Summerville, South Carolina, is home to 52,549 people. The family-friendly community is less than 30 minutes from downtown Charleston and is part of the Charleston metropolitan statistical area. Most of Summerville sits in Charleston County, but some areas do slightly stretch into Berkeley County. Approximately 40% of Summerville families have children under age 18 living with them. 

Summerville officially became a town in 1847. The town is prideful of green space and has many parks and preservation of greenery. The well-preserved community has beautiful homes and apartments, historic homes, and historic downtown with numerous businesses.  

While a short drive into Charleston provides endless entertainment opportunities, Residents can stay in town to enjoy their choice of attractions and fun. The annual Flowertown Festival brings fun and health awareness to the community, attracting thousands of people each year. 

Head to the Farmers Market during the spring and summer. The amazing choices in fresh fruits and vegetables ensure that your family has delicious meals every day of the week. Visit Azalea Park and Sculpture Garden for fun in the sun with the kids and a look at some pretty neat sculptures. The Farmers Market offers fresh produce from farmers in the community. It is a hotspot during the spring and summer. The Azalea Park and Sculpture Garden have everything parents need to entertain the littles while they enjoy the enamoring sculptures. The Antique Gallery and Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site are also popular attractions.

1089 Listing Found in Summerville, SC

Buying a Home in Summerville

Homes here sell very quickly after they are listed on the market. The median sales price for a single-family home is $239,882. This price reflects a $40-less per-square-foot price than other Charleston-area homes. Home prices in Summerville have risen since 2012. With the proximity to Charleston and North Charleston, there is little doubt that the interest in homes will continue. If you are hoping to find a foreclosure, you might be very disappointed here. Homeownership in the community is strong and few, if any, foreclosures, become available at any time.

Popular Neighborhoods in Summerville 

Every neighborhood is unique, but all share a few similarities. First, friendly, welcoming individuals reside in every community. Secondly, every neighborhood is comfortable, relaxing, and safe. Determine the best neighborhood for your family based on your personality and needs with complete confidence that you will love your new life. The Ashborough neighborhood features beautiful homes with plenty of land. Families appreciate this area since kids can enjoy the outdoors much easier. Twin Oaks is a similarly impressive neighborhood. The diversity Summerville offers makes it easy to find a neighborhood that suits your personality. Many of the neighborhoods are HOA operated, a feature that some people enjoy and others dislike. 

Buying Vs. Rent to Own Homes

Buying a Summerville home gives you access to a safe, comfortable life complete with friendly neighbors, great schools, and businesses at a more affordable rate than renting. However, if you are not prepared with money to use as a down payment, on closing costs, and other fees, you may miss out on the home of your dreams. This holds for people with bad credit as well, since you need a mortgage loan to buy a home. Rent-to-own comes to the rescue, offering an easier way to live the American dream. Under a rent-to-own contract, you can take several years to prepare for the purchase while renting the home.

The rent-to-own contract is fairly simple. You work directly with the homeowner on the deal and can take up to three years to finalize the purchase. You seal in today’s pricing for the home, which ensures you get a great deal. When you sign the lease, you’ll pay an option fee. Then each month, a premium fee is added to the rent amount. When you are ready to buy, the premium money that you’ve paid is applied to the down payment. During the contract period, you enjoy the benefit of living in the home as you rebuild credit, save money, and otherwise prepare to enter a new stage in your life.

Cost of Living in Summerville

The cost of living depends greatly on your zip code and the neighborhood you call home. Downtown housing prices generally run higher than other Dorchester County homes. Nonetheless, the cost of living is equal to the national average, with some prices lower and others a bit more expensive. Housing is 3% lower than the national average; good news for homebuyers. Groceries average an 8% higher rate than the national average, while utilities cost about 14% more. The necessity of cool air conditioning is partly responsible for the higher than average utility rates.

Summary

Summerville has a great quality of life, low housing prices, and a comfortable, tight-knit community awaiting newcomers. With easy access to Charleston and other major cities, residents enjoy small-town life with big-city conveniences nearby. Of course, it is never a dull place to be and has many attractions and events for all ages. Residents have access to plenty of green space as well.

Rent to Own Realtors

Realtors usually avoid rent-to-own deals. They do not offer immediate profit, which realtors need to succeed. Luckily, we make finding a rent-to-own home simple with our free listings. These listings include foreclosures and rent-to-own homes in Summerville and neighboring areas. If the traditional home-buying process does not work well for your needs, rent-to-own could potentially help you become a homeowner and live out the American dream. 

About Our Listings

We encourage anyone interested in a rent-to-own deal to talk to a lawyer. Normally, a realtor is a go-to professional for home buying questions and answers, but since they usually do not handle rent-to-own deals, a lawyer is the best expert in this situation. Talking to a lawyer can help ease your mind about a rent-to-own deal. 

We update the listings on our site regularly, giving you access to up-to-date home information. When new homes become available, find them here with us. Consider a rent-to-own deal if you want to experience the American dream of homeownership.