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Master-planned living between Conway and the beach

Carolina Forest Homes for Sale

Carolina Forest is a favorite starting point for relocation buyers: newer homes, neighborhood pools and a short drive to both the beach and Conway.

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Is Carolina Forest a good place to buy a home?

Carolina Forest is a large master-planned area west of the Intracoastal Waterway between Conway and Myrtle Beach, popular for its newer subdivisions, HOA amenities and schools built inside the community. The tradeoffs are traffic on the main roads at peak times and HOA rules that vary by neighborhood, so I compare specific subdivisions rather than the area as a whole.

Here is the background, the practical details and the nearby communities to compare.

From impassable bays to a planned community

Old maps from the 1700s label the land between Conway and the beach the Socastee Swamps or the Impassable Bays, and during World War II the Army turned much of it into a bombing range, according to WPDE. Modern Carolina Forest began with a 20-year development agreement between Horry County and International Paper covering 7,073 acres. It passed its first county council vote in May 1997, failed its second that October, and was eventually adopted; the 20-year term ran out on December 9, 2017 (WMBF News). County staff who negotiated it told WMBF it was the county's first development agreement with an international corporation.

That agreement set aside land up front for roads, schools, EMS stations, recreation and churches, which is unusual for a development of its time, according to county planners interviewed by WMBF. Since it expired, new projects follow the county's regular zoning and planning process, which is one reason I check what is approved on vacant land near any home my clients consider.

What you will find here

Housing

Mostly single-family subdivisions, with townhomes and some condos, built from the late 1990s on. Many neighborhoods have pools, clubhouses and walking paths run by an HOA.

Schools

The district map from Horry County Schools shows a Carolina Forest attendance area that includes Carolina Forest Elementary and Carolina Forest High. Use the district's tools to confirm the schools for a specific address.

Roads

Horry County has been widening Carolina Forest Boulevard to four lanes to River Oaks Drive, with turn lanes, signals and a multi-use path (Horry County RIDE).

Nature next door: Lewis Ocean Bay

Just north of the community, SCDNR's Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve holds the largest assemblage of Carolina Bays in the state and the largest, and only long-term viable, population of Venus flytraps in South Carolina. In June 2025 SCDNR announced it had acquired 353 acres from Conway Medical Center to add to the preserve. SCDNR notes that flytraps declined largely because of fire suppression and land conversion, and the preserve protects fire-adapted plant communities. For homeowners, that means permanently protected woods nearby, and it is worth asking about controlled burns if you are sensitive to smoke.

Practical checks before you buy

HOA and covenants

Every subdivision records its own covenants, and South Carolina's HOA statute governs how they are disclosed. Ask about rental limits, boat and RV parking, fence rules and any planned dues increase.

Flood and drainage

Carolina Forest sits among wetlands and bays. Pull the flood zone from FEMA's flood maps and walk nearby ponds and drainage easements.

Tax ratio

Most buyers here live in their homes full time, so apply for the owner-occupied 4% assessment soon after closing (Horry County Assessor).

Resale versus new

Builders are still active in and around the area. See new construction for how a builder's base price stacks up against an existing home a few streets away.

Keep exploring

Back to the Myrtle Beach real estate guide, or continue with these related pages:

Frequently asked questions

Where is Carolina Forest?

West of the Intracoastal Waterway between Conway and Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, roughly along Carolina Forest Boulevard and River Oaks Drive.

What schools serve Carolina Forest?

Horry County Schools' Carolina Forest attendance area includes Carolina Forest Elementary and Carolina Forest High, among others. Confirm by address.

Do most Carolina Forest homes have an HOA?

Most subdivisions do, with amenities such as pools and clubhouses. Dues and rules vary, so review each community's documents.

What is Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve?

An SCDNR preserve just north of Carolina Forest with the state's largest assemblage of Carolina Bays and its only long-term viable Venus flytrap population.

Comparing Carolina Forest neighborhoods?

Book a consultation and I will line up subdivisions side by side: dues, amenities, school assignments and flood notes.

Book a consultation Call or text 704.746.7513 Email Sandy

Sources

Facts on this page come from these sources, checked November 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm details for your specific property.