Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is one of the most popular places people are moving to at the moment.
Many of the new arrivals are retirees looking for a place to enjoy the sun. They want to swap a life of work for a life of leisure. And it’s totally understandable why so many retired people consider Myrtle Beach the perfect place to retire.
If you’re planning your retirement and you’re thinking of moving to a place nearby water with plenty of sunshine, this could be the place for you. However, it’s not just the sun which makes Myrtle Beach a great place to live.
Here is our list of the top 10 reasons why moving to Myrtle Beach makes sense in your twilight years. Let’s discover the benefits of Myrtle Beach together.
1. The Wonderful Weather
If you don’t want the weather to be too hot or too cold, then Myrtle Beach could be the perfect place for you.
Myrtle Beach is well-known for its temperate climate, which it enjoys for most of the year. 215 days of the year are sunny!
Do you like extreme sports? In the summer you can take advantage of the water activities available. This includes everything from swimming to jet-skiing.
Worried about the cooler temperatures?
Even in the spring and fall, there remain plenty of beach activities to enjoy. Are you passionate about fishing? Have you ever tried kayaking?
And the winter?
There are lots of reasons to love the winter months in Myrtle Beach too. The cooler and fresher air is a much-appreciated change for most residents.
But you don’t need to stay indoors in the cooler months. Why don’t you enjoy winter walks on the beach, especially if you have a pet dog? The winter is also the perfect time to play a round of golf with your buddies without the heat.
And before you know it, spring will have arrived, and the weather will start to improve. Then, you get to enjoy the bright colors of the blooming flowers and the joy of eating outdoors.
2. The Beautiful Beach
Many people move to Myrtle Beach because of the beach itself.
The beautiful beach can be enjoyed whatever the weather. However, it is obviously at its most popular during the summer.
How popular?
Well, more than 14 million people visit Myrtle Beach to enjoy spending time in the sunshine on the beach.
The 60 miles of Grand Strand, of which Myrtle Beach is the largest city nearby, makes for an exceptional beach experience. That means that you can walk for miles and miles while enjoying the white sands between your toes.
It’s not only Myrtle Beach that you can enjoy in the region.
You can also check out Surfside Beach, Huntington Beach, and Garden City. All of which provide you with access to some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast of the United States.
It may seem strange when after you first move to Myrtle Beach, but you’ll soon get used to going down the road to reach the beach whenever you fancy.
3. Property Prices You Can Afford
Many retirees are able to finish working earlier than others because they’re willing to move to a cheaper city.
Do you want to purchase your second home in Myrtle Beach? Are you looking to move permanently to Myrtle Beach?
Are you searching for a large detached home or a small studio apartment? The Myrtle Beach real estate market has a wide variety of homes to fit any price range.
If you’re looking for an investment, you need to move quickly because property prices are expected to rise significantly as Myrtle Beach grows in popularity.
4. Reasonable Living Costs
Apart from the excellent weather conditions and the beautiful beaches – what makes it so appealing for retirees?
It’s the affordable living costs obviously.
Millions of Americans are facing retirement with limited savings in the bank. With such stark financial circumstances, you cannot neglect the importance of affordable living costs.
The cost of living in Myrtle Beach is lower than the national and state (South Carolina) average. In fact, it is 7 percent lower than the national average. This makes it an excellent choice for financially-savvy retirees.
You can swap the expensive city living of your previous life to live in luxury without the expense.
There are so many Americans who are too worried about money to retire. By moving to a place with a lower cost of living, you can live the dream.
5. Low Tax Rates
Do you still have an income in retirement? If you do, you want to keep as much money in your pocket during retirement.
The state of South Carolina has one of the lowest tax burdens in the United States. You aren’t taxed for social security benefits in the state either.
If you consider the lower cost of living plus the lower rate of tax, you could be a winner by moving to Myrtle Beach for retirement.
6. Delicious Dining Opportunities
If you want to enjoy dining out during your retirement, such opportunities are not going to be in short supply if you move to Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach is famous for the delicious seafood available in the restaurants along the Grand Strand.
You can’t spend very long in Myrtle Beach without checking out seafood favorites, such as Hot Fish Club and Sea Captain’s House.
The regional cuisine is known as Lowcountry, which is celebrated across South Carolina and Georgia. There are many similarities between Lowcountry cuisine and Southern cooking in general.
However, don’t assume you have to feed on fish every day. Myrtle Beach is celebrated for the diversity of cuisines available. If you want a fabulous Italian pizza or some yummy Japanese sushi, you can definitely get it here.
7. Culture Activities
Myrtle Beach and South Carolina, in general, are largely underestimated when it comes to cultural activities.
People concentrate on partying and the beaches. However, there are also some fantastic museums in these parts.
For example, Brookgreen Gardens is preserved garden of native flora and fauna in the area. The museums and gardens combined cover nearly 10,000 acres of land.
If you want to learn about the culture and history of South Carolina, you can also visit Hopesewee Plantation. This former rice plantation is now a National Historic Landmark.
Are you a music lover?
The Bowery is a music hall that has been entertaining locals and visitors since the Second World War. It’s also famous for kickstarting the career of the band Alabama.
If you want to catch live music, then head to the MarshWalk. You never know what cultural gems you’re going to encounter here.
8. Festivals
Do you like to have something to look forward to?
The calendar year is always quickly filling up in Myrtle Beach.
One week there is the ‘world-famous’ Blue Crab Festival, where you can enjoy fabulous seafood and fun music for all the family.
You can drag out your lederhosen for Oktoberfest. Hopefully, you like beer for this one.
To celebrate the month of May, we have the Mayfest on Main.
Remember the 1970s? Get nostalgic for the Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival.
Like the finer things in life? The Wine Fest is quite a treat too.
Do you want more seafood but with a bit of jazz? Go along for the Little River Shrimp & Jazz Festival.
In Myrtle Beach, we can’t get enough festivals in the year.
8. Golf
Golf is becoming increasingly popular in Myrtle Beach too. If you want to play golf more when you retire, then you’ll be spoilt for choice here.
Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand is famous for its award-winning golf. There are more than one hundred golf courses.
If you want to join a private golf club, there are several to choose from. These include the Pine Lakes, the Dunes Club, and Surf Golf.
However, if you only want to play golf now and then, you might want a golf course that is open to the public. Myrtle Beach has this too, such as Barefoot and Brunswick Plantation.
What about if you want to play mini-golf? You can do that too. There are actually over 30 mini-golf courses here.
If your ambition for your retirement is to improve your golf swing, then you’ll have ample opportunity to do this when you move to Myrtle Beach.
9. A Shopper’s Paradise
Even though the number of people turning to online shopping shows no sign of slowing down, Myrtle Beach’s shops continue to thrive.
After all, luxury retirement living is not complete without the ability to go shopping.
You have to start at the Hammock Shops Village. This is the most popular location for shopping in the area. The village originally opened its doors in the 1930s.
Do you want to buy the finest wine from California or France? Or maybe you’re after some of the best coastal designer clothes?
You can always find what you want here.
10. Connections Of Myrtle Beach
When you move to a new place, it’s not only about the place itself. It’s also about the connections to other places.
Myrtle Beach does extremely well in terms of this. There are a few reasons to leave the city for dining, shopping or entertainment.
However, if you want to go for day trips or weekend breaks, there are numerous choices.
Charleston is easy via car to get to from Myrtle Beach. You can find a fascinating culture with lots of shopping and eating opportunities here. You should definitely check out the historical city market for souvenirs and Gullah sweetgrass baskets.
On your journey to Charleston, stop off at Georgetown. The town is the birthplace of the former first lady, Michelle Obama’s grandfather. You can enjoy the beautiful old town center here too.
11. Health Care Services
For many retirees, healthcare services are especially important as you enter your twilight years.
The retirees who move to Myrtle Beach know that it’s not only about the golfing and the sunshine. Health care is also top-notch!
In fact, healthcare services in Myrtle Beach are some of the best in South Carolina. According to U.S. News, Myrtle Beach healthcare services are ranked as “high performing”.
All kinds of medical care are available, which includes speech therapy, and physical and occupational health requirements. Emergency medical services are conveniently located in the Tidelands Community Hospital.
12. Community Spirit
Apparently, 30 percent of Americans don’t know their neighbors. That’s probably not the case in Myrtle Beach.
You probably don’t have time to get to know your neighbors while you’re working every single day. But, maybe when you’re retired things will be different.
If you want to find a community that is open and welcoming, then moving to Myrtle Beach is the right choice.
There is a reason why Southern hospitality is famous! It’s because the people living here really are friendly and warm.
If you want to show your community spirit in Myrtle Beach, you have many opportunities to do so. You can volunteer with arts groups, religious organizations and much more here.
Myrtle Beach Is Your Place To Retire
Now you know what all the fuss is about. There are endless reasons to move to Myrtle Beach for your dream place to retire.
Are you a sun worshipper or a passionate foodie? Are you an eager golfer or a happy shopper? Myrtle Beach has it all for retirees.
To learn more about the new homes in Myrtle Beach or schedule a tour of this beautiful community call us today.
Jerry Pinkas Real Estate Experts
Retire To Myrtle Beach
From being home to one of the “Top 10 U.S. Boardwalks” by National Geographic to being host to one of the “Top 10 Public Gardens in America” according to Coastal Living Magazine, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is truly a paradise for anyone looking to retire to Myrtle Beach.
The city was founded in 1957 and features 60 miles of pristine beaches, makes the top 10 list of restaurants per capita by Pinpoint Demographics, and is home to hundreds of golf fairways designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, and Greg Norman. In fact, PGA.com named Myrtle Beach among the “Top 9 Family Golf Resorts.”
Myrtle Beach offers hundreds of things to do from hiking and biking to water sports and amusement parks. The cost of living is slightly lower than the state average, and the city has its international airport and hospital. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate named Myrtle Beach one of “America’s Most Fun, Affordable Cities.” Myrtle Beach retirement homes vary in size and location. Homebuyers have the option of fully furnished condos, cozy beach cottages, and houses with larger lots.
Shopping and Dining
Those who retire to Myrtle Beach have access to a wide variety of restaurants, including small diners and cafes, pizza parlors, seafood restaurants, and more. The House of Blues serves fish, pasta, salads, stead, and more. Drunken Jack’s, located in Murrells Inlet, entertains nightly until 10:00 p.m. There are also many restaurants that offer take-out and delivery for those looking to have a quiet night in.
Myrtle Beach also offers both indoor and outdoor shopping malls, including the indoor Coastal Grand Mall and the outdoor Broadway at the Beach. There is also an outlet mall, the Tanger Outlet, and local flea and farmer’s markets. Most shopping locations also have different types of restaurants as well as entertainment like theaters, amusement parks, and more.
Parks and Recreation
The Myrtle Beach area is home to two state parks, Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park. Both offer miles of hiking trails, fishing, picnic sites, and camping, as well as meeting spots and cabins for those who want to hold a special event or stay the night in the park. Myrtle Beach also offers many water parks, miniature golf courses, and attractions like The Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, and the Grand Prix Speedpark.
Residents and visitors can also enjoy entertainment like Ripley’s Attractions, Pirate Adventures, Carolina Opry, and the Big “M” Casino, which is a gambling cruise that offers blackjack, craps, roulette, and more. The cruise also offers an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Living
While Myrtle Beach is a tourist attraction and draws thousands to its beaches for spring break and other dates, there are plenty of quiet, secluded beaches and areas throughout the city. Residents often enjoy walking through the state park areas or relaxing in private pools in their condo complexes. The city’s population is around 40,000 and is growing steadily. Median housing prices average just under $279,000 with Myrtle Beach retirement houses for sale from under $285,000 for small condos to well over $1 million for larger homes with a lot of acreages.
The cost of living, according to City-Data.com, was 92.3, which is 7.7 percent less than the U.S. average. Myrtle Beach boasts a moderate climate that attracts residents year-round. The highs in the summer average in the 80s while the lows in the winter average around 60 degrees. The city receives more than 200 days of sunshine on average per year.
More than 20 percent of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and nearly 50 percent of the residents are currently married. Many works in the hospitality industries, although the International Technology and Aerospace Park draws professionals with technical backgrounds as well. Some residents choose to buy Myrtle Beach retirement homes that they live in year-round, while others are seasonal residents and enjoy their Myrtle Beach retirement homes during parts of the year.
Schools, Health, Transportation
Within 70 miles of the city, students have higher education options available, including Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The city has many highly-ranked public and private schools, including the Cavalry Christian School, Carolina Forest Elementary School, and Myrtle Beach High School.
Myrtle Beach is home to the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center and is within 20 miles of Conway Medical Center, Waccamaw Community Hospital, and Loris Community Hospital.
The Myrtle Beach International Airport serves residents and vacationers, while the Amtrak bus station offers a comprehensive bus system throughout Myrtle Beach and adjacent areas.
If you are looking to retire to Myrtle Beach, give us a call at (843) 839-9870 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.
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Call Jerry Pinkas Real Estate Experts – 843-839-9870
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