Fears and rewards of buying South Carolina island real estate are like those felt when buying an exotic sports car.

• It’s hot.
• It’s beautiful.
• It’s fun.
• It makes a great escape from daily life.

But is it a risky investment? What about maintenance, getting on and off the island, beach erosion, and ocean storms?

Here’s how successful Folly Beach real estate investors handle their biggest issues and fears.

The small island community here is greatly made up of property owners with similar needs. These issues and fears have been confronted years ago by home owners living on and off the island of Folly Beach.

Property maintenance is a no brainer. Maintenance companies are abundant here, serving private houses, condos, rental properties, time-shares, etc.

Travel to and from the island is generally via the 171 Folly Road bridge that turns into Center Street once you cross over the short span of Atlantic Ocean behind Folly Island. Public and private docks allow boater access to and from the island.

Beach erosion has been an ongoing obstacle with which engineers have addressed since the 1800s. Because of our historic and natural significance, Folly Beach has been included in an ongoing renourishement program lead by the Army Corps of Engineers that began in the early 1990s. The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the continual upkeep of beach sand and sediment around Folly Beach. Typical of barrier islands, the entire ocean side of the island is covered with beach sand. Through periodic maintenance, along with local laws concerning traffic and use of the beach, the renourishment program has successfully maintained beach profile.

As for storms, many homes are equipped for worst case scenario weather with built-in or add-on hurricane shutters as well as elevated construction indicative of South Carolina homes. Temporary power outages can occur from time to time on Folly Beach, making a home back-up generator a luxury home convenience.  Flood insurance covers wind, water or anything else the ocean can throw at our island.

These are just a few of the solutions long term real estate investors in Folly Beach have found in order to make owning island homes extremely profitable. To learn more, sign up to receive our free Folly Beach Real Estate Special Reports: Buyer’s Secrets.