Grand Strand, South Carolina

The Honest Guide to 55+ Living
Along the Grand Strand

Del Webb Grande Dunes, Del Webb North Myrtle Beach, Cresswind, Seasons at Prince Creek West — real HOA math, Horry County property tax breakdowns, SC senior exemptions, and the beach distance reality for every community.

The Grand Strand Corridor — North to South

The Myrtle Beach 55+ market spans 60 miles of coastline from Little River in the north to Pawleys Island in the south. This is not one market — it is five distinct micro-markets with different price points, community characters, beach access, and county tax implications. Understanding which part of the corridor fits your lifestyle is the first decision, not the last.

The market also crosses state lines. Brunswick County, NC communities like Sea Trail and Brunswick Plantation draw buyers who want coastal SC retirement lifestyle with NC location. The SC vs NC property tax comparison is meaningful and rarely explained well anywhere.

Little River / North MB

Del Webb North Myrtle Beach, Bridgewater. Active new construction. $200K–$800K. 5–10 min to beach.

Myrtle Beach Proper

Del Webb Grande Dunes, Cresswind at Market Common, Emmens Preserve. $200K–$1M+. 5–20 min to beach.

Surfside / Garden City

Surfside Beach Club, smaller communities. $200K–$450K. Quieter than Myrtle proper. 5–15 min to beach.

Murrells Inlet

Seasons at Prince Creek West, Woodlake Village. $100K–$400K. Quieter coastal character. 15–20 min to beach.

Conway (Inland)

Myrtle Trace, Myrtle Trace South. True 55+, deepest value tier. $150K–$300K. 25–35 min to beach.

Brunswick County NC

Sea Trail, Brunswick Plantation. Cross-state border communities. $200K–$800K. Strong golf amenities.

The 6 Communities Worth Researching

Del Webb at Grande Dunes

Myrtle Beach, SC — Del Webb / PulteGroup
524
Homes
$300K–$1M+
Price Range
2017–present
Built
Intracoastal
Setting

Del Webb North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach, SC — Del Webb / PulteGroup
535
Homes
$400K–$800K
Price Range
2021–present
Built
Newer
vs Grande Dunes

Cresswind Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, SC — Kolter Homes
400
Homes
$300K–$500K
Price Range
Market Common
Location
Resale Only
Status

Seasons at Prince Creek West

Murrells Inlet, SC — Age-Restricted
460
Homes
$200K–$400K
Price Range
2004–2017
Built
Best Value
True 55+

Bridgewater

Little River, SC — Active Adult / Age-Targeted
1,550
Homes Planned
$100K–$700K
Price Range
Active Build
Construction
Largest
New Construction

Myrtle Trace

Conway, SC — True 55+ Age-Restricted
518
Homes
~$200Ks
Price Range
1980–2005
Built
Deep Value
Lowest Cost

Horry County SC — The Senior Tax Advantage

A $400,000 primary residence in Horry County — what a 65+ buyer actually pays annually vs. what a second-home buyer or investor pays on the same property.

Market value$400,000
Assessment ratio — 4% primary vs 6% second home$16,000 vs $24,000
65+ homestead exemption — removes $50K FMVAssessed on $350K → $14,000
School operating mills (~130 mills) — primary residence exemptSaves ~$1,820/yr
Estimated annual tax — 65+ primary resident~$900–$1,200/yr
Estimated annual tax — second home / investor~$4,200–$4,800/yr
Annual savings for qualifying 65+ owner-occupant$3,000–$3,600/yr

What Nobody Else Covers in This Market

Two Del Webbs — Which One?

Del Webb Grande Dunes (2017) and Del Webb North Myrtle Beach (2021) are the same builder, different locations, different price points, different completion status. No competitor has done a real side-by-side. We did.

Beach Distance Is Not What Buyers Expect

Most communities in this market are 5–25 minutes from the beach — not walking distance. Conway communities are 25–35 minutes. Buyers picturing ocean-front retirement need this clarified before they fall in love with a floor plan.

Age-Restricted vs Age-Targeted

Only 10–12 of the 43 Grand Strand communities are true 55+ age-restricted under HOPA. The rest are age-targeted. The distinction affects everything from who your neighbors are to resale pool to HOA governance rights.

Horry County Tax Math Nobody Publishes

The stacked SC advantage — 4% primary ratio + $50K homestead + school mill exemption — saves qualifying buyers $3,000–$4,000/year vs a non-primary owner on the same home. You have to file separately for each piece.

SC vs NC Border — Which Side Wins?

Brunswick County NC communities are 5 miles north of the SC line. Horry County SC vs Brunswick County NC property tax math is not close. SC wins for primary residents 65+. Nobody has published the actual comparison.

Cresswind at Market Common — Location Premium

Cresswind's Market Common adjacency is the most meaningful location advantage of any community in this market. Golf cart access to shops, restaurants, and the beach path. It matters — but it does not show up in price comparisons.

Community Quick Comparison

CommunityTypeHOA/Mo (est.)Price RangeBeachNew Build?
Del Webb Grande Dunes55+ restricted~$280–$320$300K–$1M+10–15 minYes — active
Del Webb North MB55+ restricted~$280–$320$400K–$800K5–10 minYes — active
Cresswind MBAge-targeted~$220–$260$300K–$500K5–10 min (golf cart)Resale only
Seasons Prince Creek W55+ restricted~$180–$220$200K–$400K15–20 minResale only
BridgewaterAge-targeted~$150–$200$100K–$700K10–15 minYes — active
Myrtle Trace55+ restricted~$100–$150~$200Ks25–35 minResale only

HOA estimates based on published rates and community data. Verify current fees directly with each community before purchasing.

Research Pages Built for Serious Buyers

Questions Before You Visit?

We can run the real cost numbers for any specific community and home price before you book a flight to Myrtle Beach.

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