As of June 11, 2007, 325 condos were listed for sale in Savannah's Historic District alone. Hilton Head has long offered the condo alternative to buyers interested in a beach home or investment property in one of the "plantations" that island is famous for. But apart from that unique resort community, the southeast coast has been slow to catch up to the condo phenomenon. Now venerable old southern cities like Charleston and Beaufort, SC, are jumping into the game, with a lot of new condos coming on the market every week. Roy Hill, broker/owner of Coastal Real Estate Group with offices in Charleston, Hilton Head, Savannah and Darien, explains that condos are still the home of choice for many people who live in and move to the Low Country. "The condo market in Charleston is very healthy," explains Hill. "In 2007, our company alone sold 280 units in Charleston, and over 400 units for the whole region. We've already had a lot of success stories in both large and small developments, and over the next few years the condo market on the coast will definitely improve and become more vibrant than it already is. As more...

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If you've got a condo to sell, the plethora of units on the market in many Low Country cities can make it a bit more difficult to get the word out. According to Roy Hill of the Coastal Real Estate Group, "Condos at the beach and near the College of Charleston are selling well, but in suburban areas they're staying on the market longer. Quality developments in communities in and around historic areas continue to be desirable to many buyers, so those units move faster than ones in outlying areas." In Savannah, a recent spate of building has led to longer days on the market, with two-bedroom/two-bath condos selling after an average of 195 days, and higher-end units lingering as long as a year. In this competitive atmosphere, getting your condo seen by as many potential buyers as possible is paramount. Ron Melander, a successful agent at Cora Bett Thomas Realty in Savannah, agrees. "With so much competition," he says, "lately I've added financial incentives for buyers or buyers' agents as a way to attract interest in my listings. I'm also focusing much more on internet-based marketing than print publications these days. Advertising on sites like SavannahLoftsandCondos.com drives quite...

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Savannah has always been on the cutting-edge of architectural trends. Our working port has happily coexisted with the tourist trade on River Street for decades, leading the way for cities as varied as San Antonio and Portland, Maine as they merge their commercial and retail districts. Savannah's downtown supermarkets often reflect Savannah's rich history, taking their cue from the old City Market. The award-winning Jepson Center for the Arts, built in 2006, is a triumph of both contemporary design and civic cooperation. Even a formerly ignored building such as the Drayton Tower, an impressive example of International style architecture now being restored to its former glory, is now hailed as a masterpiece of mid-20th century design. It also faces the DeRenne Building, a beautiful example of the late Beaux Arts style.

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The Low Country has a new craze, and it's not the Segway, yoga or appletinis. It's condos, and they've taken our area by storm. Until recently, if you wanted to buy a condo in downtown Savannah you would have been hard pressed to find more than a couple dozen listed in the MLS. Condos were for space-challenged New Yorkers, vacationing Floridians or golfers in gated communities, not hip Southern urbanites or new-wave retirees wanting to take advantage of all the culture and history Savannah has to offer.

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What does all of this new construction mean for buyers? It's the classic Adam Smithian scenario: high supply equals lower prices and more choices. With interest rates still at historic lows and a wide range of units on the market, buyers have their pick: a loft-style studio with modern finishes? Check. A two-bedroom flat in a converted Victorian clapboard home? You got it. A luxury three-bedroom duplex with views overlooking the city or marsh? Absolutely. As Liz Giddens, a top-producing agent at Keller Williams Realty-Savannah Downtown explains, "With so much variety in the condo market, there's no reason not to buy. Downtown Savannah offers everything from ultra-modern units on Broughton Street to condos in restored rowhouses on Jones Street, even LEED-certified green design units in the new Frogtown development off of MLK Blvd. If you've been thinking about purchasing a condo, with interest rates still low, now is the time!"

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Since the early nineteen-nineties, a renewed interest in urban revitalization has spiked the number of loft and condo projects in major urban areas all around the country. Downtown Savannah is no exception. A number of lofts cropping up in the Savannah area are new construction, but some of the most interesting projects are happening in dilapidated historic retail and residential spaces all around downtown.

What exactly is a loft? Essentially, a loft is very similar to a condominium. Like a condo, a loft is typically a portion of a property owned separately from the other units in a building. Additionally, the common areas are usually maintained by the homeowners association. Lofts are known for expansive rooms, open layouts -- sometimes without any separation between living areas.

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Like any great lady, Savannah constantly reinvents herself. In the 18th century she was a burgeoning port, full of life and commerce. In the 19th century she added spectacular architecture, an important role in the cotton trade and the Civil War, and a number of thriving cultural institutions to her repertoire. Savannah's laid-back attitude in the 20th century and her stunning built and natural environments became a backdrop for a winning way of life, unmatched anywhere else in America. It's no wonder that even dyspeptic writers like Bill Bryson call Savannah the "perfect" city.

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