New potential relocator to the Greenville area (Charleston, Myrtle Beach: for sale, real estate)

[sbi]

Hello,

My wife and I are considering a relocation to the Greenville area in about 5 years. We have two older daughters (one graduated grad school, the other one is an under-grad student). We currently live in MA and can't wait to leave this state

The four of us will be in SC for about 10 days beginning next week, which will be a combination of vacation and scouting. Scouting for the "feel" of the state/Greenville area as well as real estate. We are exploring the idea of buying a house as a rental property and then renovate it and move in when the time comes. I did some research and already "learned" about few towns (Simpsonville for example), but we would appreciate some input from locals about other 'good' places for a couple in their early/mid fifties to live in. Clearly good schools are not that important to us at this point; however a smaller and quiet (!) neighborhood is. I prefer to be north/northeast of Greenville and not south/southwest simply because I want to have quick access to a major airport (GSP being the main one and CLT being the backup). I will be working from home and my wife will be looking for a job once we move.
So here come the questions :

1. First and foremost: where are the best 4th of July fireworks in the Greenville area? We are starting in Myrtle Beach and Charleston and then arriving Greenville on July 3rd for 4 nights. What other cool things to do/see on the 4th?

2. How is the rental market in the area for homes? Does it even make sense to buy a rental property for a few years or do people rent mostly town houses/apartments?

3. Can anyone recommend an area realtor who might be willing to spend a few hours with us showing us properties in different communities?

Thanks in advance, and we're looking forward to be in SC!!

[BigRedBeth]

Welcome to the Board, sbi!


I recommend Travelers Rest and the Blue Ridge area of Greer/Taylors. The rental market is hot; good rental homes go very quickly as do the ones for sale.

This site is geared to kids but has a good listing of the fireworks events in the area. The Wells Fargo red White and Blue is the biggest, I believe.https://kiddingaroundgreenville.com/...-july-4th.html.

[mcatp]

Downtown Greenville has music and fireworks on 4th of July.

[vtmike]

It seems like the rental market for SFH is pretty good, as most of the SFH rental properties in my area (Five Forks) seem to turn over fast. But there are lots of apartments being built as well.

Since you are looking at buying and renting out, I would say one of things to watch out for is the property taxes. They are dramatically higher for non owner occupied properties. The tax rate jumps from 4% to 6%. There is also a school tax credit that only owner occupied properties get. Depending on your mortgage payment you may not end up netting a lot of money. If you jump over to the general SC forum you will see threads where people got dinged on this.

[sbi]

Thank you all!

Anyone knows a reliable and friendly realtor in the area that can be recommended?