Have you considered moving to Charleston, South Carolina recently?! With the advent of many jobs switching to full-time remote positions, you are certainly not alone in that thought process! With less congestion than large metropolitan cities, lower prices, and friendly faces, Charleston is projected to have some of the largest population growth in the next few years.
Charleston, South Carolina has long been a popular destination for tourists with its historic roots, beautiful beaches, French-inspired cityscape, and foodie paradise, but many more are beginning to call Charleston home. With an influx of so many people, we wanted to highlight some truths about moving to Charleston that may be surprising to you. We at CREC Property Management are highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly to better prepare yourself for a potential move to the area!
👍 The Good: Hospitality Industry is Huge
If you love tourism, small-talk, and/or food for any occasion, you are going to LOVE living in Charleston! With such a large tourism and hospitality industry, Charleston has many opportunities to work in this sector as well as take advantage of all the benefits the hospitality industry provides. It’s not unusual to be overwhelmed by the number of incredible dining options at your fingertips, just be sure to make reservations ahead of time!
👎 The Bad: Flood & Hurricane Season
Charleston is often referred to as the “Lowcountry” since many landscapes are flat and at sea level. With the combination of flat land, proximity to water, and infrastructure that was developed as early as the 1600s, some areas in Charleston are very prone to flooding. Likewise, hurricane season generally runs from June 1st through November 30th and is something people should prepare for ahead of time to ensure they are properly equipped.
🤢 The Ugly: Palmetto Bugs
If you run into these nasty bugs, we know it’s easy to want to burn your entire house down (we’ve had the same thought raced through our minds before), but don’t grab that flamethrower quite yet! For transplants who have come from Northern states, they are stunned to find out these bugs are commonplace. The good news? Many places throughout Charleston are adamant about spraying the property to keep them away — keep an insecticide on hand and you should be good.
👍 The Good: A Variety of Neighborhoods to Choose From
When most people think of Charleston, they think of Downtown Charleston where popular tourist spots such as King Street and Rainbow Row reside. When people who live in Charleston refer to Charleston, they generally refer to the larger aspect of the city and the multiple neighborhoods around it. Each neighborhood has its own vibe and perks. Whether you’re choosing Downtown Charleston for its touristy vibes, James Island or John’s Island for their chill family-oriented vibe, West Ashley for its young professional crowd, Mount Pleasant and its suburbia, North Charleston and increasingly popular Park Circle, Daniel Island for its gated community, or Summerville for its new developments, there is much to be researched about each community and what they could provide you with! Regardless of what you feel is best, there is opportunity everywhere.
👎 The Bad: The Real Estate Market is HOT, HOT, HOT (and Difficult)!
Since many people are moving to Charleston, closing on a house right now is very difficult and getting increasingly difficult as time goes on. According to a November 2021 report by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, the median sales price of homes has increased by 14.4% year-over-year with fewer and fewer homes available on the market. In 2021 alone, the price of a median single-family home rose up 16%. If you’re trying to buy right now, be prepared to go over the asking price and still be rejected. While this is unfortunate, it is simply the truth of the housing market trying to keep up with supply and demand. Luckily, we always have properties available at CREC Property Management which you can view here.
🤢 The Ugly: Traffic
If you’re coming from a large metropolitan city, the traffic may not make you bat an eye, but for those coming to Charleston from small suburban areas, you may be stunned by the bumper-to-bumper traffic you experience. Common traveling times like 9:00 am and 6:00 pm may have you banging your head against the wheel. Much of this traffic is due to the infrastructure not being able to keep up with the ever-growing population of people who are commuting to and from work. We’d recommend making a bomb playlist and finding some interesting podcasts to keep you entertained.
👍 The Good: Southern Charm
Walking around downtown, you may notice that everyone is dressed to impress and is as kind as they come which is the Charleston Charm speaking! It is so common for people to give their all to their appearance and partake in small talk. If you love chatting your neighbors up and being friendly to service staff you’re coming to the right place!
👎 The Bad: Expenses
While Charleston is certainly less expensive than metropolitan cities up North and out West, it’s important to keep in mind that Charleston is still a city and some things are still expensive! We’d recommend using a cost of living calculator to compare how your expenses will fare from wherever you are coming from to wherever you are looking to move.
🤢 The Ugly: Alligators
Much like Palmetto Bugs are an unexpected surprise for many, alligators are also quite the shock! Alligators mostly keep to themselves and sunbathe near bodies of water, they are actually afraid of humans, so no need to fear! We urge you to not feed them under any circumstance or get in close proximity to them and you will be absolutely fine!
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We hope these tips help you learn a little bit more about what living in Charleston is like, the good, the bad, and the ugly included! If you are interested in getting one step closer to your move, check out our available properties and reach out to us with any questions or concerns!
