CROSSING PATTERN :Centex Homes shows off townhome neighborhood just north of Wando bridge

Brick accents highlight the exteriors of Cain Crossing townhomes in lower Berkeley County. Centex Homes is building 109 units, priced from $163,990 to $213,490. A fireplace distinguishes the open family room in the 2,003-square-foot Kensington floor plan at Cain Crossing. The neighborhood is off Clements Ferry Road. The models at Cain Crossing come with three or four bedrooms, and some plans have the master bedroom downstairs. Garden tubs and separate showers are standard attractions in the master bathrooms. It’s there, in a clearing off the southern tip of Clements Ferry Road, a community of well-trimmed townhomes clustered among grand oak trees. The dwellings are like small houses, 1,470-2,339 square feet with three to four bedrooms, separate tub and shower in the master bathrooms and a full complement of kitchen attractions such as microwave, stove and dishwasher. Yet even the largest units are less than $215,000. And the monthly regime fee is a modest $140 month that includes lawn care for yards around the townhomes, pest control and a power wash once a year. The neighborhood is Cain Crossing. Launched a year ago, the village will have 109 dual- or tri-level dwellings. Sales representatives for builder Centex Homes have sold 32 townhomes, most in the past few months. “We just had eight people move in last week,” says Dave Friedman, sales consultant. “We have a great value, for what you get, the price per square foot.” Centex saved costs with low-maintenance vinyl siding and energy-efficient construction — residents even receive a monitor to keep track of energy use, Friedman says. The townhomes are 40 percent more efficient than a 10-year home, he says. In doing so, the builder could craft accessories such as laundry rooms and attached garages, an unusual feature for townhomes; while giving buyers the chance to visit its showroom on nearby Daniel Island to pick out paint schemes, flooring and countertops and extras such as gas fireplaces and refrigerators. Cain Crossing has amenities, too, with more on the way. There’s a park, a separate place for dogs to run around and a handful of retention ponds. Plans call for a swimming pool, to be open by fall, Friedman says. The property is situated in the Charleston city limits, and children would attend Daniel Island School from first to eighth grade. Dwellings are priced from $163,990 to $213,490. The builder showcases 10 floor plans, the Hampshire, Oxford, Avalon, Kensington, Manchester, Dalton, Carlisle, Newbury, Bristol and Walden. Depending on the model, options include screened porches and third floor bonus room or loft. In addition to the base price, Centex helps out other ways financially. A 10-year structural warranty comes standard. The company offers ongoing incentives such as $2,500 off to “hometown heroes” including police officers, firefighters, teachers and military personnel and $4,000 toward closing costs for using its preferred lender CTX Mortgage. A special promotion will be launched this month specifically for Cain Crossing buyers. Details are coming out soon, he says. Going forward, the neighborhood should attract a mix of buyers such as empty nesters, Friedman says. “It should be good for young people, too,” he says. To reach Cain Crossing from downtown Charleston, cross the Ravenel Bridge in the left hand lanes onto U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. Follow Highway 17 north to S.C. Highway 41 and turn left. Take Highway 41 across the Wando River bridge into Berkeley County. Veer left onto Clements Ferry Road. Cain Crossing is less than a mile ahead on the right. An alternate route is to take Interstate 26 west to I-526 toward Mount Pleasant. Exit on Clements Ferry Road. Take Clements Ferry north for about eight miles. Cain Crossing is on the left. There are two entrances, off Reflectance Drive and Clements Ferry. For your real estate needs please visit http://www.sallyandj.com/