Every time a major manufacturer considers making a move within the US, there are 15,000 Economic Development Directors sealing large envelopes containing a packet filled with lovely and inviting brochures hoping to win jobs through private investment.

Boeing’s expansion announcement for Charleston is the national coup of the year for the Lowcountry.

We don’t know if there were 15,000 involved in the recent site review by Boeing, but we have to believe the competition was fierce.   The winner was the Charleston area, North Charleston to be exact.  The loser was Seattle, Boeing’s hometown for decades.

Boeing plans to break ground on a 584,000 square foot expansion near its existing North Charleston factory within the next few weeks.   They’ll begin rolling 787 Dreamliners out of Charleston in 2011.  The 787 is Boeing’s first new jet in more than a decade.

Boeing’s $450 million investment will produce at least 3,800 jobs.

The announcement is massively positive news for a state currently suffering one of the country’s highest unemployment rates and still reeling from recent political embarrassments.

Gooden + Faircloth welcomes Boeing and predicts everyone associated with the company moving into the area will love Charleston as much as we do.

For several decades, Wakendaw Lakes has been one of Mt Pleasant’s most desirable neighborhoods.

Gooden + Faircloth has just completed an informative summary of real estate sales activity in the Wakendaw Lakes neighborhoods, as well as a wonderful new video tour. You can access both on the Wakendaw Lakes neighborhood page by clicking the link below.

Wakendaw offers gorgeous, huge trees, several beautiful lakes, lots of surprising little gifts from nature, young and old strolling tranquil streets and a sense of true neighborliness.

Wakendaw Lakes is actually a series of four separate developments: Wakendaw Lakes, Wakendaw Manor, Wakendaw-on-the-Creek, and Wakendaw East.

The area has a rich history having been part of the Woodlawn Plantation, a 300+ acre working farm of pecans trees, acres of fields and over 9,500 head of livestock, mostly hogs.

During 2008, a total of 9 home sales ( excluding For Sale By Owners ) occurred in the combined neighborhoods of Wakendaw. There were no homes sold in the Wakendaw-on-the-Creek neighborhood.

The average sale price in Wakendaw Lakes was $ 501,557. In Wakendaw Place, 2 homes were sold, at an average sale price of $241,700.

Click here to acces the Wakendaw Lakes Real Estate Sales Report or to enjoy the new Wakendaw Lakes neighborhood video tour.

How did home sales in one of the area’s popular neighborhoods fare over the past year?

I have just released an updated version of a key neighborhood real estate report.

Ivy Hall is in one of the fastest growing areas of South Carolina, the Highway 17 North corridor in Mt Pleasant, just outside Charleston.

Find out more about real estate in this popular neighborhood by clicking the image to the left.

Take a tour of Ivy Hall. Click the play button to begin.

Hobcaw Creek Plantation is the ideal neighborhood for those seeking the ‘ ideal ‘ neighborhood: family oriented, safe, manicured and lush mature vegetation.

The majority of homes in this very desirable neighborhood are large and upscale. Most of the homes in Hobcaw Creek were built during the 1990s.

At the back of Hobcaw Creek, you’ll find the largest homes, many with private docks. Hobcaw Creek Plantation is adjacent to some of Mt Pleasant’s premier shopping and dining options. At any moment, there are only a few homes for sale in Hobcaw. It’s that desired.

Homes in the neighborhood average between 3,000 and 4,500 square feet with prices generally starting in the $450,000 range. The neighborhood’s clubhouse features tennis courts, a children’s playground and a swimming pool. Residents also have access to a community dock and boat landing.

I admit it, Hidden Lakes is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Mt Pleasant / Greater Charleston. Virtually every home in the entire neighborhood peacefully rests on a canal or lake. The homes are generally traditional, very well built, diverse and well – maintained.

Click on the image above and enjoy our new Hidden Lakes video tour. You’ll see what we mean…..

Seaside Farms is one of coastal South Carolina’s most popular neighborhoods.  Nestled up to the intracoastal and marsh expanse separating mainland Mount Pleasant,SC and Isle Of Palms on the barrier islands, Seaside Farms is actually several beautiful neighborhoods.   Enjoy a closer look at Seaside Farms in the video tour below.

Gooden+Faircloth has compiled 2008 real estate sales data into the new Seaside Farms Real Estate Report 2008/2009.

The highest priced home sold over the past 12 months was in the Cathedral Oaks neighborhood.  1712 Canyon sold for $ 1,175,000 or $ 285 per square foot.

Over the past 12 months, homes averaged remaining on the market from a low of 127 days in Magnolia Woods to a high of 207 days in Windward / Marais.

Click here to learn more.

Nestled up to the mainland shoreline overlooking Intracoastal Waterway, Seaside Farms is actually composed of several different neighborhoods. Cathedral Oaks and Magnolia Woods are single family home neighborhoods, Long Grove and Windward are condominium communities and Marais features gorgeous town homes.

Click the image above to see why Seaside Farms is one of Mt Pleasant’s most respected and appreciated developments.

I’ve joined a citizen’s committee formed to provide ongoing direct input to the city and the consultant. Mt Pleasant is better off with all of us contributing and focused on its future.

Among the conditions presented and discussed was that growth in Mt. Pleasant has been significant over the last decade but is slowing, while traffic and congestion are increasing.

This was the first of many such meetings that will take place before the plan is finalized in July of 2009. The planning team includes staff from the Town of Mt Pleasant Planning and Development Department and an Atlanta based consulting firm named EDAW.  www.edaw.com

I encourage you to attend these meetings whenever possible.   The option is to  put all input and decisions into the hands of others.

At the meeting, the concept of “sustainability” was introduced as a foundation for future growth in Mt Pleasant.  Sustainability means “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of  future generations to meet their own needs”.  We all have the responsibility to preserve and protect our beautiful area for our children and grandchildren.

Going forward, other important government responsibilities addressed were:

* Insure fiscal soundness
* Serve the entire community
* Guarantee environmental protection

You can make a difference.   Important decisions are being made and your insight, experience and interests are needed.