Living in St. Johns Lake, Johns Island: Homes, Lake, HOA

St. Johns Lake, Johns Island

St. Johns Lake is a single-family neighborhood built around a 63-acre lake on Johns Island, entered from Fickling Hill Road near Main Road, in unincorporated Charleston County. CalAtlantic Homes opened sales in 2017, and most homes date from 2018 to 2024. Amenities include a pool, a covered pavilion, a playground and a dock for kayaks and paddleboards. Over Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 20 homes sold here at a median of $660,000.

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

What's selling in St. Johns Lake

From Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, 20 homes sold in St. Johns Lake at a median of $660,000, 1% above the median for Johns Island. Most sold between $560K and $750K. The homes that sold were 100% single-family detached, with a median year built of 2021. With this few sales, one or two big or small homes can move the median, so read it as a range.

Builder: CalAtlantic Homes (Opened sales Oct. 2017; announcement now on Lennar's newsroom)
Built: 2018 to 2024 (Per 2026 CHS Regional MLS sales; median 2021)
Government: Unincorporated Charleston County (Per county street records; not in city limits)
Amenities: 63-acre lake, pool, pavilion (Plus a kayak and paddleboard dock and playground)

Where it is and getting around

St. Johns Lake is on the west side of Johns Island. You come in on Turtle Marsh Lane off Fickling Hill Road, and the main loop is Great Egret Drive, with streets like Pigeon Point, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Pumpkinseed Drive and Warmouth Court off it. Main Road is under a mile away in county street data.

That makes Main Road and U.S. 17 the main route toward West Ashley. Live 5 reported on April 21, 2026 that the new U.S. 17 and Main Road interchange ramps and a roundabout are expected by the end of 2026, with the full $354 million corridor project slated to finish at the end of 2028. Expect work zones until then. More on my Johns Island growth tracker.

The homes and lots

When CalAtlantic opened sales in October 2017, it offered 13 one- and two-story plans from 1,536 to 3,796 square feet with 3 to 6 bedrooms, and said more than half of the homesites front the lake. Homes that sold in 2026 were built between 2018 and 2024. Pumpkinseed Drive and Warmouth Court are the newest streets in county records.

Lots are suburban in size: listings I checked ran from 0.16 to 0.29 acres, and a local brokerage puts the average around a quarter acre. Lake, pond or wooded frontage is what separates one home from the next, so look at what's behind the house as closely as the house.

Amenities and HOA

The center of the neighborhood is the 63-acre lake. Builder and listing materials describe a dock for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, a community pool, a covered pavilion and a playground, and one 2026 listing also mentions a dog park. The builder also noted about 69 acres of protected wetlands nearby.

There's an HOA, but I couldn't find dues published by the HOA or the builder. Ask for the current budget, the transfer fee and the covenants, including any rules on boats or motors on the lake.

Flood zones and short-term rentals

The streets in St. Johns Lake fall in Zone X on the county's FEMA flood layer, but that's a street-level check, and lake and pond lots can differ. Run the exact address through my flood zone lookup and ask for an elevation certificate on any lakefront home.

St. Johns Lake is in unincorporated Charleston County. The county allows a Limited Home Rental permit for an owner-occupied home for up to 72 days a year, and 72 to 144 days needs a Board of Zoning Appeals special exception. HOA covenants can be stricter. See my short-term rental rules page.

Schools

St. Johns Lake 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

A 63-acre lake with a paddle dock, plus a pool and pavilion
Newer homes, mostly built 2018 to 2024
Close to Main Road and the new U.S. 17 interchange

What to weigh first

Smaller lots, often around a quarter acre
Main Road and U.S. 17 corridor construction runs through 2028
Farther from Maybank Highway shops and restaurants than north-end neighborhoods

Common questions about St. Johns Lake

How much do homes cost in St. Johns Lake?

The median sale was $660,000 across 20 closed sales from Jan 1, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026 (CHS Regional MLS), with most selling between $560K and $750K. That's 1% above the median for Johns Island ($654,000). The median price per square foot was $250.

Does St. Johns Lake have an HOA?

Yes. The association maintains the pool, pavilion, dock and common areas. I couldn't find dues published by the HOA or the builder, so get the current budget, transfer fee and covenants from the seller before you commit.

Is St. Johns Lake in a flood zone?

Its streets are Zone X on the county's FEMA flood layer, but flood zones are set lot by lot. Check the exact address with my flood zone lookup, especially for lakefront homes.

Is St. Johns Lake in the city or the county?

Unincorporated Charleston County, per the county's street records. Short-term rentals need a county Limited Home Rental permit for an owner-occupied home, up to 72 days a year. HOA covenants can be stricter. See my short-term rental rules page.

Is anything still being built in St. Johns Lake?

The newest homes that sold in 2026 were built in 2024, and Pumpkinseed Drive and Warmouth Court are the latest streets in county records. Nearby, the U.S. 17 and Main Road interchange is due by the end of 2026, with the full corridor project running through 2028.

More about the area: Johns Island guide · all neighborhoods

Sources

Sales figures: closed residential sales recorded under the St. Johns Lake 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.