Retiring in Aiken South Carolina
- Thread starter RichZ
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HCJtractor
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- upstate South Carolina, Greenville
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Contact me beforehand if you wish. I 'll be glad to give them a tour or at least advise them on where to stay. In that price range there are many choices. It just depends on what you want. You can pull up Craigslist for upstate SC and get an idea. Zillo is another ap that is easy to use and shows all for sale with pictures using an aerial photo for reference. I'm also looking for a house so I've been scanning both of those lately. You basically have Greenville city limits with numerous neighborhoods, the rural areas with scattered homes, trailers, etc , and then the smaller towns nearby, each with its own characteristics. I live in the old original Greenville, about a mile from main street. It's what I like. The homes are older, with some character. But they tend to be more expensive, maybe $200 per square foot or more. The further you go outward, the average gets less. Then there are many subdivisions, at varied price points. Greenville county has very relaxed zoning. So in the rural areas you can see a million dollar house and down the road is a trailer. Welcome to the South. That's just the way it is. So you have to either accept that or stick to the older neighborhoods or planned subdivisions.
I hope you find what you are looking for and can adjust to the loss of your beloved farm. Good luck.
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
Cold vs. Heat
Neither are fun when at extremes but I can tell you this. My aunt and uncle grew up in the south until their late teens. after WWII he got a job in Wyoming and they moved up there and stayed until he retired. They had raised their children there, attended church and had a large circle of friends. But when he retired he said, "we're moving to Texas". South Texas. I asked him why he would leave so much behind and he stated, "I'm not going to live 6 months a year couped up and have to shovel snow to go to the grocery store." I said "with the heat down here, you might stay couped up for 3-4 months a year but you won't have to shovel snow to go to the grocery store."
Horses somehow live down here too.
Neither are fun when at extremes but I can tell you this. My aunt and uncle grew up in the south until their late teens. after WWII he got a job in Wyoming and they moved up there and stayed until he retired. They had raised their children there, attended church and had a large circle of friends. But when he retired he said, "we're moving to Texas". South Texas. I asked him why he would leave so much behind and he stated, "I'm not going to live 6 months a year couped up and have to shovel snow to go to the grocery store." I said "with the heat down here, you might stay couped up for 3-4 months a year but you won't have to shovel snow to go to the grocery store."
Horses somehow live down here too.
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
good luck with your decision making.
rwpck
New member
I am a builder in Columbia, SC. Currently building 1600 sf. one story house with 2 car garage, front and rear porch
its located at Elgin, SC approximately 7 to 8 miles from Northeast Columbia.
It should be up by spring 2015. Its little different type construction, 3 walls are of superior wall system that can withstand heavy winds and already insulated and finished with high strength conc.
Front walls going to be 2x4 walls with brick
I lived in Columbia for over 35 years. Many of my clients lived and came from other states but settled here
One more city to consider. I like here because its closer to beach than greenville or aiken
I am planning to retire there hoping elgin/kershaw county property tax stays low
its located at Elgin, SC approximately 7 to 8 miles from Northeast Columbia.
It should be up by spring 2015. Its little different type construction, 3 walls are of superior wall system that can withstand heavy winds and already insulated and finished with high strength conc.
Front walls going to be 2x4 walls with brick
I lived in Columbia for over 35 years. Many of my clients lived and came from other states but settled here
One more city to consider. I like here because its closer to beach than greenville or aiken
I am planning to retire there hoping elgin/kershaw county property tax stays low
Last edited:
AaronS
Platinum Member
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- Santa Claus, Indiana
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My wife and I visited upstate SC this past July to scout the possibility of a future move, and we loved the area. We confined our search to the Lake Keowee area (around Seneca), which is roughly 30 minutes west of Greenville. Beautiful country.
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Rich, since you are now looking at a house on a small lot vs a house on large acreage, how about considering the really outlandish, a condo apartment in a good location? :shocked:
:laughing:
A few years ago, we had a work event at a bowling alley in Raleigh. The alley was on the first floor of a tower complex. What is funny is that they tore down a large building that was maybe 10 stories tall that was build maybe 10 years prior to the new tower complex. :shocked: Anywho, the alley was on the first floor, there was a nice super market and other stores on the first floor, there was a nice bar and bagel shop in the same complex, and you could walk across the street to a mall that had movie theaters. The complex was also near a major hospital, restaurants, shopping, etc.
On the upper floors of the complex there were apartments or condos, not sure which, but I thought it would be a nice retirement place since you would not need to have a car or use a car at all.
There is a retirement place in our county that is VERY nice which likely means the cost is VERY nice as well. :laughing: They have houses in the development as well as a building complex that has a bar, restaurant, wood shop, and gym. I think they run a bus to get groceries for those who can't or don't want to drive. I had a display at this place a few years ago and when I walked in it was like checking into a very nice resort or hotel. I was much impressed especially as I talked to the staff.
We want to sell our place, buy a boat and see the world for as many years as we can before we age out. This is NOT what we had planned to do though we had discussed it over the years. The plan was to live out our days in a small town, in our dream house, built on acreage so we could have peace and quiet. Now, a huge development is being built so we are seriously thinking of The Boat. I mention this because The Boat idea means we would have to sell almost everything we own. :shocked: We would have to downsize our possessions and only take what is really needed. Some things would go into storage, basically family heirlooms, but not much. The idea of getting rid of almost everything we own is disturbing yet liberating at the same time. :laughing::laughing::laughing: Not having cars to pay for saves BUNCH of money even though we do not have a car payment. We certainly need vehicles now but if we lived in a complex like I have mentioned it would be cheaper to use a taxi. Our main use of the cars is to get to work and play taxi for the kids. Once work and kids are gone the only real need for the car is to get groceries. If we could walk to get groceries there would be no need for the cars.
My main concern with condo living is noise, Condo Commandos, and price but it is something I would/will consider when/if the time comes. Not sure noise will really be an issue but price and Condo Commandos are a concern.
Later,
Dan
:laughing:A few years ago, we had a work event at a bowling alley in Raleigh. The alley was on the first floor of a tower complex. What is funny is that they tore down a large building that was maybe 10 stories tall that was build maybe 10 years prior to the new tower complex. :shocked: Anywho, the alley was on the first floor, there was a nice super market and other stores on the first floor, there was a nice bar and bagel shop in the same complex, and you could walk across the street to a mall that had movie theaters. The complex was also near a major hospital, restaurants, shopping, etc.
On the upper floors of the complex there were apartments or condos, not sure which, but I thought it would be a nice retirement place since you would not need to have a car or use a car at all.
There is a retirement place in our county that is VERY nice which likely means the cost is VERY nice as well. :laughing: They have houses in the development as well as a building complex that has a bar, restaurant, wood shop, and gym. I think they run a bus to get groceries for those who can't or don't want to drive. I had a display at this place a few years ago and when I walked in it was like checking into a very nice resort or hotel. I was much impressed especially as I talked to the staff.
We want to sell our place, buy a boat and see the world for as many years as we can before we age out. This is NOT what we had planned to do though we had discussed it over the years. The plan was to live out our days in a small town, in our dream house, built on acreage so we could have peace and quiet. Now, a huge development is being built so we are seriously thinking of The Boat. I mention this because The Boat idea means we would have to sell almost everything we own. :shocked: We would have to downsize our possessions and only take what is really needed. Some things would go into storage, basically family heirlooms, but not much. The idea of getting rid of almost everything we own is disturbing yet liberating at the same time. :laughing::laughing::laughing: Not having cars to pay for saves BUNCH of money even though we do not have a car payment. We certainly need vehicles now but if we lived in a complex like I have mentioned it would be cheaper to use a taxi. Our main use of the cars is to get to work and play taxi for the kids. Once work and kids are gone the only real need for the car is to get groceries. If we could walk to get groceries there would be no need for the cars.
My main concern with condo living is noise, Condo Commandos, and price but it is something I would/will consider when/if the time comes. Not sure noise will really be an issue but price and Condo Commandos are a concern.
Later,
Dan
dave1949
Super Star Member
Condos can be nice but check out the monthly fees. They may exceed what you would pay someone to do yard work at a private home. In the area you are considering, snow removal probably isn't worth worrying about.
Condo rules can be a pain, and they like to enforce them.
Condo rules can be a pain, and they like to enforce them.
NY_Yankees_Fan
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Rich,
Look at this web site it has crime rating for any address you enter.
Real Estate, Homes for Sale, Apartments for Rent, Local data - Trulia
It is a real estate web site so it will also give you homes in the area.
We are in the same process of looking for a new place to get out of the high taxes of NJ. Have spent a lot of time on the web site.
Look at this web site it has crime rating for any address you enter.
Real Estate, Homes for Sale, Apartments for Rent, Local data - Trulia
It is a real estate web site so it will also give you homes in the area.
We are in the same process of looking for a new place to get out of the high taxes of NJ. Have spent a lot of time on the web site.
