1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,960 Welcome to Local Finds by Easy Home Search, where we explore what 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,600 it's actually like to live in communities all across the United States. 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,880 I'm Michael here with Amanda, and today we're heading to Augusta, 4 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,480 Georgia, Georgia's second largest city and the nine communities 5 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,040 surrounding it that make this one of the most interesting metros in the South. 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,840 Augusta is one of those places I think people have a very specific 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,600 image of in their heads, and then you start looking at it more closely and 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,970 realize there's so much more going on. Most people hear 9 00:00:29,970 --> 00:00:33,490 Augusta and immediately think of one thing. The Masters, 10 00:00:33,650 --> 00:00:37,450 the green jacket, the azaleas, the Masters, which 11 00:00:37,450 --> 00:00:41,250 is genuinely iconic. No argument there. But Augusta sits 12 00:00:41,250 --> 00:00:44,610 on the Savannah river and anchors a metropolitan area that actually 13 00:00:44,610 --> 00:00:48,050 spans two states, Georgia and South Carolina. 14 00:00:48,530 --> 00:00:52,250 That geographic reality shapes everything about the communities surrounding 15 00:00:52,250 --> 00:00:56,100 it. And if you've ever wanted to explore homes in this area, you can 16 00:00:56,100 --> 00:00:59,820 do that on Easy Homesearch.com where we track data on 17 00:00:59,820 --> 00:01:03,580 over 120 million US properties, including everything 18 00:01:03,660 --> 00:01:07,500 in this market. And that two state reality isn't just geography 19 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:11,180 trivia. It actually changes your school options, your tax 20 00:01:11,180 --> 00:01:14,700 situation, the whole character of the neighborhoods you're looking at. 21 00:01:14,940 --> 00:01:18,780 Exactly. So today's episode covers nine of those communities 22 00:01:18,940 --> 00:01:22,780 across both states, each with its own distinct personality. 23 00:01:23,330 --> 00:01:26,890 Whether you want a nationally ranked suburb with every amenity, a 24 00:01:26,890 --> 00:01:30,530 resort town that grew into a real place to live, or a tiny 25 00:01:30,530 --> 00:01:34,330 downtown where neighbors cruise around on golf carts, this area 26 00:01:34,330 --> 00:01:37,850 has genuine range. I love when a metro has that kind of 27 00:01:37,850 --> 00:01:41,650 variety. Okay, where do we start? We start at the top. 28 00:01:41,890 --> 00:01:45,570 Evans, Georgia. In 2020, Money magazine 29 00:01:45,570 --> 00:01:49,010 ranked Evans the best place to live in America. Number one 30 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,240 in the entire country. Number one in the entire country. And 31 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,080 the criteria weren't one dimensional. It was a combination of low crime 32 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,920 rates, financial stability, accessible health care, and green 33 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,560 space, all scoring well together. That's a holistic picture of a 34 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,400 community that genuinely functions. Family Circle magazine had 35 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,000 also named Evans one of the best towns for families. So 36 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,800 multiple major publications were independently landing on the same place. 37 00:02:16,380 --> 00:02:19,980 When recognition like that comes from multiple different sources independently, 38 00:02:20,220 --> 00:02:23,940 you start to take it seriously. It's not just one outlet with an 39 00:02:23,940 --> 00:02:27,740 angle, and you can feel it in what Evans actually offers. Day to day, 40 00:02:27,980 --> 00:02:31,820 excellent schools, several golf courses. Jones Creek 41 00:02:31,820 --> 00:02:35,540 Golf Course is a standout. Splash parks and playgrounds for 42 00:02:35,540 --> 00:02:38,740 kids. The historic community center park hosts live 43 00:02:38,740 --> 00:02:42,140 performances. And Bartram Trail runs right through the area. 44 00:02:42,670 --> 00:02:46,230 It's a significant nature trail, named after William Bartram, the 45 00:02:46,230 --> 00:02:49,550 naturalist who explored the Georgia and Carolina landscape in the 46 00:02:49,550 --> 00:02:53,390 1700s. It's the kind of outdoor resource that puts a place 47 00:02:53,390 --> 00:02:57,150 in a different category. Commute into Augusta about 20 48 00:02:57,150 --> 00:03:00,830 minutes on i20, roughly 15 miles. You're getting 49 00:03:00,830 --> 00:03:04,590 genuine small town quality of life without being cut off from a major 50 00:03:04,590 --> 00:03:07,870 city's job market. Medical facilities, all of it. 51 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,040 That balance is hard to find. And the food scene, because 52 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,800 dining always tells you something about where a place is actually headed. 53 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,680 Evans delivers T. Bon's Steakhouse, Reinhardt's 54 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,920 Oyster Bar with their Beyond Casual Atmosphere 55 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,920 boutiques scattered through the downtown. Enough variety that you're not 56 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:30,360 making a 40 minute drive every time you want a quality meal out. 57 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,640 Small town charm without small town limitations 58 00:03:34,180 --> 00:03:37,980 Evan sounds like the kind of place you move to for a job opportunity and 59 00:03:37,980 --> 00:03:41,540 15 years later, you're still there because you just like 60 00:03:41,540 --> 00:03:44,660 it. That's exactly the feeling. Next stop, 61 00:03:44,820 --> 00:03:48,420 Grovetown, Georgia. And Grovetown's tagline captures 62 00:03:48,420 --> 00:03:52,260 something true about the a community that cares. I 63 00:03:52,260 --> 00:03:55,980 like that. Grounded, not pretentious. How big a 64 00:03:55,980 --> 00:03:59,460 community are we talking? Just over 16,000 residents. 65 00:04:00,090 --> 00:04:03,370 Not tiny, but still carrying a genuine small town feel. 66 00:04:03,690 --> 00:04:07,450 It sits roughly halfway between the state capitals of Georgia and South 67 00:04:07,450 --> 00:04:10,570 Carolina on the northern end of the Middle Savannah river 68 00:04:10,570 --> 00:04:14,290 subbasin just northwest of Fort Gordon, and the cost of 69 00:04:14,290 --> 00:04:17,690 living is below the national average. The index came in at 70 00:04:17,690 --> 00:04:21,370 93.7, which is meaningful when you're comparing it to other 71 00:04:21,370 --> 00:04:25,050 metros of similar proximity to a major city below national 72 00:04:25,130 --> 00:04:28,850 average that close to a major metro. That's a real economic 73 00:04:29,010 --> 00:04:32,810 draw. What about employment? This is what sets Grovetown apart 74 00:04:32,810 --> 00:04:36,170 from a typical bedroom community. Major employers like John 75 00:04:36,170 --> 00:04:39,970 Deere, Serta and GIW Industries have operations 76 00:04:39,970 --> 00:04:43,489 there, so there's genuine economic activity rooted in the town 77 00:04:43,489 --> 00:04:47,210 itself, not just residents commuting elsewhere and coming back to 78 00:04:47,210 --> 00:04:50,890 sleep. And the public school system is considered one of the finest in the state 79 00:04:50,890 --> 00:04:54,640 of Georgia. Good jobs, excellent schools, below 80 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,000 average cost of living. A lot of families are out there 81 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,720 specifically searching for that combination. And Grovetown has been 82 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,320 around since 1881. The modern city has been actively 83 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,080 reinventing itself from what it once called a country 84 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,640 crossroads into a contemporary community with modern 85 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,200 amenities alongside its old fashioned charm. There's real 86 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:19,040 history here, and there's real forward momentum. That combination 87 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,350 is worth paying attention to. History and 88 00:05:22,430 --> 00:05:25,950 momentum. I like it. What's next? Third 89 00:05:25,950 --> 00:05:29,550 stop, and this one comes with a genuinely unexpected origin 90 00:05:29,550 --> 00:05:33,150 story. Harlem, Georgia. Wait. Harlem, 91 00:05:33,150 --> 00:05:36,910 Georgia. Harlem, Georgia. Named after Harlem, New York. 92 00:05:37,150 --> 00:05:40,990 The story goes that a visiting New Yorker looked around the new town and 93 00:05:40,990 --> 00:05:44,670 told a local resident it reminded him of the Harlem neighborhood back Home, 94 00:05:44,830 --> 00:05:48,630 which at the time was considered quite an affluent and artistic part of New 95 00:05:48,630 --> 00:05:52,010 York City. The name stuck. That is not the 96 00:05:52,010 --> 00:05:55,810 origin story I was expecting from a small town in Georgia. It 97 00:05:55,810 --> 00:05:59,370 gets better. About 3,000 residents. Columbia County's 98 00:05:59,370 --> 00:06:02,890 hidden gem. As people there will tell you a genuine small 99 00:06:02,890 --> 00:06:06,730 town lifestyle. The kind of place where you might pass a neighbor cruising 100 00:06:06,730 --> 00:06:10,530 by on a golf cart on their way into the historic downtown on a Tuesday 101 00:06:10,610 --> 00:06:14,330 afternoon. A golf cart? Tuesday. I could genuinely 102 00:06:14,330 --> 00:06:18,120 get used to that pace. It says something about how people feel about being 103 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,920 out in their community, not sealed inside a car. And speaking 104 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,760 of community identity, Harlem is the birthplace of Oliver Hardy 105 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,400 of Laurel and Hardy fame. Born there in 1892. 106 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:33,360 Every year on the first weekend of October, thousands of people come 107 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,000 to the downtown for the Oliver Hardy festival. A whole town 108 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,840 turned a legendary comedian born there over a hundred years ago 109 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,500 into their signature annual celebration. That is 110 00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:48,140 genuine community identity. And it doesn't happen by accident. 111 00:06:48,460 --> 00:06:52,220 It really doesn't. These communities know who they are and they hold 112 00:06:52,220 --> 00:06:56,020 on to it. Alright, let's cross the river. Number four on our 113 00:06:56,020 --> 00:06:59,740 list and our first South Carolina entry, North Augusta. 114 00:06:59,980 --> 00:07:03,820 We are literally crossing the Savannah River. The Savannah river 115 00:07:03,820 --> 00:07:07,180 is the state line. Georgia on one side, South 116 00:07:07,180 --> 00:07:10,900 Carolina on the other. North Augusta sits right on the South Carolina 117 00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:14,450 bank and is known as South Carolina's riverfront. More than 118 00:07:14,450 --> 00:07:18,210 20,000 residents, minutes from both downtown Augusta and the 119 00:07:18,210 --> 00:07:21,650 city of Aiken and fully integrated into the Augusta Aiken 120 00:07:21,650 --> 00:07:25,490 metropolitan area. The city has been growing along that river for well over 121 00:07:25,490 --> 00:07:29,170 a century. So you could have a South Carolina address and still 122 00:07:29,170 --> 00:07:32,850 be completely woven into the fabric of the Augusta world. Different 123 00:07:32,930 --> 00:07:36,690 state, same community. That's exactly the reality for a lot 124 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:40,020 of residents there. And the riverfront setting isn't just a scenic 125 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:43,740 backdrop. North Augusta has invested in parks, trails 126 00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:47,340 and recreational spaces along the water. It gives the city a 127 00:07:47,340 --> 00:07:50,580 genuinely beautiful anchor that not every suburb can offer. 128 00:07:50,900 --> 00:07:54,660 Beautiful neighborhoods, progressive city government. And the Aiken 129 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:58,340 county school district serves school age kids there. The sixth 130 00:07:58,340 --> 00:08:01,660 largest district in all of South Carolina, sixth 131 00:08:01,660 --> 00:08:05,010 largest in the state. Real infrastructure, real 132 00:08:05,010 --> 00:08:08,850 resources. That's not a small suburban afterthought. Not at 133 00:08:08,850 --> 00:08:12,370 all. Golf courses, parks, shopping. The 134 00:08:12,370 --> 00:08:16,130 lifestyle package is complete. North Augusta is a strong option 135 00:08:16,130 --> 00:08:19,850 if you want to be close to everything Augusta offers while having a bit 136 00:08:19,850 --> 00:08:23,330 more breathing room and a South Carolina address. I keep 137 00:08:23,330 --> 00:08:27,010 thinking this list covers such a wide range. What about 138 00:08:27,010 --> 00:08:30,730 the communities that are more genuinely pulled back, more rural, 139 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,800 more tucked away from the city? Those are coming. And one of them has one 140 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,560 of the most Interesting founding stories. On the entire list, a Cuban 141 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:42,320 immigrant who purchased a plantation in 1869 and a 142 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,720 canal system that literally powered Augusta's industrial economy 143 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,600 for over a century. That is not what I expected from a 144 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,360 suburbs episode. Augusta's got more layers than people give it credit 145 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,200 for. We'll dig into all of it right after this. The Augusta metro has 146 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,760 a way of surprising people. And one of the best examples of that is 147 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,360 Martinez, Georgia, a northwestern suburb of Augusta, 148 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,640 part of the greater metro area, and home to one of the most 149 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:11,080 unexpected founding stories in the region. Okay, 150 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,999 tell me about this Cuban immigrant in the plantation. So the town 151 00:09:14,999 --> 00:09:18,760 is named after Jose Martinez y Saldivar, a wealthy 152 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,480 Cuban immigrant who purchased a plantation in Columbia county back 153 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,930 in 1869. He named it El Cordero 154 00:09:25,930 --> 00:09:29,530 Rancho. The Lamb Ranch in Spanish. The original 155 00:09:29,530 --> 00:09:32,970 mansion. Several outbuildings, barns and even a water 156 00:09:32,970 --> 00:09:36,810 tower still stand on the property today. The ranch is now about 20 157 00:09:36,810 --> 00:09:40,610 acres. But the history is all there. A Cuban immigrant's 158 00:09:40,610 --> 00:09:44,250 19th century plantation becomes the namesake of a 159 00:09:44,250 --> 00:09:47,250 modern Augusta suburb with 30,000 residents. 160 00:09:47,810 --> 00:09:51,270 You genuinely cannot make that up. And the history goes 161 00:09:51,270 --> 00:09:54,790 deeper. The Augusta Canal, a remarkable piece of American 162 00:09:54,950 --> 00:09:58,790 industrial infrastructure, begins in Martinez. The head 163 00:09:58,790 --> 00:10:02,590 gates were built in 1845, harnessing the power of the 164 00:10:02,590 --> 00:10:05,990 Savannah river to bring water and transportation directly to 165 00:10:05,990 --> 00:10:09,550 Augusta. That canal powered a string of factories along its 166 00:10:09,550 --> 00:10:13,270 banks and helped propel Augusta into a major manufacturing 167 00:10:13,270 --> 00:10:16,910 center in the south. So Martinez isn't just a suburb that 168 00:10:16,910 --> 00:10:20,500 happened to be nearby. It's actually where the engine that built 169 00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:24,220 Augusta started. Exactly right. And you can experience all of 170 00:10:24,220 --> 00:10:28,020 that today. The Canal trail runs from Martinez into downtown 171 00:10:28,020 --> 00:10:31,820 Augusta. You can walk or bike it, rent a canoe, take 172 00:10:31,820 --> 00:10:35,660 the canal boat tour. The Columbia County Visitors center sits in a 173 00:10:35,660 --> 00:10:39,020 refurbished lock keeper's cottage and has exhibits about the 174 00:10:39,020 --> 00:10:42,740 canal's history. The original dance pavilion from 1880 175 00:10:42,740 --> 00:10:46,100 and the Savannah Rapids Pavilion are are both still there. Outside 176 00:10:46,660 --> 00:10:50,220 a canal trail into downtown with a boat tour and a restored 177 00:10:50,220 --> 00:10:53,740 dance pavilion from the 1800s. That is a 178 00:10:53,740 --> 00:10:57,380 genuinely rich outdoor and cultural package for a suburb. 179 00:10:57,460 --> 00:11:01,219 And Reed Creek Wetlands and Interpretive center is just minutes away. 180 00:11:01,620 --> 00:11:05,420 Public programs like wilderness survival classes, frog call 181 00:11:05,420 --> 00:11:09,220 surveys, nature walks with kids. Modern Martinez 182 00:11:09,220 --> 00:11:12,880 has more than 30,000 residents, good schools and strong 183 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,360 access to shopping and dining. It manages to be both 184 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,040 historically fascinating and completely livable as a modern 185 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,800 suburb. That's the sweet spot, isn't it? A place with enough 186 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,399 character that it has its own identity, not just a grid of 187 00:11:27,399 --> 00:11:31,120 subdivisions around a strip mall. Well said. Alright, let's 188 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,880 shift gears. Into something a little different. Thompson, Georgia. This 189 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:38,710 one is for people who genuinely want the small town. How small are we 190 00:11:38,710 --> 00:11:41,750 talking? Just over 6,500 residents. 191 00:11:42,230 --> 00:11:45,990 Founded in 1837 as a depot on the Georgia railroad. 192 00:11:46,230 --> 00:11:49,950 So this community's roots go back nearly two centuries and it still 193 00:11:49,950 --> 00:11:53,789 carries that character. Small, distinct, proud of its 194 00:11:53,789 --> 00:11:57,550 identity. Railroad town history. You can always feel 195 00:11:57,550 --> 00:12:00,950 that in the bones of a place. Thompson has Clark's Hill Lake 196 00:12:00,950 --> 00:12:04,720 nearby, one of the largest lakes in the eastern U.S. which 197 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,080 makes it a genuine destination for boating, fishing and 198 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,920 outdoor recreation. And culturally, the town punches well 199 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,400 above its weight. The Blind Willie Mactel Music Festival 200 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,520 celebrates one of the most important figures in blues history. 201 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,560 Blind Willie Mactel, the Georgia born musician whose 202 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:26,280 influence reached everyone from Bob Dylan to the Allman Brothers 203 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,360 and the Belmead Hunt opening meet carries on a long equestrian 204 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,920 tradition in the area. The Blind Willie McTell Music Festival. 205 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,920 Blues history, a massive lake, an old railroad 206 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,680 town that is a very specific, very rich identity 207 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:45,400 for a community of 6,500 people. Thompson is the kind 208 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:49,240 of place that draws people who are done with noise and pace and want 209 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:53,000 something genuinely different. Easy access to Augusta when you 210 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,760 need it, but a real sense of arrival when you come home. I love 211 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,520 that framing. Okay, number seven on the list goes even 212 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,360 further out. Warrenton. Warrenton, Georgia. About 213 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,880 38 miles outside of Augusta. Just over 2,000 214 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,480 residents. And here is where the phrase people know your name 215 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,400 stops being a cliche and starts being a literal description of 216 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,960 daily life. What does Warrenton look like? Is there a real 217 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,680 downtown? A beautiful one? The downtown area and homes on 218 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:26,340 Main street are are included on the National Register of Historic Places, 219 00:13:26,500 --> 00:13:29,860 described as having what the register calls an abundance of 220 00:13:29,860 --> 00:13:33,380 historic buildings. Antique shops, gift stores, 221 00:13:33,460 --> 00:13:36,980 restaurants around the town square. The Museum of Cultural History 222 00:13:37,140 --> 00:13:40,620 is housed in the historic East Warrenton Depot. And the Knox 223 00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:44,460 Theater, which is undergoing restoration, is a short walk from the Chamber 224 00:13:44,460 --> 00:13:48,260 of Commerce. There is something genuinely special about a small 225 00:13:48,340 --> 00:13:51,980 town that has a functioning museum in a restored train 226 00:13:51,980 --> 00:13:55,830 depot. That's a community that takes its own story 227 00:13:55,990 --> 00:13:59,750 seriously. And they celebrated. The annual Sportsman's festival 228 00:13:59,750 --> 00:14:03,390 runs every summer. Other events happen throughout the year. For people 229 00:14:03,390 --> 00:14:06,830 who want a true connection to place, who want to be somewhere that has 230 00:14:06,830 --> 00:14:10,630 accumulated meaning over time. Warrenton delivers that in a way that 231 00:14:10,630 --> 00:14:13,270 larger suburbs simply cannot replicate. 232 00:14:13,990 --> 00:14:17,790 38 miles is real distance from Augusta, but for the 233 00:14:17,790 --> 00:14:21,440 right person, that's actually the point completely. 234 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,120 And it brings up something worth saying. The communities on this list aren't 235 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,840 ranked in terms of best to worst. They represent genuinely different 236 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,520 versions of what a good life looks like. Warrenton is for someone 237 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:36,120 who's consciously choosing distance and quiet and routes, 238 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:40,000 that's a real and valuable preference. Alright, we've got 239 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,680 two left and both of them are over the South Carolina 240 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,940 state line. Let's do Aiken Aiken, 241 00:14:46,940 --> 00:14:50,620 S.C. founded as a resort town and that origin never 242 00:14:50,620 --> 00:14:54,180 fully left, Aiken has been recognized as one of 21 best 243 00:14:54,180 --> 00:14:57,820 towns for boomers, one of a hundred best communities for young people, 244 00:14:57,980 --> 00:15:01,260 and one of a dozen distinctive destinations, multiple 245 00:15:01,260 --> 00:15:05,100 audiences, multiple national recognitions. That is a 246 00:15:05,100 --> 00:15:08,620 wide range of accolades from very different evaluators. 247 00:15:09,020 --> 00:15:12,740 That doesn't happen unless the place has real bones. Aiken's 248 00:15:12,740 --> 00:15:16,150 identity is built around an outdoor active lifestyle and 249 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:19,820 equestrian culture sits at the center of that. Sporting competitions, 250 00:15:20,060 --> 00:15:23,900 equestrian events and festivals run regularly throughout the year. 251 00:15:24,060 --> 00:15:27,900 Housing options include spacious lots and dedicated equestrian 252 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:31,580 communities, which is a genuinely rare thing to find in a suburb. 253 00:15:31,740 --> 00:15:35,260 I know people who have specifically relocated chasing that 254 00:15:35,260 --> 00:15:39,020 lifestyle. Horse properties within striking distance of a real 255 00:15:39,020 --> 00:15:42,700 city are not easy to find and the rest of the lifestyle 256 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:46,290 package holds up. Hitchcock woods, one of the largest urban 257 00:15:46,290 --> 00:15:49,970 forests in the US is right in Aiken. Hopelands Gardens, 258 00:15:50,050 --> 00:15:53,090 a flourishing downtown with locally owned restaurants, 259 00:15:53,490 --> 00:15:57,210 cafes and foodie festivals, golf courses. The schools 260 00:15:57,210 --> 00:16:00,970 are well regarded and the community is genuinely growing. People 261 00:16:00,970 --> 00:16:04,730 discovered it as a destination and then decided to stay. It's 262 00:16:04,730 --> 00:16:08,210 one of those places where the resort town energy never felt 263 00:16:08,210 --> 00:16:11,850 artificial because the landscape actually supports it. The the 264 00:16:11,850 --> 00:16:15,450 woods, the trails, the open land. It's the 265 00:16:15,450 --> 00:16:19,170 real thing. Exactly. And if Aiken is compelling, but the 266 00:16:19,170 --> 00:16:22,850 price point is a consideration, the last community on our list is 267 00:16:22,850 --> 00:16:26,530 worth a close look. New Ellenton, South Carolina Just a short 268 00:16:26,530 --> 00:16:30,090 drive from Aiken. How close? Close enough that Newellington 269 00:16:30,090 --> 00:16:33,730 residents have easy access to everything Aiken offers. While the 270 00:16:33,730 --> 00:16:36,330 median home value in Newellanton sits around 271 00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:39,700 $181,000. The making it one of the most 272 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:43,340 affordable options in this entire region. About 2200 273 00:16:43,340 --> 00:16:47,020 residents genuinely tight knit. The kind of community where 274 00:16:47,020 --> 00:16:50,620 events and gatherings aren't scheduled on a calendar so much as 275 00:16:50,620 --> 00:16:54,460 woven into how people live. Affordable, small scale, 276 00:16:54,779 --> 00:16:58,540 community oriented and within reach of a larger town's amenities. 277 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:02,140 That is a very appealing combination for a first time 278 00:17:02,140 --> 00:17:05,980 buyer or someone looking to stretch their dollar. In a real community, 279 00:17:06,530 --> 00:17:10,250 the mean commute time is just under 24 minutes. Manageable for 280 00:17:10,250 --> 00:17:13,810 anyone who's willing to trade some proximity for significantly more 281 00:17:13,810 --> 00:17:17,570 house, more land and a pace of life that larger suburbs 282 00:17:17,570 --> 00:17:21,210 struggle to offer. And it's worth noting all nine communities we 283 00:17:21,210 --> 00:17:24,770 covered today sit within the orbit of a real, functioning city. 284 00:17:24,850 --> 00:17:28,650 Augusta brings the hospitals, the universities, the professional 285 00:17:28,650 --> 00:17:32,410 opportunities. These suburbs let you access all of that without living 286 00:17:32,410 --> 00:17:35,480 inside it. Two states, nine communities. 287 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,280 Everything from a nationally ranked suburb to a resort 288 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,840 equestrian town to a tiny historic downtown 289 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:46,760 where people are still restoring a theater. Augusta's orbit 290 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,600 has a lot going on. And if any of these places caught your eye or 291 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:54,400 sparked a little curiosity about what homes actually look like on the inside 292 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,880 in any of these communities, this is exactly what 293 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,560 eazyhomesearch.com is built for. More than 294 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,160 one and a half million active listings, with thousands updated every 295 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,840 minute and an incredible collection of photos that let you explore the 296 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:11,200 inside of homes across America without committing to anything. 297 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,200 Just browse, dream, and see what's out there. Because 298 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,920 sometimes you don't know a place could be home until you see 299 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,720 what the houses look like inside. And that's honestly why Most people 300 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,560 visit EasyHomeSearch.com not because they're ready to buy or 301 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,380 sell, but because. But because there is something genuinely satisfying about walking 302 00:18:30,380 --> 00:18:34,180 through a beautiful home, even if it's just on a screen. You see a 303 00:18:34,180 --> 00:18:38,020 kitchen and suddenly you know exactly what you want to do with yours. You 304 00:18:38,020 --> 00:18:41,180 see a backyard and start imagining a different version of your life. 305 00:18:41,660 --> 00:18:45,260 You see a neighborhood you've never heard of and think, wait. People 306 00:18:45,260 --> 00:18:48,260 actually live like that? The photos on Easy 307 00:18:48,260 --> 00:18:52,100 Homesearch.com make all of that possible. More than 22 308 00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:55,740 million of them across. More than one and a half million active listings 309 00:18:56,310 --> 00:18:59,870 updated every minute. So what you're seeing is real and available right 310 00:18:59,870 --> 00:19:03,670 now. It costs nothing to look. No account required, no 311 00:19:03,670 --> 00:19:07,150 pressure, no one selling your information. Just incredible 312 00:19:07,150 --> 00:19:10,830 photos of homes all across America waiting for you to get lost 313 00:19:10,830 --> 00:19:14,670 in them. Visit ezhomesearch.com we'll see you 314 00:19:14,670 --> 00:19:18,150 on the next episode of Local Finds as we keep exploring real 315 00:19:18,150 --> 00:19:19,990 estate all across the United States.