It's never too early to get started looking for things to do in the holidays. Now that summer is over and we can officially celebrate pumpkin lattes and the return of cardigans, we can now get ready for the best time of the year: the holiday season. If you're a fan of the holidays and you're looking for a place that fosters the wonderment and joyousness of the time, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better place than Charleston, South Carolina. Here are some jolly good reasons you might want to look into real estate in Charleston, SC.

Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble: You know you're going to eat a lot on the big day, so why not get a little exercise with friends beforehand? Located each year at Marion Square, the Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble is ran by over 6,000 runners on Thanksgiving to give them the opportunity to burn some calories before they gorge themselves on stuffing and gravy a few hours later. It's also a great time spent with friends, and there are a variety of activities for non-runners, including face painting, live music and a beer tent.

Buy Local Month: The heart of Charleston, South Carolina is our small businesses. Therefore, to support and celebrate them, Low Country created Buy Local Month, a month-long series of events and promotions designed to encourage people to shop and eat locally. Some of the events include the King Street Holiday ShopMob and the Buy Local Bash. You can start your shopping on November 15^th and it runs all of the way until December 15^th, so you'll have ample time to get your Christmas shopping done.

Holiday Festival of Lights: If you live or are planning to move to the Charleston area, you cannot go through the Christmas season without visiting the Holiday Festival of Lights at least once. Located in James Island County Park, there are over two million lights lit around the three mile drive through the park. If you're not in the mood to drive, you can climb aboard the train that goes around the park for a small fee. In addition to the lights, there are gingerbread homes, marshmallow roasts, photos with Santa and more. The Holiday Festival of Lights runs from November 8^th to the end of the year.

Getting excited about the holidays yet? This is just a small sample of the events that make Charleston, SC a great place to live, especially during the holidays. 

If you're like most people, you want a house that you can call a home. This means having the bare essentials along with a little land for a garden or pool, low property taxes, nice neighbors whom you can invite to barbeques, block parties and birthday celebrations, a quality school system and terrific weather. It's because of this mindset that many prospective homeowners look at real estate in Charleston, SC.  Charleston offers comfortable weather, close proximity to the beach, warm hospitality and low property taxes. However, before you start looking at MLS listings, there are several things you might want to consider first:

How long do you plan on living in the area? If you're thinking about purchasing a home, the first question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you plan to stay for the long-run. While purchasing a home can certainly be a great investment, you should plan on staying a while to make the down payment and moving costs worthwhile.

How much house can you afford? Before you begin looking at Charleston homes, it's important to have an idea of what your price range is. Part of the equation will be the amount of your down payment. Another factor will be property taxes. You generally should not be spending more than 35 percent of your income on your mortgage payments. Although Charleston homes can be very affordable, it's still good to know, so you can pinpoint your search.

When was the last time you checked out your credit? Not knowing your FICO score is a recipe for disaster when you're looking for a new home. Several months before you decide that you want to start a home search, make it a point to look into your and your spouse's credit reports to make sure there aren't any mistakes. Also get your credit score updated. If it's lower than you wish, now is the time to fix it as a lower score will equate to a higher rate.

There's no question that a move to the state of South Carolina can be a terrific transition to the next part of your life: great weather, beautiful beaches and did we mention delicious peaches? By considering these things before you start your search, you'll be able to find the home that you want at a price that you can afford.

Each year, magazines and news outlets across the country usually take some time to help retirees find the best place to retire. Charleston, South Carolina usually makes it to the top of the list because of its beautiful beaches, townhouse-lined streets, delicious sweet tea and Old Southern charm. You won’t find a better place to retire if you enjoy warm weather and a slower pace of living. Perhaps that’s why many retirees are looking into real estate in Charleston, SC. Is Charleston, South Carolina the right spot for you? Here are some things that might factor in your decision-making process on where you retire:

Do you need public transportation? As we age we might not be as willing or able to get behind the wheel as we once were. Most of us surely would prefer to avoid sitting in traffic whenever possible. That’s why, for some, it might be advantageous to take a look at the public transportation system the spot you’re looking at offers. Because Charleston is a major city of the South, it has all the public transportation options you would expect from a city its size.

What kind of weather are you looking for? Now you shouldn’t base your entire decision on the climate, but it should be on the top of the list. If, for example, you’re not a fan of the cold weather, why would ever consider retiring up north. Your retirement is the time to sit back and enjoy yourself, and there’s no question that you should pick a place that has a favorable climate. Charleston, SC enjoys a milder climate than most, but you do still get four seasons, which is a major benefit for those who get bored of the heat all-year round.

What is the local community like? One of the things that many people don’t consider when moving into an area is the demographics. Now if you’re looking to move in with people of the same age, you probably wouldn’t want to move into a big college town. However, if you’re looking to feel young or keep up with the latest in alternative culture, a college town or other major metropolitan area might make sense. Charleston is a decently-sized metropolitan area and has seen a major influx of younger people move in over the past decade. In fact, nearly 35% of Charleston’s population is under the age of 45, so if you want to feel young at heart, you might want to consider looking into Charleston real estate.