Community   Please Select Charleston Daniel Island East Sea Islands G. Creek/M. Corner James Island Mount Pleasant North Charleston Summerville West Ashley West Sea Islands   Minimum Price   No Minimum $50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000 $1,000,000   Maximum Price   No Maximum $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000 $1,000,000 $1,500,000   Square Footage   Any Less than 1,000 1,000 - 1,499 1,500 - 1,999 2,000 - 2,499 2,500 - 2,999 3,000 - 3,499 3,500 - 3,999 4,000 - 4,499 Greater than 4,500   Number of Bedrooms   Any 1 2 3 4 More than 5             Charleston Basics Business Climate     Charleston is a tourist haven that is known for its preserved 17th century architecture, scenic protected wetlands, and beaches. Yet Charleston is also a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area of just over 500,000 people. With a national unemployment rate between 5 and 6 percent in recent years, the Charleston area's consistent unemployment rate of less than 4 percent is quite an achievement. So what is fueling Charleston's economic boom?   The Port The Port of Charleston is the No. 1 containerized port on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, ranking second on the East coast only to the combined ports of New York and New Jersey. As such, it is the largest single private sector engine to the Charleston area economy. Spin-off economic development related to the port includes manufacturing, trucking, railroads, logistics management, import/export brokers, warehouse management and distribution software, warehousing, express couriers, and the like. Charleston is an ideal port for South Carolina's robust international trade because of its strategic location in the center of the Eastern Seaboard. The Port of Charleston operates under the State Ports Authority and contributes significantly to Charleston's economy.     The Medical Industry The medical industry in Charleston employs more than 22,000 of our residents. There are ten medical facilities and one of the most well known is the Medical University of South Carolina which brings in an estimated $1 billion to the area each year.     The Tourism Industry Tourism is still one of Charleston's largest businesses with nearly 3 million visitors per year. Tourism provides an estimated 40,000 jobs and brings in more than $2 billion annually.     The Military Charleston still has a strong military presence. It has waned in recent years, but is now home to the U.S. Navy's Goose Creek Naval Weapons Station, Charleston Air Force Base and the United States Coast Guard. SPAWARS and the U.S. Navy Southeast Engineering Command have major facilities in the area. There is also a border patrol training station.     Manufacturing   Charleston is experiencing a manufacturing boom. The Charleston Regional Development Alliance was formed and is dedicated to marketing Charleston to big businesses and major corporations all over the world. In 1996, Nucor Steel opened a $500 million plant in Berkeley County. Nucor joined the ranks of other key Charleston manufacturers such as Bosch Corporation, Westvaco, Boeing, Dodge, and American Lafrance.     Technology   Technology is a targeted development area, and those efforts have borne fruit over the past several years with the emergence of a vigorous local technology climate. Twenty-seven companies now reside in one of four areas that comprise the Charleston Digital Corridor, including Suncom, Pilot Therapeutics, and Quovadx. In addition, several software companies are headquartered locally, including Blackbaud, Advanced Trading Desk, Benefitfocus.com, Ulanji, Google and Cambar Software.