Want to Relocate to Charleston Area...Help! (Mount Pleasant, Summerville: buying a home, find job)

[Karamia36]

Hello,

My husband and I currently reside just out of Washington D.C. and after just recently having a daughter we've decided that while the economy is great up here; the environment isn't where we want to raise a child. After a good amount of searching, we both agreed that South was the way to go. I've visited Charleston on a number of occasions and have always loved the area; so it's at the top of our list of possibilities. We hope to put our home here in D.C. on the market this coming Spring, and hopefully be in Charleston (or wherever) by this time next year.

My husband works in Software Development for the Department of Defense, and I'm a Cost Analyst for a DoD contractor. Our plan is for me to stop working for a few years until our daughter goes to School full time; but we want to be in an area where it won't be an issue for me to find a job in my field thereafter. In the more immediate future, we'd like to settle in a neighborhood not more than a 30 minute commute from my Husband's place of business...

Other considerations are safety of the neighborhood, home values/prices, proximity to amenities such as restaurants and shopping, and access to Private Schools (we would prefer non-Parochial).


So, onto specifics:

1. What sorts of businesses and companies in the Charleston area are entrenched in the Software field? Are they well regarded?

2. What are the best areas to focus on for buying a home given the needs outlined above?

3. What should we expect to pay for a newer 3-4 bedroom home in these neighborhoods?

4. What sort of commute times are we looking at between major points?




Any other information or inside tips that anyone could provide would be much appreciated. I look forward to some recommendations and opinions!

Thank you!

[22150]

Hi, I just wanted to say that my family is in the same boat. We're hoping to leave the DC metro area next spring. We've decided on Summerville and have visited a few times.
We love the community feel we've seen throughout Charleston and Summerville.

I can tell you that the rush hour traffic is NOTHING like what we have here. Between driving through myself and checking traffic cams from home I can say that commute times will be a whole different ballgame.

I look forward to hearing some neighborhood advice as well.

[DJShymansky]

I grew up an hour south of DC. Trust me, you'll think you died and went to heaven when you get down here.

[Jim3310]

While I can't speak directly to the software field, we do have a very large and well represented armed forces community.

Specifically to your questions.
The general Summerville area may be your best bet. Traditionally, you get more house for the money. You may want to look at Pinewood Prep as an example of a fine private school. Pinewood Preparatory School Our public schools here are very highly regarded and may be an option for you once you visit them yourself.

I also relocated here from the north and find this a wonderful place to be.

Other areas you may consider would be West Ashley & Mt. Pleasant, depending upon job location. You need to take a couple of days to get a real feel on what the area is like.

Prices: In Summerville, a newer 4 bedroom is typically under $300K, some as low as $200K. A custom MLS search would keep you up to date.

The commute should not be too much of a problem. After all, you are coming from the D.C. area. Again, specific job locations and time of day are always a factor, but it won't be too bad by comparison.

[DJShymansky]

Daniel Island would also be an excellent place to look. It's a tremendous area of the lowcountry, plenty of community activities, parks, pools, access to the water, and only 15 or so minutes outside of the Charleston peninsula. A lot would depend on your price range, size of the home, etc. Daniel Island homes start in the 400's, roughly.

Balckbaud is currently located there, which is the leading provider of software and services to non-profit agencies. Other private schools in the Charleston county area can be found here Charleston County, South Carolina SC - K-12 Schools, Education . Porter-Gaud also comes highly recommended having grades 1-12.

[emilybh]

Originally Posted by Jim3310

While I can't speak directly to the software field, we do have a very large and well represented armed forces community.

Specifically to your questions.
The general Summerville area may be your best bet. Traditionally, you get more house for the money. You may want to look at Pinewood Prep as an example of a fine private school. Pinewood Preparatory School Our public schools here are very highly regarded and may be an option for you once you visit them yourself.

I also relocated here from the north and find this a wonderful place to be.

Other areas you may consider would be West Ashley & Mt. Pleasant, depending upon job location. You need to take a couple of days to get a real feel on what the area is like.


Prices: In Summerville, a newer 4 bedroom is typically under $300K, some as low as $200K. A custom MLS search would keep you up to date.

The commute should not be too much of a problem. After all, you are coming from the D.C. area. Again, specific job locations and time of day are always a factor, but it won't be too bad by comparison.

Those prices are if you don't mind vinyl siding.

[Jim3310]

Absolutely not!

1,956 square feet, 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath BRAND NEW, $187K
2,659 square feet, 4 bedroom, 3 bath built in 2005, $240K

Just need someone who knows what's out there!

[Karamia36]

Wow...such a response! Thank you all for your input.

Regarding Summerville vs. Mount Pleasant: What are the benefits of living in one as opposed to the other? From your posts I'm garnering that Summerville is cheap but further away from everything; while Mount Pleasant is pricey but close?

[Jim3310]

Pretty fair summation Karamia. However, in my opinion, there is a vast difference between Mt. Pleasant & Summerville. Please keep in mind that commuting times vs raising a family vs home prices vs taxes vs etc... all come into play. You need to see this from the eyes of someone who has relocated AND perhaps someone who has lived here all their life to get a true perspective.

In my opinion, in a nut shell;
Mt. Pleasant has grown vs Summerville is still growing.

Mt. Pleasant stops dead during peak traffic times vs Summerville will be right behind them if they don't watch out, but they are trying to control it.

Mt. Pleasant costs more because they are closer to downtown & the ocean vs Summerville, the difference may only be 15 minutes due to Mt. Pleasant traffic.

Mt. Pleasant has ALL the stores vs Summerville has Starbucks, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, (to judge big box stores), but also has Miss Eva's luncheonette and the original Drug Store on the town square that still has ice cream sodas.

You need to feel the towns, not just drive them. Get with the right people & stay on this forum. Plenty of good opinions from both sides.