The Myrtle Beach Sun News recently ran a real estate article about the arrival of million dollar homes along the Grand Strand. High-end buyers didn't used to consider Myrtle Beach the place for million-dollar homes. Luxury-home buyers looked south to Charleston or Hilton Head Island to buy their second or third dream home on the Carolina coast.

But now, Myrtle Beach is catching up with its rivals in offering the lavish lifestyle. In 2004, the Grand Strand had 65 homes listed as costing more than a million dollars, according to the Multiple Listing Service. Charleston had 274 for more than a million dollars, Hilton Head Island had 106 million-dollar-plus listings, and Wilmington, N.C., had 58, according to surveys done by Carolina Homes & Interiors magazine, which explored the history of million-dollar homes on the Carolina coast in its most recent issue.

The most expensive area home sold in 2004 was a $4.4 million oceanfront home on 33rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach with a heated pool, guesthouse, chef's kitchen and extensive woodwork.

The South Strand from Surfside Beach to Pawleys Island held five of the 10 most expensive homes sold in 2004.

How About $100,000?

Phil Cox, Broker-in-Charge at Myrtle Beach Resort Vacation Services, indicates that it still doesn’t take a million to enjoy oceanfront living at the Myrtle Beach Resort. Although prices on condominiums at this 33-acre resort are still spiraling upwards, buyers are still finding 2 bedroom/2 bath condos in the 80 to 100 thousand-dollar range. How long will this last? Cox reports, “if prices continue as they have in the last 18 months, we’ll see these values disappear in 2005.”

To view Current Listings: Myrtle Beach Resort Condo Sales