Is Charleston SC a good buy and hold area?

[Daniel Thomas]

I'm thinking about buying some property in Charleston. Maybe on James Island or Johns Island. Is anyone in this market?  

[Jonathan Twombly]

Charleston is a very good market in terms of its growth potential, with so many retirees moving into the area, the huge and expanding Boeing plant, and the development of the Port of Charleston to handle Panamax ships when the Panama canal is widened.  However, it is getting very expensive as a result.  It is also a bit patchy in terms of good areas and bad areas, so it's best to study the area well before you buy.  Pretty much anything on the Peninsula is going to be hard to acquire at this point; properties that languished there for years and years are now being snapped up as they are running out of room on the Peninsula itself.  Other areas, I'm not sure.  It is best to get acquainted with locals and learn the low-down about the path of development, etc.  But, overall, I really like the Charleston market for the long term.