Living in Sea Island Preserve, Johns Island: Gated Homes

Sea Island Preserve, Johns Island

Sea Island Preserve is a gated Pulte Homes community on Johns Island, off Main Road across from Mary Ann Point Road. It covers more than 700 acres, with about 360 acres set aside as preserved land, much of it wetlands. Pulte planned 387 homes on large homesites, plus a pool, pickleball and trails. It's in unincorporated Charleston County. Over Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 34 homes sold here at a median of $776,000.

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

What's selling in Sea Island Preserve

From Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 34 homes sold in Sea Island Preserve at a median of $776,000, 19% above the median for Johns Island. Most sold between $615K and $950K. The homes that sold were 100% single-family detached, with a median year built of 2024, and 62% were built in the last three years, so new construction is a big part of the market here.

Location: Off Main Road (Across from Mary Ann Point Rd)
Size: 700+ acres, 387 homes (About 360 acres preserved)
Gated: Yes (Private gated entrance)
Government: Charleston County (Unincorporated)

Where it is and getting around

Sea Island Preserve sits on Main Road on Johns Island, with Island Preserve Road as the entrance across from Mary Ann Point Road. Main Road is the route between U.S. 17 and the Kiawah and Seabrook end of the island, and it gets heavy, especially at Main and Maybank and on beach weekends.

Downtown, West Ashley and the beaches are all a drive. Plan your commute around Main Road and Maybank Highway, and see my Johns Island growth tracker for the road projects in the works.

The homes and lots

Pulte built one- and two-story homes here, about 12 designs from roughly 1,500 to 3,000 square feet when the Post and Courier covered the launch in 2021. The models were the Dunwoody and the Woodward.

Lots are the selling point. Pulte calls them oversized, estate-sized homesites with live oaks. Pulte's page now shows the community as sold out, so expect resales.

Amenities and HOA

Pulte lists a resort-style pool with a splash area, an open-air pavilion, a playground, a deck over the water features and greenways, walking and biking trails, two pickleball courts and a community fire pit. Homes are wired for fiber with up to gigabit internet.

There's a homeowners association with quarterly dues, and Pulte says the dues include Spectrum high-speed internet and TV. The dollar amount isn't published, so ask for the current budget, transfer fee and covenants.

The preserve and the rules

About 360 acres, roughly half the property, are set aside as conservation land, much of it wetlands. That's why it feels private, and it also means some lots back up to low ground. Check each lot with the flood zone lookup.

Sea Island Preserve is in unincorporated Charleston County. County zoning allows short-term rentals only by permit, mostly up to 72 days a year in residential districts, and the HOA covenants can be stricter. See my short-term rental rules page.

Schools

Sea Island Preserve is in the Charleston County School District. Attendance zones can change, so check the exact address with the district's official lookup: Charleston County school zone map.

What people like

Gated, with large homesites and mature trees
About 360 acres of preserved land
Internet and TV included in HOA dues, per Pulte

What to weigh first

Main Road traffic, especially near Maybank Highway
Wetlands and low ground behind some lots
Sold out, so choices are limited to resales

Common questions about Sea Island Preserve

How much do homes cost in Sea Island Preserve?

The median sale was $776,000 across 34 closed sales from Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026 (CHS Regional MLS), with most selling between $615K and $950K. That's 19% above the median for Johns Island ($654,000). The median price per square foot was $273.

Is Sea Island Preserve gated?

Yes. Pulte describes it as a gated community, with homesites within the private gates.

What does the HOA cover?

Pulte says the quarterly HOA dues include Spectrum high-speed internet and TV along with the shared amenities. The amount isn't published, so ask for the current budget and any transfer fee.

Can I rent my home short term?

It's in unincorporated Charleston County, where short-term rentals need a county permit and are mostly limited to 72 days a year in residential districts. HOA covenants may be stricter. See my short-term rental rules page.

Is Sea Island Preserve in a flood zone?

Some lots sit near wetlands and some don't. Run the address through my flood zone lookup and ask for an elevation certificate.

More about the area: Johns Island guide · all neighborhoods

Sources

Sales figures: closed residential sales recorded under the Sea Island Preserve 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.