Many buyers in the Charleston SC area look at James Island because they love the beach. With both easy access to Folly Island and Downtown Charleston, these sell well because they are nestled between these two popular areas.
As the name suggests, it is is an island, and for this reason the relatively small town does not offer too many new homes to choose from. While there have been some small areas that have been infilled with new construction, for the most buyers choose from older properties, and enjoy the features that most established neighborhoods offer like large lots and mature plantings.
At one time the area was not quite as convenient and not quite as popular because there was only one bridge leading to the island. The original access was only a drawbridge over the Intracoastal Waterway that weaves its way up and down the East Coast.
In 1996 the James Island connector was built. This 2.7 mile interstate highway cost 128 million to build and helped make James Island more attractive for aspiring homeowners. The direct route from Downtown Charleston opened up the market to buyers needing to be in the city quickly. Medical University students and their families began to look to the area as an investment while attending MUSC.
Again, the majority are older and the ranches that were built in the early to late 1960’s start in the $200,000 price range and can move up from there based on the lot, as James Island waterfront ranch style homes can be as expensive as $800,000 (and sometimes higher) depending on the neighborhood and views.
While the bulk of the development occurred in the late 60’s and early 1970’s, there were of course many homes built well into the 80’s and 90’s and as mentioned above, small pockets of land open up over time and a few new construction homes are built as lots become available to the market.
There are many available for sale in and around the water also. Due to the fact that it is an island and there are several creeks that weave their way in and around the perimeter, this area surprisingly offers more waterfront opportunities than the neighboring (and much larger) West Ashley section of town.
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