During the first decade and a half of the 21st century, housing in large cities like Charlotte were often much more reasonably priced. For individuals with lower to middle incomes, home ownership was not something beyond the grasp of reality.
The world is a different place these days. Especially in Mecklenburg County where less expensive houses in distressed condition can go for as much as $380,000.
Prices vary across the two state regions, with homes in rural and small towns in North and South Carolina typically going for substantially less than what one would pay in a large city.
The old tale that same-sex individuals and couples generally have more expendable income because they don’t have children can be accurate, depending on a number of factors, like family income at the time of your birth, level of education achieved, mental health, race and even how attractive you may be perceived by others.
But just being queer in America doesn’t mean you have a whole lot of money. According to a study by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), LGBTQ+ individuals tend to make less money than their heterosexual counterparts, which makes the possibility of finding affordable housing even more challenging.
Mark and Neil Hoffman were married in 2022. They recently relocated from Roanoke, Virginia, to Orangeburg, South Carolina. But both had made multiple moves from larger cities previously and had established careers. The decision to move to a small town came at the behest of a friend who discovered sizable but older, yet good condition and affordable homes in many of the smaller towns of South Carolina.
After experiencing significantly higher rental costs and home prices in Roanoke and some of the other cities they had lived in, the choice was an easy one: move to a less pricey state and purchase property in a smaller town or rural region at a much lower price.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Neil spent a large portion of his youth there before moving to New Jersey and living in multiple suburban towns that were always a stone’s throw from New York City. He maintained a steady career in finance before moving to Roanoke in 2020.
Mark’s story was a bit different. He joined the military and spent many years as an enlisted man. During that time he lived in South Carolina, Texas and a few different towns and cities in Virginia before settling in Roanoke in 2004.
That’s where the two began their lives together approximately 16 years later. Neil says his reasons for wanting to leave Roanoke are more than just financial.
“I was very dissatisfied living in Southwest Virginia,” he says. “Roanoke is very remote from other points of interest. The coast, other cities, etc. Another factor was a general feeling of discomfort. Roanoke is a blue dot in a red sea. The area where you would find culture, or anything hip or bohemian was a tiny area of downtown. Outside of that boundary there were Trump signs everywhere. People were not shy about wearing their political beliefs on their sleeves. That’s something I call ‘visual bullying.'”
Mark’s reasons for leaving Roanoke to move to Orangeburg?
“I was getting restless in Roanoke. I felt like I wanted to go somewhere that would allow me to be a lot closer to the things I like. Columbia is around 40 miles away, the beach, for instance, isn’t far away at all. A trip to Charleston is about 70 miles. Greenville is another larger city and it’s about twice that distance. And it’s the same distance to Charlotte. Then there’s the cost of housing. Things are just a whole lot more affordable here and you get a lot more space for your money. Plus you don’t have to travel very far to be involved with the world outside of Orangeburg.”
Closer access to things Mark liked; the potential to be in a more desirable location for both; leaving political bullying behind — a hot button topic for Neil; and more bang for your buck when it comes to housing, another plus for both of them.
So off they went to the Palmetto State, with a few months’ pit stop at a friend’s 1920s farmhouse in the small town of Cameron (estimated population 371). That gave them the time they needed to look for an appropriate property nearby to call their own.
In just a few months, they ended up in the small town of Orangeburg, (approximate population of 13,280) as the proud owners of a 3,000+ square foot ranch/split level with total brick construction, a two-car garage, five bedrooms and three baths.
Both men are fans of the mid-20th century modern period. While the house had been kept up, maintained and consistently repaired as needed, it had never been updated. The result? A retro turnkey in nearly perfect condition and a lot that boasted nearly an acre and a half of land. At just over $300,000, a similar home would cost around $900,000 in Charlotte and $700,000 in Roanoke. Both Hoffmans agree they love their house and are enjoying their lives in Orangeburg.
Says Mark: “The house is amazing and in great condition. It gives us a lot of space to spread out and have room to move and display so many of the things we’ve collected over the years, and really enjoy seeing them.
“As for the town itself, it’s easier to wrap up my day and any errands I can get done quicker because the town just isn’t that large, and the people you come in contact with are very friendly. But you know, on the downside, because there are so many brick and mortar store closings, the shopping here is not adequate and there isn’t a lot going on in the immediate area culturally.”
Neil concurs.
“There is definitely a lack of amenities,” he says. “Not that we really go to clubs anymore, but there are none here, of course. And you have to drive 10 miles to buy groceries. Technically though, Orangeburg is part of the Columbia metropolitan area, so our current location has more of a suburban feel and folks are generally more friendly and sociable.”
So we understand housing affordability and size are a definite win. Friendly neighbors are a plus. Scant amenities are a drawback. But what about the big question? What’s it like to be part of the LGBTQ community there, and what is it like to be out?
“I’m not really sure I’d call it a community, but we keep a pretty low profile here,” says Neil.
“Everyone pretty much does,” Mark responds. “Plus we have a huge lot so we’ve got a lot of space between us and our neighbors. I like it that way.”
“I don’t think a lot of people socialize,” Neil continues. “And I think a lot of that is because of [social media].”
“A lot depends on where you’re at in life,” Mark offers. “I wouldn’t recommend a young gay couple do this. I think you need to be more mature when you do this kind of a move and you’re gonna’ live in an area like this. I would recommend larger urban areas for younger people.”
Neil chimes in: “In this region of South Carolina, I would definitely say somewhere like Columbia. Not huge, but it still has a city feel and a progressive and welcoming environment.”
Columbia’s population is close to 150,000 residents. Townhouses and moderate-sized homes can still be purchased for less than $100K and studio and one bedroom apartments are available for rent as low as $600-$700. The state’s capital even has a thriving LGBTQ+ Community Center, known as the Harriet Hancock Center.
“And that’s something – the community center – we look forward to experiencing more ourselves,” Mark continues. “But, if you want to live in a small town or rural area, I would recommend just being polite, and keep your personal business to yourself, you know, within reasonable limits. You don’t need to advertise a gay flag out in front of your house or things like bumper stickers on your car. I don’t recommend it nowadays. I think the culture is too violent and you’re inviting violent acts on yourself. It’s sad for me to say that, because I know many people are proud and want to express themselves or express solidarity with others who might do these things, when they may not even be applicable to them at all.
“I recommend that you keep your cards close and take a cautious approach. Don’t tell everybody your business in the first five minutes and give the people you meet the test for a while. Make sure you’re dealing with simple, sane, credible people.”
Another point both of the men agree on is financial consideration.
“You need to have a decent amount of savings, in case the experience doesn’t work for you,” Mark explains. “It’s not so great for you to uproot, and have to move again. I believe if you can save enough so you’re not just putting everything into one move, and you’re not busted for like, three years or something like that, trying out this kind of life can be worth the effort, and a good way to slow down the pace. It’s definitely working for us.”
A brief look at Orangeburg
The town that Mark and Neil Hoffman call home definitely has some positive aspects. Often referred to as “The Burg,” it is the county seat of Orangeburg County. Located on the north fork of the Edisto River, it covers an area of just over nine square miles. Originally founded as a trading post in 1704 for trading fur with the area native tribal population, it was named after a British Royal named William IV, the “Prince of Orange” and the son-in law of then King George II of Great Britain. It is home to two HBCUs: Claflin University and South Carolina State University. The population is a mix of mostly Black (currently listed at 8,577) and Caucasian (3,758).
In 2007, Orangeburg hosted the first Democratic U.S. presidential candidate debate of the campaign season at Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, on the campus of South Carolina State University; future president Barack Obama was one of the debaters. In 2021, President Joe Biden visited Orangeburg to deliver a commencement address at South Carolina State.
This is a Solutions Journalism story. For more details on the town, visit https://www.orangeburg.sc.us/.
