Housing Options Abound in Greenville, South Carolina

From residential homes to historic loft apartments, finding your perfect home is easy in Greenville.

By Kelly Rogers on October 14, 2022

The Lofts at Woodside Mills

When you’re searching for a place to live in Greenville, you don’t have to sacrifice location or affordability for access to the city’s many amenities. Whether you’re looking to buy a family home in a residential neighborhood or just wanting to find an apartment to rent, there’s a plethora of options at plenty of price points.

Areas to Watch

Plenty of neighborhoods within Greenville proper, as well as surrounding areas in the Upstate, are great for families.

In greater Greenville, the Piedmont area seems to be the most affordable based on recent sales in the local Multiple Listing Service, says Matthew Thrift, broker for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services C. Dan Joyner.

Fountain Inn, Travelers Rest, Simpsonville, Mauldin and most parts of Greenville appear to be gaining equity values quickly because of the amount of growth the region has seen over the past few years, Thrift notes. The median home value in Greenville was about $301,000 in July 2022, according to Zillow.

The Lofts at Woodside Mills

Of course, affordability isn’t the only important issue to consider when buying a home, especially if you have a family with kids. School systems are important – and again Greenville comes through.

“Greenville is unique as it has a school system with a school of choice program,” Thrift says. “If a parent really wants a specific school for their child but cannot find a home in that particular school zone, there is still an opportunity for their child to attend that school even if they live in another part of the county.”

John Byrum

Lofty Living

Buying a home in a residential area isn’t for everybody, and that’s totally fine because, in Greenville, you’re truly spoiled for choices when it comes to apartments. There are apartments smack in the heart of downtown Greenville, apartments located along the Swamp Rabbit Trail and apartments further removed from downtown in more residential areas.

An emerging option is loft living. These loft apartments are located in historical industrial sites that have been transformed into living spaces radiating with character. Think exposed brick walls, 16-foot ceilings, larger-than-life windows and concrete floors.

The Lofts at Woodside Mill and the Historic Judson Mill were both originally textile mills that have been renovated into spaces with incredible amenities.

“Former textile mills serve as a catalyst for transformation in disinvested neighborhoods,” says Bill Fox, senior director at Hughes Agency, which is closely involved with development at Judson Mill.

Judson Mill Loft s first welcomed residents in June 2021, but the idea and brainstorming behind making it a mixed-use community began in 2018. Mixed-use, because there’s a whole lot more than just apartments at the Judson Mill site.

“Living at Judson Mill Loft s gives residents ready access to our retail partners, nightlife and entertainment, with big names like Magnetic South Brewery, High Spirits Hospitality, Cowboy Up and BlocHaven climbing gym,” Fox says.

John Byrum

Of course, the usual amenities you’d expect from a quality apartment community are there, too – a pool, workout room, parking, etc. – but Judson Mill residents have the unique advantage of living onsite with a rock-climbing gym, a Western nightclub and a local food market, to name a few. There’s also a strong community connection piece to Judson Mill.

“We’ve created the JudHub, for example, a socially minded innovation hub connecting social entrepreneurs, community developers and nonprofits,” Fox says. “It’s not about putt ing up walls and seeing what happens; it’s about fostering community and connecting partners like Feed & Seed, CommunityWorks and the YMCA who have identified needs in the community and are working to serve them.”