With 2017’s summer travel season about to reach its peak months, millions of Americans will soon go by plane, train or car to vacation destinations both at home and abroad. Moreover, tourism industry experts say this economic engine is a financial boost for local economies. Indeed, the massive annual influx for those few months where beautiful weather and inviting beaches really do perfectly complement each other. One such destination where guests can seek refuge from a bustling beach town while still have easy access to the sands and water is Isle of Palms, located in beautiful South Carolina. This city in Charleston County borders the Atlantic Ocean and is just a short drive from Charleston itself, which offers environmental, historical and leisurely opportunities for visitors of all ages and interests. Those vacationing on the nearby Isle of Palms will appreciate the easy access to the ocean for fishing, swimming and boat tours.

Prospective travelers researching vacation rentals Isle of Palms SC should be pleased to hear that local government officials in the region are already getting ready for the tourist season by making much-needed repairs. According to The Post and Courier, beaches in the Charleston area are being rebuilt in the wake of last year’s Hurricane Matthew. Moreover, Isle of Palm’s mayor told the newspaper that beach renourishment is going on there, too, and is being boosted by $15 million in state financial aid. All told, the replenishment project will move some 1.4 million cubic yards of sand back into Isle of Palms beaches, according to the report, which adds that further improvement projects could be carried out in fall 2017.

Vacationing in South Carolina is both popular and profitable: Popular for tourists because of the variety of local attractions and amenities; profitable for local businesses and the state itself as outside dollars are spent in South Carolina and remain there to boost up the economy. According to a 2016 South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism release, everything from admission tax collections to South Carolina State Park Service revenue and hotel occupancy were on the rise over recent years. For more information on renting a vacation property in Isle of Palms, visit carolinaonerealestate.com.

It’s the halcyon days of development in Charleston, South Carolina and the real estate sector is experiencing growth that any major U.S. city would and should envy. Beyond the wide range of recent positive economic indicators -- from employment gains to an uptick in home sale figures -- builders appear to have the best interests of Charleston at heart as they continue to keep a close eye on smart growth. According to a May 6, 2017 article from The Post and Courier newspaper, environmentally-friendly builders are touting a streamlined construction process that’s faster and friendly to the planet. For those researching our Charleston Real Estate Guide, add these considerate construction companies to the list of reasons why investing in this port city of about 390,000 is a smart financial move.

According to The Post and Courier piece, a number of Charleston-area builders and construction officials recently explained their vested interests in erecting homes that have been optimized for the 21^st Century. That means these structures are being built faster and for less money, with the latter being an advantage later passed on to the prospective homebuyer; houses hitting the market with solar panels already up and running; a move away from legacy products in construction, such as wood, in exchange for steel and 100-year warranties that come with a steel roof.  According to the report, South Carolina is 27^th in the nation for homes with solar panels installed but investment in the industry has climbed some 10 percent to approximately $225.3 million in one year alone.

The effect of  not addressing these aspects, according to the article, is waste across the board and landfills with an ever-encroaching footprint. The president of one local steel company told the newspaper that they hope to redefine the home construction industry and that they hope to “do with a house what [electric vehicle company] Tesla's done with a car.” Putting its money where its mouth is, that same steel company recently relocated its headquarters and production facility and planned to start producing rolled steel for construction by the end of summer 2017.

Beyond new construction that’s being optimized for future technology, Charleston already offers a plethora of existing home and rentals on the market. That’s due, in large part, to the vast number of tourist attraction in the region and the booming economy. In a spring 2017 update from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, more than 19,000 single-family homes selling for an average of $330,000 apiece were expected to be sold in the Charleston area in 2017. Moreover, that figure represented a 2,000 unit increase over the 2016 total. For additional information on the Charleston Real Estate Guide, visit www.carolinaonerealestate.com.

From pivotal Civil War sites to inspiring art installations and landmarks of natural beauty, there’s plenty to do in South Carolina if you’re considering investing in Charleston real estate. As the state’s oldest city that’s just shy of the Atlantic Ocean, there’s plenty to see, do and simply experience for those seeking a visitor-friendly excursion while mulling a move to the “Holy City” – a nickname we’ll address later.  

- A rivalry realized: Fort Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor, bore witness to the breakout of the U.S. Civil War on April 12, 1861. Confederate forces shelled the site that was constructed in the wake of the War of 1812 and is now a national park.

 - Over the edge: What’s a trip to the coast without a visit to a local shore town? While some of the more well-known resorts are hours away from Charleston, locales like Folly Beach -- known as the “Edge of America” to locals -- and Isle of Palms offer the same sand and water elsewhere along the coast of this country.

- Steeple skyline: The “Holy City” slogan comes from the many church steeples that be seen across Charleston. Many of these institutions of hundreds of years old and date back to the 1800s. Vastly varying in both architecture and denomination, many of these houses of worship continue to host services multiple times each week. Magnolia Cemetery is also the final resting place of some of the state’s well-known  and notorious leading figures.

- Southern comfort: The 2017 iteration of the annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival is scheduled for March 1 through March 5. The event has highlighted local culinary traditions since its founding in 2006 and widely praised by local media for both the quality of food being plated and the talent doing the cooking.

For additional information on Charleston real estate, call 800-342-2105.