Another Yankee (Brooklyn, NY) moving South to Charleston, with some questions please (Summerville: motel, home)

[mrpeatie]

Location is huge in Mt P. Another thing to consider is that when the twon was seeing double digit property value increases for a decade people got bold. They over-remodelled homes for some neighborhoods and people built houses one notch down from expected in other neighborhoods. All was fien when things were hot but with a slower market people like you are better able to compare and wonder what the deal is.

Also I will say in general outside Kiawah and a couple of good higher end builders there is not as much true high end construction as some prices would indicate. Someone once described it to me as 'supecharged normal' meaning that a lot of it was not necessarily better designs or construction as much as upgrading sandardfeatures/adding space to typical designs. I thought that was a pretty true point.

[MichaelNYC]

Thanks for the comments back... it is very appreciated.. thanks !

I am not going to send individual links to such homes.... hard to pick and choose and too numerous....

But amazingly... there is not much difference. We look at the kitchen and bathrooms and many are the same, same cabinetry, countertops etc. Surprised us that is all. Yes there is usually more sq ft for the increase in price... but the inside items, the construction of the kitchen, bathrooms etc are the same. Though it would bring a higher end with the higher price. Not arguing.. hey I am happy a 400K home has the same items as a 700K home... just less sq ft, but very ample footage. Whenever you look for a home.. you always go up higher to the next price range to see what it would/might bring you... and we did, but only brought increase space. Which 100% is great for people needing it and seeking it. We are happy with a sub 3000 sq ft home.

And Yes of course the photos can be deceiving... that is why we viewed as many as we can... from all price ranges.... and did not use just one home for an example.... we viewed and viewed.. but yes of course some of the photos can be deceiving... the photographer, realtor, stager certainly knows how to take photos and camera angles etc


And Yes again *G* certain areas as I pointed out command higher prices, it is location-location-location. We did not look at Sullivans Is, IOP etc. We compared homes in MP.

Was interesting to see... but of course a true walk through will be the true test.

Thanks *G* for the feedback... very appreciate of us and considerate of you.

Originally Posted by guttata

Ummm, there are definitely going to be differences between a 400k and a 700k home. Otherwise, why would people buy 700k homes? Do you have any examples for comparison?

The photos may be deceiving. Also, it is hard to compare among neighborhoods. You are definitely going to pay a premium in some areas like DI, I'on, etc.

[MichaelNYC]

Mr P.

You hit it right on the nose....

Excellent explanation of the homes.... my wife and I said eureka he hit straight on.

We knew something was up with the wide range of home prices... yet almost no changes. Same plot size, cabinetry, vanities etc.

These are 2000+ year buildings and subsequently the housing boom...
and thus the aftermath in this market

Thanks for a simple, basic explanation !

Keep 'em coming to everyone..
I am trying to head down later this month to see it all and cannot wait to meet some of you as well.. thanks

Michael

Originally Posted by mrpeatie

Location is huge in Mt P. Another thing to consider is that when the twon was seeing double digit property value increases for a decade people got bold. They over-remodelled homes for some neighborhoods and people built houses one notch down from expected in other neighborhoods. All was fien when things were hot but with a slower market people like you are better able to compare and wonder what the deal is.

Also I will say in general outside Kiawah and a couple of good higher end builders there is not as much true high end construction as some prices would indicate. Someone once described it to me as 'supecharged normal' meaning that a lot of it was not necessarily better designs or construction as much as upgrading sandardfeatures/adding space to typical designs. I thought that was a pretty true point.

[MichaelNYC]

New question everybody please....

I am driving down to Charleston hopefully later this month or at the very latest in July.

Would be staying 7 days/nights about....

Looking for a place to stay in MP

I am not looking for nor need a Hilton, Marriot etc...
I seek a place to simply bed down and shower and yes wifi connection...

I will out all day and night going all over Charleston... seeing neighborhoods, job interviewing, visiting people I have met there from Chas etc... and just returning at night to sleep, shower and out the next A.M. to do it all over again.

I will look at listings on Craigs List... but most are vaca spots, beach area etc... which I do not need nor wish to pay for location wise...

Can be a hotel, motel, efficiency, apartment etc...

Any suggestions please ?

Thanks for all the previous comments back and more to follow I am quite sure and cannot wait to get down and meet some of you who are corresponding with my via PM and phone

Michael

[Theresejenkins]

Hey Michael! give me a shout, I have someone that has a furnished townhome you might like, and it's gorgeous, and she might like the extra income...thanks! I look forward to meeting you when you come down!!!!

[MichaelNYC]

Hi... to everyone that I have been corresponding with in my posting.

Finally set the last of my job interviews in Charleston...

I cannot even think of moving to Charleston without any positive feedback for employment there.
So I have been busy setting interviews with prospective companies in the Charleston area.

CVS
Wal-Mart
Rite Aid
Publix
Harris Teeter
K-Mart

Just finalizing my dates to come that week of the 21st for a 5 day visit.

Will get back to you when I have the specific dates.

Cannot wait to finally come down.... and get a birds eye view of Chaleston and its surrounding areas.

Cannot wait to meet some of you that I have been privately corresponding with.

Finalizing the dates and then a place to stay and then will be checking the weather as the time gets closer.

Thanks to all the feedback, comments, suggestions I have received from all of you.

You have been tremendously helpful to me and asnwering many questions and yes giving me some more indepth questions.

More later..........

Michael

[MichaelNYC]

Question on when a public school education begins for a child in S.C. please.

My wife just read in S.C. a child has to be 5 years of age by Sept 1st to be eligible for enter kindergarten that year and respectively a child has to be 6 years of age by Sept 1st to enter the 1st grade.

Therefor any child born from Sept 2nd to Dec 31th, simply 33% of the children fall into this range... have to wait an entire year to start school in S.C. ?

Our son was born in Oct. therefor he loses an entire year by not being able to enter respective kindergarten or 1st grade.

We are simply used to no cut offs month-wise to enter school that year.
All children born in the same year enter school together the same year.

But in SC any child born after Sept 1st, clearly 33% of children, have to wait an extra year to start school and start development scholastically, emotionally and socially.

* Can a parent put their child in a private school to start for lets say kindergarten and then transfer the child to public school for 1st grade ?

* We read if a child comes from out of state, a child can be enter 1st grade even though the child was born after Sept 1st and not 6 years of age, if that child went to kindergarten in their home state.

** But for S.C. own resident children, the child cannot be eligible to do this, cannot enter 1st grade if born after Sept 1st and has to sit and wait for an entire year and loses a year... if born after Sept 1st.

But an out of stater can.... huh ???

Please comment.. thank you.

As I said.. we are just used to all children born the same year, start school the same year.

[MichaelNYC]

I just saw that I, myself replied here the last 4 replies out of 5.

Maybe the post has run its time ?

Great while it lasted....
I received a tremendous amount of information !
I corresponded with some great people and will meet some of you while there.

Of course I am not nailing the coffin shut....
I will post here again when there or upon my return... will post my comments on what I found etc etc etc

Stay tuned !

I am headed out tomorrow, Fathers Day and my first Fathers Day to boot, to drive down to Charleston. More important I take care of business for my lil son and move him somewhere great

I will be down in Charleston Monday, stopping in Raleigh Sunday night to see my neice and her family. Leaving Charleston Friday, spending a nice 5 days there.

Will see some of you.. looking forward to it !

Cannot wait to come down.

I know it is HOT... HOT.... HOT...

But here in NYC it has rainded 17 out of the 20 days in June...
tired of being rained out

[skyegirl]

Originally Posted by MichaelNYC

I just saw that I, myself replied here the last 4 replies out of 5.

Maybe the post has run its time ?

Great while it lasted....
I received a tremendous amount of information !
I corresponded with some great people and will meet some of you while there.

Of course I am not nailing the coffin shut....
I will post here again when there or upon my return... will post my comments on what I found etc etc etc

Stay tuned !

I am headed out tomorrow, Fathers Day and my first Fathers Day to boot, to drive down to Charleston. More important I take care of business for my lil son and move him somewhere great

I will be down in Charleston Monday, stopping in Raleigh Sunday night to see my neice and her family. Leaving Charleston Friday, spending a nice 5 days there.

Will see some of you.. looking forward to it !

Cannot wait to come down.

I know it is HOT... HOT.... HOT...

But here in NYC it has rainded 17 out of the 20 days in June...
tired of being rained out

Happy First Father's Day! What a wonderful way to spend it heading down to Charleston! Please, if you can, post some info and pictures when you get back! My hubby and I won't be able to make it down to visit until the end of August, and I am, quite honestly, impatient! Have a safe trip

[guttata]

I found this realtor website helpful when we were looking for homes.
He posts photos of some subdivisions/areas of Charleston.

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with him.


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