Best Places to Live

Congratulations for having your real estate search lead you to the beauty and charm of Charleston, SC!! What a wonderful place to live, work and play. We've provided you with a peek into the surrounding areas of Charleston, SC and what you can expect to find whether your stay is long-term, short-term or even for a lifetime.

Residents and visitors take pride in knowing they can experience and live among the beauty, history, culture, art, sophistication and coastal tranquility of Charleston, South Carolina from virtually outside their doorstep.  There are many different areas of the city which you can enjoy including: relaxing beach towns, a downtown location that boasts urban flair, as well as suburban neighborhoods with beautiful tree-lined streets and subdivisions.  Each of these places has an distinction and attraction all their own that have proven to appeal to a wide range of buyers.  Wherever you live in Charleston, South Carolina, you can be sure that you are never much more than 15 minutes to the beach.  Most towns are more likely to be within 5-10 minutes, making the temptation of playing hooky a strong possibility!  Below, please take time to visit the links to each of our islands or neighborhoods so that you can get a better idea of the beautiful communities in Charleston, SC.  If you prefer, we can help guide you in the right direction, as well as answer questions along the way.  So, please don't hesitate to contact Havens Charleston Real Estate at your earliest convenience for prompt, friendly service.  

Seabrook Island/Kiawah Island
Located approximately 21 miles south of historic Charleston.  Filled with beautiful vegetation, trails and miles of sandy beaches.  Between the two islands guests and residents can enjoy 7 golf courses, including the world-famous Ocean Course located inside the gates of Kiawah.  Seabrook Island is private and owned by its residents.  Access to the island is controlled by a security gate to provide for residents and guests.

 

Daniel Island
A master planned, close-knit community in Berkeley County north of downtown historic Charleston where the preservation of the natural environment is emphasized.  Surrounded by marshes, rivers and creeks, plus 23 miles of shoreline providing boaters and fisherman sufficient water access.  Daniel Island is home to the Family Circle Cup women's tennis tournament which can be enjoyed on the island every April.

Downtown Charleston
A peninsula of land right in between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers that is home to the central business district of greater Charleston.  Easily accessible from I-26 and US-17, Downtown Charleston offers a diverse selection of homes and neighborhoods.  The famous Battery - also known as Rainbow Row - overlooks the Harbor and reflects the historic beauty of Charleston with pastel colored homes, ornate iron gates and covered porches. The opportunities are endless: visitors and residents alike enjoy shopping, dining, strolling on cobblestone streets, visiting the cultural facilities and historic sites or simply relaxing at Waterfront Park enjoying the spectacular views. 
 

Sullivan's Island
If beach living is what you desire, Sullivan's Island can be considered some of the finest in the area, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.  Sullivan's Island history dates back to the construction of Fort Sumter which troops created as a land-based barrier to protect Charleston's mainland.  Today, Sullivan's Island is known as an established residential and vacation community with laid-back, cozy  eateries such as Poe's Tavern (named for Edgar Allen Poe who also lived here) and easy access to Mt Pleasant and downtown Charleston.

Isle of Palms
Layered with a few more newer homes than its neighboring town of Sullivan's Island, the Isle of Palms is also site to the beautiful residential and vacation resort known as Wild Dunes.  With beach access accessible from just about every block, homes for sale on the Isle of Palms have built-in value simply due to their favorable location.  Front beach homes feature expansive homes with the finest amenities and features both inside and out. 

James Island
Offering a wide selection of older comfortable neighborhoods as well as a recent surge of newer developments and new home construction sites, James Island and the Folly Beach area are located west of Charleston with beautiful tidal creeks and abundant marsh views.  Fishing buffs will have found their haven with inshore and offshore fishing varieties year round. With its convenience and accessibility to Downtown over the James Island Connector, this island is a popular and desirable choice for many.

Folly Beach
Welcome to the Edge of America!  Folly Beach is beach relaxation at its finest.  The easy-paced, carefree and beach-loving lifestyle found on Folly brings out the irresistible desire to slow-down and enjoy life.  Located just passed James Island out toward the ocean, Folly Beach is easily accessible to the James Island Connector into downtown Charleston or 17-N over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

West Ashley
Located west of Charleston, bordered by the Ashley River and Intracoastal Waterway, West Ashley offers desirable living in what is known as the oldest suburb in Charleston.  Many neighborhoods have golf, swimming and tennis amenities.  There are 3 historic plantations along Ashley Road; Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place - all of which are open to the public with sprawling acres, historic architecture and carefully restored interior designs.

John's Island
Known as the 2nd largest sea-island on the East Coast, John's Island is a short drive from Downtown and boasts beautiful live oaks and vegetation.  New real estate developments can be seen along Maybank Highway (the primary road to this area) as affordable alternatives to some other higher-priced areas.  Kiawah and Seabrook Islands are nearby with public accessibility to Kiawah Island beach through Beachwater Park.
 

Mt Pleasant
Originally founded as a fishing village, Mt Pleasant has evolved into a quaint, modern and popular residential suburb located minutes from downtown Charleston.   There are many fast-paced retail developments and businesses also popping up along US-17 and Coleman Blvd that offer an array of choices for shopping and dining. East of Charleston, it borders the Cooper River and features a wonderful dining, boating and nightlife area known as ShemCreek, which is also home to the area's shrimp fleet.