October is here and the fall weather is going to be incredible.  Weather good enough for the IOP and James Island Connector Runs as well as the Kiawah Marathon.  Chris Stapleton, Chicago, George Thorogood and many others will be in town to serenade us.  And oyster season begins!! Boone Hall has their Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze all month.  Here is a calendar of October events:

1-6: MOJA Arts Festival

3: Keeping Jazz Alive, Charleston Music Hall

4: Gov’t Mule, N Chas PAC

4: George Thorogood, Chas Music Hall

4: Charleston Gallery Association’s Art Walk

5: Shovels and Rope, Chas Music Hall

5: IOP Connector Run

5: Shaggin’ on the Cooper, Mt P Waterfront Park

6: Swim around Charleston

12: Granger Smith, N Chas PAC

12-13: 12^th Arts and Crafts Festival, Magnolia Plantation

13: Latin American Festival, Wannamaker Park

13: Kiawah Island Marathon

15-16: Rent, N Chas PAC

16: 6^th Annual Whiskey after Dark, the Cedar Room

17: Chris Stapleton, N Chas Coliseum

17: Chicago, N Chas PAC

18-20: The Folly Beach Yoga Retreat, Regatta Inn

19: Charleston Comic-Con, Hilton Garden Inn Airport

19: Fresh Fields Cars and Coffee, Fresh Fields Kiawah

19: Ernie Watts, Charleston Music Hall

20: Children’s Day Festival, Park West

20: Italian Festival, Hutchinson Square Summerville

20: HALOS 8^th Annual Oyster Roast, Bridgeside Blvd Mt P

23: The Allman Betts Band, Chas Music Hall

26: Nightmare on Wentworth Street Halloween Party, Restoration Hotel

26: 21^st James Island Connector Run

26: Pet Helper’s Fur Ball, Marriott on Lockwood

29: Chick Corea Trilogy, Gaillard

29: Dracula Ballet, Chas Music Hall

31: Studio 300 Disco Halloween, The Alley

31: Coastal Carolina Fair Opens, Ladson Fairgrounds

The Charleston real estate market continues to have one of its best years ever.  It’s quite possible that 2019 will break the records set in 2017.  We’re about even with 2017 and 2018 year to date in terms of transactions, but the fall of 2018 was somewhat weak.  We anticipate a better finish to the year in 2019.  Median sales price is up to a record high of $282k and up 4.4% YTD over the same 2018 period.  The economy continues to be robust.  The building of the Volvo plant in the Jedburg area near Moncks Corner has led to a huge boom there.  North Charleston outside of Hwy 526 and Mt Pleasant outside of the IOP connector have also seen a 10% growth in sales YTD over the same 2018 period.  All areas of the economy seem to be doing well.  Internet software and technology companies continue to be a huge hit here in Silicon Harbor.  Of course, tourism and the craft beer industry marches on at a steady beat.