Find the right real estate agent in Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand occupy a unique position in the Southeast real estate landscape, a 60-mile coastal stretch that functions simultaneously as a major tourist destination (19+ million visitors annually), a retirement magnet, and an increasingly viable full-time residential market. The tourism economy is the engine: hotels, restaurants, golf courses (80+ in the area), outlet shopping, and attractions like Broadway at the Beach generate billions in annual revenue and employ tens of thousands. But the full-time residential market has matured significantly. Market Common, built on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, demonstrated that walkable, year-round community living can work on the Grand Strand. Carolina Forest proved that families will move here for schools, not just beaches.

The market correction has been one of the sharpest in South Carolina. Inventory has surged 37%+ year-over-year to 7.2 months of supply, and homes average 97 days on market. Prices are down 1.2% annually. The condo segment is even softer, many buildings have significant inventory and rising HOA fees as insurance costs and reserve funding requirements increase. For buyers, this is the most favorable negotiating environment in years. Price reductions are common, sellers are covering closing costs, and the frenzy of 2021-2022 is a distant memory. For sellers, the market rewards accurate pricing and patience, overpriced properties sit for months.

The key distinction for Myrtle Beach buyers is separating the vacation market from the residential market. Oceanfront condos are the vacation/investment play, seasonal income, HOA fees, insurance costs, and turnover define the economics. Inland communities like Carolina Forest and Conway serve families and year-round residents with better schools, lower insurance, and a suburban lifestyle. North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach split the difference, beach access with more residential character. Grande Dunes serves the luxury market. The seasonal population swing is the defining characteristic: the Grand Strand's population effectively triples during summer, affecting traffic, employment patterns, and property management demands. An agent who helps buyers understand whether they're buying into the tourist economy or the residential market prevents the most common Myrtle Beach mistake.