retiring move from CA to South Carolina HELP! (Charleston, Greenville: best city, real estate)

[GSP101]

For the OP, look at the SC towns in metro Charlotte. You are close to an international airport with over 800 flights per day, the best shopping in the Carolina's, great restaurants, Carolina's Medical Center, and the best area in the Carolina's for entertainment (local and national acts). Taxes are low in the Fort Mill area.

Outside of that, i would look at the coastal areas and Columbia.

Greenville is not bad but would not be ahead of the other areas I mentioned.

[johngolf]

Quite surprised no one has said Charleston yet. I say the greater Charleston area is the best area in the entire state.

[WiseManOnceSaid]

Most of the Southeastern US is in a Sub-tropical climate zone. That being said, the closer you head towards the Blue Ridge Mountains, the cooler and more temperate it becomes. The last major hurricane we had was Hugo in 1989, so they are fairly uncommon. Tornadoes occur in all 50 states but the ones we get are generally very small hardly ever getting larger than F1. And they are very rare.

As far as retirement towns in SC, my list would include:

Beaufort
Bluffton
Charleston
Hilton Head
Lancaster
Aiken
Summerville
Spartenburg
Anderson

[OrangeBlood36]

Greenville and upstate is by far prettiest part of state, near mountains and a lot more fall color, because Columbia and Charleston areally located in a pine forest.

I would say Greenville has more temperate climate than Columbia and Charleston because of its higher elevation. Columbia seems hotter than Florida at times in summer.

I think that Greenville has best looking downtown in state, a lot of trees mixed in with nice old buildings and new buildings with this incredible pediastrian bridge over a waterfall right on Main Street.. Aiken's downtown is runner up for me. CCharleston's is overrun with tourists due to being near beach.

Greenville has most if not all of chain restaurants and retailers as Charlotte, but without all traffic. I think most would chose Greenville over York county.

[IsNull]

Rock Hill/Ft. Mill (Charlotte Metro Area.. US Air Hub)
Aiken
Summerville

You might find lake front living outside Columbia, Monk's Corner, or Rock Hill interesting.

[jallene]

Thanks for all the wonderful responses! Very helpful and very much appreciated!!!!!

[artking09]

Why retirees love to move to SC for retirement in recent years? I don't know much about SC. From kplinger.com, I see SC still has income tax, and it is not even on the top ten retirement friendly states list. Why not move to Florida or Georgia?

[artking09]

I totally understand the hurricane issue in Florida. Georgia seems offer more retirement income exemption than SC, and it has much large metro area such as Atlanta which will provide more services and convenience, such as airport, hospitals, shopping etc. Well, nothing against SC, definitely better than Northeast for sure, just some thoughts.

BTW, here is the link to kplinger.com retirement map, State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Retirees-Kiplinger

[K_Biggs]

My husband and I are moving to Aiken from Southern California for all of the reasons you want to move, Jallene. We purchased 4 acres in Barrington Farms and will start building a house within a month. It's very exciting, and we're really looking forward to getting out of California. There are many wonderful areas of Aiken. We looked at a ton of wonderful homes, but just couldn't find the right house on the right lot, as I compete in dog agility with my border collies and need room for some training equipment. So, we decided it was best for us to buy a lot and build. Good luck with your search!

[Ledmonkey]

Your best bet is probably Mt. Pleasant, you don't get much lower crime than there for a city that size.