On South Carolina’s Atlantic Ocean coast, near North Carolina’s border, is the Myrtle Beach area. The 60-mile stretch, called the Grand Strand, comprises 14 communities. Its center of gravity is the city of Myrtle Beach, a centrally located entertainment hub with a population of around 40,000—a number that greatly swells in the summer. The surrounding communities vary in size and each have their own personalities: Conway is a historic town; Murrells Inlet is a fishing village; Surfside Beach is a family beach area. The region, which receives more than 18 million visitors annually, attracts home buyers of all kinds, from families to second-home owners to vacation-rental investors. It is also a hot spot for retirees: Between 2020 and 2023, the area had the country’s fastest-growing population of adults aged 65 and older, up 23%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

$3.855 Million

Sale price of the area’s most expensive condo; it sold in August 2024.

What buyers are buying

There is something for every type of buyer: Planned communities with resort amenities; older established neighborhoods; condos or bungalows close to the ocean; Intracoastal Waterway homes and communities; and larger acreages a short drive from the beach.

Neighborhoods buyers covet

The Dunes, north of downtown Myrtle Beach, is near the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, one of the area’s premiere country clubs. Houses have large homesites, many on the golf course and oceanfront. The Golden Mile, in proximity to downtown Myrtle Beach, is a mile-long area of oceanfront homes with no hotels on the stretch. Houses are a mix of older and newer. For resort communities, Grande Dunes is on more than 2,000 acres and has properties ranging from luxury condos to multimillion-dollar homes. Kingston Resorts is on 145 acres and has primary residences, second homes and vacation rentals. Both are located near the Dunes.

The teardown effect

Lately, buyers are purchasing small cottages on oceanfront lots for over $1 million and tearing them down and replacing them with much bigger houses. In the city of Myrtle Beach, new oceanfront homes have guidelines for site layout, landscaping, colors and finishes.

What about home insurance?

The Myrtle Beach area is facing the same challenges as other U.S. markets, where extreme weather events and higher costs for home repairs and replacement have made home insurance more expensive and harder to get since the pandemic. Brian Payne, president at Field Insurance Agency and a South Carolina insurance specialist, says hurricanes are a leading risk factor in the area.

Advice for the buyer

Melanie Hellmer, a real-estate agent with Leonard, Call Real Estate of Myrtle Beach, says buyers need to think hard about the lifestyle they want. “Do you want to live on or near the ocean, or near a marina? Are you a golfer or tennis player? Would you prefer to be inland for more privacy and space?” she says. She also points out that the area has good medical care: There are multiple local hospital systems, and nationally ranked medical institutions—such as the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and Duke University in Durham, N.C.—are within driving distance for specialized needs.

On the market

N. Ocean Boulevard

$6.75 Million
8 beds | 8 baths
9,515 sq. ft. | 1.32 acres

This prestigious, historic residence is on Myrtle Beach’s Golden Mile, with its homesite boulevard frontage running an entire city block. It was built in 1932 but renovated in 2015. There is a main house, guesthouse and pool house. The grounds have a pool, outdoor kitchen, landscaped gardens and patio. The garage has space for two cars; there is an additional parking portico. Agent: Melanie Hellmer, Leonard, Call Real Estate of Myrtle Beach.

Lake Drive

$6.45 Million
7 beds | 12 baths
9,000 sq. ft. | 3.14 acres

Situated in the Dunes neighborhood, this property was built in 2007. It is on a gate lot and overlooks Dunes Lake and the golf course at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. There is a main house and two guesthouses. Outside there is a pool, spa, golf putting green, patios and tiered gardens in addition to 300 feet of lakefront and a dock. Agent: Leonard, Call Real Estate of Myrtle Beach.