Myrtle Beach Area Real Estate Market Update - July 2014 Statistics

Myrtle Beach Real Estate Statistics July 2014

The real estate market in the Myrtle Beach area has seen a few interesting twists both in June and year to date. Here are a few important statistics to consider:

  • Single-family home sales jumped 11.5% in June from June 2013 in Horry and Georgetown counties
  • Myrtle Beach area up 6% in growth for the first half of 2014 versus the first half of 2013
  • The local area's real estate market is no longer dependent on sales of homes priced $150,000 and lower
  • The real estate growth in the area for both this June and the first half of 2014 has been in home sales in the $200,000 - $400,000 range
  • Sales of homes priced $200,000 - $250,000 surged 23% in June 2014
  • 204 homes priced between $200K - $400K sold in Horry and Georgetown counties in June 2014, 93 more than in the 2nd highest selling price range, $150K-200K
  • For the year, 990 homes priced $200K - $400K have sold, 387 more than the 2nd highest price
    Myrtle Beach Real Estate Chart July 2014
    range, $100K-$150K
  • There were 715 pending sales at the end of June, 34.4% higher than June 2013
  • The median sales price for single-family homes in June 2014 was $193,929, up 5.1% year to date
  • Condominium sales are slightly below last year's numbers

The large increase in the number of single-family homes sales is due  to the fact that there have been relatively fewer distressed properties (short sales and foreclosures) for sale. The number of lower priced single family homes which made most of the transactions for the past few years has dropped, making room for higher priced properties.

10 Things You Need to Have in Your New Home

Moving into a new home is always an important endeavor that needs to be carefully planned and executed. You may move out of your parent's home for the first time, or you may simply relocate with your family, it really doesn't matter. The fundamental aspects of the process of starting life in a new home are the same. I will focus today on a list of the 10 most important items needed in a new home.

1. Art you love - art is integral to our culture, a part of our daily lives. Art helps us achieve a better self awareness and it makes our place more beautiful. We need, as human beings, more than just functional items, and art can help us provide personality to our home. Art-decorated living room
2. Plants - these living organisms are not just greenery, they interact with our body, mind and home in ways that enhance the quality of life. Match the right plant to the right growing conditions and you will benefit from the fresh air they produce.
Indoor plants
Indoor plants - Source: blog.hgtv.com
3. A nice mattress and headboard - choose a quality mattress for comfort, and a headboard for character. Spending money on a good mattress can be the healthiest investment of your life. Latest reports show that a full night's sleep throughout your life could help ward off age-related cognitive decline and improve general health.
Mattress and headboard
4. Linen closet - many homes have a built-in linen closet near the bedrooms and for a good reason. Consider adding a linen closet if your home doesn't already have one. The primary function of a linen closet is to be functional, so spending a little bit of time creating an orderly linen closet can actually save you time and stress in the long run. Also, make sure you have at least three sets of sheets – one on the bed, one for a guest, and one as a backup if one set is in the laundry. I also recommend having a couple of extra pillowcases, since they should be changed frequently.
Linen closet
5. Coffee table - they come to mind right after sofas when you think of living room furniture. For some, a coffee table is a canvas for artful arrangements of objects, while for others; it almost makes for a dining table.
Coffee table
6. Home safety and first-aid kits - you have to have the right things to address the common cold, a fever, headache, stomachache, nausea, etc. Make sure you include basic medications, band-aids, spare light bulbs, batteries, a needle and thread, power cord, etc., to allow you to handle small emergencies.
Home emergency and first aid kit
7. Silverware/Dishes - they add color to the kitchen and dining areas, making a great meal more than just food. Make sure your tableware is in sets of four so you can accommodate guests.
Silverware and dishes
Silverware and dishes - Source: Jim Roger Webb
8. Desk organizer/file holders - to help keep you organized. Many people keep themselves busy even after retirement and we all have bills, receipts, coupons and other documents to manage.
Home office
9. Electric appliances - it seems obvious, yet many people have created a habit of living frugal. There are, for sure, items most anyone can live without, but any household needs a refrigerator, TV set, microwave oven, washing machine, and vacuum cleaner.
Home appliances
10. Internet - yes, I have decided to include it on the list of "top 10" since we now live in an interconnected world and the informational highway plays a vital role in our lives. Internet gives us access to email,  allows us to do business remotely on those days we cannot get to the office, and lets us watch the online videos, movies or shows we love. A home with no internet access does not really belong to the 21st century.
Family using internet
You may have other important items to add on the list, or even disagree with some of the items I have included. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. In the meantime, don't hesitate to use our real estate properties online search if you are searching for the perfect home for you and your family in the North Myrtle Beach area.