Living On The Water In The Carolinas At An Affordable Price

Many of my subscribers write me asking where they can live on the water, in the Carolinas, without the severe threat of hurricanes and without the higher prices of oceanfront living.

So, I started searching for towns that were situated near the many beautiful lakes of the Carolinas.

Manning, South Carolina is one such town, and the lakefront community of Wyboo Plantation has 4 miles of waterfront on Lake Marion, at affordable prices.

It's located between Columbia and Charleston.

If you're interested in relocating or retiring to a quaint small town in the Carolinas, and living on the water is one of your dreams, then Wyboo is for you.

I asked C.D. Rhodes to write me about Manning, South Carolina and Wyboo Plantation, so I could share it with you.

Here's what he had to say…

The city of Manning, SC has long been a popular location for northerners moving south. For years travelers up and down I-95 have been intrigued by that big bridge crossing Lake Marion around mile marker 100 and that scene of thousands of acres of fresh water led them to consider Manning and the surrounding Clarendon County as a potential home when retirement rolled around. What they found when they took a closer look is what we call a sportsman’s paradise.

The city of Manning has a population of about 4500 and its surrounding Clarendon County a population of about 32,000. Clarendon County received some notice after the 2000 census as the only rural county in South Carolina to have a population increase over the previous decade.

Manning has, for many years, been a popular stopover for folks traveling south for the winter and back north in the summer. Hwy 301 passes directly through the middle of town and I-95 passes within just a couple of miles. Also skirting the edge of town is Hwy 521 which is well known as a popular route to South Carolina’s Grand Strand (the Myrtle Beach area).

Manning is located only 8 miles from the shores of Lake Marion. Marion is by far the largest lake in the state at around 100,000 acres. Marion along with Lake Moultrie comprises the Santee-Cooper system of lakes that together measure around 180,000 acres. Lake Marion has shoreline that varies from sandy beaches to steep limestone drop offs and is longer than SC’s Atlantic coast. The lake system is completely independent of tides and is entirely fresh water. It has long been known as a 1st class fishing destination and has, in recent years, been a frequent stop on the BASS Elite tour.

Coming in a close 2nd in popularity to our lakes are our golf courses. Clarendon County boasts 5 18-hole championship courses. One of which is Wyboo Golf Club which has been ranked among the top 10 golf courses in South Carolina since it opened in 1999. Just across the county line golfers have access to an additional 18-20 courses within a 30-minute drive. Best of all, these courses are affordable for the average golfer. For instance, Wyboo Golf Club offers a couple’s membership for $70/month (and it is one of the pricey courses).

Like most places, Clarendon County has a broad price range when it comes to real estate. Potential buyers can find properties ranging from manufactured homes under $100,000 all the way up to waterfront estates priced well over $1million.

Within the town of Manning, real estate options range from newly built brick ranches in the mid $100’s and historic homes similarly priced. Outside of the town limits in the lake area, real estate covers an even broader range. Much of the lake area has small homes and manufactured homes on the second and third rows priced at $100-200k, with larger homes located on the waterfront.

In some areas, restrictive covenants are in place and it is in these private communities that you will generally find larger second and third row homes along with patio home options.

Right in the middle of Clarendon County, and all it has to offer, is the private community of Wyboo Plantation. Wyboo is the only master planned private community on the northern shore of Lake Marion. It is an age targeted community that is made up primarily of retirees. Wyboo Plantation has over 4 miles of waterfront property on Lake Marion and its interior waterways.

The community also offers homes and homesites on The Players Course at Wyboo. Residents of the community enjoy amenities such as a 6500 sqft community center, tennis courts, a community pool, and interior lakes for fishing and boating. Private deeded boat slips are available for those that enjoy boating and fishing. They can also take advantage of golf memberships on The Players Course at Wyboo and Wyboo Golf Club which is only a golf cart ride away.

Wyboo Plantation has patio and custom homes that span a broad price range. Patio homes start in the $180’s and go into the low $300’s. Custom homes start in the high $200’s and go up to over $1million for larger homes on Lake Marion. Affordable real estate prices combined with low property taxes, insurance rates, and homeowners dues make Wyboo Plantation a viable option for retirees working within a budget.

Buyers with a larger budget to work with can find that their dollar goes much farther on waterfront property on Lake Marion than it does along the coast. With waterfront homes starting in the mid $500’s buyers can expect year around water access, a private dock, and the lower maintenance of living on fresh water vs. salt water.

Clarendon County is certainly not new to the retiree scene. South Carolina’s moderate weather draws newcomers to the state and Clarendon County’s small town lifestyle, water access, golfing, and affordability are the primary reasons they choose to locate there rather than other parts of the state.

With high costs and overcrowding making the coast less desirable communities like Manning and Wyboo Plantation will likely gain in popularity particularly for those who desire an authentic small-town feel.

For information on Wyboo Plantation, visit (www.wybooplantation.com) or give C.D. a call at (800) 951-2605.