Abberly at West Ashley Blog

Low mortgage rates and more affordable home prices in the Charleston area are creating an interest in homeownership by those who live in apartments. However, potential buyers who are unprepared for the true cost of owning a home may be shocked by the bite home ownership can take out of their wallet in addition to their mortgage payments.

Inspection and Appraisal Fees
Before you purchase a home you need to pay for a home inspection, and an appraisal, possible even inspections for pests or radon. The costs of these inspections are borne by buyers and are a necessary protection to avoid buying a flawed property or paying too much.

Closing Costs
Buyers need to be prepared with the cash for anywhere from 2% to 4% of the mortgage balance depending on your area.

Taxes
As a homeowner, you'll need to pay property taxes, which are generally part of the escrow you pay into each month. Remember, even if you have a fixed-rate home loan, your property taxes could go up and increase your monthly housing costs.

Insurance
Your lender will require home insurance, the cost of which depends on factors including the construction materials of your home and the location. Even if you have renter's insurance, you'll find that home insurance costs more because you are paying for the ability to rebuild your home in addition to replacing your personal possessions. Insurance costs will rise over time, and you will need supplemental insurance if you live in a flood zone.

HOA and Condo Fees
If you buy a home within a homeowners' association or a condominium association, you'll be required to pay a monthly or quarterly fee. These fees can rise, or your association may need to charge a special assessment for projects such as repaving the parking lot or repairing a roof.

Utility Bills
Depending on where you live, your costs for electricity, gas and water could be higher when you move into your own home than when you live in an apartment in Charleston, SC. You may also need to pay for garbage collection along with your Internet, cable and phone bill.

Furniture
While this is essentially a discretionary expense, most people who move from an apartment to a larger home need to buy at least some new furniture.

Lawn Care
Whether you handle your yard work yourself or hire a professional, you will have to pay something to keep your landscaping in check. Lawn equipment can be costly and you may need a leaf blower and other yard tools, too.

Maintenance
Home maintenance costs time and money. While you may be able to change your furnace filters, clean your gutters and keep your appliances running smoothly yourself, you may also need to hire a contractor to clean and inspect your chimney and to keep your heating and air conditioning system in top shape.

Repairs
While maintenance tasks can be predictable, the most costly part of homeownership typically comes with unexpected repairs such as replacing or repairing the roof, removing a tree, or paying for mold mitigation in a damp basement. The list of possibilities is endless, so homeowners should set aside savings for an emergency. Experts suggest budgeting for 1% or 2% of your mortgage balance as a yearly maintenance and repair fund.

The Bottom Line
Buying a home costs more than you think. If you don’t expect to stay in your home for at least seven to 10 years, contact Abberly at West Ashley Apartment Homes.

SF Gate

What a great week to live in an apartment in Charleston, SC. This is a food city. Restaurant week in Charleston is an eleven day celebration of the best in southern food at hundreds of participating restaurants from January 12 through 22. You can see the menus of all the participating restaurants over the next few weeks on the Restaurant Week Website.

From fine dining to casual dining, participating restaurants will feature special menus items, promotions and discounts. You can sample the newest restaurants in Charleston as well as revisit your old favorites and taste a variety of exceptional dishes being prepared by chefs.  

Restaurant Week in Charleston is an exciting event that showcases the outstanding culinary scene throughout this exciting city. We hope you enjoy the most delicious week of the year in Charleston!

There is plenty of Christmas joy for everyone who lives in an apartment in Charleston, SC. Christmas in Charleston has so many fun events and activities for you to enjoy.  Storefronts decked out in garland, churches adorned with wreaths, spirituals concerts, and candlelight tours allows you to share in old fashioned holiday fun across the Charleston area.

Some of the fun events include:

The 3rd annual Holiday Pub Crawl.  The pub tour is the absolute BEST way to tour the city in a unique and festive way! Gather your friends, family and enjoy the town. This Holiday Pub Crawl visits historic taverns and pubs, where you will sample appetizers and holiday treats, while tasting a pint of Christmas ale or beverage of choice.
 
Charleston Sleigh Ride-Start a new Christmas tradition on the Charleston Sleigh Ride! The boat the Thriller Charleston slows down to cruising for a one hour afternoon holiday excursion along the historic Charleston Harbor waterfront. Enjoy hot chocolate in your complimentary travel mug as you listen to stories and music of the season. Dress warmly and enjoy the holiday beauty of Charleston from the water!

There are so many events to celebrate the season with during Christmas in Charleston. Visit www.christmasincharleston.com for more ideas.

Charleston is a city rich in history, with gorgeous architecture, modern infrastructure, beaches and southern charm. With plenty to do and see, along with great restaurants and culture, it is no wonder you are interested in moving here.
 
Looking for an apartment in Charleston, SC? Your search has ended at Abberly at West Ashley. Located just off of Savannah Highway in the enviable West Ashley area of Charleston, we offer an upgraded living environment custom made for those seeking unmatched amenities, spacious one and two bedroom apartment floor plans, an inviting community, and the advantages of a committed management team.

Abberly at West Ashley is an apartment home community created for those seeking an incomparable lifestyle in an enviable location. Here you will find stylish architecture with an exceptional mix of apartment amenities, distinctive interiors featuring designer touches, and the added benefit of an environment unmatched in the Low Country.

Abberly at West Ashley has set itself apart with unique apartment floor plans and a modern style of living. Contact us for more information. We offer an online special as well as discounts for recent college graduates and if your current employer is on our preferred employer list, then you will be eligible for special benefits and services.

As the demand for apartment homes rises, this survey was conducted of current renters to find out why they choose to rent. The results of the survey reveal that maintenance free living, cost and flexibility are the most common reasons to rent!

The largest number of respondents (43.7%) rent primarily for the maintenance free living in apartments. Many respondents have a strong desire for the convenience of a maintenance person available for common household repairs as well as the freedom of not needing to tend to a lawn, garden or landscaping.

More than 23% of renters choose to rent for financial reasons. If an individual plans to live in one place for less than five years, it may make the most financial sense to rent. The costs of buying and selling a home can total 10 percent or more of the price of the home. Additionally, home ownership in a desired neighborhood may be much more expensive than renting in the same neighborhood.

Renting also affords individuals the freedom to invest in a variety of stocks, bonds and mutual funds that can provide a higher return on investment as opposed to property ownership. The average home value increases only five percent each year, whereas the average stock value increases seven percent and bond value increases eight percent each year.

19% of respondents indicate that relocation flexibility and the lack of a long term commitment in an apartment is the primary reason they choose to rent.

Renting an apartment in Charleston, SC may be a good choice for the following types of individuals:

• Young adults just beginning their careers.
• Single parents who do not have time for maintenance .
• Empty nesters who want to travel.
• Anyone tired of long commutes to work.
• Anyone who wants abundant amenities and social activities where they live.
• Professionals who transfer often.

Everyone has watched at least one episode of American Idol, and probably most of you know that auditions are being held in Charleston! American Idol host Ryan Seacrest will be in Charleston on Friday for season 11 auditions. The auditions are just two days away, but if you want to sing your best song, first you will need to sign up.

Registration is going on right now at the North Charleston Coliseum. Those who sign up receive a wrist band for Friday morning's auditions. Auditions are expected to start around 8 a.m. So if you are done with practicing you tunes in front of others in your apartment in Charleston, SC, your opportunity to sing for real is here!

Seacrest will attend the auditions on Friday, but too bad judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are not expected to be in Charleston. The last time American Idol was in town for auditions was during season 7. If you plan on going, good luck and make everyone in Charleston and Abberly at West Ashley proud.

Prince to "Go Crazy" at North Charleston Coliseum March 30

I didn’t “get” Prince back in 1984 and I still don’t “get” him, but I love his upbeat rocked out tunes and recognize his musical genius. His album “Purple Rain” stayed at number one for five weeks when it debuted in 1984 and took the world by storm. Since then he has changed his name to “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” and simply the symbol shown at the right. (People still call him Prince, though.)

Prince is the artist formerly known as a symbol

You can see Prince (or the symbol at the right) at the North Charleston Coliseum on March 30. See the Post & Courier article for additional information about the show.

North Charleston Coliseum is located at 5001 Coliseum Drive—6 miles from Abberly at West Ashley Apartments. Order tickets online starting Tuesday, March 15.

My favorite Prince song is “When Doves Cry.” What’s your favorite? Share it here!

While driving in my car the other day, I heard a radio commercial for a really popular home builder in this area.  As someone who has rented an apartment, owned a home, and had a father who constantly taught fiscal responsibility, I tend to see the flip side of any type of new and exciting financial obligation (such as buying a home or car).  This particular commercial touted that you could own a home for just as much as you pay in rent.  This is almost always a misleading statement and I really can’t believe that builders and sometimes Realtors can tell people this with a straight face.

• First of all, the monthly mortgage that they typically advertise does not include property taxes and insurance.
• Secondly, it does not include HOA fees which can be anywhere between $50 per month to $300 per month, depending on the neighborhood.
• Thirdly, and most importantly, the advertised monthly price does not include the yearly maintenance (usually 1% of the home value per year) and decorating costs.

Obviously, you don’t have any of those costs when you are renting an apartment home at our community.   I know that many of you have owned a home and understand the financial responsibility of home ownership.  For those who haven’t, keep this information in mind when listening to one of those commercials!

We would like to invite you to take a closer look at Abberly at West Ashley.  Our pet friendly community is just ten minutes from downtown Charleston.  We have ten unique floor plans to choose from with state of the art appliances,  spa’s,  screened in patio’s and more.  Take a look at the video of Abberly at West Ashley’s Apartment Homes and take a digital tour now.

Watch the video now of Abberly at West Ashley’s Apartment Homes