parents have an accepted offer for a place on daniel island - surprised at the real estate prices in charleston

5/7/2015 9:31:29 PM

I don't know what the prices are doing on Daniel Island (that place is kind of its own little world), but they are quite ridiculous everywhere else. We thought we could wait a couple years until we were able to afford a 3br/2ba for $400-$415k...that couple years has come and gone, and now everything is $450k+. Of course we're looking downtown...but it's not like we're looking on the battery. Even if we went to Mt. P or James Island/West Ashley, we're either looking at the same $400k or $450k depending on the neighborhood. North Charleston isn't far behind either. The housing market is pushing everyone out to friggin Summerville.

We sat down with an architect yesterday to make plans to add-on to the house. Its pretty much the only thing we can afford right now.

5/8/2015 7:39:42 AM

I guess I'll mention it again since it went total ignored.

I'm in a shit living situation that's about to get worse. I'm working a 9 month job (2 months in) and I'm living very far from my work site (FMNF). If any of you ballers has a room you'd be willing to rent, I'm a damn good tenant. If I can't get housing in the forest, I'd at least like to be living in decent proximity to Charleston. Bonneau is killing me. If you have an empty room, let me know. But don't expect me to be able to afford 800/mo. I'm a fucking biologist, FFS. But I keep shit clean, I'm responsible, and I can do chores.

5/10/2015 2:09:44 AM

Probably because no one has anything that fits you. There aren't a ton of us down here, so I doubt anyone is renting anything out. Even if I did have a rental property downtown, $800/room would probably be about as low as I would go. What is your budget? You should probably look for an available room in the Park Circle area in North Charleston. Doubt you'll find much in the Mout Pleasant area, but if so, maybe in the Long Point/41 area. Good luck...but on a low budget, you might be looking at Summerville and similar areas.

5/10/2015 8:59:49 AM

Just got back from me and my wife's weekend trip down there, here let me tell you about it:

Friday, we left Raleigh around 10am and got to town around 2. Since our hotel checkin was at 3 we stopped at Westbrook Brewing for a flight of beers. After checking in we went down to kings street and had some drinks at Stars (downstairs) before hitting O-Ku for what might've been the best sushi dinner I've ever had. Pro tip: even though it was Friday, we sat at our table at 645 (got their early for our 7pm reservations) and were able to take advantage of their happy hour specials - which were $3 off cocktails and half price sushi rolls. We got about $66 worth of sushi for $33. The service was great, atmosphere was good and the food/drinks were amazing. After dinner we met some friends at Stars rooftop for drinks, then finished the night at the Thai restaurant across the street

Saturday, we went to the Charleston City Market and had a quick breakfast sandwich at Caviar and Bananas. The City Market was worth checking out and we got some gifts for the family watching our kids back in Raleigh for fairly cheap. After that we grabbed lunch at Persimmon Cafe (the college laundry) then went boating with friends on the Ashley River. We got to see the Battery and Ravenel Bridge from the water which was great. After boating we went to R Kitchen at the recommendation of this thread, and had an incredible five course meal for $25. I can't speak enough how great R Kitchen was, the weather was great so we sat outside and had the chef bringing us every course. After dinner we walked across the street and got dessert at the Hominy Grill. If you go to the Hominy Grill GET THE CHOCOLATE PUDDING. It sounds weird to say this since I guess I'm a bit of a foodie, but the chocolate pudding was the best dessert I've ever had, my wife and I were literally shaking our heads in disbelief after each bite.

This morning we got up and grabbed brunch at Eli's Diner before heading home. I got the low country Benedict which had fried oysters, sautéed spinach and the usual eggs Benedict ingredients. So good. We walked along Broad Street and checked out the old architecture after eating too.

All in all, it was a great trip and there were so many things we wanted to do but couldn't (carriage ride, angel oak park, etc.) and soooo many restaurants we didn't go to. Anyways, this post was more for me to re-read in a year when we plan our next trip down!

5/31/2015 8:48:21 PM

Sweet. Glad you liked R Kitchen. It's definitely not a typical "nice restaurant", but I think the food is great and it's a neat experience. Sounds like a great weekend.

6/1/2015 3:56:28 PM

So my wife and I will be down in Charleston Sunday through Friday. Staying at the Jasmine House Inn.

Jbrick - give me your top 5 lunch and top 5 dinner places to hit up. R.Kitchen is on the list. You've made so many recommendations that I struggle to limit it to 5 and 5.

Plan to do touristy stuff like the carriages, maybe hit a plantation, Angel tree, hope to spend at least one day at the beach - Daniel Island maybe?

Thanks in advance Jbrick, you are the TWW Charleston tour guide!

6/2/2015 8:50:02 PM

Meant Sullivan's Island, not Daniel in terms of the beach.

6/2/2015 9:20:39 PM

R Kitchen

The Park Cafe

Xiao Bao Biscuit

FIG

Macintosh

The Park Cafe and Xiao Bao Biscuit don't take reservations and are great lunch spots (The Park Cafe for breakfast). The other spots you definitely need to call and get reservations in advance. R Kitchen is probably the toughest to get a seat just because it's so small, is basically run by one dude (who has a tough time keeping up with reservations), and they've recently gotten some good pub, which has only made things worse. Regardless, I would just keep calling...and see if you can get an seat inside, preferably at the front bar (although the back bar is right there as well).....and the patio is still nice, I just think its fun to be in on the action. Being that you're going to be there during the work week might make it easier in on you.

FIG and Macintosh are high-end...FIG is probably one of the toughest places to get a table at in town. If you're wanting bad-ass seafood, go to their sister restaurant, The Ordinary.

Of all those places, if you can't get a reservation, feel free to stroll in and get a seat at the bar. It's definitely doable at Macintosh or the Ordinary...FIG is tough. I've waited 45 minutes for a seat at the bar there. R Kitchen is all reservation only...so you are pretty much are SOL if you don't have one.

St Alban (http://saintalbanallday.com/) is a cool new coffee spot that opened up near me. They also own Leon's Poultry and Oysters (which I've mentioned earlier). I still like Leon's, but had a sub-par fried chicken sandwich there the other day...so I've cooled a bit. But both are really cool spots to stop by there during the day (St Alban's for coffee/breakfast...Leon's for lunch).

Sullivans is probably your best bet for a beach day. The middle of the beach kind of sucks these days (weird erosion year). So when you get to Middle St (the main strip), take a right and go down about six or seven streets. The best "beachy" area is around Stations 16-18. Since you'll be there during the week, traffic and parking shouldn't be too bad. When you get off the beach, head to Home Team for barbecue and a frozen Gamechanger (it was a Painkiller, but they changed the name). They also have the best wings I've ever had. Across the street is Poe's, which has a great porch to have a beer and people watch. Their burgers have fallen off big time, so I'd still stick with Home Team for food (their burger is pretty awesome as well...better bun and smoked-cured-in-house bacon).

I also like the Husk bar. It's beside the Husk restaurant, but offers a limited bar menu with one of the best burgers in town (read this: http://www.eater.com/2013/4/15/6450661/anatomy-of-an-icon-the-husk-cheeseburger). The bar itself is just cool as shit with a ridiculous bourbon and cocktail selection (and always a couple local draft beers on tap). Walk upstairs to the lounge area and get a cocktail server and just chill. One of my favorite going out nights is to grab a burger at the Husk Bar and then walk right around the corner and get a bottle of wine and meat/cheese plate at Bin 152 (http://www.bin152.com/)

Avoid all of the food on Shem Creek (even the new Tavern and Table sucks...although it looks great), but grab a beer at Red's, Vickery's, or Tavern and Table (Reds and Vickerys you can go post-beach with a t-shirt and bathing suit...T&T is a little nicer)...watch the shrimp boats, SUPaddle boarders, and dolphins go by.

If you head out to Angel Oak in the morning, hit up Zia in James Island for lunch on the way back. It's right off Maybank across the Pour House. Best tacos in town (get the carne asada and grilled fish...on flour).

I think that's it for now. Feel free to ask more questions!



Somehow forgot Edmund's Oast. Easily one of my favorite spots in town. If you like beer...you have to go here. Best draft list in town and awesome house brews as well. Try their Peanut Butter and Jelly ale...seriously tastes like you're drinking a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Their food is also really good. They have a FIG disciple running their kitchen. They're pretty tough to get a seat at, even during the week, so I'd call now. Also...if you don't like beer, they have a great cocktail program as well.

[Edited on June 3, 2015 at 10:51 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2015 10:47:23 AM

As much good food and culture is in Charleston I could never live there in the summer. The weather is HORRRIIBBLLEE. Hot and humid. It's great in winter though!

6/3/2015 11:00:30 AM

Meh...you get use to it. Growing up in Southeastern NC, it's not much different. And there's always a pool, river, ocean to jump in.

Everyone has their preferences. I like to see snow and have a week of cold weather every year (basically when wen go to up Connecticut to visit the in-laws for Christmas)...but fuck me to live with it for four 3-6 months out of the year. There's a reason why more people move down South rather than the other way around.

6/3/2015 11:05:31 AM

Oh yeah the northeast sucks too. I don't mind the heat. I grew up in NC as well. It's just the humidity I can't handle. After moving out west everything was better. No more allergies, humidity, or mosquitoes .

6/3/2015 11:13:01 AM

Don't get me wrong, I love Colorado (would be my preference to live if I couldn't live on the coast), but didn't you guys get a foot of snow like a week ago? I've been going to the beach and paddle-boarding for two months now. There's literally 15-20 days out of the year that I can't ride my bike to a restaurant or brewery...and I'm talking, jeans and maybe a sweatshirt...not thermal underwear and toe warmers type shit.

Regardless...we both live in nice places.


Article on the house-brewer at Edmund's Oast and their PB&J beer (also really like their Fresh to Death White IPA):

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/thanks-to-cameron-read-you-wont-find-any-throwaways-on-edmunds-list-of-signature-beers/Content?oid=5216504

Quote :

"That's where beers like Fresh to Death, a wheat IPA made with Belma hops, and the ever popular Peanut Butter and Jelly come into play. Read describes the latter, his ode to the lunch box staple, as the beer he loves to hate. Basically, Read has to break all the rules of good brewing to make it. There are massive additions of PB2, a powdered peanut butter that is more conducive to brewing than the creamy or chunky variety. The beer is also unstable by design and will never produce a good head. Plus, Read says, "It makes the whole brewery reek of peanut butter." Technique aside, people love the stuff, have called the restaurant to see if it's on tap, and gotten angry when the answer is "no.""

[Edited on June 3, 2015 at 11:37 AM. Reason : .]

6/3/2015 11:30:40 AM

^ any idea how far out R kitchen takes reservations. Wife and I plus 2 friends are going up in November so I want to start jumping on some of these places as soon as they open up.

[Edited on June 3, 2015 at 11:52 AM. Reason : a]

6/3/2015 11:52:44 AM

Wouldn't hurt to go ahead and call. He'll probably go ahead and book you up now.

6/3/2015 11:54:41 AM

Quote :

"Don't get me wrong, I love Colorado (would be my preference to live if I couldn't live on the coast), but didn't you guys get a foot of snow like a week ago? I've been going to the beach and paddle-boarding for two months now. There's literally 15-20 days out of the year that I can't ride my bike to a restaurant or brewery...and I'm talking, jeans and maybe a sweatshirt...not thermal underwear and toe warmers type shit."

The mountains got snow. It just extends the ski season. Not in Denver. I may actually ski this weekend and then sit by the pool while it's 80 and sunny out that afternoon.

It can also be 70's and sunny in February in Denver. We're in the desert so it can be dry and warm year round. Summers get hot but it's dry so 95 with 15% humidity feels like 75 with 85% in NC. I can walk down the street in 90 degree sunny weather with jeans and a long shirt and not get sweaty.

I guess I really love the cold though hence my love for the mountains.

Charleston is great but I'd miss the cold and snow. Plus no mountains.

6/3/2015 1:08:36 PM

Two other lunch spots I forgot to mention:

Minero (http://minerorestaurant.com/charleston/). Same owners/chef as McCradys (probably most well known restaurant in town...James Beard Chef Sean Brock) and Husk. Pretty affordable food/drinks considering they're McCrady's people (really expensive)...and delicious tacos. I feel like most places fuck up corn-tortillas (which is why I normally get flour), but these are delicious. So if you're downtown and craving Mexican...this is the only place to go.

Monza (http://www.monzapizza.com/) is a good pizza spot downtown...Upper King area.

6/3/2015 2:55:33 PM

Jbrick you are the man. I need to print all of this off and map out my game plan! Thank you!

6/6/2015 8:09:46 PM

Just stopping by to throw out a nod to Tavern and Table over in Shem Creek. Robust menu, and everything I have tried has been crazy good....specifically The Fried Chicken Skins, the Macaroni/bbq dish, and their Scallops entree. The food alone is worth the visit, but as mentioned, it is on Shem Creek so it surrounded by fun bars and a creek with wild dolphins around. Terrific sunsets and atmosphere.

6/8/2015 11:00:27 AM

heading there in an hour for a long weekend to visit my parents

7/9/2015 12:57:19 PM

went to poe's one night and had a great burger - wasn't a bad wait for a table for 5

next night my parents watched the kid while we went out to pearlz oyster bar and had some great food again - then went to kaminsky's for some cheesecake and dessert martinis although my wife just had water because she's due in september

7/13/2015 8:24:45 PM

All you techies need to get down here...we're booming:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-chau/charleston-south-carolina_b_7796950.html

Quote :

"Usually known as a top tourism destination, Charleston has a larger percentage of employment in IT-related business than Austin or Raleigh. In fact, Post and Courier reported that Charleston's tech economy is growing 26% faster than the national average -- and just as quickly as Silicon Valley."

Quote :

"From 2000 to 2012, Charleston's millennial population grew 58 percent -- outpacing Nashville, Denver and Houston. Venture capitalists have also taken a keen interest in the mid-sized metro. This year, the Brookings Institution ranked Charleston #12 in the nation for venture capital "first fundings" by population and deal concentration."

7/16/2015 9:48:36 AM

Or move to Colorado. Boulder got #3.

--Actually scratch that. Move to Charleston. It's way better than Colorado.

[Edited on July 16, 2015 at 10:47 AM. Reason : s]

7/16/2015 10:46:36 AM

city penis envy ITT.

7/16/2015 11:01:28 AM

it's great except for the heat / humidity in the summer but at least there's the ocean - remote start on your car is a must

7/16/2015 11:29:19 AM

It's nice a few months of the year though. The one time I visited in June it was miserable. I imagine winter there is great if you don't like the cold.

7/16/2015 11:55:36 AM

Incoming jbrick post.

7/16/2015 12:24:17 PM

Voted #1 City in North America (#2 in the world) by Travel and Leisure for the third year in a row. #1 City to Visit by Conde Naste for four years running:

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150707/PC05/150709564/1177/travel-and-leisure-contest-says-charleston-best-city-in-us-and-canada

Lots of debate amongst residents if its a good or bad thing. More visitors and inhabitants means more traffic, more sprawl, larger buildings, etc. On the flip side, economy is booming, property values are going up (my house has almost doubled in five years), even more restaurants and shops are opening up in a place that was already renowned for shopping and dining.

My quality of life has only gotten better, but I assume it will get to a point where it becomes annoying. There are still plenty of places/secret spots to go to avoid tourists and newbs. As long as I have those, I think I'll be fine.

7/16/2015 12:26:00 PM

If I had felt like it I would have beat you.

[Edited on July 16, 2015 at 12:28 PM. Reason : ]

7/16/2015 12:26:29 PM

Quote :

"Incoming jbrick post. "

It is a thread about Charleston.

7/16/2015 12:30:29 PM

I had a hint.

7/16/2015 12:31:04 PM

Yeah if you've already got property that's awesome. More people is great and all but it does mean more traffic, more tourists, and higher prices. Same thing that's happening to Asheville.

7/16/2015 12:33:08 PM

If anybody (visitors or locals) has not been to Spero yet, you need to check it out. It's on meeting, where Hello My Name is BBQ used to be, next to 616. The food is stupid good - we've been for lunch and dinner several times.

And for anybody that doesn't trust my opinion (I don't blame you...):
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/spero-may-be-the-best-under-the-radar-restaurant-in-town/Content?oid=5142539
http://basilandbubbly.com/2015/03/spero/

7/20/2015 8:39:58 AM

^ Have heard good things from all my friends, just haven't gotten the chance to check them out yet.

7/20/2015 9:49:41 AM

anybody in the area interested in going to the driving range? I'm utterly terrible, but am trying to get out to Charleston National once a week (ha! like I have that kinda time... ) Anyway, just wondering if any other tww-folk are playing (or attempting to play) in the area.

7/22/2015 8:54:55 PM

I hear ole ToB lives down on Daniel Island these days, he's neighbors with Darius Rucker.

7/23/2015 10:39:41 AM

^^ I'm game for some disc golf (awesome course out at Trophy Lakes)....but I gave up the regular game of golf years ago. Too expensive and time-consuming of a hobby.

7/23/2015 10:56:26 AM

My husband got a job offer in charleston this week and though it gives him a $20k raise everything in reading is that charleston is expensive as fuck. and where I live in tn the cost of living is low as fuck. Is it really as expensive as everyone says? What about Summerville? From what I'm reading it's mainly housing that's most expensive. But we don't have state income tax here either. Ha. Oh man help me.

8/7/2015 3:02:30 PM

Everything in charleston that's not in the hood is like $400 bucks a square foot

8/7/2015 4:07:26 PM

^^Mt. Pleasant

8/8/2015 1:33:37 AM

^ Expensive as fuck...but prices differ in certain location.

I'll just give you an example for certain areas (obviously there are outliers...but this is pretty basic). Lets use a regular, 3br/2ba/1,500 sqft, single family home. Downtown in the Wagener Terrace/Hampton Park area, that house is going for $450 - $500k.

Mount Pleasant, Old Village area is the same price. Mount Pleasant in between Coleman Boulevard and Hwy 17 is in the $375k-$425k area. Those are the two most desirable areas to live in Mount Pleasant because they're a real shorty trip to downtown and the beaches...and you can avoid Hwy 17...which is a clusterfuck these days.

Once you get on the other side of 17 and out past the IOP connecter, prices become a little more affordable...but you're getting far away from what everyone loves about Charleston...downtown and the beaches. But you can find the 3br/2ba/1500 sqft houses in the $325k-$375k range. My in-laws are looking in those areas for an 1800-2000sqft house and they're coming in around $400k.

Then there is West Ashley and James Island. There are two neighborhoods in each of those "towns" that are price comparable to downtown and the Old Village (Avondale in West Ashley and Riverland Terrace in James Island). The rest is kind of a crapshoot depending on where it is. If you go out past the 526 connecter in West Ashley...you can find stuff in the $300k and possibly lower range. But everything is going up fast. And the Savannah Hwy and Ashley River Rd traffic is a nightmare.

There are some very affordable little pockets in James Island as well...where you can find houses even in the $250k-$300k range. Some of the neighborhoods are a little iffy (think trailer trash...not ghetto) and the houses are dated and need work...but you're really close to Folly and downtown...and houses are getting flipped pretty fast.

Then you have the Summerville, Goose Creek, and Moncks Corner areas. That's where you can find your affordable homes...but even some of those areas are rising really fast because of the new Volvo plant deal. Regardless, if you can only afford something in the $200k-$250k range, that's your best bet. You're now looking at half an hour drives to get downtown and to the beach (on a zero traffic day)...but it's better than nothing!

8/10/2015 9:49:22 AM

a guy in my office just turned in his notice and is moving his family to Summerville. now i get to do the work of 2 for the foreseeable future.

8/10/2015 11:26:39 AM

Quote :

"I hear ole ToB lives down on Daniel Island these days, he's neighbors with Darius Rucker."

A friend lived on Daniel Island back in 2006 and I loved visiting. Such a lovely area. If I ever moved there, I would live there or Mt. Pleasant. I would maybe consider downtown but I like having a yard.

8/11/2015 11:23:50 AM

Daniel Island is my primary stomping ground as I like to hit the links with all the high rollers at the DI country club (walk into the locker room there and its like a who's who of the South Eastern Illumanati Chapter).

What's even better is that from any mansion along the Marsh in DI you can hear the sweet sounds of Hootie and the Blowfish wafting over from Family Circle Stadium.

Its quite the scene.

8/11/2015 2:36:43 PM

What's overnight parking like in downtown Charleston? During my visit in September, we're staying down at Folly Beach but after going out in downtown, we'll probably Uber or cab it back. Can we leave a car overnight without it costing $texas?

8/11/2015 3:02:17 PM

the parking rates in garages during the day are very reasonable i thought - if you are going to have to uber to get the car back then just uber down there as well - i guess you can marginally save on money but not on time if you have to go get the car the next day and pay a higher parking garage fee

8/11/2015 3:17:05 PM

Quote :

"if you are going to have to uber to get the car back then just uber down there as well"

With a bachelorette party, I imagine they would have several girls with cars...so no need to uber to get the car back.

First of all...parking downtown is miserable these days. I know all of the side streets and hidden spaces...and I still get frustrated. At the same time, I use the parking garages as my last resort...so that does make it difficult. Garage rates are pretty reasonable and I think most charge something along the lines of $20-25 for leaving your car overnight. Parking meters stop at 5pm (or 6pm...can't remember). So if you do manage to park in a metered spot, just make sure you get it out by 9am the next day and you'll be fine...except for Sundays when metered spots are free.

8/11/2015 4:16:15 PM

Anyone wanna weigh in on some good places to take a chick for a date? Best recommendations for food without going overboard with cost (sushi, pho, anything spicy)? Also, what are some fun places I can take her once it's cold?

11/14/2015 12:31:16 PM

What's your price range? Xiao Bao Biscuit is definitely not formal, but you can spend some money there if you order a lot. But that's a cool, casual place to go to and the food is delicious. I would throw Leon's out there as well...but same category price wise.

Don't think there's a good answer for your "once it's cold" question. This isn't NYC where you can take a horse carriage ride with a fleece blanket in Central Park. Call Poe's and ask them when they start lighting their fire. When I lived on Sullivans, I loved grabbing a beer and sitting in front of their fireplace on cold nights. But that's pretty much all I've got.

[Edited on November 16, 2015 at 9:41 AM. Reason : .]

11/16/2015 9:38:28 AM

Thanks, I think that first place you mentioned came up in searches for good places.

As far as stuff to do once it's cold, we're both outdoorsy and resilient to cold temps, I just didn't know if there was more indoor stuff you all could recommend.

11/16/2015 10:21:39 AM