Top 5 (Or More) Things You HATE Most About Living In Charleston? (Goose Creek: real estate market, neighborhoods)

[southerngentleman]

Originally Posted by pokrplr

This one's easy to beat...When you get tax bill, take your car to dealership and have it "appraised" as if you were trading it in...Get letter from dealership stating the actual value...Send letter back to tax office...They will adjust bill, usually cut in 1/2...I do it every year and save a fortune!

IE: last yr tax bill $745, re-adjusted to $390 b/c of high mileage and wear/tear which neither one it had

Good Idea! Thanks for the tip!!!!

[KIMBERLEIWILKINS]

I'm currently living in Southern Michigan. About an hour south of Detroit. I HATE IT HERE! Born and raised here. Moved away for a while to Minnesota. Loved the people, the place, the winters!

My oldest son will graduate HS in 2011 and that is when we will be moving.

We would like to live near the water but of course can not afford to LIVE ON the water.
I'm trying to find out everything I can about the area. I'm freaking out a bit, I haven't had a life changing moment in a few years... It's always a bit scary.

I am interested in high schools in the area. I'll have a freshman as well and a college freshman. My oldest is into art in a big way and is looking at graphic art as a possible career.

I have never been to South Carolina! All that I have heard... It's beautiful and it sounds wonderful. I need more though!

Any advise, help would be greatly appreciated.

[DCS]

Lived in SD all my life. Kids born and raised here as well. How much of a culture shock would it be to move from SD to Charleston? I'm considering it for a job transfer.

My kids haven't been exposed to any racial issues or thoughts (at least at home) and was wondering how things really were back there.

I heard some wonderful things about Charleston, but varying opinons on the race issue.

[ahcharleston]

1. it can be difficult and expensive to get flights out of charleston
2. more and more trees are coming down (as mentioned above)
3. parking downtown is a pain
that is all!

[kayaklin]

Originally Posted by KIMBERLEIWILKINS

I'm currently living in Southern Michigan. About an hour south of Detroit. I HATE IT HERE! Born and raised here. Moved away for a while to Minnesota. Loved the people, the place, the winters!

I can't believe you love Minnesota winters, no offense of course. I live in MN right now and am about to claw my eyeballs out. 6 months of arctic conditions?! No thanks!! If you love the winters here, I don't know if you will like the heat and humidity of the south... unless you're just into extremes.

[littlerudegirl]

I’m originally from California, but been away for about 10 years. Joined the service and stayed on the east coast. I've been living in Chucktown for about a year and my top 5 that really, really irritate me is:

1)THE TRAFFIC!!!! The highways and streets are just horribly designed- granted there is nothing like the California freeway/street systems, but whoever designed this area and who is charge of future changes - STOP SMOKING DOPE and fix things! Also those who drive around here, what exactly is the issue with merging? You know that the on/exit ramps are retarded and for PETE'S SAKE, GET THE HELL OFF THAT CELL PHONE!!! if you already can't drive what makes you think you can drive and talk on the phone??!!??

2)The Education system- not just here but this ENTIRE state sucks. I recently returned to finish my masters. I will give those props who are going to school but some of those I have met from SC are about as bright as bag of plastic spoons.

3)Grocery stores - or lack of. Most of the Bi-Lo and Food Lion's are pretty ghetto. If you live in N.Chas your choices are slim- Publix way up Dorchester or the nasty Food Lion, perhaps you could heard even further down and hit the stinky Bi-Lo. There is a Whole Foods (way over in Mt.Pleasant) or Earth Fare (supposedly opening a new one in Mt.Pleasant as well)

4)Gyms/Fitness/YMCA, etc- There is a tremendous amount of OBESE people here. Some of the gyms here are really old and lack decent equipment. Summerville has a newer YMCA but the traffic on Dorchester makes it miserable to get to.

5) Taxes vs. Wages - Not sure whose to blame in this situation. The cost of living here is pretty decent and this is a beautiful area but property tax, vehicle tags, are a bit high. I work with a lot of locals and getting $10/hr is a lot to them. I don’t think I’ve made $10/hr since high school, but there are families that live off that wage. It just doesn’t seem that the locals really want to better themselves or their environment.

I rather enjoy the area, downtown is quaint, the restaurants are excellent. The beach areas are still beach areas- not loaded down with touristy crap like Panama City or Myrtle Beach. If I had to decide, I’d live back in Greenville, SC. It’s a bit more home feeling and you can get to the ATL in 2 hrs or the beautiful mountains of NC.

That’s just my 2 cents.

[BrickG]

Originally Posted by seacoastbill

1. The Bugs: There are a tremendous amount of aggressive mosquitos and noseeums. They like being out when the weather is best. So if you like being out, they will be out.
2. The lack of hills: The lanscape is flat and wet. If you are into watersports, then Chas is great. But if not, there is a lack of interesting landscape.
3. The people: people here have little to speak about. They talk about their homes, their money, their social life. But it is difficult to get deeper
4. The lack of bike friendly streets: Charleston is a difficult place to get on two wheels, whether motorized or not. As a former Harley rider, Charleston broke me of my passion because the drivers simply don't pay attention to you. I also was a big road biker and don't do that for the same reasons.
5. The lack of variety in food: Charleston has some great low-country food. But, in comparison to bigger cities like Charlotte or Atlanta, there simply is not any variety. You will find the chain restaurants like Chilis and etc. You will find some really great local places. But you won't find the "big city" choices.

Oh, yeah, I really miss those fine dining places like Chili's (not)

[cape_fisherman]

Originally Posted by imperieux

...I still cook Sunday gravy and I can't find San Marzano tomatoes anywhere. I do miss them and wish they were more available...

I live in bum-fark North Carolina (actually the coast of NC...many consider eastern NC as backwards as it comes...but I'm an eastern NC native and have never seriously contemplated living anywhere other than here save for Charleston)..........as I was saying...I live in coastal NC and can find San Marzano variety plums at most of the better supermarkets (that would be Lowe's Foods, Harris Teeter, etc.)

Good luck with the 'mater hunt!

Jay

[imperieux]

Originally Posted by cape_fisherman

I live in bum-fark North Carolina (actually the coast of NC...many consider eastern NC as backwards as it comes...but I'm an eastern NC native and have never seriously contemplated living anywhere other than here save for Charleston)..........as I was saying...I live in coastal NC and can find San Marzano variety plums at most of the better supermarkets (that would be Lowe's Foods, Harris Teeter, etc.)

Good luck with the 'mater hunt!

Jay

Thanks for the advice, Jay. I have some good news though.. I'm happy to say that I found Cento brand San Marzanos at a Bi-Lo!


Now all I need to do is find a great spot to catch some blue crabs so I can make my famous spaghetti with crab sauce..

[OleTomCat]

Originally Posted by imperieux

Thanks for the advice, Jay. I have some good news though.. I'm happy to say that I found Cento brand San Marzanos at a Bi-Lo!


Now all I need to do is find a great spot to catch some blue crabs so I can make my famous spaghetti with crab sauce..

Go down along the intercoastal waterway, there are lots of public boat landings, some of which have docks that you can crab, fish or shimp off of.