Is the Third Time a Charm for the Sword Gate House?

Is the Third Time a Charm for the Sword Gate House?

The allure of the Sword Gate house is real. A massive, magnificent mystery behind a towering brick wall, seen only through hand-wrought iron gates featuring two brawny swords. Who owns it? Only a few are privy – otherwise the rest of us are left wondering who in the world is Bear Gate Realty Limited – the name listed in the...

Downtown Charleston Median Prices are Smokin’ Hot

Here’s a little statistical play for your Monday. Today we received October numbers from our Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and no lie – it’s been a pretty strong fall. In many areas of the country, activity peters off from the summer until the following spring, but around my #1-in-the-United-States pretty urban center, lots of people like to buy homes...

Luxury Home Sales in Historic Charleston are WAY Up (or are they?)

Well, some of the homes in the $960,000+ range in Historic Downtown Charleston might not be considered luxury like the one above. Maybe they are small in a great location, or fixer uppers, or just not up to your own particular definition of ‘luxe’, but I think we can all agree that most would consider homes starting just under $1,000,000...

The Sale of the Mysterious Villa Margherita and More…Ned Brown writes about Charleston for the New York Social Diary

Update 12/21 – On my Battery walk yesterday, I popped by Villa Margherita, and caught a glimpse of the home, now surrounded by a large fence, and under construction! ——————————————————- I have had the pleasure of a glass of wine with the man who broke the story of the sale of the mysterious Villa Margherita in Downtown Charleston. The Post &...

All about Downtown Charleston’s Neighborhoods – a map, descriptions and more.

I created this Charleston neighborhood map years ago at the start of my ongoing project to eventually profile every single neighborhood on the Charleston Peninsula, including photos, videos, recreation, school, shops, restaurants and services. But since many of you ask ‘Which Charleston neighborhood is best for me?”, I thought I’d go ahead and give you a head start. You might...

Downtown Christmas Light Delight – By Bike

Last night it was a balmy Charleston Eve, so my husband and I decided to take a little two-wheeled spin around the quiet streets of Downtown to take a look at the Christmas lights. I don’t know about ya’ll, but seeing houses lit up always makes me happy, so I thought I’d share the holiday cheer with you. 🙂 Here’s...

Homes with a Water View in Downtown Charleston

You want it all don’t you? A beautiful home in the middle of an exciting and gracious city, historic details, modern comforts, off-street parking, and the piece-de-la-resistance, a view of the water. I don’t blame you because I do too. So here’s where to find one. This list of homes and my usual commentary is subdivided by views. Ashley River Views...

The Art of the Window Box in Charleston

An afternoon bike ride yielded these lovely treasures, on Tradd St, Queen St, East Bay and others…. The window box in Charleston is an art form – a melding of color, texture, height and drape. Beautiful!

Master Preservationist Program-Day Nine. The Glory of Charleston’s Gardens

Oh how I wish there were some way I could capture the scent of wisteria in a Charleston spring and share it with you. It’s intoxicating. There’s nothing like wandering the streets with your nose as your guide or peeking into our famous walled gardens to catch a glimpse of another time. Here in Charleston, one might be so bold...

Master Preservationist Program-Day Four. Analyzing the Architecture

Meeting Street blows my mind. While I always make it a point to look up and around in the midst of my daily hustle bustle, I never realized how much spectacular architecture graces its length. From South Battery up past Calhoun St – it is not the number of buildings that surprised me, but the tremendous journey through architectural styles that does....

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