Carriage Properties knows... What's going on in Charleston!

Carriage Properties knows... What's going on in Charleston!

WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHARLESTON?

July - August: Music lovers will also enjoy the outdoor air and tantalizing tunes of Charleston Summer Concert Series' presentation of "Reggae Nights" at James Island County Park, July 21 and August 18. The nationally-acclaimed Jah Works band from Baltimore, Maryland, rocks the night away with its unusual blend of roots-reggae and dance hall beats. A comfortably informal evening for the entire family can be enjoyed on blankets or lawn chairs, with food and beverages available. Other sounds adding gusto to the city's warm, breezy nights echo the fourth Saturday of each month with the Free Summer Concert Series at Charleston Waterfront Park, overlooking the historic harbor.

July:  Another historic downtown venue, the Heyward-Washington House at 87 Church Street, will celebrate America's independence with special Revolutionary War focus tours on each Saturday during the month of July.  Home to one of South Carolina's four signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Heyward, the museum house bears the distinctive diamond plaque that signifies a place where George Washington stayed.  The 1770 mansion has notable interior carvings and designs, and is considered among Charleston's most historic locations.  For focus tour information, contact www.charlestonmuseum.org.

CARRIAGE PROPERTIES FEATURED LISTINGS:

West Ashley: The Crescent 109 Folly Road Sophisticated home within minutes of downtown Charleston. Interior designer's personal home. Refinished hardwood floors, tile in kitchen and bathrooms.		Sullivan's Island: Beachfront 2251 Atlantic Avenue This IS Sullivan's Island Beachfront living! This oceanfront home was designed for casual yet elegant living with lots of light and open living areas that flow to spacious porches and decks.		Downtown Charleston: Harleston Village 94 Rutledge Avenue Circa 1853, Jenkins Mikell House, features the most imposing Corinthian columned portico in the southeast.  Truly one of the great estates in Charleston.
Listing Price: $865,000		Listing Price: $4,999,000		Listing Price: $5,995,000

WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHARLESTON - continued...

Downtown Charleston Summer Nights:

The city market is also a busy shopping area after dark, with vendors plying a variety of wares in open-air stalls while carrying on a bartering street-side tradition that dates back to the 18th century. Another fun feature of the market area is that, when the sun goes down, the ghosts come out, and the city comes alive with tours of haunted alleys, jails and graveyards. Charleston's historic district has changed little since colonial times, and is considered among the most haunted cities in America. Tours take visitors to shadowy area where duels were fought, pirates were hanged, and people were buried alive, and where legends linger with tales of restless spirits that have not gone away. Charleston hotel concierge desks have complete details and brochures on ghost tours and can arrange reservations.

DID YOU KNOW?

Speaking of outdoor excitement and Charleston history, there's an unusual exhibit at the Charleston Museum that has a fascinating tale...or is that tail. It's the skeletal remains of a massive right whale that has hung prominently from the ceiling of the museum's various locations for more than a century. Back in January, 1880, the great mammal inadvertently swam into Charleston harbor and could not find its way back out the narrow sea channels. Breaching and diving with great spouts of water, the whale drew considerable attention along the city's waterfront for several days as boats followed closely by, unaware that their presence only contributed to the animal's agitation. Ultimately, the whale died of exhaustion and was retrieved and towed to a nearby beach to decompose, after which the 40-foot skeleton was mounted. Today, the display is still highly notable for the massive arched jaws that extend fully one-third of the whale's body and hold the whale's baleen, the long, elastic plates through which these creatures filter nutrients from organisms in the ocean.

CHARLESTON'S BEST

Among the best views in scenic Charleston is one that takes a little effort, but is well worth the while. It's the panoramic vista from the North end of Folly Beach, looking out over the city, the harbor and surrounding islands, and, most strikingly, the towering Morris Island lighthouse. Standing 161 feet with faded striping across its tubular brick-and-mortar facade, what is most stunning about the old, abandoned tower is its location in open water. Once a working light built in 1876 high and dry on Morris Island, the old beacon had its island foundation slowly eroded away, and today has only a small, visible sand bar surrounding it at high tide. The tower served to guide ships into Charleston harbor and was officially known as the Charleston Main Light until it was decommissioned in 1962. Having survived earthquakes and hurricanes, it was no surprise that it has withstood the onslaught of an encroaching sea, and is still such a visible, inspiring sight that it has been acquired by a non-profit preservationist group called Save the Light, Inc., and funds are being raised to strengthen its foundation for the future. To see the light from the tip of Folly Beach requires walking about half a mile from parking spots at the end of East Atlantic Avenue to the water's edge.

CHARLESTON MARKET UPDATE:

Carriage Properties partner Charles Sullivan states:

This year Spring came late, but we saw pricing increase nicely in the downtown historic district - Prices up 22%.  The number of transactions are down vs. last year except in the $2.5 million plus category - up 67% with a 19% increase in $/SQFT vs. 2006. 

Just recently the $1M to $2M category downtown has seen increased activity; all of this bodes well for a nice finish to 2007.

Why is the downtown market "bucking the trend" of the other local markets? First, we have not seen a decrease in the number of buyers who want to relocate here.  They may be currently in a market that takes longer to market and sell, but they still are relocating to Charleston.  Second, the stock market is on a roll and that single fact certainly helped real estate in the 1980's and it seems to be helping the high end again now.

The 2007 Spring downtown market activity allowed Carriage Properties to set a new top market price of $7.2 million.  We also set last year's record at $6.1 million.

To find out more about Charleston Real Estate Listings, please visit our site at www.CarriageProp.com