James Island, SC Real Estate
James Island is one of the top places to live in Charleston because it's the closest suburb you'll find to peninsular Charleston. Downtown and Folly Beach are both just a 5-10 minute drive, making James Island the most convenient area in Charleston. Overall, you'll also find less traffic compared to the surrounding areas. If you're looking for a close proximity to the city and the beach, James Island should be at the top of your list for areas to consider.
James Island is especially popular among locals because of its laid back atmosphere and its independently owned shops and restaurants. Sure, you’ll find some big chain stores like Chick-fil-A and Walmart, but most residents prefer the local businesses that have a character all their own. If you like outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, boating, walking, or rock climbing, you’ll find lots to do without ever having to leave the island. Or, if you want a day full of shopping or sightseeing, downtown is just a few minutes away.
James Island Pros:
James Island Cons:
All James Island Condo, Town Home, and Single Family MLS Listings by Price:
1-10 of 247 Property Results.
- Price:
- $100,000
- Address:
- 1755 CENTRAL PARK RD
- MLS ID:
- 1119220
- Year Built:
- 2006
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfa-condo Regime, Condominium, Sngl Fam Att
- Subdivision:
- Regatta On James Island
- Bedrooms:
- 1
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Square Feet:
- 709 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $101,000
- Address:
- 1489 DELESTON ST
- MLS ID:
- 1112861
- Year Built:
- 2008
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfd-traditional, Sngl Fam Det
- Subdivision:
- James Island
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Acreage:
- 0.35
- Square Feet:
- 1,512 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $112,000
- Address:
- 1188 JULIAN CLARK RD
- MLS ID:
- 1125536
- Year Built:
- 1985
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfa-duplex (1 Unit), Townhouse, Sngl Fam Att
- Subdivision:
- Island Bluff
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Square Feet:
- 1,193 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $114,900
- Address:
- 1207 APEX LN
- MLS ID:
- 1124380
- Year Built:
- 2001
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfa-duplex (1 Unit), Townhouse, Sngl Fam Att
- Subdivision:
- Meridian Place
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Acreage:
- 0.06
- Square Feet:
- 1,086 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $115,000
- Address:
- 1338 RONALD LN
- MLS ID:
- 1105842
- Year Built:
- 1955
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfd-traditional, Sngl Fam Det
- Subdivision:
- Kings Acres
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Acreage:
- 0.38
- Square Feet:
- 1,298 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $116,000
- Address:
- 1508 THERESA DR
- MLS ID:
- 1125036
- Year Built:
- 1985
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfa-duplex (1 Unit), Townhouse, Sngl Fam Att
- Subdivision:
- Bel Air
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 1
- Acreage:
- 0.13
- Square Feet:
- 1,134 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $117,900
- Address:
- 1755 CENTRAL PARK RD
- MLS ID:
- 1128642
- Year Built:
- 2006
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfa-condo Regime, Condominium, Sngl Fam Att
- Subdivision:
- Regatta On James Island
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Square Feet:
- 990 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $119,000
- Address:
- 1330 RONALD LN
- MLS ID:
- 1028602
- Year Built:
- 1958
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfd-ranch, Sngl Fam Det
- Subdivision:
- Kings Acres
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Acreage:
- 0.33
- Square Feet:
- 2,115 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $119,000
- Address:
- 528 FLEMING RD
- MLS ID:
- 1128606
- Year Built:
- 1976
- City:
- James Island
- Kind:
- Sfd-ranch, Sngl Fam Det
- Subdivision:
- Cross Creek
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Acreage:
- 0.04
- Square Feet:
- 2,600 sq. ft.
- Price:
- $119,900
- Address:
- 1285 APEX LN
- MLS ID:
- 1200125
- Year Built:
- 2003
- City:
- Charleston
- Kind:
- Sfa-duplex (1 Unit), Townhouse, Sngl Fam Att
- Subdivision:
- Meridian Place
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Acreage:
- 0.06
- Square Feet:
- 1,086 sq. ft.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker ReciprocitySM Program of the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Prudential Carolina Real Estate are marked with the Broker ReciprocitySM logo or the Broker ReciprocitySM thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
The broker providing these data believes them to be correct, but advises interested parties to confirm them before relying on them in a purchase decision.
Copyright 2012 Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
More about James Island, SC
Location
James Island, South Carolina is located just across the harbor from downtown Charleston. You can get downtown via the James Island Connector in a matter of 5-10 minutes. The closest beach, Folly, is also less than 10 minutes from most parts of the island. Because of its great location, many residents who work downtown actually live on James Island because it's the shortest commute you'll find (and you can get a lot more house for the money compared to downtown).
Search James Island Home Listings by Map
Things to Do on James Island
James Island has a great selection of independently owned restaurants and local chains. There are too many good choices to name them all, but some of our favorites include Melvin’s Barbeque (pictured right), Boulevard Diner, The Mustard Seed, Andolini’s Pizza, Jack’s Cosmic Dogs, King Street Grill, and The Kickin’ Chicken. You'll also find some big chains like Quiznos, Pizza Hut, Arby's, and Chick-fil-A.
You’ll find 2 movie theaters on James Island. The Carmike, located on Central Park Road, shows most of the big blockbusters. The Terrace Theater on Maybank Highway is dedicated to independent and foreign films, but you'll find an occasional mainstream movie playing. The Terrace is one of the only movie cinemas in Charleston that sells beer and wine in its concessions. If you're looking for an IMAX theater, there are 2 options within a 10 minute drive (The Hippodrome in downtown Charleston and the Citadel Mall in West Ashley).
The James Island County Park has more than 600 acres of paved walking trails, intramural fields, picnic areas, and campgrounds. You'll also find a great, new playground as well as a dock for fishing and crabbing. Annual passes are very affordable (about $15 for Charleston County residents) and grant you access to 3 other county parks throughout Charleston. The James Island park offers more recreational options at an additional cost, such as the climbing wall and waterpark. The climbing wall is the largest in South Carolina, measuring 50 feet tall and over 4,500 square feet of climbing space. This is a fun outdoor experience for all skill levels, and the staff are especially helpful with beginners.
The Splash Zone Waterpark is open seasonally, usually from the beginning of May to early September. Since most James Island neighborhoods don’t have swimming pools as amenities, this waterpark is a good option for families with younger kids. The waterpark has a 200 foot tube slide, a 200 foot open slide, a 500 foot lazy river, a Carribean playground with sprays and slides (pictured), and a changing area with showers and restrooms.
The James Island County Park also has the best dog park in Charleston. There’s a smaller fenced in section designated for small dogs as well as a huge fenced field for larger dogs. This is a great place to let your dog off the leash to run and play with other dogs. The dog park even has a sandy beach area where dogs can swim in the lake. You’ll also find some picnic tables where you can sit and relax while your dog gets his play time.
James Island has 2 golf courses. The Charleston Municipal Golf Course has been open to the public since it was established in 1929. As it’s called by locals, “The Muni” is especially good for first timers and players who are still new to the sport. As one of the most affordable games of golf you’ll find in Charleston, it’s no wonder that more than 60,000 rounds are played each year at this course.
The Country Club of Charleston is also located on James Island. This is a members-only club and is the closest golf course you’ll find to downtown. From its location on the Intracoastal Waterway, there are spectacular views of the marshes and Charleston Harbor. Real estate in Country Club is some of the priciest on all of James Island since it’s the only true golf course community on the island.
Boating is an extremely popular pastime on James Island because it has some of the easiest water access you’ll find in Charleston. James Island has the most public boat landings of any Charleston area, so you don’t have to own a private dock or live in a neighborhood with boat facilities in order to enjoy boating. The Riverland Terrace Public Boat Landing (pictured left) is located at the back of the island and is one of the least crowded.
The Wappoo Cut Boat Landing (pictured right) is technically on the West Ashley side of the water, but it’s the largest one you’ll find in the area. It has plenty of parking space and perhaps the best location. You can get to the James Island Connector by boat in a matter of minutes as well as the Charleston Harbor. Another good public landing to use is the one off Sol Legare Road which puts you right onto the Stono River.
James Island Schools
In Charleston County, the James Island public schools are second only to Mt. Pleasant. For more info on public school rankings in Charleston, GreatSchools.com is a good resource. Also, check out the website for the Charleston County School District. You'll find 4 public elementary schools on James Island: Harbor View, James Island Elementary, Murray-LaSaine, and Stiles Point (pictured left). James Island has 2 middle schools: Fort Johnson and James Island Middle.
James Island Charter High School (pictured right) serves all James Island residents. This was actually the first high school in the state to convert to charter status. With more than 1,500 students, James Island Charter is now the largest charter high school in the southeast. All students are encouraged to choose among four majors in order to help narrow their search for a future career: Arts and Humanities; Business and Information Systems; Engineering, Industrial, and Manufacturing Techonologies; and Health, Human, and Public Services.
The high school offers students a wide range of clubs and after school activities. In addition to the usual marching band and ROTC programs that you’ll find at most public high schools, James Island Charter also has Yoga, Engineering, Sailing, Surfing, and French. You'll even find The Green Team, which is an environmentally conscious group dedicated to recycling and raising awareness about various environmental issues.
The athletic program at James Island Charter is also quite good. You’ll find the traditional sports like football and basketball as well as those that are becoming more and more popular in public and private schools, such as golf and field hockey. James Island is also one of the few schools in Charleston that offers competition cheerleading. The varsity cheerleading team not only cheers at school games but also competes each fall against other squads throughout the Low Country.
Real Estate on James Island, SC
James Island Houses for Sale
James Island single family homes start in the high $100's for an older brick ranch-styled home and go up to several million dollars for a harbor front home overlooking the Battery. Houses on James Island will be less expensive for starter homes compared to Mount Pleasant, but as you approach the $400K range you'll get more for your money in Mt. Pleasant. This is partly because James Island has fewer homes in the higher price ranges, and also because the vicinity to downtown drives up the price of these homes with the high demand.
James Island Townhouses for Sale
Town homes on James Island make great investments because MUSC and College of Charleston students (and graduates) provide a steady demand in renting and reselling these in the future. For resale purposes, end unit townhouses are much more desirable because these only share one common wall with a neighbor. Townhouses are ideal for buyers who want a good location but are working with a budget of under $200K. And most of the townhouses on James Island have fenced backyards, giving you more space and privacy compared to condos.
James Island Condos for Sale
You won't find condos for a better price anywhere else in Charleston - or better access to the beach and to downtown. There are several nice condo developments on James Island, but by far the nicest are The Retreat, The Regatta, and Mira Vista. Condos on James Island are ideal for buyers wanting as little upkeep as possible. Because of their low maintenance, you'll find that a lot of condos are used as second homes. On average, monthly regime fees for James Island condos are about $275.00, but this generally includes exterior insurance and upkeep of the community pools and clubhouses.
James Island New Construction Homes for Sale
New construction homes on James Island are harder to find because there is so little undeveloped land for building large neighborhoods. For this reason, most of the new developments are smaller than what you'll find in Mount Pleasant. Also, most of the new homes will cost more (prices start in the $300's) because of the higher land cost and the high demand for these homes. If you don't find the kind of new home you're looking for on James Island, you might consider neighboring areas such as Johns Island, West Ashley, or Mount Pleasant. In the north side of Mount Pleasant especially, there are several large scale developments right now offering a good selection of new homes for sale.
James Island Waterfront Homes for Sale
Waterfront real estate on James Island ranges from homes overlooking a neighborhood pond to harbor front homes with incredible views of downtown Charleston. Marshfront homes with water access are also in high demand because James Island is so close to the ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Charleston Harbor. Waterfront homes start in the mid $200's for a pond or lake front home and cost $750K plus for a home with deep water access.
James Island Lots and Land for Sale
Vacant land on James Island is pricey because of the low supply of developable land for sale. Most lots average around a fourth of an acre and start in the low $100's. Acre plus lots are very difficult to find. If you're looking for larger lots, I'd also consider land for sale on Johns Island. Most of Johns Island is undeveloped, so you'll find a wide range of lots at any given time (from marsh front lots to 60 acre tracts that can be used as horse farms).
More about James Island, SC
Just over the Ashley River from historic downtown Charleston is one of the Lowcountry's premier undiscovered real estate values. Dotted with live oaks complete with hanging Spanish moss, easy access to rivers and the ocean, as well as stunning panoramas of cattails and marshgrass framing old Charleston's steepled skyline, James Island deserves serious consideration from prospective home buyers.
The charm of James Island is its balancing of growth and development with unparalleled accessibility. Running the length of the island is Folly Road, the main thoroughfare from West Ashley to Folly Beach. James Island is uniquely situated so that virtually all points of interest in the area can be reached in a ten minute drive: downtown, Folly Beach, Savannah Highway (leading to West Ashley), and Interstate 26.
On James Island there is a mix of residential homes amongst the small commercial sites, allowing residents easy shopping without the traffic, noise, and congestion that accompany large scale outlets. A wide variety of big-name stores including Lowe's, Wal-Mart, and Harris Teeter is intermingled with doctors' offices, independent bookstores, and small businesses. Virtually all shopping can done quickly and efficiently without ever having to leave the island. There are also numerous locally owned and operated restaurants and diners that span the range from just-caught local seafood and vegetarian fare to nationally recognized hamburger stands.
For those interested in one-of-a-kind boutique shopping and fine dining, however, downtown Charleston is only a quick drive over the James Island Connector. It is also a quick drive for those times when a trip to one of Charleston's indoor malls or outlet shops is necessary: less than ten minutes will put you on Hwy 17 South towards the Citadel Mall, on Highway 17 North towards Mount Pleasant, or on I-26 towards Northwoods Mall or the Tanger Outlets.
The location of James Island is second-to-none for home buyers looking for the convenience of small town living with the benefits of living next to a large city. The mix of single family homes, town homes, and condominiums in this area also make it an excellent choice for those looking to downsize and simplify their lives, or for those interested in purchasing viable rental property. And with the College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Charleston School of Law just across the harbor, James Island is always a popular place to call home for students.
James Island real estate has retained its value even through the latest real estate slump because there is still a relatively small supply of homes for sale, yet the demand for James Island real estate continues to grow. James Island is typically the first choice for buyers looking to find condos or town homes close to Charleston because you won't find better prices on condos or town homes this close to downtown and to the beach. Most of the single family homes in James Island are older homes with newer developments scattered among them. Single family homes on James Island range in price from starter homes to multi-million dollar homes, with the average James Island home priced in the low $300's.
James Island Single Family
James Island Condos | James Island Townhouses
James Island New Construction | James Island Waterfront Homes
- Waterfront
- Condo
- New Construction
- Vacant Land
- Oceanfront
- Townhome
- The Keadle Group
- Carolina One Real Estate
- Toll Free: (800) 804-2187
- Email us at keadle@thekeadlegroup.com