Downtown Charleston not only is the most historic city in the country, but offers visitors and residents many amenities such as, excellent dining establishments, a famed lower King Street Antique District, many new trendy retail stores on Upper King Street. The downtown peninsula is also known for it's wealth of classic houses and historic Charleston real estate. 

Let's not forget the many new offerings of  The Charleston Peninsula has several districts where you can find an historic homes dating back to the 18th and 19th century. My favorite area is the French Quarter, and South of Broad. Let's not forget Elliotborough, Radcliffborough, Ansonborough, and Wraggborough. Hundred year oaks and magnolias line the narrow and cobblestone streets in these neighborhoods.

Did you know that the Charleston area is home to 30 or more neighborhoods with their own golf courses. My top-ten private courses  in the Charleston area are, Daniel Island Club offering 36-holes of championship golf and many additional amenities. Charleston also offers its share of gated resorts with golf such as, Kiawah Island's River and Cassique course's, Seabrook Island's Ocean Winds and Crooked Oaks courses, and Wild Dunes Resort. 

 The Country Club of Charleston - which claims to be the " first in golf " in America. Another high- end golf community is highly ranked Yeamans Hall Golf Club located in Hannahan.  Several developers have introduced golf communities over the past two decades such as, Dunes West, Coosaw Creek, Legend Oaks, Crowfield Palntation, Wescott Plantation, and The Links at Stono Ferry just to name a few. The recent down turn in new construction has turned off any new golf course developments. The last course to open in Charleston was in 2007.    

Greenville News - The Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Greenville metropolitan areas are expected to be among the nation's " front-runners " in the housing recovery this year, according to a trade magazine report.

Builders magazine's online version ranked Charleston 5th, Myrtle Beach 15th and Greenville 19th in its listing of top 20 healthiest markets in the nation. The rankings were based on building permits, resale values and job and income growth from 2009 data and 2010 projections. 

Mark Nix, executive officer of the Home Builders of South Carolina, said getting people happy and thriving is tied to jobs, quality of life and affordable housing. Charleston has done a good job at bringing jobs to the market. For example the new Boeing 787 plant in North Charleston.   

(Money Magazine) -- If you've been holding off on a real estate purchase, glimmers of the turnaround in the housing market may have you wondering if it's finally time to make your move. While home prices remain low, they're no longer free falling in most markets. Mortgages are historically cheap. And the sweet tax credit that was offered to new buyers last year has been extended to April 30 and expanded to include some current homeowners. 

Current homeowners who sign a contract to buy a home on or before April 30th get a dollar-for-dollar reduction on their taxes of 10% of the purchase price of the house, up to a maximum of $6,500 (first-time buyers get up to $8,000)

HOW MUCH COULD YOU LOSE BY WAITING.....

Besides the loss of the tax credit, the biggest game-changer facing buyers is a potencial jump in mortgage rates. If the Fed moves ahead with it's plan to stop buying mortgage backed securities at the end of March, the rate on the 30 year fixed mortgage is expected to increase nearly a full percentage point from today's 5.1% to 6.1% by the end of 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. On a $300,000 fixed rate mortgage,  that's  an extra $174.00 a month!

CNBC reports that baby bommers are willing to move farther than previous generations and choosing places unlike stereotypical retirement hotspots.

Top places listed bt AARP are:

1. Loveland/Ft. Collins, Colorado

2. Las Cruces, New Mexico

3. Rehoboth Beach, Deleware

4. Portland, Oregon

5. Greenville, South Carolina*

6. Sarasota, Florida

7. Ann Arbor, Michigan

8. Tucson, Arizona

9. Montpelier, Vermont

10. Honolulu, Hi.

11. Santa Fe, New Mexico

12. Atlanta, Ga.

13. CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA* 

JSP REALTY of Mt. Pleasant is now offering new custom homes in Phillips Park. Phillips Park is located just past the corner of Ben Sawyer Blvd. and Rifle Range Rd. This convenient community is only minutes to Sullivans Island & Isle of Palms beaches. Several excellent restaurants and shops are within walking distance. The Bi-Lo and Publics grocery stores are just across the street. Historic downtown Charleston is less than 15 minutes away. The neighborhood offer a unique blend of young working professionals and newly retired couples. The building lots are small but we offer several floor plans and include many custom features such as, metal roof, hardi-plank siding, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and crown molding all standard. The average size home is approx. 2,100 square feet at $172.00 per sqft. or $361,200. This price includes the lot and we currently have four lots available for sale.    

First-time home buyers not only account for the largest share of home sales in many markets, but represent the fastest-growing segment of home sales in nearly half of those markets, brokers surveyed by Inman News report.

Second homes and move-up homes, on the other hand, are the most rapidly shrinking segment of their business, brokers responding to the survey said.

Homes sold to first-time buyers made up the largest share of home sales for 37% of brokers.