One-Story Home Plans Are Trending Nationally — What That Means If You’re Building in Charleston

Jul 20

If you’ve toured new-construction communities anywhere from Nexton to Kiawah in the past year, you’ve probably noticed it: more one-story floor plans on the builder’s model row than there were five years ago. That’s not a Charleston-specific quirk — it’s part of a national shift the National Association of Home Builders has been tracking in new-construction data, and the Lowcountry happens to be one of the markets where the trend makes the most practical sense.

Market Insight: Why One-Story Plans Are Gaining Ground Nationally

Builders have been leaning into single-story floor plans for a mix of reasons: they’re generally faster and less expensive to frame than a comparable two-story home, they appeal to the country’s growing 55-and-over buyer pool who want to age in place without a staircase, and they hold their footprint (and cost) more contained against rising overall home prices. None of that is unique to Charleston, but all of it maps directly onto who’s actually building here right now.

Educational Value: Why This Trend Lands Especially Hard in Charleston

Charleston’s buyer pool skews heavily toward two groups who both gravitate to one-story living: retirees relocating from the Northeast and Midwest into 55+ and low-maintenance communities, and second-home buyers who want a lock-and-leave property without stairs to manage. Del Webb at Cane Bay and Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay — both active 55+ communities in the Cane Bay Plantation area — are built almost entirely around single-story ranch plans for exactly this reason. On the barrier islands and in resort communities like Kiawah and Seabrook, one-story cottage-style plans have long been the default for second-home buyers who want easy indoor-outdoor living without the maintenance of a multi-story coastal home.

There’s a coastal-construction wrinkle worth flagging, too: on flood-zone lots along the Charleston coast, “one story” often really means one finished story sitting above an elevated ground-level parking/storage area — a hybrid that still delivers single-level living once you’re upstairs, without sacrificing the elevation coastal construction standards typically require. Always confirm whether a “one-story” listing is a true slab-on-grade build or an elevated home with living space on the second level — the practical experience of the home, and the flood-insurance picture, differ significantly between the two.

Buyer Strategy: What to Do If a One-Story Plan Matters to You

If a one-story plan matters to you — for aging-in-place, resale appeal, or simple preference — it’s increasingly available across more price points and more Charleston-area communities than it was even a few years ago, but it isn’t universal. Historic peninsula and Old Village-style neighborhoods are still dominated by multi-story homes by necessity of lot size and architectural character, while newer planned communities in Summerville, Cane Bay, and parts of West Ashley are where one-story inventory runs deepest. If you’re building rather than buying resale, ask your builder directly how a one-story version of your preferred plan affects both framing cost and roofline — trading a second story for a larger footprint isn’t always cost-neutral once you account for foundation and roofing square footage.

Local Market Context: Where One-Story Inventory Is Concentrated Right Now

Cane Bay Plantation and the broader Summerville/Berkeley County corridor currently carry the deepest bench of one-story new-construction options in the Charleston market, driven heavily by 55+ product. On the coast, expect the “elevated one-story” hybrid rather than true slab-on-grade, and expect a longer, more involved permitting and design process than an inland build. If you’re weighing a one-story plan against a two-story on a specific lot, that decision is worth making before you commit to a builder, not after.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are one-story homes more popular in new construction right now?

Yes — national builder data shows single-story plans gaining share, driven by construction cost, an aging buyer pool, and buyers wanting to contain square footage against rising home prices.

Where can I find one-story new construction in the Charleston area?

Cane Bay Plantation and the Summerville/Berkeley County corridor have the deepest one-story inventory, particularly in 55+ communities like Del Webb at Cane Bay and Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay.

Can you build a true one-story home on a Charleston-area flood-zone lot?

Often what reads as “one-story” on the coast is actually an elevated home with one finished level above ground-level parking or storage — confirm which you’re looking at, since it affects both the living experience and flood insurance costs.

Is a one-story home cheaper to build than a two-story home?

Not always — a one-story plan generally frames faster and cheaper, but trading a second story for a larger footprint increases foundation and roofing square footage, which can offset some of the savings depending on the plan.

Are one-story homes better for aging in place?

Yes, that’s one of the main drivers of the trend — no stairs to manage makes single-story plans a common choice for retirees and buyers planning to stay in a home long-term.

Inspired by NAHB’s July 2026 reporting on one-story home trends in new construction (nahb.org/blog/2026/07/one-story-homes-becoming-more-popular); localized and independently written for the Charleston market by Iconic Developments, LLC.

Looking for the right floor plan for your lot? Whether you’re weighing a one-story plan against a two-story on a specific Charleston-area lot, or trying to figure out what an elevated coastal build actually delivers in usable one-level living space, Iconic Developments, LLC can walk you through the real cost and design tradeoffs before you commit to a builder. Call/Text: 843-343-3359 | Email: Chris@IconicDevelopments.com | Website: IconicDevelopments.com.