Chris DeLoach

Your Charleston Realtor 843-654-4578
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The Charleston economy


While you may select to purchase a home in Charleston because of its beauty, its client, it's fascinating culture, or a number reasons, it's likely that the economic conditions of Charleston will be important to you as well.

 

Choosing to purchase a home in an area that has a solid economic reputation is important.  A strong economy is what supports wonderful facilities  - from sports complexes, to parks, to shopping and restaurants.  A strong economy is also important for maintaining infrastructure needs and for providing adequate public services such as a fire and police. Local area schools benefit by having a reliable tax base as well. 

 

As a home buyer in Charleston, you can rest assured that you are purchasing a home in an area that has a long history of solid economic strength. The original founders of Charleston recognize the physical location and natural resources as excellent for development.  During the colonial period, Charleston was the principal economic power in the southern colonies. Over the years Charleston has remained an economic hub in the southeast and is still an economic powerhouse today.  Undergirded by tourism, a large military establishment, and extensive state of the art medical community, and numerous national and international businesses, Charleston is poised to continue to lead well into the foreseeable future.

 

Over four million visitors come to Charleston each year to enjoy all that the area has to offer and bring with them and economic impact estimated to be over three billion dollars annually.  The typical visitor to Charleston spends an average of $235 per person per day.  Charleston ranks among the nation's top travel destinations year after year.

 

The port of Charleston is the third largest port on the Atlantic seaboard through the gulf coast. The Charleston Customs district ranks as the nation’s sixth largest in dollar value of international shipments, with cargo valued at more than $55 billion annually. The Port operates five terminals with a sixth under construction.The new $600 million facility is slated to open in 2012.


The medical community of Charleston includes 15 separate hospitals and employees 17,000 people.

 

The military establishment Charleston includes a large contingent of Navy Air Force, Army and Coast Guard personnel and employs approximately 32,000 service members and contractors.The annual economic impact is estimated at $3 billion.


The region is focused on the development of five industry clusters as targets for new jobs and investment: Aviation, Automotive, Biosciences, Advanced Security and Creative.

 

The Charleston economy is robust and ready for the future.

Taxes
 
South Carolina has a simplified income tax structure which follows the federal income tax laws. South Carolina accepts the adjustments, exemptions and deductions allowed on your federal return with few modifications.

South Carolina taxes individuals at graduated rates ranging from 3% to a maximum rate of 7%.  For the latest tax tables and more information visit www.sctax.org.

Property Tax
South Carolina has no state property tax. Real and personal property taxes are levied by local taxing authorities (real at 4% or 6% and personal at 10.5%). There is no intangible personal property tax in South Carolina. The local millage rate (set at the local level) is applied to the assessed value to determine the annual tax.

Residential, owner-occupied property is assessed at 4 percent. All residential owner-occupied property is exempt from property tax for school operations. In addition, property tax credits are also applied in Berkeley,Charleston and Dorchester counties as a result of local option sales taxes. Other exemptions are available in certain cases. Visit www.sctax.org to find out more.

Sales Tax
7% Dorchester County
7% Berkeley County
7.5% Charleston County
For additional information, call the SC Department of Revenue at (843) 852-3600 or 1-800-763-1295, or visit their web site at www.sctax.org.
 
 
 
 
 
Housing Cost Index
 

Housing Index


Atlanta, GA  91.8


Boston, MA  164.0


Charleston, SC Area  90.3

Charlotte, NC  75.6


Columbia, SC  77.2


Jacksonville, FL  95.4


Raleigh, NC  96.7


Savannah, GA  85.3


Washington, DC 210.6

All Cities Average  100.0

Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2007 Annual Average, www.coli.org