How long do I need to stay in a Charleston home for buying to make sense?

Buying makes more financial sense than renting in Charleston once you plan to stay long enough for closing costs and any rate difference to be offset by building equity and avoiding rent increases, a timeline that depends on your specific loan terms and the home's price rather than a fixed number of years. Someone planning a short stay may be better off renting. Brian Beatty helps Charleston buyers run that comparison against their actual numbers before deciding.