The Colony at Heron Reserve, West Ashley

Charleston, South Carolina

Location is the factor that sets The Colony at Heron Reserve apart from other condominiums in the Charleston, South Carolina, area.

"We're only about seven miles from downtown without the downtown price," explains Chris Eller, community sales manager for The Colony. "Also, we are a gated community, and it seems to work great for medical professionals since they get off all hours of the night."

The Colony offers seven floor plans - five with two bedrooms, two with three bedrooms and two, The McKinnon and The Landsford, with garages. Prices range from the mid-$130s (964 square feet) to the mid-$170s (1,430 square feet). Regime fees average $200 and cover landscaping maintenance, irrigation, exterior maintenance, termite bond, pest control and upkeep of all roads and the mailbox kiosk, as well as insurance from the cabinets out, which means residents only need a policy for the replacement of their personal property.

Condos in the Colony offer quality construction, with Hardi-plank siding and high impact glass that can survive winds of up to 155 mph.

Amenities include a pet park, a clubhouse, a pool, an outdoor grill, an outdoor fireplace and security gates.

Interior features include 9-foot smooth ceilings; fully-equipped kitchens with General Electric appliances; stainless steel refrigerators with bottom freezers; stainless steel smooth-top ranges, over-the-range microwaves and dishwashers; garbage disposals; and ceramic tile backsplashes and floors in the kitchen.

The six-panel interior doors feature ergonomic handles, and other extras include ceramic tile bathrooms, 36-inch vanities, huge closets, picture molding in the living room and built-in shelves. Colony residents also enjoy vaulted ceilings and screened porches, and each unit is pre-wired for high-speed Internet access.

The Colony offers quality construction, with Hardi-plank siding and high impact glass that can survive winds of up to 155 mph. Other features are a vapor barrier under all concrete floors, sound barriers between ceilings and floors, and double party wall insulation.

This relatively small community consists of only eight buildings and a total of 112 condominiums, backing up to protected wetlands. There is a one-year builder warranty, an in-house warranty department with service by request and in-house property management.

Safety and security are important at The Colony, which has a monitored gate system, a sprinkler and fire system monitored by Sonitrol, 5/8-inch fire-rated sheetrock and double deadbolt locks.

"We are almost sold out, with more than 80 percent sold," Eller says. "This community has great appeal for many who want quality with outstanding pricing and also like to be in the heart of things. A mile away from the local hospital and shopping, eight miles from the airport and 11 miles from the beach, it is central to everything."

By Stacy E. Domingo