Welcome to the Charleston forum missjess.
My partner and I moved here a couple months ago from NYC. We're currently renting an apartment on James Is. This allows us the time to casually look for a house/townhouse/condo. Believe me, there is a wide range of places out there; style, condition, types of neighborhoods, etc. Our budget is about 200-225k, which is possible in James Is-W Ashley. I think if you avoid the trendy "beaten path" of the Peninsula/Mount Pleasant, you'll be alright. In our price range, there are a lot of money pits, but also some great bargains west of the Ashley River or in North Charleston. You just have to take the time to look around.
I don't know where you and your partner are coming from but you have to put some things into perspective here with regard to being gay. Remember that while this is an artistic community, it is also a military town, so the culture here suscribes to the "Don't ask, don't tell" philosophy.
The gay community here is small though not necessarily closeted. It just isn't concentrated in any particular area. So it has a very different vibe than a town like New York or Atlanta. I suppose there are some "gay-friendly" areas that gay couples and singles gravitate to but they aren't necessarily gay-identified. I'm thinking of the Hampton Park area just west of Rutledge Av on the mid-Peninsula, and Park Circle in North Charleston. Other than that, we've noticed numerous same-sex couples comfortably melting into the fabric of restaurants and stores on Folly Rd and Mt Pleasant Town Center. Our experience here on James Is has been pleasant enough. There seems to be a young population here due to its proximity to the Peninsula and Folly Beach, so I suppose that makes the island seem more tolerant.
Your best bet for getting a feel for the gay community would be to check out some of the resources available to you here in the lowcountry, such as affa-sc.org.
So far, we've found Charleston to be a very welcoming place. I know you will too. Just take the time to do your homework, keep an open mind, relax and reach out, and you'll find out why the rest of us have discovered why this tiny jewel (where the Ashley and Cooper rivers form the Atlantic Ocean) is so sweet.