Historic Districts are Good for your Pocketbook

http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/propval.pdf

Recent studies in South Carolina found that local historic district status increases
house values. The market recognizes the extra protection offered by local district
status and rewards owners with a higher rate of return on their investments.

In Columbia, house prices in local historic districts increased 26% per year faster
than the market as a whole.

In Beaufort, houses in the locally protected historic district sold for 21% more, all
other factors being equal, than similar houses not in the district.

In Greenville, establishing a local historic district caused prices of houses in the
district to go up. House prices rose, on average, over 50% in just a few years.

In six smaller towns and cities across the state, local historic district status was a positive factor in determining the value of a house. For example, in Georgetown,
houses in the local historic district sold for 11% more than comparable
non-district houses, while in Anderson, district houses sold for 36% more.

Local historic districts create a win-win situation for both homeowners and the
community:

Current owners can sell their houses for higher prices or make use of their
increased equity,

New homeowners can protect their investments in their houses and enjoy greater
price gains, and

The community strengthens its tax base.