Two Neighborhoods,
Two Different Stories —
Both Worth Knowing
Let’s talk real estate the way we’d talk about it over coffee on the porch — no jargon, no spin, just the honest picture of what’s happening right now in two of the Grand Strand’s most talked-about neighborhoods.
This month, we’re looking at Murrells Inlet (specifically the Longwood Drive corridor) and Market Common in Myrtle Beach. Both are showing us something really interesting — and if you own a home in either of these areas, or you’ve been thinking about buying, you’re going to want to read this.
🦪Prices Are Holding. Patience Is Required.
If you’ve been watching Murrells Inlet, here’s the honest summary: sellers are still getting great prices — but buyers have slowed way down, and homes are sitting on the market a lot longer than they used to.
A few years ago, homes in this area were flying off the market in about 50 days. Today? The median is 192 days. That’s over six months. Now before you panic — this doesn’t mean values are falling. It means buyers are being more deliberate, more selective, and honestly… a little stubborn.
“The price is still strong. The patience required to get there is just a little longer.”
Here’s what the numbers actually say:
So what does this mean for you?
If you’re a seller in Murrells Inlet: Your home is still worth good money. But price it right from day one, and be prepared for a longer runway. The buyers who are out there are serious — they’re just not in a rush. Work with your agent on presentation, pricing strategy, and smart marketing. The homes that are selling are the ones that show beautifully and are priced with intention.
If you’re a buyer in Murrells Inlet: This is actually a really interesting window. You have more time to think, more room to negotiate, and sellers who’ve been waiting six months are often more open to conversation than they were a year ago. The value is real — $177 per square foot in this community is solid ground.
“Murrells Inlet isn’t cooling off — it’s just asking everyone to slow down and be intentional.”
🏙️Small Market, Big Momentum.
Market Common is a different story entirely — and honestly, one of the more exciting ones on the Grand Strand right now.
This neighborhood is boutique. We’re talking about a small number of transactions each month — sometimes just 2 or 3 sales. That means every single closing shapes the data in a big way. But here’s what’s undeniable: values are climbing, and they’ve been climbing consistently.
“Market Common is appreciating faster than nearly everything around it — quietly, steadily, and with a lot of room to grow.”
Here’s what the numbers actually say:
Now, you’ll notice the sold price data can look a little wild — sometimes spiking to $450K, sometimes near zero. That’s not the market crashing. That’s just what happens when you have very low transaction volume. One condo sale pulls the median one way; a single-family sale pushes it the other. This is a neighborhood where you have to read the trends, not just the monthly snapshot.
So what does this mean for you?
If you own in Market Common: You are sitting on real equity gains. A 5.6% appreciation over 12 months is genuinely impressive — especially in a market where a lot of areas have plateaued. If you’ve been thinking about refinancing, pulling equity, or simply knowing your position, now is a great time to get a proper valuation.
If you’re considering buying in Market Common: Inventory is tight, which means competition is real when something good hits the market. The gap between list prices (trending toward $550K+) and public record medians (lower, condo-driven) tells you there’s a wide range of what you can find here. Get pre-approved and know your lane before you start touring.
Putting It Side by Side 📊
| Metric | Murrells Inlet | Market Common |
|---|---|---|
| Median Value | $535,000 | $473,250 |
| 12-Mo Appreciation | Stable / flat | +5.6% 🔥 |
| Days on Market | 192 days | Low volume / N/A |
| Months Supply | 1.2 months | Extremely thin |
| Price Per Sq Ft | $177 | N/A |
| Market Pace | Patient seller’s market | Sparse but appreciating |
| Best For | Lifestyle / move-up buyers | Investors & value seekers |
What’s the Big Takeaway?
Here’s the thing about real estate on the Grand Strand — it’s never one single story. It’s a collection of neighborhoods, each doing its own thing, responding to its own supply and demand, its own buyer pool, its own season.
Murrells Inlet is telling you: the value is there, but give it time and price it honestly.
Market Common is telling you: something good is quietly happening here — don’t sleep on it.
Neither neighborhood is struggling. Both are opportunities — just different kinds. The key is knowing which one matches your goals right now.
“The best move you can make in any market is understanding it clearly — and then acting with intention.”
As always, if you want to talk through what this means for your specific home, your specific situation, or that property you’ve been eyeing — I’m just a phone call or a porch conversation away.
With love from the Strand,
Porchlight
on The Strand
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