On the Charleston Peninsula, there are about 950 homes for sale, close to the 972 homes that were on the market a year ago in February 2009. The number of homes sold has improved from 71 homes in the November 2008 to February 2009 period to 95 in November 2009 to February 2010. With so many available homes, the peninsula remains a solid buyer’s market.

The real estate market continues to improve in Mount Pleasant. The supply of homes is down compared to a year ago while the demand for homes has increased. From November 2008 to February 2009 177 homes sold, while 255 homes sold from November 2009 to February 2010 9a 45% increase).  There were 1077 homes for sale in February 2009 and that figure dropped to 951 homes in February 2010 (better than a 10% decrease).  The average price per square foot of sold homes is very close to the same for both periods, indicating price stabilization in the area.

The city of Charleston has completed a three-year, $15.5 million renovation to the Dock Street Theater. The theater will be open for public tours following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

The history of the performing arts venue, home to Charleston Stage Co. and a featured venue for Spoleto Festival USA, dates to 1736. The last major overhaul to the building was in 1936 with money from the Works Progress Administration. In the recent renovation, city officials said they sought to improve the theater’s structure while maintaining its historic features…Read More

Kiawah and Seabrook Islands

The good news for homebuyers interested in Kiawah Island or Seabrook Island is that prices have decreased significantly over the past year while the number of sales remained about the same.  In 2009, 57 homes sold on the islands for an average of $339 per square foot, down from 60 homes sold in 2008 for an average of $390 per square foot.  In 2009, homes stayed on the market about nine months while in 2008 it took about six months for homes to sell.  The median sales price dropped to $486,000, the lowest it has been in the past five years. 

Isle of Palms 

Isle of Palms saw a jump in home sales in 2009.  The year ended with 63 sales on the island, better than twice the 31 sales in 2008 and an improvement from the 58 homes sold in 2007.  The median home price on the island was at $825,000 slightly down from the $855,000 figure of 2008.  Isle of Palms homes that sold were on the market an average of about a month longer in 2009 than they were in 2008.  Homes sold for an average of $373/square foot, a significant drop from the $450 per square foot average sold price in 2008.  The uptick in sales in 2009 corresponded with the significant adjustment in prices, indicating home sellers priced their homes to move and successfully moved them in 2009. Some good buys remain on the island, but the really good ones are going quickly.

Folly Beach

The median sales price of homes on Folly Beach from $480,000 in 2008 to $412,000 in 2009. The number of homes sold decreased from 61 in 2008 to 54 in 2009, with homes staying on the market an average of about ten months, up from 4.5 months in 2008. Folly Beach is in a strong buyer’s market ready for people to scoop up their summer vacation home or full-time island residence at the beach.

Daniel Island

 There are some great homes available on Daniel Island at super values.  In 2009, 83 homes sold on the island, a decrease from 110 homes sold in 2008.  Fewer homes sold and those that did sell take 171 days to close as compared to 150 days in 2008.  Homes sold for an average of $214/square foot in 2009, a significant decrease from the $246/square foot of the 2008 sales on the island. The median sales price on Daniel Island in 2009 was right at $500,000, the most affordable it has been in years.

Matt  told me one morning 12 years ago, that after having a dream, he knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.  “Mom, I want to be a potter”. He has been working with clay since the age of 5. He is currently a senior at Bishop England High School on Daniel Island and will graduate in the spring. 

Tomorrow night he is having his first solo pottery reception in Mount Pleasant. He has been an featured artist at Karen’s Korner Art Gallery in Mt. Pleasant for several years.  It will be a fun event with Matt’s pottery, music by Tommy Albrecht and lots of food. Stop by and see why dreams do come true!  Click here to view some of Matt’s work.  Make sure to enter to win a piece of Matt’s pottery.

Matt is donating a percentage of his proceeds to ECCO!

Matt Hunnicutt Pottery Reception

Feb 25, 2010    5-8pm

Karen’s Korner Frame Shop & Art Gallery

1405 Ben Sawyer Blvd. – Mt. Pleasant, SC

While statewide home sales in January increased 15% over sales in January 2009, Charleston area home sales increased 11.8%, according to numbers released by the S.C. Realtors Association Tuesday.

Sales in the Greater Columbia region dropped 3.7% to 362 homes sold in 2010 from 376 in 2009. Read More…

Charleston Peninsula
On the Charleston Peninsula, 150 homes sold in 2009, down from 168 sales in 2008. It took an average of 196 days for Charleston Peninsula homes to sell in 2009, continuing an upward trend. In 2008 the average days on market was about two months shorter at 139 days. The median home sales price dropped below $400,000 for the first time since before 2005, while the average sales price hovered at $800,000. Several luxury homes sold in 2009, pulling the average price slightly above 2008 levels. The average price per square foot of homes sold in 2009 was $282, slightly above the $273/square foot of sold homes in 2005. The Charleston Peninsula has some great buys ranging from historic homes to loft condos.