What to Know About EME Apartments in South Carolina

EME Apartments is a Charleston-based developer building mixed-income housing across the state

EME Apartments develops residential communities in South Carolina, with a focus on Charleston and the Lowcountry. The company builds apartment complexes designed for mixed-income residents, meaning some units are priced for market rate while others are reserved for households earning below the area median income. If you are looking for an apartment in Charleston or nearby areas, EME projects may appear in your search, and understanding how their communities work can help you decide whether one fits your situation.

EME's developments typically include amenities like fitness centers, community spaces, and parking. The company has built or is developing multiple properties across the Charleston metro area, each with its own lease terms, pricing, and income-based unit availability. Because mixed-income housing means different residents pay different rents for similar units, the process of finding and leasing an apartment at an EME property depends on whether you are pursuing a market-rate unit or an income-restricted one.

Key Takeaways

• EME Apartments develops mixed-income housing in Charleston and the Lowcountry, with both market-rate and income-restricted units in the same communities.
• Income-restricted units require proof of household income at or below a certain percentage of area median income, which varies by property and changes annually.
• Market-rate units at EME properties follow standard apartment leasing: you contact the property directly, provide rental history and income verification, and sign a lease.
• Each EME property has its own leasing office, pricing, and availability, so you will need to contact the specific community you are interested in.
• Some EME communities participate in tax credit programs that fund affordable units, which is why mixed-income housing exists in the same building.

How mixed-income housing works at EME properties

Mixed-income communities allow people earning different amounts to live in the same apartment complex. EME achieves this through tax credit financing, a federal program that gives developers money to build or renovate housing in exchange for reserving a percentage of units for households below a certain income threshold. The result is that you might live next to neighbors paying market rent while you pay a subsidized rate, or vice versa—and neither of you necessarily knows the other's lease terms.

At an EME property, the income limit for restricted units is set as a percentage of area median income (AMI) for your county. In Charleston County, for example, area median income changes each year; a unit restricted to 60% AMI means a household's gross annual income cannot exceed 60% of what the median household in that county earns. If your income is above the limit, you cannot lease a restricted unit even if you want to. If your income is below it, you may be able to lease one at a lower rent than the market-rate units in the same building.

Finding and contacting an EME property

EME Apartments does not operate a single leasing hotline or website where you can search all properties at once. Instead, each community has its own leasing office and contact information. To find an EME property near you, search online for "EME Apartments Charleston" or the specific neighborhood you are interested in, then call or visit the leasing office directly.

When you contact a property, ask whether they have income-restricted units available and what the current income limit is. Leasing staff can tell you the rent for both market-rate and restricted units, the lease terms, move-in costs, and what documents you will need to provide. If the property does not have availability in your income range, ask whether they maintain a waitlist or can refer you to another EME community.

What you need to lease an income-restricted unit

Leasing an income-restricted unit requires more documentation than a market-rate apartment because the property must verify your income to confirm you meet the program's requirements. Bring recent pay stubs (usually the last two months), a signed offer letter if you are newly employed, or tax returns if you are self-employed. If you receive benefits like Social Security, unemployment, or child support, bring documentation of those as well.

You will also need a photo ID, proof of Social Security number, and a signed lease application. The leasing office will run a background check and contact previous landlords for rental history. Income verification typically takes one to two weeks. Once approved, you sign the lease and pay the move-in costs—usually first month's rent, last month's rent, and a security deposit, though amounts vary by property.

Income limits and rent amounts vary by property and year

EME properties are not identical. One community might reserve 20% of its units for households at 60% AMI, while another reserves 30% at 50% AMI. The income limits themselves change every year because area median income is recalculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This means a household that may have access to last year might not may have access to this year if AMI rose, or vice versa.

Rent for income-restricted units is typically set at 30% of the household's gross monthly income, a standard used across affordable housing programs. This means two households with different incomes in the same building may pay different rents for identical apartments. Market-rate units at the same property follow standard pricing and do not have income restrictions.

What happens if your income changes

If you are leasing an income-restricted unit and your income rises above the limit during your lease, you generally do not have to move immediately. Most programs allow you to stay through the end of your lease term, though your rent may increase. When you renew your lease, the property will re-verify your income. If you are still above the limit, you may be asked to move to a market-rate unit at the property or to leave.

If your income drops, you do not lose your lease. Your rent remains the same through your lease term. At renewal, your rent is recalculated based on your new income, which may lower it further.

Other housing options if EME properties do not fit your needs

If an EME property does not have availability in your income range, or if the location does not work for you, other mixed-income and affordable housing developers operate across South Carolina. The Charleston Housing Authority manages public housing and voucher programs. Private developers like Crescent Resources and Lennar also build mixed-income communities. Nonprofits like the Lowcountry Housing Trust focus specifically on affordable housing in the Charleston area.

You can also search for available units through HotPads, Zillow, or Apartments.com by filtering for income-restricted or affordable housing, though not all listings specify this clearly. Calling 211 (a free referral service) connects you to local housing resources and can point you toward properties with current openings in your income range.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if an EME property has income-restricted units?

Call the leasing office directly and ask. Not all EME properties have restricted units—some are market-rate only. The leasing staff will tell you whether the community participates in affordable housing programs and what the current income limits are.

What if I do not have recent pay stubs because I just started a job?

Bring a signed offer letter from your employer showing your start date and salary. If you have not yet received a paycheck, the offer letter serves as income verification. Some properties may also accept a letter from your previous employer confirming your final salary if you recently left a job.

Can I apply for an income-restricted unit if I am unemployed?

Yes, if you have other income sources. Unemployment benefits, Social Security, disability payments, child support, alimony, and rental income all count toward your household income. Bring documentation of whatever income you receive. If you have no income at all, you may not meet the income requirement, but contact the property to ask about exceptions or other programs.

Do I have to tell my neighbors my rent amount?

No. Your lease terms are private. Mixed-income housing is designed so residents do not know each other's rent, and leasing offices do not disclose this information to other residents.

What if I want to move to a different EME property?

Contact the new property's leasing office directly. You will go through the same application and income verification process. Your lease at the previous property must end first unless you are breaking it early, which typically requires paying a lease-break fee.