Some amazing stats came out yesterday in regards to the Myrtle Beach real estate market. Traditionally January is a huge listing month for those placing their properties on the market after the holidays. This January, that number only went up 1 percent from January of 2012. What amazed me is the next two stats that will show you how strong we at Beach Realty Group believe that the market will be for the upcoming Spring. Inventory levels are 1/3 of what they were a few years ago when searching for a home or condo in the Myrtle Beach area. Inventory is down 18.7% from January one year ago. Closed transactions are up 28.8% for the same period.

Here is the real startling part of the real estate market, and the number one reason that we feel it is a great time to purchase a home or condo in Myrtle Beach. The inventory on foreclosures and short sales in Myrtle Beach is at a 4 year low which is reflected by lower inventory of course. The median prices have also gone down from one year ago. With lower inventory, greater demand and lower prices; wouldn't you think that it is the perfect time to buy real estate in the Myrtle Beach area. For more information on the real estate stats in the Myrtle Beach area call Beach Realty Group at 843-267-4627. We have many graphs that you will enjoy.

Way to go Myrtle Beach real estate market. Values of 2012 were up 3% from the values of 2011 across the board. The number of short sales in the Myrtle Beach area are dwindling and new homes sales in Myrtle Beach are on the rise. Many of the new home popular neighborhoods are the communities near Market Common, Cameron Village, Prince Creek homes and Carolina Forest new home communities. For the resale market, the demand is high and the supply is extremely low. As of today there are only 11 homes on the market in Avalon at Carolina Forest and 17 homes on the market in The Farm at Carolina Forest. These numbers are less than 1/3 of the properties that were on the market in these two communities in the 2007 and 2008. The market is on the way back and the national media is now starting to recognize it as well.

Emmen's Preserve at Market Common closed over 120 homes in 2012, and now the communities of Cresswind and Reserve at Market Common have just started to take shape in the Market Common area. Land costs are down and are leaving opportunities open for many of the nation's largest developers to act on building opportunities. Many local builders and custom home builders are also building at almost record pace in many other neighborhoods like Cypress River Plantation and Plantation Lakes. Myrtle Beach is still a top Southeastern tourists destination with over 14 million tourist per year. People are buying second homes and relocating to Myrtle Beach, and there will become a time soon that many will say, "I wish I would have purchased that property". If you are considering a purchase in Myrtle Beach, you are not alone. We at BRG Real Estate receive over 600 buyer request for Myrtle Beach real estate information each month. For more information on homes, condos or vacant land in Myrtle Beach call BRG Real Estate at 843-267-4627.

I showed a great oceanfront condo along the southern shore of Myrtle Beach today. This unit was located at the Grand Atlantic, which is an oceanfront condo complex with amazing vacation rental potential. The development was constructed in 2006, therefore the condos in Grand Atlantic are up to date with furnishings, most of them have flat screen TV's and many of them offer magnificent oceanfront views. The particular condo that I showed today was a 4 bedroom 3 bath room lockout unit. If you are not familiar with lockouts, the concept is often used in the timeshare industry. The lockout offers owners rental income maximum potential. Unit 1101 that I viewed today offered a 3 bedroom 2 bath room condo with an entranceway to a separate studio condo with separate bath room and mini fridge. The three bedroom has a full kitchen, a master bedroom with ocean views and two large bedrooms that sleep 8 more individuals if needed. There is no wonder that the rental potential in this building grosses in excess of $45,000/year. Did I mention that the condo is for sale for only $285,000!

The amenities and location of Grand Atlantic is amongst the best that Myrtle Beach oceanfront living has to offer. The condo resort offers indoor and outdoor water parks, restaurants, fitness room and so much more. Vacationing to Grand Atlantic is convenient with a central location just a few miles from the Myrtle Beach International Airport. Also, Grand Atlantic is located near the new Market Common, Spring Maid Pier and so much more. Let BRG know if you are interested in purchasing a condo in Grand Atlantic. Some other really nice condos in this area are Ocean Blue and Regency Towers.

Highway 31 currently extends from Little River south to Highway 544 near Socastee. The extension of Highway 31 will be a project that continues from Highway 544 to Highway 707 toward Surfside Beach.  This expansion has been in the works for years, and looks like they are about to receive the approvals to move forward with completion of the project. Carolina Bays Parkway makes for an easy community from North to South along the Grand Strand, and this extension will pull some of the traffic off an already congested Highway 707.

The project was originally proposed to be a 5.8 mile extension and continue all the way to Holmestown Road. Now the project has been shortened by approximately 2 miles which will piggy back an already approved widening project for Highway 707. This expansion project will span over Peachtree Road and the Intracoastal Waterway. For more information on the expansion project and how this will affect your real estate purchases or sale call Beach Realty Group at 843-267-4627.

I have seen many new home communities in the Myrtle Beach area, and for the most part, the builders have only a few difference in pricing from one another. Today we at BRG Real Estate were blown away by all that Bridges Construction is offering in the Jackson Estates community off Big Block Road near Socastee. The community offers some great floor plans and the best part is that what you see in the model is offered as standard options. These are must see homes located near Glenmere and Hidden Woods communities of Myrtle Beach.

The exterior of the homes offer vinyl siding with stone or brick fronts, irrigation systems are included in construction and they have even included gutters for water control. Enjoy the fully landscaped yards with bushes and poor enlarge rear patio. You can add a screened porch for $45/sq. foot which is at builder cost, and really adds to the value of your home. The interior of the home comes standard with granite countertops, 36" raised cabinets, either stainless or black appliances come standard and the builder even includes upgraded faucets. All bedrooms and the great room offer ceiling fans, ceramic tile is offered in the wet areas and wood trim wraps all your window casings.

The home that we sold today was offered at $138,000, measures nearly 1300 heated square feet with a two car garage and has vaulted and nine foot ceilings throughout. We visited over 20 neighborhoods in the Myrtle Beach area, and this is by far the best value that we saw currently for new construction in the area. For more information on Jackson Estates or other Myrtle Beach new home communities call BRG Real Estate at 843-267-4627.

That just in… Myrtle Beach may soon have other areas like Market Common. These changes are expected to affect the growth of this area of over 14 million annual tourists greatly. The city council expects the new zoning codes to be in affect by Spring of 2013. The expectation of the new zoning laws is to give developers more options when developing Myrtle Beach commercial and residential property through “Mixed Use” zoning.

This “Mixed Use” zoning will offer the ability to have more live work areas of Myrtle Beach like Market Common, which has noticed a real estate boom in recent years.

This weekend only Lennar is offering $4000 back toward closing cost for purchasing a new home in one of their three Myrtle Beach area locations. Enjoy a BBQ at Myrtle Beach’s most popular new home community of Emmen’s Preserve. The pricing has never been better on new construction then what they are currently offering on these “Everything is Included” Lennar homes.

The three communities that you will find this outstanding special being offered are Enclave at International Club, Ridge Pointe and of course Emmen’s Preserve at Market Common. For more information on any of these communities or other Myrtle Beach new home communities, call Beach Realty Group at 843-267-4627.

Here is an absolutely immaculate home that we at Beach Realty Group just listed in one of the most sought after communities in Carolina Forest. Enjoy this move in ready single level home with bonus room, and lots of love added by the current owner. All the bedrooms and bonus room have new carpeting as well as newly installed “hand-scraped” hardwood flooring in the great room, foyer and formal dining room. The home has a fresh custom paint job throughout as well as many features listed here: brand new washer/dryer, new side by side fridge, new upgraded faucets in master bath, security system, irrigation system, New custom built shed, installed invisible fencing, hurricane resistant garage door, “Plantation Shutters” installed gutters, “dual zone” HVAC, granite countertops, fans in all rooms and so much more. Enjoy quiet evenings on the oversized back patio with lake views. The sun sets toward the front of the home. The community of Waterford Plantation offers a natural setting of tree lined areas with sidewalks and convenient amenities for all residents and guest to enjoy. Waterford Plantation has a pool/clubhouse area, tennis and volleyball courts and so much more.

For more information on Waterford Plantation, this home and other Carolina Forest real estate call Beach Realty Group at 843-267-4627.

Employment in the Myrtle Beach area is picking up, but the average salaries offered in our area are less than sufficient. The driving force of the Myrtle Beach area is the hospitality industry, and many people depend on gratuity for income. Therefore, the overall economy of the Myrtle Beach area is very dependent on tourism. We hear the argument of low wages daily while speaking with individuals that wish to relocate from the northeast. Most individuals from the north never realize their dreams of moving south, because giving up the salary they are accustomed to is not in their cards.

An interesting discovery that we found has to deal with the "Top Employers" in the Myrtle Beach area. It is no surprise that Burroughs and Chapin comes in at number 8 for Horry County, as they are responsible for bringing the tourists to the Myrtle Beach area for over half a century. What caught our eye is that Kingston Plantation is ranked number 11 on that list with 633 employees. Kingston Plantation is a condo and hotel resort located in the Arcadia Section of Myrtle Beach, and has a variety of restaurants and amenities for its guest. Most of the properties are individually owned condominiums that are leased out through the resort for a fee. Also, on site at Kingston Plantation is the Embassy Suites resort and many courtyard style villas. The community is gated and one of the most sought after Myrtle Beach resorts for those vacationing or holding a conference in the area.

Ranked number 1 on the list was Horry County Schools and number 2 is Wal-Mart.

Carolina Forest expands its resources for residents again with the opening of a public library. Horry County Memorial Library at Carolina Forest had its grand opening on September 4, 2012. The library is nearly 20,000 square and stocked with state of the art technology, and reading materials for Carolina Forest residents of all ages. There are 24 public computers within this facility, and an open meeting room for the public to use. The great benefit of this library is that they have a kid's room and young adult's room to assist with education in Horry County.

The library will be open Monday through Saturday, and they are coming up with all sorts of events for the public. You can visit the Carolina Forest Library and find a list of upcoming events there. Enjoy this new addition to Carolina Forest, and continue using our Carolina Forest real estate website to stay in touch with everything affecting your community.