Horry County residents are seeing a shift in the local housing market, with three key signals indicating a potential slowdown. State lawmakers have passed a new law allowing homeowners to more quickly remove people unlawfully living in their homes. Meanwhile, a beloved recreational amenity in Myrtle Beach is being converted into housing units over resident objections. Despite this, countywide sales numbers are softening, with the median home price down 1.8% from last year.
Housing Market Trends
The new law, signed by Gov. Henry McMaster on June 30, allows homeowners to file a petition with a magistrate court to remove occupants who are not family members, tenants, or part of an ongoing property dispute. If the conditions are met, a judge can issue an immediate removal order, followed by a hearing within 24 hours. This law also adds criminal penalties for illegal occupation, property damage, or using fraudulent documents to claim residency rights.
In Myrtle Beach, the city’s Planning Commission has approved a plan to redevelop the Grande Dunes Tennis Club into a 31-unit housing complex, despite resident objections. This is not the first time density has been an issue in Grande Dunes, with a group of homeowners suing the city in 2022 over the approval of 305 apartment-style units.
According to sales data, Horry County’s median home price sat at $329,000 over the three months ending in April 2026, down from $335,000 the year before. Homes are also taking longer to sell, with an average of 116 days on the market, up from 110 days last year. New construction is not slowing down, however, with new homes accounting for 33.7% of all sales in 2025.
Implications for Homeowners
The combination of these factors raises questions about whether Horry County is still building toward demand or building past it. For homeowners, the new law provides some protection, but the flood of approvals working through city and county planning boards may be doing less for what that ownership is worth. As the market continues to cool, residents near the next rezoning hearing may want to ask whether the market can absorb new construction before the vote is final.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
