Blog | Myrtle Beach Homes | Carolina Forest Homes

Jun 28 2019

Does Myrtle Beach Have A Boardwalk?

One of the top questions asked about this area is “Does Myrtle Beach Have A Boardwalk?” Well, up until 2010, there was no boardwalk here in the area. In May of that year, Myrtle Beach opened a 1.2 Mile Boardwalk that runs from the 14th Ave Pier down to the 2nd Avenue Pier.

Along the boardwalk are some of the most iconic attractions of Myrtle Beach. There are so many things to do in the area. You can go for a ride on the Myrtle Beach Skywheel, dine at one of the many restaurants, listen to live music, play in the parks, visit the Fun Plaza, or simply head down enjoy the magnificent beach.

You can also go deep sea fishing off of either of the piers that bookend the boardwalk. Here’s a few images of the area:

In addition to all of the awesome places to check out along the boardwalk, one of the biggest events of the year, the Carolina Country Music festival takes place here each year.

In addition, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk has many other fantastic things to do like listening to live music at The Bowery, or having your mind blown by Ripleys Believe it or Not. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, I’m sure the boardwalk can satisfy that too with some ice cream or a trip over to It’s Sugar.

History of Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

Myrtle Beach has not had a boardwalk forever. In fact I remember visiting here as a child and always wondering why there was no such thing here. I remember all the fond memories I had of growing up and visiting the Jersey shore and the time we would spend down on the boardwalk but never understanding why there wasn’t one here in Myrtle Beach. So, I did some investigating.

According to wikipedia, there used to be a wooden boardwalk here in the 1930’s. In 1940, this got an upgrade to concrete in some sections with plans to expand. Unfortunately, these plans got delayed by World War II. Then in 1954, Hurricane Hazel came through and destroyed the wooden sections only leaving behind the concrete segment between 9th & 11th Avenue North which later became renamed Mr. Joe White Ave. In 2008 the 1.2 mile long boardwalk rebuild was started and it finally completed in May of 2010.

So, the next time you are visiting Myrtle Beach, make sure to plan a trip down to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and enjoy some of the most iconic sites the area has to offer!

May 17 2019

First-Time Homeowner’s Guide to Paying for Home Maintenance

Buying your first home in Myrtle Beach means finally gaining the freedom to decorate, remodel, and landscape to your heart’s content. Of course, it also means you’re now responsible for anything and everything that goes wrong with your house. The cost of upkeep catches many first-time homeowners off guard. When you’re accustomed to simply calling the landlord for a fix, the first repair bill over $1,000 comes as a pretty big shock.

Affording home repairs is stressful if you’re not prepared. You don’t want to delay a fix and let the problem grow bigger, but you don’t want to put it on a credit card and pay high interest rates either. This guide explains how first-time homeowners can plan ahead for home repairs and what to do when a major repair catches you by surprise.

Working with Contractors

How can you be sure you’re not getting ripped off when hiring a contractor? It’s a fair question — contractor scams do exist and first-time homeowners are an enticing target. However, a lack of experience in vetting contractors doesn’t have to lead to overpaying for shoddy work.

Before contacting contractors, ask for referrals from friends and neighbors and check online to find highly rated contractors in your area. Once you have a list, call contractors and ask for references and other pertinent information. Choose two or three contractors you’re interested in and request estimates. You’ll need to provide detailed project information to get accurate quotes. Be sure to get everything in writing and consider not just price but also workmanship and reputation when selecting a contractor.

Always check what your contract says about clean-up. Some contractors include clean-up in the quoted price, whereas others charge a separate fee for this service. Even with clean-up included, there’s bound to be dust left behind, so consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to come in and deep clean after the project is complete.

Planning for Major Home Repairs

Luckily, most major home repairs are predictable. Roofs, HVAC systems, and water heaters all have typical lifespans. As systems get older, you can generally expect more problems.

These are some of the major home repairs homeowners should plan for:

Roofing: 15-50 years; $5,000-$14,000
Central air conditioning: 12-18 years, $500-$4,000
Furnace: 13-20 years; $2,500-$6,000
Siding: 15-50 years; $6,000-$22,000

Remember, these are only estimates; repair costs vary depending on the size of your home and the type of materials you choose.

You may want to include remodeling costs in your repair fund. While remodeling isn’t strictly necessary, most homeowners want to update over the years. Remodeling projects can get costly — bathroom remodels in Myrtle Beach average between $2,600 and $8,200 — and budgeting for them takes the stress out of a big remodeling bill.

Paying for Major Home Repairs

The best way to pay for major repairs is to start saving money. Begin a home repair fund when you buy a house, and if possible, contribute to it monthly. If saving isn’t your strong suit, set up an automatic monthly transfer to a high-yield savings account.

Unfortunately, repairs don’t always happen when we expect. If your home needs a major repair and you can’t pay cash, you need another way to finance the work without relying on high-interest credit cards. With enough equity in your home, you can do a cash out refinance with an APR under 5 percent. If that’s not possible, a personal loan may be your best option to finance needed repairs.

If you don’t plan for them, major home repairs could leave you longing for the days of responsibility-free renting. However, the high cost of home repairs shouldn’t turn your homeownership dream into a nightmare. By knowing what to expect from your home and saving accordingly, you turn major repairs into a predictable, manageable aspect of homeownership.

Image via Rawpixel

May 07 2019

6 Landscaping Tricks To Increase The Value of Your Myrtle Beach Home

Guest Post by Rachael Bain of Lawnstarter.com

Putting your home on the market in Myrtle Beach isn’t as simple as just calling a REALTOR®. The goal is to sell your home quickly and beat out the competition. That can sometimes leave little time to invest in large home improvement projects. Homeowners are often up against the clock in trying to present a clean and updated house that will bring the best offer in a short amount of time. Curb appeal is an essential part of selling your home, and there are certain things you can do to l boost interest without spending a lot of time or money. Consider these six landscaping tricks that will increase the value of your home when you list it this year:

Feed the Grass

The first thing a prospective home buyer sees is your lawn. It’s vital the grass is greener on your side of the fence! Regular mowing is essential, but also consider adding some extra effort to the turf to perk it up. Spreading slow-release fertilizer may take a few weeks to brighten up the dull spots. Consider using a quick release fertilizer that will provide instant color and make your landscaping stand out.

Plant Pops of Color

Nothing screams beauty and the arrival of a new season more than colorful blooms in the garden. Adding pops of bright color to the exterior of your home will add interest to your home, and boost the overall curb appeal. Consider planting native flowers that you often see in nearby parks and nature preserves. Black Eyed Susans and Wild Geraniums thrive in South Carolina and need little maintenance. Add plants to potted containers near the entrance and also around the backyard to draw attention to areas of the landscaping that you don’t want potential buyers to miss.

Pull Weeds

It isn’t a pleasant job, but pulling weeds from the yard will have a considerable impact on securing a top offer on your home. Check for areas of the yard where weeds have been allowed to grow unnoticed. Look behind plants, around corners, and along the fence line for any sprouts that could be a distraction.

Freshen Up the Mulch

Whether you use organic or inorganic mulching techniques, it’s vital that mulch looks fresh. It may have been a few years since you added new mulch and putting your home on the market is a great excuse to do it again… before the REALTOR® takes pictures. Inorganic mulch, like pebbles and stone, won’t need to be reapplied but you may need to rake out certain areas. Take a few minutes to relevel the mulch, especially in areas that see heavy traffic. Organic mulch, like bark dust we need another layer. If you don’t want to replace all the mulch, sprinkle some fresh bark dust on top to boost the color and overall appeal of your home.

Trim Overgrown Plants

It is easy for plants in South Carolina to grow out of control quickly. It may have been a while since you trimmed the tree in the front yard or shaped some of the bushes creating a privacy hedge in your backyard. Pay close attention to overgrown plants that need pruning as well as any dead or sick portions that you need to remove. Maintaining your landscaping will show potential buyers that you take care of your property.

Power Wash

You may not have noticed the discoloration on your siding, patio or deck. You’ll be amazed at the difference a simple power washing can bring to the outside of your home. Power washing removes the dirt, grime, and discoloration that can easily cloud the hardscaped areas of a yard. Rent a power washer to hose down not only the hardscaped regions of your yard but also the outside of the home for a fresh and updated look. Short on time? Some companies can do the job for you in just a few hours.

Selling your home in Myrtle Beach and preparing to move is often stressful and time-consuming. Consider these six landscaping tricks that will increase the value of your home without costing you a lot of time or money.

Apr 08 2019

Understanding Taxes When Buying A Myrtle Beach Home

It’s almost April 15th or National Tax Day, so I figured what a great time to cover a rather boring topic, but a topic that everyone who is thinking of buying a home in Myrtle Beach needs to know information about, property taxes. South Carolina was ranked by USA Today as one of the most affordable property tax rates in the country.

In the article published in 2017, the average property tax for homeowner in South Carolina is $1,294. Personally, I think this is main reasons why we have so many people moving from areas like Pennsylvania ($3,900), New York ($7,013), Virginia ($3,181), Massachusetts ($5,513) & New Jersey ($8,477). Higher tax rates & more severe winter weather, are the main reasons Myrtle Beach has consistently been one of the top places to relocate the past few years.

I’m originally from Reading, Pennsylvania and moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina right after graduation with my family. My parents were tired of dealing with the snow and higher cost of living, so we wanted a change and Myrtle Beach was an area they had visited multiple times over the years so it was a perfect solution for us to move here.

When I started to write this article, I wondered what the average taxes are on the home we owned in PA in comparison to the home my wife & I recently purchased.

Below is the estimated taxes on the home I grew up in Reading, which I did verify were accurate with a fellow agent in Berks County.

As you can see, the home there is now assessed around $123,000 according to what I could find online with an estimated annual tax of $5,369.43. This number is more than 4 times the average for what a primary homeowner in Myrtle Beach pays on their property taxes.

In comparison, my wife and I purchased a home at the end of January in The Farm At Carolina Forest has an assessed value of $176,980, and the annual property taxes on this home were $746.65 last year. What this means is that the home I grew up in that is valued over $50,000 less costs over 7 times the amount of taxes then our home in Myrtle Beach.

Now, this average number of $1,294 for South Carolina is taking all parts of our state into the equation including Charleston where the average is over $2,000 due to a higher price point on property and also does not separate primary homeowners from out of state & multiple property owners.

Primary vs Secondary in Myrtle Beach

One thing we have to clarify when discussing taxes is to determine whether the home is going to be a primary ownership or second home/investment property. It makes a huge difference in the amount of taxes you will pay in Myrtle Beach.

When purchasing a home in Myrtle Beach, Horry County automatically taxes everyone at the secondary tax rate and each homeowner needs to prove residency to the tax assessor to get the discount. This means you are assessed at the 6% tax rate instead of the 4% tax rate.

When I bought my first property in Myrtle Beach back in 2006, I did not know this and my taxes on a townhome valued at $110,000 were over $1,900 per year. Coming from the north where taxes were more than 3 times that, I was happy and just went on with life. Then after living there almost 2 years I realized that I was not getting a South Carolina residency discount and so I took the necessary steps to get thing changed over and my annual taxes then dropped down to $636.

Homes owned in this area as a primary residence versus second home or investment, are usually half to one third the amount of taxes owed, so it is very important to get your taxes switched over when buying a home in Myrtle Beach.

Documents Needed For Legal Residence Application

Here’s what documents will be required to get the SC primary residence discount:

SC Driver’s License/Identification card for owner occupants
SC motor vehicle registration showing current address for owner.
Copy of SC Voter Registration card
First two pages of current tax returns.

Horry County now has the ability to apply online here for the primary residence SC tax rate or you can do so at the Horry County Tax Assessors Office with all the proper paperwork.

Other South Carolina Tax Discounts

There are other ways to save on your SC property taxes, that are only available to certain groups of people.

Veterans Tax Exemption

The first tax exemption is only available to our veterans. They must apply for this discount, but is a well deserved benefit for those who fought to protect our amazing country.

Homestead Tax Exemption

The second discount is the Homestead Exemption which is a complete exemption of taxes on the first $50,000 in Fair Market Value of your Legal Residence for homeowners over age 65, totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind.

Just like the legal residence application, you must also apply for the homestead exemption in order to save. This too can be applied for online here.

For people thinking of retiring to Myrtle Beach, taxes is a question that is definitely on their mind. I recently had this question asked on my video of Plantation Lakes on my YouTube Channel.

As someone who would be on a fixed income source, knowing the taxes in Myrtle Beach is something that can be very important to know and understand before purchasing a home here to live in for the rest of your life.

Vehicle Taxes in South Carolina

Now, while South Carolina ranks as one of the lowest places for property taxes, SC also collects taxes on vehicles. When you purchase a vehicle in SC there is a one-time infrastructure (IMF) rather than sales tax. This fee is 5% of the price up to a maximum of $500 that took effect in July 2017.

Then there is an additional tax that you will pay annually when renewing your tags for the vehicle. Last month I paid the bill for my 2013 Honda Odyssey. The total amount due was $147.84. Here’s a copy of the recent bill so you can see how it breaks down.

This bill changes each year as the value of your vehicle depreciates. So unless you are buying new $70,000 vehicles every year, your bills should be rather minimal. I also just recently got the bill for my other vehicle to pay and since it is newer it is around $480.

Understanding Myrtle Beach Taxes

If you combine the taxes on our home plus our two vehicles, we still are paying under $1,400 a year for all of our taxes to live in South Carolina which is only a fraction of what we paid when living in the north.

Propety Taxes	$746.65
Honda Taxes	$147.84
Ford Taxes	$484.11
Total	$1,378.60

So in conclusion, while you might pay taxes on more than just your home, in the long run, you are still going to save money in the long run when your property taxes on your Myrtle Beach home are so much less than other parts of the country.

If you are thinking of moving to Myrtle Beach, I’d love the opportunity to help you find a home here in the area. Feel free to call me at 843-222-9402 or contact me below with any questions you might have.

Jan 23 2019

How to Keep Your Myrtle Beach Lawn Green This Winter

Many homeowners in the Myrtle Beach area commonly see their lawn turn brown in the winter. The natural tendency of warm-season grasses to go dormant is quite common in many South Carolina lawns. However, some homeowners may want to keep their lawn green all year which can be an easy task that you can accomplish in just a few steps. Check out these tips on how to keep your Myrtle Beach lawn green this winter for a beautiful lawn year-round.

Know Your Grass Type
According to data from LawnStarter, the most common grass type in Myrtle Beach is Bermudagrass, which is a warm-season variety. Additionally, the second most common grass type is Tall Fescue – a cool season grass which has totally different properties than Bermudagrass. Homeowners who don’t know what kind of grass they have in their lawn will be left wondering if or when the lawn will go dormant in the winter. Make sure to inspect your lawn, learn your grass type and read up on it to see which kind of grass variety is planted to know what steps to take to keep it green this winter.

Overseed with Cool Season Grass
For those more inland homes in the Myrtle Beach area, lawns may have other warm-season grass varieties like Zoysia grass. This variety grows well during the hot summer season but may turn brown in the winter. Overseeding lawns of these varieties in the winter will help combat the dormant brown color that can occur. Choose to overseed cool season grass, like Kentucky Bluegrass or Annual Ryegrass, in order keep the lawn green with varieties that can withstand the colder winter temperatures.

Add Extra Energy
Winters can be a hard season for grass to thrive due to the cooler temperatures. Make sure that your lawn has enough energy during the winter season with the application of fertilizer. Quick release fertilizers are a good option for greening up your lawn quickly but only last for a few weeks. Slow release fertilizers are spread in granule or pellet form and do an excellent job of providing long-lasting energy to a lawn over time. Both options are great for greening up your lawn but should not be applied at the same time to prevent burning. Other energy additions could include compost which is a natural energy source that helps create healthy soil that hosts the grassroots.

Mulch Fallen Leaves
Another great way to add natural energy to a lawn is to mulch fallen leaves. Choosing to mulch these leaves will help cut them down to a smaller size that can be easily absorbed. Dead leaves provide a natural form of nitrogen to lawns and can help boost the energy required to sustain healthy conditions throughout the winter. Allowing whole leaves to disintegrate onto the lawn slowly can do more harm than good as wet leaves will provide a breeding ground for mold and disease. Rent a leaf mulcher to do the job or mow over the leaves on the highest height setting to cut the leaves into smaller pieces.

Continue Watering
Just because the winter is a slow growing season doesn’t mean that your lawn needs to be thirsty. Consider adapting your watering schedule to comply with the weather patterns to keep the grass watered adequately. Many Myrtle Beach homeowners can water their lawns just 1-2 times a week in the winter to provide enough moisture to sustain a healthy lawn. Choose an automatic timer to take care of winter watering as well. The area rarely will see freezing temperatures but be aware of winter weather that could arrive and take steps to insulate watering systems to prevent freezing and burst pipes.

Keeping your Myrtle Beach lawn green this winter is easy with these simple tips. Knowing the kind of grass variety that your lawn contains is the first step to deciding to overseed during the winter. Continue watering and add energy sources to promote healthy lawn growth. All of these things will help keep your Myrtle Beach lawn green this winter to accentuate your beautiful home.

Olive Dawson is a gardening and landscape design writer and environmentalist. She is always searching for new ways to reduce waste and grow food organically. She is most proud of her homemade beauty products.

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