Living in I'On, Mount Pleasant: Homes, HOA, Location

I'On, Mount Pleasant

I'On is a New Urbanist neighborhood in Mount Pleasant, about three miles east of the Ravenel Bridge. It was founded in 1995 on 243 acres by the I'On Company under Vince Graham and built out at about 762 single-family homes. Expect walkable streets, lakes, canals, marsh trails, a village square and strict design review. Over Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 47 homes sold here at a median of $2,200,000.

By Barry Cunningham, REALTOR®. Updated October 22, 2026.

What's selling in I'On

From Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 47 homes sold in I'On at a median of $2,200,000, 146% above the median for Mount Pleasant. Most sold between $1.74M and $3.5M. The homes that sold were 100% single-family detached, with a median year built of 2004.

Built: Founded April 1995 (Developed by the I'On Company under Vince Graham)
Size: 243 acres, about 762 homes (Single-family buildout plus a village square)
Planners: Dover, Kohl & Partners and DPZ (Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company)
Rentals: 28-day minimum (I'On Rule D-110 under the covenants)

Where it is and getting around

I'On is in Mount Pleasant, about three miles east of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The I'On Assembly describes it as about ten minutes from downtown Charleston and fifteen minutes from the beach.

Inside, it's built for walking. Streets have sharp bends the Assembly calls deflections, the speed limit is 20 mph, and a park or public space is usually less than a two-minute walk away.

The homes

The plan came from two well-known New Urbanist firms, Dover, Kohl & Partners and Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. The original plan called for more than 1,200 units. After a long fight with the town that ended at the South Carolina Supreme Court, it was scaled back to about 762 single-family homes.

The Assembly's own trail guide notes that no two houses are the same, or even the same size.

Amenities and HOA

The HOA is the I'On Assembly, with an office at 159 Civitas Street. Amenities include Westlake and Eastlake, the Lafayette Canal, playgrounds, community docks and the Creek Club. The trails around the lakes are public.

The Marsh Trail runs 2.13 miles from the Creek Club with views toward Hobcaw Creek and the Wando River. Shorter loops circle the lakes and canal. I couldn't find dues or transfer fees published publicly; the Assembly posts its transfer fee details behind a resident login, so ask the listing agent.

Design review and rentals

Any exterior change goes through the I'On Design Committee, which publishes architectural and landscape guidelines and holds scheduled meetings. If you plan to add on, paint or redo the landscaping, read the guidelines before you buy.

I'On has a rule under its covenants, Rule D-110, that prohibits residential rentals shorter than 28 days. In 2023 the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled for homeowners in a suit over amenities that weren't turned over to the HOA, ordering $1.75 million paid to the association.

Schools

Homes here are in the Charleston County School District. Assignments go by address, so check the specific home on the district's school lookup map before you make an offer.

What people like

Walkable streets, public lake trails and a marsh trail with community docks.
About ten minutes to downtown Charleston, per the Assembly.
Design review keeps the look of the neighborhood consistent.

What to weigh first

Winding streets and a 20 mph limit make driving through slow by design.
Exterior changes need Design Committee approval.
No rentals under 28 days, so it doesn't work for a vacation rental plan.

Common questions about I'On

How much do homes cost in I'On?

The median sale was $2,200,000 across 47 closed sales from Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026 (CHS Regional MLS), with most selling between $1.74M and $3.5M. That's 146% above the median for Mount Pleasant ($895,000). The median price per square foot was $724.

Can I rent out a home in I'On as a short-term rental?

No. I'On Rule D-110 prohibits residential rentals for a term of less than 28 days. Longer rentals follow the Assembly's rules. My short-term rental rules guide covers the town side.

Who runs the HOA in I'On?

The I'On Assembly. Its office is at 159 Civitas Street, and the I'On Design Committee handles exterior review. Ask the listing agent for current dues and the transfer fee, since those aren't posted publicly.

How far is I'On from downtown and the beach?

The Assembly says about ten minutes to downtown Charleston and fifteen to the beach. It's about three miles east of the Ravenel Bridge.

Is I'On in a flood zone?

Homes along the marsh edge near Hobcaw Creek sit lower than homes near the lakes and square. Check the exact address with my flood zone tool.

More about the area: Mount Pleasant guide · all neighborhoods

Sources

Sales figures: closed residential sales recorded under the Ion subdivision name in the CHS Regional MLS, Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026. Medians, not appraisals. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Other details checked against the sources above on October 22, 2026; HOA rules and fees change, so get current documents before you buy.