Wondering if it is possible to find rural living near Charleston area of SC? (Myrtle Beach: beach, vacation)

[stephz1008]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Awendaw or McClellanville, definately worth checking those out as well.

[carolinajack]

Originally Posted by northeastern native

We're wondering if it's possible to find some property with a house outside of Charleston and what we might expect to pay. Ideally the house would be around 2,000 square feet +/-. I've read some posts that living rural would not be so easy having lived on the east coast of NY our entire lives. Recently we heard of retired couple that moved to the "deep" south and ended up moving back north because they felt they weren't accepted. I find that hard to imagine in this day and age, but who knows what factors were involved. The reason we are interested in some property is that we're tired of having houses next to us, across from us, and behind us. It would be nice to have some more space and privacy. Just want some space for the pups to run and kids to enjoy. A pond for fishing would be a bonus. We are not interested in living next to a creek or river though.
Ideally, my husband and I want to move in approx. 10 years max. This place will be where we would like to retire. We've had our share of winters in NY and are ready for milder ones in the south.
If anyone has any great places that sound like they might match what we're looking for, we'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

most areas around Charleston are rural

[northeastern native]

I haven't heard anything about these two areas. What can you tell me about McClellanville and/or Awendaw? How are the schools? The property and school taxes there? Do you or do you know people who live there?

[wildwoodflower]

yes, i mean privacy as part of it... but rural means alot more. and to me...it's not rural if ou can drive 30 minutes and be in a bigger area like charleston. however...all that aside... i mostly me the actual enviornment. think woods, trees, outdoors.... it's not anyting like the northern rural areas. we have found areas on johns island, awendaw, mcClellanville, wadmalaw island, etc to explore...and they do seem "rural" compared to more devloped area around. more farms, preserved lands...so interesting spots, some good csa's, worth checking out if that is what you are looking for. i guess i just feel like we really conencted with the northern woods..and there is nothing like that down here at all. nothing to even compare it to. the actually enviornment is very different then what you would be be used to in rural ny. maybe i am not explainmg well, lol...no coffee yet

[DJShymansky]

Originally Posted by wildwoodflower

... maybe i am not explaing well, lol...no coffee yet

NEVER, never - ever post before coffee. It's always a bad idea, and can lead to personal injury, carpal tunnel, lawsuits, hallucinations, etc.

[northeastern native]

Ok thanks. Your description, without coffee and all, made it more clear! lol I am used to living in a small city w/ houses all around so to be 1/2 an hour away from a bigger city and have space would be o.k. w/ me...I think. It's all kind of perplexing when you start weighing all your options, etc., and I'm finding myself wavering back and forth between staying in NY, but moving further north and then spending a few months during the winter south. Luckily we have sometime to work through all of this! What area do you live in now? Are you happy w/ your choice? Are you near other houses now?

[wildwoodflower]

glad i was at least a bit coherant without coffe, lol.

i am on james island for now. but not too much longer. back to the mountains for us. charleston was always meant to be short term for us during a transition. we have family here on daniel island. i do have neighbors, but live on a quiet residential street. still BIG change. i admit to have trouble with on lawn parking at school let out, lights left on at night shining in my window, high school drum sounds at football games echoing miles away, dogs barking, etc... never lived in the suburbs and it is not for everyone. but alot of people really like the area and for them it works. i'd much prefer living on james island then other areas i have seen immedietly around charleston DI and MTP are just too manicured and generic. johns island and wadmalaw have a nice feel... but still not what we want in the long run. but my friend has 8 acres on johns island we retreat too once a week for a bit of space. still playing in the woods down here is not nearly the same as up north. totally different landscape... but we like to visit the farms and csa's out on wadmalaw. WA and North Chas would be out for me for sure...even though some areas of WA are cute. folly beach is fun, but too crowded and traffic would drive me nuts. we often go to the awendaw green and have been out through mcclenanville...and it has more privacy and such...but still humid hot and creepy crawly, lol. never gonna get over the whole alligator/cottonmouth/black widow thing, lol. also been out to areas like hollywood and givhans ferry and there is defiantly an elemant in um, stetchiness to some parts of the "rural" areas. you have less of that up north... kinda hard to explain cause i know northern towns have their own issues...you really have to drive through and get the feel for it to understand i think. i didn't before i was actually here.

[SCBeaches]

I'm like you....LOVE my space, peace, quiet, and privacy! I live on an acre on Johns Island, but have nothing but woods across the street and in both directions. Holly Hill and Ridgeville are both rural, but with small towns, very reasonable prices, and not very far from Summerville.

[lrourk]

John's Island for sure!

Best of luck to you!

[OleTomCat]

If you want to see just how fast it gets rural around here, start at Park West on Hwy 41 and drive west, it is less than 10 minutes to the National Forest, it doesn't get much more rural than that....