Relocating from out of town is not always easy. On the surface, many neighborhoods can seem like good finds. But what are the schools like? Does the area become congested during peak traffic times? Is the area prone to flooding? Sure, there are sidewalks, but is it safe to walk in the early morning or late evening? Are the nearby restaurants worth visiting, or are they dives? Are the homes in the neighborhood well built, or are they known to have problems? When it comes to these details, locals usually have an advantage because they are more familiar the subtle pros and cons of an area.
If you’re considering relocating to the Charleston area, you might be familiar with a few high-profile areas — Rainbow Row, for example. Trulia calls these “Name-Brand” neighborhoods. Nationwide examples include Beverly Hills, Miami Beach, Tribeca and Pacific Heights. But where do the locals want to live? Trulia refers to these as “Best-Kept Secret” neighborhoods. These areas don’t get a lot of press, but they are “quietly upscale.”
In that spirit, we’ll be spotlighting some of the Charleston area’s Best-Kept Secret neighborhoods. The first one that has caught our attention is located on the downtown Charleston peninsula: Hampton Park Terrace.
Removed from the hustle and bustle of King Street and surrounding neighborhoods, Hampton Park Terrace is an excellent choice for young families. Most of the 250 homes in the neighborhood were built between 1914 and 1920. The area has recently undergone redevelopment, and the homes themselves have price tags that are far removed from the million-dollar homes of downtown proper. Updated, move-in-ready homes ranging in size from 1,600 to 2,000 square feet can typically be found for around $350,000.
Other features include beautiful yards, tree-lined streets with sprawling sidewalks and close proximity to Hampton Park, one of the best parks in the area. The Citadel Military College is also within walking distance. Access to Interstate 26 is just down the street, and the traffic in this quiet neighborhood is negligible. Restaurants, grocery stores, doctors’ offices and an excellent veterinary practice are all close by.
