Thinking About Moving to Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach? Here’s What Home Buyers Should Know
If you’ve caught yourself searching “homes for sale in Myrtle Beach, SC” or wondering what it would be like to trade colder winters, heavy traffic, or big-city living for life near the South Carolina coast, you’re definitely not the only one.
More buyers from outside the area are taking a serious look at the Grand Strand — and they’re coming for different reasons.
Some are planning their retirement. Others want a second home near the beach. Some are searching for an investment property, while others simply want more room, warmer weather and a different pace of life.
And Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach give buyers plenty of options.
Recent Redfin search data shows Washington, D.C., New York and Boston were the three leading metro areas generating inbound home-search interest for Myrtle Beach during January through March 2026. Charlotte, Raleigh, Philadelphia, Greensboro, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Chicago were also among the leading sources of inbound searches. Redfin notes that these numbers measure home-search behavior rather than completed moves, but they provide a useful picture of where buyer interest is coming from.
So, if you’re considering making the move yourself, here’s what you should know.
Why Are So Many Buyers Looking at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?
There’s a difference between visiting Myrtle Beach for a week and actually imagining your life here.
Once buyers begin considering the Grand Strand as a place to own property, they often realize just how many different lifestyles are available within one coastal market.
You can wake up close to the Atlantic, live beside a golf course, choose a quiet neighborhood away from the tourist areas, find a condo with resort amenities, or look farther inland when you want more home and land for your money.
And the area continues to grow.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Myrtle Beach’s population at 40,937 in 2025, approximately 14.7% higher than its 2020 population estimate base. North Myrtle Beach reached an estimated 21,346 residents, representing approximately 13.3% growth over the same period.
That growth helps explain why we’re hearing the same question from buyers across the country:
“Should we move to Myrtle Beach?”
The better question may be: Which part of the Myrtle Beach area fits the life you want to live?
Moving From the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic? Myrtle Beach May Feel Very Different
If you’re coming from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts or another Northeastern market, the Grand Strand can be quite a change.
That’s part of the attraction.
Instead of starting with how close you need to be to a major downtown job center, your home search might suddenly revolve around completely different questions:
Do you want to be able to golf regularly? Would you rather be close to the ocean or have more property farther inland? Do you want an HOA community with amenities or a home with no HOA? Would you prefer a condo you can lock and leave or a single-family home with a garage and yard?
Those are the conversations worth having before you start falling in love with properties online.
Myrtle Beach vs. North Myrtle Beach
One of the first things out-of-state buyers discover is that Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach aren’t simply two names for the same place.
Myrtle Beach offers a wide range of condos, established communities, newer developments and easy access to shopping, restaurants, entertainment and the area’s central attractions.
North Myrtle Beach has its own personality and includes communities such as Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach and Windy Hill. Buyers looking here frequently consider proximity to the beach, golf, the Intracoastal Waterway and communities surrounding the Barefoot Resort area.
Then there are nearby areas such as Little River and Conway, which can open up another set of choices for buyers who don’t need to live directly on the beach.
That’s why searching the entire Grand Strand instead of focusing on one ZIP code can make such a difference.
Planning to Retire in Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach?
Retirement and pre-retirement buyers continue to be an important part of the coastal market.
North Myrtle Beach in particular has a substantial older population. Census Bureau data estimates that 41.6% of North Myrtle Beach residents are age 65 or older, compared with 23.7% in Myrtle Beach.
For buyers preparing for retirement, however, finding the right home involves more than choosing a pretty location.
Think about how you want the property to work for you five, ten or fifteen years from now.
One-level living, elevators in condo buildings, manageable yards, nearby shopping, community amenities, garage space, HOA responsibilities and maintenance requirements can become just as important as the view.
And, of course, there’s golf.
For many buyers, having numerous golf options throughout the Grand Strand is part of what turns a vacation destination into a place they can picture calling home.
A Smart Retirement Strategy: Buy Before You Retire
Not everyone moving here needs to make the transition all at once.
Some buyers purchase a Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach property before retirement, use it as a second home for several years and eventually make it their primary residence.
That can give you time to learn the area and decide whether coastal living really fits your long-term plans.
Your financing, insurance, HOA rules, rental plans and tax situation can vary depending on how the property will be used, so it’s important to talk with the appropriate real estate, lending, insurance and tax professionals before making that decision.
Looking for a Second Home in Myrtle Beach?
This is where Myrtle Beach gives buyers an incredible variety of choices.
Your second home could be an oceanfront condo, a property a few blocks from the beach, a home overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, a golf-course property or something farther inland where your money may stretch differently.
But don’t start your search with the view alone.
Before buying a second home, ask:
- How often will we actually use the property?
- Do we want a condo or single-family home?
- Do we want it furnished?
- What are the HOA dues and what do they cover?
- Are there rental restrictions?
- What insurance will the property require?
- How will the property be maintained while we’re away?
- Do we eventually plan to make this our primary residence?
Those answers can dramatically narrow your search.
Want a Myrtle Beach Investment Property? Look Beyond the Purchase Price
Myrtle Beach naturally attracts buyers interested in vacation rentals and investment properties, but not every condo or coastal property can be treated the same way.
One of the biggest mistakes an out-of-state investor can make is seeing an attractive property online and assuming short-term rentals are automatically permitted.
They aren’t.
Restrictions can vary by property, community, HOA and local regulations.
Before making an offer, investigate the complete picture: permitted rental use, HOA dues and assessments, property management expenses, insurance, maintenance, taxes, furnishing costs and other ownership expenses.
A lower purchase price doesn’t automatically make something a stronger investment.
The goal should be to understand the property and its permitted use before running the numbers.
What Does the Myrtle Beach Housing Market Look Like in 2026?
Buyers may have more breathing room than they remember from the extremely competitive markets of several years ago.
According to Redfin’s latest data through August 2026, Myrtle Beach’s median sale price was approximately $262,326, down 6.3% year over year. Redfin classified the market as “not very competitive” and reported homes spending roughly 104 days on market during the referenced period.
Those are broad citywide statistics, though.
An oceanfront condo, a no-HOA single-family home, a new-construction property and an Intracoastal Waterway home can behave very differently.
That’s why buyers shouldn’t base an offer solely on a national headline or even a citywide median.
Real estate here is very property-specific.
Don’t Overlook Little River, Conway and Communities Just Outside the Beach
Here’s something buyers searching from hundreds of miles away don’t always realize:
You don’t have to live directly in Myrtle Beach to enjoy the Myrtle Beach lifestyle.
Little River can appeal to buyers who want to be close to North Myrtle Beach, the Intracoastal Waterway, restaurants, boating and the North Carolina state line.
Conway gives buyers another option farther inland, with its historic downtown and residential communities while remaining within reach of the coast.
Depending on your priorities, moving even a short distance away from the ocean can change the type, size and style of property available to you.
That’s one reason working with someone who understands the broader Grand Strand market is so valuable.
Condo, Golf Community, No-HOA Home or Waterfront Property?
This is where your search becomes personal.
You might discover that the property you thought you wanted isn’t actually the property that fits your lifestyle.
A buyer initially searching for an oceanfront condo may decide they’d rather have a garage and backyard.
Someone looking for a large single-family home may realize they’d prefer the convenience of a lock-and-leave condo.
A golfer may decide being near several courses matters more than being directly on the beach.
And an investor will likely evaluate a property completely differently from someone planning to live there year-round.
There isn’t one “best” type of Myrtle Beach property.
There’s a property that works best for what you want to do with it.
Before Moving to Myrtle Beach, Put These Five Things on Your Checklist
Before you schedule a weekend of showings, get clear about:
Your preferred location. How important is being close to the ocean versus getting more house, land or privacy?
Your property use. Will this be your primary home, second home or investment?
Your maintenance preference. Do you want someone else handling exterior maintenance, or would you rather have more control over your property?
Your true monthly budget. Consider more than the mortgage payment. HOA dues, insurance, taxes and maintenance all matter.
Your long-term plan. Are you buying for the next few years, preparing for retirement or hoping to keep the property long term?
Once we know those answers, finding the right properties gets much easier.
Thinking About Moving From DC, New York, Boston, Pennsylvania or North Carolina?
You don’t have to know Myrtle Beach before starting your home search.
In fact, many of our buyers begin from hundreds of miles away.
We can help you understand the differences between Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Conway and surrounding Grand Strand communities, identify properties that fit how you plan to use the home, and help you make sense of the details that aren’t always obvious from an online listing.
Whether you’re searching for your primary residence, retirement home, second home, beach condo, golf property or investment opportunity, the first step doesn’t have to be booking a flight.
It can simply be a conversation.
Ready to Start Your Myrtle Beach Home Search?
If Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach keeps showing up in your searches, maybe it’s time to find out what your options actually look like.
TMS Property Management and Realty can help you explore properties throughout Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Conway and surrounding Grand Strand communities.
Whether you’re moving from across South Carolina or relocating from New York, Washington, Boston, Pennsylvania, North Carolina or somewhere else entirely, we’ll help you narrow down the area and property type that makes sense for your goals.
Call Tina Schildt at (843) 428-8196 to start your Myrtle Beach home search or schedule a private tour.