Another Yankee (Brooklyn, NY) moving South to Charleston, with some questions please (Santee: crime rate, house)

[MichaelNYC]

Hi everyone...

I greatly enjoy each and every comment, feedback and 2 cents given.
It has all been very very helpful to me.

I am planning to come down in the middle of June (perhaps 13-20) and really have quite a lot of territory to cover when there logistics wise, so of course trying to narrow it down before I get there.

One question I have had lately looking at MP is where abouts shall/should I be looking ?

Here are some my questions

Do I look west of 526 ?
Do I look between 526 and 41 ?
Do I look east of 41 and if so.. do I look north or south of 41 from 17.

Please refer back to my top post for what we are seeking.. or here it is again

400K price range
4 bedrooms minimum
2 car garage
colonial/duplex
2000+year built
not cookie cutter development, some mature trees, greenery and some space between the homes
front porch, fireplace

People talk about "More house for the Money" in certain places.
For us, we would rather have access to pools, tennis, trails, playgrounds, other children in the neighborhood and a better community than more house.
So please keep this in mind when commenting

Thanks everyone.. it is all deeply appreciated, thank you again

Michael
(please PM me if you wish)

[ClemsonTi9er]

Michael,

I happen to be a tour guide for the city of Charleston, and I ran across you being Jewish. You may not think S.C., and specifically Charleston, as being quite as rich as N.Y.C. in its Jewish history...think again.

Charleston boasted the highest population of Sephardic Jews well into the late nineteenth century, even more so than New York City.

Francis Salvador, a very wealthy planter-aristocrat and congressman, became this first American Jew to die for the cause of revolution. There is a monument dedicated to his service in Washington Park in downtown.

Judah P. Benjamin, a Jew, was secretary of war for the Confederate States of America. Many Jews fought for "the Cause" (a.k.a. limited central power, more individual liberty) as we call it down here.

Charleston is home to the oldest reform Jewish synagogue in the world...Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue located on Hasell Street in downtown. There is a museum of S.C. Jewish history there.

So....if you are looking for a place for your son to learn...seems like you couldn't do much better.

Scott

[scjj]

People talk about "More house for the Money" in certain places.
For us, we would rather have access to pools, tennis, trails, playgrounds, other children in the neighborhood and a better community than more house.


Ummm, Mt. Pleasant doesn't have the monopoly on all those things. Just because homes cost less in certain areas doesn't mean they are deprived of amenities, children and good communites. The same builders that built there, built everywhere else around here. They are basically all the same homes you will just be paying more for yours. Non-cookie cutter neighborhoods will be hard to find but good luck.

[StarryEyedSurprise]

Originally Posted by scjj

People talk about "More house for the Money" in certain places.
For us, we would rather have access to pools, tennis, trails, playgrounds, other children in the neighborhood and a better community than more house.


Ummm, Mt. Pleasant doesn't have the monopoly on all those things. Just because homes cost less in certain areas doesn't mean they are deprived of amenities, children and good communites. The same builders that built there, built everywhere else around here. They are basically all the same homes you will just be paying more for yours. Non-cookie cutter neighborhoods will be hard to find but good luck.

Wonderful points. All of those amenities you listed are absolutely available in the other areas outside of Mt Pleasant - and some say that the schools in Summerville are superior to Mt Pleasant as well. The community we are moving into has a 100-acre forested area with a lovely trail that meets up with the Ashley River, a successful swim team, four tennis courts and beautiful old tree lined streets - the type you will never find in newer communities who raze the land before building, these trees are older than the homes they share the lot with. My full brick house is costing me well under $200k for 2500 sqft and almost a half acre lot ... this is unattainable for the price in Mt Pleasant. And no, this is not a crappy neighborhood either - we were lucky to find a foreclosure that was priced well. There's at least one more up for sale that I am trying to "sell" to my in-laws, haha.

I bring this up because on your list of "stuff you want" you didn't list beach. If that wasn't the first thing to cross your mind when wanting to move to Mt Pleasant, then you definitely should be moving elsewhere, lol.

[MichaelNYC]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for taking a look at my posting and taking the time and interest to comment.

From the moment I read about Charleston... I started to find myself and bring my family there. The more I read and find out as time goes by... the more I cannot wait to relocate there and have my son brought up there.

Thanks for the glimpse of Jewish history of Charleston... yes I knew those things and more... when I reseatch an area to move my family to .. I check it all. It was all very nice and warm to read the history of Jews in Charleston.

I actually start thinking of my son as being brought up as a South Carolinian... and it seems so good !

Thanks Scott... deeply appreciated it

Michael

Originally Posted by ClemsonTi9er

Michael,

I happen to be a tour guide for the city of Charleston, and I ran across you being Jewish. You may not think S.C., and specifically Charleston, as being quite as rich as N.Y.C. in its Jewish history...think again.

Charleston boasted the highest population of Sephardic Jews well into the late nineteenth century, even more so than New York City.

Francis Salvador, a very wealthy planter-aristocrat and congressman, became this first American Jew to die for the cause of revolution. There is a monument dedicated to his service in Washington Park in downtown.

Judah P. Benjamin, a Jew, was secretary of war for the Confederate States of America. Many Jews fought for "the Cause" (a.k.a. limited central power, more individual liberty) as we call it down here.

Charleston is home to the oldest reform Jewish synagogue in the world...Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue located on Hasell Street in downtown. There is a museum of S.C. Jewish history there.

So....if you are looking for a place for your son to learn...seems like you couldn't do much better.

Scott

[emilybh]

This sounds silly but one of my criteria was not only being close to downtown but also close to Whole Foods and close to the Beach ....and preferably walking distance to Whole Foods (was my dream, lol). When I moved here I got most everything and after living here I discovered as far as walkability is concerned, things are very spread out. It is impossible to be able to walk to Whole Foods or EarthFare; walk to restaurants and downtown and plantations and walk to the beach or walk to the harbor. The most you can expect to get is two out of five.

If you want two of five in Mt. Pleasant you can't be beyond 41, Beyond 41 has some nice developments but you are really in the boonies. If you want quiet and country and don't mind driving long distances to get to shopping or the beach or downtown than go for it.

You can have quiet and country as well as most of the rest of the things on the list on James Island. In fact Realtor.com shows 103 listings under $499k in the 29412 zip code (James Island)
29412 Real Estate Listings and 29412 Homes for Sale - REALTOR.com®

including a 6 bedroom; 5 bath place near the harbor; near the grocery store; near downtown; near schools and near the beach with it's own pool on a half acre which may not be your cup of tea but I thought I'd mention it to give you an idea of what you can get for your money.

[emilybh]

Whoops! I meant to say those 103 listings are $400k and under. I just checked the link and saw that I'd written that they were under $499k.

[MichaelNYC]

Hi SCJJ,

Of course MP does not have a monopoly on those things. They can be found in many many other areas. Those areas might have less expensive homes but does not mean less amenities. That is all know by me SCJJ

Non cookie cutter areas to find in MP... will definitely research the entire area seeking those. But the surrounding areas are 100% not our.

Will look into DI and hey why not JI as well !

Originally Posted by scjj

People talk about "More house for the Money" in certain places.
For us, we would rather have access to pools, tennis, trails, playgrounds, other children in the neighborhood and a better community than more house.


Ummm, Mt. Pleasant doesn't have the monopoly on all those things. Just because homes cost less in certain areas doesn't mean they are deprived of amenities, children and good communites. The same builders that built there, built everywhere else around here. They are basically all the same homes you will just be paying more for yours. Non-cookie cutter neighborhoods will be hard to find but good luck.

[MichaelNYC]

Hi Starry and Emily...

Yes ALL I am seeking can be found elsewhere from MP.
Sooner or later one has to make a decision... but at this point we are open. I will on my upcoming visit, drive all over MP and get to DI and get to JI... the proof is in the pudding... I have to see it, experience it firsthand and not just one drive through... but a drive through day after day, here and there. As was pointed out in a previous reply to my post, each day in the same exact area, can show different points, experiences, views.

That is why we are renting when we get there for easily 6 months.
Once living there we will scout out ALL the concerned areas and pick what we feel is the best for our lil family.

Just going over some points, ideas, interests on this post and getting the comments, feedback helps.
After all this is a start... my posting is a start.

My first drive down there will tell quite more, quite quite more. Subsequent visits will tell more.

This is a start and no better way than to post to city-data and getting feedback as well as reading all the other posts about Charleston and SC.

Cannot wait to take a drive down there.
Need to seek employment options before I do.
Calling and e-mailing prosepctives employers now to get a feel and then set up interviews while there.
Without obtaning a position first, there would be no move

All should be fine.. stay tuned

Thanks again to all your replies and help

[MichaelNYC]

Any feedback on the Francis Marion National Forest ?

When I lived in Upstate NY I enjoyed the mountains, woods, lakes...

Yes I know Charleston is the low-country... I do know what I am getting into

I just think the nearby National Forest would be great to visit (as well as the beaches etc of course) !

Any comments, feedback please from local residents

Thanks