Lexington Irmo vs. NE Columbia for a relocating family (Sumter: for sale, houses)

[JDizzy]

Hello everyone. I have been reading various posts about relocating to Columbia, SC and noticed that the two most desirable areas are the fast growing NE and the Lexington/Irmo sections of the greater Columbia area. I am married and have a 2 year old daughter and a 2 month old daughter and was wondering if anyone could help me on which area and subdivision would have similar aged kids in a good neighborhood? I lived in South Carolina for 2 years and loved the lifestyle and culture and wish to enjoy a future of the low country feel with all the amenities of shopping and schools. My price range is anywhere from 150K - 200K. Thank you in advance for all who reply to my post.

[Brandon Hoffman]

I wouldn't those are exclusively the most desirable although they are the fastest growing. The Greater Columbia area has many great areas and includes Irmo, Chapin, NE Columbia, Forest Acres, Shandon, & Lexington. However, based on your comments I would say Lexington or Irmo would be your best bets for a country feel and still be close to the amenities. Do you want trees and some space in between homes or do you want to be in a subdivision where the houses are on lots up to .25 acres?

Also, Columbia is not considered the lowountry, which is closer to the coast. Columbia is considered the midlands.

[waccamatt]

I would use my job location as a factor in which part of Columbia you want to live in. If you can avoid a longer commute, why not. Do you know yet what part of town you'll be working in? I think that would help with the decision of where to move.

[JDizzy]

<This is JDizzy's wife>

Hi. Thank you for all your replies. He would be working in Lugoff, SC. We ideally would like more space between homes and at least a quarter acre of land. The commute, I believe is going to be closer to 40-60 minutes from Lexington/Irmo compared to a much shorter commute from NE Columbia and Forest Acres.

I have another question about areas. Do you know anything about Camden areas or Elgin areas? I would rather him have a shorter commute than a long one considering I will be home with 2 little ones when he is away.

Thanks in advance

Kristy

On a side note, we lived here for a few years back in 2002 but we lived by the AF base in Sumter. I went to USC in Columbia so I am mostly only familiar with the commute into Columbia from Sumter. Other than that we really don't know much about the areas other than the Irmo side is really nice.

[waccamatt]

If you want more space I would suggest the Blythewood area. The schools are good (same district as NE, but a little further out). The commute will be short to Elgin from there, too. I can't imagine subjecting yourself to a longer commute than necessary.

[Chi2Midlands]

I agree with Waccamatt that Northeast Richland County, including in and around the Town of Blythewood, will probably be your best bet in terms of what you are looking for, especially with a young family. There are many subdivisions that could fit your bill (too many to name), especially if you are looking at a typical suburban home with about a quarter-acre of land.

Blythewood has more land than what you would find closer to the City of Columbia, but it can get expensive if you're looking at a large lot (i.e., an acre or more with a good but modest-sized house could definitely be over $200k). If you really want more land for the money, I would consider the Elgin/Lugoff areas in Kershaw County, where land is definitely cheaper. I don't know what you are considering in terms of schools (public, private, or home-school), but the trade-off in living in Elgin/Lugoff is that the schools, while pretty decent, aren't quite as good as the excellent Richland District 2 schools you'll find across the county line. If you do live in the Elgin/Lugoff areas, I would try to stay in the Doby's Mill Elementary School attendance zone. As development from Northeast Richland spills into western Kershaw County, hopefully the additonal young families will improve the quality of the schools there and make them more competitive.

I will say that there are MANY families who work in the Elgin/Lugoff/Camden areas but live in Northeast Richland, mainly because of the superior schools, or simply to be closer to suburban/urban amenities like shopping and downtown Columbia, or to be closer to good private schools, or just to make sure they have a property with good resale value. Many professionals and other workers who work in Kershaw County industries like the Target distribution center and the Invista/DuPont factory live in Northeast Richland.

If there is one subdivision to recommend, it would almost certainly be Lake Carolina (which is really a large collection of subdivisions). You can definitely find a home in your price range, although I would not expect any more land than a typical suburban home (a quarter acre or so). It is a great master-planned, multi-neighborhood community, with the top-rated elementary school in the district and one the top ones in Richland County. There are several neighborhoods in your price range, with different "flavors" in terms of architectural style and lot layouts. We know several Target & Invista/DuPont workers who live there and who take easy back roads to Lugoff. Other than Lake Carolina, I would try to stay near major roads that are close to the Kershaw County line like Kelly Mill Road, Rimer Pond Road, Langford Road, Bookman Road, Spears Creek Church Road, etc. There are many houses in your price range in those areas, with most areas served by good elementary schools (try to stay in the areas zoned for Bookman Road, Round Top, North Springs, and the new Bridge Creek elementary schools).

[waccamatt]

As always, Chi2midlands gives good advice.

[Brandon Hoffman]

If your husband will be in Lugoff then you definately want to be either in NE Columbia, Lugoff, Elgin, or Blythewood. Lugoff and Elgin are growing and have some very nice new subdivisions such as Taylor Oaks and Hunters Crossing. If you want to be closer to the city you should live in NE Columbia. There are many choices for places to live in NE Columbia right now. Blythewood is usually difficult to find homes for sale in, depending in price range.

If you'll give us a price range you're comfortable in I'll be glad to suggest some subdivisions for you.-Brandon

[sonofaque86]

NE Columbia or Blythewood are your best bets

[salatheel]

We moved here back in June. The first two months we were in Lexington and Swansea while we looked for a house and waited for it to close. We bought in Elgin right on the Lugoff border and we love it here. For one Kershaw county taxes are half what you will pay in Richland or Lexington. When we were in Lexington we would head up into Lexington or up St. Andrews or HArbison for shopping restaurants. Great area but the worst traffic in the Columbia area. Now we are 10-15 minutes from Sandhills and it has everything the Lexington/Irmo area has and more. We love it in Elgin and are very happy with our decision. You will still want to go to 5 points and especially the Vista. We haven't had the need to head back up towards Lexington-Irmo. Don't get me wrong I like both areas. But everything we need is within 15 minutes of us and yet we live in the country.