"REAL Charleston News 2008"

WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHARLESTON... 

Charleston goes wild February 15th -17th, as the largest wildlife art and nature event in America takes center stage with the 26th annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Beautiful indoor and outdoor venues throughout the historic downtown area feature world-class original art works in mediums including sculpture, paintings, carvings and photography. There are also live animal exhibits, as well as presentations and lectures from such noted naturalists as Jack Hanna. The SEWE Exposition features birds of prey, retriever demonstrations, the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary animal show and much more. As one of the most anticipated artistic and social events of the year, SEWE also serves to promote wildlife conservation and preservation, while attracting more than 40,000 visitors to a range of enjoyable events that include a black-tie gala and a wild-game cooking contest. For advance tickets and information, call 843-1748 or e-mail sewe@sewe.com.

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Music is in the air from February 8th - 17th, with the return of the annual Southern Comfort Blues Bash. This ten-day celebration of authentic American blues features dozens of nationally-prominent performances at select clubs, restaurants, hotels and other enjoyable venues throughout the city. Steel guitar, harmonica, bass fiddle, jaws harp and washboard are among the traditional instruments used in a variety of unforgettable styles by artists from all over the world. For ticket and performance information, call 743-762-9125.

In a city renowned for good taste, culinary events have a distinctively pleasing flavor, and it is with great anticipation that the first annual Charleston Food and Wine Festival comes to town Feb. 28th - March 2nd. This event showcases the talents of local and nationally-recognized regional chefs noted for their Southern cuisine, as well as highlighting some of the nation's finest sommeliers. The long weekend features seminars, food tastings, a dine-around event and a complete culinary village. For information, call 843-763-0280.

For those who enjoy nothing more than a relaxing stroll through the sensory-pleasing marvels of America's most charming city, February begins another year's extended flower season in radiant gardens throughout the historic downtown area. Camellias, loquat and daphne are among the florid blooms that show brilliantly in late Winter, giving way to azaleas, yellow jessamine, and bignonias that burst forth from behind every wrought iron gate and in public parks beginning in March. Follow the link to find out more about Home and Garden tours.

Charleston Real Estate Report:

Charleston, S.C. (January 10, 2007) –– Home sales for 2007 totaled 12, 688 units sold, making 2007 the 4^th highest ever recorded in the lowcountry,    according to the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® (CTAR).

The median price of a home in the lowcountry rose 2.4 percent in 2007 resting at $210,000.  The average number of days a home spent on the market was just over 3 months (92 days).

 “NAR research shows the long term value of housing over the past 30 years shows an average annual increase of 6 percent,“ said Wil Riley, President of CTAR. “That means home values double approximately every 10 years, making real estate a good investment for the future.”

The median sales price of a home in December rose 4.8 percent over December 2006 (from $199,000 to $210,000).  The number of sales in December of 2007 was 713 compared to December of last year (1022).