Local real estate agents see unprecedented activity

Over the past 28 years, Realtor Gail Gingrey has prided herself on knowing about every property under development in the area, but even she admits this is an overwhelming task in today's market.

The Meybohm Realty agent said business is booming all over the Aiken area, with developments ranging from those intended to attract people with horse interests, to retirees and just about anyone in between. "Last year, we just did really, really good and it is just continuing," Gingrey said.

In the City of Aiken 1,233 residential units have been approved in the past two years. One of the hottest tickets in real estate, however, has been development in the downtown area.

Aiken Planning Director Ed Evans points to new townhomes being built on Park Avenue extension as examples of the interest in the area. "There's more coming," he said. "That is a sign of things to come for old Aiken."

He added, "What is happening downtown is going to trigger the Northside."

Over the past decade the City of Aiken has experienced steady growth, but that growth was largely contained on the Southside until two years ago.

Aiken City Manager Roger LeDuc attributes the renewed interest in the downtown and Northside area to a number of programs, such as the downtown business facade grants that led to the upgrading of area structures and the public/private partnerships that have replaced older or dilapidated homes in the area with newer ones that will largely be owned by the occupants.

"I am very pleased with what has happened over there on its own," LeDuc said of the Northside.

The process got rolling when the City of Aiken purchased 26 lots in the Toole Hill area and converted the tracts into 40 home sites. New homes were built, and then Aiken Preparatory School sold property to Summerville Homes, which is building homes on patio lots in the area. Add in Windham Place, a retirement community, and the entire look of the neighborhood has changed.

Ashton Oaks is another area where the City has made a dramatic change. The area went from one occupied by a troubled trailer park to homes built and financed through a City partnership that completely transformed the area, LeDuc said.

Working in concert with the City effort is an effort by Second Baptist Church to build and renovate homes in the Northside area, LeDuc said. Also joining in is the Community Development Improvement Corporation, which is the development arm of the Aiken Housing Authority, LeDuc said.

To date, 97 homes have been built, 35 are under construction and 135 are proposed for the area, LeDuc said.

LeDuc said a total of 30 homes have been built on the Northside by private developers. Currently there are an additional 34 under construction and 47 more have been proposed.

In January the South Carolina Association of Realtors said Aiken was the hottest housing market in the Palmetto State, with a 49.6 percent increase in sales over 2004 sales figures, said Chief Executive Officer Jim Peters.

Peters said 1,114 homes were sold in Aiken County in 2004 and 1,667 homes were sold in 2005.

"Retirees are driving the market," said Pat Cunning of Woodside Development. "I think you are really just coming to the peak."

Woodside Plantation, like many other developments, is preparing a number of housing options for those seeking to move into the area.

Included in the fourth phase of Woodside Plantation will be a number of equestrian lots located off Anderson Pond Road, Cunning said.

Woodside also is incorporating a community atmosphere in its newest development that will include ball fields for children, he added.

Leighton McLendon of Eulalie Salley & Co. said his firm has seen tremendous business over the past two years. He said, "2005 was an incredible year. We have not seen a slowdown in 2006."

"We are not a secret anymore, Aiken has been discovered," McLendon said. "We are a small city, compared to most, with big city amenities."

McLendon said Eulalie Salley has dealt with a number of retirees from Florida who are seeking a change. "They are tired of hurricanes," McLendon said.

Residents of the Northeast are also still flocking to Aiken, he added.

"Compared to other areas of the country, we are still a tremendous value," McLendon said.

Gingrey said Meybohm currently has about 10 developments that offer a world of variety and price ranges. From townhomes at Kensington Homes ranging in price from $110,000 to $160,000 to homes at The Retreat, located on Herndon Dairy Road, which has homes valued between $300,000 to $410,000, Gingrey said her company alone reaches all aspects of the market.