| shopping centers. | | | | Search for homes and vacant land in Charleston, SC! |