Relocating to Charleston Area-Need advice regarding neighborhoods (North Charleston, Mount Pleasant: apartment complexes, rental market) - South Carolina (SC) -Charleston - North Charleston - Mt. Pleasant - Summerville - Goose Creek - City-Data Forum

kd0220 · 10-26-2012, 10:38 AM

Hi,

My husband, two small children (both under 2 years) and I will be moving to the Charleston area temporarily for a work project in North Charleston. We were wondering if any of you could offer advice about which area to rent. We'd like to be in a condo or house in a safe area that isn't too far from downtown and beaches. It seems (from reading online) that West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island would be good choices for us. Could you please give your opinions on each one? It seems like West Ashley is much less expensive than Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island. Is Daniel Island worth the price? How is traffic going from West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island to North Charleston? We would be in the area for 1-2 years. If there's anything else you'd like to add or think I should know, please feel free to add!

My husband also just mentioned Summerville...what do you think about that? Terrible traffic to North Charleston?

We really appreciate any help you all have to offer with this!

DJShymansky · 10-26-2012, 11:05 AM

Daniel Island is certainly idyllic. Daniel Island would put you closer to N. Charleston, and is certainly gorgeous. You'd be about 20 minutes from the beaches. Mount Pleasant would put you 10 minutes or less to IOP/Sullivan's Island beaches, and anywhere from 5-20 minutes from downtown, depending on which part of M.t P. you're looking at. West Ashley travel time will be somewhat similar, but you're looking at Folly beach, being the closest.

It'll just come down to where in N. Charleston the project is located, you budget and your desired commute time.

kd0220 · 10-26-2012, 11:12 AM

My husband will be at Boeing and we'd like to keep the commute time to 30 minutes (45 max). We'd like to keep rent $1800 or less.

OleTomCat · 10-26-2012, 11:48 AM

$1800.00 will get you a really nice house in Summerville.....

Commute to Boeing would be about 30 minutes, without a major traffic jam...

DJShymansky · 10-26-2012, 12:49 PM

$1800 could get you a nice home in Mount Pleasant, West Ashley as well, or a nice townhome/condo on Daniel Island. Most would likely be within 30 minutes of Boeing, especially Daniel Island.

beachluverz · 11-11-2012, 10:41 PM

I would go with Daniel Island for sure! Traffic in this area is all messed up and the drive from Summerville (which is a nice place)to Boeing can be awful (easily 45 minutes from most places there). 17 in Mount Pleasant is a mess and it you live there you have to go on it for most stores etc. As a newcomer I found Mt. P (with the construction) very hard to navigate.
Daniel island is beautiful, safe, tons of kids, great parks, easy to navigate, a overall great place to live! Plus, it will be an easy commute for your husband. You can't go wrong there as far as location, low crime rate, kid friendly etc. but I'm not familiar with their too rental market. I have a friend that rents a furnished place there (it includes cable, utilities, everything) for $2300 a month so I suspect unfurnished would be close to your price range.
Isle of the Palms is great too and an easy commute as well but traffic may be a problem in the summers (depending on his shift).
Another thing to know is that there are pockets of not so great scattered around the Charleston area. You don't have to worry about any of that on Daniel Island.
A couple other tips I have for you are 1) don't rent a place unless you see it for yourself. We rented off the internet (looked like Pottery Barn) and turned out to be a roach and mold infested place.
2) When you do rent make sure you see the actual unit they are going to put you in before you sign a lease
We relocated here as well and my husband does the same commute. The weather here is great and so are the majority of the people. I think you and your family will love it here. Best wishes to you all!

accufitgolf · 11-12-2012, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kd0220

Hi,

My husband, two small children (both under 2 years) and I will be moving to the Charleston area temporarily for a work project in North Charleston. We were wondering if any of you could offer advice about which area to rent. We'd like to be in a condo or house in a safe area that isn't too far from downtown and beaches. It seems (from reading online) that West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island would be good choices for us. Could you please give your opinions on each one? It seems like West Ashley is much less expensive than Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island. Is Daniel Island worth the price? How is traffic going from West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant and Daniel Island to North Charleston? We would be in the area for 1-2 years. If there's anything else you'd like to add or think I should know, please feel free to add!

My husband also just mentioned Summerville...what do you think about that? Terrible traffic to North Charleston?

We really appreciate any help you all have to offer with this!

With two kids not in school then you might consider some of the nicer/less pricey apartment complexes off of Dorchester Road in North Charleston, Summerville, etc versus the more pricey Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant.

Were you settling down here, kids in school, etc. then I would suggest Mount Pleasant but renting, no kids in school, short term stay, then keep expenses reasonable and be close to Boeing.

OleTomCat · 11-12-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accufitgolf

With two kids not in school then you might consider some of the nicer/less pricey apartment complexes off of Dorchester Road in North Charleston, Summerville, etc versus the more pricey Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant.

Were you settling down here, kids in school, etc. then I would suggest Mount Pleasant but renting, no kids in school, short term stay, then keep expenses reasonable and be close to Boeing.

And what would be wrong with settling down with kids in school in Summerville or the nicer parts of N. Charleston (also DD2 school)? It is still cheaper and the schools are just as good if not better(definitely better than DI schools in Berkeley County)......

accufitgolf · 11-12-2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OleTomCat

And what would be wrong with settling down with kids in school in Summerville or the nicer parts of N. Charleston (also DD2 school)? It is still cheaper and the schools are just as good if not better(definitely better than DI schools in Berkeley County)......

That was not what the OP was asking about.

cape_fisherman · 11-12-2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OleTomCat

And what would be wrong with settling down with kids in school in Summerville or the nicer parts of N. Charleston (also DD2 school)? It is still cheaper and the schools are just as good if not better(definitely better than DI schools in Berkeley County)......

We are carrying this off topic, but I wonder what numbers you are looking at to come up with your facts? According to the SC state report cards for public schools, the DI elementary and middle schools are way ahead of the others you are referring to.

Not trying to argue, but the report cards say something different than what you are saying...at least the "summery" reports do. I have not, and don't plan to, break down categories in order to itemize what schools excel where...but the summery reports list the DI schools above the others you mention.

Sorry for the highjack.

I personally would choose MtP or DI. I think you'd enjoy your time here better...I know I would.