Are you a fan of sweet tea? Most historians agree that sweet tea was started in South Carolina and, specifically, in the Charleston area. According to primary accounts, a French botanist and explorer, Andre Michaux, came to South Carolina in the late 1700s with tea leaves and other vegetation to appeal to the Charleston aristocracy. He planted tea leaves just northwest of Charleston, and started a tradition of tea-drinking that still exists today in the Lowcountry.

There's no question that residents of South Carolina love their tea. What makes them differ from others in the United States who enjoy a tall glass of iced tea is how they prepare it. While some may enjoy their black iced tea unsweetened, residents of South Carolina enjoy their iced tea with a little sugar in it. In fact, South Carolinians love their sweet tea so much, they officially adopted it as its Official Hospitality Beverage.

Where Can You Find the Largest Sweet Tea in the World?

South Carolina residents may drink sweet tea by the gallon, but there is one small town in South Carolina where residents can say that their sweet tea is record-breaking. The town of Summerville, a small Tree City USA town that sits a few minutes outside of the Charleston city limits, will attempt to break the record of making the largest amount of sweet tea in one glass. In order to break the record, residents hope to make a 2500 gallon single glass of sweet tea.

Obviously this amount of sweet tea can't be produced in anyone's kitchen and will require a little more creativity. According to the organizers of the Summerville event, the tea will be made using natural gas, local tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation, and sugar from Dixie Crystals. A representative from the Guinness Book of World Records will be on hand to hopefully verify and present the record. The event will take place on June 10, 2016.

Enjoy the Best Sweet Tea in South Carolina Year-round

There's one thing you can bet on: if you visit Summerville, you're going to be treated to a glass of iced sweet tea with a lemon or orange slice garnish from a friendly face during your stay. If you are considering moving to the area to take advantage of the beautiful weather, emerging business development, and wonderful heritage, there are few better places than the town of Summerville. Summerville is a place where you can raise a family or grow old, and you're sure to accompany most days with a glass or two of sweet tea.

If you're thinking about making Summerville your home, check out our listings of Summerville homes for sale to find a home that meets your budget and requirement. We pride ourselves in matching prospective homebuyers with homes that they can see themselves staying in for a while. Our agents are happy to discuss your needs and help you find a Summerville home that you'll love. Contact us today to get the conversation started. And if you're looking for a good sweet tea recipe, here's a tasty one from WhatsCookingAmerica.net.

There is a lot of Summerville, SC real estate that's perfect for couples, young families, and first-time home buyers. But how do you know when it's time to buy your first home? After all, a mortgage is a huge fiscal responsibility and you need to be prepared for it. Here are four factors that may mean it's time to take the leap:

1.  When interest rates are favorable – The biggest factor guiding your decision on when to buy should ideally be financial. It can be hard to view major life decisions in a dispassionate way, and there are definitely other factors that affect home buying besides just the money. But the bottom line is that your house is likely the biggest investment you will ever make, and like any investment it's vital to get the best terms possible. This doesn't just mean negotiating a price that's satisfactory – it also means getting your loan at the best terms you can. Presently, loan rates are still very favorable and interest rates are relatively low because the U.S. government is hoping to stimulate more home buying. That means that all else being equal, 2015 is a good time to buy. The low interest rates and favorable terms will not last forever.

2.  Once you've settled on a career – Another factor in choosing whether to buy your first home is where you are in your career. Most first-time home buyers are in their mid to late 20s, which means they have had a few years since college and have settled into a career path. Choosing a career before buying a home has two advantages: first, it means you have likely chosen the city or region where you plan to be working long-term, so it makes more sense to invest in a home there; secondly, it means you have some idea of what future income to expect and can make buying decisions more accurately. You do not have to be far along your career path, but knowing what you expect to do professionally will help guide your decision.

3.  Ideally, before you have kids – Buying a house can be a big process—there's the house hunt, the move, and any renovations or redecorating you want to do. When possible, it's easier to do this before you have kids than while you are raising an infant or toddler. If you know you plan to have children, it may pay off to look for your family home before the stork comes to visit. After all, it's harder to get the painting done or put together a cabinet when you have a hungry three year-old on your hands.

4.  When you see the house that feels like home – Ultimately, the right time to buy a home is when it feels right. Take a look at the real estate available in Summerville and see if anything strikes you. If a place feels like your dream home, start asking how you can make it happen in your current situation.

What kind of home are you dreaming of? Take a look at our listings at Carolina One to find the perfect first home for your needs!

Summerville is one of the more stunningly beautiful suburbs around Charleston, and there is a large selection of Summerville, SC real estate. But what makes this area so popular? Here are five of the reasons that it's worth moving to:

1.  Small-town feel – Summerville is a rare gem. Most historic towns will bow to pressure over time and lose their charm as development continuously changes them. In Summerville, there is plenty of new investment, but the town has remained true to its roots and maintains the same small town atmosphere it has always had. Summerville is a community of just 33,000 people, many of whom work here and raise families here. Everyone takes pride in the historic buildings and the charm of the downtown, and they work together to keep their community's spirit—and image—strong.

2.  Beautiful Southern surrounds – As the name implies, Summerville was originally a summer getaway for Southern gentlemen and their families. It has always been known for its natural beauty: pure running streams, abundant pine trees, endless flowers in the spring and summer, and Spanish moss hanging from the branches of ancient live oaks. The area is so naturally beautiful in fact that for a long time its fresh air was believed to have therapeutic effects. There's nowhere more pleasant to take a stroll on a summer evening than Summerville.

3.  Great selection of homes – With its long history and its new resurgence, Summerville has lots of homes of all different price levels to choose from. The average home value here is in the low $200s, with a wide range of houses in the mid-$100s and lots of options on the higher end as well. Many newer homes are luxury developments, and are carefully placed to take advantage of Summerville's natural beauty without infringing on it. The town also has over 700 registered historic buildings, and getting something with some history behind it is certainly still possible.

4.  Close to Charleston – Despite being such a peaceful enclave, Summerville is not actually all that far removed from Charleston. Many Summerville residents work in the city and the commute is just 30 minutes. Traffic generally flows quickly and smoothly.

5.  A community worth investing in – Summerville is one of those rare spots that has been a favorite for hundreds of years—since the 1700s, in fact. With its good looks, historic buildings and natural charm, Summerville is only going to continue to appreciate in the future.

Why are you interested in Summerville real estate? Check out our site at Carolina One to find the ideal home for your needs!

Are you or a loved one planning to retire in the near future? In the past, Florida was one of the top places for people to retire because of the warmer weather and peaceful atmosphere. However, in more recent years, South Carolina has begun to gain popularity as a retirement location and may even someday dethrone the current leader. Of all of the cities in South Carolina, Summerville is an especially popular place for seniors to retire, and here are three reasons why:

1.  It's affordable – The economy hasn't exactly been great over the past few years and there are many seniors who have been affected badly. In particular, many people's retirement funds have taken a hit, as people have either been forced to dip into their savings or have lost jobs and pension money. Even if they have saved enough for retirement, many seniors can't afford to stay in their current areas when they are on a fixed income and need to find a more affordable place to live. The good news is that real estate in the south is incredibly reasonable, and this is especially true of Summerville, SC whose homes average in at just above $200,000.

2.  It's peaceful – Most people work hard their entire lives; in fact, the average American will spend over 90,000 hours of their life working. When you retire, however, you can ditch the stress and just relax – which is probably why busy cities like New York or Philadelphia never figure heavily on lists of popular places to retire. In contrast, Summerville, SC is a quiet, peaceful old town with a very friendly community. Known for its natural scenery, abundant azaleas, and pine trees, the town started out as a summer retreat for wealthy Charlestonians looking to avoid the diseases and mosquitoes that plagued the city in summer. To this day, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful, peaceful areas in South Carolina, while still being close enough to Charleston for easy access to activities.

3.  It's good for your health – After reading about how relaxing Summerville is, it should come as no surprise that the town is good for your health. However, the health benefits go even deeper than the tranquility that Summerville offers. Did you know that many of the town's famous plants have been known to provide residents with natural health benefits? This is especially true of the pine trees that the area is famous for. Many believe that the pine trees have special healing powers, and are especially beneficial for treating lung disorders. This is just one of the many reasons that there has been a recent surge of travelers in recent years.

If finding an affordable, relaxing, and healthy place to retire are some of your top priorities, then look no further than Summerville! Contact Carolina One Real Estate agents today for more help in finding the retirement home of your dreams!

Summerville has a booming real estate market, and we all know that you need to spruce up your house before you put it up for sale. But not every improvement is going to translate to extra dollars at closing. Here are four changes you may think you need to make, but really don’t—straight from our Summerville, SC real estate experts:

Repainting everything
Many homeowners’ first instinct is to paint, paint, paint... not so fast! If the outside of your home needs a new paint job (or siding repair), this is a great choice which will improve curb appeal and make your listing pop. Interior repainting however is more dicey. Everyone walking through your home is already fantasizing about the new colors they’re going to repaint everything, so it doesn’t necessarily pay to do repainting of your own. Replacing bad wallpaper or repainting a dingy room can be a good choice, but you don’t necessarily have to take your pastel butter-yellow kitchen and repaint it white just to make the sale.

Removing vintage elements
If you have any vintage or antique elements in your home, think very, very carefully before removing or tampering with them. This is especially true of hardwood elements or antique light fixtures, original cabinet handles, etc. They may look dated to you but they are likely irreplaceable and many of your buyers may cringe and brand new fixtures. Consider whether restoration is better than replacing them, or even if they look okay as-is. If you do remove them, box them and include them with the house.

Remodeling
The home improvement projects that you take on before selling a house should be low to moderate cost and have obvious payoff in the sale price. Generally, that will not include entire remodeling projects. There are rare exceptions to this, such as when a bathroom or kitchen is in terrible shape, but bear in mind that any remodeling is going to be expensive and time consuming. In most cases, it will be hard to make back the cost of the remodel on the increased sale price of the house.

Anything non-mainstream
There are lots of really cool, innovative technologies that can go into houses these days, but unless they’re well known and popular they won’t improve your sale price. For example, tankless water heaters are a huge step up from traditional water heaters but most buyers have never heard of them. If a potential improvement is clever but not very mainstream, save if for your own future home and stick to the basics for the one you’re selling.

There's no doubt that Summerville is more popular than ever. The Summerville, SC real estate market is thriving as people seek a peaceful, pristine place to make their homes and raise their families, all within easy driving distance of Charleston. But the popularity of Summerville as a place to live is by no means a new phenomenon—it has been a destination for nearly two centuries.

Originally, Summerville was exactly what its name implied: a place to spend the summer. The moneyed class of Charleston made it a point to leave the city during the summer to avoid all the problems that a hot, humid season could bring to a big city in the 1800s. Thus, summer homes were erected to provide a place with fresh, breezy air where the wealthy could get away from it all. Summerville offered a unique setting that is rich in pine trees, fresh running streams, and abundant flowers. All these factors combined to help Summerville become not just a summer vacation town, but a health destination as well. 

In the 19th century, diseases of the lung were a major problem, including the frightening tuberculosis. Doctors of the time made the logical conclusion that patients with these diseases should seek a place to live with fresh, clean air. It just so happened that Summerville had some of the cleanest and most fragrant air in the United States, thanks to the same shady pine forests that had made it famous in the first place. Accordingly, health spas were opened and patients flocked to the area. Some were temporary visitors and others built homes so they could enjoy the salubrious breezes seasonally or year round.

The science of medicine was still developing in the 1800s and it's not clear whether Summerville's pine-scented breezes really helped cure any lung diseases. It is true that pine resin is a mild antiseptic, and its pungent odor is thanks to its astringent properties.

In any case, today's Summerville draws people for many more reasons. The ancient pine forests and many beautiful gardens continue to be a major source of appeal, but so are the quaint downtown and many shops, the community atmosphere, the proximity to Charleston, and the affordable home prices. There are many mid-range homes available in Summerville, and it remains a popular choice for professionals who work in Charleston and want to live somewhere peaceful and beautiful nearby.

Of all the beautiful towns in South Carolina, Summerville, SC, may be one of the most promising. The town has a long history as a destination, and yet remains shockingly affordable for such a beautiful gem.

As the name suggests, Summerville was originally a summer retreat for residents of Charleston. In the crowded streets of the city, the summer heat and humidity brought waves of mosquitoes as well as health issues. Those with means summered away from the city, enjoying the fresh breeze off of the Ashley River as it drifted through the pines. These are still major selling points for Summerville, SC real estate today.

Later in its history, Summerville became a resort town, in part due to the salubrious effect of its fresh breezes. Patients in the 1800s were directed to go somewhere with fresh, clean air, particularly for diseases of the lung, and so Summerville became a health spa town known for its peaceful, restorative effect on visitors.

That beauty and good atmosphere continues today. There are many reasons that Summerville is a worthy place to buy a home, but here are our top four:

1.  Southern charm – Historic Southern towns are known for their beautiful old houses, live oaks strewn with Spanish moss, the scent of myrtles and magnolias, and heirloom flower gardens. Summerville has all this and more. There are over 700 registered historic buildings in Summerville, and you can walk down peaceful lanes under mature trees and always discover something new. There is downtown shopping, great local food, and flowers everywhere you look.

2.  Natural splendor – It's hard to find a town with such unspoiled natural surroundings as Summerville. The community understands that the area's natural beauty is what keeps people coming back and they have taken steps to preserve the forests, riverfront, and beautiful countryside.

3.  A great school district – The local school district consistently ranks as one of the best in South Carolina, a major draw for families or anyone thinking of starting a family.

4.  Price – Despite all of these amazing qualities, Summerville real estate prices have yet to spike. There are many homes available in the low $200,000s and a variety of homes of all sizes and price ranges. It truly is an accessible piece of paradise.

Are you considering buying real estate in Summerville, SC? What about this quaint town has managed to hook you?