Priced out of the American DreamBy Katy Stech (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, July 21, 2008
Grace Beahm The recently completed Phillips Manor subdivision in Mount Pleasant has put home ownership within reach of 23 families, but the lengthy process of getting these houses financed and built illustrates the challenges of providing affordable housing in the Charleston area. By the numbers$114,900 - Charleston-area median home price in 1998. $209,000 - Median home price in 2008*. 82 % - Increase in median home price over past 10 years. $32,387 - Yearly per capita income for the Charleston area**. $36,307 - Yearly per capita income for the United States**. 57.8 % - Homes sold in Charleston during the first quarter 2008 that were affordable to families earning the area's median household income. *Sales between Jan. 1 and June 30. **2006 data. Sources: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Association of Home Builders Tiffani Walker grew up in Mount Pleasant. It's where her mother lives, where her 6-year-old twins can get a good public education and where she works for the town's park and recreation department. So when she and her fiance, a truck driver, set out to buy their first home, Mount Pleasant was unquestionably where they wanted to live, even if the average home there costs about $320,000. After a four-year search, the couple found Phillips Manor, a 23-home subdivision off S.C. Highway 41 that was built for families that qualify for housing assistance. They moved into a two-story, three-bedroom house priced just above $140,000 and share the community with police officers, restaurant managers and other town administrative workers. "These houses made it possible for us to live in the town that we love to work for," she said. But few families are as lucky as the Walkers. Most Charleston-area residents are unable to afford a home that's close to where they work, according to a new study released by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Lowcountry Housing Trust. Price surge Local wage increases haven't kept pace with housing prices that surged several years ago during the national and local housing boom, study data show. Retirees and cash-flush new residents from others parts of the country are able to pay top dollar for homes, while regulations push costs higher. Local leaders say the issue is starting to threaten the region's quality of life as commuters clog major roadways during rush hour. The area's economic viability is also at stake, as some business owners say they are struggling to recruit and retain good employees. While housing affordability is a hard problem to solve, the study is meant as a call to action for government officials and business leaders. "All of us want our region to be a place where our children can grow up and move back to," said Mary Graham, senior vice president of public policy for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. The 40-page study pulls together information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Association of Home Builders and the local real estate professional group to show that: --The Charleston area's most populated regions have home prices that are out of reach for people who work in those areas, leading many employees to live elsewhere and commute. --Most new jobs created since 2000 have been in the hospitality, service, education and health care sectors, which traditionally pay relatively modest wages for most jobs. --Less than half of Charleston residents can afford to buy a home at the median price — now about $210,000 — making it far less affordable than other Southeastern cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia and Greenville. Growth factor Homes weren't always this expensive. Ten years ago, the average house sold for about $115,000. But Charleston became a sought-after housing destination, luring residents from across the country and attracting speculators who bought investment property. Prices steadily grew until the nationwide housing boom caused them to skyrocket. Another cost factor is logistical. The Lowcountry's central hub and major employment area, downtown Charleston, is geographically small and confined by waterways. And the city's location along the coast limits the spread of growth, cutting its development space nearly in half. "We're in a region where you can't move out development on half of what we have because it's in the ocean," Graham said. Higher prices also were encouraged by newer Charleston residents who moved from more expensive housing markets in the Northeast and on the West Coast. Some new residents are retirees who have been making monthly mortgage payments for decades and building top-notch credit records, allowing them to buy more expensive properties. Some housing experts say the disparity between what homes cost and what workers can afford has reached a critical point. Record gas prices have stretched the budgets of many workers who commute long distances from their suburban homes, said Tammie Hoy, executive director of the Lowcountry Housing Trust, an affordable housing advocacy group. And the Lowcountry's major roadways often are choked with traffic during rush hour, chipping away at the area's quality of life. "People are going to have to start making hard choices about where they live and where they work," she said. Development barrier Housing affordability also is becoming a barrier to economic development. Local business leaders have told chamber officials that job candidates have passed up offers to work in Charleston for other Southeastern cities, partly because housing costs were too steep. The issue disproportionately affects Charleston's largest employer: tourism and hospitality. Not only are wages in that industry traditionally lower than other sectors, but most of the activity is focused on the peninsula, where the limited and historically significant housing stock makes it the most expensive in the region. Industry workers have had to balance their transportation and housing costs with their desire to work for some of the finest restaurants and hospitality outfits in the Southeast, said restaurateur Dick Elliott of Maverick Southern Kitchens, which employs about 280 people. "Salaries are higher," Elliott said. "They're going up all the time, but they don't keep pace with the housing costs." The local real estate market's current slump has given buyers an advantage at finding a reasonably priced home. So far, the average price has fallen several thousand dollars, though national housing experts say the market slump hasn't pushed down prices to a level that's considered widely affordable. More importantly, though, the housing slowdown gives local leaders an opportunity to concentrate on the issue, Graham said. Developers and builders can learn more about affordable housing developments, especially since some companies now recognize the growing demand for affordable homes. Work force housing Nehemiah Corp., a Greenville-based nonprofit housing provider, saw the need for work force housing in Mount Pleasant several years ago when it began developing Phillips Manor, where Tiffani Walker and her family live. First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston financed the construction loans and some of the home loans for buyers. Edward McKelvey, the bank's vice president of community development, said providing funding for the project wasn't more risky, just more time-consuming. The project relied on several grants, and many residents were first-time buyers who needed help scraping together a down payment. Land costs also can be a barrier to that type of development, he added. "If only we could duplicate this throughout the area," McKelvey said of Phillips Manor. To fix the affordability problem on a widespread level, Elliott of Maverick Southern Kitchens offered two ambitious suggestions: "Plan better and spend money." While many municipalities are reviewing their long-range planning strategies, it takes extra effort to coordinate expected growth with bordering cities and towns. And doing what's best for the region may require elected officials and planners to put aside their particular interests by, for example, forgoing property tax dollars from new developments. Local governments can also start tackling the affordability issue by easing the overregulation that Walt Martin of Associated Developers Inc. says has built up over time. Shoddy construction during the Lowcountry's rebuilding from Hurricane Hugo prompted tighter building regulations, and environmental restrictions, especially along the coast, have complicated the development process. Martin said he's not against this type of progress, but he added, "Every time you make something better, you make it more expensive." Allowing developers to build denser communities that offer a range of housing types, he said, would rein in suburban sprawl and possibly allow workers to live closer to their jobs. That's echoed in the affordability study's recommendations, which also calls for zoning changes. "In almost every instance, it is going to take some kind of public-sector effort of incentivizing building and offering some carrot," Graham said. Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 48 comment(s)
Posted by majorjohnson on July 21, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well cry me a river. I want to live dowtown New York City. It's my right and by gosh if i can't afford it the government should make it affordable at my price! I want a vacation home in the Alps too...come on big daddy warbucks government, make it affordable for me!
Posted by whome on July 21, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just wait a while. There's no way that median home prices that are 8-10X median incomes are sustainable; historical levels are 4-5X, meaning home prices in Mt. Pleasant will correct another 50%.
Unfortunately, the bubble will burst, especially in exurbia. Just be glad you didn't purchase in 2006. If renters can hold out, the bottom should be arrive in about 2010. Except for the exurbs, they might be the modern ghost towns.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
whome
It will be interesting to see how this situation works out.
Not sure it will drop as much as you predict, but with the loss of much of that yankee cash stream, it is going down.
Sound advice for those who can wait.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The_Mouth
Looks like the current crop of buyers want all the work done buy the seller - they can't or won't do it themselves.
In my day one expected to do some painting, fixing and remodeling on their purchase - I have done it on both of the houses that I have bought.
Posted by Floger76 on July 21, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by whome on July 21, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just wait a while. There's no way that median home prices that are 8-10X median incomes are sustainable; historical levels are 4-5X, meaning home prices in Mt. Pleasant will correct another 50%. So, by my math, the median sales price IS about 4X the median income for the area.
Well since we are using the median home price, shouldn't we use the median income. The HUD published median income for Charleston County is $56,400 per year. The article above talks of average income, not median. There is a difference.
Posted by willx45x on July 21, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A lot of people around these parts are going to be really surprised at just how far home prices are going to fall before this thing is over. That Yankee cash won't save you greedy sellers this time. You're going to take it on the chin and finally, housing will once again be brought into some level of affordability. Prices in DI and MP are so ridiculous as to induce flat-out laughing. A rude awakening is coming my friends.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gad..
Grew up in Hobcaw before it was built out and loved the undeveloped woods, also had friends on Live Oak drive - was interesting before it went restauaent crazy. Don't think Mt. P. has anything to offer me today. Got a good price for my mothers house (estate) last year - way more than it was worth.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gad..
It was - especially the water front of Shem Creek - loved to go down to the boat yard or visit the shrimp boat folks and related marine support folks. I knew a lot of those folks thru my friends who where locals.
Posted by common_sense on July 21, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A truck driver & a parks employee. How about going to school & obtaining degrees in fields that will allow you to afford a home in Mt. P?
Oh, that takes work & dedication. So much easier to whine about it. Gotcha.
I'm just sayin...
Posted by SCgal on July 21, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats on your new home!! I hope you enjoy living in Mt. P!
Posted by rmsems on July 21, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The builders and people who do want to or have to sell will have to adjust their prices. The house inventory in Charleston keeps growing, especially the high-end of it:
Here are the numbers:
MONTHS INVENTORY for properties up to 219,999 is 9 months, from 220,000-239,999 it's 11 months, 240,000-259,999 is 12 months, 260,000-279,999 is 11 months, 280,000-299,999 it is 16 months, 300,000-349,999 it is 15 months, 350,000-399,999 you are talking 19 months, and 400,000-449,999 it is 17 months and after that it gets interesting: Now we are really talking years: 450,000-499,999 this price range has an inventory of 2 years, 500,000-599,999 an inventory of 29 months, for home in this price range 600,000-699,999 we are talking 32 months,700,000-799,999 -- 42 months or 3.5 years,
800,000-899,999 -- 31 months, 900,000-999,999 -- 59 months, so close to 5 years, 1M - 1.5M is 40 months, 1.5M - 2.0M the inventory stands presently at 72 months or 6 years, 2.0M -
2.5M this price range has an inventory of 102 months or 8.5 years, and everything over 2.5M has an inventory of 126 months or 10.5 years (251 homes on the market in this price range). There are 3238 houses on the market with a price tag of more than 500,000 -- a number which is growing by the month, so the inventory has yet to be reduced, because those inventories counted in months figure that the inventory stays the same and sells at a present rate, which it hasn't done in a while. While a year ago the inventory for homes below 250,000 was only 5 to 7 months it has grown. And the top segment of homes over 2.5M was 54 months as of December 2007 it now has more than doubled. I wonder, where all those folks should come from to buy those upscale homes and more are being built. Look at the new subdivisions?!
And look at all those cheaply thrown together homes. They mostly look the same. No special individual note to the homes, nothing. And I wonder, what all those folks do with their elevated homes, when they get older, and they don't have room or money to install an elevator?
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rm..
Lots of numbers to digest - assume months are the ave. time to sell. To quote from the space program and I may not have it just right - "mission control - we have a problem". How many houses are currently on the market?
Posted by rmsems on July 21, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Neponset there are a close to 11000 homes on the market.
Posted by USC_Alumni on July 21, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem isn't home prices. The problem is that the lowcountry don't have a lot of moderate to high paying jobs or industry that support modertae to high paying jobs. That's why a lot of people from the tri-county area go off to college and never move back home. Myself included.
We can't earn the salaries we earn in the lowcountry, the public schools are bad, and crime is out of control. When I talk to my childhood friends that have moved away we discuss moving back home. The next question becomes and do what to earn a good living?
Posted by nikkiP on July 21, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can I ask why they're continually building neighborhoods with brand new homes when the market is so bad?
And why can't people live within their means? We can't all be doctors with nice houses. Someone has to manage the mcdonalds down the road.
And is it wrong that I kinda hope the market (outside of places like mt.p) stay a little low so I can get a decent house when I get a job after college?
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
nik
Good question - I suspect that building has stopped and is in a holding pattern, waiting for business to pick up. In the mean time developers are lining up new projects (clearing reg. road blocks) to begin when things improve - this industry has been very profitable and they will try to get it going again.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rm
I don't have a way of checking the 11K figure - but are you off by one decimal point?
Posted by Clemson1979 on July 21, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am 29 and moved away after college because of the job market down there. I am in Greenville now. The inflated housing prices in the lowcountry are a joke. Our household income is about 115,000 per year in the upstate. I doubt we could find jobs that pay the same amount, and if we did....we could not afford a decent house down there.
Posted by rmsems on July 21, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
neposet: I am not off, there were 10,419 homes on the market in May, in June that number was higher, but isn't officially posted yet -- somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,700 plus.
Posted by Osgood30 on July 21, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to live on Broad St. Can the gov't help me afford the mansion that I DESERVE?
I live in Mt P. In a nice townhome. Bought for $105,000, a lot of work later, valued at $167,000. Could sell it tomorrow for $200K +. Gov't assistance needed = $0.00.
Oh and BTW, my wife is a teacher, and I am a student. It is called "living below your means."
I understand the reason for "workforce housing," (transportation, short drives, etc) but shouldn't the market determine housing prices? If there was a real need for "workforce housing," then wouldn't the market provide for it?
STOP ALL THE GOV'T ASSISTANCE! It destroys the very foundation of a free economy.
Posted by Osgood30 on July 21, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clemson,
Yes you can. See comment above. It takes planning and work.
Housing prices were inflated due to absurdly low Federal interest rates.
Another example of gov't intervention in the marketplace.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rm
Not doubting your word - just a lot of houses - what was the inventory during a recent normal time?
Posted by rmsems on July 21, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
neponset, the active listing e.g. May 2005 was 3240 houses, May 2006 -- 6563, May 2007 -- 9893
Posted by Clemson1979 on July 21, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure I could settle for something small. But why should I? I paid 300K for a great all brick house in Anderson/Greenville area. That same house would be at least 500K down there. I really miss Charleston, but I am not going to move into a townhouse or a bad neighborhood just to be down there. My point is the jobs down there dont match up with the cost of living.
Posted by MsPiggy on July 21, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Mt. Unpleasant"
hahahaha!!!
The gas in Mt. P is outrageous.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rm
Thanks
Posted by TinaR on July 21, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say is, it took 4 years to find something? Either they were wayyy to picky or their agent was not the greatest. Besides, the Nehemiah program helps out with downpayment assistance whether you want to live in Mt. P or Summerville, they don't care. That article made it sound like you had to live in a specific area. The housing market will improve after the elections in November. It will start slowing at first. If anyone ever paid attention to trends, real estate is generally bad during election years.
Posted by USC_Alumni on July 21, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I Co-sign Clemson 79. That's the problem the lack of good paying jobs in the Lowcountry area. It's not the price of real-estate.
Posted by Ron_Godzilla on July 21, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are going to be even less jobs in the Lowcountry due to the fact that the economy there is so focused on real estate development. What happens when that never ending river of Northerners that were supposed to drive this market dries up?
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tina R
It will be interesting to see how this market plays out after the election. If we have 11K houses here, can you imagine how many they have in the rocky mountain area or S. cal. - it will take whole lot of buyers to reduce this inventory.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ron..
I think it is pretty much dried up - can't get a sale for their house up there - suspect lots of contingent contracts.
Posted by whome on July 21, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know if anyone's been paying attention to the mortgage rates, but the 30 year fixed rates are now at 6.42% (bankrate overnight national average) up from 6.09% LAST WEEK. As I posted elsewhere jumbo loans (greater than 417K) are practically non-existent.
Housing prices everywhere, not just in Mt. Pleasant, will continue to fall.
Posted by a_set_love on July 21, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Lowcountry's central hub and major employment area, downtown Charleston, is geographically small and confined by waterways."
-> Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off <- Writing news stories like this ..... How much did you have to pay for this Mr. Riley.
Posted by SCgal on July 21, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agree pay scale is lower in this area!
What Fortune 500 companies are around here to offer jobs
Infrastructure sucks
Land locked
Education standards are low
Personal property tax
I don't understand how we pay higher taxes, high price for real estate, higher real estate taxes, pay personal property tax and have less services, lousy roads, lower education scores/ranking- who takes all the money and what are they doing with it?
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SCgal
Some of what you say is true, but check out taxes in the N.E. - I believe property taxes there are oppressive - check out long Island. Why do you think these folks come here to retire?
Posted by Ron_Godzilla on July 21, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Neponset
Be careful with posts on the lower tax rate here. You might be giving King Joe and some other politicians some ideas, though I think its inevitable that when the economy here tanks the politicians will turn to taxes.
Posted by cassique on July 21, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gadsden & company...
It seems like every time I read the newspaper someone has mean things to say about Mt. Pleasant. We live there and we like it. None of our neighbors are pretentious – they’re real nice folks. There are lots of free things to do within walking distance of our house - the Pitt Street pharmacy, Alhambra playground, a dog park, tennis & basketball courts, historic graveyards, Shem Creek, and the Pitt St. bridge – a great spot for fishing, crabbing, and beautiful views of Charleston, the harbor, Fort Sumter, the lighthouse and the marsh. Our neighborhood is very diverse - waterfront homes, historical houses, condos, modest ranch homes, and public housing. My drive over the Cooper River Bridge, up Coleman and over Shem Creek is quick (as quick as it gets at 35mph) and enjoyable. Nothing unpleasant about it at all, so… ease up, folks - no need to be so nasty all the time.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ron
You are right and I will refrain. The way things are going, we are not far behind.
Posted by jammanofdi on July 21, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This article sure is full of hate - you're right cassique. I understand exactly what the writer was trying to say. I moved to Charleston 4 years ago with my girlfriend and without help from family, there's no way we would ever be where we're at right now. I'm 29, my girlfriend is 27. We're both college educated (I'm a civil engineer, she's a newly graduated attorney). With student loans, vehicles, insurance, savings and gas prices, a 300k mortgage is way out of reach. And I'm not against living in a different area, but I am against having to put up with getting my car broken into or being robbed (N. Charleston) or having to sit in traffic for 45 mins each way (Summerville). We actually did try and move to Summerville, but the additional prices we were shelling out in gas made it pretty much equal out what we were saving in a mortgage. I love this area, am college educated and tried to do it all right, but our setup here does make it hard to get a start in this town. When it's me (fresh out of school and saving for a down payment) versus some 70 year old Ohio native that came here on a vacation and just fell in love with the place, it's hard to secure a home. I guess many of the pople that post on here are also maybe just a tad to far out of touch with reality...
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on July 21, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah I'd like to live in a historic mansion downtown,anyone paying?Cause I'm not.Why should I?Prices should be adjusted to fit my budget.Gadsden,I Look forward to seeing you driving by in your '67 GTO 400 / 4 speed as I wave from my veranda.
Posted by Neponset on July 21, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jamm
No - just cynical expressions, since the local real estate folks have given us a steady diet of happy days are just around the corner. This housing situation has touched a lot of folks. I think it is nice if one can afford to live on S. Island or the village of Mt. P, but most folks can’t
Posted by suec on July 21, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since when is it "not fair" to have to wait and work for what you want?
Ifyou want to live in MtPlastic, go buy a small affordable home in NChas(not all Nchas neighborhoods are bad) or rent, so that you can save your money and one day afford your dream home.
There is a good deal of pride in doing something yourself, with no help from the government or Mom and Dad.
I live in my dream home right now. It's not fancy or on Daniel Island, but it is PAID FOR! That is my definition of a dream home.
Posted by mkhaynes on July 21, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW!
Seems like most of y'all read the first part of the article and quit.
This article isn't about people relying on the government to help them pay for a house. The article is about how high housing costs and low incomes in the Lowcountry are causing a lot of problems - traffic, primarily. It's about changing the way land and neighborhoods are developed, to try and attract businesses and a higher-educated, community-minded population. So instead of setting off on your diatribe about how people rely too much on the government, reread the article and think about it the next time you're voting for someone on a local level.
I remember when Joe Riley ran for governor - we supported him b/c finally the Lowcountry would have someone in the head office to try and get some economic stimulus in the area, other than tourism or food/beverage. It was right around the time Mercedes decided to go build their plant in Alabama instead of Dorchester/Berkeley counties and David Beasley was able to rope BMW into Greer. All the things you guys complain about on other posts (crime rate!!) would get some help if you could bring some real income to the Lowcountry. If you had real jobs, you could bring back all of the kids who move to Greenville, Charlotte, or Atlanta.
This is more than just a problem of "cheap" housing - it's about changing the economy of the Lowcountry. And it's fine to say "you can keep Mt. P," that kind of attitude has made it what it is today. How many of you live less than 10 minutes from where you work? How many of you could afford to live less than 10 minutes from where you work, or would want to? These are the problems that the article is talking about.
Posted by Gobes5150 on July 21, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is very interesting to read what everyone is saying. I am from Kentucky originally, now living in Colorado, about to move my business to the Lowcountry. This kind of discussion is happening everywhere around the country. It is true, we are living in an inflated market in almost every aspect. The real estate and job market go hand in hand. The US manufactures nothing anymore. We as a people have demanded more and offered less. I was married in Charleston a few years ago and fell in love with the place, and I live in the Rocky Mountains! I see what Charleston is and more importantly, what it can be. I have been to places like San Francisco, and I would take the Lowcountry every time. It can be a city that is a powerhouse on the East Coast, and still be responsible. I believe Charleston is balancing on a fence that could go either way. (I think N Charleston needs a good ass kicking.) The point is, the people who call the Lowcountry home will determine its future, and now is a very critical time to make it want you want, and organize with those who share your views. However it works out, you will soon have a hard working, family man with an American business to call the Lowcountry home. Hope y'all will have me!
Posted by Spartan on July 21, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Housing costs here are just about the national average while wages are somewhere in the 80-85% range of the national average according to most Data I read. In the Redbook on Competiveness, we have a huge disconnect in attracting industry in that our industrial tax rate is higher than Georgia, NC, etc. So we start out at a disadvantage in getting the good paying jobs. And our Governor stripped the Dept. Of Commerce and makes himself a martyr. Maybe things get better when we get a good upstate governor like Gresham Barrett or someone who will support Economic Develoment like Carol Campbell did. Until then, its gonna be a hang in there kinda thing. And the disparity with the housing cost verus wages is something you and I can do somethng about: tell your local and state representatives that we want and need eco development and please put the money in the game to attract it. We should support housing affordability for workforce projects that are a better alternative to renting for the service industry. How? LIke anything else, money and planning as Mr. Elliot said in the article. Volkswagon just passed us up and went to Chatanooga with 2000 high paying jobs. We need to get to work.
Posted by 123abc on July 24, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am one of the families that live in this neighborhood. this article was not written for you to put us down. we have all types of people living in this neighborhood. the next time you are in your doctors office or calling the police for help you should stop and think these could be the people that i was so critical of. the next time you register your kids for anything at the recreation dept that nice lady sitting at the counter could be the one that lives in that house. all we wanted is to live in the town that we grew up in and love. why is that so wrong. you dont know any of us nor does it seem like you want to.
Posted by brandyclayton on July 31, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You sorry excuses for Americans, much less to consider yourself South Carolinians. I live in Mount Pleasant, have for over eight years - and will for as long as I can. What I want to know is what gives you people the right to judge where a family can live - much less a born and bred South Carolina family. Could it be jealousy because you didn't find yet another way to take advantage of more government cheese and were so worried about where you "say" you live instead of how you live? Do you even know the people you are judging? Half of you wannabe Dunes West/Park West/Rivertowne SOBs aren't even from here, but you are going to run your mouth about people who have busted their humps all their lives to get their families to this so-called Community that we have taken over and raised prices on? This area is over-priced as all get out and God forbid our school system have some kind of diversity versus a bunch of Lily Pulitzer wearing, Beamer driving snobs who are in debt up to their eyeballs? I for one think anyone who has any negative thing to say about a neighborhood that has welcomed me and mine as opened-armed as they have, are a bunch of self-serving, snots who are trying to be something they are not. Like it or not, this is a Gullah Community - do any of you idiots know what that means? Success isn't based on finances, cars, etc. It's based on God, Family and Communtiy. Get it straight or move back North! This is why US Southerners are sick to death of you damn yankees!
Posted by brandyclayton on July 31, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And by the way, for all of you people who have such strong opinions...why exactly are you logged in under a pseudonym and don't have guts enough to have your comment posted as who you really are? Afraid your boss may live in Phillips Manor?