The Zoning Regulation is a tool used by a county or local government to restrict the use of property.  Although "Restrict" is commonly dressed up with the term "Controlled Growth", to me it means the same.  These regulations are different from "Restrictive Covenants" which are placed on a property by the land owner, previous land owner, or developer.  Zoning Regulations are usually buried deep into the county website.  I constantly have to search through their websites looking for a specific use of a property.  So, as a shortcut I thought that I'd post and continue to update the Zoning Regulations for different counties around the Midlands of South Carolina.  If you happen to know of an u...

What is a perk test?

  When buying raw land it is important to know what you are getting.  In many rural areas and suburban neighborhoods around Columbia SC it is necessary to have a perk test (also called a perc test or percolation test) to determine if your land is suitable for a septic tank and drain field. This is determined by several factors including the water table, soil type and topography of your property.  Ideally, you are looking for a sandy soil with a high elevation and moderate (or no) slope.  There are several types of septic tank systems and some are more expensive than others.  The price will vary depending on the amount of drain field, the size of the tank, and if there ...

  On December 8th, Blythewood contributed to the eco-friendly and popular 'green revolution' with a demonstration of an electric charging station for electric fueled vehicles. The event began in Columbia, at the State House, before traveling to Sharpe’s BP Gas Station in Blythewood just off of Interstate 77 (Exit 27 on Blythewood Road).  Blythewood is now a part of a progressive statewide Electric Vehicle(EV) charging network being fueled by a non-profit organization under the name of ‘Plug In Carolina’. Blythewood will begin with 3 charging stations and there are expected to be dozens of these charging stations along the major highways and interstates.  Blythewood is part of the first st...

"What is my school district for Lexington County SC?" is a question that I often answer for clients buying real estate in Lexington County SC.  I usually end up calling Lexington 1, Lexington 2, Lexington 3, Lexington 4, or Lexington 5 school district offices for the answer.  But today I found a Lexington County School District Map (Update:  Here is a very specific school search by address) that really helped answer my questions. Well, its not exactly a map, but you can search for your address and find out which district to call.

If you decide that you want land or houses for sale in Lexington you can always search the Search the MLS by School on our free Columbia SC MLS site.

Neighborhoods Near Fort Jackson

  The area directly below the Columbia Northeast is known as the Dentsville Area.  There are many military personnel that buy homes in this area because it is so close to Fort Jackson.  Fort Jackson is a huge economic influence for Columbia’s housing market.  If you are stationed at Ft. Jackson... then you probably qualify to buy an affordable home near Ft. Jackson.  There are several nice established neighborhoods just outside the gates of Fort Jackson.  Many of them are older neighborhoods from the 1960's-1980's.

  In this era of home building's simplicity and quality peaked.  Houses were built as "homes" and not so much as a "unit".  The majority of th...

The Columbia Northeast

  The Columbia Northeast is primarily the 29229 zip code.  It is the area bordered between I-20 E and I-77 N and bisected by Clemson Road.  Some consider Blythewood as a part of the Columbia Northeast, but locals separate the Blythewood subdivisions from the Northeast Columbia subdivisions because of the different zip codes.  The 29229 zip code(Columbia NE) and 29016 zip code (Blythewood) border each other at The Longcreek Plantation neighborhood.  There are plenty of different styles of homes to choose from in each area.  Most of the houses for sale in the Columbia Northeast are new construction or built in the past 15-20 years.  Blythewood also has new home const...

Neighborhoods in Columbia SC

  Searching for an ideal area or best neighborhoods in Columbia, South Carolina can take hours of research.  Some buyers want to be close to Fort Jackson, others may want to have a home with acreage, and some just want to be “right in the thick of it”.   Many of the newer subdivisions in Columbia incorporate activities such as golf, swimming, fishing, and other recreational sports.  Most of these are in the suburbs of The Columbia Northeast, Blythewood, or Irmo.  Here is a shortlist of some of the areas around Columbia and the ages of the homes for sale.

  Did I miss a great neighborhood?  Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

  Neighborhoods an...

Screened porches

  Ahhh… the setting that a screened porch creates is unmatched by any southern architectural feature.  This feature is often overlooked by a home buyer, but I can tell you that this may be the biggest value-add for a southern home.  A screened in porch is a perfect flex space to bring the indoors out and the outdoors in.  There’s nothing better than relaxing in the shade with the sounds of nature all around you while avoiding the annoying elements of nature such as mosquitoes, wasps, and gnats.  In the south, particularly with waterfront homes, these annoyances can drive you indoors and keep you away from the serenity of the sounds, smells, and sights that nature has ...