Best Areas around Lake Murray SC

  Lake Murray is an important part of Columbia, South Carolina, and although Lake Murray does include some of the areas that we discussed recently in our city guide blogs. We thought that we would describe the areas of Lake Murray so that newcomers will have a basic understanding of the areas that make up Lake Murray.  For geographic simplicity, we divide the lake into four sections.

The Lake Murray Dam (Irmo, Lexington)

The first section is the Lake Murray Dam.  The Lake Murray Dam crosses from Lexington over into Irmo.  It is also the closest to the city and if you follow the river downstream you will go through Downtown Columbia SC and into the Conga...

Where to live in Fairfield County SC?

Fairfield County is a perfect area for anyone that wants to be close to Columbia but live in an area with a little less development and get a little more land.  Fairfield County is located along I-77 and is North of Columbia along the corridor between Columbia and Charlotte, NC.  Fairfield County is filled with historic homes and plenty of rural housing.  A lot of homes for sale in Fairfield County are existing homes and there is not an abundant amount of new construction.  There are several industrial plants scattered around the county and most of the active sales for traditional neighborhoods are in areas like Ridgeway, Winnsboro, Lake Wateree, Lak...

Moving to Chapin SC - Area Information

Chapin and Prosperity are just north of Columbia as you pass through Irmo and follow the shoreline of Lake Murray. Up until 2015, the Chapin area featured large tracts of land and a rural setting. However, it is rapidly becoming “a suburb” of the Columbia, South Carolina area and no longer “too far out” for buyers wanting to be near Lake Murray. In fact, it is growing so rapidly that the school system put a freeze on enrollment (2018) because of the amount of residential development that has come into Chapin. It is growing faster than they can accommodate. 

If you continue to travel the shoreline of Lake Murray from The Dam, through Irmo, and then ...

Is Irmo, SC a good place to live?

Irmo is another section of Columbia that is primarily in the northwest region of the city but it is never referred to as, “the Columbia Northwest”. Irmo is also a township(the Town of Irmo) and generally speaking refers to the area around Harbison Boulevard, Saint Andrews Road, Dutch Fork,  and Lake Murray.  Commuters that travel regularly from Columbia to the Upstate (Greenville/Spartanburg) also understand the convenience of living in the Irmo area.  Irmo attracts the same type of homebuyer that would buy in Lexington County. They both favor Lake Murray, but Irmo is on one side of the dam, and Lexington is on the other.   It’s an easy commute into the ...

Living in Lexington SC

Lexington, South Carolina has a huge section of Columbia, South Carolina's real estate market. Keep in mind that Lexington encompasses the broad area of “Lexington County” and also the smaller area of the “Town of Lexington”.  Since there is both a township and a county that falls under the Lexington search criteria, it may get confusing if you are looking for one (or the other) and the website that you are doing your search doesn’t specify the difference...which is not unusual.

Some of the main areas of Lexington County include the Town of Lexington, Gilbert, Batesburg-Leesville. Pelion, Gaston, Swansea, Springdale, and even Irmo and West Columbia. **Note, we’ve ...

Southeast of Columbia

  The Columbia Southeast area is usually identified as; Hopkins, Eastover, or Lower-Richland or whatever township your home search will fall into.  For some reason, the title of "The Columbia Southeast" didn't stick with the description of this area like "Columbia Northeast" did for the Columbia NE.  This rural area is where you'll find towns like Hopkins, Eastover, and Gadsden (Not to be confused with Gaston). The Columbia Southeast and the Columbia Northeast are divided by Fort Jackson. Therefore, you do have the same appeal as the Columbia Northeast with subtle differences. It seems that the Columbia Northeast has developed more rapidly than the southeast. But th...

Where to live in Columbia Northeast?

The Columbia Northeast is a section of Columbia, South Carolina that has been a very progressive and growing area with large subdivisions such as; Lake Carolina, Longcreek Plantation, Cobblestone Park, The Summit, and Woodcreek Farms. There are a lot of new homes and new neighborhoods being developed in Columbia NE. We include Blythewood and Elgin in the Columbia Northeast area occasionally because it seems to fit the same buyer and this region has comparable neighborhoods with similar home styles and similarities in home prices. 

These Columbia Northeast Neighborhoods offer a great place to live for those who want suburban living and a variety of re...

Where to live in Downtown Columbia SC?

Downtown Columbia has undergone a dynamic urban revitalization during the past decade and the trend is ongoing. Ask any resident about what attracted them to Downtown Columbia and they will likely answer that they enjoy city-living and quicker commute times.  This may seem obvious, but it’s important to weigh the decision of living in-town vs. the suburban areas of Columbia. Many find that it’s convenient to get to any part of the city in only a few minutes and you are less likely to become vehicle dependent in parts of downtown Columbia. Columbia’s suburbs seem to have cooled off and a trend of residents moving into the city has revived Columbia Ma...

  Blythewood is a great community with great people and so many different events that are fun for the whole family.  To showcase some of Blythewood's finest vendors and the Town of Blythewood's Park, we will be featuring "Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle" on June 26th, 2021 at Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood SC 29016.  It's free, so bring your chairs, blanket and be ready at sundown for this unique and fun evening. 

  This event is put together by a few Blythewood residents that want to give back to the community.  And also give a huge, 'THANK YOU' to the community for all of your support throughout the years.  Below is some information about our sponsors,

Blythewood Meadows Park is a ...

Two gems coming to the avenues...no, I'm not talking about another brewery, restaurant, spa, gift shop, art gallery, interactive park, market, walking/hiking/biking trail, music venue, amazing restaurant, vibrant mural, luxury apartments or condos.  I'm talking about two new custom built craftsman style homes!!  The "Avenues" in West Columbia and Cayce, SC have always been revered as somewhat of a secret yet coveted place to live.  With recent additions of all the aforementioned venues and attractions, it is becoming more appealing than ever.  I have been keeping up with builder on the progress of the first house coming to fruition.  

We discovered Boyd Island (new to us) during our wanderings last Sunday at the Saluda Riverwalk behind the Riverbanks Zoo.  To get there, take the Greystone/Riverbanks Zoo exit off I-26 toward the Zoo.  Left at the "T" will take you to the Zoo and Right at the "T" will take you to The Saluda River Trail which extends to the right or left along the river as you enter the gate.  The parking lot and restrooms are still closed, but you can park alongside the road and walk through the gate.  Xander and I find it exhilarating since views are fantastic and he can swim and run through mud puddles to his heart's content!  Boyd Island is located just at the end of left trail, where it would seem th...

Top 5 New Neighborhoods in Blythewood SC

 If you’re interested in new home communities in Blythewood SC 29016, you don’t want to overlook our Top 5 List which is based on the inquiries that we’ve received about new construction in Blythewood.  We also will link to what we think will be the best new home communities in Blythewood for the 2021 year. At the end of this list, you will find links to each neighborhood.

• Longcreek Plantation - Long Cove
  Longcreek has been one of our favorite neighborhoods for many years and for many reasons.  Longcreek Long Cove is a new home community. The Long Cove Neighborhood consists of approximately 150 lots and the new home sizes have a square footage...

What is the difference between a Custom Built Home and a Spec Home?

Choosing between a spec home and a custom home is a decision that many homebuyers contemplate.  There are differences in what you’re buying in terms of the quality, the timeline for construction, and the flexibility of the finishes.

Spec Homes:

  Let's start with a spec home.  A “spec home” is a “speculative home”.  This is a home that is being built by a home builder with the speculation that they will be able to sell it to a buyer without deviating from their initial concept and plan . These homes are the homes that you will come across in your search for new homes for sale in Columbia SC.  Our market is filled w...

Appraiser’s Secrets: How Much Is That Worth?

When people get ready to sell a home, they often ask how much a pool or water frontage adds to the value. Many assume the cost to build a pool or dock should show up dollar-for-dollar in the price. It doesn’t. The market doesn’t work that way. No single feature adds a fixed amount to every home, and the original construction cost isn’t part of the equation. What matters is what buyers in your area have recently paid for similar homes.

That area is what appraisers call a neighborhood. It doesn’t always mean your subdivision. It’s the group of homes an appraiser uses to find the best comparable sales.

It also helps to know that an appraisal is...

Honey-Do List Alert: FROG vs Basement

Should one of your summer projects be to finish off some unused storage space and turn it into livable space?

It’s becoming more and more of a trend to declutter and pitch unused or unusable “stuff” in the wake of Marie Kondo’s inspo via Netflix 2019. It is almost impossible to watch that show and NOT get up and excitedly start throwing away items that don’t bring you joy. If you do, donate what you can!

After decluttering, you just might find your home has a newly cleared room over a garage/attic, or it might have a spiffed up and organized basement with tons of potential. Could be time to make that wise investment by adding value to your home or ...

When COVID-19 hit South Carolina in March of 2020 it was evident that things in the real estate world would be changing.  Everyone was uncertain what would happen, but understood that "Business, as Usual", would be..."Unusual".  We have already done Facetime Showings for overseas buyers and video walkthroughs with remote sellers to see the condition of their properties they were selling, so we were prepared with the basics.  But there was another level of change that we would be encountering.  We are very progressive real estate agents and love innovation and new technology.  It is also important that we understand our clients' needs and keep them comfortable and safe during COVID.  Here ...

Being a Realtor, I find myself in a variety of conversations. Some are fun, like what color or theme should a person use in their living room or bathroom. Others are more serious, such as whether a property being considered will be a worthwhile investment down the road. 

Lately, though, the most popular question that I’ve been asked has been “Do I really even need a Realtor?”. 

The short answer is yes; yes you do. 

The long answer is the same, but it dives into both sides of a transaction…

This question almost always comes from someone who is looking to maximize their profits on the sale of their property. This is completely understandable, and I never blame anyone for asking. It’s an...

Luxury Home For Sale in Wildewood

Update:  We sold this home but you can visit our Luxury Homes for Sale in Columbia page to see more properties similar to this one.
Welcome to Running Ridge Court in the Manors of Belleclave.  This custom-built, gated community is located in the prestigious and gated Wildewood neighborhood.  

When you enter the front door of this immaculate home, you are welcomed with a grand entrance to a formal living and dining room each with high ceilings and heavy crown molding and hardwood floors throughout. The formal living room features a gas fireplace, French doors, and custom plantation shutters. The living room offers high, 20 foot ceilings, recessed lighting...

By Rose Weber (Guest Blogger)

Making a great first impression is essential when trying to sell your home in the Columbia area. Studies have shown that many prospective home buyers decide on whether to consider your home with seconds of arriving at the front door. Make sure that your home stands out from the crowd with these easy and budget-friendly ways to boost your home’s curb appeal:

Clean It Up

It may go without saying that keeping your front yard clean is a must when trying to sell your home. Cleaning up includes clearing away leaves, sticks, or debris that have gone unnoticed. Look for any trash that could have blown into your yard as well. Making sure that your lawn is free from...

  I know at some point you probably thought about how the real estate market was doing in Columbia.  Here is a graph that we put together to show the average list price (Dark Blue) vs. the average sales price (Light Blue).  If you look at the table below the graph, it will show you that there has been an increase in the average sale price and the sellers are getting closer to their asking price.

  As real estate professionals, we already understand the market without looking at the data, but this is great information that supports our ideas and theories.  If you are interested in knowing more about a specific area or property, let us know and we will get some information for you. Here's ...