Savvy Mom Buys Clemson-Area Townhome, Aims to Profit from Investment

As of August 23, 2025, a 51-year-old real estate agent in South Carolina, LeAnne Carswell, has purchased a townhome near Clemson University for her son to live in while attending the school. Carswell's son was previously living in a dorm with three roommates, which she felt was a waste of money.

Last fall, Carswell's son informed her that he needed to find housing for the 2025-2026 school year. Carswell decided to look into buying a property instead of continuing to pay for the expensive dorm. She had heard of other parents owning properties while their children attended college, and saw it as a potential investment opportunity.

In February 2025, Carswell purchased a fully furnished 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhome in Pendleton, South Carolina, about 10 minutes from Clemson, for $227,000. The townhome was previously owned by a Clemson soccer coach who had only owned it for 5 months before taking a new job in Texas.

Carswell has rented out one of the bedrooms to a friend of her son's for $775 per month, and is considering renting the smaller third bedroom as well. She expects to either profit or at least break even when she eventually sells the property, rather than continuing to pay high dorm costs for the next few years while her son completes his studies at Clemson.