Magnificent Oceanfront Mansion on Kiawah Island Woos the Market for $16M

by Tiffani Sherman

An Oceanfront Mansion for $16M That Quickly Found a Buyer Is South Carolina's Most Expensive Home — Realtor.com

A luxurious, beachfront home in South Carolina didn’t have to wait long for an offer.

The coastal mansion on Kiawah Island, SC, was listed for $16 million in early March and is now in contingent status.

“Oceanfront in general has some scarcity to it, and we’ve been in a low-inventory period,” says listing agent Danielle Whitson, with Kiawah Island Real Estate. “And finding homes on Kiawah that are oceanfront and in this type of condition was in high demand. We have had other oceanfront homes that were more or less teardowns. This was definitely turnkey.”

Ahead of its time

The 7,092-square-foot home was built in 2011. Whitson notes it was ahead of its time because of the materials the builders used, including a PVC siding that looks like cedar but is durable and sustainable.

“It is extremely low maintenance,” she says. “They were early adopters of these forward-thinking things when building their home on the ocean.”

The waterfront construction, with six bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms, takes full advantage of its location. And it’s built to last.

The current owners have used the home as a full-time residence. Whitson says it fits the everyday needs of a family, with great outdoor spaces and a private boardwalk to the beach.

“It has a really nice and grand appeal yet is understated in a lot of ways,” she explains. “While it was grand and beautiful, it also has everyday comfort, so it wasn’t so grand that it was overdone.”

For example, the two outdoor fireplaces create casual, outdoor living areas, suitable for cool nights.

“On fall and spring evenings, it’s a great place to go and connect with family,” Whitson says. “With the southern exposure, even in the winter, you get the heat of the sun on the outdoor deck; and you can sit outside on a winter day, and it feels like summer.”

Outdoor dream

Unsurprisingly, this oceanfront beauty had no trouble attracting a buyer, who made an offer shortly after the property was listed.

“This house is about entertaining family and friends and definitely [for] a person who enjoys the outdoor space.” Whitson says. “The outdoor space is paramount.”