The larger ranch option at Sun City — more square footage for buyers who need it. Layout, flex room options, inspect checklist, and resale considerations.
Sun City Carolina Lakes · Floor Plan Guide · Indian Land SC
Martin Ray at a Glance
Specification
Details
Plan Type
Ranch / Single Level
Square Footage
Approximately 1,683–2,300+ sq ft (varies significantly by options)
Bedrooms
2–3 base; optional suite addition brings to 3–4
Bathrooms
2–3 (additional bath with optional suite)
Garage
2-car standard; extended garage available
Layout
Open great room concept; larger kitchen than Vernon Hill; more generous primary suite
The Martin Ray is Sun City's answer for buyers who find the Vernon Hill too compact. Key buyer profiles:
Buyers from larger homes (2,500–3,500 sq ft) who are downsizing but not radically right-sizing. The Martin Ray provides enough square footage to bring furniture and function from a larger home without feeling compressed.
Buyers who need a dedicated office or hobby room — the flex spaces in the Martin Ray are more usable as permanent rooms than the Vernon Hill's smaller flex option.
Buyers with frequent extended-stay guests. The optional in-law suite/casita configuration creates true guest independence — separate entrance, separate bath, genuine privacy for visiting adult children or parents.
Buyers who host extended family gatherings. The larger kitchen and great room in the Martin Ray is better suited to cooking for 10–12 people than the Vernon Hill's more compact kitchen.
The In-Law Suite Option — What It Actually Means
The Martin Ray's optional in-law suite is one of the most underappreciated features in the Sun City lineup. When configured with a separate entrance, sitting area, bedroom, and bathroom — effectively a studio apartment attached to the main home — it fundamentally changes how the home functions. Adult children who visit for weeks rather than days, aging parents who need proximity but not cohabitation, or live-in caregivers all fit the suite configuration. Not all Martin Ray builds included this option — verify specifically whether a resale home has a true casita configuration or just a standard 3rd bedroom.
Martin Ray Resale Inspection Priorities
Square footage verification: The Martin Ray varies substantially by configuration. Get the actual square footage from county records (not listing square footage, which can be imprecise) and confirm it matches what you're touring.
In-law suite configuration: If listed as having a casita or in-law suite, verify the configuration includes a separate entrance — not just an interior door to a 3rd bedroom. The value difference between a true separated suite vs a standard 3rd bedroom is $15,000–$30,000 on resale.
HVAC configuration: Larger Martin Rays often have separate HVAC zones for the main home and the suite. Verify both systems' ages and condition.
Same inspection priorities as Vernon Hill apply for age-related items: HVAC, roof, water heater, windows. The Martin Ray's larger footprint means more of each to inspect and potentially replace.
Sunroom additions: Many Martin Ray owners added sunrooms. Verify any addition is permitted, inspected, and properly insulated/heated.
Martin Ray Price Premium
The Martin Ray commands a meaningful price premium over the Vernon Hill — expect 15–30% higher prices for comparable condition and location. This premium is real and sticky on resale. The question for buyers is whether the extra square footage and flex options justify the higher purchase price and the higher ongoing carrying costs (larger homes cost more to heat, cool, and insure).
Many buyers find that a well-configured Vernon Hill with a screened porch lives better day-to-day than a Martin Ray without outdoor extension. The "more space" impulse should be tempered by honest assessment of what you'll actually use.
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