Tips For Moving to Charleston, South Carolina
#1 Top City in US | Travel + Leisure
#1 Best Small City in US | Condé Nast
The South’s Best City | Southern Living
Where to go in 2024 | AFAR
#5 Hottest Real Estate Market | US News & World Report
Charleston, oh how we love thee! This historic port city, established in 1670, is a city of charm and enchantment boasting cobblestone streets, gas-lit lanterns, and stunning pastel antebellum architecture. This allure is particularly evident in our favorite boroughs of the refined French Quarter and Harleston Village. And the stunning water views that surround the area can’t be beat. We’re sure you’ll love the area as much as we do, as there is simply something for everyone, whether you enjoy outdoor pursuits like kayaking and surfing, culinary experiences, shopping, or cultural happenings. And when you’re ready to call the Holy City home, give us a call!
Until then, here are our top tips for moving to the Holy City:
Congestion | Traffic: It’s a thing, and we recommend taking travel time into account when deciding on which part of town you want to call home. Take from us, you want to calculate that commute time and minimize your time on 17, 26, and 526 if at all possible. Also, Charleston is a walkable city, so moving here means you might be able to ditch the car if you are downtown and resort to bike, foot, or golf cart.
Waterfront Living: It’s one of the main reasons people sight for moving to our area (30+ per day) to be exact, and it’s pricey. Honestly, everywhere you go in the Charleston area you find water, and for us that tops the list of pros to living here, but if you have your hopes and dreams set on a home on the marsh, river, or ocean, please be advised that comes with a hefty price tag. That being said, there are some areas that are more attainable than others such as Seabrook, North Charleston, and West Ashley, when it comes to making this dream come true.
Schools: Do your research now and check out the county’s sight on what schools are zoned for certain neighborhoods, so that your kiddos are all set. Again, remember commute time and you’ll be set.
Cost of living: It’s expensive here, and you must understand that before attempting a move. In fact, the cost of living is approximately 15% higher than the national average, and certainly this should be taken into account when relocating to the city. Also, median home prices in many areas are over $600,000 and some climb over $1M, so it is essential to do your homework and understand all costs involved. Also, we find that first time home buyers find it difficult to find reasonable prices in many areas of town, and there can be extremely high demand when properties hit the market.
History | Culture | Food: We’ve got it all here in the low country, and one step on the famed cobblestone streets of the peninsula and you will be transported to a time of yester year. And of course we fell head over heels for the Southern fare, but here in the city you’ll find top restaurants from award-winning chefs in every type of cuisine. Charleston is truly a shopping, foodie, and history buff mecca. Oh, and don’t forget the beaches, water enthusiasts will be right at home.
Job Market: Charleston is booming from a local economy standpoint, and there are many opportunities for great employment. That being said, jobs tend to center around a few key industries that makeup the majority of the city’s employment base, so it is imperative to ensure that work in your area of expertise is available.
Major Industries Served:
Medical
Government | Military
Business | Legal
Tourism
Manufacturing
Major Employers include:
Joint Military Base
CHS County Schools
College of Charleston
USPS
Medical University of South Carolina
Roper St. Francis
The Boeing Co.
Trident Health
Walmart
Robert Bosch
Also, recently Charleston has seen a ton of new employers setting up shop locally, and this makes it a very fluid and vibrant scene when we talk about employment opportunities and prosperity. We personally feel that there will likely be a good amount of economic growth for the short term in the area.
Weather: Winters are mild, spring and fall are stunning, and anywhere you can be on the beach in December is a plus for us. In fact, since it’s not too far South for the horrible summers or North for the horrible winters, with the annual temperature averages somewhere in the 60s to 80s. That being said, summers are humid so consider yourself forewarned.
Accolades: We’ve got them and we love them, but so do the tourists who flock here because of them each year. I mean come on, you can’t be the #1 Travel Destination withoutem, but they are a fact of life, traffic, and reservation wait times.
Outdoor lifestyle: There are so many awesome opportunities to be active and get outside here, and we can’t name them all, but here is a short list: boating, kayaking, shelling, paddle boarding, kite boarding, hiking, biking, golfing, tennis, swimming, surfing, fishing, deep sea fishing, boutique shopping, park picnics, and so much much more.
You’re going to love it! We just know you’ll love it as much as we do and soon you’ll be saying “I’m not from the South but I got here as fast as I could!”
Ready to chat Real Estate, Design, and Charleston? Let’s connect we’d love to help you find that perfect spot to call home in our favorite city.