What Will Myrtle Beach Be Like in 10 Years?

There is a lot of hype about Myrtle Beach these days, and it seems like it is an entirely new place every 10 or 15 years. Somehow, the place just keeps growing, and the economic advantages to that are incredible. Myrtle Beach continues to be a booming city on the Grand Strand, and the boom that the city is experiencing does not seem like it will be stopping any time soon. This post is going to take a quick look at what exactly is driving this economic boom, and what you can expect Myrtle Beach to look like in 10 or 15 years as either a tourist or someone who lives here.

Why is Myrtle Beach Growing?

Myrtle Beach has always been growing. Ever since it got discovered by the tourism industry around 1900, the city has never looked backwards. What was once a small, seaside community has turned into one of the fastest growing cities in the entire United States. Myrtle Beach is unrecognizable from about 50 years ago, and there is reason to believe that the same will be said in another 50 years. It is very clear that it is happening, but exactly why is Myrtle Beach growing so quickly?

There are many factors driving this growth, but three of them are what dominates the inundating growth. They are the economy, the weather and geography, and the endless list of things to do in the area. This post will take a look at each of these growth-driving factors now.

How is the Economy Driving Population Growth in Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach is a tourist wonderland at its core, which has led to a really unique economic makeup in the area. Typically, tourist destinations are dominated by service-industry jobs, like hotels and restaurants. This used to be the case in the Grand Strand, and to an extent it still is. However, the massive influx of new residents has caused large companies to reevaluate their South Carolina operations. Many companies are opening offices in and around Myrtle Beach in order to capitalize on the young jobseekers that are moving there. This expanse in job opportunities is part of a positive cycle that simply leads to more people moving to Myrtle Beach, who will then be followed again by more jobs. It is a very good cycle to be stuck in.

The job market isn’t the only attractive part of Myrtle Beach’s economy, though. The cost of living and many aspects of it are particularly of note. Firstly, the cost of living is very low. Myrtle Beach is one of the most affordable mid-major cities to live in on the East Coast. This is due partially to low statewide taxes and partially to other local factors, but the moral of the story here is that your paycheck can go a lot further in Myrtle Beach that it can in many other places. While low cost of living is typically matched with lower wages, many of the new employment opportunities coming to the area are offering very competitive pay.

On top of the low cost of living, the real estate market is strikingly affordable and accessible. The average home price in Myrtle Beach is somewhere between $150,000 and $175,000, which is less than half the national average of $375,000. Being able to get a quality home at that price is an absolute bargain, and as the area grows, your investment probably will too. We are Myrtle Beach realtors, after all; we know the housing market here pretty well, if we do say so ourselves.

As many job opportunities shift toward being fully remote, many people are starting to move away from the big cities and towards more enjoyable areas, like the coast. Myrtle Beach has been a big recipient of those remote workers, and as the job expectations continue to shift toward full time work from home, the expectation is that Myrtle Beach continues to capitalize on that demographic of workers.

How do Weather and Other Geographical Factors Drive Population Growth in Myrtle Beach?

This question has a much simpler answer than the one above, as it is just a matter of logic. South Carolina, and specifically Myrtle Beach, has incredible weather. The state sees four distinct seasons every year, but with much less drastic winters and summers. It still gets chilly in the winter and toasty in the summer, but the winters are much more like a Pennsylvania spring, and the summers are much less hot and humid than Florida. The weather throughout the brunt of the year is between the 60s and 80s, and the amount of sunshine is spectacular. You can hang out on the beach for the good majority of the year without it being too cold to enjoy.

Geographically, Myrtle Beach’s positioning around the center of the East Coast makes it a very attractive option for people who are from a northern state like New Jersey or Pennsylvania who want warmer weather without the need to fly. As Myrtle Beach is drivable from these states, many people prefer it over Florida. The same can actually be said coming from the other direction, too. Some people living in a place like Florida or Georgia really covet the idea of having four distinct seasons, and opt to move to Myrtle Beach (or somewhere else in South Carolina) to attain that without giving up their warm summers.

How does the Amount of Entertainment Venues Drive Population Growth in Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach is simply a very fun place to live, and people come just for that. With housing prices cheaper than the average in places like North Dakota and Idaho yet more restaurants per capita than New York City, you can get a lot of bang for your buck in Myrtle Beach. The city is built around tourism, after all, and by living in Myrtle Beach you get access to world-class venues designed to please the 20 million tourist that visit the area each year. With remote work on the rise and people having full flexibility about where they live, places like Myrtle Beach are booming.

So, what will Myrtle Beach be like in 10 years? All signs are pointing towards it maintaining its status as a premier tourist destination while also becoming an economically powerful city. In some ways, Myrtle Beach could turn into a more family-friendly Miami, of sorts. The population is poised to keep growing, the infrastructure already exists to handle many more people than the city does as of now, and the property developers already have plans for endless more new skyrises and condo buildings. Investing in a life in Myrtle Beach now can help you to get in before the prices jump, and watching the city transform is bound to be fun. Thank you for reading our post about the future of Myrtle Beach! We hope that reading this post has been useful for you as you consider a move to Myrtle Beach or anywhere else in the Grand Strand.

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

Is Myrtle Beach a Good Place to Start a Family?

Myrtle Beach has become a household name at this point. Nearly everyone on the East Coast has at least heard of it if they haven’t yet visited. Myrtle Beach is known as one of the best vacation spots on the east coast because of its beautiful beaches, large offering of restaurants and stores, and family-oriented setup. Myrtle Beach is known as one of the best places to retire because of its fantastic cost of living, gorgeous weather, and tranquil vibe outside of the busy summer tourist season. Myrtle Beach is also known as one of the best golfing destinations in the world, earning the name “Golf Capital of the World” with its over 60 award winning courses. With all of that being said, though, is Myrtle Beach a good place to raise a family?

In short, absolutely. The positive aspects that apply to tourists and retirees apply beautifully to young families, too. Who said that beautiful weather and a great cost of living are only for retirees? Who said that having great beaches and family-friendly amenities is only beneficial for tourists? When you think about it, Myrtle Beach is pretty wonderfully set up for young families to grow and prosper. This post is going to dive into some of the points mentioned above, as well as other reasons why Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the perfect place to raise a family.

Reasons Why Myrtle Beach is a Good Place to Raise a Family

As we’ve already said, Myrtle Beach is great for retirees, tourists, and golfers. What makes Myrtle Beach a good place to raise a family, then? Is it really possible for one place to be so perfectly set up for so many different phases of life? This is certainly a loaded question, but we think there is a pretty clear answer to it. Especially if you are looking to buy a house, you want to make sure that where you are moving is a good place for you and your family in the long term! Here are a few of the biggest reasons that Myrtle Beach is one of the best places on the East Coast to start a family.

Myrtle Beach Has a Relatively Low Cost of Living

We wrote a post several months back about how South Carolina is one of the most affordable places to live in the United States. You can check that post out here if you’d like. All of the points in that post, though, extend to this point about Myrtle Beach’s cost of living. The fact of the matter is that all else equal, Myrtle Beach is just a cheaper place to live, on average, compared to the rest of the United States’ cities. Your money goes further, and the salaries are high enough to provide for a better life than in many other metropolitan areas.

This is crucial as you start a family, because your expenses only go up. With each child, you need to finance and support an entirely new life, which is not cheap undertaking. Living in a place where your money goes a bit further is one of the easiest ways to make sure you are financially strong enough to give your children the life you dream of giving them!

Myrtle Beach Has an Affordable Housing Market

Your day-to-day life is not the only thing that is cheaper in Myrtle Beach. The Myrtle Beach housing market is strikingly affordable, which means you can either spend less money each month on your mortgage or you can aim to pay off your entire house in significantly less time! In 2020, for example, the median house price in the United States was $315,000, while in Myrtle Beach it was below $200,000. This means that you will likely spend over 30% less money on your house, freeing up thousands of dollars per year that would have otherwise been spent on a mortgage.

Nobody loves being in debt, and being able to get a great, high-quality home for such a low price compared to the rest of the country is a steal. Freeing up so much room in your monthly budget empowers you and your family to go on fun trips around the area, invest in passions and hobbies, and live an overall better life than you may have lived in a place with a more expensive housing market. Just try not to spend all of that extra money on Calabash food! If you are in the market to buy a home in the Grand Strand, we are here to help you. Trust us – we have been doing it for decades!

There are Great Educational Weekend Trips All Over South Carolina

South Carolina is one of the original 13 colonies, and it is absolutely packed with history. We wrote a post a while back about the best historical things to do in South Carolina, but that list could have easily been twice as long. As a place that has seen battles in the Civil War and the Revolutionary War, and a place whose history dates back to the 16^th century, there is no shortage of history to be learned about around Myrtle Beach. I don’t know about you, but I think that teaching children about history is both very important and very fun. Visiting these monuments with children and teaching them about their heritage is important for the preservation of history!

Charleston, in particular, is a place bursting at the seams with historical facts and sights. Located just two hours to the south of Myrtle Beach, Charleston’s charming cobblestone streets and well-maintained colonial buildings set it apart as one of the premier historical tourism destinations in the United States. The historically infamous Fort Sumpter is also located here, which is one of the most important sights in American war history. When you put all of these That is not a bad place to have just a couple hours south of your new home!

Myrtle Beach Weather is Gorgeous

This one applies to everybody, whether they want to start a family, retire, golf, or go on vacation! Myrtle Beach has some of the best weather in the country, getting nice and warm for most of the year without the Florida humidity. Myrtle Beach experiences all four seasons, but its summers stay much more pleasant than Florida’s do, and its winters are paradise compared to states further north. This means you can go to the beach for many months out of the year, and even when December and January roll around you have a pretty good shot at never needing to shovel a single snowflake.

We have written several posts about the weather in Myrtle Beach, but our gist is generally that there is no bad month to visit Myrtle Beach as a tourist. As someone living here, you can expect great weather year-round that only drops into the 40s at its absolute lowest in the winter and stays tolerable in the 90s at its hottest in the summer. Having the four seasons is nice but needing to defrost your windshield every morning before work is not! Having more warm days means more time you can spend outside getting fresh air with your young family, whether that is by the beach or in one of Myrtle Beach’s great nearby state parks.

Myrtle Beach Has a Great School System

Other than their health, there is arguably nothing more important than your children’s education. Some places in the United States are unfortunately known for not having good school systems, and this is probably something that you want to avoid for your children. There is no need to worry in the Grand Strand, though! Myrtle Beach has a fantastic public school system with most schools earning an “A-” rating or higher on niche.com. Niche.com is an aggregator website that ranks various aspects about cities and towns around the United States, and its goal is to give people a transparent look at what it is like to live in a particular area. On that note, it also tends to give each of the nearby towns a rating of “A-“ or higher in the category “good for families.”

The great school system extends beyond just their younger years. Myrtle Beach, as well as other nearby cities in South Carolina, is the host of some of the country’s most well-known universities and colleges. Coastal Carolina University is located right in Myrtle Beach, while other popular schools like the University of South Carolina and Clemson University are located in other parts of the state. Living in Myrtle Beach gives you access to in-state tuition at some of the most well-known colleges and universities in the United States!

Myrtle Beach is Safe

When you are choosing a place to raise a family, you probably want to heavily prioritize their safety. After all, they are the people that you love the most in the world, right? Protecting them is your top priority. When it comes to living in the area, Myrtle Beach is a very safe place. All of the towns in the area known as “Myrtle Beach” are very safe places, and these are neighborhoods where your kids can run around, go for walks, and play sports safely. While Myrtle Beach has earned a reputation for danger in recent years, this is very misleading information. There are parts of the downtown part of the city of Myrtle Beach that are dangerous at times, but that does not extend out into the towns surrounding the city throughout the area.

We wrote about this in a recent post that we published, too. Myrtle Beach (the city, not the area) has one of the highest crime rates in the country depending on where you look. This number is always a poor representation of the reality though, for a very simple reason. Crimes are committed by the total number of people in an area, while crime rates only divide by the total number of people living in the area. Myrtle Beach is a city of only 35,000 people, but it receives 19 million visitors every year. That means that any crime committed in the city by any of those 19 million visitors gets divided by just the 35,000 people that actually live there. This methodology leads to really inflated numbers, and unfortunately a falsely bad reputation for the city. Even still, the only part of the area that is considered “dangerous” at any point is a certain part of downtown and only after hours.

People in Myrtle Beach are Full of Southern Charm

There’s no mistaking that South Carolina takes pride in its Southern Charm. Being one of the original cornerstone states of southern culture, South Carolina is booming with the Southern Charm that has come to be so unique to the region. People here tend to be very hospitable, family-oriented, and kind. This kindness extends into your neighborhood, as your neighbors will more likely than not keep an eye out for your home, look out for your kids, and form bonds with you as a member of their community. While some people from other states may not be used to this level of connection with their neighbors, this neighborly connection is a deeply rooted part of South Carolina culture. From cookouts to sweet tea on the porch, you can count on having a good relationship with the folks in your neighborhood while living in the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach is a Fun Place to Be

Myrtle Beach, even without factoring in all of the other points that we have mentioned in this article, is a fantastic place. That is why 19 million people visit it every year, after all! This area is one of the biggest tourist hubs on the entire east coast, and with tourism comes investment in restaurants and entertainment. The Grand Strand is jam-packed with amenities for tourists. As a resident, you have access to all of those things too! All of the premier shopping options, the top-notch restaurants, and the entertainment venues are accessible to everyday residents, too. This means that as a person living in Myrtle Beach, you get the benefit of living in a place that is built entirely around entertainment. Specifically, this entertainment is targeted towards almost every demographic group, including families, young single people, and retirees. 

The benefits that come with living in Myrtle Beach are endless. From shopping venues like Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing to top local restaurants like Crabby Mike’s and The Original Benjamin’s, there are some really marquis places that can become staples in your live as a resident of the Grand Strand. These things are only the cherry on top of living in the area, and hopefully this post demonstrated that! While the area is definitely busier and hectic during the peak of the summer tourist season, things slow down significantly in the shoulder seasons and in the winter. 

Starting a family is a big undertaking, but it is so rewarding. Finding the perfect place to start your family can be daunting, but you have no need to worry – it will all work out just fine! Myrtle Beach is a great place to raise a family, with its combination of fantastic weather and beaches, affordability, and diverse entertainment and culinary offerings. Hopefully this post was helpful in outlining some of the best reasons why Myrtle Beach is a good place to raise a family. Just know that there are many more than can fit in one blog post, and we encourage you to keep reading other posts to help you to make an informed decision!

Starting a family is a big undertaking, but it is so rewarding. Finding the perfect place to start your family can be daunting, but you have no need to worry – it will all work out just fine! Myrtle Beach is a great place to raise a family, with its combination of fantastic weather and beaches, affordability, and diverse entertainment and culinary offerings. Hopefully this post was helpful in outlining some of the best reasons why Myrtle Beach is a good place to raise a family. Just know that there are many more than can fit in one blog post, and we encourage you to keep reading other posts to help you to make an informed decision!

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 Benefits of Having a Basement

As you shop for homes, you will find that every home offers a little something different in its lowest levels. Some homes come with a cellar, some come with a concrete slab basement, and some come with a fully finished basement that is ready to become a mancave or family room. Some houses do not come with a basement at all! There are many advantages to having a basement, and the way you use your basement may change significantly throughout the time that you live in the home. This post is going to take a quick look at some of the best benefits of having a basement. If you are in the process of looking for a home and are wondering if a basement is truly necessary for you, this post could be very helpful!

A Lot of Storage Space

Arguably the most beloved advantage of basements is the large amount of storage space that they provide. If you do not have plans to finish your basement, using it as a storage space is always a great bet. Basements are often just as big as the main floor of the home, providing ample room for you to store the things you may not need throughout the year upstairs. Christmas decorations are the perfect example, as you only use them for a few weeks and need an out-of-the-way place to store them for the other eleven months of the year. In this way, basements help to reduce clutter on the other floors of your home. On top of that, they allow you to keep thing that you otherwise may have gotten rid of due to not having the space to store them.

Stylistic and Functional Flexibility

Flexibility is another one of the biggest benefits of having a basement. While storage space is great, there is much more that you can do with a basement. An unfinished basement is a blank canvas that you can turn into whatever you want. Whether you want a mancave, a guest suite, a workshop, a living room, an organized storage space, or anything else, buying an unfinished home gives you the ability to decide. Your desires may change over the time that you own the house, and you are easily able to adapt your basement over time to be exactly what you want it to be.

Increased Safety During Emergencies

Depending on where you are looking to buy a home, natural disasters may be very prevalent. Tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, and earthquakes are all scary events that can post a risk to you and your family. Basements are often the safest place to be in the event of an emergency, as the usual lack of windows, doors, and a roof can help to protect you and your family as much as possible. You do not need a designated safe room in your basement to stay safe – just being in the basement away from any windows is often safer than being on the main level of your home.

Elevated Privacy

Like we mentioned before, basements often have very few windows and doors, meaning that you can create a space that is free from outside view. This is especially helpful if you want to display valuables, as displaying your collection of expensive items in street view is never a great idea. In addition to having privacy from the outside world, basements can also offer privacy within your home. Basements are the perfect place to create a guest suite or apartment, as they are wholly separated from the rest of the house and often have their own private entrance. You can even rent this suite out to create some additional income while you have less of a need for the space!

Home Value

Another great benefit of having a basement in your new home is the added value that it brings. While an unfinished basement is nothing more than a concrete slab with cinderblock walls, this space can be transformed into a fully functional living space with comparably little effort. Unfinished basements are not counted in the square footage of a home when it is being sold. Therefore, if you finish the basement while you live in the home, you get to enjoy the benefits of having all of the additional living space while also seeing a great return on the investment you put into finishing costs!

Buying a new home is a very exciting, albeit stressful experience. Trying to find the perfect home is hard, and making decisions about what features you need and do not need is very demanding. Hopefully this post explained clearly that having a basement is often very advantageous as a homeowner. Basements offer different functions to you as a homeowner as the years go by, and the added flexibility you experience is invaluable. Even if you do not think you will need one, you can look at it this way: it is better to have a basement and never need it than to not have a basement and realize a few years into homeownership that you could really use one. You can always leave a basement unfinished, but you cannot dig yourself a new one!

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

Things to Do in Myrtle Beach With the Whole Family

Myrtle Beach is a great place that is absolutely packed with things to do. From fantastic beaches to world class restaurants, Myrtle Beach check a lot off of most peoples’ bucket lists. One thing that is very nice about Myrtle Beach is that its range of activities is very broad. This enables you to plan itineraries for adult-only getaways, senior citizen retreats, family vacations, and more. If you have been considering moving to Myrtle Beach but are worried about finding things that your children or grandchildren will be able to do, look no further; we have got you covered here! Whether you are planning a family vacation or are looking to move to the area, this post will take a look at some of the best things to do with a family in Myrtle Beach. Note that these events are not explicitly for kids, but rather are things that people of all ages can enjoy.

1.     Spend a Night at the Ballpark and Watch a Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game

Whether you are a baseball fan or not, a night out at the ballpark is always one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are just a Single-A level baseball team, meaning the vast majority of these players will never actually make it into the major leagues. As a result, they are really just there to have fun and play a game they love. This makes for a really fun environment and dynamic in the stadium, and the cool night air is a really refreshing way to relax and recharge from a day in the heat. Tickets to Myrtle Beach Pelicans games are extremely affordable, making this a really fun night out for the whole family that refrains from putting much of a dent into your wallet. For more information about pricing, schedules, and tickets, visit the Myrtle Beach Pelicans website here.

2.     Enjoy Dinner in the Company of Knights or Pirates at a Dinner Theatre

You don’t need to travel all the way to England to meet Knights or the Caribbean to meet Pirates! Myrtle Beach, much like Orlando, is highly regarded for its outstanding dinner theaters. Pirates Voyage and Medieval Times are the two most noteworthy dinner theaters in Myrtle Beach, and both of them are a real treat for the whole family. At each of these locations you buy a ticket that includes dinner and entrance to the show. Both of them are a really spectacular way to spend an evening out with the family, and neither one is really better than the other. It just depends if you prefer jousting or looting! Be sure to buy your tickets in advance, as the shows can fill up ahead of time.

3.     See the City From Above in the Myrtle Beach Skywheel

The Myrtle Beach Skywheel is a very big observation wheel that towers over the city. In fact, the Myrtle Beach Skywheel is one of the most iconic parts of the Myrtle Beach skyline. Standing at almost two hundred feet tall, the Myrtle Beach Skywheel provides stunning views of the Grand Strand down below. You should note that the Myrtle Beach Skywheel is not a ferris wheel or a carnival ride; it is a bonafide observation wheel, complete with nearly 360-degree windows and slow moving speeds so that you can soak up every bit of the stunning views it offers. It is very similar to the London Eye, if you have been to Londong. For information about pricing, tickets, and operation schedules, be sure to consult the Myrtle Beach Skywheel website here.

4.     Admire the Statues and Wildlife at Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens is one of the most highly decorated attractions in the entire area. This outdoor blend of wildlife, botany, and statue art is one of the only places in the country to be recognized and awarded officially by both art organizations and zoo organizations. The itinerary at Brookgreen Gardens changes every day, and they are notorious for hosting seasonal and locally renowned events. If you want to visit Brookgreen Gardens, be sure to book your tickets online in advance on their website here. In addition to buying tickets, their website is the best place to learn more about what they do and what all will be going on during the day that you wish to visit.

5.     Pump some Adrenaline at the Broadway Grand Prix

The Broadway Grand Prix is one of the most adrenaline pumping spots in the whole Grand Strand. This activity complex hangs it hat on its seven different go kart tracks, but also offers an arcade, a rock-climbing wall, and two miniature golf courses! Buying an entry ticket grants you access to all of these different activities, and seasonal passes are offered as well. The Broadway Grand Prix is a place that is designed for people of all ages, but kids are definitely the ones who will love this action-packed complex the most. For information about pricing, schedules, and tickets, check out their website here.

6.     Put on Some Sunscreen and Spend a Day at the Beach

Why would you go to Myrtle Beach and not actually go to the beach? While this one might seem a bit too obvious, it absolutely deserves its spot on this list. The beaches along the Grand Strand are known for being very family-friendly, and no trip to Myrtle Beach is complete without a day of throwing a football, building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and soaking up the sun. The beaches all along the area are nice, but Surfside Beach is often regarded the nicest beach for young families. This is only a ten- or 15-minute drive south of the center of the city, and the calm waves and beautiful sand are well worth the trip!

7.     Observe some of the Ocean’s Most Beautiful Creatures at Ripley’s Aquarium in Broadway at the Beach

Ripley’s Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in the Grand Strand, and it’s location in Broadway at the Beach makes it extremely accessible and easy to pair with other activities. This aquarium is one of three Ripley’s Aquariums in the Americas, as there is another one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and one in Toronto, Ontario. The marine life on display ranges from small fish, to penguins, to sharks, and more. If you like penguins, you should be sure to buy tickets to one of their Penguins and Pancakes events which happen once or twice every month! This is an opportunity to eat breakfast in the aquarium, meet the aquarium’s mascot, and gain early admission to the aquarium afterwards. For more information on the aquarium and getting tickets, visit their website here.

8.     Or Get Up Close and Personal With Some of the Most Dangerous Creatures on Earth at the Alligator Adventure

If graceful penguins are not your thing, or if you need more adrenaline than just seeing sharks from behind glass, look no further than the Alligator Adventure. Alligators are one of the most dangerous animals on earth, and the Alligator Adventure gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with these violent creatures. The danger and thrill doesn’t stop there, though. Alligator Adventure is the home to many other dangerous and not dangerous animals, like mountain lions, crocodiles, hyenas, big lizards, ostriches, and more. This is a really unique place to visit, and its location by Barefoot Landing makes it very easy to pair with other activities on your itinerary. This is a place that the whole family can enjoy, and for more information on offerings and tickets be sure to visit their website here.

9.     Slide Headfirst into Fun at Myrtle Waves Water Park

When the hot summer sun is beating down, there is no feeling as great as stepping into a nice, cool body of water. Whether that is the ocean or a pool, stepping into some cool water feels magical under the hot July South Carolina sun. Myrtle Waves Water Park is the perfect solution to a hot day under the sun with the family, as they offer refreshing food and drinks, relaxing pools, and thrilling water slides. Going to a water park is one of the best ways to stay out in the sun while doing something other than laying at the beach. Having all of the water nearby makes a quick dip to cool off very possible, and some of the slides are really tall and exciting. For information about tickets and prices, be sure to check out their website here.

10.  Exercise the Children’s’ Thinking Caps at WonderWorks Myrtle Beach

WonderWorks Myrtle Beach is like an amusement park for the mind. In fact, the word that they use on their website is “edu-tainment.” This complex of over 50,000 square feet has over 100 exhibits that are designed to stretch the imagination and the mind. They offer a zipline and ropes course, a laser tag zone, a physical challenge zone, an outer space discovery zone, an extreme weather zone, a light and sound zone, a wonder art zone, and more. This location is designed for people of all ages, easily making it one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach with the whole family. Tickets are only $31.99 for adults and $25.99 for kids, making this a surprisingly affordable outing as well. For more information and to buy tickets online, be sure to check out their website here.

11.  Hop Around at one of Myrtle Beach’s Trampoline Parks

If you have never been to a trampoline park with the family, Myrtle Beach is a great place to try it. Trampoline parks have ben getting increasingly popular over the past ten years or so, and they are a great place to take a family – especially one with younger children. Trampoline parks often have fun games like trampoline basketball, and letting the kids bounce around is a great way to get them some exercise while also helping them to get some of their energy out! Two of the biggest trampoline parks in Myrtle Beach are Big Air and Rockin’ Jump. Visit their websites for more information on pricing, offerings, and schedules.

12.  Take an Evening Stroll around Broadway at the Beach or Barefoot Landing

Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach are two of Myrtle Beach’s premier locations, as they offer a beautiful place to step out and go shopping, grab dinner, or have an evening stroll. Broadway at the Beach is the much more family-centric option of the two, but both are very family-friendly. Each of these locations is filled with stores, shops, and restaurants, and Broadway at the Beach has several games and activities that are great for children and teenagers as well. For a nice evening out that requires no planning and little effort, heading to either Barefoot Landing or Broadway at the Beach is always a great idea.

13.  Play a Round of Mini Golf at one of the Countless Miniature Golf Courses

What is a family vacation or visit without some miniature golf? Miniature golf is one of the most popular activities in Myrtle Beach, and any drive along the road will show you very quickly just how many miniature golf courses there are here. You probably pass at least one miniature golf course every five minutes that you drive along the main road. Miniature golf is a very fun family activity that can be played by everyone in the whole family. It is always very affordable and can be as competitive or non-competitive as you wish! There is never a need to make a reservation or buy tickets in advance, meaning that you can decide to spend a night at the miniature golf course at the last minute without any issues. Also, no evening of miniature golf is complete without ice cream right after!

14.  Go for a Hike Along the Beach or in one of the Nearby State Parks

People often forget that South Carolina has a lot more natural beauty to offer than just along its beaches. There are countless state and national parks in South Carolina, and several of them are within easy reach of Myrtle Beach. If the fast pace of Myrtle Beach gets overwhelming, a trip into one of the state parks for a hike or a picnic is one of the best ways to decompress. In fact, there is even a Myrtle Beach State Park, which doesn’t even require you to leave the area! If the woods are not very appealing to you, consider going for a long walk on the beach. The sunrises in Myrtle Beach are stunning, and getting some steps in while the sun rises can be a really rewarding experience!

15.  Take a Day Trip down to Charleston to see some Colonial History

Charleston is one of the coolest spots in all of South Carolina, and its proximity to Myrtle Beach makes it a great day trip. Located just two hours south of Myrtle Beach, Charleston can be easily reached in a rental car without too much planning or thinking. Charleston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and the number of historical sights to see here is off the charts. From Fort Sumpter and all of its historical significance to adorable, quaint streets, Charleston is a fantastic place to visit while you are in Myrtle Beach. The short drive is very easy to do with small children, and the number of cool things to do in Charleston warrants its own blog post. A visit to Charleston is a great way to get in touch with the United States’ colonial roots, and is a great way to add a bit of an educational component to your visit to South Carolina.

Thanks for reading our post about the best things to do in Myrtle Beach with the whole family! Hopefully this post helps you to plan out a few days’ worth of events with your family, whether you are visiting Myrtle Beach with them or they are coming to Myrtle Beach to visit you. Myrtle Beach is a major tourist destination, and the number of things to do can often be overwhelming. Hopefully this post served its purpose of condensing the fun activities into a short list of the most family-friendly things to do in Myrtle Beach.

If you do not already live here, and 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

Tips to Help you Set Up the Perfect Home-Based Office

When you’re new to entrepreneurship, whether you’re a senior or a twenty-something college grad, creating a dedicated home office workspace is crucial. There’s nothing more distracting than trying to work from the dinner table with a television blaring in the background or family asking you where the cookies are. This is even more unprofessional if you plan to meet with clients either in person or virtually.

If you’re interested in finding out how to set up the perfect home-based office, then read on for these tips from The Boyd Team.

Make a Home Office Wish List

Before you jump into decorating your home office, it’s a great idea to create a wishlist of everything you want and need. Be sure to prioritize the most important items first, such as a desk, printer, computer, and telephone, then go from there.

Once you’ve established the essentials, you can start adding “wants” to the list, such as decor and accessories. That could include things like artwork, indoor plants, throw pillows, and lamps that will liven up the space.

Choose the Right Location

The workspace you need will largely depend on the type of small business you own. If you have clients coming to visit you, you’ll likely need a space with more privacy. The same can be said if you’re hosting virtual meetings — choose a space away from noise and too much foot traffic.

Build a Fully Functional Home Office

Are you considering selling your home shortly? Then building a fully functional home office is an update that could increase your home's appraisal value. This means considering everything from investing in functional office furniture to getting a landline setup to cable management. Be sure to take before and after pictures and keep track of improvements so you can quantify your home's increase in value.

Invest in Comfort

If you’re spending 40 hours a week in your home office, you’re going to want to invest in comfort, especially considering most entrepreneurs spend much more than that. For starters, your office chair should be the right height, as well as provide plenty of back and arm support. You may even want to opt for an adjustable desk, so you can work both standing up and sitting down.

An ergonomic keyboard wrist pad and mouse pad also do wonders for decreasing pain when typing and sitting on the computer for long durations. You may not notice it at first, but the discomfort will start to build over time.

Be Safety-Conscious

With the events of the pandemic, being safety-conscious is crucial for business. That means using masks whenever you meet with clients or customers, having hand sanitizer on standby, as well as keeping a window open for better airflow.

On the other hand, you should take advantage of technology that minimizes contact whenever possible. Rather than having to meet with customers, consider using invoicing and payment software. A great option is Wave Financial — you can send invoices and accept payments from your clients for free.

If you plan to have a lot of Zoom meetings, you may want to switch to digital documents like PDFs if you haven’t already done so. However, PDFs can become problematic if you have to send a lot of them at once, as they can become quite large — especially if they’re image-heavy. So, use online tools to merge PDF files before you email them to a client or customer. That way, they will have all the documentation they need for your meeting in one tidy document.

Make It Personal

Lastly, it’s important to add personal touches to your office. This could be anything from decorating your desk with photographs of your family to purchasing stationery that inspires you to painting the walls your favorite color.

Having a great workspace at home is the key to success. Make sure this spot is both comforting and productive; after all, the more you enjoy spending time in this space, the more you’ll accomplish throughout the day. 

If you’re looking to purchase a new home to accommodate your new business, The Boyd Team can help you find the perfect space. Get in touch with us today!

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Alt-tag: A couple buying a home with kids

What to consider when buying a home with kids

Purchasing a home is a serious commitment – this is a long-term investment for your family, and you want to make it bulletproof. The whole buying process is decided by multiple factors, which you need to keep in mind to pick the right home. And if your family includes kids or you plan on having them soon – the search becomes even more complicated. However, if you’re well prepared and know what you want, you can simplify the process. To help you out, this guide will reveal the most important things to consider when buying a home with kids. Here’s your shortcut to a kids-friendly home your family will make some beautiful memories in. 

The location

One of the first things that can help you narrow down your search is the location of your new home. Surely, you want a family-friendly place – a safe neighborhood with great schools, playgrounds, and other amenities important for kids. However, your new home should also be close to your work and be a part of a friendly community. Be realistic about your must-haves. Very often, it’s not easy to get it all. Keep in mind your top priorities, and work with your agent to find a home that’s closest to perfection. 

Safety

When it comes to the location, the question of safety pops up. Buying a home with kids means browsing safe neighborhoods and streets with less traffic. You can go online and look at safety reports, but the best way to check is to talk to the locals. If you have your eye on a house, go and take a walk around the area and try to meet the neighbors. Introduce yourself and ask about the community’s safety, common issues, and any other questions you may have.

Furthermore, it’s not only the neighborhood’s safety you should worry about. Take a look around the house and see if there’s enough fence protection if necessary. If you have babies or toddlers, see if there are any bodies of water nearby as they are serious hazards. Finally, check the stability of the staircases, and see if there’s a need for installing some extra protection. 

Caption: Feel truly happy and safe in your new home after making the right choice.

Alt-tag: A family sitting on a couch after buying a home with kids

The size of your new home 

Another thing to consider when buying a home with kids is the size. As the family grows, you will need more and more space. Even though your kids like spending time together now, they will probably want separate rooms as they get older. So, if you have babies or toddlers, think about the future requirements in terms of size. Apart from the number of rooms, keep in mind that the kitchen/dining room should be spacious enough for comfortable family meals. 

The floor plan 

Another feature of the home parents often forget about is the floor plan. It’s a good idea to buy a house where all bedrooms are located on the same floor. This will make nights with your young ones much easier as you will be able to hear them at all times. In general, families should buy a home that matches their lifestyle and needs. 

The quality of nearby schools 

While researching your favorite neighborhoods, do a background check of the schools in the area. If possible, visit the school your kid will go to and get more information. Also, seeing the school together with your kids will ensure they relax a bit and accept the new environment sooner. 

The backyard 

Buying a home with kids usually comes with a picture of them playing in the backyard. A big backyard is a huge plus for families with kids. Here you can create your own playground with the toys your kids love the most. 

Caption: It’s true that buying a home with kids requires more effort – but it’s all worth it. 

Alt-tag: A girl and her parents unpacking in their new house

Moving with kids soon – ways to make it easier 

Buying a home with kids is complicated, and the moving process is no different. When moving with kids, there are many details to pay attention to to ensure the maximum safety of your loved ones. However, you shouldn’t start panicking – there are ways to make the entire process simpler and safer for your family without stressing out and spending too much money. 

Include your kids in moving preparations

Kids should be a part of the move – try to involve them! They can participate and help you out. This will help them feel more valued and faster adapt to the new situation. 

Caption: Being part of the buying and moving process will help your kids adjust faster. 

Alt-tag: A girl drawing on a moving box

Hire professionals to help you out 

You will have a lot on your plate once you decide to buy a new home and move with your young ones. Next Stop Movers don’t recommend DIY moves for people who have kids. Experienced movers will reduce the stress of a family move by handling the packing and transportation of your household. This way, you’re left with taking care of your kids, paperwork, and making your new home beautiful. 

It’s time to  declutter

Family moves often come with many unnecessary items, old toys, books, and clothes. That’s why one of the wisest things you can do is remove all of them from your old home before you start packing. Declutter your household and make the move simpler and less expensive by packing the items your family actually needs. This way, after buying a home with kids, you can use your new storage space efficiently and make the house practical and more comfortable. 

Photos used:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-white-dress-shirt-holding-girl-in-white-dress-7578982/ 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/little-girl-playing-in-a-box-4569304/ 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-family-sitting-on-a-couch-7415015/ 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-long-sleeve-shirt-holding-pen-writing-on-white-paper-4569331/

Meta Description: Looking for a new humble abode for you and your family? Here’s what to consider when buying a home with kids. 

Written by Zohra

Is Myrtle Beach Safe to Live In?

Myrtle Beach is one of the hottest retirement and vacation spots on the east coast, and its increased popularity has come with a load of benefits and a few concerns. One of the concerns that people most often find themselves worrying about is safety in Myrtle Beach, as the city has begun to earn a not-so-glamorous reputation for safety over the last decade. This post will clear up the confusion that surrounds the topic of safety in Myrtle Beach, specifically for people that are looking to call Myrtle Beach their home. So, is Myrtle Beach safe to live in? Keep reading to find out.

Is Myrtle Beach Dangerous?

Over the past decade, Myrtle Beach has begun to pop up on lists of dangerous places to visit in the United States. These articles cite surprisingly high crime rates and have even called Myrtle Beach the most dangerous city in the country. Firstly, any article claiming that Myrtle Beach is the most dangerous city in the country is not so trustworthy, because I can confidently say that Myrtle Beach is safer than most of the biggest cities in the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Why, then, do they claim that Myrtle Beach is so dangerous?

The biggest reason is simply because of the map. “Myrtle Beach” is a name used to describe a large portion of the 60-mile long Grand Strand. When people think of Myrtle Beach, they usually think of an area that includes not just the city of Myrtle Beach, but also North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, and more. These statistics categorize each of these places as their own individual place, considering “Myrtle Beach” to only be the actual city that is called Myrtle Beach.

That city has a population of less than 35,000 people but hosts over 19 million vacationers each year. While most of these people stay in hotels that aren’t necessarily within the city limits, most of them find themselves venturing into the city at some point. This means that there may be half a million people in Myrtle Beach on a random day in July, and the crime rate divides the number of crimes among those hundreds of thousands of people by just the proportionally tiny population. No wonder the crime rate comes out high!

This is not to say that Myrtle Beach is perfectly safe. Indeed, some parts of the city can be dangerous – especially during peak tourism season in the summer. This just serves to explain a bit of what makes the crime rate look so high. The crimes exist, but the rate is pretty normal when you consider the number of tourists in the city at any given time that are not being included in the calculations.

Is the Area Around Myrtle Beach Dangerous?

The city of Myrtle Beach has some justifiable crime concerns, as we just mentioned. There is a fairly high homeless population, which local authorities believe contributes to the increased crime rate. However, while the city is dangerous, is the area around Myrtle Beach safe?

If you ask people that live here or tourists that pass through, they’d probably tell you that it is very safe. The towns surrounding Myrtle Beach, like Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, and North Myrtle Beach, are generally considered to be very safe. In fact, most visitors to the Myrtle Beach area stay in hotels or resorts that are in these areas! These towns are filled with resorts and residences, and they are pretty well removed from the dangers of downtown.

If you are considering buying a house in the Myrtle Beach area and have been deterred by reports of violence and safety concerns, there are a few things you should know that can help to alleviate your worries. Firstly, the towns surrounding the city of Myrtle Beach are considered to be very safe, and there are endless lovely neighborhoods to call home. Trust us; we live here! Any semblance of crime doesn’t really extend out to these areas, and the crime rate is no different than a regular American suburb.

Secondly, you should know that while the risk of crime in the city does exist, local authorities are doing all that they can to design plans to promote a safe future for the entire Myrtle Beach area. As an area dependent on tourism, local officials know the importance of providing a safe, family-friendly destination for vacationers. The benefits of their focus on safety for tourists naturally extends to you as a homeowner. On top of that, as we said, the crime rate is often artificially inflated due to some questionable calculation methods. If they were to truly consider the large crowds that Myrtle Beach hosts every year, the number would surely be much lower. Often numbers fail to tell the true story, and this is a case where numbers may be causing more fear than is warranted.

In summary, this post is not claiming that Myrtle Beach is a paradise that is free from crime. On the contrary, parts of the city do see higher than average crime rates during peak tourism seasons. However, that crime is very well contained to certain parts of the city, and the crime rates themselves are often inflated. If you are considering moving to Myrtle Beach and are planning to live anywhere but downtown in the heart of the city, safety really should not be a major concern for you. Even if you are hoping to live in the city, there are areas that are fantastic and are considered to be perfectly safe and family-friendly. The most dangerous areas are even considered to be fairly safe during the daytime, and as long as you avoid them at night, your chances of running into trouble are quite low.

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

Is Myrtle Beach a Good Place to Retire?

Myrtle Beach’s popularity seems to increase drastically year over year, and its long coastline and bustling shopping and dining scenes draw crowds from every phase of life. While the summer months are packed with tourists ranging from newborns to senior citizens, the winter months tend to look a little bit different. You, like many other people, are probably wondering “Is Myrtle Beach a good place to retire?” At first glance, the answer to this question may seem obvious. However, doubts and worries are always understandable, and we are here to explain in detail why Myrtle Beach truly is a good place to move to, especially for retirement.

First and foremost, I should start out by mentioning that Myrtle Beach is and has been a favorite spot for retirees. The 60-mile long stretch of coastline, the accessibility to fantastic restaurants, the slew of shopping centers, and the countless world-class golf courses are some of the most common reasons that people look to Myrtle Beach for retirement. However, there is much more at play that just that. This post will unpack each of those points, and then dive into the deeper causes that make Myrtle Beach such a great place to retire.

Surface-Level Reasons Why Retirees Love Myrtle Beach:

Myrtle Beach’s Extensive and Beautiful Coastline

Myrtle Beach is one of the crown jewels along South Carolina’s 60-mile long stretch of coastline called the Grand Strand. This entire stretch of shoreline is filled with beautiful small towns, beaches, cities, and villages that all have something (or several unique things) to offer visitors. Myrtle Beach is pretty centrally located along the Grand Strand, which makes accessing the rest of the places along the coastline very easy.

One perk of this long stretch of coastline and its interconnectivity is that you can choose to live in a community that is a bit distanced from the city while still being able to access all that you need from the city of Myrtle Beach. The coastal highway has been doing a much better job of moving traffic along, and living several miles away from the city to have peace and quiet does not need to come at the cost of being remote and removed.

While there are advantages to the coastline being long, it also needs to be mentioned that the Grand Strand is simply a beautiful stretch of beach as well. While the makeup of each beach along the Grand Strand is different, you can always expect nice sand, great waves, and beautiful sunshine. As an east coast destination, you can look forward to beautiful sunrises over the Atlantic Ocean. If you are a morning person, a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise could become a daily habit!

The Accessibility to World-Class (and Simply Delicious) Restaurants

We have written about this in many of our other posts, but the influx of tourism over the years has caused a massive growth spurt in several industries in Myrtle Beach, and arguably none of them have grown as much as the restaurant industry. When the peak of the summer hits and there are up to a million tourists in Myrtle Beach at once, the city needs to have enough restaurants to keep everyone fed! While this can lead to some longer wait times in the summer to eat at your favorite restaurants, it is also the reason that there are so many fantastic restaurants here in the first place. The high volume of tourists has led to a lot of investment by restauranteurs, and as a retiree in Myrtle Beach, you get to reap the benefits!

A local favorite is Calabash food, which we wrote an entire post about in the past. I encourage you to read the post that is linked in the previous sentence, but to sum it all up, Calabash food is lightly breaded, deep fried, extremely fresh seafood. It is usually served in buffets, and it is certainly the most popular local food offered in the Grand Strand.

Whether you think Calabash food sounds appealing or not, there are countless other restaurants that you are bound to like, including top-notch steakhouses, delicious breakfast joints, trendy vegan spots, comfort food restaurants, and more. A quick search on Google for whatever type of cuisine you are craving will show you exactly what I mean when I say there are plenty of places to eat!

Myrtle Beach’s Sprawling Indoor and Outdoor Shopping Centers

While they are very popular with tourists, Myrtle Beach’s shopping centers are a great asset to have as a retiree, too. The biggest ones are the Tanger Outlets, Barefoot Landing, and Broadway at the Beach. Each of these places is unique and offers its own draw, and I will expound on them a bit in a second. First, though, I just want to reiterate how convenient it is to have all of the shopping locations that you need right at your fingertips! Between these three destinations, there are very few things that you may need at home that you can’t find. This makes shopping trips extra easy, and the restaurants and venues that are intertwined with the stores make your shopping trip even more enjoyable!

• Broadway at the Beach is a favorite for families, but it is surely suitable for all people of all ages. This expansive outdoor mall has both small local boutiques and large, national stores. It is set up as a loop around a lake, and a stroll along the whole loop is a fantastic way to spend an evening. Broadway at the Beach especially is filled with fantastic places to grab a bite to eat or a drink, and the endless list of stores makes it a favorite among both locals and tourists. Broadway at the Beach is located right in Myrtle Beach, making it very centrally located and accessible.

• Barefoot Landing is like Broadway at the Beach, but a bit higher end and less family oriented. Both Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach are fine places to take children, but Barefoot Landing tends to be frequented by less families and more couples and retirees. This shopping center also borders a lake, and there is a beautiful bridge that you can walk across to get from one side to the other if you don’t feel like walking the circumference of the lake. The stores here are mainly boutiques, and the food options are fewer but equally as fantastic in comparison to Broadway at the Beach. Barefoot Landing is located in North Myrtle Beach, which helps to keep it calmer and quieter – even during peak tourist season.

• Finally, the Tanger Outlets are the place you want to go if you have a laundry list of items you need to buy. As outlets, the stores at Tanger Outlets tend to sell their wares at very low prices. The stores here are all large national brands, too, making them a favorite for both locals and tourists. Ranging from Levi’s Jeans to Bath and Body Works, the Tanger Outlets can offer you arguably the most shopping options of any place on this list, while also selling their goods at the most affordable prices.

The Countless World-Class Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is often regarded as one of the best places to golf in the entire United States. The great weather all year, the relatively low humidity, and the beautiful views of the Grand Strand and the Atlantic Ocean are all reasons that avid golfers cite for choosing to golf in Myrtle Beach. If you are retirining, you may be thinking of ways to fill your time. One of the most common ways to fill the newfound time of retirement is by picking up new hobbies or strongly embracing current ones. If you think golf could be the one that you want to invest in, Myrtle Beach is one of the best places you can go.

Two of the most prestigious golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area are The Dunes Golf and Beach Club and Caledonia Golf and Beach Club. These two are consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the entire country. However, not everyone wants to golf at world-class courses every time! They often carry a higher price tag and require a higher level of skill. Don’t worry about that – the Myrtle Beach area has tens of fantastic golf courses that you can choose from, and their quality, required skill level, and price tags are all over the spectrum.

Deeper Reasons Why Retirees Love Myrtle Beach

The Comparatively Low Cost of Living in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is packed with great amenities, as we listed above. However, there are endless places in the United States with the same kinds of things! What makes Myrtle Beach unique from popular retiree destinations in places like Florida and Georgia?

The first of these is the cost of living. South Carolina is one of the most affordable places to retire along either the east or west coast, and as a retiree living on a fixed income, this is probably a very welcomed thing to hear. While you may be able to afford to live in some of the popular places in Florida, living on the Grand Strand allows you to stretch your budget further, and really enjoy the things that you love with less limits.

The low cost of living is the result of many factors, but low taxes are one of the biggest ones. Finding a nice place to live in Myrtle Beach ultimately means that you will be able to do more, enjoy life to a higher level, and afford more of the finer things in life much more than moving to a pricier location in Florida. Plus, the summers aren’t nearly as hot and humid, and the winters are still pretty warm!

Myrtle Beach’s Proximity to the North

This one may not apply to everyone, but to some people it is one of the most important factors. If you are from somewhere in the northeast – especially mid-Atlantic states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware – Myrtle Beach is not too bad of a drive. Now, why does that matter?

To some people, it doesn’t. If you want to retire and never look back – maybe you don’t have local family or friends, for example – then this doesn’t matter to you at all. However, if you want to retire somewhere warm but have children or grandchildren that you are leaving behind up north, being a drivable distance away from them is often much easier than being a full flight away! While it is possible to drive from Florida to the northeast, it is not a fun drive. South Carolina is about 50% closer, which can cut the drive in half and make visiting your friends, children, and grandchildren without flying significantly easier. While flying may be an option for some people, it can get costly over time, and can limit how much you bring with you on your visits. Once you pack one carload of Christmas presents to take up and realize you could’ve never brought them on a place, you will see what I mean!

Myrtle Beach’s Property Investment Growth Potential

When you buy a home, you may or may not consider how much your investment will grow. In fact, you may not consider your home to be an investment at all! Whether you actively think of these things or not, a house is a major investment, and investments can generate losses or returns over time. While property values generally tend to trend upwards over the years, some places offer a higher potential return than others.

Myrtle Beach could very well be one of those places that offers a high return on the investment you make in your house. Full disclosure, we are not giving any kind of financial advice or guidance in this post. However, Myrtle Beach’s real estate market is only beginning to tap into its full potential, as there is so much land left to be developed. As an area gets developed, the property values around it tend to go up.

If you use that logic, you could possibly infer than buying a house in a market like Myrtle Beach, which is still growing and has yet to fully bear its fruit, could be a much higher-return investment than a house in a full developed, stagnant retirement community in Florida. While you ultimately should move where you want to be and not just where your house can gain the most value, considering the growth of the value of your home can set you up even better for another move down the line if you decide to relocate again in the future.

Myrtle Beach’s Extremely Comfortable Weather

Florida is hot and it never really cools down. If you are chasing hot weather, Florida might be the right move for you. However, most people don’t actually crave incessant heat like you can find in Arizona, or incessant heat and humidity like you can find in Florida. Most people just want warm, comfortable weather all year long. Does this sound like you? South Carolina gets nice and hot in the summer, and it stays pretty mild in the winter, all while not being nearly as humid as Florida. This makes golfing much more enjoyable and makes daily tasks much less draining! Unless you are craving Florida weather specifically, you may be better off in a State like South Carolina with its much more reasonable temperatures and humidity levels.  

At the end of the day, where you retire is a really big decision and there is no right answer for everyone. Everyone has their own preferences and priorities, and the perfect place for someone could very well be the wrong choice for someone else. It is all a matter of figuring out what exactly you want, and finding a place that meets those criteria. Hopefully, this post at least served you well as a window into what you can expect with a move to Myrtle Beach and answered some doubts or questions that you have about living as a retiree on the Grand Strand.

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 Zohra

The Best Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach and Their Greens Fees

Myrtle Beach is one of the premier beach destinations on the entire East Coast. From its delicious restaurants to its 60-mile long stretch of coastline, a week spent in Myrtle Beach is a week in paradise to most people. While many people come for the food, waves, and shopping, there is another attraction that brings in thousands of visitors each year: golf.

Myrtle Beach has cemented itself as one of the best golf vacation spots in the country due to its large share of golf courses, many of which being world class. In fact, some even refer to Myrtle Beach as the Golf Capital of the World! People come from all over the country and the world to go for a few rounds of golf in this South Carolina destination, and most leave with the intention of coming back again! This post will list the top golf courses and clubs in Myrtle Beach, as well as how you can contact them and what to expect in the way of prices.

1.     Dunes Golf and Beach Club

Dunes Golf and Beach Club is by far the most prestigious golf course in all of Myrtle Beach. It has hosted major golfing events for the USGA, PGA, and LPGA and has been running for over seventy years. There is no golf course that even comes close to the pedigree of Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, and if you are looking for the best, this is the place to go. Dunes Golf and Beach Club is private and not just anyone can play here. Your best bet is to know a member, but there are a few other exceptions which you can read about on their website. Greens fees start at $140 and fluctuate based on the time of day and the time of the year. If you are able to schedule a tee time here, be sure to adhere to their dress code.

2.     Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club is one of the two most highly awarded and decorated golf clubs in the entire Myrtle Beach area. This gorgeous course has been consistently ranked among the top 50 public golf courses in the entire United States, and golfers that choose to play a round here are in for a treat. Tee times must be made online in advance of arrival, and they can be done on the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club website that is linked above. Greens fees for this course start as low as $69 and fluctuate based on the season and the time of day that you wish to play. All fees include taxes, the use of a cart, and range balls.

3.     True Blue Golf Club

True Blue Golf Club is actually the sister course of Caledonia Golf and fish Club, and there really is no true consensus as to which of the two is the better course. True Blue Golf Club is known for its long and expansive fairways, its high amounts of water throughout the course, and its large greens. This golf course, like Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, is consistently rated among the top 100 golf courses in the United States and is a favorite among locals and frequent visitors. Greens fees start as low as $62 and range as high as $150. All greens fees include taxes, the use of a cart, and a bucket of balls for the driving range. Be sure to reserve your tee time in advance to guarantee your spot, as this course is very popular! Additionally, no metal spikes are allowed on this course, so plan accordingly.

4.     Tidewater Golf Club

Tidewater Golf Club, located in North Myrtle Beach, is often referred to as the most scenic golf course in all of Myrtle Beach. Tidewater Golf Club sits on the top of a high peninsula, and its views overlooking the ocean are mesmerizing. For this reason, visitors love to play a relaxed albeit challenging round of golf here. Tee times can be booked online and should be made in advance of arrival. Greens fees start at $92 and can fluctuate based on the time of day and the time of the year in which you want to golf. No denim is allowed on the golf course. Be sure to check with the club for other dress code restrictions before arriving to guarantee permission to play.

5.     Grande Dunes Resort Club

The final course on our list of the five best golf courses in Myrtle Beach is Grande Dunes Resort Club. This golf course is known for being a very well-maintained, challenging golf course with spectacular views. Additionally, Grande Dunes Resort Club has five holes on the Intercoastal, which is another one of its major draws. This course is always a favorite among locals and visitors for its prime location and challenging layout. Reservations should be made in advance either online or by phone, and greens fees start at $70 and go up depending on the time of the day and the time of the year in which you want to visit. 

Thanks for reading our post about the five best golf courses in Myrtle Beach! Hopefully this post gives you a little bit of guidance as you plan your trip to the Golf Capital of the World. If you come to Myrtle Beach and love your visit so much that you think about making it your new home, we’re here to help! Connect with us, trusted Myrtle Beach real estate agents and we will guide you through every step of the home-buying process.

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

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments that you will make in your life, if not the biggest. As we have mentioned in most of our other posts about mortgages, the financial commitment of a mortgage can last decades and cost several years’ worth of income. This is intimidating for many people, and it is all the more intimidating for first-time homebuyers. Finding the perfect home, striking a great deal on price, landing an optimal mortgage, and coordinating moving logistics can be a major headache, and many people get discouraged just by the idea of facing all of those things. This post is for those people who may be apprehensive about buying their first home. Whether your worries are financial, logistical, or general in nature, this post will address the things to expect as well as tips for the first-time homebuyer.

Financial Concerns About Buying Your First House

The financial component of buying a house is often the biggest deterrent or anxiety causing part of the process, as it is the part that will affect your lifestyle the most. Most first-time homebuyers are in their early and middle phases of life, where signing a 30-year loan seems like an eternity. For someone in their 20’s, this means potentially agreeing on a loan that will be longer in length than their entire life up to that point! It is perfectly normal and natural to worry about finances when shopping for a new house for the first time. After all, your mortgage payment will probably equate to anywhere from a quarter to a half of your income each month.

Luckily, there are many resources available to help you navigate the financial nuances of the homebuying process. We have actually written several posts that could be of use to you, but we will summarize each of them here. Our goal is to help you out and alleviate as best we can any concerns or fears you have about the homebuying process, and we hope that this post as well as the others we have written prove to be useful for you throughout this long and exciting process.

Our first financial tip for first-time homebuyers is to save as much as possible leading up to the homebuying process and to create a thorough and accurate budget. Creating a budget is one of the most effective ways to maximize savings, and the more you have saved for a down payment, the less you will need to finance on your mortgage. The less you need to finance, they less interest you pay. It all works out very well in the end! The concept of creating a detailed budget may be off-putting for some people, and that is totally normal. Sometimes it is difficult to figure out where to start. In this post on creating a budget to save for your home, we outline some of the most important steps you can take to craft an accurate budget that maximizes your monthly savings.

Our second financial tip for first-time homebuyers is to do your due diligence when it comes to taking out a mortgage. As one of the biggest financial commitments of your life, you will want to make sure that you agree to loan from the lender with the most favorable terms. Not all mortgages are created equally and finding the right mortgage for you can equal hundreds more in your bank account per month, or thousands of dollars of savings throughout the life of the mortgage. Everyone has different financial objectives, backgrounds, and capabilities, and there is no one size fits all mortgage out there that is best for everyone. This post will offer up all you need to know about mortgages and what kind of mortgage may be best for you.

On top of mortgages, there are many other kinds of loans you can use to purchase all or part of a house. FHA loans are a great alternative for people who cannot afford a large down payment, as they allow down payments as low as 3.5%. There are also VA loans which are offered to veterans and USDA loans which are usually a good option for rural homebuyers.

Another element to consider that may help to alleviate some financial woes that come with buying your first house, and our third financial tip, is to investigate the various tax deductions and credits that are afforded to homeowners and homebuyers. These deductions and credits can include expenses incurred by doing necessary repairs on your home, the money you pay as interest on your mortgage, the property taxes you will likely be required to pay, and more. We wrote a post about the tax breaks that are offered to homeowners, and if you are worried about finances while shopping for your first home, I highly recommend you read that post as well.

Finally, the time of the year that you buy your house can have a large say in the price that you pay as well. It is important to determine whether or not you are in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, and it is equally important to understand the effects of seasonality on house prices. We wrote a post explaining the differences between a buyer’s market and a seller’s market, but the gist of it is that certain conditions are favorable to buyers and other conditions are favorable to sellers. Determining the current situation in the area where you are looking to buy a home is important to helping you land the best deal and understand the factors at play in your negotiations.

In addition to the buyer’s and seller’s market questions, you should also consider the time of the year that you buy your home. Prices tend to be higher in the summer, but there are usually more houses up for sale as well. In the winter, the amount of houses on the market tends to dip but the prices tend to dip along with them. We wrote a whole post about this, and taking the month into consideration can save you thousands of dollars on your home price if this is an area in which you can be flexible.

At the end of the day, it is undeniable that the financial side of buying your first house can be very scary. That level of financial commitment is new to most first-time homebuyers, and the sheers size of the numbers involved can intimidate just about anyone. However, by doing your homework on mortgages, learning about tax break opportunities available to you, and budgeting properly, you can sign the papers with much more confidence and security.

Logistical Concerns About Buying Your First House

While finances are a major source of stress and anxiety for new homebuyers, they are not the only one. Logistical concerns are another large slew of worries that new homebuyers often have on their plates. By logistical concerns, we are referring to the countless non-financial moving pieces involved with buying a house. These include arranging move-in dates, finding and hiring a moving company, packing up your current home, and more. Moreover, if you are moving to a new state there is another laundry list of things you need to do to make the move go smoothly and without a hitch.

Firstly, if you are moving to another state, there are several things you need to consider. This list includes taxes, address changes across state lines, updating documents like driver’s licenses, and reregistering your car or cars, for starters. We wrote a whole post about things to know before moving to another state, and it is definitely worth a read if you are moving to a state other than the one you live in right now. The hoops you need to jump through when moving to a new state are not scary or challenging, but they can be pesky if you don’t have all of your ducks in a row. The post I mentioned above will help you to figure out what exactly needs to be done.

Other than the change of state requirements, there are a few logistical aspects of the homebuying process that you need to work through. They can be broken up into the house hunting phase, the homebuying phase, and the move-in phase. We will briefly explain a few of the things that you can start thinking about for each phase.

The House Hunting Phase

During the house hunting phase, the biggest hurdle is finding the time to actually go and tour homes. If you are moving to a new area or state, this means coordinating a trip (or several) to the area to tour homes before buying one. Finding the perfect home is about more than just the house itself, too – it is about the neighborhood and/or community where that house is located. Finding the right community and having the right neighbors is often just as important as finding the right house! This is part of what makes site visits crucial. If you are able to go on a visit to the area where you plan on buying a home, spend a day or two exploring the area, determining the best places and neighborhoods to live in, and figuring out if there are any places where you specifically do not want to live.

If you are not able to find the time to conduct a site visit or two, modern technology has created ways in which you can tour new homes from the comfort of your current home. Digital tours, both through 3D renditions and live video streams, are an increasingly popular way to tour houses when you are unable to physically attend them. This practice became even more popular throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, as many realtors and homebuyers were hesitant or legally barred from meeting in person to show homes.

The Homebuying Phase

During the homebuying phase, the most complicated part is finding the time to navigate all of the beaucracy that is involved with purchasing a home. As most people that are looking to buy a house are also working a full-time job, finding the time to meet with mortgage lenders, sign papers, and meet with various vendors is a tall task.

One thing you should do to help with this part of the process is hire a realtor. While some first-time homebuyers think that they can get away without hiring a realtor, this really is not a good idea and you should be sure to find a quality realtor to help you with the homebuying process. We wrote an entire post about why realtors are necessary, but basically hiring a good realtor saves you significant amounts of time and money, and you will probably save more money than it costs. Realtors know their way around the local real estate market and can use some tricks of the trade to cut costs, cut through bureaucratic red tape, and expedite the process to get you moved into your new home sooner.

In addition to having a quality realtor, you want to make sure you hire a good inspector to check out the house before you commit to buying it. Having a good quality contractor evaluate the home can save you major headaches down the line, as they are able to detect problems with the foundation, roof, and structure of the house that could otherwise appear a few months down the line and cost you thousands of dollars. A home inspection is a standard part of the homebuying process that a realtor will make sure you don’t forget, but those who decide to skip out on using a realtor are left to hiring a good home inspector themselves. Realtors have trustworthy contacts that they use on a weekly basis, proving their value to you even further.

The Move-In Phase

Once you have found the perfect home and signed on all of the dotted lines, the fun part begins. You are finally able to start furnishing your new home and making it your own. Before you can get everything all set up in your new home, you need to get your things there in the first place! Hiring a good moving company can really make or break your homebuying experience, as showing up to your new home with broken or missing items is not a happy way to start. Quality moving companies can be trusted to safely and efficiently get all of your items from point A to point B, leaving you relaxed and ready to spend your time decorating and planning rather than hauling heavy boxes and driving vans back and forth.

Additionally, you want to make sure that you set up any utilities in advance to your move in date so that you have service upon arrival. Whether this means Wi-Fi, water, electricity, or gas, you want to make sure that the core functions of your house are working when you arrive so that you can set your home to a comfortable temperature, take a warm shower, and cook a meal once your kitchen is finally set up.

Thanks for reading our post about the things to expect as a first-time homebuyer! Hopefully this post has been informative as you begin to navigate the complex process of buying a home for the first time. While the homebuying process can be long and intimidating, it is all worth it in the end when you feel the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with owning your own home. Expect hoops to jump through and snags along the way; that is the nature of the beast. These things are to be expected, and they are nothing that you can’t handle! As realtors ourselves, we understand the struggles and worries that might be facing you as you look to buy your first house, and we are here to help.

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