Dunes West: My Go To Neighborhood in Mount Pleasant $500K Plus

Posted by Lee and Katherine Keadle on Thursday, March 12th, 2020 at 10:47am.


Home buyers gravitate towards Mount Pleasant when they’re relocating to Charleston and comparing suburbs because of the fantastic public schools, upscale atmosphere, and tons of shopping and entertainment options. Most Mount Pleasant neighborhoods offer amenities like pool and tennis, and these can be harder to find in West Ashley, James Island, or Downtown neighborhoods. I’ve come to specialize in Mount Pleasant real estate during my 15 years in this career because the area sells itself. When I’m driving my clients around giving them a tour, Mt. Pleasant stands out and is usually where they end up buying at this price point.

For buyers looking $500K and higher, Dunes West is consistently a top pick. (Also check out Carolina Park, I’On, and both Rivertowne Country Club and Wando sections!)

Dunes West in Mount Pleasant

The older homes in Dunes West (built in the 1990s and early 2000s) have some of the largest lots which are perfect for buyers wanting estate sized, half acre or full acre lots which are surprisingly hard to get in this suburb. Dunes West is my first stop when buyers tell me they’re looking for estate sized lots (Darrell Creek is another good option, but time and time again buyers choose Dunes West over Darrell Creek which is further out).

Dunes West has one of the best golf courses in tri-county Charleston. The club house sits on the river, and you can enjoy lunch or drinks even if you don’t have a membership. Golf membership is relatively inexpensive when you compare it to Wild Dunes or Kiawah, so buyers are usually pleasantly surprised to learn that they can afford the golf lifestyle.

Pros of Living in Dunes West

dunes west mt pleasant sc

Buyers love that this is a gated community with a beautiful entrance, the miles of walking trails, plus the amenities are some of the best in Charleston. It’s rare for me to drive buyers through Dunes West and them to NOT be impressed with the neighborhood. For folks who love the water, what distinguishes this community from the others is the boat landing and dock. There’s also conveniently a boat storage lot on premise. Dunes West is one of the few neighborhoods in Mt. Pleasant where you can find true deep water access directly on the Wando River. For buyers wanting new construction, there are nice homes built by John Wieland and Pulte which are both reputable builders in Charleston.

Dunes West especially appeals to buyers wanting nice amenities because you’ve got golf, lighted tennis courts, 3 pools, 2 club houses, a workout center, and the boating amenities I’ve already mentioned. There’s a tennis pro, and residents enjoy the tennis clubs and teams (if you’re a tennis lover, also check out I’On in Mount Pleasant). The last perk that I’ll mention for Dunes West is that it’s about 20-25 minutes from the Charleston International Airport (take Hwy 41 to Clements Ferry Road to Interstate 526).

Cons of Living in Dunes West

Some of my clients have turned down Dunes West because they don’t like the hassle of calling in gate passes when friends and family come to visit. Instead, they’d rather live in a neighborhood where visitors can come and go freely. (Another option is to choose one of the subsections located outside of the gate which tend to have the most affordable houses.)

mount pleasant sc realtor

Another drawback is that it’s located off Hwy 41 which is highly trafficked during commute hours. There are plans being considered to expand the lanes on Hwy 41 to help alleviate congestion (see more details at http://hwy41sc.com/about.html). Some buyers feel this neighborhood is too far out, but that’s the tradeoff for living in a large, master planned community with newer homes. We find that when buyers compare the smaller, older homes located closer to the Ravenel Bridge, they opt for a neighborhood instead like Dunes West or Carolina Park where they can get more square footage. Again, this tradeoff is a decision all buyers have to make, and with more people working from home or commuting during different hours of the day, the answer completely depends on the family.

For most folks, this next point isn’t a deal killer but instead just something to note: golf carts are only allowed on the golf course, so you can’t keep one in your garage, for example, to drive to the pool.

Ready for a Tour?

I'm Katherine Keadle, and I'd love to show you this community as well as comparable neighborhoods so that you can compare your options and find the perfect match! Let’s talk so that I can find out more about what you’re looking for!

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