https://blog.charlestonmtg.com/tags/home-buying-tips/Recent content in Home Buying Tips on Charleston Mortgage BlogHugoen-usWed, 21 Oct 2026 06:35:00 -0500https://blog.charlestonmtg.com/posts/buy-historic-home-charleston/Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:35:00 -0500https://blog.charlestonmtg.com/posts/buy-historic-home-charleston/<p><strong>Buying a historic home in Charleston SC means owning a piece of American history, along with some extra rules. Exterior changes in the city&rsquo;s historic districts often need approval from the Board of Architectural Review. Downtown prices are high, so many buyers use jumbo loans. Here&rsquo;s what to know before you fall in love with a piazza.</strong></p> <h2 id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h2> <ul> <li>Charleston created the nation&rsquo;s <strong>first historic district zoning ordinance in 1931</strong>.</li> <li>The <strong>Board of Architectural Review (BAR)</strong> reviews many exterior changes in historic areas.</li> <li>Downtown single-family homes had a <strong>$2,350,000 median</strong> in September 2026 (<a href="https://ctarmls-public.stats.showingtime.com/docs/mmi/x/report">Charleston Trident Association of Realtors</a>).</li> <li>Loans above <strong>$832,750</strong> (the 2026 baseline conforming limit) usually need <strong>jumbo financing</strong>.</li> <li>Budget extra for <strong>inspections, insurance, and upkeep</strong> on older homes.</li> </ul> <h2 id="why-is-charleston-so-famous-for-historic-homes">Why Is Charleston So Famous for Historic Homes?</h2> <p>Charleston didn&rsquo;t save its old buildings by accident. In 1920, a group led by <strong>Susan Pringle Frost</strong> formed the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings, now the <strong>Preservation Society of Charleston</strong>. It&rsquo;s considered the oldest community-based preservation group in the country. Frost is thought to have been Charleston&rsquo;s first woman Realtor (<a href="https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/preservation-society-of-charleston/">South Carolina Encyclopedia</a>).</p>https://blog.charlestonmtg.com/posts/charleston-flood-zone-home-buying/Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:20:00 -0500https://blog.charlestonmtg.com/posts/charleston-flood-zone-home-buying/<p><strong>Yes, you can buy a home in a Charleston flood zone, but plan ahead. If the home is in a FEMA high-risk zone and you use a typical mortgage, your lender will require flood insurance. Before you make an offer, check the flood map, get an insurance quote, and ask about the home&rsquo;s flood history.</strong></p> <h2 id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h2> <ul> <li>Homes in FEMA <strong>Special Flood Hazard Areas</strong> (zones starting with <strong>A or V</strong>) need flood insurance for most mortgages.</li> <li>Look up any address on <a href="https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home">FEMA&rsquo;s Flood Map Service Center</a>.</li> <li><strong>NFIP coverage</strong> goes up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents (<a href="https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy">FloodSmart</a>).</li> <li>Charleston Harbor had <strong>52 tidal flood events in 2025</strong>, two of them major (<a href="https://www.postandcourier.com/rising-waters/charleston-flooding-2025-sunny-day/article_b95d729e-cf00-4aeb-9684-892853398f97.html">Post and Courier</a>).</li> <li>Get a flood insurance quote <strong>before</strong> your inspection period ends.</li> </ul> <h2 id="why-does-flooding-matter-so-much-in-charleston">Why Does Flooding Matter So Much in Charleston?</h2> <p>Charleston is a low-lying city surrounded by rivers, creeks, and marsh. That&rsquo;s a big part of its beauty, and a big part of its flood risk.</p>