Alt tag: A family strolling through a field

Moving to South Carolina with Kids - How to Prepare

Moving is stressful enough as it is. However, you will find that relocating to South Carolina with kids, or, well, moving anywhere with kids, is a whole new level of stress. This is why advanced knowledge of how to tackle the task is invaluable. To help, we have composed a guide on moving to South Carolina with kids – how to prepare! 

Spend time with your kids

The first thing you should know about preparing to move to South Carolina with kids is that you cannot ignore them during the prep process. It is only natural that relocating to another state would be stressful. However, if it is stressful for you, it would likely be ten times more stressful for your kids. Even when they are too small to understand what is happening, kids are frightfully good at picking up on emotions. If you are obviously anxious or angry, they will feel upset. And without knowing why, they would likely feel overwhelmed. This is why you always need to take the time to hang out with them a bit. It would also be wise to explain what's going on, even if you think they'd find it upsetting. Just springing a move on them would be much worse.

Introduce your kids to their new home ahead of time

Part of what makes moving to South Carolina with kids so stressful is that they have a sense of trepidation. And that is perfectly normal since their entire lives are about to change, and they don't know how it will turn out. For this reason, once you have bought a home there, it is smart to introduce your kids to it. And if you are moving to South Carolina for work, you can take the opportunity to find many opportunities here while visiting in person! Even if you don't have enough free time to make a trip in person, you have options. It is still possible to get your kids excited about their new home through pictures, videos, or an online tour.

Let your kids properly part from their old home

You do not want your kids to leave their old home with regrets! Even if you are still looking for the home of your dreams, you need to take the time out to let them part with their home the right way. There are two sides to this process. First, you need to take the time to visit all the fun locations in your current home. Think about all the trips and weekend visits you were always planning and maybe even promising while delaying them. Even you, yourself, would likely feel reluctant to leave before properly having fun there! The second part of the process is parting with friends and family in your old town. It is not like you can't stay in touch with them. But for a child, a separation like that likely seems irreversibly permanent. 

Caption: Even if saying goodbye makes them a little sad, it will turn into precious memories.

Alt tag: Kids playing

Make sure your kids always have something to distract them

Kids need to be active and have something to do constantly. They either turn into adorable little nuisances or worry themselves sick if they don't. So, according to the moving professionals associated with the Best Cross Country Movers database and what they've seen, it is crucial to keep kids occupied. How can you do this? Well, there are several different ways to achieve this. First, of course, you can try to rope them into helping you with the move. You can frame it as a game and let them handle small, light items or packages. Of course, you can always take the easier way out and distract them with an actual game. Handheld consoles are widely available, and kids love them. Or, if your kid prefers reading as entertainment, then all you need to do is find them a quiet corner. 

Caption: If they are doing something they enjoy, your kids are less likely to get into trouble!

Alt tag: Kid drawing, a way to keep little ones occupied when moving to South Carolina with kids

Plan out fun activities for the future

After moving to South Carolina with kids, one of the most critical challenges you will face is getting them to love their new home. You need to show them that their new state is a beautiful and fun place to live. If you do, it will hasten the process of getting settled and help them get over the sadness of leaving their old home. Thankfully, the cost of living is low in South Carolina in general, including the cost of entertainment! So, you will not need to worry too much about your wallet while engaging in fun activities with your kids. Here's a recommendation of a few exciting places you could visit!

Greenville Zoo

Making its home in Greenville with over two hundred interesting and exotic animals to show off is Greenville zoo. The zoo also offers Safari Adventure packs with plenty of intriguing activities that provide fun and educational elements. It even features child-friendly programs and summer camps!

Caption: Zoos are some of the best locations to visit since they are both fun and educational!

Alt tag: A kid feeding a deer

Children’s Museum of the Upstate

With facilities in both Greenville and nature, your kids will either be able to find imagination-sparking exhibits or engage in all kinds of outdoor activities. The camps the Museum organizes let the kids play outside and get all the physical activity they need. 

Secret Food Tour

A fun thing to do in Charleston, the Secret Food Tour will reveal all of the city’s best eateries and unique culinary offerings. It is a filling adventure, and, if you are moving to this particular city, a fantastic way to get to know your new home.

Hollywild Animal Park

Located in Wellford, this zoo is even larger than Greenville’s. The park has over five hundred animals and some rather lovely scenery to enjoy. Interestingly enough, this park started as a collection of farm animals before becoming a zoo.

Family Kingdom Amusement Park

This amusement park is a must-visit location for families with kids in Myrtle Beach. With over ten acres of property, this park has more than enough rides and attractions for every family member to find something they enjoy!

Final word

Now that you have gone through our guide on how to prepare for moving to South Carolina with kids, you should be ready for what is to come. All you need to do now is approach the challenges you will face with poise and make plenty of time for your kids.

Meta Description:

Check out our guide on moving to South Carolina with kids – how to prepare so you can be ready for what is to come for you and your family!

Keywords: 

moving to South Carolina with kids

Picture Links:

https://unsplash.com/photos/5NLCaz2wJXE

https://unsplash.com/photos/Sg_OwwU2Z9o

https://unsplash.com/photos/OV44gxH71DU

https://unsplash.com/photos/ESlJNsYwIwM

How Much Can I Afford to Spend on My First House?

So you have decided to buy your first house. Congratulations! This is a huge decision and a milestone in your life that you should be very proud of. Buying a home is a dream for many, and many people are never able to take the step of signing off on a mortgage and moving into their own home. You have worked hard and saved up enough money to start scanning the housing market, and you are ready to embark on the adventures of homeownership.

One question that might hit you fairly quickly is “just how much money can I afford to spend on a house?” Between down payments, mortgage payments, closing costs, and other unforeseen monthly expenses, the costs of buying and owning a house can be hard to anticipate – especially if you have never done it before. We wrote an entire post a while back about how to build a budget to save for a house, but we never described how to figure out how much you can actually afford to spend on a house! This post is going to help you determine just how much money you can afford to spend on your first house while avoiding the mistakes of many first-time homebuyers.

Your Monthly Payment Compared to Your Monthly Gross Income

The amount that you can afford to spend on your home is relatively easy to determine mathematically. Generally, you should spend less than 28% of your gross monthly income on your mortgage payment. Your gross income is what you make before taxes and benefits contributions are taken out of your paycheck. So, if you make $6,000 per month, you should not be paying more than $1,680 to your mortgage. This may seem like a low amount, and it may instantly put many of your dream houses out of reach. They should be though! If you are buying your first house, odds are you are not yet at a point in life where buying your dream home is a reality, anyway. Buy a house that you can afford for now, and in the future when your situation looks differently, you can potentially upgrade.

This 28% number is somewhat fluid, too, and the true situation can differ per person. However, the general idea is the same: you do not want to overcommit to making payments that you cannot afford to make. Sticking to the 28% rule (which you could stretch to 30%, but try not to do that for your own good) is a great baseline when thinking about how much you can afford to pay each month. That’s all it really is though – a baseline – and you should be sure to consider the other points in this post, too.

The Mortgage Payment Isn’t Everything

First things first, you want to make sure you are not overcommitting on a mortgage payment that you cannot afford. However, it is crucial to realize that there are many more monthly payments you will need to make on top of just your mortgage payment. Utility bills, homeowners’ insurance, maintenance and upkeep costs, and private loan interest are a few examples of payments you may need to make in addition to your mortgage payment. Committing to a $2,000 monthly mortgage payment may seem affordable at first, but when you factor in another $500 of monthly financial obligations related to owning the house, you might be a bit more strapped for cash than you expected.

Houses tend to be bigger than apartments, meaning you will naturally use more energy to power them, cool them, and heat them. Becoming responsible for the upkeep of the house can really begin to cost a lot, too. Rooves are not cheap to replace! Many costs that are taken care of by a landlord in an apartment tend to be taken for granted, and living in a house of your own makes facing them an unavoidable reality. Homeowners insurance is a lot more than renters insurance, too.

Use Your Down Payment as a Litmus Test

The down payment that you make on your house is one of the biggest determinants of just how much you can afford to spend on the house overall. First things first, the more of the house you can pay off at once, the better. This is because whatever portion of the house you pay off with the down payment will not be charged interest. This difference can be thousands of dollars! If you can afford a 20% down payment, great. This is standard. However, if you can afford a 25% down payment, by all means, do it! This means 5% less of the house will be included in the mortgage, and you will pay that much less in interest.

Additionally, the amount that you can afford to pay in the down payment is usually a good litmus test regarding your ability to afford the house in its totality. If you can hardly put together the means to make a sufficient down payment, odds are you may struggle to make the monthly mortgage payment. If you can make a $20,000 down payment with ease, you probably will not have too much of an issue making your monthly mortgage payments. It is important to mention that this is nothing more than a litmus test, as everyone’s financial situation is different. Someone with no savings that just started a very high paying job may not be able to make a down payment but could still afford high monthly mortgage payments, whereas someone who has been saving for decades may be able to afford a huge down payment but not have the monthly income to make the mortgage payments.

Consider Your Lifestyle and Other Wants and Needs

The points above demonstrate the maximum amount you can afford to spend on a house, but that is not necessarily the end of the conversation. Just because you can afford to spend a certain amount does not mean that you should! You should buy a house within your budget that you like, at a price point that does not distort the rest of your life’s expenditures. Much of this falls into having a strong monthly budget already built out. If you have hobbies or interests that cost money, be sure you are ready to give them up or trim them down before committing that money to your mortgage payment. Homeownership is amazing and is a huge milestone, and you do not want to feel salty later about how your mortgage payment replaced your golfing hobby – if it didn’t have to, that is.

Thanks for reading our post about determining how much you can afford to spend on your first home. This is a really exciting time, and doing your due diligence now can keep the situation from turning stressful down the line. There will be many hoops to jump through as you navigate the homebuying process, but it will all work out just fine (especially if you have a good realtor!)

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

Image from Unsplash

Relocating for Work? Follow This Pre-Move Checklist First

Just got your dream job? Congratulations! There is a lot to celebrate, including a new career, challenges, and learnings. And if your job includes a relocation, that's exciting news as well! At the same time, moving is considered one of life's most stressful events. And if you're looking to relocate with minimal stress, money, and time, you may be thinking you have an impossible task ahead of you. Not so. Here, Boyd Team shares a pre-move checklist to make your move as smooth and seamless as possible.

Two Months before the Move

After signing the paperwork and the official document handover, most companies offer employees between one and two months to relocate before starting work. Around the time you're negotiating your position, be sure to ask your new employer about relocation benefits. Many companies offer this to new hires who are moving in from out of town. These benefits can cover anything from traveling and buying new furniture to housing buyouts and mortgage assistance.

One Month Before the Move

Before you can start packing, you'll need to get your current house sold and a new one finalized. According to Moving.tips, choosing a location for your move should consider factors such as proximity to a good school district, nearby amenities, entertainment options, and neighborhood safety. Once you've narrowed down your neighborhood, it's time to look for a place to live. Renting (as opposed to buying) will be a great move here as you'll have the flexibility to explore other areas and change homes if needed. When looking for homes, start by searching your specific parameters. For example, apartments in Denver CO might include desired amenities, bathrooms, and bedrooms. You can also narrow down your search by looking at 3D tours, which will give you a better idea of the space.

Two Weeks Before the Move

It's time to get packing! Moving the family out and packing up your home might be more work than you thought. After all, there are likely years worth of belongings (and junk) to sort through. Hiring movers and packers to do this will come in handy, as you'll get the job done faster and without expending your precious energy. Just be sure to sort through your belongings and decide what you want to take with you before they arrive. You can also save money here by using your own packing materials and packing the boxes yourself. This way, you're only paying for the transportation professionals. 

One Week before the Move

This will likely be the most stressful period in the process. Tensions will be high, your to-do list will be endless, and you'll have work responsibilities starting to trickle in as well. Self-care will be an essential tool during this time. Be sure to keep your family's spirits in mind and set aside quality time playing games or hanging out so that they are stress-free too. According to Mal Paper, prioritizing activities like exercise, meditation and gratitude are also guaranteed in busting stress. While practicing self-care, don't forget about pre-existing duties and obligations. Pencil in deadlines, priorities, and tasks, so you're not neglecting or missing essential commitments.

The Move

It's finally time to make the big move! You are likely done with most of the heavy lifting and logistics by this time, so you can now take it easy. Watch over the kids and pets, drive or fly down to your new city, and see your new home. You made it!

There you have it - the ultimate guide to relocating for your career! As you can see, moving can be stress-free, cheap, and painless. Moreover, by implementing these tips, you'll be able to ensure the wellness of all your family members for a successful and happy transition.

Looking for your dream property in Myrtle Beach, SC? Boyd Team is here to help with many years' worth of expertise in the real estate market. Click here to check out featured properties on our site today.

What Makes the Cost of Living So Low in South Carolina?

Moving to a new state can be very challenging. There are so many pieces involved, and it is easy to lose track of what has already been done and what still needs to be done. In fact, sometimes it is easy to focus in on only the granular details of the move, simply losing sight of the bigger picture. Moving is exciting, and you can only be so patient when it comes to moving into your new home that you have spent so much time finding and purchasing.

There are so many important things that play into the bigger picture, though, and sometimes it is good to sit back and think about the rest of the moving parts in your move. One big one is budgeting. What will your budget be like in your new home? Is your income going up or down? What lifestyle changes, for better or for worse, will you need to adopt? When it comes to budgeting, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to getting detailed. The more detailed a budget is, the better. For help building your budget, be sure to check out this post on budgeting to buy a home.

Money is not everything, but it is undoubtedly very important. After all, you want to do all that you can to make sure that you are safe, secure, and protected, right? One major component of your move to consider is the cost of living in the place that you are moving. We have written many times about the low cost of living in South Carolina, but we have never gone into such granular detail about what exactly makes South Carolina so cheap compared to the rest of the country. For example, it is often said that South Carolina is a cheap place to live because of its low taxes, but are the taxes really that low? If so, how low are they? This post will offer up some specific, numerical information about South Carolina while also comparing it in some respects to its two neighbors, North Carolina and Georgia, as well as the country as a whole.

The Gas Tax

The United States has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world, meaning that Americans use up quite a bit of gas. The United States is a country of about 370 million, and there are just under 300 million cars on the road. That figure is striking! As a result of these high car ownership rates, the United States uses a disproportionately high amount of gasoline per capita. The governments are aware that you can’t get anywhere in your car without gas, and they have learned that charging a gas tax is one of the most surefire ways to increase tax revenue. Every state has its own gas tax, and it is a value charged on each gallon that you buy. You do not necessarily know that you are paying this gas tax, as it doesn’t show up broken out in the pricing. You will notice, though, that gas costs a different price per gallon in different states. This is the result of the gas tax.

South Carolina has a below average gas tax, meaning that gas is more affordable in the Palmetto state than it is in most of the rest of the country. In South Carolina, you pay $0.26 per gallon in gas tax. To put that into perspective, some states charge as high as $0.40, and Georgia and North Carolina charge $0.29 and $0.36, respectively. If you go to Charlotte, which is right on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina, you may notice people driving across the border into South Carolina to get their gas. This is a real thing, and it is because gas is usually at least $0.10 cheaper per gallon in South Carolina. This equals a savings of over a dollar every time you fill up your tank, which can lead to around $50 per year depending on how much you drive! $50 may not sound like a big deal, but with South Carolina’s low cost of living, that is a nice meal out with a loved one that you get as a result of natural savings on the gas tax.

Personal Income Tax

In the United States, you pay personal income tax to your municipality, state, and to the federal government. Everyone follows the same federal taxation system, but each state and municipality make up their own rules for their own personal income tax. In South Carolina, the personal income tax is pretty average when compared to the rest of the country. South Carolina uses a tax bracket system to determine your personal income tax rate, and the highest rate that they charge is 7%. As a result, everyone’s tax burden looks a little bit different, and the real effects of the tax rate cannot be estimated on an aggregate level. Still, the personal income tax is at or below the national average in South Carolina.

The personal income tax is one place where residents of Georgia and North Carolina do better than residents of South Carolina. Georgia also uses a bracket system, but their maximum chargeable rate is 5.75%. North Carolina uses a flat income tax rate of 5.25% that does not change regardless of total income. While Georgia’s tax rate may appear lower than South Carolina’s, it will not always mean a better tax bill as a resident. As the two states use brackets, there is the possibility that their brackets use different thresholds. It may only take a few thousand dollars of income to place into the highest tax bracket in Georgia while in South Carolina it could be double that amount until you start paying the full 7%.

Sales Tax

Sales tax is another tax that affects nearly every person in the entire country. Sales tax is what you pay every time you make a purchase. Isn’t it funny how a trip to the dollar store winds up costing more like $1.06 instead of $1? This is because you are charged an additional tax on every dollar that you spend. The sales tax rate varies by state, and some large cities add a couple of cents to it to charge their own sales tax. South Carolina charges a sales tax rate of 6%, which is right on par with the national average. Georgia and North Carolina, on the other hand, come in a little bit lower at 4% and 4.75%, respectively. Sales tax is a really big deal, because it applies to every single purchase that you make, whether while dining out, shopping online, or going to the movies. While South Carolina is higher than its neighbors in this category, it is still average or below average on a national level.

To put this into perspective, the average American spends over $60,000 per year. If we assume that half of that is rent and utilities, we can estimate that the average American spends around $30,000 per year on items eligible for sales tax. At a 6% tax rate, that person would be paying $1800 in sales tax every year. This is no small amount of money to bat an eye at and living in a state that is closer to (or below) the national average of 6.35% can save you a nice chunk of change.

Property Tax

The Property tax is one of the hardest hitting taxes on this list, and it is one where South Carolinians get off especially easy. Property tax is assessed per the fair market value of any land that you own, and it gets paid to your local municipality each year. This is the major source of funding for the public school system. The property tax varies by county, meaning that some metropolitan counties are going to have different property tax rates from more rural counties. Still, the property tax rate in South Carolina is one of its claims to fame when it comes to having a low cost of living.

The average South Carolina resident pays 0.57% in property tax, while residents of North Carolina and Georgia pay 0.77% and 0.87%, respectively. The national average property tax rate is 1.07%, meaning that residents of South Carolina pay just over half of what the rest of the country pays on average. If your property is worth $300,000, for example, you’d pay $1,710 in tax each year while the national average would be $3,210. That is an annual savings of $1,500!

You might sit there and say, “if the property tax is what funds the schools, shouldn’t it be higher to provide the schools with better funding?” Or on the flip side, “if the property tax is so low, does that mean the schools are of poor quality?” While both of these questions are valid to ask, the truth is that South Carolina has some of the best schools in the country, so its property tax value seems to be doing just fine!

Median Home Price

The taxes play a big role in your monthly budgeting, for sure. However, what will your mortgage look like? We all know how a mortgage can make your paychecks look pretty small when it’s all said and done, right? In South Carolina, you will be happy to know that the median home price is $223,400. The national median home price is $374,900, meaning that on average, homes are over $150,000 cheaper in South Carolina than in the rest of the country. This amount of savings is equal to over double the national median household income.

Mathematically speaking, the housing market of South Carolina is around 40% cheaper on average than the rest of the country. So, if you were worried about money being tight because of your mortgage payment, take a deep breath! Or maybe even consider opting for a shorter-term mortgage so that you can wrap it all up sooner than you ever thought possible. For more information on the advantages and disadvantages of longer-term and shorter-term mortgages, check out this post.

Urban Cost of Living in South Carolina

Traditionally, it is more expensive to live in the city than it is to live in the countryside. In most cases, a state’s largest city is also its most expensive place to live. Some examples of this are New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Chicago. If you have ever been to New York City or Chicago, you know exactly what we mean here. They’ll charge you $100 just to park your car for the day! In South Carolina, there is no real booming metropolis. The state’s capital of Columbia is the biggest city with only around 130,000 inhabitants. This means that even the biggest city in South Carolina is generally very affordable. In fact, Columbia, South Carolina, is about 16% cheaper than the national average in overall cost of living. This is mind blowing, as those numbers are not even only representative of cities. Columbia is cheaper than many states’ rural areas!

It must be mentioned, though, that South Carolina is a bit unique in terms of its population density and cost of living. While there are some cities inland with larger populations and lower costs of living, there are some cities along the coast that drive up the statewide figures a bit. Places like Charleston and Myrtle Beach receive a large amount of tourists, and as a result the cost of living and overall price index nudges upward a bit compared to the rest of the state. Still, Myrtle Beach and Charleston are wildly affordable when compared to other cities in the country! You may be paying a small premium for the nice beach, but who would complain about that?

So, is South Carolina Really Cheaper Than the Rest of the Country?

In the end, South Carolina really is a much cheaper state to live in than most of the rest of the country. In fact, it often falls into the bottom 10 in terms of overall cost of living. While some taxes and costs that we explained aren’t shockingly low, every item on this list is below the national average. Further, the taxes that are shockingly low can save you literally thousands of dollars every year compared to tax rates in other states. South Carolina is really a very affordable state to live in when it comes to taxes.

Furthermore, the housing market is especially accessible. With a median home price over 40% cheaper than the national level, buying a house in South Carolina is an incredibly attainable goal for anyone in any stage of life. Trust us – we help people like you to find the perfect place to live around here for a living, and we have been doing it for a long time! The low home prices make short-term mortgages more attainable, too, meaning less total interest that you need to pay and less years of having a bank hang a mortgage over your head.

That wraps up all that we have for you about the low taxes and cost of living here in South Carolina! Thank you for reading our blog, Catch the Wave. Hopefully this post helped you to understand what is going on with home prices around the country and whether or not now is a good time to buy or sell a home. Again, property values fluctuate a lot, and we do not ever advise buying a home just for the sake of watching its value increase. However, if you need a place to live (which most people do) buying a home can be a much wiser financial decision than renting one!

 If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

Are Home Prices Going Up?

Buying a house is a major decision, and it comes with the largest financial commitment of your life. If you think student loans are bad, consider that a mortgage is usually at least $100,000 more than a private university in the United States! While that may sound intimidating, there are two realities that you simply need to face: everyone needs a place to live, and buying a house is much more cost-effective in the long run than paying rent to a landlord and gaining no equity in the process.

There are many benefits of homeownership, and an entire post could be written about them. However, this post is going to look at one particular benefit, which is the equity that you hold in your house.

What is Equity?

Equity more or less refers to the idea that you own your house instead of paying to live in someone else’s property. As you make your mortgage payments, you slowly earn more equity – or ownership – of your house. This is on a sliding scale, but each payment at the beginning of the mortgage may earn you .1% more ownership of your house, and in the end each payment might earn you a full percentage of ownership in the house. At the end of the mortgage, whether it is for ten year, twenty years, or thirty years, you will have 100% ownership of your house, which is 100% equity. In perspective, when you rent a house or an apartment, you do not gain any equity in the place at all – you simply pay for the right to use the space as your own.

We have mentioned before that buying a house can be seen as an investment in many ways, and one major aspect of investments is that they earn you returns. In theory, your house should gain value over the span of time that you own it. The value that it gains can vary widely based on the type of home and the location, but it is not unheard of for someone’s home value to double over the life of the mortgage. So, the idea of home prices going up and making a gain on the sale of your house sounds nice, but is it actually happening?

Home Prices are Skyrocketing in Most Parts of the United States

In the beginning of 2020, the average selling price of a home in the United States was $329,000. That number rose to above $408,000 at the end of 2021. In the course of just two full years, that is an increase of $79,000, which is 24%. To see that kind of a return in just two years is mind boggling, but it is not a very accurate representation. That number equates to about 12% per year, which is not a true representation of what is supposed to happen. Still, homeowners should expect to see a gain of between 3% and 4% in the value of their home each year, which is usually squarely ahead of inflation rates. In theory, a house bought for $500,000 today could be worth over $1,000,000 in twenty years.

Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House?

If you need a place to live, it is always a good time to buy a house. You need a roof over your head, after all! However, we do not advise buying a house simply to watch its value go up. Any investment is risky, and it is always best to look first at covering your own needs before seeking financial gain. After all, houses cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and lumping all of that investment into one place without actually having a need for the house may not be the best investment strategy. If you need a place to live, though, it is a whole different story! The money that you spend on renting a house or apartment earns you no equity, as we mentioned earlier, and using that same about of money (and maybe some more) to buy a house makes a world more sense than renting.

It is worth noting that while the economy has been weird in recent years due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic, house prices have risen steadily. The housing market has been in some ways unfazed by all of the economic hurdles that the pandemic has caused, and home prices haven’t dipped at all on a national level. Building a house is more complicated than ever right now thanks to supply chain shortages, which have jolted existing home values to nudge even higher as the overall supply stays lower than anticipated. This is a good time to buy a home for many reasons, but it may be an even better time to sell a home!

Thank you for reading our blog, Catch the Wave. Hopefully this post helped you to understand what is going on with home prices around the country and whether or not now is a good time to buy or sell a home. Again, property values fluctuate a lot, and we do not ever advise buying a home just for the sake of watching its value increase. However, if you need a place to live (which most people do) buying a home can be a much wiser financial decision than renting one!

 If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

Featured image

Alt-feature: A moving truck packed in front of a building.

How to Sell Your House & Relocate to Another State

When it comes to relocating and all the other ventures that this process demands, there are some ground rules that you should follow. One of the most challenging parts is knowing how to time and organize selling your home and relocating. Especially when it comes to interstate moving, you need to be prepared and ready for all that you'll have to tackle. Here's how to sell your house & relocate to another state efficiently and without a lot of fuss.

Plan out your budget

First thing's first, selling your home and moving to another state will surely affect your savings. There's simply no way around it. However, you can definitely try to control how much you'll spend and predict how much you'll get. The best way to do this is to primarily plan out your ideal budget and spending limit. Nevertheless, this is by no means an invitation to let your wishful thinking take over.

Put pen to paper and write down anything that you'll need to invest in during the upcoming period, as well as how much you'll get from the sale of your home. Once you've done this, research the costs and make a realistic estimate of what your budget needs to be. You'll need to prioritize and be aware that some things might not go according to plan. Make some wiggle room so that that doesn't disrupt your move.

Caption: Setting up a firm budget for your move will make all the difference.

Alt-tag: A person trying to figure out their moving budget.

Do your research

Before you sell your house & relocate to another state, you need to do your research on all that'll take for you to get there. Here are some things that a lot of people wonder about:

• The best way to sell your home quickly and for a good price - Selling your house as soon as it hits the market is really anyone's dream. There are some surefire ways to make your home more eligible such as home staging and marketing it correctly. Of course, nothing's a guarantee, and sometimes you just have to rely on patience.

• Research the market you're selling and buying in - Knowing the ins and outs of the markets you'll sell and purchase your home is essential. This way, you'll know how to stage your home, what people are after, the realistic selling and purchase price, and anything else you'll need along the way. You can truly learn a lot solely by observing.

• Look for handy tips and tricks - The Internet is full of great tips and tricks that can make this process easier for you. Browse through some content and see what resonates with you.

When should you sell?

During this time, you'll have many important decisions to make. One of the more crucial ones will be whether you should sell after or before you relocate. Let us take a look at what each option entails. 

• Selling after moving - If you decide to sell your home once you've already moved, you need to know how that'll affect your finances. If you can afford it, this could be a great thing. You won't have to rush the sale of your home, which means that you'll be able to wait until a good enough deal comes. Additionally, you'll be able to relocate at your own pace and transport your belongings slowly and carefully, without ever needing additional storage.

• Selling prior to moving - If you, on the other hand, decide to go another route and sell before you relocate, this option has its upsides as well. Something to be aware of is that, even if you sell your home before moving, you don't need to purchase another right away. Renting for a while is always a great option, and it'll give you the flexibility you need. Of course, don't wait too long to sell your home since that can really impact your financial situation negatively in the long run.

Hire trustworthy professionals

Something that'll make or break your experience when you sell your house & relocate to another state is the people you'll surround yourself with. Hiring great real estate agents as well as great movers is necessary for success. Make sure to take your time while looking for the right companies. According to spydermoving.com, experience is one of the first things you should look for in a good moving company. You want someone who'll be able to both predict any potential issue and prevent it without a lot of fuss.

Caption: Hiring the right people to help you through the process of selling your home and moving is really important.

Alt-tag: Two people shaking hands.

Organize everything ASAP

Being organized and meticulous about planning and preparing yourself for this process will make a big difference. The more you do before the moving day comes, the less stressful everything will be. One of the things that people look forward to the least is having to declutter their homes. However, this is an essential step both for selling your home as well as transporting your belongings and relocating.

Great place to relocate to

There are many great states you should check out if you're still undecided about where you'd like to live. 

• South Carolina - Relocating to SC has a lot of perks. Not only is it great because of the wonderful weather and beautiful spots, but it also has a thriving job market and affordable homes. On top of that, you'll be happy to know that beaches, one of them being none other than Myrtle Beach, are at your disposal.

• Tennessee - Tennessee is famous for being very suitable for those looking for a place to retire. However, if Tennessee is your choice and you're nowhere near retirement, you have a lot to look forward to as well. It's very affordable and has a small tax burden.

• Washington State - If you're outdoorsy and enjoy a fast pace of life, there's no better place than Washington State.

Caption: If you're unsure of where you want to relocate to, South Carolina is a great option.

Alt-tag: Myrtle Beach that's a great perk of living in SC.

Things to take care of before relocation

Aside from selling your home, you'll need to take care of many additional things along the way. Some of them are purchasing a home, thinking about what you'll do with items you don't need, and changing your address. You'll run into so many more once you start planning.

Reduce stress to successfully sell your house & relocate to another state

While you try to sell your house & relocate to another state as well as navigate the rest, it's inevitable to run into some stressful situations. Even if you're not sure how everything will go, try to find a way to stay calm and not stress out too much. Trust that you've done your best.

Meta description: Are you planning to sell your house & relocate to another state? We've come up with a guide that'll help you do it as well as possible.

Photos used:

https://unsplash.com/photos/5Oljqgwl40k

https://unsplash.com/photos/x6pnKtPZ-8s

https://unsplash.com/photos/3-Tc_5LROrM

https://unsplash.com/photos/vWchRczcQwM

The Best Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

Buying a home is a massive investment, as we have covered in so many of our posts. The house (or houses) that you buy throughout your life will probably be the most expensive purchases that you will ever make, and you want to make sure that you make the absolute right decision as to which house to purchase.

With that being said, situations change. The home that you once thought was perfect might not be so perfect anymore. You may be in need of a bigger or smaller home, you may need to relocate to a new area, or you may simply wish to move on and live in a different space for no reason other than having a breath of fresh air. Whatever the reason may be, the reality is that there is a good chance you will wind up selling your home someday.

Your home is more than just a place to live; it is a major investment that can silently make a lot of money for you. The best part is that your house is likely to gain value without any effort on your part! Property values tend to trend upwards in most situations, making your home purchase act as an investment that can turn into an eventual gain.

While your home is likely to make money for you without any direct effort on your end, there are several things that you can do to actively increase the market value of your home. The steps outlined in this post are ways in which you can actively increase the market value of your home, based off of typical market behavior. While these things are not always going to turn your efforts into a positive return on investment, there is a very strong chance that they will. By implementing any of the suggestions below at any point during your homeownership, you enhance your own living experience within the home while also potentially enhancing your home’s future selling price.

1.     Upgrade your appliances to meet in-demand features

Upgrading your appliances is one of the easiest things that you can do to add value to your home. This is because it is simply a matter of purchasing the new appliances and swapping them out for the ones that you currently have. Good appliances are not cheap and often you will require some time to actively save in order to afford them. However, once you have saved up the funds that are necessary to purchase the appliances, the hard work is done. Most major hardware stores offer delivery and installation services (often free) and the actual installation takes less than an hour. In addition to upgrading the appliances that you already have, consider adding new appliances to the mix as well. Dishwashers are often a huge selling point, and having one already installed takes the hassle off of the shoulders of the new homebuyer.

This is very favorable, because some of the other things on this list are projects that could take you or a contractor weeks or months to complete. Upgrading your appliances is a quick swap and, apart from the financial aspects, is one of the easiest things you can do to increase your home’s market value. The current in-demand finish for appliances is stainless steel, but black and white appliances have been in the spotlight before and will probably return at some point. Equally important to the finish of the appliances is the features that they offer, as ice makers, beverage drawers, and touchscreens on fridges are becoming much more standard, for example. Often, the professionals at major hardware stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot will be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to purchasing these major appliances.

2.     Upgrade your flooring and wall coverings to stay in style

The old daisy wallpaper hanging in your living room used to be all the rage, but now it is considered to be past its heyday. Swapping outdated wall coverings (including almost all wallpapers) for a fresh covering of paint is another relatively easy way to increase your home’s market value. If you are hoping to sell your house soon, talk to your realtor about typical homebuyer preferences when it comes to paint colors. Often the advice is to stick to whites and eggshells, as they give all of the prospective homebuyers the most power to imagine the space as their own. Stripping old wallpaper can be a bit challenging sometimes, and painting a whole house may be daunting. Still, this task is one of the quicker ones on the list as it is a lot more straightforward for a contractor than some other jobs. If you do not want to do it yourself, all you need to do is select paint colors and pay a painter to come handle the rest for you. A professional painter can knock out several rooms per day, getting a small house done in less than a week.

Paint colors are not the only thing you should consider updating! Flooring is easy to give a facelift to as well. Carpet is very easy to replace – especially if you’ve had it replaced since the early 2000’s – and relatively inexpensive. Both the painting and the new flooring should cost less than a set of new kitchen appliances. Short- and medium-length carpets are usually a safe bet for most rooms when neutral colors are selected, and hard flooring is usually advisable for bathrooms and kitchens. There are many high-quality adhesive floorings on the market now that make for an affordable and stylish upgrade to your bathrooms and kitchen if you do not want to shell out for more expensive alternatives. Buyers love hard floors in the kitchen and bathrooms because they are much easier to clean, and softer floors in bedrooms and living spaces as they are more comfortable to walk on. Following this general rule of thumb will possibly lead to a higher selling price for your home.

3.     Replace old energy sources with energy-efficient alternatives

This can be very simple or very complex, depending on how in-depth you want to go with it. The easiest thing you can do to address this point is upgrade the light fixtures throughout your home to be new, energy-efficient ones. New light fixtures are unbelievably more efficient than ones from even a decade ago, and they can save you a ton of money on your electric bill over time. This is great because it benefits you while you live in the house and eventually passes that benefit onto whoever buys it. Replacing light fixtures is usually a very easy task that does not require any kind of communication with a contractor, but you want to make sure you turn off the power to the wires you are using before you touch them!

On a more complex level, you can look to upgrade some other appliances to be more energy efficient. Washers and dryers are popular choices, as high efficiency models used shockingly less water than older models. Hot water heaters also get mentioned in this category. Replacing these larger appliances with more energy efficient models adds significant value to your home but costs more money (and possibly time) in the process. Whether you opt for just light fixtures or light fixtures and major appliances, switching to energy efficient alternatives is great for your wallet, great for the environment, and possibly great for the value of your home when it is time to sell!

4.     Finish every unfinished space in your home (including that basement)

We wrote a post about the benefits of basements a few weeks back, but this one is easily the biggest value adder on the list. When you buy a home, there are usually some spaces that are unfinished and are not counted in the overall square footage. If you take the time to finish those spaces while living in the house, the sellable square footage goes up. More square feet means a higher selling price! Finishing a basement, especially, is a fantastic investment as it requires less time and money than a full addition while adding a similar amount of value.

Finishing your basement offers several advantages to you as a homeowner, too. Instead of using the space as storage, you can turn it into a kitchen, a guest suite, a living room, a man cave, or something else! Finishing a basement takes a lot more time than the other things on this list, but it also ends with the highest increase in your home price. If you are skilled at home improvement, this can be a great side project to work on in the evenings and on the weekends. If you are not naturally inclined when it comes to home improvement, asking a friend for help and learning from them as you go is a great experience, too!

5.     Focus on enhancing your home’s external appearance

This is one that benefits you as a homeowner before benefitting any potential buyer. Giving your home’s exterior a facelift – either by upgrading the house’s actual exterior or the yard surrounding it – is a very easy way to make your house more appealing to you, to visitors, and to potential buyers. Some quick landscaping is enough to increase your own happiness levels, and potentially enough to convince someone to buy the house.

After all, the exterior of the house is the first thing that any potential buyer sees. Everyone talks about the importance of making a good first impression, and this is your opportunity to do so! Investing in having a pretty and clean yard, an attractive finish to the exterior of the house, and some thoughtful decorative pieces is a relatively easy job to do and could be the difference in someone’s mind when they are debating whether or not they should purchase your house.

6.     Devote extra attention to upgrading your kitchen and bathrooms

There are three parts of a home that buyers tend to look at the most: kitchens, bathrooms, and closets. These spaces all tend to be smaller compared to other rooms in your home, meaning the changes and upgrades that you make will be much more visible than the upgrades you make in other spaces, like a bedroom. Taking the time to turn your kitchen into your dream kitchen is something that will be clearly visible when people come to take a look at your home. Upgrading all of the aspects of your master bathroom (and any other bathrooms, really) is something that will not go unnoticed.

After all, when you go on a tour of a home, do you spend any more than a minute in the non-master bedrooms? Of all of the spaces in your house, with the exception of finishing a basement, kitchens and bathrooms tend to offer the highest returns on your investment. Choosing to focus your time and money on those spaces is more likely to earn a higher selling price than devoting those resources to another space like a bedroom or living room.

At the end of the day, all of the points in this post are only able to do so much when it comes to actually raising the value of your home. While these things all tend to earn higher returns than some things that did not make this list, the ultimate truth is that the market fluctuates and there are very few certainties. Nobody can promise you that investing ten thousand dollars in a new kitchen will raise your home selling price by twelve thousand dollars. It may only increase it by three thousand dollars. For this reason, it is important to remember that you should upgrade your house for you, and not for anyone else. Do the things on this list that will make you happy, and hopefully in the long run you will recoup the costs that you incurred. After all, this is your home that we are talking about! Turn your home into the space that makes you the happiest, and hope that eventually that love and effort can make someone else happy, too.

Thank you for reading our post the best ways to increase the value of your home. Hopefully this post was effective and helpful and you feel a bit more knowledgeable about some of the best things you can do to ultimately raise your house’s selling price. Some of these ideas provide a higher return on investment than others, so the biggest takeaway from this post is to only invest in the upgrades that you will enjoy. Upgrade your home for yourself and just remember keep these bullet points in mind while you do it. Shelling out money to knock off every item on this list for no reason other than to increase your home’s value will probably leave you disappointed, as the returns on your investment may wind up negative. If you enjoyed this post and are looking for more tips about buying or selling a home, including facts about HOAs, ways to save money on your utility bills, and whether or not a realtor is really necessary, be sure to check out our other posts. Otherwise, thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, we’re here to help. We at The Boyd Team are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

The holidays are well behind us, winter weather is on its way out the door, and February is in full swing! Visiting Myrtle Beach in February is always a great idea, as the area is almost getting into its true shoulder season. While the true shoulder season does not begin until later in March, February is still a great time to visit the Grand Strand. The weather is warming up, the crowds are still virtually non-existent, and the lines to all of the best restaurants and attractions are just as short as in December. This post will take a look at some of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in February, either as a new or prospective resident or as a tourist visiting Myrtle Beach for the first time.

1.     Celebrate a Romantic Valentine’s Day at one of Myrtle Beach’s Countless Restaurants

Myrtle Beach has more restaurants per capita than New York City. Isn’t that just crazy? There are so many restaurants to choose from in the Grand Strand, ranging from local staples (think Calabash buffets) to American classics (think the best pancakes you will ever eat) to international cuisines from all over the world (who doesn’t love some good tacos?). Going for a beach getaway can make for a very romantic Valentine’s Day and penciling in a reservation at one of Myrtle Beach’s most popular restaurants is surely a way to set the mood for a romantic evening. To extend your evening, think about going for a Romantic stroll around Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach!

2.     Play a Round of Golf at One of Myrtle Beach’s Many Renowned Golf Courses

The weather is starting to warm up a bit, making outdoor activities even more enjoyable than they were in the past couple of months. What better outdoor activity is there than playing a round of golf? After all, Myrtle Beach’s nickname is the “Golf Capital of the World”! There are so many golf courses that you can play at in the Grand Strand, and they span across all difficulty levels. You do not need to be an experienced golfer to try out this classic game! Many of the courses offer golfing lessons, and as long as you go with a friend you are bound to have a good time, even if your experience includes nothing but miniature golf. If you would prefer that over real golf, though, there are seemingly endless miniature golf courses in Myrtle Beach, too!

3.     Head to Pancakes and Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium

On February 26^th from 8 to 10am, you will want to get tickets to Pancakes and Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium. This event allows for patrons to meet and greet the aquarium’s penguins before the aquarium opens for the day, while also having a unique visitor experience and eating a nice breakfast. The breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruits, coffee, and juices. In addition to the meet and greet with the penguins and the breakfast, guests can expect a photo op with the aquarium’s mascot, a craft session, and admission to the aquarium once the event has concluded. Tickets cost $59.99 for adults and as low as $12.99 for kids depending on their age. Be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance to make sure that you have a spot, as the event only happens once or twice per month. Pancakes and Penguins is one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in February, and if you miss this opportunity you won’t have another chance until mid March.

4.     Do Some Shopping at the Tanger Outlets, Barefoot Landing, or Broadway at the Beach

Myrtle Beach may be known for its restaurants and beaches, but there are also several renowned shopping venues that are worth a visit, too! After all, with the tens of millions of visitors that come in the summer, the area has to be equipped to satisfy all of their touristy desires.  Going shopping in Myrtle Beach is not a rainy-day activity like it is in many other places, as the best shopping venues in Myrtle Beach are all outdoors. If you are expecting a hefty refund from your tax return this year, checking out some of these shopping destinations is probably right up your alley! From great deals at the Tanger Outlets, to lovely evenings out at Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach, you have plenty of great places to shop in the Grand Strand, making shopping one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in February.

5.     Attend a Concert or Show

Myrtle Beach has a handful of concert and show venues, and the event lineup in February is absolutely packed. From country singers, to musicals, to tribute shows about some of music’s greatest artists, the lineup of shows has a little something to please everyone. Be sure to do a quick Google search about the shows that will be occurring during your visit, as their may be one that interests you! The lineup is a bit all over the place, ranging from oldies, to country, to rock, to blues, to pop, and more. Be sure to look in advance if you would like to plan your trip around attending one of these shows!

Like we always say, there is no such thing as a bad month to visit Myrtle Beach – February included! In fact, with the low numbers of tourists and the weather that is starting to warm up, February may be a very optimal month to visit the Grand Strand depending on what you want to do. The daytime weather tends to stay in and above the 50s, and the significantly smaller crowds allow you to enjoy those comfortable temperatures without having to wait in long lines. Plus, as Covid-19 continues to play its course, these smaller crowds provide a much safer environment for visitors to come and enjoy the Grand Strand while keeping their social distance.

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

Image via Pexels

Getting Married in Your Golden Years: Tips for Making an Enriching Life Together

The love bug can bite you at any age. But committing to marriage in your golden years comes with different considerations than in your 20s or 30s. Chances are, you are arriving at the situation with plenty of emotional, physical, and financial experience. 

Just because there are unique factors to consider doesn’t mean you should hesitate before tying the knot with your newfound love. Below, The Boyd Team shares some practical advice to the senior love birds out there who want to navigate marriage as smoothly as possible!

Plan Dates      

Nothing can keep the flame alive more than going on dates, no matter your age. While an elaborate plan can go a long way in helping you connect with your partner on a deeper level, don’t feel pressured to make every date a big deal. Consider any practical activities you both enjoy, whether it’s eating a particular type of food, watching a specific genre of films, or playing board games. Just make time to spend time together with the two of you where there are minimal distractions. 

If you’re both sports fans, consider going out of town for a getaway. For example, you could visit New York City and go to a Yankees game. If you go through websites like TickPick, you can easily find discounted tickets. And you can use a virtual seating chart to select excellent seats where you can best take in a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.

House Hunt

You or your partner may already have a home that you both like. And while it could make sense to move into that home together, another option is to look for a new house. Few things are more exciting than house hunting, and choosing a home together can allow you to both feel like it is your own. Many retirees are flocking to beach towns because of the climate and scenery. Myrtle Beach, in particular, is a beautiful place to settle down in.  

Comb Through Your Finances    

It may not be the most fun subject to discuss with your soon-to-be spouse, but it is necessary. Both of you have probably developed spending and saving habits, and sharing your money may not sound too appealing. Nonetheless, if you are going to get married or stay in a long-term relationship, some level of financial sharing and transparency is essential. 

Start discussing your plans now to avoid surprises after you tie the knot. For example, you could make all of your bank accounts and financial decisions a joint venture. You could both keep your bank accounts and create one together for shared expenses. Or, you could come up with another system that works best for your situation. The key is to make a plan to know where your money is going. 

Assess Your Social Security and Taxes

Once you approach retirement, Social Security becomes a significant factor in your finances. You want to ensure you get the most out of this government benefit. You should also discuss your plan for paying taxes while reviewing how your marriage will change what you owe. Both Social Security and taxes can be complicated, so you want to make sure you update all of your information so that it doesn’t become more complex than it needs to be.

Meet With Advisors

Because Social Security and taxes are inherently complex, you might be well-served to hire experts to help you wade through decisions and paperwork. While you’re at it, look for a reputable financial advisor, an insurance specialist, and any other types of professionals that can help you lay a firm foundation for your marriage. And don’t forget to hire an experienced real estate agency like The Boyd Team if you plan to move to Myrtle Beach. 

Getting married as a senior requires you to make special considerations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set yourself up to have the time of your life. Remember to keep dating one another and consider finding a new home together. Make a financial plan, and go through your Social Security and taxes. Finally, find professionals who can help you with any challenges along the way.

Are you looking for top-tier real estate services in Myrtle Beach? Contact The Boyd Team today! (843) 222-8566

Is Myrtle Beach a Good Place to Start a Career?

Deciding where to start one’s career is an easy decision for some, and a very challenging one for others. Some people have no need nor desire to leave the place where they grew up, while others, either out of need or want, begin their career search in places other than where they grew up. There is no right or wrong answer, as different people have different career aspirations, and different places cater better to different jobs and industries. There is also no one perfect place to start a career.

With that being said, there are some places that are better than others to start a career, and Myrtle Beach is definitely on that list depending on what industry you are hoping to work in! Myrtle Beach is a booming economic hub in South Carolina, and the economic explosion is not expected to stop any time soon. Some projections show Myrtle Beach’s population growing by 40% over the next 10 years, pointing to a sustained continuation of the economic growth that the area has been experiencing.

Myrtle Beach is not the perfect place for everyone to start their career, but it is a fantastic one for many! This post will dive into what kind of people tend to be successful when starting their career in Myrtle Beach, and what exactly makes Myrtle Beach such a great place for them to begin their working life.

Who Should Consider Starting Their Career in Myrtle Beach?

There are three industries that make up the lion’s share of the job market in the Myrtle Beach area. They are education, retail, and tourism. Two of those three industries are the industries that are popular in just about every place in the country, but the third of them is what really makes Myrtle Beach unique. The massive tourism industry in Myrtle Beach provides countless opportunities across many other industries, which contributes to the red-hot job market in the area. Here is a quick look at why each one of those industries is an attractive employment option in the Grand Strand.

The Restaurant and Hospitality Industries

Myrtle Beach’s main calling card is that it is a major tourist hub, making the area require tens of thousands of people to staff and manage all of the tourist venues. Myrtle Beach has a shocking number of restaurants per capita, for example, and every one of those restaurants needs to be staffed. If you desire a career in the restaurant industry, there are few better places to start than Myrtle Beach. The same can be said for the hospitality industry, as the major waves of tourism require a high quantity of places to stay. Ranging from small motels, to family-owned boutiques, to esteemed international brands, there are hotels of every caliber in the Myrtle Beach area.

The Education Industry

The education industry is also a massive employer in the region, and there are employment opportunities at every level. The Horry County school district is the largest employer in the entire region, encompassing many elementary, middle, and high schools. There is a large need for teachers in the area, making this a very promising field to enter into. On top of just the primary and secondary schools, there are also several colleges and universities in the area. The most notable of these is Coastal Carolina University, which has an undergraduate student body of about 10,000 students. The university always has room for more professors, assistants, and more. All in all, the education industry in Myrtle Beach is large and growing, and there is room for upward progression into the collegiate level. On top of that, the expected population boom will only increase the need for teachers even more.

The Retail Industry

The other major industry in the Myrtle Beach area is the retail industry, which is in some ways an extension of the effects of tourism. The city of Myrtle Beach only has about 35,000 inhabitants, but the whole metropolitan area has closer to 500,000. This is relatively small by metropolitan standards. However, the roughly 20 million tourists that visit the region every year drive up the need for great retail establishments. The number of retail venues, between touristy strip malls and renowned locations like Broadway at the Beach and the Tanger Outlets, is striking. There are always open jobs and room for advancement!

Remote Workers from All Industries

Another demographic of people that should consider starting their career in Myrtle Beach is those who have or are looking to obtain a fully remote job. Myrtle Beach is, frankly, a very fun place to live. There are economic advantages to it too, which will be mentioned in detail in the next section. For many reasons that will be explained in the next section, working a fully remote job in Myrtle Beach is extremely advantageous. After all, who wouldn’t love the opportunity to sign off from work at the end of the day and catch an evening on the beach?

Is Myrtle Beach a Suitable Place for Young People to Live?

Myrtle Beach often gets a reputation for being two things: a family vacation destination and a retirement hub. These two things are definitely true, as the city has a large number of retirees and sees millions of tourists every year. After all, as the “Golf Capital of the World” Myrtle Beach has many golf courses that appeal to retirees who suddenly have a lot of free time on their hands! (To be fair, you do not need to be a retiree to go golfing. You can take advantage of all of the world-class golf courses too!)

While those two groups frequent Myrtle Beach a lot, that doesn’t mean it is not suitable for young people! The city gets younger every year, actually, as young professionals continue to seize the employment opportunities that the city has to offer. As remote work becomes more popular, young people have fallen in love with the idea of moving to the beach and living near the water.

With the very affordable prices (which we will talk about next) and the endless list of entertainment venues, there are few places as jam-packed with fun as Myrtle Beach is. As the city continues to get younger with the influx of early-career professionals, you can only expect the list of entertainment venues to continue to grow.

What Makes Myrtle Beach a Great Place to Start a Career?

Myrtle Beach is exploding economically, like we mentioned above. There are many reasons for this, but basically the population is booming just because it is such an appealing place to live. Here are some more detailed reasons that Myrtle Beach is a great place to start a career.

The Cost of Living is Phenomenal

Myrtle Beach is an extremely affordable place to live, especially when you consider all that the area has to offer. South Carolina as a whole is a very cheap state to live in. While this is usually matched with low wages, making the pay match the cost of living, there are some job opportunities that pay very competitive wages. If you can find a job that pays competitively, your money can go very far here. This is also a reason that remote workers are highly attracted to the Myrtle Beach area. Remote workers tend to be paid big city money, which can be stretched very far in Myrtle Beach, leading to a very comfortable and financially secure lifestyle.

The Tax Burden is Very Reasonable

South Carolina residents pay very reasonable taxes, which is a very attractive thing for an early career professional. While the income tax rate is average to slightly above average depending on your income (0-7%, to be exact), the rest of the taxes are on par with national averages or significantly below the national average. The greatest of these is the property tax, which is about half the national average. This means if you are in the market to buy a house (which you will see in the next point is a great possibility) you will likely save thousands on your property tax burden compared to other states. Another tax that is very low is the gasoline tax, as gas prices are infamously lower in South Carolina than they are in North Carolina. It may sound silly, but people who live in Charlotte (on the border of the Carolinas) often cross into South Carolina to fill up their gas tanks and save $5-10!

The Housing Market is Very Affordable and Accessible

Grocery and entertainment prices are not the only cheap thing in Myrtle Beach! The housing market is also very affordable, with an average home price of about $175,000. For being a mid-major city, that price is unbelievable. While many young people these days are leaning towards renting instead of buying, finding homes at this price is almost too good of an opportunity to be true. The prices are affordable, and the average home value is expected to rise along with the population boom. Investing in a home now at an affordable price could turn into a very good investment.

On that note, if you are considering a move to Myrtle Beach, we are here to help. We at the Boyd Team have been in the service of helping people like you buy and sell homes in the Myrtle Beach area for decades. We know the market like the back of our hands, and we are here to help you find the perfect house at the perfect price. If you are considering a move to Myrtle Beach, don’t hesitate to reach out!

The Weather is Fantastic

The weather in Myrtle Beach is fantastic. There are really no ifs, ands, or buts about that one. We have written several posts about the weather in Myrtle Beach, but the gist of it is that it is gorgeous for most of the year. Myrtle Beach gets warm, southern weather for most of the year without getting the extreme humidity of somewhere like Florida. On top of that, Myrtle Beach has four distinct seasons but experiences a much milder winter than states further to the north. The beach is pleasurable to visit for the majority of the year, and when the crowds thin out in the shoulder seasons, you often have long stretches of beach all to yourself.

The Job Growth Expectations are High

As the population continues to grow, it is only natural to expect the job market to grow alongside of it. Myrtle Beach is absolutely booming, and it solidifies itself as a bona fide city more and more each year. As it begins to be defined as more of a coastal city than a tourist vacation spot, you can expect large companies to begin opening offices and locations in the area. This growth is expected to continue strongly over the next decade, meaning now is as good of a time as ever to get into the Myrtle Beach community!

Myrtle Beach is a Fun Place to Live

The economic benefits are great, and the beautiful weather is really nice. However, on top of all of that, Myrtle Beach is simply a really enjoyable place to live. As the city grew from tourism, the amount of things to do is very disproportionately high relative to the small population. From great shopping venues and restaurants to a pristine beach and a minor league baseball team, there are a lot of awesome ways to keep yourself busy and entertained while living in Myrtle Beach.

Thank you for reading our post about whether or not Myrtle Beach is a good place to start a career! Hopefully this post has been helpful in answering your questions as you weigh the idea of relocating to the Grand Strand to start your professional life. Like we said earlier, there is no perfect place to start your career, but there are certainly many that are great options! Myrtle Beach is a booming place that is well-suited for people of all ages and all stages of life. If you fit the description of the kind of person that we described above, starting your career in Myrtle Beach might just be a fantastic idea.

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, we’re here to help. We at The Boyd Team are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg