Real estate investing in Murrells Inlet, SC
Murrells Inlet is the Seafood Capital of South Carolina, and its identity is built around the water rather than the beach. The MarshWalk, a half-mile boardwalk of waterfront restaurants and live music, anchors a community of creek-front homes, golf communities, and established single-family neighborhoods. There is no wide public beach in the inlet itself; beach access comes via neighboring Garden City, which shapes how the rental market behaves.
That distinction makes Murrells Inlet more of a primary-residence and long-term-rental market than a pure vacation-rental corridor. Investors here are often buying for steady cash flow and appreciation rather than peak-summer nightly rates, and the buyer pool leans toward primary residents and second-home owners drawn to the golf and the waterfront lifestyle.
Murrells Inlet property types and pricing
The inventory leans single-family: golf-community homes around Wachesaw Plantation and TPC Myrtle Beach, creek-front and marsh-view properties with docks, and conventional neighborhoods set back from the water. Condos exist but are less central than in the beach towns. Waterfront and golf-community homes command premiums; inland single-family offers more approachable entry for a long-term-rental strategy.
Dock access and deep-water frontage are the features that carry the most value here, drawing boaters and a specific lifestyle buyer that inland inventory cannot reach.
Where investors are looking in Murrells Inlet
Investor and primary-residence demand clusters around the golf and waterfront communities. Wachesaw Plantation and the TPC Myrtle Beach area anchor the premium golf-community market. Prince Creek is the large master-planned choice with a range of price points. Creek-front homes near the MarshWalk carry the highest waterfront premiums, while Blackmoor and the inland subdivisions offer more approachable single-family entry for a long-term-rental strategy.
The Murrells Inlet rental market
Long-term rental is the steadier play in Murrells Inlet, supported by the year-round population and proximity to jobs across the southern Strand. Short-term rental exists, particularly for waterfront and golf properties marketed to visitors who want the inlet experience, but it is more limited and more rules-dependent than the beachfront markets. The result is a market that rewards buy-and-hold investors who value stability over seasonal upside.
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 30% |
| Feb | 32% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 52% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 74% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 75% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 31% |
Illustrative Grand Strand short-term rental seasonality. In Murrells Inlet, the absence of a wide public beach makes long-term rental the steadier strategy for most investors.
Short-term rental data · Murrells Inlet
The strongest tenth of listings here gross $10,063 a month or more; the median listing makes $3,047. June is the strongest month and January the weakest. Averages cover every listing in the market, including part-time ones, so a well-run property can sit well above them. Compare all nine submarkets. AirROI, data through 2026-08-08.
How rental returns work in Murrells Inlet
Long-term-rental math governs most of Murrells Inlet. Start with achievable monthly rent, subtract the 35 to 45 percent that taxes, insurance, maintenance, HOA dues, and management typically take, and judge the deal on cash flow and cash-on-cash return. Golf-community homes carry higher dues that compress yield, so factor them honestly. The appeal here is predictability: year-round demand means fewer vacancy surprises than a seasonal beach asset.
Financing an investment property in Murrells Inlet
Because the strategy here leans long-term, financing is comparatively clean. Conventional investment loans and DSCR loans that qualify on rent both fit single-family rentals well. Golf-community homes are standard collateral, though lenders will note the HOA dues in the debt-to-income or coverage math. Primary-residence buyers, common in this market, get the best terms of all.
Murrells Inlet rules and costs that move the numbers
The tax treatment matters here because so many buyers are choosing between primary residence and investment. South Carolina assesses a primary residence at 4 percent and non-owner-occupied property at 6 percent, a meaningful gap that changes the yield on a rental. Golf-community homes add HOA dues on top. If a property fronts the creek or marsh, factor flood insurance as well. Confirm the current millage, ratio, and dues for the specific home before you treat any quoted return as real.
The Murrells Inlet investor thesis
- 01Long-term rental cash flow and appreciation are the core thesis, supported by a real year-round population.
- 02Golf-community and creek-front homes with docks are premium, defensible assets with a dedicated buyer pool.
- 03The year-round and second-home base provides demand that does not depend on the summer tourist calendar.
- 04Short-term rental is a selective add-on for waterfront and golf properties, not the default strategy.
What a first Murrells Inlet deal looks like
A typical first deal here is a single-family home held as a long-term rental, often in an established neighborhood rather than a golf community where dues compress yield. Start with an achievable monthly rent, subtract a realistic expense load, and confirm the cash-on-cash return works on conservative numbers. Because demand is year-round rather than seasonal, a Murrells Inlet first deal is usually about steady, unglamorous cash flow, which for a first investment is a feature rather than a flaw.
What to watch before you buy in Murrells Inlet
- Beach access reality. The inlet has no wide public beach. Price short-term-rental expectations accordingly; this is not Garden City.
- HOA and golf-community fees. Premium communities carry dues that affect net yield. Factor them in.
- Dock permitting and condition. Waterfront value hinges on the dock. Confirm permits and structural condition before you pay the premium. Dock permits, build costs, and flood zones are covered in our waterfront homes guide.
Where Murrells Inlet is, and why the county line matters
Murrells Inlet sits about 13 miles, a 20 to 25 minute drive, south of Myrtle Beach along U.S. 17, and it is unincorporated, which means the county governs it directly rather than a town council. The community straddles two counties: the northern portion falls in Horry County and the southern portion in Georgetown County. That one fact drives three things buyers care about here, because short-term-rental rules, school assignment, and county millage all change depending on which side of the line an address sits on.
It is a car-dependent area. Roughly nine in ten households own at least one vehicle and public transit is limited, so plan on driving to the beach, the airport, and daily errands. Myrtle Beach International Airport is about 20 to 25 minutes north.
The Murrells Inlet market right now
Murrells Inlet is a buyer's market as of mid-2026, with homes taking well longer than the national norm to sell. Public trackers put the median sale price in a wide band, from the mid $330,000s to about $445,000 depending on the source, month, and whether condos are included, with median days on market reported between roughly 90 and 175. Redfin reported a median near $360,000 in early 2026. Those aggregator figures disagree because each uses a different geography and date range, so treat them as a range, not a single truth.
For an accurate, current figure we pull directly from the Coastal Carolinas MLS for the exact area and property type you are considering, which is what actually reflects closings. The strongest window to list here is generally February through July, when buyer demand peaks.
What it costs to own in Murrells Inlet: the 4 percent versus 6 percent property tax rule
Your South Carolina property-tax bill depends on how you use the home, not just its value. A primary, owner-occupied residence is assessed at a 4 percent ratio and qualifies for the owner-occupant school-operating credit. A second home or investment property is assessed at 6 percent and does not get that credit, so the effective tax on the same house can run close to double when it is not your primary residence. See the South Carolina Department of Revenue for the assessment-ratio rules. Millage also differs between the Horry and Georgetown County portions of Murrells Inlet, one more reason the county line matters. Full county math, with a calculator: Horry County property taxes.
Short-term rental rules in Murrells Inlet
Short-term rentals are allowed in Murrells Inlet, but the rules depend on the county and the HOA, not on the community name alone. On the Georgetown County side, the county treats a rental of under 30 days as a residential use and does not require a special short-term-rental permit in most zones, though owners still need a county business license and must collect and remit accommodations tax. See Georgetown County zoning for specifics. On the Horry County side, the property follows Horry County's unincorporated rules, which are more restrictive in some residential zones. In both counties an HOA or planned-unit development can restrict or ban short-term rentals regardless of what the county allows, and enforcement is generally complaint-driven. Chapter3 will verify the zoning for the exact address and pull the HOA governing documents before you assume a property can be rented nightly. Every jurisdiction's licenses and taxes: short-term rental rules by city.
Flood zones and insurance in Murrells Inlet
Flood risk is a real cost factor here because the community is built around a saltwater estuary and tidal creeks. Homes inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area generally require flood insurance when financed with a federally backed loan, and First Street data reported by Redfin flags a meaningful share of Murrells Inlet properties as having severe flood risk over a 30-year horizon. Pull the FEMA flood map, and on waterfront or low-lying lots an elevation certificate, for the specific address, since the zone and the premium can change block to block. What the three coastal policies cost: coastal home insurance costs.
Murrells Inlet lifestyle and amenities
The center of gravity in Murrells Inlet is the water, not a wide beach. The half-mile MarshWalk boardwalk anchors the dining and live-music scene along the estuary, and two working marinas, Crazy Sister Marina and Marlin Quay Marina, put boating, fishing charters, and the inlet within reach. Just south, Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark with the country's largest collection of American figurative sculpture and a Lowcountry zoo, and Huntington Beach State Park give the area a nature-and-culture draw most of the Grand Strand lacks. Golf is deep, with courses including TPC Myrtle Beach, Wachesaw Plantation, and Blackmoor nearby. Everyday needs are covered by Publix, The Fresh Market, and Lowes Foods, and Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital serves the area. Wide public beach access is a short drive north in Garden City.
Schools serving Murrells Inlet
School assignment in Murrells Inlet depends on the county side and the exact address. Properties on the Horry County side are generally served by the St. James attendance area within Horry County Schools, including St. James Elementary, St. James Intermediate, St. James Middle, and St. James High on Highway 707, with Seaside Elementary serving parts of the area. Properties on the Georgetown County side are generally served by the Waccamaw schools within the Georgetown County School District. Because the two districts meet inside Murrells Inlet, Chapter3 will confirm the exact assignment for any address against the district attendance-boundary map.
What is coming in Murrells Inlet
Murrells Inlet already connects to the rest of the Grand Strand through the Carolina Bays Parkway, S.C. 31, which currently terminates at S.C. 707 at the edge of the community. The larger S.C. 31 extension that appears in regional news runs northward toward the North Carolina line, a future Interstate 74 corridor funded on the South Carolina side through Horry County's RIDE III program with S.C. construction targeted around 2029 per SCDOT statements reported locally, so it matters more to the North Strand than to the inlet directly.
What it is like to live in Murrells Inlet
For a primary or second home, Murrells Inlet is built around the water rather than a wide beach. Daily life centers on the half-mile MarshWalk, two working marinas, and the estuary, with Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park just south for nature and culture most of the Strand lacks. It is quieter and more residential than the Myrtle Beach core, and wide public beach access is a short drive north in Garden City.
Everyday needs are covered by Publix, The Fresh Market, and Lowes Foods, and Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital serves the area. As a live-in buyer, the numbers that shape daily life here are the flood elevation and insurance cost for the exact lot, the regime or HOA dues on a condo, and the community rules, more than nightly-rate projections.
Buying in Murrells Inlet to live, not just to rent
Much of what is written about Murrells Inlet is aimed at investors, but many buyers here want a full-time residence or a second home on the water. If you are buying to live, weigh boat and dock access, the walk or drive to the MarshWalk, and how seasonal your specific street gets. The primary-versus-second-home choice also changes your tax bill: a primary residence is assessed at 4% with the owner-occupant credit, a second home at 6% without it, so budget for the higher effective rate if this will not be your full-time home.
Read the Murrells Inlet HOA rules before you commit to a house
In a market with this many associations, the covenants matter as much as the house. Before you make an offer, read the HOA bylaws and rules, because they can restrict short-term and long-term rentals, pets, parking, golf carts, fences, and exterior changes. The classic trap: you have spent years training your dog to walk off leash, then buy into a community with a strict leash rule and lose the thing you valued most. Read the documents before you make an offer, not after.
Ask us and we will get you the governing documents for any Murrells Inlet community, from our own files if we already have them or by requesting them for you if we do not. It is also why a Chapter3 agent asks a lot of questions about how you actually live: we would rather spend the time up front than match you to a home with a rule or an HOA that blocks what you enjoy or turns out to be a poor investment.
Murrells Inlet community stats
Official figures from government sources, with no interpretation added. Each links to its source so you can read the full data yourself.
Population & income · U.S. Census Bureau
Cost, taxes & risk · government sources
How to pull the crime numbers yourself: on the FBI Crime Data Explorer, choose South Carolina, then select the local agency (the county sheriff's office or the city police department) to see reported offenses by year. On SLED, open the current "Crime in South Carolina" report and find the county and agency tables. Chapter3 will pull the current figures for a specific address with you.
Murrells Inlet school stats
Murrells Inlet is split between two counties. Horry-side addresses are generally served by St. James High School in Horry County Schools; Georgetown-side addresses by Waccamaw High School in the Georgetown County School District. Figures are from the South Carolina Department of Education report card and federal education data, with no interpretation added.
St. James High School (Horry side) · SC report card
For the elementary and middle schools that feed it, and for any exact address, read the full report cards at the South Carolina Department of Education. The report card also publishes SAT and ACT averages, Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment participation, college-and-career readiness, dropout rate, and chronic absenteeism. Ask your Chapter3 agent and we will pull the report card for the school an address is zoned to.
Who Murrells Inlet suits
Murrells Inlet fits buyers who want a waterfront and golf lifestyle over beachfront nightlife, and it rewards a specific kind of investor. Because wide beach access is a drive away in Garden City, the numbers here favor long-term and mid-term rentals and steady appreciation more than pure peak-summer nightly rates, the opposite of an oceanfront-condo play. Primary-residence buyers, second-home owners, and buyers targeting a specific gated or golf community also do well here. If your plan depends on high-season nightly rental income, an oceanfront submarket like Garden City or Myrtle Beach usually pencils better, and we will tell you that rather than sell you the wrong street.
Murrells Inlet is built around its waterfront and the MarshWalk dining scene. It blends tourism with year-round local living, and inventory spans waterfront property and more conventional inland neighborhoods.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Murrells Inlet known for?
Its waterfront and the MarshWalk dining scene, blending tourism with year-round local living.
What property types are in Murrells Inlet?
A range, from waterfront property to more conventional inland neighborhoods.
Are short-term rentals allowed in Murrells Inlet?
Yes. On the Georgetown County side a rental under 30 days is treated as a residential use with no special short-term-rental permit in most zones, though you need a county business license and must remit accommodations tax. The Horry County side follows Horry's unincorporated rules, and an HOA can restrict rentals in either county, and Chapter3 will verify the zoning and pull the HOA documents for the exact address.
Which county is Murrells Inlet in?
Both. Murrells Inlet is unincorporated and straddles Horry County to the north and Georgetown County to the south, which changes short-term-rental rules, school assignment, and county taxes depending on the address.
What are property taxes like on a second home in Murrells Inlet?
Higher than on a primary residence. South Carolina assesses an owner-occupied primary home at a 4 percent ratio with a school-tax credit, and a second home or investment property at 6 percent with no credit, so the effective tax on the same home can be close to double when it is not your primary residence.
Which schools serve Murrells Inlet?
It depends on the county side. Horry-side addresses are generally served by the St. James schools in Horry County Schools, and Georgetown-side addresses by the Waccamaw schools in the Georgetown County School District. Chapter3 will confirm the exact assignment for an address on the district boundary map.
Is Murrells Inlet a buyer's or seller's market?
As of mid-2026 it is a buyer's market, with elevated inventory and homes taking well longer than the national norm to sell, which gives buyers room to negotiate.
Does Murrells Inlet have a beach?
Not a wide public beach of its own. Murrells Inlet is built around a saltwater estuary and the MarshWalk, and the nearest wide public beach access is a short drive north in Garden City.