Blog Post 7

Fast Facts

A Pew Research Center survey conducted in March 2026 found that 71% of homeowners reported having experienced an increase in home insurance costs over the last few years. This is backed up by earlier findings of two studies: A 2025 report by the Consumer Federation of America found that home insurance premiums had increased, on average, by close to 25% between 2021 and 2024, while a Bipartisan Policy Center report released the previous year revealed insurance rates had increased 40% faster than inflation between 2017 and 2022.

(Sources: Pew Research Center, May 2026, Consumer Federation of America, April 2025, and Bipartisan Policy Center, June 2024)

National Insuranc...

It seems that the typical summer slowdown for local news has not yet landed.  This month, we bring you interesting news related to aviation (yet again!) and shipping, business and industry (ever-growing!), civic and community initiatives (think planning!), and recent awards and rankings (these you have to check out!).  For topics of most interest to you, follow the links where you see bold blue font to learn more.  Happy summer reading!

We realize that aviation news is a common thread in our monthly news blog, so we’re adding some shipping news.  Charleston International Airport has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation as one of eight airports across the country to ge...

5 Important 1st Steps for New Homeowners

Fast Fact

Did you know that mortgage rates at the end of April 2026 are lower than they were a year ago, creating more opportunities for buyers to enter the housing market? (Source: freddiemac.com/pmms)

Celebrating New Homeowners Day: Why It Matters 

New Homeowners Day, celebrated every May 1st, honors the achievement of owning a home and the sense of security it brings. It recognizes that a home is more than just a place to live – it’s where families grow, memories are made and everyday life happens. The day is especially meaningful for those who have worked hard and waited a long time to finally achieve homeownership. 

Buying a home is a m...

We’ve come across a great mix of “feel good” local news topics to share with you this month, covering Aviation and Industry, Civic and Community, Entertainment and Sports, and Medical and Health topics.  There should be something of interest for everyone.  Read on and click on any of the links where you see bold blue font to learn more about the topics that interest you.

In Aviation and Industry news, Air Canada’s Charleston-Toronto route, in its third season, will now offer expanded 6-day, non-stop seasonal service from April through October.  Boeing is busy on two fronts in North Charleston: filling orders for its 787 Dreamliner jets – including building the last six planes for Ethio...

There are homes you tour, and then there are homes you can already picture yourself living in.  593 Marshgrass Blvd is the second kind.

It's not just the five bedrooms, the 3.5 bathrooms, the 3,025 sq. ft., the hardwood floors or the granite countertops — though all of that is here, and it's great. It's the feeling you get when you step onto the double front porch and hear nothing but birdsongs and experience a light breeze off the lake.

It's the way the sunroom fills with the afternoon light and turns an ordinary Tuesday into something worth savoring. It's the quiet confidence of knowing you're tucked away on a peaceful cul-de-sac, yet minutes from everything the Lowcountry has to of...

Fast Fact

Did you know that 95% of homeowners and single-family renters believe that a home affects the health of its residents YET, according to the U.S. Census, 45% of homes across the US have at least one health hazard, making the home one of the most dangerous places for U.S. families? Some of these hazards can cause illness, injury or even death. (Source: nchh.org)

Check Your Home, Protect Your Family during National Healthy Homes Month

April is National Healthy Homes Month. It’s a perfect time to inspect your home for any potential issues that could impact your home’s health and that of your family, as well as to address them. For example, the air inside your home can sometimes...

We have plenty of good news - and numbers - to share about the Charleston area this month, such as what locally-made product was voted this year’s “Coolest Thing Made in SC”, which local team qualified for its first ever NCAA Tournament, where Charleston stands in various rankings, which housing assistance program is back, what new development and environmental management projects are underway or recently completed, and more. Read on and be sure to click on any of the links shown in bold blue font to learn more about the topics that interest you.

Charleston has made the cut on several recent rankings lists. It's No. 31 on Wallet Hub’s list of the most innovative states (with 20+ produc...

The numbers tell a clear story: Pricing your home right from day one isn’t just a strategy—it’s the difference between creating momentum and missing the opportunity.

Homes that start aligned with the market sell MUCH faster, closer to or above asking, and with far less friction.

In today’s environment, chasing the market comes at a real cost.

NOTE: These are 2025 Q4 numbers for single-family detached homes in the Charleston, SC Metro Area.  

Request your own NEIGHBORHOOD market review.

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HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

Housing affordability in the Charleston, SC area remains relatively balanced but increasingly strained.

While the affordability index of 113.5 suggests the median-income household can still afford a median-priced home, the required household income of over $103,000 and a monthly payment exceeding $2,100 highlight a real barrier for many buyers.

Homeowners are generally less cost-burdened than renters, yet a significant share of renters are spending over 30% of their income on housing.

Affordability also varies widely by age, with peak buying power in the 35–44 range and notable challenges for younger and older households—underscoring the importance of strategic p...

Here’s some local news that showed up on our radar last month. While we often share news about our aviation sector, this month we’re also featuring the development sector - both private and public, as well as a recent announcement about a new local professional sports team moving to town. You can follow the links where you see bold blue font to learn more about items of most interest to you. 

In aviation (and environmental) news, Boeing is donating $1 million to support the creation of the 44-acre Angel Oak Preserve, which we reported on last October when the site was admitted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network. Angel Oak itself has also been nominated to the National Register...

Changing Your Clocks Is a Perfect Time to Power Up Your Smoke Alarms

Fast Fact
 
Did you know that roughly 3 out of 5 fire deaths take place in homes that have no (or no working) smoke alarms?

Make Daylight Savings a Home Safety Reminder

Daylight Saving Time begins this year on Sunday, March 8th and what better time to remember to test your smoke alarms around your home and change their batteries.

Each spring, when Daylight Saving Time begins, we set our clocks ahead by one hour. This is why we say “spring forward.” When we “fall back” in November, as Daylight Saving Time ends, it’s another great reminder to do the same.

We get it—testing and swapping out the batteries in your smoke ...

We continue to come across and share good news about Charleston this month, this time relating to the latest accolades and rankings, our local art scene, the aviation and logistics sectors as well as medical and student housing development. Be sure to follow the links where you see bold blue font to find out more about news of most interest to you.

The accolades and high rankings continue across many sectors. The 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists for the food and beverage industry were announced in January, with eight local nominees making the cut for Emerging Chef, Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Restaurant, Outstanding Bakery, Best Chef - Southeast (2 local nominations), Outstand...

Nobody thinks about their dryer vent until clothes take three cycles to dry and your laundry room feels like a sauna. That fluffy lint trap you pull out? That's just the opening act. The real lint party is happening deep in your dryer vent, and it's getting wild in there.

If towels are still damp after an hour or your laundry room smells like burnt toast, you've ignored it for too long. All that buildup makes your dryer work harder than climbing the cables of the Ravenel Bridge—and it's also a real fire hazard!

Clean your dryer vent regularly—including the duct, not just the lint trap. Your wallet and fire insurance company will thank you. 

The good news?

A quick cleaning means cl...

2026 begins with lots of positive, wide-ranging news for Charleston that relates to awards, designations and rankings, education, the environment and history, health care, industry, and (virtual) travel and transportation. Be sure to read to the end to learn of a great new virtual travel tool and follow the links where you see bold blue font for more information on the topics of most interest to you.

Let’s start with recent awards, designations and rankings!  The Credit One Charleston Open (formerly the Family Circle Cup) just won a prestigious award for the fourth consecutive year, taking home the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year, which is voted on by the tennis players themselves. Summ...

Good news continues for the Lowcountry as we near the end of 2025 and set our sights on 2026! This month we feature local news relating to fine dining, aviation (yes, again!), healthcare and housing. Be sure to follow the links provided where you see bold blue font to find out more.

In the area of fine dining, we are thrilled to share the news that three area restaurants have each earned a Michelin star. They are Malagón Mercado y Taperia, Vern's, and Wild Common. The winners were announced along with the launch of Michelin’s new American South guide covering seven states at a ceremony in Greenville in early November. Twelve of the 228 restaurants listed in the guide are located in C...

Downsizing can feel overwhelming. After decades of accumulating possessions, memories, and a lifetime's worth of belongings, the thought of moving to a smaller home often brings a mix of emotions—from anxiety and sadness to relief and excitement about a new chapter. It's an emotional attachment to a lifetime of memories. It's feeling overwhelmed by decades of belongings. And for many seniors, physical limitations may help to make the process exhausting.

If you're considering downsizing, or helping a loved one through this transition, know that you're not alone. The stress you're feeling is completely normal, and there are practical ways to make this journey more manageable and even m...

Here are some key current market trends for single-family detached homes (SFD) in the Charleston, SC Metro Area, which reveal a continued return to a more typical market.

3,370 SFD homes sold in Q3 in the Charleston MLS, 5.9% higher than the number sold in 2024 Q3.

???? Our market is still moving!

The median number of Days on Market (DOM) for listings was 33 days, 32% longer than in 2024 Q3. 

???? Homes are taking longer to sell, although still selling reasonably fast. 

Listings with no price reductions attracted a contract in a median duration of 7 days.  Those that needed price reductions took 76 days.

????  Homes that needed a price reduction to attract an offer stayed ...