Best Reasons to Consider Lake Keowee: Keowee Key is an absolute hidden jewel located on 18,000 acre Lake Keowee in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With long Spring and Fall seasons, Keowee Key also delivers with moderate Summer and Winter seasons. This gated, active adult retirement community is, without question, the best value community on prestigious Lake Keowee. The North Carolina mountains are a mere 20 mile drive to the north and picturesque Clemson University is your immediate neighbor. All amenities, golf course, fitness center and clubhouse are newly renovated and private. Add in the 2, full service marinas, Olympic size heated pool, and hard and clay surface tennis courts and you realize that Keowee Key simply has it all.
Click on any image below to enlarge.
Where:
Salem, South Carolina (Seneca, South Carolina).
Community Size:
1,500 acres - Master Planned
Community Age:
Keowee Key was first established in the 1970s and, by the mid 1990s had homes on approximately half of the 2,200 home sites. New home building has steadily continued so that there are few good building lots remaining in the entire community.
Amenities:
Private and picturesque 18 hole newly renovated golf course; extremely clear and clean 18,000 acre Lake Keowee; 2 marinas with 320 rental slips and white sand beaches; state of the art newly renovated Health and Fitness Center; Indoor/outdoor heated Olympic size pool; 8 outdoor tennis courts with full-time tennis pro; 2.5 mile lakeside walking trail; state record striped bass fishing; 8,300 SF Activities Center; 24 hour security, fire and ambulance service; and over 60 Activities Clubs.
Property Taxes:
$700/$100,000 value HOA Fees: $200/month Boat Slip: $NA
Ownership Benefits:
Country Club Membership; Marina Membership; Rec Center Membership
Seneca (pop. 15,000) - 8 miles; Clemson University - 10 miles; Greenville, SC - 35 miles; Asheville, NC - 90 miles; Atlanta, GA - 115 miles
Airports:
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport served by Delta, Northwest, Continental, American Eagle, United Express, US Airways and Allegiant
Hospital/Medical:
Oconee Memorial Hospital - 9 miles - 125 physicians providing a wide range of acute care and specialty care services. A new Patient Tower to provide 126 private rooms along with a new Critical Care Unit, Progressive Care Unit and Hospice House facility.
Shopping:
Groceries - BiLo in Seneca and Clemson; Hardware - True Value and Ace Hardware (Clemson); General Discount - Walmart Supercenter (Seneca); Regional Malls - Hayward Mall, Greenville (Macys, Dillards, Belks, Penneys, Sears plus 150 specialty stores)
Recreation:
Golf, boating, fishing, hiking (Blue Ridge Mountains), Biltmore Estate (Asheville), Falls Park on the Reedy (Greenville)
Colleges/Universities:
Clemson University - Clemson; Furman University - Greenville
State Income Tax:
7% on federally taxable incomes in excess of $12,850/YR. But, South Carolina does not tax Social Security Income and gives other large deductions to seniors, especially age 65 plus. If this is an important consideration for you, please check with your tax advisor. South Carolina claims to have one of the lowest overall per capita tax rates in the country according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
State Sales Tax:
6% (No school property taxes on primary home), plus $50,000 homestead exemption on property taxes if over age 65
Cost of Living:
The average US Cost of Living Index is 100. We compared Buffalo, NY (98.8 Index and very near the US avg. cost of living) to Anderson, SC (comparable to Seneca, SC and, if anything, a little more expensive). Anderson came in with a cost of living that was 10% less than Buffalo, NY - approximately a 90.0 index for cost of living. What this means is that you can live at the same level in Oconee County on an annual income of $45,000 as you can in Buffalo, NY on and annual income of $50,000.
Climate:
Avg. annual temperature (Fahrenheit) = 59; Avg. annual high temperature = 71; Avg. annual low temperature = 48; Avg. number of days above 90 degrees = NA; average number of rainy days = NA; Avg. high temperature in July and August = 87; Avg. low temperature in January and February = 29.
