Do I need a home inspection when buying a house in James Island or Johns Island in 2026?

A home inspection is not legally required to buy a house on James Island or Johns Island, but skipping one means taking on unknown repair costs, structural issues, or flood-related damage without any chance to negotiate repairs or walk away first. Given how common flood exposure and older housing stock are in both areas, an inspection is one of the most useful protections a buyer has. Brian Beatty recommends an inspection on every James Island and Johns Island purchase regardless of how competitive the offer needs to be.