Are Low Mortgage Interest Rates a Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

Buying a home can be very intimidating. Not only are you under endless pressure to pick the right home, but you also need to navigate all of the legal and financial problems that arise throughout the home buying process. While there are too many of these to write about in just one post, we did want to take a minute and address something that is a pretty popular topic of conversation right now: mortgage rates. Mortgages are a very scary thought to most people, and they really don’t need to be! Mortgages are a great thing that help you to buy the house of your dreams. You just need to make sure that you know what you’re signing up for when you agree to the loan.

As a result of so many factors – Covid-19, economic frictions, etc. – different kinds of rates and prices have fluctuated all over the place. While this is not great for your wallet when it comes to certain things whose prices have inflated heavily, like gas and groceries, it can really help you when you try to buy a house…or at least it can help you with the mortgage part of it.

The Big M: Mortgage

I could write an entirely different post about mortgages and everything you need to know about them, but the truth of it is that a mortgage is probably the largest financial commitment you will ever have. After all, more often than not you’re signing up to pay thousands of dollars per month for the next couple of decades! It’s really important that you do as much planning and budgeting as possible before taking out a mortgage and talking to a financial professional is usually a very good idea to make sure that you are not signing up for anything that you can’t handle.

In this post, I will focus on the big question above and break down why exactly that answer is true. Hopefully by the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea of whether or not low mortgage rates are a good thing or a bad thing!

First, What is Interest?

If you have any credit cards or pay attention to your bank statement, you probably know what interest is. Interest is basically the fee that you pay or are paid for keeping your money somewhere or when promising to pay for something later. Your bank pays you interest for keeping your money in an account there, while you pay your credit card company interest for letting you buy something that you don’t immediately need to pay for. Simple, right? Interest is what the question in the title of this post is talking about when it talks about mortgage rates. Depending on what other banks are doing, your bank will offer to lend you the money to buy your home in return for monthly payments back to them plus a large wad of interest added on.

Looking at it that way, having low mortgage interest rates is a good thing…are there really is no other way to look at it when talking about personal finance! Low rates mean that you pay less for the exact same house, even when it is sold at the exact same price! If you want to buy a house for $200,000 and the bank offers you a mortgage at 3% interest, you will be paying the bank an extra $6,000 on top of the payments for the house, while if the bank offers you a mortgage at 2% interest, you’ll only be paying $4,000 in addition to the price of the house. Those savings can really add up, especially if your house costs a lot more than $200,000.

The interest rate isn’t the only thing that affects your mortgage rate. While banks look at a lot of personal factors, like your credit score, to help determine your rate, one of the biggest gears in the mortgage machine is the amount of time you will need to pay the loan off. Therefore, if you can promise to pay your mortgage off in 15 years instead of in 30 years, they will give you a better rate. This can also save you thousands of dollars!

Look for Low Mortgage Rates

So essentially, to sum all of this up, low mortgage rates are a great thing if you’re a home buyer. There really are no if’s, and’s, or but’s involved. If you have been thinking of buying a home, you should really consider taking advantage of the low interest rates that are on offer today! Rates have been trending downwards for a long while, but you never know when that trend will reverse itself. If you are not sure about buying a house, though, don’t rush into it just for low mortgage rates. Again, taking out a mortgage is the biggest financial commitment you will make in your life, and you don’t want to do it just because of some interest rates. However, if you are in the market to buy a house, there have been very few better times than now!

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

Best Things to do in Myrtle Beach this November

Most people don’t think of November as an ideal time to head to Myrtle Beach, but if you read our post on the best times to visit Myrtle Beach, you already know that October and November are two of the best months to head to the Grand Strand due to acceptable temperatures and highly reduced crowds. While spending a day at the beach in November might not be as fun as it is in August, there are still plenty of great things to do in Myrtle Beach in November. Here is our list of the five best things to do in Myrtle Beach this November.

1.     Take Advantage of the Smaller Crowds in Myrtle Beach’s Top Shopping Centers

One of the biggest advantages of traveling to or living in Myrtle Beach in November is the same vast offering of stores and restaurants but without the massive crowds. As Myrtle Beach hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, the area is equipped with countless great stores and restaurants. When the tourism slows down in the fall, most of those restaurants and stores stay open but with almost no crowds! Spending an evening at Broadway at the Beach or Barefoot Landing is at its best during the shoulder seasons, including the entire month of November!

2.     Spend a Day Looking for Dolphins

Myrtle Beach is well-equipped for tourists, so of course there are places to see dolphins year-round. However, during the month of November you have a rare opportunity that only presents itself seasonally: seeing dolphins in their natural habitat in the ocean! Dolphins migrate south at this point of the year and pass right by the shores of Myrtle Beach during the month of November. There are several options of tour operators who will take you out into the deep blue sea to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat! Seeing dolphins in the wild is truly a special experience that is very different from seeing them at an aquarium, and I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity if you visit Myrtle Beach in November!

3.     Check Out Winter Wonderland at the Beach

Starting on November 26 and continuing every night, tourists and residents have the opportunity to head out to the Winter Wonderland at the Beach. Located in the former pavilion in downtown Myrtle Beach, the Winter Wonderland at the Beach offers the chance to ice skate, watch some live shows, and enjoy beautiful light exhibits. The event continues nightly from November 26^th until January 2^nd.

4.     Take a Drive Through the Great Christmas Light Show

Starting on November 22^nd at 5:30pm, tourists and residents can head out to the Great Christmas Light Show to be mesmerized by nearly two million glowing lights in the night sky. A visit to this beautiful display includes a mile and a half long drive through exhibit after exhibit, totaling over five hundred different light displays! From November 26^th to December 12^th, visitors can also head to Santa’s Workshop for some extra fun. For more information on pricing and details, head to this website.

5.     Stay at a Higher End Hotel for Less

In the first item on this list we referenced how November sees a lot fewer tourists come through Myrtle Beach. As a result, hotels need to drastically cut their nightly rates in order to attract guests. If you are planning a trip to Myrtle Beach in November or already live there but are looking for a special staycation, you can book a room in some of the area’s nicest hotels for sometimes less than half the normal price. If accommodation in Myrtle Beach is typically a bit too high for you and acts as a roadblock to visiting, consider visiting in November to save hundreds of dollars on your hotel stay.

6.     Play a Round of Golf

Myrtle Beach is internationally acclaimed as one of the best golfing destinations in the United States and beyond. There are countless beautiful, professional class golf courses scattered all throughout the Grand Strand, and each one presents its own challenges and unique features to test your skills. If you head to Myrtle Beach in November, you will experience a fantastic blend of gorgeous weather, reduced crowds, and reduced traffic, meaning you can even squeeze in a second round of golf at a course down the road in another area of Myrtle Beach. Even though the crowds will be smaller, you should still be sure to reserve your tee time ahead of time.

Hopefully this post convinces you that heading to Myrtle Beach in November really is a good idea, and there is no shortage of things to do. With the weather hovering around the 50s and 60s, you are perfectly able to comfortable enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities, with the added bonus of having very small crowds to share the area with. Between a nice round of golf, dinner without a wait, and an evening at Winter Wonderland at the Beach, you can find some really great ways to fill up your days in Myrtle Beach in November.

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

10 Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money

Whether you are looking to buy a new home or you have been living in the same home for decades, one question you might have is how to save money on your utility bills. After all, utility bills are typically one of the larger monthly expenses you have, regardless of whether you are in a house or an apartment. Some people’s utility bills seem absurdly high…and they are. If your utility bill seems way too high to be acceptable, odds are you can probably shave a good portion of that off by following a few simple steps.

In this post, we want to do our best to fill you in on some of the top tips to save money on your utilities each month, including your electricity bill, water bill, internet bill, and more. If this sounds interesting to you, keep reading! Most likely, after reading this post, you will be able to shave at least 50 dollars off of your monthly utilities and probably even more, as long as you are willing to follow some of these steps.

Ways to Save Money on Your Electricity Bill

People often think that their electricity bill is more or less out of their control. After all, you need to use electricity every day, and there’s really no way around turning on your appliances or turning on the lights. While this is true, there are ways that you can minimize consumption without inconveniencing yourself at all. Here we will highlight a few of them that can make the biggest difference.

1.     Take Advantage of Natural Light

Newsflash: sunlight is free! While some homes get better natural lighting than others, everyone can still utilize whatever sunlight they do get to cut down their electricity bill. For any rooms that get decent natural lighting, there really is no need to turn on the lights during the day. While some rooms probably do not have large windows, like most bathrooms, plenty of other spaces should be able to get enough sunlight to brighten themselves naturally. If you turn the lights on in a room that is already getting good natural lighting, you really aren’t doing yourself any favors. Especially when privacy is not a major concern, raising the blinds and letting the light shine in is one of the easiest ways to cut down electricity costs each month.

2.     Save on Air Conditioning by Taking Advantage of the Outdoor Temperature

This one doesn’t work all year, but it works pretty well for a good chunk of the year depending on where you live. Typically the best times to use this cost saving method are the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. If the temperature outside is between 66 and 73 degrees, there really is no need to run any heating or air conditioning! Just open up the windows and let the natural air temperature fill your home. Air conditioning is one of the biggest contributors to high electric bills, and finding ways to minimize its usage can really save bundles of cash.

You can even take this one a little further to do it more efficiently and effectively. If there is a particularly cool day in the fall or spring, like 60-63 degrees, that might be the perfect day to open up the windows and let the cool air flow in. If you welcome in that cool air and then trap it inside, your house will stay cooler for longer! When you do need to run the heating or the air conditioning, it is best to pick a temperature, stick to it, and set your thermostat to auto so that it doesn’t overcool or overheat, saving wasted energy. Also, on the topic of windows, never run your air conditioning with the windows open. You’ll just be blowing your hard earned money right out the window.

3.     Unplug Things That Are Not in Use

This might sound like too much effort or sound like something that probably won’t have a major effect. And, well, in some ways you would be right to think that. Leaving devices plugged in when they are not in use only uses small amounts of energy. However, even if it only amounts to twenty dollars of savings over the course of a year, that is still over $1.50 per month! A great strategy is to use power strips as much as possible and simply unplug the entire strip when it is not in use. While this method isn’t a great idea around devices that need to reboot every time they are unplugged, like cable boxes, routers, and desktop computers, it is very easy and effective for small kitchen appliances and device chargers.

4.     Replace Your Lightbulbs with Energy Efficient Alternatives

This one is the easiest money saving method on the entire list, as all it takes is one trip to the store (or Amazon) and then an hour or so of work. Old light bulbs are simply not energy efficient. Nowadays, they make lightbulbs that use very little energy and last for over a decade. An entire decade! Some of these lightbulbs use 80% less energy than their traditional counterparts, which equates to 80% of savings on your electricity bill as far as lighting is concerned. The lightbulbs do cost marginally more than their traditional counterparts, but the savings coupled with the fact that you won’t replace them for ten years make the initial investment well worth it.

I mentioned briefly earlier that you can find the bulbs on Amazon. This is true, and Amazon may actually be the best place to buy them. On Amazon, there are sellers who refurbish used energy efficient lightbulbs, restore them to full life, and sell them at extreme discounts. To amplify your savings even further, try getting these recycled bulbs off of Amazon.

5.     Use a Drying Rack for Clothes Instead of a Dryer

Don’t worry, I don’t mean that you should never use your dryer. On the contrary, I mean that small loads of laundry don’t need a whole dryer cycle for themselves! If you spilled some tomato sauce on your favorite white shirt and just threw it into the washing machine, you should consider hang drying it instead of using the dryer. Whether you put one shirt or thirty shirts into the dryer, it uses the same amount of electricity. Did I mention that dryers are one of the appliances in your home that contribute the most to your electricity bill? On average in the United States one dryer cycle adds a dollar to your electricity bill. Cutting down on a few dryer cycles per month can save you forty dollars per year!

Ways to Save Money on Your Water Bill

Before I dive into the two methods that I recommend to cut down your water bill each month, I feel the need to preface with the fact that they are nothing you haven’t heard before. Both of these methods pop up everywhere, but for good reason. Water is another thing that we simply need to use every day, and there is no way around that. However, being more conscious about how we use it can save us a few dollars each month! Here are the two ways I recommend doing that.

6.     Wait to Use the Dishwasher or Washing Machine Until You Have Full Loads

Common sense, right? Firstly, it is worth noting that a washing machine uses significantly less energy than a dryer, so saving a dryer cycle is like saving three laundry cycles. Still, running the washing machine with only a few items really doesn’t help you much and can cost you a few extra bucks per month. Of course there will always be things like the tomato sauce stained shirt that need immediate attention, but on a day to day basis running full loads can really help you cut down on your water bill.

The same thing goes for your dishwasher, if you have one. While over filling can lead to dishes that are not fully cleaned, you should still try to maximize your space and fill it as much as you can without squeezing things in. Fewer dishwasher cycles means less electricity and water usage, putting a few more dollars back into your pocket at the end of the month.

7.     Turn Off Faucets When They are not in Use

This one might be the most cliché suggestion that I put on the list, but I want to dive into it a little further to demonstrate what exactly it means. I am sure that you have heard that you should turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth. This is true! That water is literally doing nothing except going right down the drain. Just like the water, your money is going right down the drain too. While water is a lot cheaper than electricity in most places, you are still wasting money that doesn’t need to be wasted. Turn the water on to wet your toothbrush and turn it on again to wash off your toothbrush when you’re done. That is all you need to do! The same goes for shaving. Turn the faucet on when you need it, and off when you don’t.

Where I think the bigger savings can be had is not in the bathroom, but rather in the kitchen. Whenever you are washing dishes by hand, you do not need the faucet running constantly. You need the water to initially wet the dish, and then later rinse it off. For small dishes, there really is not much of a need to turn the water off, as the dish is so quick to clean. But for larger items, like pots, pans, and blenders, turning the water off while you scrub can add up to five to ten whole minutes of savings. That is a lot of water! That is three to five days of leaving the water on while you brush your teeth.

Ways to Save Money on Your Internet and Cable Bills

8.     Bundle Your Services

Warning: this one is not my recommended method. Of the three ways I will list to save money on your cable and internet bills, this is the one I like the least. However, if you are not willing or able to do the other two things on this list, bundling your services is a great alternative. Unless you are getting an absolute steal on cable from one company and internet from another, there is no reason not to use the same provider. Most providers offer large discounts for bundling your services, and this can amount to hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.

Companies like Verizon and Xfinity know that their competition is limited and offering bundling promotions can easily lure their customers away from their rivals. These bundle deals are great opportunities for you as a customer and are one of the easiest ways to save costs each month. Not to mention having just one provider means paying only one bill per month, rather than having to make two or three separate payments each month!

9.     Switch From Cable to a Streaming Provider

This is the big one. I was recently talking to someone who told me that she pays over $200 per month for cable and wifi. She said that the wifi was about $75 of that, and the cable was somewhere between $125 and $150. Ladies and gentlemen, that is absurd. Cable bills these days have gone through the roof, and there is really no need to pay such high amounts. If this sounds like you, you may want to consider cancelling your cable. Does that sound crazy? Hear me out.

Many people pay for cable every month but don’t even watch TV. They watch Netflix every day, and maybe use their cable once a week. Is once a week worth $100 to you? If you are someone who does watch TV more frequently but still wants to save money wherever possible, you should look into switching to a TV streaming provider. Basically, these companies enable you to watch the full channel lineup, including national and local TV, by streaming via the internet rather than a satellite or cable. As far as you need to be concerned as a customer, it works exactly the same as long as you have good wifi. FuboTV, for example, costs $65 per month for its regular package which includes over 100 channels. You can also customize your plan to include channels that you care about. If you are paying more than $65 per month, you should consider switching to FuboTV immediately!

10.  Downgrade Your Wifi Plan to the Speed that Suits You

This one is very easy to do and if very straightforward. If you find that your wifi speeds are already too slow or are unsatisfactory, you can skip this tip because it won’t help you. However, if you have never had a complaint about your home internet, you should explore downgrading to a cheaper plan. Often customers pay for a plan that provides speeds much faster than they need, which costs them a lot of unnecessary money each month. I recommend downgrading your internet service each month until you think it is too slow. When you find the package that is too slow, simply upgrade one tier higher and you’ll be in your correct package! For individuals or couples, you should not really need any more than the basic 200 Mbps package offered by most providers. 400 Mbps is great for families that have two devices streaming video content at a time, and higher packages are more designed for literally five devices to stream at the same time. Unless you plan on watching Netflix on five screens at the same time, you should be good with just 200 or 400 Mbps.

After reading this post, hopefully you can make some easy changes that will save you tens to hundreds of dollars per month. Something as simple as switching to FuboTV instead of Verizon, Xfinity, or DirecTV can save over $50 per month right off the bat without losing any kind of benefit.

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

What’s happening at the Myrtle Beach Airport?

If you have flown into or out of the Myrtle Beach International Airport recently, you’ve probably seen that major changes are right around the corner. What was once a small, regional airport is now on the full upswing and huge expansionary changes are due to happen within the next couple of years. In the terminal, there are signs all over detailing new changes coming soon, like new restaurants and cafes and promises of shorter security lines. In this post we will try to unpack a few of these changes and outline what the airport should look like over the next few years.

1. A Major Expansion to the A Gates

Within the past week, the spokesman of the airport announced that the airport will be adding several gates to the A part of its terminal over the next several years. This expansion is due largely to the increase in flight offerings both to and from Myrtle Beach. As the area continues to grow substantially in popularity, the demand for flights continues to rise. The introduction of roughly six more gates will help to satisfy the increased demand for flights to and from the airport. This is by far the most invasive project that the airport will be undergoing over the next few years, and construction on it probably won’t begin for at least a year. Even when it begins, the construction phase will probably take at least two years. Either way, this bodes well for the airport’s future!

2. Full Time Operation of the B Gates

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 was actually the busiest summer for the Myrtle Beach International Airport ever. 2021 will be the first year in the airport’s history that it leaves the B gates open all year, as they have closed for the low season in every previous year. This increase in traffic is due largely to travelers looking to return to normalcy after Covid and the ever-increasing popularity of the Grand Strand. Airport authorities have said that Southwest Airlines is the biggest contributor to this decision, as they tend to be the main airline occupying that space. The decision to permanently open the B gates signals very strongly that the airport authorities expect a new normal when it comes to travel, and that new normal involves very high amounts of tourism!

3. Shorter Wait Times in the TSA Security Line

With the boom in travel over the summer of 2021 and its extended spillover into what would typically be the low season in the Grand Strand, the airport was certainly caught unprepared when it came to security screenings. At one point over the summer, the average wait time from entering the airport to passing through the security line was well over an hour, at around 70 minutes. This is an absurdly high figure for any airport, and a metric like this is not permissible for an airport that wants to further open its doors to tourism. As a result, the airport authorities have promised to widen the TSA screening area to accommodate more people at a time and hopefully reduce that horrible wait time metric.

4. Wider Restaurant Offering

With an increase in size and traffic for the airport should come improvements to the amenities that are offered. This is absolutely the case for the Myrtle Beach airport, as it is poised to welcome many new restaurants, store, and cafes to the airport over the next several years. The airport will even welcome a new Starbucks, which is bound to make weary travelers happy with a jolt of caffeine! The best airports are ones that people don’t mind sitting in for hours, and Myrtle Beach International Airport hopes to become an enjoyable and pleasant place for travelers. The permanent opening of the B gates should also help in this regard, as there is naturally more seating and dining available when both wings are open.

5. Improvements to the Rental Car Lot

I don’t know about you, but in my own experience, the rental car services at the Myrtle Beach airport have left a lot to be desired. One time I actually waited for three hours for the car that I had booked months in advance – no joke. Luckily, the authorities at the Myrtle Beach International Airport have caught onto that, and they have announced the details of a new project which will provide many upgrades to the rental car lot, including large canopies that will cover most of it. While the canopies will not do very much for wait times, they should at least provide a less sun-beaten or rain-soaked walk to your rental car. Don’t worry – the airport has announced that it will add counters in the rental car service building, too, so that the service times are reduced and customers can get on the road to enjoy their vacation sooner.

Hopefully now you have a little bit of a better idea of what’s going on at the Myrtle Beach Airport. Big changes are right around the corner! 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

Why so many people choose to live in South Carolina

Alt-tag: A bird-eye view of a bridge in Mouth Pleasant, South Carolina

South Carolina is so much more than a good vacation spot. It's also an excellent place to purchase property and settle down. Perhaps you've been thinking about moving, and South Carolina is calling your name. With many things to do and many places to see, you will be able to experience something new every day. There is an abundance of reasons many people choose to live in South Carolina, and here are some of them to help determine whether this state is the place for you.

Affordable life

Who isn't looking for a place that offers high quality of life at low costs? South Carolina boasts an incredibly low living cost that is nearly 13% lower than the national average. You will be able to enjoy all of the things you would only dream of in other places, take up new hobbies, go on vacation more often, and have more money to spare. It sounds like a dream, but South Carolina will turn this dream into reality.

You won't have to pay rent for too long either since purchasing a property is something you can easily do in this state. The median home value is around $235K, which is lower than the national average of $375K. There are plenty of different listings for homes that you might call your own, and a lot of the houses have a lovely view of some of the beautiful sights in South Carolina. Who knows, you might even be lucky enough to purchase a beach house for an affordable price. Once you do, you will be pleased to know property taxes in South Carolina are incredibly low as well.

Caption: Many people choose to live in South Carolina because they are sure they'll be able to save money and have a better life here.

Alt-tag: A person putting a coin in a white piggybank

Access to nature all year long

If you are planning an inbound migration, know that there are a few US states you should consider. One of these states is South Carolina - an excellent choice for inbound migration, especially in terms of access to natural sites and views. South Carolina has a 187-mile-long coastline, so finding a gorgeous view shouldn't be an issue. The state also has mountains, waterfalls, and forests that you can explore. Whichever city in South Carolina you choose to live in, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of beautiful landscapes to brighten your day. Additionally, you can feel closer to nature by taking up a new outdoor hobby such as golfing, surfing, cycling, and hiking.

Plenty of work and educational opportunities

You might be concerned about finding work in a new state. We can't say we blame you. It can be quite a challenge starting fresh in an unfamiliar environment. However, South Carolina will not let you down. It would be impossible not to find work in this state with its thriving economy and numerous employment opportunities. Whether you want to work in the medical industry, IT field, or any other area, South Carolina is the state for you.

Another excellent incentive to relocate to South Carolina is that you'll be surrounded by strong universities. Furman, Clemson, and the University of South Carolina are just a few examples. If you find a home near a university, you'll have access to continuing educational opportunities. You can change jobs or improve your CV by attending different night classes. You may also take advantage of free classes to learn something you've always wanted to. Additionally, living near a university means you'll have access to the university's many amenities, such as libraries, sporting events, festivals, and concerts.

Caption: You will be surprised just how easy it is to continue your life if you decide to move to South Carolina.

Alt-tag: A man and a woman high-fiving in an office

Southern hospitality

Many people choose to live in South Carolina because of Southern hospitality. Southerners are known for their warm and friendly demeanor. That is something you can very much expect to see and experience in South Carolina. When you arrive in this lovely state, friendly neighbors will almost always greet you and make you feel welcome. Do not be surprised if they bring some freshly baked pastries with them. Neighbors aren't the only ones who will be friendly and welcoming to you. If you allow them, grocery store clerks and waiters might smile at you and strike up a conversation.

If you are moving from Florida, this southern hospitality will feel odd at first. However, as time passes, you will grow to understand why this way of life is far better than the hustle and bustle of big city life.

Historical charm

If you enjoy learning about history, South Carolina is the place for you. The state's rich history is reflected in the architecture found in the cities and towns all over the state. You will be in awe after seeing all the beautiful colors and fine workmanship on these structures. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two while exploring.

You will not be bored learning about history in this state. There are many church steeples, plantations, and monuments - and that's only to name a few. So, what are you waiting for? Contact bestlongdistancemovers.com - they will help you find a crew that fits your needs. By doing this, you will be one step closer to a wonderful life in South Carolina.

Caption: There are many historical monuments that showcase what the state has gone through over the years.

Alt-tag: A white clocktower in Charleston, South Carolina

Mouthwatering food

Last but not least - the state's fantastic assortment of different foods you can try. You may sample a variety of staples in South Carolina. Boiled peanuts, grits, shrimp, fried green tomatoes, and she-crab soup are just a few of these classics. Calabash food in the Myrtle Beach area is another favorite and involves many different types of food. You can expect to see a lot of fried dishes if you dine out. But don't be concerned, there are plenty of healthy alternatives you can try. However, their barbecue scene may tempt you with its delectability. We are confident that there is something for everyone, which is why so many people choose to live in South Carolina.

Meta description: Many people choose to live in South Carolina. You will want to do the same after being introduced to all the wonderful things it has to offer!

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What is the Difference Between a Buyer’s and Seller’s Market?

If you have been thinking about buying or selling a house recently, you may have heard a realtor or friend referencing either a “buyer’s market” or a “seller’s market.” Especially during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic which have altered the housing market significantly all over the country, these words have become even more popular. These terms may be new to you, might sound a bit too complex, and may leave you thinking you should just bow out and try again some other time. Honestly, many people get intimidated by industry jargon like this, but you have no need to worry! The concepts of buyer’s and seller’s markets are very easy to grasp, and this post will explain what a buyer’s market is, what a seller’s market is and how to know which type of market you are in, and then it will offer a couple of brief tips for buying or selling in each kind of market.

What is a Market?

Before we explain the differences between a buyer’s market and a seller’s market, we should first explain what a market is itself. A market is basically the term used to describe the web of people buying and selling something, in our case, houses. Think of an actual market, like your local farmer’s market. Sellers bring their goods, like fruits and vegetables, to the market, and buyers go to the market to see what is for sale and hopefully buy something. This works exactly the same in real estate, as the sellers put their own houses up for sale and the buyers come looking to buy one of the houses that is up for sale. Now that you understand what a market is, we can dive a little bit deeper into the definitions of and differences between buyer’s markets and seller’s markets.

What is a Buyer’s Market?

A buyer’s market is one that is favorable to the buyer. When there are a lot of sellers and only a handful of buyers, the buyers are bound to get a great deal. This is because each of the sellers recognizes that there aren’t enough buyers for everyone to sell their home, and the sellers need to compete with each other in order to win the buyer’s attention. In this case, buyers have the most negotiation power, and can often get houses for much lower than the asking price or can convince sellers to make concessions, like covering the closing costs or including the appliances in the sale.

One example of a place where you might find a buyer’s market is in a city or neighborhood that was once popular and has since fallen from its glory. For example, imagine a neighborhood that once housed a major league sporting arena and all of the restaurants and hotels that the fans need in order to attend games. Now imagine that the team announced that they built a new stadium on the other side of the city and they will be leaving the area. All of the restaurants will follow, the area will become less popular, and many people may look to move away from the area to a place with more restaurants and amenities nearby. As so many people try to leave at the same time while very few buyers try to move to the area, there is a buyer’s market.

What is a Seller’s Market?

Just as a buyer’s market was a market that was favorable to the buyer, a seller’s market is one that is favorable to the seller. That sounds simple, right? It is! A seller’s market occurs when there are a lot of prospective buyers but very few homes up for sale. In this case, the buyer is almost always going to have to pay more than they would hope, as the seller can sit back and watch the buyers engage in a bidding war with each other. In this case, sellers have almost no need to negotiate and can wait for the best offers to roll in. More often than not a seller will make more than he or she initially expected if the sale is occurring in a seller’s market.

An example of where one might see a seller’s market is in an old neighborhood that is being rejuvenated with investments. Let’s use the same example of the neighborhood that lost the professional sports team. Over the five years or so after the sports team moved across the city, the neighborhood was selling its real estate very cheaply. This is a very favorable environment for entrepreneurs that want to start a business, as they can save money on their rent or building mortgage. As a result, the area gets flooded with new businesses and community projects, and is buzzing with cute coffee shops, trendy restaurants, nice shopping centers, and beautiful parks.

Buyers quickly realize that this is an incredible place to live, but the people already living there don’t have much of a desire to move away. As a result, few homes are up for sale while a long list of buyers lines up to make an offer on each one. The seller is in a great situation in this case, which is why it is called a seller’s market.

How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Buyer’s Market and a Seller’s Market?

Telling the difference between a buyer’s market and a seller’s market might sound like a daunting task, but really it is much simpler than that. By looking at a few key factors, you can pretty easily figure out what kind of housing market you are currently looking to buy or sell in. Here is a general list, but just know that this is only scratching the surface. The best way to know is to get in touch with a realtor, like us here at the Boyd Team, who works in the housing market every day and has a great idea of what is going on in the area.

How to Know if You Are in a Buyer’s Market

As we described earlier, a buyer’s market is one that is favorable to the buyer and not so favorable to the seller. If you are in a buyer’s market, there are four key factors to look out for. Firstly, see how long the homes that are up for sale have been listed for sale. On average, a home that is listed will take between 25 and 30 days to sell, before the closing and settlement period. If the home has been on the market for longer than 30 days and there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the house itself, odds are you are in a buyer’s market. The longer the house sits unsold, the more severe the buyer’s market.

Secondly, you can look at the average selling price in comparison to the appraisal value of houses that are being sold in the area. If houses are selling below the asking price or the appraised value, it is likely that the buyer is strong arming the seller in negotiations. This can typically only happen in a buyer’s market.

Thirdly, you can look at the total number of homes on the market, that is homes that are up for sale. If it seems like there are a lot of homes for sale relative to the total number of homes in the area, this probably means that you are in a buyer’s market. One of the best ways to evaluate this factor is simply to go for a drive through the area to see how many for sale signs are up on each block. Nothing beats first-hand information, right?

Finally, you can see what the average selling price of the houses in the area is in comparison to previous years. If home prices have been dropping month over month or year over year, it probably means that you are in a buyer’s market. This should make sense, as sellers won’t typically lower their price unless they’re more pressed to make a sale. If you are a seller, you want to get the full value for your home, and selling in these conditions may not be the best idea.

How to Know if You Are in a Seller’s Market

As you can probably guess, the ways to know if you are in a seller’s market are the exact opposites of the ways that you can know whether or not you’re in a buyer’s market. It is not possible to be in both a buyer’s market and a seller’s market at the same time. As a seller’s market is one that favors the seller in lieu of the buyer, you want to keep an eye out for factors that give sellers an upper hand. The first of these factors is the length of time that homes tend to remain on the market in the area. As we said earlier, the average amount of time for a house to stay on the market before being sold is currently between 25 and 30 days. If the houses tend to get sold in fewer than 25 days, you are probably in a seller’s market. The quicker the houses tend to sell, the hotter the market is.

The second way to know if you are in a seller’s market is to look at the average selling price of houses now compared to the asking price or the appraisal value. If the houses are selling for a higher amount than the initial asking price or the appraisal value, it means that buyers are probably engaging in bidding wars. When multiple buyers fight over the same house, it is a seller’s market.

The third way to know whether or not you are in a seller’s market is to see how many houses are for sale in the area. This one is not perfectly clear cut, though, as the absence of sale signs could either signal a seller’s market or simply an unpopulated neighborhood. Regardless, seeing fewer for sale signs means that it is harder for a buyer to find a house, so if that house is in a high demand area, you are probably in a seller’s market.

The fourth way we would advise to determine whether or not you are in a seller’s market is to look at the historical home values and compare them to the current asking prices. This metric will tell you how much the property values have appreciated year over year. If an area is in high demand, its selling prices will go up over time. This makes the market very favorable to sellers.

Advice for Sellers

If you are looking to sell your home, it is worth waiting for the market to heat up. Unless you are in an urgent rush to move to a new house and need to sell your current house before moving, you should probably wait for a better selling environment. Waiting to sell until there is a hot market can earn you an additional several thousand dollars, which is no small sum to scoff at.

Whether you are in a rush to sell or can take your time, we absolutely advise consulting with your realtor to determine a selling strategy and figure out what your acceptable price boundaries are. Your realtor does this for a living and having a good conversation with them about price expectations and timelines could pay off big time for you. If your realtor understands your goals for the sale and you are both on the same page, only good things can happen.

Advice for Buyers

If you are in the market to buy a home, there are two huge pieces of advice that you should consider. Firstly, be patient. You should almost never buy the first house that you visit, and letting yourself fall in love with a home before comparing other options will probably not work out well for you. Each home that you visit teaches you more about your own preferences and desires along with showing you a little bit more about the housing market in your area.

Secondly, you should be flexible. Being flexible on location, for example, can unlock countless more options of homes for you. There are great neighborhoods in every area, and limiting yourself to just one might really prevent you from finding your dream home. Additionally, being flexible on features of the home or on pricing can further open up the market for you. Just make sure not to overspend! If you are looking for more information on budgeting to buy a home, be sure to check out this blog post.

Final Thoughts

Buying a house is a really big deal, and understanding key terms like “seller’s market” and “buyer’s market” can help you to make a more informed decision and a more educated purchase. Markets change frequently, and understanding the dynamics that change the complexion of the market can help you to find the perfect house or the perfect buyer at the right price. While this post should help you to understand a couple of buzzwords that are frequently used in the housing market, there is no better resource available to you than your realtor, who comes with years of experience and wisdom in the local housing market. Realtors work every day with people like you that are either trying to buy or sell a house, and the expertise that they can offer is extremely valuable. Also, whether you're buying or selling right now, be sure to read our post on ten things to look for when buying a new home. It can really help you to pick the perfect place!

Hopefully this post helped you to understand exactly what a seller’s market and a buyer’s market are, as well as how to tell the difference between the two. Waiting for the right moment to buy or sell a home can mean thousands of dollars, which goes a long way toward your moving expenses!

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. Curious why you should move to South Carolina? Check out this post with all of the best reasons! 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. Like we said, having a realtor is invaluable whether you’re looking to buy or sell a house, and we at the Boyd Team are at your service if you are thinking of moving to or from the greater Myrtle Beach area.

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

You probably already know that houses can either be found on city or town blocks, or in specific housing developments. While each type of housing location offers its own perks, housing developments are strongly on the rise. This is largely because towns and cities have reached their natural building capacity and developments are springing up to meet the demand for houses in and around those cities and towns. This post will examine some of the advantages of buying a home in a housing development, and then dive into what exactly an HOA is, as many housing developments require your membership in one.

Living in a housing development, while coming at the expense of some conveniences that may be found by living in town, offers many advantages that new homeowners love to take advantage of. Typically, housing developments are safer than homes located in town, as they are slightly more detached from the hustle and bustle that may occur downtown. Most property crimes are crime of opportunity and distancing yourself even five minutes from downtown can almost entirely remove that risk. Secondly, properties that are located in housing developments tend to offer great lot size, as there is more room to space out the houses as they are being built. On top of that, most houses that are found in housing developments tend to be newer than their counterparts downtown and living in a housing development can even give you the opportunity to design and build your house from the ground up.

The autonomy and empowerment that comes from designing your own home is very alluring for some people, while others prefer to skip the hassle and just buy a home that has already been built. Whatever the case may be for you, just know that both options are possibilities in most housing developments, especially those that are still in progress! Anywhere you are looking to move, whether in our beautiful state of South Carolina or somewhere else, is bound to have options that fit the bill of what you are looking for. Trust us; we help people like you find their dream home every day!

As you work with your realtor to locate your next home, in a housing development, you will probably check out many different communities. After all, you need to make sure that you buy a home in a community that fits your lifestyle and priorities, right? During your search, you are bound to stumble across a housing development that requires your membership in its HOA, or Homeowners Association.

An HOA is basically a non-profit organization that is started by the creator of the housing development to ensure proper upkeep and adherence to the rules within the community. If you move into a community with an HOA, your membership in it will be mandatory, and you will be responsible for paying monthly or yearly membership fees, which typically amount to a couple hundred dollars per month. This money goes to directly fund the upkeep of amenities and public spaces in your housing development, like pools, tennis courts, parking lots, and sidewalks. Without an HOA, most communities would not be able to install or maintain these facilities. As a result, the HOA creates a better and more enjoyable living space for everyone in the community in exchange for a small financial contribution every month.

HOAs don’t just maintain pools and tennis courts. They also make sure that residents and visitors are following the rules of the community and keeping everyone safe. For example, HOAs may be responsible for enforcing parking regulations, placing stop signs and speed bumps, organizing a neighborhood watch, and collecting community complaints and feedback to ensure that all of the residents are happy. They may also enforce upkeep regulations, like requiring mowed lawns and replacing boarded up windows. All in all, HOAs tend to be a great asset as a homeowner if you are willing to follow the rules and make your monthly payments.

If you are more of an individualist and don’t love the idea of committing to paying monthly fees to an organization you have no control over, living in an HOA community may not be the best option for you. It is true that living in an HOA community requires you sacrificing a bit of your own autonomy as a homeowner in order to live in a polished community, and for many people, being required to hire an annual lawn service or have a certain color of siding may be too much of a sacrifice to make. That is okay! As a prospective home buyer, you should know that your own preferences and priorities matter, and you should keep searching for a home until you find your perfect match, whether that is in an HOA community, a housing development without an HOA, or a house located downtown. If you do decide to live in a housing development, it is crucial that you find out whether or not the community has an HOA and determine what your monthly or annual membership fees would be, as fitting them into your budget is very important. On that note, if you are looking for help creating a budget to save for your new home, be sure to check out our post on budgeting here.

Hopefully this post helped you to understand exactly what an HOA is. After reading this, you should start thinking about whether or not an HOA community is right for you. Again, different people have different preferences, and there is no universal best option; finding your perfect home is all about meeting your own goals and priorities. 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!

Ten Reasons to Move to South Carolina (And Why It’s Better than the Other East Coast States)

Here at the Boyd Team, we are experts in real estate all over the Grand Strand and its surrounding area. While we truly love Myrtle Beach, there are so many other places in South Carolina that deserve a spot on your list of places to consider for your next home. We recommend making a trip through the entire area surrounding Myrtle Beach in order to find the area that is best for you. So, before making that trip, why should you move to South Carolina, anyway? This post is going to highlight the top ten reasons why to move to South Carolina, and hopefully give you a push to check out our beautiful Palmetto State.

1.      South Carolina has Great Job Opportunities

If you are looking for a place to retire in South Carolina, this point probably won’t matter much to you. However, if you are hoping to find a new job opportunity while changing scenery, South Carolina is an incredible choice. The economy of South Carolina is very robust and seems to always be growing. This is largely because of its cities which are steadily developing into regional powerhouses. Cities like Columbia, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach have begun to spearhead growth in the state, and because of other reasons that we will discuss later in this post, new companies and industries have been migrating into the state as well.

While most people think of Columbia and Charleston when they think of the major cities in South Carolina, nowadays it is impossible to exclude our once little town of Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach has developed into a prospering city of its own, and as the city grows, so do the job opportunities. Another city that is a great place to consider to live is actually not in South Carolina at all; it’s north of the state border in North Carolina. Charlotte, North Carolina has also become one of the best places to live in the United States as a whole, and its proximity to the border makes living in high-quality, affordable South Carolina suburbs a reality. The commute from many South Carolina towns to uptown Charlotte is less than 20 minutes!

2.      The Cost of Living in South Carolina is Very Low

Remember in the previous point how I mentioned that “because of other reasons, companies have started to move to South Carolina?” This is because, frankly, people are flocking there and the companies are following the crowds. One of the biggest reasons that people are moving to South Carolina and the ecosystem is ripe for new businesses to enter is because of the very low cost of living and the low taxes. People in South Carolina pay less in taxes than their friends in surrounding states, and companies know that they can take advantage of those lower costs, too.

One of my personal favorite things to mention about the low cost of living and low taxes in South Carolina is actually really relevant now that gas prices are back on the rise. Gas in South Carolina is significantly cheaper than it is in North Carolina – like sometimes 30 cents per gallon cheaper just by crossing the state line. So, many people that live or work in Charlotte, North Carolina actually cross the state border into South Carolina to fill up their gas tanks. While the lower gas tax and subsequent lower gas prices is just one example, things like this can be seen all across the state. Through and through, South Carolina is just a much cheaper place to live!

3.      South Carolina is filled with Natural Beauty of All Kinds

If you have read any of our other posts, you know that we rave about the beauty of Myrtle Beach all of the time. The city and its surrounding area are just absolutely beautiful, and the area is a great example of the beauty that South Carolina offers. However, South Carolina has a lot more natural beauty than just at the beach! Our state is filled with beautiful waterfalls, tall and stunning mountains, unique wildlife, breathtaking coastlines, and more. On a drive through South Carolina, you will see the full gamut of beauty on display and may just fall in love!

Many people fail to realize that South Carolina and its northern neighbor are actually two of the most beautiful states in the country. While neither one has a Grand Canyon or a Zion National Park, they are both thoroughly beautiful and offer endless nature activities for you to get further in touch with the great outdoors. If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself! From
South Carolina’s tallest peak, Sassafras Mountain, to the beautiful shores of places like Hilton Head Island, South Carolina offers up a diverse landscape bursting with beauty that is begging to be explored. If you move to South Carolina, all of this will be right at your fingertips.

4.      The Weather in South Carolina is Fantastic Year Round

There are some places in the world dubbed “cities of eternal spring,” because of their springtime weather that remains throughout the entire year. Well, South Carolina is not that. Sorry folks. Arguably, for most people, the weather in South Carolina is better. Are you someone that lives in a place where there are all four seasons and you love it…except for the snow? Anyone who lives in a place where there is snow is not a fan of snow, while people who live in a place without snow always wish to see snow. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

Well, in South Carolina, you do still get four seasons, just like you do in any of the snowy states. However, each of those seasons is slightly warmer, getting rid of the snow problem in December and January. The spring and fall in South Carolina are beautiful and are my personal favorite seasons, but the summer and winter are extremely popular seasons here, too. The gorgeous weather in South Carolina means that going outside during any time of the year is possible and comfortable. There are very few Miami-like toaster over days in the summer and there are zero Chicago-like subzero freezer days in the winter. It is about as good as it gets.

5.      South Carolina Makes it Easy to Stay Healthy

This one stems from several things that we have already talked about in this post. Firstly, the state is home to many amazing healthcare systems. Much of this is because of the influx of young, promising talent. Countless doctors and nurses are moving here to staff brand new hospitals that are being built. The cost of care is cheap because of the cheap cost of living, and the quality of care is high because of the general appeal that the state offers to its workforce, which includes its healthcare professionals. No matter where you are in the state, you will have access to great healthcare.

Another component of staying healthy is what you do when you are away from the doctor, right? The great weather in South Carolina mixed with its natural beauty and its landscape provide countless outdoor activities to keep yourself healthy and vital throughout the year. From biking in the major cities or the Blue Mountains to hiking through the countless state parks, there are enough physical activities in South Carolina to keep you busy all throughout the year.

6.      Southern Hospitality is a Real Thing in South Carolina

By Southern Hospitality, we mean to describe the extremely friendly and hospitable nature of the people in our state. South Carolinians are honestly just very friendly and welcoming. We love welcoming people into our home state, and frankly, we make the best neighbors! Part of the culture of the south is to welcome every new person as if they’re a part of the family, and that is what we seek to do here in the Palmetto State.

Whether this means having great new neighbors that are looking to help out when you move in, friendly and helpful coworkers helping you to find your way around your new office, or drivers that give you a friendly wave as you come up to a four-way stop sign, South Carolinians are friendly people looking to make sure you have a smooth transition into the state that they call home. Furthermore, people in our state really care about getting to know you and aren’t just looking to scrape the surface level. In South Carolina, when you make a friend, that person wants to truly be your friend; not just a smiling face in the neighborhood that you see when you take Fido out for a walk.

7.      South Carolina Offers a Great Education (Especially at the College Level)

Don’t get me wrong. Our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools are top notch. Your children will be in good hands going through the educational system in South Carolina, whether you opt for private or public school. However, where South Carolina really sets itself apart is at the college level, both for undergraduate and graduate school. The University of South Carolina is the biggest and most popular university in the state due to its sheer size, and it is a very fine academic institution. It is ranked in the top 100 universities in the country every year, and the range of major and minor options is very extensive.

While the University of South Carolina is the largest university in the state, there are many others that should be mentioned, too. Clemson University, for example, is located here, as well as Wofford College, Coastal Carolina University, the College of Charleston, and Furman University. Between these great schools and more, you are bound to find the perfect school and educational program to match your goals and budget.

8.      There are Plenty of Sports Teams Nearby Too

If you’re a college sports fan at all, there’s no way that three of those universities I just named snuck by you without your mind thinking of sports. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks, the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers, and the Clemson Tigers all have extremely robust athletic programs and compete at the NCAA Division I level, and both provide incredible sporting event environments. Clemson has been a national championship contender in football almost every year over the past decade, and the environment in their stadium for a game is unreal. If you like college sports, South Carolina is one of the best places to live and be a fan!

Some people prefer professional sports over college sports. If that is you, don’t worry; you’ll love South Carolina, too. While South Carolina does not have any major league professional sports teams to call its own, it is represented by the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Carolina Panthers (NFL) and Charlotte Hornets (NBA) all in North Carolina. While this is true, there are actually rumors that the Panthers will be heading to South Carolina within a few years, as they are opening a brand new training facility in our state as we write this. Additionally, South Carolina has many AHL and MiLB minor league hockey and baseball teams scattered throughout the state, like our own Myrtle Beach Pelicans, which provide an awesome night of entertainment at an extremely affordable price.

9.      South Carolina Moves at a Slower Pace

If you are considering moving to South Carolina and currently live further up the east coast in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, or especially, New York, you will probably love the slow pace that our state offers. Up north everything moves so quickly. People often work very long hours, commute very long distances, and put an emphasis on doing things as quickly as possible. Maybe this is because their jobs suck up so much of their time that they need to maximize what is left.

In our state, this is not the case. Things move more slowly, working 70 hours per week is never the expectation, and people truly take the time to sit down, relax, and soak in the fresh air and friendly company around them. This is not a bad thing, either. In South Carolina, you simply have the time to relax and unwind in ways that you don’t have it in other states. The commutes here tend to be shorter, the working hours are much more reasonable, and the people, like we said earlier, really care about having true and valuable conversations with you. Doesn’t that sound great?

10.  Endless Historical Sites and Landmarks to Visit and Learn About

South Carolina is jam-packed with history, as it was one of the original thirteen colonies. Because of its colonial history, there are over 450 years of American history to explore here. From churches that are over four centuries old, to Fort Sumpter, the site of the first battle of the American Civil War, there are endless things from hundreds of years ago see and learn about. In fact, at one point during the colonial period the British decided that South Carolina was so much more important to them than North Carolina that they left North Carolina to go reclaim South Carolina. Even the British knew centuries ago that South Carolina was the better of the two Carolinas!

History doesn’t always have to be about hundreds of years ago, either. Many of the most historically significant places in South Carolina have more to do with the last century than they do the three centuries of colonial history preceding it. From huge architectural wonders like the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston to culturally popular attractions like the lighthouse in Hilton Head, South Carolina offers up a bucket list of places to check out that you will never fully complete.

Hopefully this post helped you to see why South Carolina really is the best place to live on the East Coast for many people, and what exactly sets it apart from its neighbors. 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

Which Town Should you stay at near Myrtle Beach?

If you have been researching to plan a trip to Myrtle Beach in the near future, you may have realized that Myrtle Beach is more than just one small town – it is a moniker used to describe a bunch of places in the area that is more formally known as the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach itself is an actual place, but it is surrounded by other wonderful locations like North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Murrells Inlet. In this post we will break down what you can expect to find in each of these four locations, and hopefully give you a better idea of which place might be the best one for you to search for accommodation. Each area is worthy of your time in its own way, but each area also caters to a different audience or vibe. This post will help you to determine the ideal spot for you!

1.      Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, the namesake of the broader area surrounding it, is by far the most popular beach in all of South Carolina. It has built up such a massive and successful tourism sector that it can host millions of visitors per year. As the place in the Grand Strand receiving the most annual tourist traffic, Myrtle Beach tends to be very busy and always have a lot going on. If you like to be in the middle of everything and have great dining right at your doorstep, staying in Myrtle Beach may be the ideal option for you.

The luxury of having everything so close does come at a cost, though. Myrtle Beach can be very loud and very crowded, which can take a bit of the relaxation out of your vacation. While it does have a high concentration of great stores and restaurants, it isn’t the only city in the area that has a lot to do, and the surrounding places are definitely more relaxed. If you like a bit of solitude while still being in reach of all that Myrtle Beach has to offer, you may be more interested in one of the other places on this list.

2.      North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach, located just north of Myrtle Beach (if you couldn’t guess), offers a great blend of busy with relaxing. Stretching almost entirely to the North Carolina border, North Myrtle Beach has a great offering of restaurants, golf courses, and other activities. Barefoot Landing, one of the premier shopping centers in the Grand Strand, is located within the borders of North Myrtle Beach, too.

 One of the greatest strengths of North Myrtle Beach is its proximity to all of the main attractions in Myrtle Beach while still maintaining its peace and quiet. Getting to major tourist stops, like the baseball stadium and Broadway at the Beach, is very quick and easy, and the restaurants in the area tend to be much less crowded than in Myrtle Beach. If you want a convenient blend of quiet with convenience, you should consider checking out North Myrtle Beach.

3.      Murrells Inlet

Located about a half hour south of Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet is a bit of a drive away from all of the fun in Myrtle Beach. Don’t worry though! Murrells Inlet is filled with plenty of things to do on its own. This small fishing village was apparently once the home to the legendary pirate Blackbeard, giving it a unique identity. Nowadays, the quaint and beautiful town has grown around the tourism industry, and it provides a great, slightly more remote place to stay in the Grand Strand.

Murrells Inlet has some really great dining options, too, meaning you would not need to drive all the way to Myrtle Beach to grab a nice bite to eat. One very unique option is the Dead Dog Saloon, which has created a reputation of its own. Regardless, Murrells Inlet is a great option for people looking for even more peace and quiet who don’t mind being a bit further away from the action in Myrtle Beach. The great restaurant scene here honestly makes visiting Myrtle Beach unnecessary unless you’re looking to do something that is specifically located there, like Broadway at the Beach.

4.      Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is my personal favorite, and here’s why. Firstly, it is located just a short drive – like ten minutes – from all of the action of Myrtle Beach. Secondly, I think that the beach in Surfside is the nicest in the whole Myrtle Beach area. The sand is very fine and nice, the water is pretty clear for the area, and the beach doesn’t tend to be packed. In fact, that is the main draw of Surfside Beach. It is known as the family beach area, as it is most frequented by families looking for a safe and quiet place to take their kids.

Surfside Beach’s proximity to all of the action in Myrtle Beach while still maintaining its relaxed, peaceful, and safe atmosphere is what makes me personally recommend Surfside Beach to any friends or family I have visiting the area. If each of the options I already wrote about appealed to you in some way, Surfside Beach is kind of the perfect blend of them all. If I were you, I’d be sure to consider Surfside Beach for your next trip to the Grand Strand.

Hopefully this post helped you to determine which town you should stay in near Myrtle Beach on your next trip to the Grand Strand. If you visit Myrtle Beach 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

The Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is extremely popular these days. People come from all over the world for various events and festivals that happen in the area throughout the year, and times like the Fourth of July seem to be like a madhouse. If you’re looking to retire, you probably want to get away from it all and have your own little piece of paradise. If you’re looking for peace and tranquility that is away from it all and a prime place to spend out the later years of your life, it doesn’t sound like Myrtle Beach would be the place, right?

Wrong. This is absolutely wrong.

Yes, there are parts of Myrtle Beach that get crowded during busy times of the year, but this small drawback is very avoidable in the grand scheme of things, and it certainly doesn’t detract from the overall paradise that you can experience throughout the rest of the year! Despite any negative things you may have heard, Myrtle Beach is quite possibly the perfect place to retire. This post is going to outline the top ten reasons to retire in Myrtle Beach.

1. Perfect South Carolina Weather

We wrote about this one pretty extensively in our post about the weather in Myrtle Beach, but basically, the weather in Myrtle Beach is almost perfect for retirees all year long. In the summer, temperatures get warmer but very tolerable, and in the winter the temperature doesn’t drop too far below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeing snow is probably something you will never have to worry about, and outside of July and August the heat should not really ever exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The true sweet spot of Myrtle Beach weather, however, is the spring and fall, otherwise known as the shoulder seasons. The weather in the spring and the fall is by far the best weather in Myrtle Beach, and we even wrote in our post about the best times to visit Myrtle Beach that October is surprisingly one of the best times of the year to visit! If you like moderately warm weather but still want to see four seasons, Myrtle Beach is the perfect place for you.

2. Endless Shopping and Dining Options

This is actually the reason that many people come to Myrtle Beach. A good portion of people that come don’t even care about the beach itself – they come for the areas top notch dining and shopping scene. Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing provide awesome places to spend a day or an evening shopping and eating, as they are both filled with boutique stores and fantastic restaurants. If you are looking to snag good deals, you can head to the Tanger Outlets of Myrtle Beach, which are filled with retailers ranging from Nike to Levi, and beyond.

While the shopping and dining in places like Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing are fantastic, and the steep discounts that you can find in the Tanger Outlets of Myrtle Beach are definitely something to write home about, arguably the best thing to mention when it comes to shopping and dining is the myriad of restaurants that dot the coastal highway. From local favorites like The Grumpy Monk to classic eateries like Crabby Mikes, there are plenty of places to eat your fill in Myrtle Beach, and you definitely won’t go hungry!

3. Fantastic Golf Courses

Myrtle Beach is nationally famous for its golf; some might even argue that it is an international golfing destination. The Myrtle Beach area is the home of over 80 award-winning golf courses, and each one has something unique about it. The courses are exquisite, but the weather and the scenery during your day on the green is what elevates the experience even further. Imagine golfing with a view of the Atlantic Ocean on a perfect, sunny and 75-degree day. It doesn’t get any better, right? If you retire in Myrtle Beach, this can be your weekly reality and you can explore each and every one of those award-winning golf courses.

The other factor that makes Myrtle Beach such a great place to golf is the low cost to play. While the courses are world-class, you’ll find that the greens fees are often significantly lower than they are at home, because Myrtle Beach just tends to be a cheap place to spend your time. More on that later, but lower greens fees mean you can afford more days each week golfing!

4. Friendly People

I promise you, the cliché is true. People really are so nice in the South! If you’re coming from the North or the West Coast, odds are you’ve heard of “southern charm.” Let me just say, nine times out of ten, this is really the case. People in the south just tend to be extremely friendly, and North and South Carolina might just be the friendliest states in the country.

Maybe this can all be attributed to the high amount of sunshine and great weather. Or maybe it is a result of the sea breeze sweeping over the area in the morning. Regardless, whatever the cause is, the people here are very friendly and it makes living in or visiting the area extremely relaxing and pleasurable. If you don’t believe me, take trip to Myrtle Beach yourself and witness just how friendly everyone tends to be.

5. Affordable Housing Market

If all of that still isn’t enough to convince you that Myrtle Beach is a great place to retire, maybe these next few points will be. Firstly, the housing market is Myrtle Beach is very friendly to buyers. The prices are very low when you consider the fact that you are buying prime real estate by the beach, and the current mortgage rates are also quite low. These two things added together mean that it is the perfect time to be checking out real estate options in the Myrtle Beach area! If you are thinking that this may be an option for you, even if you are just generally curious, you should reach out to us and chat. We have decades of experience selling properties in the area and would love to help you think about finding the perfect home!

Now, just how cheap is housing in Myrtle Beach? According to Zillow, the average home price in Myrtle Beach is currently around $231,000. This number is roughly $50,000 cheaper than the national average, which is shocking considering that Myrtle Beach is such prime real estate! Buying a property in Myrtle Beach now with such low values provides a good opportunity for your investment to grow over the coming years, too.

6. 60 Miles of Coastline to Live in

Remember at the beginning when we mentioned that a little bit of congestion in the city of Myrtle Beach during the busy times of the year was not enough to ruin your experience there as a retiree? That’s largely because the area is so massive, you can always find a peaceful place to pass the time. In fact, if you choose to live in a more relaxed area, like North Myrtle Beach, you’ll feel the effects of the busy season even less. With 60 miles of coastline, the Myrtle Beach area stretches almost two hours from top to bottom. The majority of tourists coming during the busy months stay closer to the city of Myrtle Beach and just outside in Surfside Beach. So, if you live a bit further away from the heart of things, you’ll feel the busy months even less.

This doesn’t have to mean that you’re away from all the fun, either. During the busy months, traffic is much worse and is the reason that the area may take two hours to drive from top to bottom. In the lower months, there is not much traffic at all, and you can get all around the area much more quickly. If you visit the area and take your time exploring, odds are you’ll be able to find the perfect area to live in according to your own desires and standards.

7. Low Taxes and Cost of Living

We touched briefly on this one earlier, but I wanted to take a second and point out exactly why Myrtle Beach is such a cheap place to live. One of the biggest factors in this is the low taxes throughout all of South Carolina. The income tax for a typical person in South Carolina is one of the lowest income tax rates in the country, and the property and gas tax rates are extremely low as well. Comically, people that live on the border of North and South Carolina, like in Charlotte, drive across the border into South Carolina whenever they need gas. It can be as high as forty cents cheaper per gallon in South Carolina!

These tax factors contribute to a generally low cost of living. This is why housing is cheap, golfing is cheap, and the gas you’ll use to get from your house to the golf course is cheap! As a retiree living on a generally fixed income, effortless ways to save money like this go a long way in stretching your budget and spending money on the experiences that you value most.

8. Calabash Seafood

I know that I already wrote about dining in Myrtle Beach, but locals would argue that Calabash Seafood is so special that it deserves its own bullet point in this post. In fact, we even wrote an entire post about it, which you can find here. Now, what is Calabash Seafood and why is it so special?

Calabash is a style of cooking, and in basic terms it is the deep frying of very fresh seafood that is lightly battered in corn meal. The corn meal batter adds a slightly sweet taste to the food, and the proximity to the ocean makes the seafood extra fresh and delicious. Calabash Food has been famous in the area for almost a century, and it is, by itself, one of the reasons you should retire in Myrtle Beach. It is served up in all-you-can-eat buffets throughout the area, and the number of foods that can be fried and served Calabash style is more than you can probably imagine. On your next trip to Myrtle Beach, be sure to check out Crabby Mike’s or The Original Benjamin’s to see what all of the hype is about.

9. Excellent Healthcare Providers

As a retiree, you probably care about having great healthcare. In fact, this should be one of the biggest factors playing into your decision when it comes to where you retire. Myrtle Beach certainly meets the mark when it comes to providing high quality, accessible healthcare. The area is home to three major healthcare systems: Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Georgetown Hospital System, and McLeod Health. Each of these health systems has several satellite offices and provides every typical service that you could need at a very high level.

On top of the great hospital systems and doctors that are found throughout the area, you can also rely on several top-notch nursing home facilities that specialize both in assisted living and patient rehabilitation. When you decide to retire in Myrtle Beach, you can rest assured that you are in good medical hands.

10. Amazing Beaches

The beaches may be the final item on the list of the best reason to retire in Myrtle Beach, but they are certainly not the worst of the reasons! The beaches in the Myrtle Beach area are very good, especially by East Coast standards, and there is a beach that suits everyone’s needs. Some beaches are more laid back and quiet, others are popular for families, and some are known as the busy, loud beaches that get jam-packed with crowds.

Regardless of the type of beach you prefer, all of the beaches along the Grand Strand have great water temperatures during the beach season, have very fine and smooth sand, and offer incredible views of the sunrise. If you enjoy the sunrises, walks, or picnics on the beach, Myrtle Beach is an incredible place for you to retire.

Hopefully this post provided some insight about retiring in the Myrtle Beach area. It honestly is a fantastic place to retire, and the best way to know if it is for you is to take a trip and visit! You need to try the Calabash food and see the epic sunrises before dividing to live there permanently anyway, right? If you visit Myrtle Beach 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!

Post written by Greg