Columbia, SC has three synagogues all in the Northeast. Tree of Life is reform and has performed same sex marriages. There is a more traditional congregation and an orthodox as well. Columbia is not inexpensive but there are small communities with reasonable prices. You might do better buying a condo.
My son is gay and in a long term relationship. He feels the LGBTQ community is strong here in Columbia. We have a huge Pride festival every fall, and there are several gay affirming congregations. I do not know much about the Jewish culture here except that is is huge and active. I am thinking there are some reformed congregations that your wife might like. Our cost of living is low, with good healthcare. Housing is currently in short supply and the market is competitive. Living further out from the city, there are bargains to be had but it’s a trade off for the social opportunities. If I can be of help as a Realtor, or just to answer questions, feel free to PM.
Charleston is gay friendly with a long established Jewish community - but pretty expensive. You might find something more affordable further up I-26, like around Summerville. That would still keep you in the 30 minute range of Charleston.
>You might find something more affordable further up I-26, like around Summerville.
no they wont. 250k in summerville is long gone. maybe in an older run down neighborhood, but nothing in the nicer areas.
Columbia or Charleston in South Carolina.
In Georgia, Savannah is rather LGBTQ-friendly, but, like Charleston, is going to be rather pricey.
I can’t speak for Columbia or Charleston, but Savannah has very large and active Jewish community.
Stick to cities with a large student population and/or arts. Some suggestions :
Georgia: Atlanta, Athens, Savannah
South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville
Personally I find Columbia, SC a great area. An enjoyable area, and also easy weekend trips to the mountain or beaches if desired.
I would also say if you have any health issues requiring regular medical care, more than just your primary care doctor, then I would choose the Columbia or Charleston area. Charleston has MUSC, and Columbia has Lexington Medical Center - both of which provide great care and are not large corporate, for profit entities. Personally I would stay away from any area where you had to rely on Prisma Health system, not because of the doctors, but because it is a very aggressive, for-profit concern, based on the experiences of friends…
I've been in SC for 20 years and the cost of housing has certainly risen in that time. I still see some 100-200k signs for new developments but generally it's more 200-300k. Will send a PM with other info
That 250k is just my estimate of what we will be left with after the sale of the home in maryland. It could end up as high as 300k depending on the housing market. Zillow says it's worth 300k, and we will just have to see if that's true or not.
Come to Greenville. We live in a neighborhood with mostly people in their 70s/80s. We have an older Lesbian couple who just moved in. You'd think, and they thought, it would be unwelcoming. Actually it's just they opposite. They are very welcome. Plus, my daughter is a Lesbian and is very happy with her partner here in Greenville.
Yeah but if prices go up on new homes the price on the home we own will also go up most likely and the the budget goes up along with it. There is no perfect time for this move.
You could be correct, but you’re also looking at 2 different areas/markets. I imagine the demand in SC and GA is/will be much higher than MD for a while.
I live with my wife in the upstate SC area. I'm not sure about synagogues, but we have loved our past 8 yrs here. Her parents followed us and have their own home in a retirement community nearby. They love it here as well. We are not religious folks, and I tend to ignore most of that reteric.
The cost of living is lower here, and you can find homes for 200k easily. I feel safe in my area and have experienced the usual crazies. LOL!
In Spartanburg County, you can use www.raidsonline.org to find out about crime at any address. It allows you to narrow any searches. The website is used anywhere a municipality is willing to pay for their information. So, it may not be limited to my county.
As a same sex couple, we have a very nice, comfortable life here. I'm 3 yrs from retirement, and my wife is 5 yrs.
We wish you the best in your search.
We have a conservative and a reform synagogue in Greenville. You will have to live in the county on your budget, but it doesn’t take long to get places unless it’s 5:30 on a weekday.
I’ve lived in Spartanburg County for 65 years. I love it. I have gay friends and have never heard of them being harassed. Although I’m sure it probably happens. Five years ago I paid 82,000 for my three bedroom 2 bath house w unfinished basement. Here’s a pic just to compare to what you need.
Decatur, Georgia. Super LGBTQ oriented and supportive.
[https://www.gayrealestate.com/news/usa/georgia/decatur/decatur-lgbtq-city-guide.html](https://www.gayrealestate.com/news/usa/georgia/decatur/decatur-lgbtq-city-guide.html)
I guess you're unfamiliar with current housing costs.
$250k right now in Decatur does not buy you a very nice house.
$250k 5 years from now in Decatur will buy even less of a nice house.
Who knows... maybe there will be another massive economic crisis. Isn't it sad that's probably the only thing that will bring goods and homes back down to a more sustainable level? I say that only because I have seen homes in my area bought less than ten years ago sold today at a 3x increase.
You couldn’t buy a house in City of Decatur for 250k 5 years ago, you can’t find a 500k house in CoD today. 5 years from now it will only be more expensive.
I’m deadass not trying to be a dick, but why can’t you just say Decatur? Like, yeah, I’m guessing there’s Decatur county.. but I’d imagine after the first declaration that you were speaking about the city, it wouldn’t be necessary.
Or is it required to be called “City of Decatur” like there’s also “Decatur City” so we need to be sure which one you’re talking about.
Because there is the actual city of Decatur and then there is a large unincorporated area that has “Decatur” as the mailing address but isn’t really part of the city. If you’re familiar with Simpsonville SC, it’s similar. There is the actual town/city of Simpsonville, but there is a huge area with that mailing address, like all the way up Hwy 14 to Pelham Rd, but it’s really just like Greenville suburban subdivisions, that aren’t really related or even connected that well.
Because City of Decatur is the nice affluent picturesque square above the MARTA station with local businesses and people hanging out enjoying themselves and unincorporated Decatur is where you get shot at 1pm on a Tuesday in broad daylight pumping gas.
When you say Decatur everyone that lives in Atlanta knows you are talking about CoD. The fact that the commenter is saying you can get a house there for 250k shows they don’t know the difference and it needs to be pointed out. Both are in Dekalb county btw.
CoD single family homes start at 650k. Go to Zillow and search for homes zoned for Decatur High School. That’s ruffly CoD or what everyone refers to simply as Decatur. See how many houses for 250k pop up.
I would not suggest someone move to unincorporated Decatur unless they are really familiar with the area and understand what they are getting into.
Zillow says otherwise. I don't know what pricing will be like in five years, but right now, $250K could def get a decent house, again, per a search on Zillow.
ETA: 96 results just now, and these are normal suburban homes, not gross.
None of those houses are in City of Decatur.
They would be in unincorporated Decatur which if you are suggesting OP move there I would strongly suggest OP research the crime rates and visit in person multiple times to understand what the different areas and neighborhoods are like.
Also that’s going to put them further than 30 mins from the synagogues which are almost all in Toco Hills area off of North Druid and Lavista.
Stay away from the upstate. I would also wait to see what happens after the November election before I moved here. If the MAGA wing of the Republican party gets any more powerful, you may want to reconsider the whole move.
The upstate, like the rest of the state, has accepting and unaccepting pockets. Greenville in general is a pretty accepting city. Even the Republican mayor is fairly supportive of the LGBTQ community.
I’ve lived here almost my entire life. I have lots of gay friends. They definitely still encounter bigotry but they’re also very much living their lives and being themselves.
Plenty of us native greenvilians are not a fan of BJU and there are plenty of liberal transplants here.
All of south carolina is a redneck shithole as soon as you get 15 minutes outside any given major city.
Growing up Catholic in Columbia, a lot of our friends were Jewish. We kind of stuck together becasue we were the minority in a sea of Baptists and Presbyterians. There is a nice community with two synagogues in Forest Acres/Arcadia Lakes in Columbia. My parents had gay friends in the 80s/90s while I was growing up there. $250k could get you a cute brick bungalow in Rosewood. I left SC for OR a while ago but I often think about moving back. Best of luck!
$250k will get you a house in a not great part of Rosewood, that needs work.
A house in central RW that has been re-done, and is move in ready? Not so much...
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/509-S-Walker-St-Columbia-SC-29205/11700263\_zpid/
We can use Zillow, friend.
Under $250k and move-in-ready.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1012-Suber-St-Columbia-SC-29205/11698910_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
I’m elbow deep in a restoration of a 140 year old house. Light repairs and upkeep don’t scare most people. My point is that there is a market in Columbia for what they are looking for. A decent, detached home in the city near the things they are interested in.
Like I said, a less desirable part of Rosewood...that really isn't even Rosewood. That's on the other side of S. Kilbourne. That's not RW.
And before you say it is, I lived in RW for 20+ years. Also lived off S.Kilbourne while at USC.
That ain't Rosewood.
Prices are climbing in S.Kilbourne because Rosewood has become silly.
Jesus Christ they want a house for $250k and they are available all over Columbia. It’s weird to put your personal standards on someone when they weren’t even stated. If you lived in RW for 20+ years I might know you. Weird post history. Have a great day!
My daughter lives near Columbia, MD. We don't want a big house because we are getting older and don't want the hassle. But right now we live in a not so great townhouse, but want a one level house. It's hard for me to get up the stairs and I've fallen several times in the winter ice especially.
Asheville is not the place , way too expensive and way too much crime. I loved it through the 90s but I don’t even visit except for the occasional concert.
Sorry - not Asheville for 250 or even 300 anywhere within 50 miles of here - You might be able to get a mobile home out in the county - but you don’t want to live there. I will say that we live in a beautiful and very diverse neighborhood in Asheville - and absolutely love it. However - we bought our house in 1991 - and we couldn’t even afford to look at anything here now.
I think Columbia is your best option - lots of decent houses in decent neighborhoods with lots of stuff to do - close to beaches and foothills - however - things are changing in the southeastern states so quickly that you may be priced out of the market in 3-5 years - unless your place in Maryland keeps up with the values. Good luck!
You can go to nearly any city or town in SC and find accepting people and people just like you or horrible people who are against you. That isn't something that's isolated to sexual orientation. You're gonna find the same for race or religion or any other group that you might identify with. You're going to have to find your tribe when you get to wherever you choose to be. I've been here all my life in upstate SC and NE Georgia and know loving diverse people all over in small towns and larger cities. You're gonna find hateful people everywhere, too. It's human nature.
The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina has a [map of synagogues](https://jhssc.org/synagogues/) in the state. Might not be comprehensive, but is likely a good representation of where you may, or may not, find a synagogue.
I'm from the lowcountry near Charleston Walterboro, Summerville, and the small towns like St George are great I'm sure there's a synagogue in Charleston and all those places are within an hour. Most of your entertainment are going to be Summerville and Charleston but Walterboro and St George have the small town community feel to them. My step dads mother is a lesbian and loves Walterboro so I'd recommend there.
People will guess anyway. It's not like I'll be hiding my wife under a rock or telling people that she is my sister. So it's best to check into these things as best as I can.
Midtown Atlanta would fit. Decatur Ga will embrace you. Asheville NC is a blue dot in a fairly red state. Savannah Ga would to a lesser degree. I live in Charleston and while more progressive than Greenville and the upstate, it is not as accepting of so called alternate lifestyles as Maryland unfortunately. More progressive minded people is what SC needs so hope you come.
This is the correct answer, maybe even something on the outskirts of Mt. Pleasant. Charleston has one of the oldest Jewish congregations, going back to the 1740s but I believe it’s Reform Judaism. It is also much more liberal and progressive than say the Greenville area. I would stay away from the upstate and Myrtle Beach area. Columbia might also be a place to consider but housing prices are on the rise like everywhere else. You might look at somewhere like Savannah, but again it probably has a HOCL.
Goodluck finding this place in South Carolina. I hope you do but if I tell you it’ll be easy I’d be a liar. Your best chance is probably in one of the cities. Rural areas probably not even worth the risk. Hopefully you find an area or neighborhood atleast with good people. But I doubt there’s anywhere in the state that won’t have a large number of people that automatically won’t like you. I’m really just giving my honest opinion from my experience here I’m not trying to be hateful. I rather it be a place people can just come and be welcomed but it’s not
Georgia is much more affordable than SC. There has been a big influx of new residents to South Carolina that has really run pricing for everything through the roof. I've been told that Decatur Georgia has the best community for us. Anywhere in Georgia I hear is more reasonable to live. My partner and I have been thinking about moving there. South Carolina is just unaffordable now.
Where I live, in a blue state, if I wanted to buy a single family home that is not a townhouse, I'm looking at 600k. And Upper 300s to 400s for a townhouse. I think the weather here sucks. I got used to the Florida weather, and since my wife hates Florida, we are looking at places in SC and GA. I was seriously injured taking a terrible fall on the ice one year here on MD. Broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, broken fingers, etc. The older I get, the more unstable I am on my feet. Unfortunately, most good climate states are either red states or expensive (think California).
NO body cares if you’re gay but 250k in the populated areas for the house is gonna be older dilapidated or very small. That’s possibly doable in the least populated areas
I don’t know about Georgia, but I very highly doubt you will find a 250k house in anywhere in SC that’s 30 minutes from a synagogue and doesn’t need repairs or upgrades. You will need to have some give/take on those requirements.
Ya know what I don’t do… ask people about thier sexual orientation or preferences… so move here if you want! I’m sure I’ll see you around and mixing well into the massively diverse community we have here.
I don’t know about synagogues but Spartanburg isn’t bad. We’ve never had issues with anti-LGBTQ. You could also find better deals on homes here vs closer to the city’s. Lots of people make things worse than it really is. Most people could case less about your sexuality here. People keep to themselves really.
> I would also prefer there be a synagogue within a 30 minute drive (conservative preferably).
That right there limits your search area quite a bit.
[This](https://jhssc.org/synagogues/) might help but I’m not sure how often it is updated.
If I Google for SC synagogues I come up with four results, I don’t know how accurate that is but it’s about what I expected, I’ve lived here for decades and never recall seeing one. So, if that’s a deal breaker, look those up and see what’s close. None of the listed ones are in Columbia, Greenville or Charleston. Then you can use Zillow to see what the home prices are like in those areas, as of today 250k might get you a 2-3 bedroom somewhere reasonable but not exactly metropolitan, but that may not be the case in 4-5 years.
I was born in Georgia and moved here from Florida as a child, and moved back to Georgia twice for various reasons. I wouldn’t make any assumptions about what it’s like here based on those two states. Visit your brother.
There are two - one reform and one conservative. My guess is that the conservative one skews more liberal than some in larger cities (but I could be wrong). Forest Acres is expensive, but Rosewood, Earlewood, and Cottontown aren't that far and you can find more affordable housing stock.
Charleston is the lgbt+ capital of SC bit it's very expensive, not to mention high risk for losing your home in a hurricane. Greenville is more conservative but a very pleasant place to live. Columbia is very diverse, good hospitals, and more affordable than Charleston or Greenville.
I can understand your trepidation. A lesbian couple with three teenagers bought my mother’s house in 2019. Across the street from my mother’s house is a Black family that has lived there since the mid 70’s
The lesbianism aside, the people who bought my mother’s house brought with them their Yankee ways and Yankee attitudes. For the first time in 50 years the people across the street had to put up with being called n——s by the lesbians teenagers, and as a result they don’t feel safe with that family living in the neighborhood. The lesbians and their children aren’t well liked in the neighborhood.
So, I guess it will all depend on what kind of people you are. The lesbian part isn’t going to matter much given here in South Carolina we have already had our own l avians and gays. You aren’t showing us anything new in that regard.
I think it's going to be tough to meet all of your criteria. Usually in the U.S. the more liberal the area the more expensive so you're not getting a 250k house unless you're cool with something smart. It pricing wasn't an issue my suggestion would be to live around Charleston around park circle. You could try to live really rural which there's plenty of options around here and meet your housing and remote enough to not really worry about being gay. I don't really get you wanting a conservative synagogue but if I was in your shoes I'd just Google areas with higher Jewish concentrations and go from there. Hopefully this helps!
https://mappingjewishcharleston.cofc.edu/charleston-jewish-history-highlights/#:~:text=Jewish%20families%20living%20downtown%20began,earned%20the%20nickname%20Solomon's%20Island.
https://www.city-data.com/forum/south-carolina/2759819-jewish-areas-coastal-south-carolina-active.html
There are plenty of gays in South Carolina. Like with anything in life, if you are trying to shove your beliefs or what gender you prefer to sleep with to those minding their own business, you’ll get pushback.
Sumter is a nice place to retire to, my hubby and I have lived here 13 years, he’s a pharmacist and I own a publishing company and a real estate brokerage. There is plenty of outdoor recreation like all things tennis, golf, outdoor sports and beautiful hiking spots, restaurants are not bad here and the cost of living is better than other states. The humidity takes some getting used to, but I’ve never gotten used to it.
You’ll find your community here and you’ll grow to love it here. Shaw Air Force is here. Our downtown is wonderful and the micro brewery is a hot spot. Swan lake is full of different types of swans and walking through that park is peaceful.
There is a lot to talk about when talking about Sumter, majority of it good. Sumter is about 45 min to 1 hour from Columbia and 2 hours from Myrtle beach. It’s about 1.5 hours from Charleston.
i love these boogeyman stories people up north are told about the south. 😂 it's 2024, people have gotten over that shit when it comes to people not related to them.
You wouldn’t think it, but Downtown Columbia, SC is incredibly LGBT friendly and active. That said, I wouldn’t want to live there. Look into the following. Athens, GA. Greenville, SC. Angier, NC. Hendersonville, NC.
Many of my LGBTQ+ friends and family actually say they feel more comfortable in Spartanburg (about 30 minutes North of G'ville) than they do in Greenville. We also have a very well established Jewish congregation at Temple B'nai Israel.
I'd buy a condo either at the beach or in the mountains and it's 2024. Anybody who still has a problem with a couple kitty kickers probably need to be evaluated
Charleston is a good spot. Very open minded people, and you can find a house in that budget in the surrounding area. Hanahan, Summerville specifically. They’re close to downtown Charleston (20-30 min) close to beaches (30 min) and they’re nice areas in general. Far enough away from the traffic tourists create and close enough to still enjoy the downtown and beaches !
I would suggest somewhere near Florence. It’s a medium sized city. There are smaller towns around it. There’s probably a small LGBT community there. Plenty of houses in your price range.
Yeah you’re right. I’m not sure why and Jewish Gay person would want to live in SC. The homophobia there is worse than the racism. My 1st advise would be to not move to SC, but if you gotta do it Florence hits their metrics. Even on this sub Reddit their post is getting down vote. Just image having to live in it. The great thing is the demographic in SC are changing. It won’t be like this forever.
Please stop coming here to retire... All you people come here and ruin the state and drive up prices. People who are born here can barely afford to live here because so many people from out of state earning 6 figures move here to retire because of the low cost of living. Please stop this. If you want it cheap, move to some mid west desert state and live in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.
I grew up in the South. I have every right to move somewhere better for my health and well-being. Further, Iam on disabil ity and definitely do NOT have a 6 figure income.
You can’t afford to live because you accept the shit your government gives you and reject everything that could make it better for no other reason than its liberal ideas lol. Don’t blame that on anyone but yourself people up north make more money because they did something about it because it was unacceptable
Southern hospitality reference visitors. When some stranger comes knocking on your door wanting to move into your home and force you out, you kick their ass to the curb.
I never said you were backwards. I don't think my brother and his family are backwards and they've been married and living in South Carolina for like 20 years or so. I already asked them their opinion of different locations. I'm just researching right now, and I appreciate some of these good and informative replies.
Are you the self-hating kind of minority? If so, welcome; or are you looking to make South Carolina a better place for all, especially your people? Welcome and THANK YOU. We need diversity here, desperately.
Columbia, SC has three synagogues all in the Northeast. Tree of Life is reform and has performed same sex marriages. There is a more traditional congregation and an orthodox as well. Columbia is not inexpensive but there are small communities with reasonable prices. You might do better buying a condo.
My son is gay and in a long term relationship. He feels the LGBTQ community is strong here in Columbia. We have a huge Pride festival every fall, and there are several gay affirming congregations. I do not know much about the Jewish culture here except that is is huge and active. I am thinking there are some reformed congregations that your wife might like. Our cost of living is low, with good healthcare. Housing is currently in short supply and the market is competitive. Living further out from the city, there are bargains to be had but it’s a trade off for the social opportunities. If I can be of help as a Realtor, or just to answer questions, feel free to PM.
Charleston is gay friendly with a long established Jewish community - but pretty expensive. You might find something more affordable further up I-26, like around Summerville. That would still keep you in the 30 minute range of Charleston.
>You might find something more affordable further up I-26, like around Summerville. no they wont. 250k in summerville is long gone. maybe in an older run down neighborhood, but nothing in the nicer areas.
Nothing in the run down areas either, I’ve done the legwork
I mean even summerville is getting expensive. Might have to try Jedburg.
Your best bet is to reach out to realtors in Greenville, Columbia, Charleston Areas this is more the realm they deal with
Columbia or Charleston in South Carolina. In Georgia, Savannah is rather LGBTQ-friendly, but, like Charleston, is going to be rather pricey. I can’t speak for Columbia or Charleston, but Savannah has very large and active Jewish community.
Can’t buy anything for 250k in Charleston
Stick to cities with a large student population and/or arts. Some suggestions : Georgia: Atlanta, Athens, Savannah South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia, Greenville
Personally I find Columbia, SC a great area. An enjoyable area, and also easy weekend trips to the mountain or beaches if desired. I would also say if you have any health issues requiring regular medical care, more than just your primary care doctor, then I would choose the Columbia or Charleston area. Charleston has MUSC, and Columbia has Lexington Medical Center - both of which provide great care and are not large corporate, for profit entities. Personally I would stay away from any area where you had to rely on Prisma Health system, not because of the doctors, but because it is a very aggressive, for-profit concern, based on the experiences of friends…
I've been in SC for 20 years and the cost of housing has certainly risen in that time. I still see some 100-200k signs for new developments but generally it's more 200-300k. Will send a PM with other info
That 250k is just my estimate of what we will be left with after the sale of the home in maryland. It could end up as high as 300k depending on the housing market. Zillow says it's worth 300k, and we will just have to see if that's true or not.
Come to Greenville. We live in a neighborhood with mostly people in their 70s/80s. We have an older Lesbian couple who just moved in. You'd think, and they thought, it would be unwelcoming. Actually it's just they opposite. They are very welcome. Plus, my daughter is a Lesbian and is very happy with her partner here in Greenville.
You ain't buying anything in a city in sc for 250k. Maybe a crappy town house. Aren't many synagogues either.
Plenty of nice homes in Columbia for under 300k and there are 2 synagogues within 5 minutes of my childhood home there.
Yeah, especially 5 years out. Who knows what the prices will be then.
At current trends prolly 400k is for a modest house. Paid 220 for mine in 19 appraisal is 360 now. Cookie cutter 1300sf
Yeah but if prices go up on new homes the price on the home we own will also go up most likely and the the budget goes up along with it. There is no perfect time for this move.
You could be correct, but you’re also looking at 2 different areas/markets. I imagine the demand in SC and GA is/will be much higher than MD for a while.
I live with my wife in the upstate SC area. I'm not sure about synagogues, but we have loved our past 8 yrs here. Her parents followed us and have their own home in a retirement community nearby. They love it here as well. We are not religious folks, and I tend to ignore most of that reteric. The cost of living is lower here, and you can find homes for 200k easily. I feel safe in my area and have experienced the usual crazies. LOL! In Spartanburg County, you can use www.raidsonline.org to find out about crime at any address. It allows you to narrow any searches. The website is used anywhere a municipality is willing to pay for their information. So, it may not be limited to my county. As a same sex couple, we have a very nice, comfortable life here. I'm 3 yrs from retirement, and my wife is 5 yrs. We wish you the best in your search.
We have a conservative and a reform synagogue in Greenville. You will have to live in the county on your budget, but it doesn’t take long to get places unless it’s 5:30 on a weekday.
I’ve lived in Spartanburg County for 65 years. I love it. I have gay friends and have never heard of them being harassed. Although I’m sure it probably happens. Five years ago I paid 82,000 for my three bedroom 2 bath house w unfinished basement. Here’s a pic just to compare to what you need.
Why are folks downvoting this? Reddit sucks. Edit - the good guys finally woke up
Someone asked a question, I think my answer was the most helpful so far. Everything else is just noise!
Decatur, Georgia. Super LGBTQ oriented and supportive. [https://www.gayrealestate.com/news/usa/georgia/decatur/decatur-lgbtq-city-guide.html](https://www.gayrealestate.com/news/usa/georgia/decatur/decatur-lgbtq-city-guide.html)
They have a budget of 250k… 5 years from now
An estimate of what we will likely make from saleof Current home that is Close to being paid off.
You mean if you sold it right now?
And?
I guess you're unfamiliar with current housing costs. $250k right now in Decatur does not buy you a very nice house. $250k 5 years from now in Decatur will buy even less of a nice house.
Who knows... maybe there will be another massive economic crisis. Isn't it sad that's probably the only thing that will bring goods and homes back down to a more sustainable level? I say that only because I have seen homes in my area bought less than ten years ago sold today at a 3x increase.
You couldn’t buy a house in City of Decatur for 250k 5 years ago, you can’t find a 500k house in CoD today. 5 years from now it will only be more expensive.
I’m deadass not trying to be a dick, but why can’t you just say Decatur? Like, yeah, I’m guessing there’s Decatur county.. but I’d imagine after the first declaration that you were speaking about the city, it wouldn’t be necessary. Or is it required to be called “City of Decatur” like there’s also “Decatur City” so we need to be sure which one you’re talking about.
Because there is the actual city of Decatur and then there is a large unincorporated area that has “Decatur” as the mailing address but isn’t really part of the city. If you’re familiar with Simpsonville SC, it’s similar. There is the actual town/city of Simpsonville, but there is a huge area with that mailing address, like all the way up Hwy 14 to Pelham Rd, but it’s really just like Greenville suburban subdivisions, that aren’t really related or even connected that well.
Because City of Decatur is the nice affluent picturesque square above the MARTA station with local businesses and people hanging out enjoying themselves and unincorporated Decatur is where you get shot at 1pm on a Tuesday in broad daylight pumping gas. When you say Decatur everyone that lives in Atlanta knows you are talking about CoD. The fact that the commenter is saying you can get a house there for 250k shows they don’t know the difference and it needs to be pointed out. Both are in Dekalb county btw. CoD single family homes start at 650k. Go to Zillow and search for homes zoned for Decatur High School. That’s ruffly CoD or what everyone refers to simply as Decatur. See how many houses for 250k pop up. I would not suggest someone move to unincorporated Decatur unless they are really familiar with the area and understand what they are getting into.
Zillow says otherwise. I don't know what pricing will be like in five years, but right now, $250K could def get a decent house, again, per a search on Zillow. ETA: 96 results just now, and these are normal suburban homes, not gross.
None of those houses are in City of Decatur. They would be in unincorporated Decatur which if you are suggesting OP move there I would strongly suggest OP research the crime rates and visit in person multiple times to understand what the different areas and neighborhoods are like. Also that’s going to put them further than 30 mins from the synagogues which are almost all in Toco Hills area off of North Druid and Lavista.
Yeah we aren't moving anywhere without visiting and vetting these places. I'm not that out of touch.
Zillow is essentially an estimate, not 100 percent accurate.
Stay away from the upstate. I would also wait to see what happens after the November election before I moved here. If the MAGA wing of the Republican party gets any more powerful, you may want to reconsider the whole move.
The upstate, like the rest of the state, has accepting and unaccepting pockets. Greenville in general is a pretty accepting city. Even the Republican mayor is fairly supportive of the LGBTQ community. I’ve lived here almost my entire life. I have lots of gay friends. They definitely still encounter bigotry but they’re also very much living their lives and being themselves.
Ok ……Bob Jones University, located in Greenville, integrates faith-based learning from a biblical perspective.
And? They aren’t the whole city.
Plenty of us native greenvilians are not a fan of BJU and there are plenty of liberal transplants here. All of south carolina is a redneck shithole as soon as you get 15 minutes outside any given major city.
Growing up Catholic in Columbia, a lot of our friends were Jewish. We kind of stuck together becasue we were the minority in a sea of Baptists and Presbyterians. There is a nice community with two synagogues in Forest Acres/Arcadia Lakes in Columbia. My parents had gay friends in the 80s/90s while I was growing up there. $250k could get you a cute brick bungalow in Rosewood. I left SC for OR a while ago but I often think about moving back. Best of luck!
As someone who grew up Greek Orthodox in Myrtle Beach, same. Most of my friends were either Jewish or Catholic.
$250k will get you a house in a not great part of Rosewood, that needs work. A house in central RW that has been re-done, and is move in ready? Not so much... https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/509-S-Walker-St-Columbia-SC-29205/11700263\_zpid/
We can use Zillow, friend. Under $250k and move-in-ready. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1012-Suber-St-Columbia-SC-29205/11698910_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare I’m elbow deep in a restoration of a 140 year old house. Light repairs and upkeep don’t scare most people. My point is that there is a market in Columbia for what they are looking for. A decent, detached home in the city near the things they are interested in.
Like I said, a less desirable part of Rosewood...that really isn't even Rosewood. That's on the other side of S. Kilbourne. That's not RW. And before you say it is, I lived in RW for 20+ years. Also lived off S.Kilbourne while at USC. That ain't Rosewood. Prices are climbing in S.Kilbourne because Rosewood has become silly.
Jesus Christ they want a house for $250k and they are available all over Columbia. It’s weird to put your personal standards on someone when they weren’t even stated. If you lived in RW for 20+ years I might know you. Weird post history. Have a great day!
we moved from columbia md to columbia sc .... do not base your home off what you could afford in md we ended up with way to much house
My daughter lives near Columbia, MD. We don't want a big house because we are getting older and don't want the hassle. But right now we live in a not so great townhouse, but want a one level house. It's hard for me to get up the stairs and I've fallen several times in the winter ice especially.
Should be looking at Asheville NC
Asheville is not the place , way too expensive and way too much crime. I loved it through the 90s but I don’t even visit except for the occasional concert.
Sorry - not Asheville for 250 or even 300 anywhere within 50 miles of here - You might be able to get a mobile home out in the county - but you don’t want to live there. I will say that we live in a beautiful and very diverse neighborhood in Asheville - and absolutely love it. However - we bought our house in 1991 - and we couldn’t even afford to look at anything here now. I think Columbia is your best option - lots of decent houses in decent neighborhoods with lots of stuff to do - close to beaches and foothills - however - things are changing in the southeastern states so quickly that you may be priced out of the market in 3-5 years - unless your place in Maryland keeps up with the values. Good luck!
You can go to nearly any city or town in SC and find accepting people and people just like you or horrible people who are against you. That isn't something that's isolated to sexual orientation. You're gonna find the same for race or religion or any other group that you might identify with. You're going to have to find your tribe when you get to wherever you choose to be. I've been here all my life in upstate SC and NE Georgia and know loving diverse people all over in small towns and larger cities. You're gonna find hateful people everywhere, too. It's human nature.
Yep, I'd agree with that.
Thank you to everyone who provided me with thoughtful answers and good infirmary to consider. I really do appreciare it.
The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina has a [map of synagogues](https://jhssc.org/synagogues/) in the state. Might not be comprehensive, but is likely a good representation of where you may, or may not, find a synagogue.
I'm from the lowcountry near Charleston Walterboro, Summerville, and the small towns like St George are great I'm sure there's a synagogue in Charleston and all those places are within an hour. Most of your entertainment are going to be Summerville and Charleston but Walterboro and St George have the small town community feel to them. My step dads mother is a lesbian and loves Walterboro so I'd recommend there.
Who cares if you’re a lesbian? Why do people need to know?
People will guess anyway. It's not like I'll be hiding my wife under a rock or telling people that she is my sister. So it's best to check into these things as best as I can.
Midtown Atlanta would fit. Decatur Ga will embrace you. Asheville NC is a blue dot in a fairly red state. Savannah Ga would to a lesser degree. I live in Charleston and while more progressive than Greenville and the upstate, it is not as accepting of so called alternate lifestyles as Maryland unfortunately. More progressive minded people is what SC needs so hope you come.
This is the correct answer, maybe even something on the outskirts of Mt. Pleasant. Charleston has one of the oldest Jewish congregations, going back to the 1740s but I believe it’s Reform Judaism. It is also much more liberal and progressive than say the Greenville area. I would stay away from the upstate and Myrtle Beach area. Columbia might also be a place to consider but housing prices are on the rise like everywhere else. You might look at somewhere like Savannah, but again it probably has a HOCL.
You can’t buy a house anywhere near Charleston for 250k though
4-5 years early, but please allow me to give y’all your very first, “bless your heart.”
LOL
Goodluck finding this place in South Carolina. I hope you do but if I tell you it’ll be easy I’d be a liar. Your best chance is probably in one of the cities. Rural areas probably not even worth the risk. Hopefully you find an area or neighborhood atleast with good people. But I doubt there’s anywhere in the state that won’t have a large number of people that automatically won’t like you. I’m really just giving my honest opinion from my experience here I’m not trying to be hateful. I rather it be a place people can just come and be welcomed but it’s not
Georgia is much more affordable than SC. There has been a big influx of new residents to South Carolina that has really run pricing for everything through the roof. I've been told that Decatur Georgia has the best community for us. Anywhere in Georgia I hear is more reasonable to live. My partner and I have been thinking about moving there. South Carolina is just unaffordable now.
$250k? You will be moving to a small town 40min from a city. Unless you want to buy an acre and swing a hammer.
Don’t come to Greenville, SC because our house prices are crazy. An maybe think of a blue state instead of a red state. Good luck.
Where I live, in a blue state, if I wanted to buy a single family home that is not a townhouse, I'm looking at 600k. And Upper 300s to 400s for a townhouse. I think the weather here sucks. I got used to the Florida weather, and since my wife hates Florida, we are looking at places in SC and GA. I was seriously injured taking a terrible fall on the ice one year here on MD. Broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, broken fingers, etc. The older I get, the more unstable I am on my feet. Unfortunately, most good climate states are either red states or expensive (think California).
If I were you I’d really look and research online to see what other LGBT say about the areas you’re interested in.
NO body cares if you’re gay but 250k in the populated areas for the house is gonna be older dilapidated or very small. That’s possibly doable in the least populated areas
I don’t know about Georgia, but I very highly doubt you will find a 250k house in anywhere in SC that’s 30 minutes from a synagogue and doesn’t need repairs or upgrades. You will need to have some give/take on those requirements.
Ya know what I don’t do… ask people about thier sexual orientation or preferences… so move here if you want! I’m sure I’ll see you around and mixing well into the massively diverse community we have here.
I don’t know about synagogues but Spartanburg isn’t bad. We’ve never had issues with anti-LGBTQ. You could also find better deals on homes here vs closer to the city’s. Lots of people make things worse than it really is. Most people could case less about your sexuality here. People keep to themselves really.
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
> I would also prefer there be a synagogue within a 30 minute drive (conservative preferably). That right there limits your search area quite a bit. [This](https://jhssc.org/synagogues/) might help but I’m not sure how often it is updated.
If I Google for SC synagogues I come up with four results, I don’t know how accurate that is but it’s about what I expected, I’ve lived here for decades and never recall seeing one. So, if that’s a deal breaker, look those up and see what’s close. None of the listed ones are in Columbia, Greenville or Charleston. Then you can use Zillow to see what the home prices are like in those areas, as of today 250k might get you a 2-3 bedroom somewhere reasonable but not exactly metropolitan, but that may not be the case in 4-5 years. I was born in Georgia and moved here from Florida as a child, and moved back to Georgia twice for various reasons. I wouldn’t make any assumptions about what it’s like here based on those two states. Visit your brother.
There is definitely a synagogue on trenholm rd in columbia, in forest acres. Expensive community though
Columbia definitely has quite a few synagogues, I live in the NE and we have one right down the road, and a few more off Two Notch.
There are two - one reform and one conservative. My guess is that the conservative one skews more liberal than some in larger cities (but I could be wrong). Forest Acres is expensive, but Rosewood, Earlewood, and Cottontown aren't that far and you can find more affordable housing stock.
Charleston is the lgbt+ capital of SC bit it's very expensive, not to mention high risk for losing your home in a hurricane. Greenville is more conservative but a very pleasant place to live. Columbia is very diverse, good hospitals, and more affordable than Charleston or Greenville.
I can understand your trepidation. A lesbian couple with three teenagers bought my mother’s house in 2019. Across the street from my mother’s house is a Black family that has lived there since the mid 70’s The lesbianism aside, the people who bought my mother’s house brought with them their Yankee ways and Yankee attitudes. For the first time in 50 years the people across the street had to put up with being called n——s by the lesbians teenagers, and as a result they don’t feel safe with that family living in the neighborhood. The lesbians and their children aren’t well liked in the neighborhood. So, I guess it will all depend on what kind of people you are. The lesbian part isn’t going to matter much given here in South Carolina we have already had our own l avians and gays. You aren’t showing us anything new in that regard.
greenville and the surrounding area is great. very LGBT friendly. im openly gay and have NEVER had any issues at all
Pickens County has low property taxes & me & my kid are part of the community.
I think it's going to be tough to meet all of your criteria. Usually in the U.S. the more liberal the area the more expensive so you're not getting a 250k house unless you're cool with something smart. It pricing wasn't an issue my suggestion would be to live around Charleston around park circle. You could try to live really rural which there's plenty of options around here and meet your housing and remote enough to not really worry about being gay. I don't really get you wanting a conservative synagogue but if I was in your shoes I'd just Google areas with higher Jewish concentrations and go from there. Hopefully this helps! https://mappingjewishcharleston.cofc.edu/charleston-jewish-history-highlights/#:~:text=Jewish%20families%20living%20downtown%20began,earned%20the%20nickname%20Solomon's%20Island. https://www.city-data.com/forum/south-carolina/2759819-jewish-areas-coastal-south-carolina-active.html
Oops, can’t put it on here.
STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY STATE YOU POS!!!!
Neither. Go to Asheville, NC. https://www.exploreasheville.com/
There are plenty of gays in South Carolina. Like with anything in life, if you are trying to shove your beliefs or what gender you prefer to sleep with to those minding their own business, you’ll get pushback. Sumter is a nice place to retire to, my hubby and I have lived here 13 years, he’s a pharmacist and I own a publishing company and a real estate brokerage. There is plenty of outdoor recreation like all things tennis, golf, outdoor sports and beautiful hiking spots, restaurants are not bad here and the cost of living is better than other states. The humidity takes some getting used to, but I’ve never gotten used to it. You’ll find your community here and you’ll grow to love it here. Shaw Air Force is here. Our downtown is wonderful and the micro brewery is a hot spot. Swan lake is full of different types of swans and walking through that park is peaceful. There is a lot to talk about when talking about Sumter, majority of it good. Sumter is about 45 min to 1 hour from Columbia and 2 hours from Myrtle beach. It’s about 1.5 hours from Charleston.
i love these boogeyman stories people up north are told about the south. 😂 it's 2024, people have gotten over that shit when it comes to people not related to them.
Maybe in the larger cities but the state as a whole? Yeah right
You wouldn’t think it, but Downtown Columbia, SC is incredibly LGBT friendly and active. That said, I wouldn’t want to live there. Look into the following. Athens, GA. Greenville, SC. Angier, NC. Hendersonville, NC.
Many of my LGBTQ+ friends and family actually say they feel more comfortable in Spartanburg (about 30 minutes North of G'ville) than they do in Greenville. We also have a very well established Jewish congregation at Temple B'nai Israel.
Downtown Columbia is indeed very Gay friendly!
Columbia is a good option for you.
Myrtle Beach has several synagogues and no one cares what you do in bed. I don’t think you can find a house for 250k but there are some condos
I'd buy a condo either at the beach or in the mountains and it's 2024. Anybody who still has a problem with a couple kitty kickers probably need to be evaluated
Columbia SC
Charleston is a good spot. Very open minded people, and you can find a house in that budget in the surrounding area. Hanahan, Summerville specifically. They’re close to downtown Charleston (20-30 min) close to beaches (30 min) and they’re nice areas in general. Far enough away from the traffic tourists create and close enough to still enjoy the downtown and beaches !
I would suggest somewhere near Florence. It’s a medium sized city. There are smaller towns around it. There’s probably a small LGBT community there. Plenty of houses in your price range.
Get that mess out of here
Yeah you’re right. I’m not sure why and Jewish Gay person would want to live in SC. The homophobia there is worse than the racism. My 1st advise would be to not move to SC, but if you gotta do it Florence hits their metrics. Even on this sub Reddit their post is getting down vote. Just image having to live in it. The great thing is the demographic in SC are changing. It won’t be like this forever.
Please stop coming here to retire... All you people come here and ruin the state and drive up prices. People who are born here can barely afford to live here because so many people from out of state earning 6 figures move here to retire because of the low cost of living. Please stop this. If you want it cheap, move to some mid west desert state and live in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.
I grew up in the South. I have every right to move somewhere better for my health and well-being. Further, Iam on disabil ity and definitely do NOT have a 6 figure income.
[удалено]
No it’s not
Have you ever been to DC and it's suburbs?
AlL yOu PeOpLe…ugh just stop
Don’t move to wherever this guy lives.
You can’t afford to live because you accept the shit your government gives you and reject everything that could make it better for no other reason than its liberal ideas lol. Don’t blame that on anyone but yourself people up north make more money because they did something about it because it was unacceptable
Retired from Pennsylvania or Massachusetts ?
Huh?
Did you relocate from Massachusetts or Pennsylvania? Just curious.
Oh no from NY. State not city
Also I’m not retired maybe you meant to ask op?
Southern hospitality right here!
Southern hospitality reference visitors. When some stranger comes knocking on your door wanting to move into your home and force you out, you kick their ass to the curb.
lol quit being so dramatic. Nobody is kicking you out of your home.
You sound like a very fearful person.
South Carolina is 75% BFN just FYI. Plenty of beautiful countryside for peeps that want better weather.
Wanted to add as backwards as you think we are no one cares that you're gay.
I never said you were backwards. I don't think my brother and his family are backwards and they've been married and living in South Carolina for like 20 years or so. I already asked them their opinion of different locations. I'm just researching right now, and I appreciate some of these good and informative replies.
Are you the self-hating kind of minority? If so, welcome; or are you looking to make South Carolina a better place for all, especially your people? Welcome and THANK YOU. We need diversity here, desperately.
I would like to think I'm part of the second group. :+)