Retirement on the Grand Strand
Retiring in
Myrtle Beach.
By Devin Day · Chapter3 Realty · Updated August 29, 2026
Del Webb, Cresswind, Barefoot Resort, Murrells Inlet. We know the financials, the HOA governance, and the lifestyle differences between every active adult community on the Grand Strand.
Retirement Buyer FAQ
What are the best 55+ communities in Myrtle Beach?
Del Webb at Grande Dunes is the most established active adult community with resort-level amenities, gated access, and an on-site lifestyle director. Cresswind at Market Common is the most walkable option, situated adjacent to the shops and dining of Market Common. Barefoot Resort appeals to golf-centric retirees. For a quieter lifestyle, Murrells Inlet offers waterway access, boating, and a genuine small-town feel without the tourist crowds.
Do 55+ communities restrict who can live there?
Yes. Federally recognized 55+ communities under the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) require that at least 80% of occupied units have at least one resident age 55 or older. Full-time residents must meet the age requirement. Short-term guests under 55 are typically permitted for visits but cannot reside there permanently.
What are property taxes like for retirees in South Carolina?
SC offers a 4% assessment ratio for legal residents on their primary residence, compared to 6% for second homes and investment properties, which dramatically reduces your property tax bill. On top of that, once you turn 65 the South Carolina Homestead Exemption exempts the first $50,000 of your primary home’s fair market value from property taxes, so your bill drops again in retirement. How the 4 percent rate and the exemption stack, with a calculator: Horry County property taxes. South Carolina also does not tax Social Security income, offers deductions on other retirement income, and qualifying disabled veterans receive additional property tax relief.
Is Myrtle Beach a good place to retire year-round?
Yes, with some caveats. The summers are hot and humid. Hurricane season runs June through November. The tourist season brings traffic and crowds to the main corridor. Most year-round retirees gravitate to communities slightly away from the oceanfront core, such as Carolina Forest, Market Common, Murrells Inlet, or Pawleys Island, which offer a more consistently livable pace.
What healthcare options are available near Myrtle Beach?
Grand Strand Medical Center and Conway Medical Center are the two major hospitals in Horry County. Tidelands Health operates a network of facilities along the coast from Myrtle Beach through Georgetown County. The medical infrastructure has expanded significantly over the past decade alongside the retiree population growth.
Mistakes Retirees Make
These are the retiree-specific ones. The full list for every buyer type is here: common Myrtle Beach buyer mistakes.
Buying in a community without reviewing HOA financials
Active adult communities have higher HOA fees than standard neighborhoods, and the financial health of the association directly affects your quality of life and resale value. Before contracting, request the HOA budget, reserve study, and two years of meeting minutes. An underfunded reserve in a large amenity-heavy community can result in significant special assessments.
Not accounting for all three insurance policies
Retirees on fixed incomes are particularly vulnerable to insurance surprises. In coastal SC, homeowners insurance, wind and hail coverage, and flood insurance are three separate costs. Get all three quotes during your due diligence period and build them into your monthly budget before you commit.
Buying a second home before establishing SC residency
If you plan to eventually make South Carolina your primary residence, the timing of your purchase matters for property tax purposes. A home purchased as a second home is assessed at 6%. Once you establish legal SC residency and apply for the 4% owner-occupied rate, your tax bill drops significantly. Talk to a tax professional about timing your move and domicile change.
Choosing community based on amenities without considering maintenance fees
Resort-style amenities, golf courses, and pools come with significant maintenance costs embedded in HOA fees. A community with a $600 per month fee that includes a golf membership may be more financially sound than one with a $200 fee that is chronically underfunded. Compare the reserve funding percentage, not just the monthly fee amount.
The honest version
Myrtle Beach cost of living: lower, but not as low as you expect
Here’s something we say to almost every retiree moving down from the Northeast: your money goes further here, but not as far as you think it does. We’ve watched people come from Boston and New York expecting third-world prices, and yes, the taxes and day-to-day costs really are dramatically lower than up north. The problem is what happens next. People celebrate the savings by spending like crazy, and we’ve seen folks end up poorer here than they were before they moved. The Grand Strand hands you a real head start. The retirees who win are the ones who protect it instead of blowing it in the first year.
Why it’s cheaper here
What actually lowers your bills in South Carolina
South Carolina is one of the more tax-friendly states in the country for retirees, and the difference from the Northeast is not small:
- Social Security isn’t taxed by the state at all.
- Other retirement income gets a deduction, and military retirement pay is fully exempt from South Carolina income tax, regardless of age or income level.
- Property taxes are low, homes you live in are assessed at the state’s lowest ratio, and at 65+ the homestead exemption knocks the first slice of your home’s value off the tax rolls entirely.
Put those together and the monthly “cost of just owning the house” is often a fraction of what a comparable home cost you up north.
For veterans
South Carolina veteran benefits: tax exemptions and tuition
If you’re a veteran, South Carolina has perks that catch people off guard. Military retirement pay is exempt from state income tax, but the one that really surprises people is education. South Carolina offers free tuition at its state colleges to the children of qualifying wartime veterans. We’ve had clients whose kids now attend Coastal Carolina University tuition-free because of it.
There are real eligibility rules, the service era, South Carolina residency, and the veteran’s status all matter, so confirm the details with the SC Department of Veterans’ Affairs. But for the right family, it’s a benefit worth tens of thousands of dollars that most people never hear about before they move.
Don’t get caught off guard
Flood insurance and the other costs retirees underestimate
Flood insurance. Near the coast, your flood zone matters more than your street address, and the wrong zone can add real money to your monthly cost. We check the zone before you ever write an offer, and it helps to know our mortgages usually only require hazard insurance, plus flood insurance if the home sits in a flood zone.
HOA fees. South Carolina has a lot of HOAs, and some of them overcharge badly for basic amenities. We’ve seen HOA dues run over $2,000 a month. A beautiful condo with a very high HOA fee can quietly cost you more than a bigger house down the road, so before you make an offer we pull the HOA’s bylaws, budget, reserve study, and as much of the financials as we can get, and go through them with you.
A real example
What the move can actually look like
A couple sold their home in New York for around $700,000 and bought a bigger home here on the coast for about $400,000, more house for far less money. On taxes and insurance alone, they now save over $20,000 a year. And because they were veterans, their kids started attending Coastal Carolina University tuition-free. That’s one family’s numbers, not a promise, but it’s the kind of math that makes people wish they’d moved sooner.
Relocating to the Grand Strand → Buying a second home → Compare submarkets →
Where retirees settle
Where retirees actually settle on the Grand Strand
The largest concentrations of 55+ communities are in Conway and the Carolina Forest and northern Myrtle Beach area: newer neighborhoods, single-level floor plans, and the lowest prices for the space you get. Community-by-community prices and fees: 55+ communities in Myrtle Beach and golf course communities.
But a 55+ community is not the automatic answer. Plenty of the area suits retirees without the age restriction, and some of our retiree buyers are happier in Pawleys Island or Murrells Inlet: more lively, on the water, walkable dinners on the MarshWalk instead of a clubhouse calendar. The right answer depends on how you actually want to spend a Tuesday.
Before you file the change
Check how your pension is taxed before you move
South Carolina is kind to retirees, but not identically kind to every pension. New York does not tax its state and local government pensions; South Carolina taxes them past its deductions. New Jersey excludes up to $100,000 of retirement income for many couples at 62 and older; the equivalent here is smaller. Pennsylvania taxes no retirement income at all, so a Pennsylvania retiree's income tax goes up a little here, not down.
The property tax and housing gap usually outweighs all of it, but that is a calculation, not an assumption. We wrote the state by state numbers out in full: moving from North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The new resident checklist has the deadlines that follow the move.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina tax Social Security or retirement income?
No. South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits, it gives a deduction on other retirement income, and it fully exempts military retirement pay from state income tax regardless of age or income level, a big change from most Northeastern states.
Do veterans’ children really get free college in South Carolina?
South Carolina offers free tuition at its state-supported colleges to the children of qualifying wartime veterans. Eligibility depends on the service era, South Carolina residency, and the veteran’s status, so confirm the details with the SC Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
How much are HOA fees for retirees on the Grand Strand?
They range widely. Many are modest, but amenity-heavy coastal communities can charge a lot, we’ve seen HOA dues run over $2,000 a month. Always review the HOA budget and reserves before buying, because a high HOA can outweigh a low purchase price.
Is Myrtle Beach a good place to retire?
It consistently ranks among the top U.S. retirement destinations for cost of living, beaches, golf, healthcare access, and low property taxes on primary residences.
What tax breaks do retirees get in South Carolina?
South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits, offers a retirement income deduction, and homeowners 65 and older qualify for the Homestead Exemption on the first $50,000 of their primary home's value.
Should retirees buy a condo or a house?
Condos concentrate maintenance into an HOA fee and suit lock-and-leave living, while single-family homes in 55-plus communities offer more space with managed exteriors. The right answer depends on budget, HOA tolerance, and how often you travel.