What is it like to live in The Farm at Carolina Forest?
Flytrap habitat on its north edge, and two pools in the fee.

The short answer

Living in The Farm means a swim after work in pool season and spring walks among wildflowers in a state nature preserve. The county's trails and a rock wall are minutes away by car.

Houses with yards usually sold for about $350,000 in the past year.

Tell us your price range. We will send the homes for sale in The Farm that fit.

What makes The Farm at Carolina Forest different?

Conway Medical Center planned a $160 million healthcare facility on the 353 acres along The Farm's north edge. The state bought the land instead, for the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve.

The preserve is home to South Carolina's largest wild population of Venus flytraps, and the new land holds habitat for them too.

State law says a heritage preserve may not be taken for any private use. Once the land is dedicated, that rules out private homes on it. The state has said it will dedicate it.

Back inside The Farm, the streets follow its farm theme, from Scarecrow Way to Pumpkin Patch Lane.

What is a normal day like in The Farm at Carolina Forest?

From March through June, a Saturday here can start with a walk in the preserve, among pitcher plants and wildflowers in bloom.

The preserve is open in daylight all year, and the state asks visitors to park and walk its roads. Its main entrance is about 10 minutes by car.

Residents can start a weekday with a workout in the HOA's fitness room, which opens at 5:30 a.m.

A commute to Grand Strand Medical Center, a large hospital, takes about 12 minutes. In our experience, rush hour adds 5 to 10 minutes to the drive times on this page.

The pools stay open until 9 p.m. in season, so there is time for a swim after work. The large pool curves around two small islands of palms, and its wide deck is beside a pond. Owners can also reserve the activity center near it for a private party.

River Oaks Pizzeria is next to Publix, so dinner and groceries can be one stop.

On a free afternoon, the county library and the Carolina Forest Recreation Center share one campus, about 3 minutes away by car. The center has a rock climbing wall and a full gym.

For a longer outing, the county's Bike and Run Park has 7 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails, about 4 minutes by car. Its parking area is a trailhead on the East Coast Greenway, a walking and biking route from Maine to Florida.

What are the homes like in The Farm at Carolina Forest?

Most houses here give you three or four bedrooms and a back yard of your own. A typical lot is about a fifth of an acre.

U.S. government aerial photo

Some houses have five bedrooms or more. Most have about 1,450 to 3,200 square feet. Some are one story and some are two.

The Orchards has about 200 townhomes, and Planters Point has about 70 condos, most with two or three bedrooms.

Most houses here are about 20 years old. On any house you tour, we check how old the roof and the air conditioner are.

Over the past year, a typical townhome in The Orchards sold for about $230,000, and a condo in Planters Point about $240,000.

Where is The Farm at Carolina Forest?

The Farm is in Carolina Forest, on Carolina Forest Boulevard, outside the Myrtle Beach city limits.

U.S. government aerial photo

Open The Farm at Carolina Forest in Google Maps

Which schools is The Farm at Carolina Forest zoned for?

Both Ocean Bay schools are on International Drive at The Farm's edge. A sidewalk runs along Wheatfield Drive to International Drive.

U.S. government aerial photo

We check the current zones for any home you like. See how school zones work in Horry County.

What does it cost to live in The Farm at Carolina Forest?

For a typical house you live in, the HOA fee and the county property tax come to about $2,600 a year.

Cable TV from Spectrum is the largest share of the fee. The fee also covers landscaping and the ponds, trash pickup and the pools. We confirm with the HOA whether internet is in the fee.

Townhomes in The Orchards and condos in Planters Point pay a second HOA fee as well. Owners in The Orchards pay about $225 to $255 a month in all, and in Planters Point about $450 to $500.

The county adds a stormwater fee of about $90 a year to the tax bill. On an ordinary sale, the buyer pays the HOA a one-time $250 transfer fee at closing.

What are the pros and cons of living in The Farm at Carolina Forest?

What are the HOA rules in The Farm at Carolina Forest?

Under the HOA rules, owners can rent their homes with a written lease, and the HOA's governing documents have no cap on how many homes are rented.

• A fence or shedNeeds the HOA's approval first, with a land surveyor's drawing of the lot.
• Cars and boatsCars go in the garage or driveway, not on the street or lawn. A boat, trailer or camper needs the HOA's written approval to stay outside.
• PetsUp to three dogs and cats in all. Dogs stay on a leash outside.
• The poolsOpen April 15 to October 15, with no lifeguard. Up to six guests per home, with the owner there.

Was The Farm at Carolina Forest part of an old bombing range?

Yes. From 1942 to 1948, the Army Air Force used the land as a bombing and gunnery range, along with other parts of Carolina Forest. The Army Corps of Engineers has finished the cleanup work on the land under every home in The Farm.

The Corps lists Range III, a section that borders The Farm, as under investigation. It touches some of The Farm's open land, but no home lot.

We check the Corps' map for every lot we show you. If you ever find something that looks like old ammunition, the Defense Department's advice is to leave it alone, move away and call 911.

To compare, see the best neighborhoods near Myrtle Beach, the gated neighborhoods, homes with no HOA and the most affordable places to buy.

Common questions

The Farm at Carolina Forest FAQ

How much is the HOA fee in The Farm at Carolina Forest?

The HOA fee is $107 a month, or about $1,300 a year. The HOA can raise it by up to 20 percent a year.

Is The Farm at Carolina Forest a gated community?

No. The Farm is not gated, and its roads are county-owned. Entry to the HOA's pools is by key card.

When was The Farm at Carolina Forest built?

The Farm was built in stages, on land D.R. Horton added over the years. Most houses were built from 2004 to 2009, and most of the rest about a decade later.

Is The Farm at Carolina Forest in a high-risk flood zone?

No. Every home in The Farm is outside the high-risk flood zone on the government's flood map. That means federal law does not make your lender require flood insurance. If you want a policy for a house anyway, one in this ZIP code usually costs about $600 a year.

Sources: HOA budget, Deed records, School zones, FEMA flood map, County tax levies, SCDNR preserve, Preserve law, Corps map, DoD cleanup, DoD safety. Not legal or tax advice. Sizes, ages and second HOA fees are from listings. Drives start at the Farmers Rest Drive entrance, without traffic. The flood cost is FEMA's middle policy in ZIP 29579. Corps status: fiscal year 2024.

Book a showing in The Farm.

Tell us your price range and the days you can visit. We will look for the homes for sale that fit and set up showings for the ones you choose.