Barry Cunningham REALTOR® with The Boulevard Company (843) 530-0755

55+ communities around Charleston

Most of Charleston's 55+ communities are in the Summerville area, inside big master plans like Summers Corner, Nexton, Cane Bay and Carnes Crossroads, with a few closer in at Point Hope and Carolina Park. From Oct 28, 2025 to Oct 28, 2026, 617 homes sold in age-restricted communities in the CHS Regional MLS. Medians ran from about $287K at Hammock Walk at Nexton to $857K at Del Webb Point Hope.

By Barry Cunningham, REALTOR®. Updated Oct 28, 2026.

55+ home sales
617
Oct 28, 2025 to Oct 28, 2026
In the Summerville area
93%
Including Carnes Crossroads
For sale now
132
Active 55+ listings, Oct 28, 2026
Median range
$287K to $857K
By community, 15+ sales

The 55+ communities side by side

55+ community sales, Oct 28, 2025 to Oct 28, 2026
Community Area Builder Sales Median sale Median size For sale now
Horizons at Summers Corner Summerville Lennar 142 $400K 2,007 sq ft 32
Horizons at Carnes Crossroads Goose Creek / Summerville Lennar 158 $370K 1,716 sq ft 13
Del Webb Charleston at Nexton Summerville Del Webb (PulteGroup) 105 $610K 1,969 sq ft 21
Hammock Walk at Nexton Summerville Ashton Woods 33 $287K 1,137 sq ft 3
Del Webb at Cane Bay and Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay Summerville Del Webb (PulteGroup), sold out; K. Hovnanian (Four Seasons), still selling 89 $460K 2,138 sq ft 36
Del Webb Point Hope Cainhoy Del Webb (PulteGroup) 22 $857K 2,099 sq ft 3
Cresswind Charleston and Carillon at The Ponds Summerville Kolter Homes (Cresswind); D.R. Horton (Carillon) 42 $485K 2,214 sq ft 18
Encore / Restore at Carolina Park Mount Pleasant David Weekley Homes 5 $675K 1,917 sq ft 3
The Elms of Charleston North Charleston Not found 18 $326K 1,592 sq ft 2
The Pines at Gahagan Summerville Not found 3 too few 1

Closed residential sales flagged "55+ Community" in the CHS Regional MLS, Oct 28, 2025 to Oct 28, 2026, plus active listings on Oct 28, 2026. The MLS files most 55+ sections under their master plan's name, so I matched each group to its 55+ community from home sizes, build years and builder plans; the note under each community says how. New-home closings are often entered with 0 days on market, so I don't show days on market here. Medians, not appraisals. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

My first stop

Why I like Horizons at Summers Corner

If you want single-level living, a gated 55+ section and a big master plan around it without Mount Pleasant prices, it's the first one I'd show you. Full details are below, and my Summers Corner guide covers the rest of the community.

Horizons at Summers Corner

Summerville · Lennar · Builder still selling

142 sales in the last 12 months · median $400K · 2,007 sq ft · $197 per sq ft · 32 for sale now

Horizons is my favorite 55+ option in the Charleston area right now. It is Lennar's gated, age-restricted section inside Summers Corner, all single-story homes, and with 142 closings in the last year it is one of the two busiest 55+ communities in the MLS, at a price point well under most of the competition. You trade some drive time for a lot of house and a full amenity package.

Horizons at Summers Corner is the 55+ neighborhood inside Summers Corner, Lennar's master-planned community in Dorchester County outside Summerville. Lennar describes it as an "exclusive 55+ gated active adult community," and the sales center is at 1027 Maydock Drive, Summerville, SC 29485.

Lennar sells it in collections. When I checked the builder pages on October 28, 2026, the Cottages ran 1,435 to 1,559 square feet (2 to 3 bedrooms, 2-car garage), the Legends ran 1,715 to 2,368 square feet (3 to 4 bedrooms, 2-car garage), and the Estates ran 1,844 to 2,518 square feet with a three-bay garage. A fourth collection, the Carriages, was listed as coming soon. Lennar's May 2025 overview describes the homes as single-story with covered patios.

Base prices I saw on October 28, 2026: Cottages plans from $348,000 to $360,000 (collection advertised from $318,000), Legends plans from $405,000 to $423,000, and Estates plans from $441,500 to $498,500. Quick move-in homes were listed below those base prices, some as low as $287,500. Lennar prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.

Amenities listed by Lennar include a clubhouse, a lagoon-style pool the builder calls "resort-style," a fitness center and aerobics studio, pickleball and tennis courts, bocce, a sport court, a dog park, a community garden, fire pits, trails and a fishing lake. Lennar's 2023 awards article said the Horizons Club would include an indoor lap pool and a lifestyle director, and its May 2025 article said the Horizons Club was still under construction. I have not confirmed whether the club is open today.

Outside the gate, Summers Corner has parks, trails and Buffalo Lake, which Lennar describes as 95 acres. Homes.com puts the neighborhood about 10 miles from historic downtown Summerville, with U.S. 61 along its north side and the nearest I-26 ramp roughly 15 miles away.

In the MLS, these sales are filed under the parent name Summers Corner. Over the last 12 months 142 closed sales in Summers Corner carried the 55+ flag, all built 2022 or later, and the square footages line up with Lennar's Horizons floor plans.

Builder
Lennar (Lennar builder pages, checked 2026-10-28)
Parent community
Summers Corner (Lennar)
Sales center
1027 Maydock Drive, Summerville, SC 29485 (Lennar)
Gated
Yes (Lennar lists Gated and a gated entrance)
Home types
Single-family, single-story (Lennar May 2025 overview)
Home sizes
About 1,435 to 2,518 sq ft (Lennar collection pages, 2026-10-28)
Collections
Cottages, Legends, Estates; Carriages coming soon (Lennar, 2026-10-28)
Base prices
Plans from $348,000 (Cottages) to $498,500 (Estates Redbud) (Seen 2026-10-28; quick move-ins listed lower)
HOA
About $368.50 per month (Shown on Lennar's Legends page 2026-10-28 as approximate; the same page listed an approximate $708 special assessment fee. Confirm with Lennar)
Amenities
Clubhouse, pool, fitness center, pickleball, tennis, bocce, dog park, garden, trails, fishing lake (Lennar)
Lifestyle director
Planned per Lennar's 2023 article (Not confirmed as current)
Homes planned
Not published (Not found)
Age policy
Lennar markets it as 55+ age-restricted (Lennar's specific HOPA occupancy rules and under-19 rules were not published on the pages I opened)

Pros

  • Lowest price point among the newer gated 55+ communities near Charleston, with a median 12-month sale around $400,000
  • All single-story plans, from about 1,435 to 2,518 square feet, with 2-car or 3-bay garages
  • Full amenity list inside the gate plus the larger Summers Corner parks, trails and lake

Cons

  • It is a drive: about 10 miles to downtown Summerville and roughly 15 miles to the nearest I-26 ramp, so downtown Charleston and the beaches are a real trip
  • Lennar is still building, so expect construction traffic and new homes priced to compete with any resale you buy
  • HOA shown at roughly $368.50 per month plus a listed special assessment fee, and I could not confirm the Horizons Club is finished

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Summers Corner' (Summerville) with the 55+ flag, closed 2025-10-28 to 2026-10-28. Mapped to Horizons because Lennar's Horizons is the only 55+ section I found in Summers Corner and the sold square footages match Horizons plans (1,435 / 1,507 / 1,559 / 1,715 / 1,921 / 2,007 / 2,340 / 2,368 / 2,518). Many new-construction closings are entered by the builder after the fact with 0 days on market, which pulls the median DOM down.

Area guide: Summerville

Horizons at Carnes Crossroads

Goose Creek / Summerville · Lennar · Builder still selling

158 sales in the last 12 months · median $370K · 1,716 sq ft · $210 per sq ft · 13 for sale now

Horizons at Carnes Crossroads is Lennar's newer 55+ neighborhood and the sister community to Horizons at Summers Corner, with many of the same floor plans. It sold more 55+ homes than anywhere else in the MLS this past year and has the lowest entry prices of the new 55+ options I track. You are closer to Goose Creek and US 17A shopping than Summers Corner, inside a master plan known for its farm and trails.

Horizons at Carnes Crossroads is a gated 55+ section inside the Carnes Crossroads master plan. Lennar's community page lists 108 Ireland Drive, Summerville, SC 29486, and Lennar's May 2025 article places it in the City of Goose Creek and said it was expected to open that summer.

When I checked on October 28, 2026, Lennar listed three collections: the Carriage Collection (Marion, 1,309 sq ft; Moultrie, 1,856 sq ft) from $282,320, the Cottage Collection (1,421 to 1,559 sq ft, 2 to 3 bedrooms) from $317,020, and the Legends Collection (1,715 to 2,224 sq ft, 3 to 4 bedrooms) from $422,000. The page showed a price range of $282,320 to $440,000 and 12 homes available. Plan-level prices on the same page were sometimes higher than the collection prices, so confirm with Lennar.

Lennar lists a clubhouse, a pool it calls "resort-style" with a future indoor lap pool, a fitness center, aerobics studio, pickleball, tennis and sport courts, a dog park, trails, a fishing lake and community garden. Carnes Crossroads as a whole is known for its farm; Lennar says it is home to an "Agrihood with community gardens and a working farm."

In the MLS these homes are filed under Carnes Crossroads. In the last 12 months 158 closed sales in Carnes Crossroads carried the 55+ flag, every one built in 2025 or 2026, and the square footages match the Horizons plans.

Builder
Lennar (Lennar, checked 2026-10-28)
Parent community
Carnes Crossroads (Lennar)
Address
108 Ireland Drive, Summerville, SC 29486 (Lennar)
Jurisdiction
City of Goose Creek (Lennar May 2025 article)
Gated
Yes (Lennar lists Gated and Security)
Home sizes
About 1,309 to 2,224 sq ft (Lennar, 2026-10-28)
Base prices
Collections from $282,320 (Carriage) to $422,000 (Legends) (Seen 2026-10-28)
HOA
Not published on the page I opened (Unknown)
Amenities
Clubhouse, pool, fitness center, pickleball, tennis, dog park, trails, lake, garden, farm (Lennar)
Homes planned
Not published (Unknown)
Age policy
Lennar markets it as 55+ (HOPA occupancy and under-19 rules not published on pages I opened)

Pros

  • Lowest entry prices of the new 55+ communities in the MLS, with a 12-month median sale around $370,000
  • Same single-level Lennar plans as Horizons at Summers Corner in a location closer to Goose Creek
  • Carnes Crossroads farm, trails and lake are part of the setting

Cons

  • Brand new, so you will live with construction and a neighborhood that is still filling in
  • Carriage Collection homes are smaller (1,309 to 1,856 sq ft); check whether a plan is attached before you assume a detached yard
  • Still about 25 miles from downtown Charleston per the community listing, and HOA dues were not published

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Carnes Crossroads' (City field Summerville) with the 55+ flag. All 158 closings were built 2025 or 2026 and match Horizons floor plan sizes (1,309 / 1,421 / 1,435 / 1,503 / 1,553 / 1,715 / 1,921 / 2,224 / 2,225), so I mapped the group to Horizons. The MLS records these as detached; Lennar calls one line the Carriage Collection, and I did not confirm whether those are attached. Many new-construction closings are entered by the builder after the fact with 0 days on market, which pulls the median DOM down.

Area guide: Goose Creek

Del Webb Charleston at Nexton

Summerville · Del Webb (PulteGroup) · Builder still selling

105 sales in the last 12 months · median $610K · 1,969 sq ft · $307 per sq ft · 21 for sale now

Del Webb at Nexton is the established, full-amenity 55+ choice on the Summerville side, close to I-26 and the Nexton shops. It costs more than the Lennar Horizons communities, with a 12-month median detached sale near $610,000, and you are buying into a neighborhood that has been operating since 2018. If you want an active club, a big clubhouse and an easier drive into town, this is where I start.

Del Webb, PulteGroup's 55+ brand, opened its Nexton community in 2018. When it was announced, the Post and Courier reported more than 1,000 homes on 350 acres with a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse, tennis and pickleball, indoor and outdoor pools and a full-time lifestyle director. In September 2025 the Post and Courier reported the Nexton community at about 1,400 homes, with 900 sold over eight years.

Nexton sits just north of I-26 off U.S. 17A, about five miles from downtown Summerville and about 25 miles northwest of Charleston, per the Post and Courier.

On NewHomeSource on October 28, 2026, Del Webb Charleston at Nexton (1261 Del Webb Drive, Summerville, SC 29486) showed eight plans from 1,600 to 2,712 sq ft with base prices from $474,990 (Prosperity) to $686,990 (Renown), and three quick move-in homes. Listed amenities were indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, pickleball and a fitness center.

Resale homes come up regularly, and the MLS also shows new Del Webb closings, some above $900,000 for larger plans.

Builder
Del Webb, a PulteGroup brand (NewHomeSource)
Opened
2018 (Post and Courier / Builder)
Homes planned
About 1,400 (Post and Courier, Sept 2025 (originally announced as 1,000+ on 350 acres))
Location
North of I-26 off U.S. 17A (Post and Courier)
Home sizes
1,600 to 2,712 sq ft current plans (NewHomeSource, 2026-10-28)
Base prices
From $474,990 to $686,990 (Seen 2026-10-28)
Clubhouse
25,000 sq ft (Post and Courier / Builder)
Amenities
Indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, pickleball, fitness center (NewHomeSource)
Lifestyle director
Full-time, per original announcement (Post and Courier)
HOA
Not published on pages I opened (Unknown)
Age policy
Del Webb markets the community for active adults 55+ (Specific HOPA and under-19 rules not published on pages I opened)

Pros

  • Closest of the Summerville-area 55+ communities to I-26 and Nexton's shops and restaurants
  • Large 25,000 sq ft clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools and a lifestyle director
  • Established neighborhood with a mix of resales and new Del Webb homes

Cons

  • Higher prices than the Lennar communities: new plans start near $475,000 and the median detached sale was about $610,000
  • I-26 traffic into Charleston can be heavy at rush hour
  • HOA dues were not published, so budget for them before you fall for a house

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Nexton' (Summerville) with the 55+ flag, detached homes only (105 of 138). I split the Nexton group by property sub type: the 33 attached sales match Hammock Walk villa sizes and are shown under Hammock Walk. Detached sales are mapped to Del Webb as the main detached 55+ section in Nexton; some large closings (up to 3,771 sq ft and over $1 million) exceed the 2,712 sq ft current plan list, so a few may be other Nexton homes or plans with options. Many new-construction closings are entered by the builder after the fact with 0 days on market, which pulls the median DOM down.

Area guide: Summerville

Hammock Walk at Nexton

Summerville · Ashton Woods · Builder still selling

33 sales in the last 12 months · median $287K · 1,137 sq ft · $230 per sq ft · 3 for sale now

Hammock Walk is the small-footprint way into a 55+ neighborhood in Nexton: attached villas, mostly under 1,600 square feet, with a 1-car garage. Twelve-month sales centered under $300,000, which is about half the price of a Del Webb home a few streets away. It is a good fit if you want low maintenance and Nexton's location more than a big clubhouse.

Ashton Woods builds Hammock Walk as a 55+ community inside Nexton. Ashton Woods calls the homes villas, 1,046 to 1,551 sq ft, one or two stories, 2 to 3 bedrooms and a 1-car garage. The sales office is at 820 Descartes Street, Summerville, SC 29486.

On October 28, 2026, Ashton Woods showed plans from $269,990 to $373,490 and advertised savings on select homes. 55places describes the villas as duplexes, reports at least 180 homes planned with 106 in Phase I, and lists a December 2023 grand opening.

Amenities listed by the builder are pickleball courts, walking and biking trails, ponds with pavilion seating and a dog park, plus access to Nexton's master-plan amenities. 55places lists it as not gated and without an activity director.

Builder
Ashton Woods (Ashton Woods, checked 2026-10-28)
Home type
Attached villas (duplexes per 55places) (Ashton Woods / 55places)
Home sizes
1,046 to 1,551 sq ft (Ashton Woods)
Base prices
From $269,990 to $373,490 (Seen 2026-10-28)
Garage
1-car (Ashton Woods)
Homes planned
At least 180 (55places (not builder-confirmed))
Opened
December 2023 grand opening (55places)
Gated
No (55places)
Amenities
Pickleball, trails, ponds and pavilions, dog park (Ashton Woods)
HOA
Not published (Unknown)
Age policy
Builder calls it a 55+ community (Specific rules not published)

Pros

  • One of the lowest-priced ways into a 55+ neighborhood near Charleston, with a median sale under $300,000
  • Nexton location near I-26, shops and restaurants
  • Low-maintenance villa living

Cons

  • Attached homes with shared walls and a 1-car garage
  • Smaller amenity package than Del Webb next door, and not gated
  • Some plans have a second floor, so confirm you are getting single-level living if that matters

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Nexton' with the 55+ flag, attached homes only (33 sales, 1,124 to 1,551 sq ft, built 2025 to 2026). Mapped to Hammock Walk because its villa sizes match and it is the attached 55+ product I found in Nexton. Inference, not confirmed record by record.

Area guide: Summerville

Del Webb at Cane Bay and Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay

Summerville · Del Webb (PulteGroup), sold out; K. Hovnanian (Four Seasons), still selling · Del Webb section resales only; Four Seasons builder still selling

89 sales in the last 12 months · median $460K · 2,138 sq ft · $224 per sq ft · 36 for sale now

Cane Bay has two 55+ neighborhoods side by side: the original Del Webb, which has sold out and trades as resales, and K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons on the big lake, which is still building. Together they had 89 flagged closings this year with a median around $460,000, and resales here sit on the market longer than in the newer communities. Expect a longer drive, but a lot of lake and amenities for the money.

Del Webb at Cane Bay was PulteGroup's first Charleston-area 55+ community. The Post and Courier described plans for 1,000 homes on 360 acres off U.S. 176 north of Goose Creek, with an amenity complex called the Resort at Cane Bay (fitness area, indoor pool, outdoor pool, tennis and bocce) and a full-time lifestyle director. The Post and Courier reported in 2025 that the Cane Bay Del Webb community has sold out.

K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay opened its welcome center in 2015. Builder magazine reported 828 planned homesites, a 300-acre lake with an eight-mile waterway, and a 21,000 sq ft clubhouse. K. Hovnanian's current page describes a 24,000 sq ft lakeside clubhouse, three pools (indoor lap, outdoor family and outdoor adult), tennis, pickleball, bocce, a kayak launch and a full-time lifestyle director, and calls Four Seasons "the only age-restricted 55+ new home community in Cane Bay Plantation."

On October 28, 2026, K. Hovnanian showed a Villas Collection up to 1,550 sq ft and two single-family collections up to about 2,750 sq ft. Base prices I saw: Spring Lake IV $374,990, Bernstein II $431,990, Jenkins II $463,990 and Simone $504,990, with incentives advertised.

Four Seasons' fine print says the community is "intended to provide housing primarily for residents 55 years of age or older" and that "limited exceptions for residents 50 years of age or older may apply."

Builders
Del Webb (sold out); K. Hovnanian Four Seasons (selling) (Post and Courier 2025; K. Hovnanian)
Location
Cane Bay Plantation off U.S. 176 north of Goose Creek (Post and Courier)
Del Webb homes planned
1,000 on 360 acres (Post and Courier)
Four Seasons homesites planned
828 (Builder magazine)
Four Seasons clubhouse
24,000 sq ft lakeside clubhouse (K. Hovnanian (earlier reports said 21,000 sq ft))
Four Seasons base prices
$374,990 to $504,990 for plans shown (Seen 2026-10-28)
Four Seasons home types
Villas up to 1,550 sq ft; single-family up to about 2,750 sq ft (K. Hovnanian)
Gated
Four Seasons: yes (K. Hovnanian)
Lifestyle director
Both communities (Post and Courier; K. Hovnanian)
HOA
Not published (Unknown)
Age policy
Four Seasons: primarily 55+, limited exceptions for 50+ (K. Hovnanian fine print)

Pros

  • Two established amenity packages, including indoor pools and lifestyle directors
  • Lake access at Four Seasons, with a kayak launch and waterway
  • Choice of resale homes in Del Webb or new construction at Four Seasons

Cons

  • Long drive to downtown Charleston and the beaches, and U.S. 176 and I-26 traffic
  • Resales here took a median of about 72 days to sell, longer than the newer communities
  • Four Seasons is still building and offering incentives, which competes with resale prices

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Cane Bay Plantation' with the 55+ flag. The MLS files both Del Webb at Cane Bay and Four Seasons under the parent name, so these stats combine both 55+ sections. Closed homes were built 2007 to 2024; no 2025-or-newer homes closed in the window, though new Four Seasons homes (built 2026 and 2027, including attached villas) are active. I could not confirm every flagged record sits inside one of the two age-restricted sections.

Area guide: Summerville

Del Webb Point Hope

Cainhoy · Del Webb (PulteGroup) · Builder still selling

22 sales in the last 12 months · median $857K · 2,099 sq ft · $379 per sq ft · 3 for sale now

Del Webb Point Hope is the newest 55+ community in the area and the only one with a City of Charleston address, on the Cainhoy peninsula. It is also the most expensive: closings so far have centered around $857,000. You are paying for location, about 10 miles from Mount Pleasant and 20 miles from downtown Charleston, instead of a Summerville commute.

Del Webb Point Hope is a 767-home 55+ neighborhood on a 502-acre parcel inside the 9,000-acre Point Hope master plan, along Beech Hill Drive on the Cainhoy peninsula in Berkeley County, per the Post and Courier. SCBIZ reported it is about 14 miles from Isle of Palms, 20 miles from downtown Charleston and 10 miles from Mount Pleasant.

The Post and Courier reported in September 2025 that the community will be built in four phases of roughly 190 homesites, with three homesite levels (Scenic, Distinctive and Echelon), six one-story models (some with optional second floors), and pricing that a local agent put in the low $500,000s at that time. Sales contracts were set to begin in November 2025.

Planned amenities include a clubhouse with a cafe and catering kitchen, fitness studio, indoor and outdoor pools, event space, tennis, six pickleball courts, bocce, walking trails and a lifestyle director. New Homes Guide Charleston lists the clubhouse at 22,000 to 24,000 square feet; earlier materials said 25,000. The Post and Courier says it is golf cart friendly.

The MLS shows the first closings in 2026, filed under both 'Point Hope' and 'Del Webb Point Hope.'

Builder
Del Webb, a PulteGroup brand (SCBIZ / Post and Courier)
Homes planned
767 (Post and Courier)
Acreage
502 acres within 9,000-acre Point Hope (Post and Courier)
Location
Beech Hill Drive, Cainhoy peninsula; Clements Ferry Road area (Post and Courier / NewHomeSource)
Jurisdiction
City of Charleston, Berkeley County (New Homes Guide Charleston)
Home types
One-story models, some with optional second floors (Post and Courier)
Home sizes
About 1,400 to 2,712+ sq ft (New Homes Guide Charleston)
Base prices
Not published on pages I opened (Low $500,000s per an agent quoted in Sept 2025)
Amenities
Clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, 6 pickleball courts, bocce, trails (Post and Courier / SCBIZ)
Lifestyle director
Yes, planned (SCBIZ / Post and Courier)
HOA
Not published (Unknown)
Age policy
Marketed for adults 55 and older (Specific rules not published)

Pros

  • Closest new 55+ community to Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island and downtown Charleston
  • Brand new homes and a large planned amenity center with a lifestyle director
  • City of Charleston address

Cons

  • Highest prices of any 55+ community in the MLS, with closings mostly between about $650,000 and $1,000,000
  • Early stage: expect years of construction, with build-out estimated at a little under seven years
  • Clements Ferry Road traffic, and amenities may not be finished when you move in

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Point Hope' (19) and 'Del Webb Point Hope' (3), City Charleston, Berkeley County, combined. All built 2026. Del Webb is the only 55+ section I found in Point Hope. Many new-construction closings are entered by the builder after the fact with 0 days on market, which pulls the median DOM down.

Area guide: Cainhoy

Cresswind Charleston and Carillon at The Ponds

Summerville · Kolter Homes (Cresswind); D.R. Horton (Carillon) · Resales only

42 sales in the last 12 months · median $485K · 2,214 sq ft · $228 per sq ft · 18 for sale now

The Ponds has two 55+ sections, Kolter's gated Cresswind Charleston and the smaller Carillon by D.R. Horton, and both are now mostly resale markets. Prices sit in the mid $400,000s to low $600,000s, and homes here took the longest to sell of any 55+ community this year. That gives buyers room to negotiate.

Cresswind Charleston is a gated 55+ section of The Ponds built by Kolter Homes starting in 2015. 55places lists 650 homes, single-family plans from about 1,454 to 2,547 sq ft with first-floor primary suites, a 12,000 sq ft clubhouse called The Club at Cresswind, an outdoor pool, pickleball, tennis, bocce and a full-time activities director, and describes it as resale only.

Carillon at The Ponds is a smaller 55+ section by D.R. Horton with 56 homesites built roughly 2013 to 2015, per 55places, with plans from 1,460 to 2,991 sq ft. 55places also notes access to The Ponds' farmhouse and a separate YMCA membership.

These details come from 55places, which says its information is aggregated and not verified by the developer or HOA. I did not find a current builder page for either section.

Builders
Kolter Homes (Cresswind); D.R. Horton (Carillon) (55places)
Cresswind homes
650 (55places)
Carillon homes
56 homesites (55places)
Home sizes
Cresswind about 1,454 to 2,547 sq ft; Carillon 1,460 to 2,991 sq ft (55places)
Cresswind clubhouse
12,000 sq ft (55places)
Gated
Cresswind: yes (55places)
Activities director
Cresswind: yes (55places)
Status
Resale only (55places)
HOA
Not published (Unknown)
Age policy
55+ (55places; specific rules not verified)

Pros

  • Established neighborhoods with mature landscaping and a working clubhouse
  • Larger floor plans than most new 55+ product at similar prices
  • Slower market gives buyers negotiating room

Cons

  • Longest median time on market of the 55+ groups, about 102 days
  • Not much new construction, so you are buying a 5 to 10 year old home that may need updates
  • Summerville location means a long drive to downtown Charleston and the beaches

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'The Ponds' (Summerville) with the 55+ flag. Combines Cresswind and Carillon, which the MLS files under the parent name. Most closings were built 2014 to 2021, but five were built 2024 or 2025, newer than the published Cresswind (2015 to 2020) and Carillon (2013 to 2015) build years, so those records may be another section or a misapplied flag.

Area guide: Summerville

Encore / Restore at Carolina Park

Mount Pleasant · David Weekley Homes · Builder may still be selling; confirm

5 sales in the last 12 months · median $675K · 1,917 sq ft · $352 per sq ft · 3 for sale now

This is the only 55+ neighborhood I track in Mount Pleasant, a small section of about 112 one-story homes inside Carolina Park. Sales are rare, five in the last year, and prices run well above Summerville, mostly $650,000 to $950,000. You are paying for Mount Pleasant and a short drive to the beach.

55places lists Encore / Restore at Carolina Park as a 55+ section built by David Weekley Homes beginning in 2020, with 112 single-family homes at completion. Homes are one-story with 2 or 3 bedrooms and attached two-car garages, about 1,610 to 2,511 sq ft.

Amenities listed by 55places include a clubhouse with a fitness center, game room, media room and demonstration kitchen, a pool it calls "resort-style," bocce and pickleball, a dog park, a fishing lake and trails. The HOA handles lawn and common-area maintenance, and 55places lists an on-staff lifestyle coordinator. It is not gated.

55places says its data is aggregated and not verified by the builder or HOA. I did not open a David Weekley page, so current builder availability and base prices are unconfirmed.

Builder
David Weekley Homes (55places)
Homes
112 at completion (55places)
Home type
One-story single-family (55places)
Home sizes
About 1,610 to 2,511 sq ft (55places)
Gated
No (55places)
Lifestyle coordinator
Yes (55places)
Base prices
Not confirmed (No builder page opened)
HOA
Covers lawn and common-area maintenance; amount not published (55places)
Age policy
55+ (55places; specific rules not verified)

Pros

  • Only 55+ option I track in Mount Pleasant, close to beaches, shopping and medical care
  • All one-story homes with lawn care handled by the HOA
  • Small neighborhood of about 112 homes

Cons

  • Expensive: the 12-month median was about $675,000 and actives are listed higher
  • Very few homes for sale at any time, so you need patience
  • Not gated, and the amenity details come from a third-party site, not the builder

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Carolina Park' (Mount Pleasant) with the 55+ flag; 5 closings built 2021 to 2024, consistent with Restore's 2020-and-later build dates. Small sample, so treat the medians loosely.

Area guide: Mount Pleasant

The Elms of Charleston

North Charleston · Not found · Resales only

18 sales in the last 12 months · median $326K · 1,592 sq ft · $202 per sq ft · 2 for sale now

The Elms of Charleston is the older, more affordable 55+ choice, a gated neighborhood in North Charleston close to I-26, shopping and medical offices. Homes are 1980s to 2010s construction, and 12-month sales centered around $326,000. It is the most central 55+ option I track if you do not want to live out in Summerville.

Several listing sources describe The Elms of Charleston as a gated 55+ community in North Charleston. ActiveAdultLiving lists 325 resale homes, a mix of attached and single-family, roughly 1,474 to 1,977 sq ft, at 9100 Elms Plantation Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29406.

Amenities mentioned in listings and on 55places include a clubhouse, pool, fitness center, pickleball and tennis courts and walking trails. One listing says the HOA includes property insurance, building and general maintenance and lawn and landscaping for that home; coverage may differ between attached and detached homes.

I did not find an HOA website or the original builder, so treat these details as listing-level information.

Builder
Not found (Unknown)
Address
9100 Elms Plantation Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29406 (ActiveAdultLiving)
Homes
325 (ActiveAdultLiving (not HOA-confirmed))
Home types
Attached and single-family (ActiveAdultLiving / MLS)
Home sizes
About 1,474 to 1,977 sq ft (ActiveAdultLiving; MLS sales ranged 1,320 to 2,039)
Gated
Yes (55places and listing remarks)
Amenities
Clubhouse, pool, fitness center, pickleball, tennis, trails (55places / listing remarks)
HOA
Amount not published (Listing remarks say very low monthly fee)
Age policy
Described as 55+ (Specific rules not verified)

Pros

  • Most central 55+ location I track, near I-26, shopping and medical care
  • Lowest prices of the metro 55+ neighborhoods, with a median near $326,000
  • Gated, with a clubhouse and pool

Cons

  • Older homes (built 1987 to 2015 in this year's sales) that may need updating
  • Attached homes mean shared walls and HOA rules on exteriors
  • Little published information from an HOA, so plan to review the documents carefully

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Elms of Charleston' (North Charleston) with the 55+ flag. I could not confirm whether every home in the subdivision is inside the age-restricted area; listing remarks describe the community as 55+.

Area guide: North Charleston

The Pines at Gahagan

Summerville · Not found · Resales only

3 sales in the last 12 months · 1 for sale now

The Pines at Gahagan is a small gated 55+ neighborhood off Gahagan Road in Summerville, about 109 single-family homes built in the early 2010s. Only three homes closed in the last year, so it is a wait-for-the-right-house market. Prices were in the high $300,000s to mid $400,000s.

ActiveAdultLiving lists The Pines at Gahagan at 501 Gahagan Rd, Summerville, SC 29485, as an age-restricted community of 109 single-family resale homes, about 1,369 to 2,744 sq ft, with a clubhouse, fitness center and gated access.

I did not find a builder or HOA website, so the details above are from a third-party directory.

Address
501 Gahagan Rd, Summerville, SC 29485 (ActiveAdultLiving)
Homes
109 single-family (ActiveAdultLiving)
Home sizes
About 1,369 to 2,744 sq ft (ActiveAdultLiving)
Gated
Yes (ActiveAdultLiving)
Amenities
Clubhouse, fitness center (ActiveAdultLiving)
HOA
Not published (Unknown)
Age policy
Described as age-restricted 55+ (Specific rules not verified)

Pros

  • Small, quiet gated neighborhood
  • Single-family homes at prices under the newer communities
  • Closer to downtown Summerville than Summers Corner or Cane Bay

Cons

  • Very few sales, only three in the last year
  • Smaller amenity package than the Del Webb or Lennar communities
  • Homes are about 10 to 15 years old

How I matched the MLS numbers: MLS SubdivisionName 'Pines at Gahagan' (Summerville, Charleston County) with the 55+ flag. Three sales, so medians are not meaningful.

Area guide: Summerville

Common questions about 55+ communities

What does 55+ mean legally?

Most 55+ communities around Charleston operate under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act. HUD's rules say at least 80 percent of occupied homes must have at least one resident who is 55 or older, the community must publish and follow policies showing it intends to be 55+ housing, and it must verify residents' ages. That exemption is what allows these neighborhoods to limit families with children. It does not allow discrimination for any other reason.

Can someone younger than 55 buy?

Sometimes. Federal law only requires 80 percent of occupied homes to have a resident 55 or older, so each community decides in its own covenants how it uses the other 20 percent. Some allow a younger spouse or partner, some allow limited exceptions (Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay says limited exceptions for residents 50 or older may apply), and most limit or bar permanent residents under 19. Read the covenants for the specific community before you write an offer.

What are lifestyle fees and HOA dues?

Most of these communities charge an HOA that pays for the clubhouse, pools, a lifestyle director where there is one, and often lawn care. Builders rarely publish the number. Lennar's Horizons at Summers Corner page showed about $368.50 a month when I checked on October 28, 2026. Many master plans also charge a one-time transfer or capital fee at closing, so ask for the full fee schedule early.

Are the homes single-level?

Mostly. Lennar describes its Horizons homes as single-story, and Del Webb Point Hope's models are one-story with optional second floors. Some plans, like Hammock Walk's villas and several Del Webb and K. Hovnanian plans, offer a second floor or loft. If one-level living is the whole point, confirm the primary suite, laundry and garage entry are all on the main floor.

Should I buy new or resale?

New construction gets you current plans, warranties and your choice of finishes, but you will live near construction for a while and you are competing with the builder's own incentives. Resales in places like Del Webb at Cane Bay, Cresswind or The Elms come with finished landscaping, a working clubhouse and room to negotiate, since they sat on the market longer this year. I pull both before anyone decides.

Where are most of the 55+ communities?

Most are on the Summerville side: Summers Corner, Carnes Crossroads, Nexton, Cane Bay and The Ponds. The closer-in options are Del Webb Point Hope on the Cainhoy peninsula, Restore at Carolina Park in Mount Pleasant and The Elms of Charleston in North Charleston, and they cost more per square foot or come with older homes.

Sources

Builder prices, fees and amenities change often; I checked them on Oct 28, 2026. Age policies are set by each community's covenants under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act; read them before you offer.

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