Single-Family Homes & Townhouses
Up to 3,800 residential units across multiple product types, including single-family homes, townhouses, and duplexes, planned in phases through the early 2030s.
US Highway 278 near John Smith Road, Hardeeville, SC 29927
- From the upper $300,000s - preliminary pricing
- List Price
- From the upper $300,000s - preliminary pricing
- Status
- Coming Soon!
- Property Type
- New Construction Single-Family Homes and Townhomes
- Neighborhood
- Carolina Station
- Schools
- Jasper County School District
Property Description
Carl Kratz Broker & Realtor • Century 21 Integra Realty • SCLowcountryRealEstate.com
Coming Soon to Hardeeville, SC • Preliminary Pricing Released
Carolina Station: New Homes
Carolina Station: New Homes
Coming to Hardeeville, SC
A 2,600-acre master-planned community from D.R. Horton and HIC Land is taking shape off US Highway 278 in Hardeeville, South Carolina, minutes from Savannah, Bluffton, and Hilton Head Island. Plans call for 3,800 new homes, walkable retail, parks, and trails, with pricing expected from the $300,000s.
2,600Total Acres
3,800Planned Homes
$300MTotal Investment
2027First Homes Available
Carolina Station at a Glance
- Location
- Off US Highway 278 near John Smith Road, Hardeeville, SC, near I-95 Exit 8
- Developer & Builder
- HIC Land (master developer) and D.R. Horton (builder)
- Size
- 2,600 acres on the historic Morgan Tract
- Homes Planned
- Up to 3,800 single-family homes, townhouses, and duplexes, plus 650+ multifamily rental units
- Expected Pricing
- $300,000s to $500,000s, finalized closer to the 2027 sales launch
- Sales Timeline
- Groundbreaking occurred in late 2025; vertical construction is expected in 2026; the first 373 homes are expected to open for sale in 2027
- School District
- Jasper County School District (Hardeeville Elementary, Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle, Ridgeland-Hardeeville High)
- Gated
- No. Carolina Station is planned as an open, non-gated community
The Project
A New Community Built for How the Lowcountry Is Actually Growing
Carolina Station is a joint venture between HIC Land, a Charleston-based master-planned community developer, and D.R. Horton, the nation's largest homebuilder by volume. The $300 million project sits on 2,600 acres of the historic Morgan Tract in Hardeeville, along US Highway 278 near the Georgia border.
This is not a luxury gated enclave. Hardeeville's mayor has been direct about the need: the city needs nurses, teachers, and first responders, and those workers need quality, attainable housing. That is the purpose behind Carolina Station: single-family homes, townhouses, and duplexes at a price point that works for the people staffing the region's hospitals, schools, and emergency services, alongside relocating buyers and investors drawn by the same growth.
Groundbreaking took place in late 2025. Vertical construction on the first homes is anticipated to begin in 2026, with residential sales opening in 2027.
We need nurses, first responders and teachers, and they need quality starter homes like what D.R. Horton is building. Carolina Station will bring housing, jobs and new opportunities to our community.
Mayor Harry Williams, City of HardeevilleD.R. Horton, the Nation's #1 BuilderThe builder behind Carolina Station closed over 93,000 homes last year and has the scale to execute a project of this size on schedule.
Parks, Trails & Open SpaceThe master plan includes a connected network of parks, sidewalks, and walking trails throughout the community.
95 Acres of Commercial SpaceRetail, a grocery store, restaurants, and everyday service businesses are planned alongside the residential neighborhoods.
650+ Multifamily Rental UnitsApartments will round out the housing mix, giving the community a full range of ownership and rental options.
$8 Million Infrastructure CommitmentD.R. Horton is funding intersection upgrades at US 278 and John Smith Road, including new turn lanes and a traffic signal.
Minutes from I-95 Exit 8Carolina Station sits at the crossroads of Savannah, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Beaufort, a location few new communities in the Lowcountry can match.
Community Features
What's Coming Inside Carolina Station
This is a true master-planned community, not a subdivision dropped into a field. Here is what the plan includes.
650+ Apartment Units
A rental component will serve renters, young professionals, and buyers not yet ready to purchase, creating a more complete community from the start.
Grocery, Restaurants & Services
Ninety-five acres of commercial space will include a grocery store, restaurants, and everyday service businesses, meeting daily needs without leaving the community.
Parks, Trails & Open Space
A connected network of parks, sidewalks, and trails throughout the development, designed to encourage outdoor living and everyday community life.
New Road Connections
A new spine road will connect Highway 278 and Highway 46, improving east-west travel. Intersection upgrades at 278 and John Smith Road are already funded.
Expected From the $300,000s
D.R. Horton expects most homes to be priced from the $300,000s to the $500,000s. Final pricing will be set closer to the 2027 sales opening, and down payment assistance is expected to be available.
Can't Wait Until Carolina Station Opens?
Carolina Station is still coming soon, but Hardeeville already has homes available today, including established neighborhoods and other new-construction communities.
See Hardeeville Homes Available NowIs This the Right Fit?
Who Carolina Station Is Built For
Carolina Station is designed around attainable, new-construction homeownership, so it draws a wider range of buyers than a typical Lowcountry gated community. Here is how it tends to fit three different buyers I work with.
Local Workforce Buyers
Nurses, teachers, first responders, and other workers supporting Hardeeville's growth who want a new, low-maintenance home at a price that fits a working household budget, without a long commute to Bluffton or Hilton Head Island.
Relocating Buyers Seeking Value
Buyers moving from the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic who already know the Lowcountry through Hilton Head or Bluffton but want a lower entry price point, a brand-new home under builder warranty, and coastal-adjacent living within a half hour of the beach.
Buyers Comparing Hardeeville and Bluffton
Relocating buyers who want newer homes and a lower entry price than many Bluffton communities, while remaining within reach of Savannah, Hilton Head Island, and growing Hardeeville employers such as TS Conductor.
Location
Hardeeville: The Lowcountry's Fastest-Growing City
Hardeeville grew 85 percent between 2020 and 2024, the fastest growth rate of any municipality in South Carolina. That growth is exactly why Carolina Station is being built here.
- Savannah, GA & Port of SavannahAbout 15 miles south
- Bluffton, SCAbout 20 miles northeast
- Hilton Head Island, SCAbout 30 miles east
- Beaufort, SCAbout 35 miles northeast
- TS Conductor, Clarius ParkIn Hardeeville
- Jacksonville, FLAbout 2 hours south
Major Nearby Employers
Port of Savannah TS Conductor, Hardeeville Hilton Head Hospitality Beaufort Memorial Hospital MCAS Beaufort Jasper Ocean Terminal (planned)
A Few Things to Know Before You Buy
This is not a gated community. Carolina Station is open, attainable housing. No guard gates, no exclusivity. If that is your expectation, this is not the fit.
It is car-dependent for now. The surrounding area is still developing. Expect to drive to most destinations until retail builds out, which should improve significantly as the community grows.
Schools are Jasper County School District. Hardeeville Elementary, Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle, and Ridgeland-Hardeeville High serve this area. Verify current enrollment boundaries and ratings directly with the district before you decide.
Sales open in 2027. Nothing is available to purchase today. You can register with D.R. Horton for early access, but vertical construction has not started yet.
Development Timeline
What Has Happened and What Comes Next
1
2025, Completed
Groundbreaking & Land Work
HIC Land officially broke ground on Carolina Station in late 2025. Site infrastructure work and preliminary grading are underway on the 2,600-acre Morgan Tract parcel.
2
2025, Completed
Infrastructure Funding Committed
D.R. Horton committed $8 million toward intersection improvements at US 278 and John Smith Road. A state-approved interchange redesign at I-95 Exit 8 is also in design review.
3
2026, In Progress
Vertical Construction Begins
Model homes and initial production homes in the first phase of Carolina Station are expected to begin vertical construction in 2026.
4
2027, Upcoming
First Homes Available for Purchase
Residential sales on the first 373 homes are expected to open in 2027. D.R. Horton will set final pricing closer to the sales launch date.
5
2028 to 2032
Phased Buildout & Commercial Development
Additional residential phases, retail, restaurants, the grocery anchor, and commercial space are expected to deliver in phases through the early 2030s.
What Buyers Need to Know
Pricing, Financing & Key Details
Expected Price Range
$300,000s to $500,000s
Anticipated pricing for single-family homes and townhouses. Final pricing will be announced closer to the 2027 sales opening. This is one of the more affordable new construction price points in the SC Lowcountry market.
Builder
D.R. Horton
America's largest homebuilder by volume. D.R. Horton's DHI Mortgage division offers in-house financing, including down payment assistance programs for qualifying buyers. You are never required to use the builder's preferred lender or closing attorney.
HOA Status
Not Yet Published
HOA structure and fees have not been released. This will be a key detail to review before signing a contract. See my Bluffton HOA and Transfer Fees page for how HOA and transfer fee questions typically work in this market, and I will link Carolina Station's specific HOA financials here once they are published.
School District
Jasper County
Hardeeville Elementary (PK-5), Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle (6-8), and Ridgeland-Hardeeville High (9-12). Verify enrollment boundaries and current ratings directly with the district before purchasing.
A Note on Buying New Construction
When you buy directly from D.R. Horton, or from any builder, the sales agent at the model home works for the builder. Their job is to protect the builder's interests. You deserve someone in your corner working solely for you: reviewing the contract, flagging what is negotiable, watching construction milestones, and making sure you do not leave money on the table. That is what I do, usually without any direct cost to you as the buyer, though compensation terms should be confirmed in writing before you tour a model home.
Common Questions
Carolina Station: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carolina Station in Hardeeville, SC?
Carolina Station is a planned 2,600-acre master-planned community on the historic Morgan Tract in Hardeeville, South Carolina, developed by HIC Land and built by D.R. Horton. It is planned to include up to 3,800 homes, 650 or more multifamily units, and 95 acres of retail and commercial space.
When can I buy a home at Carolina Station?
Nothing is available to purchase yet. Groundbreaking took place in late 2025, vertical construction is expected to begin in 2026, and residential sales on the first 373 homes are expected to open in 2027.
How much will homes at Carolina Station cost?
D.R. Horton has indicated most homes will be priced from the $300,000s to the $500,000s, with final pricing announced closer to the 2027 sales launch.
Is Carolina Station a gated community?
No. Carolina Station is planned as an open, attainable-housing community without guard gates or gated exclusivity.
What school district serves Carolina Station?
Carolina Station falls within the Jasper County School District, zoned for Hardeeville Elementary, Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle, and Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School. Buyers should verify current boundaries and ratings directly with the district.
Do I need my own real estate agent to buy at Carolina Station?
You are not required to have your own agent, but it is strongly recommended. The on-site sales agent at a builder's model home represents the builder, not you. An independent buyer's agent reviews the contract, tracks construction milestones, and represents your interests, usually without any direct cost to you, though compensation terms should be confirmed in writing before you tour a model home.
How far is Carolina Station from Hilton Head Island and Bluffton?
Carolina Station is about 30 miles from Hilton Head Island and about 20 miles from Bluffton, with Savannah roughly 15 miles to the south, all accessible via US Highway 278 and I-95 Exit 8.
Is Carolina Station a good fit for out-of-state buyers or investors?
Carolina Station can appeal to relocating buyers who want new construction at a lower price point than Hilton Head Island or Bluffton, and to investors watching rental demand tied to the Hyundai Metaplant, the Port of Savannah, and Hardeeville's rapid population growth. It is best suited to buyers prioritizing value and long-term growth over a gated, resort-style setting.
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Prefer to Talk?
Call or Text 843.247.9373Can't Wait for Carolina Station?
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