Upstate, SC Real Estate Guide
The Upstate of South Carolina has several beautiful lakes to enjoy, this makes finding the perfect lakefront home and living on the lakeshore the dream of a lifetime. Many Upstate lakefront homes offer breathtaking views of the mountains and the lake.
The lakes of Upstate, SC offer very calm shorelines perfect for those who like Kayaking or Paddle Boarding. While at the same time, there are lakes perfect for those who enjoy wakeboarding, jet skiing, or sailing. The lakes offer various adventures like fishing and guided fishing tours, several parks, walking trails, and a whole host of activities right at your fingertips. You can be on the water with the backdrop of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains at Lake Jocassee, or enjoy water sports on Lake Hartwell.
When you buy a lakefront home, one of the most obvious perks is the incredible views and the opportunity to enjoy peace and quiet. You can spend your mornings watching the sunrise, hear the water lapping against your property, and enjoy a quiet afternoon all from your dock. There are many other advantages to living on lakefront property, it also includes amazing health benefits such as stress relief and active outdoor waterbased opportunities.
Upstate Lakefront Real Estate
The Upstate real estate market is considered as one of the premier markets for both investors and homeowners. Not only that the housing market is affordable compared to other key real estate markets in the country, but the cost of living is also relatively low. The Upstate lakefront real estate also offers affordable housing for homebuyers or investors. If you look at the long-term, it’s always a good investment to buy in a lakefront home in the Upstate.
The real estate appreciation rate in the Upstate is predicted to remain a bit modest throughout this year. According to several real estate experts, the home values in the Upstate will continue to rise in 2020, but at a significantly slower rate than the nationwide average.
South Carolina’s largest markets for lake real estate are found in the Upstate, these include Lake Keowee, Lake Hartwell, Lake Greenwood, Lake Robinson, and Lake Jocassee. The most affordable lake homes in the Upstate are in Lyman Lake, Saluda Lake, and Lake Secession, while the most expensive lake homes are in Lake Keowee, Lake Greenwood, Lake Hartwell, Lake Robinson, and Lake Bowen.
The Upstate is the number 1 metro area in South Carolina where people are searching for lake property.
Lakes in the Upstate, SC
Lake Keowee (Oconee County)
Lake Keowee is a man-made reservoir created to serve the needs of Duke power, a local power company. The lake is approximately 26 miles long, 3 miles wide, with an average depth of 54 feet. It was also made for public recreational purposes such as boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, and swimming. Real estate developments have started to sprout up all along the shores of this mountain lake since the 1970s because of the beautiful views of the mountains and the recreational activities it offers.
There have been 110 separate communities that have popped up along the lake’s 300 miles of shoreline since the lake’s formation. Other real estate developments that were built in Lake Keowee include a mountain top golf course and recreation complex which made the lake attractive for retirees as well as persons seeking a weekend retreat.
Lake Jocassee (Seneca, SC)
Lake Jocassee is located in the Northwest part of the state in Seneca, SC. It was created by the state in partnership with Duke Energy. The lake is located on 7,500 acres and is 300 feet deep. This lake is a great destination for fishing and boating. Unlike Lake Keowee, Jocassee has almost no real estate development on its shores.
Lake Hartwell (Anderson, SC)
Lake Hartwell is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina and is one of the largest and most popular recreational lakes in the southeast. The entire lake covers 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles. The entire Lake Hartwell property contains 76,450 acres of land and water.
Lake Hartwell’s shores have abundant real estate developments ranging from high-end residential developments to individual lots. The lake is close to Greenville and can be reached in just under an hour making it a popular weekend destination for any kind of water recreations as well as camping and biking.
Lake Bowen (Spartanburg, SC)
Lake Bowen is an Upstate lake encompassing 1,534 acres and 33 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in Spartanburg County. Lake Bowen offers many recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, tubing and water skiing.
Lake Bowen real estate is popular and there are not a lot of available lakefront homes on the market. The average price of real estate range from $400k to $600k.
Saluda Lake
Saluda Lake is the largest lake near Greenville, SC. It is a 331 acres reservoir constructed in 1905 for the purpose of creating hydroelectric power. It is located northwest of the city. Real estates along the shores of Saluda lake are located in Easley and Greenville as the lake straddles the line between Pickens and Greenville county. Real estate developments are already established some are part of subdivisions and on their own.
Lake Robinson
Lake Robinson is a man-made 800-acre fishing lake located in Greer, SC with mountain views and new home developments. The lake encompasses 2,250 acres and features a number of gorgeous lakefront real estate that boasts breathtaking views of the water and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Lake Robinson is owned by Greer Commission of Public Works who also owns Lake Cunningham.
Lake Cunningham
Lake Cunningham, the sister lake of lake Robinson is a 376-acre lake located in Greer. It is also a fishing and boating lake. Lakefront real estate in Lake Cunningham is very similar to Lake Robinson.
Lake Greenwood
Lake Greenwood extends into three counties Greenwood, Laurens, and Newberry counties. It is approximately 11,400 acres, and 20+ miles long with 212 miles of shoreline. It is one of the most popular lakefront real estate found in South Carolina.
Lake Greenwood’s fresh water lake is fed by the Saluda and Reedy River. It is a popular destination for boating, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, skiing, wakeboarding and other water sports.
Residential and commercial uses adjoining Lake Greenwood have contributed tremendously to the economic development of Greenwood. Lake Greenwood real estate offers a variety of options from low maintenance condos to larger lakefront homes and lakefront land for sale.