What about education? Our education page is an easy reference to access public school district sites as well as myscschools.com that has very concise and complete report cards on the different school districts as well as the individual schools. If you want to get a lot of house for your money, and have some of the best rated schools in South Carolina, just choose Summerville and you'll have both.
How about taxes? In Charleston, the assessment ratio for a residence is 4%, and in most localities the millage rate is about .275. In simpler terms, the taxes on a $200,000 home will be about $2,200/year. Also, if you're used to paying taxes on your modest home in Long Island, New York that's valued at about $500,000, you can probably get about the same house in Summerville for less than half that.
What about the weather? Our summers are very hot and humid. How hot you ask? Really, really hot! And it lasts from May through September. The good news is that even though we are in the deep south, we have learned about air conditioning. We have it in our homes and we have it in our cars. The winters are mild and short, but it does get cold here. It just doesn't last very long.
What about hurricances? Check the real numbers. The conditions have to be pretty unusual for a full-force hurricane to hit Charleston. For Hugo, the conditions were very, very unusual. That being said, we're probably due for another one. Just remember, we get absolutely zero snow accumulation and we start whining about the cold when it gets down below 50F. Caution! If you happen to be driving in South Carolina and it starts snowing, get away from the roads. We don't know what to do when it snows and one of us is bound to run into you!
Charleston is made up of twelve distinct areas, each with its own appeal as well as some characteristics that are not so desirable. As Charleaston Area Residents for over 15 years, we know that while Charleston is an absolutetly amazing place to live, just like every city, there are some things to watch out for in picking out a neighborhood and a home. Charleston sells itself when it comes to natural beauty, history, and things to do but let's talk openly about the problems with moving to or within Charleston. We want you to know the good, the bad and the ugly about Charleston, and the Charleston Real Estate Market, not just a few things that sound good.
Whether you have school age children or not, education dramatically affects the value and how long it might take to resell your home. South Carolina is not exactly leading the charge in enlightening and equipping our children for success. That being said, there are some schools in the Charleston Area with some really good numbers doing a fine job. Call or email us or complete our online form to receive your free online relocation guide, and we'll share those numbers with detailed statistics and reports with you.
What about traffic congestion?
Mount Pleasant is a beautiful place to live, there's no doubt about it. It has a lot to offer including better schools and proximity to The Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island and Downtown. But if you're going to be commuting, we definitely suggest you take a ride on 17 around 5:30 pm before taking the plunge. If you're either not from here, or don't have the time to check out the traffic on Ashley River road for yourself, get in touch with us and we'll help you work out what will be involved with your commute and help you select the best area to living in.
