Home › Myrtle Beach › Myrtle Beach condos for sale
Residential condos, resort condos and townhome-style units
Myrtle Beach Condos for Sale
A condo can be the easiest way to own at the beach, or the most expensive mistake on the coast. The difference is almost always in the paperwork.
What should I know before buying a condo in Myrtle Beach?
Before you buy a Myrtle Beach condo, read the association's budget, reserves, master insurance policy and rental rules, and confirm the zoning allows the way you plan to use it. Two units with the same view can have very different monthly costs and very different rental rights, so the documents matter more than the finishes.
This page covers the condo questions I get most. If you want oceanfront specifically, my oceanfront condo guide goes deeper on beachfront rules.
Three kinds of condos, three sets of rules
Residential condos
Garden-style and mid-rise buildings in places like Market Common, Carolina Forest and Conway. Often owner-occupied or long-term rented, sometimes with rental minimums in the bylaws.
Resort and oceanfront condos
Towers along the beach in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Garden City. Many operate with front desks and on-site rental programs.
Golf and waterway villas
Low-rise villas inside Barefoot Resort, Grande Dunes and other golf communities, where a master association may sit above the condo association.
The document checklist I run on every condo
Master deed and bylaws
South Carolina condominiums are created under the Horizontal Property Act. The master deed and bylaws spell out what you own, what is common, how dues are set and what owners can vote on.
Budget and reserves
I ask for the current budget, reserve study if there is one, and recent minutes. Underfunded reserves and deferred repairs are how buyers get hit with special assessments.
Master insurance
Find out what the association's policy covers (building, wind, flood) and what your own unit policy must cover. Coastal buildings carry large wind deductibles that can be passed to owners.
Rental rights
Inside the City of Myrtle Beach, rentals of less than 90 days are allowed only in specific zoning districts, and residential districts beginning with R do not allow them except the RMV zone (city Planning & Zoning). North Myrtle Beach requires a business license for every short-term rental (city STR page). The condo's own rules can be stricter than either.
Flood zone
Check the building on the FEMA flood map and ask whether the association carries flood coverage.
Tax ratio
Live in it full time and you can apply for the 4% ratio; a second home or rental is 6% (Horry County).
Owner-occupant or investor? Two different condo searches
If you will live in it
Prioritize quiet hours, parking, pet rules, elevator and stair access, and whether owners or renters fill most units. Buildings with long minimum rental periods often feel more residential. Ask how many units are owner-occupied and look at the minutes for noise or parking complaints.
Once you move in, file for the 4% legal residence ratio. It is one of the biggest monthly savings available to a full-time condo owner here.
If it will earn income
Start with the rules, not the photos: zoning, the condo's minimum stay, whether an on-site rental program is optional, and what licenses and tax registrations the owner must carry. Then build a budget with dues, insurance, the 6% assessment ratio, management fees and realistic vacancy.
Your lender may also review the association's budget, insurance and owner-occupancy mix, so I bring the documents to the lender early to avoid surprises at underwriting.
Reading list for condo buyers
I have written a full South Carolina condo buyer guide and a comparison of buying a single-family home versus a condo. For building-by-building browsing, see my condominiums page, and if rental income is the goal, start with the vacation rental guide and investment properties.
Keep exploring
Back to the Myrtle Beach real estate guide, or continue with these related pages:
Frequently asked questions
Are Myrtle Beach condos a good investment?
They can be, but returns depend on dues, insurance, assessments, rental rules and real occupancy, not the listing description. I help buyers compare actual numbers for specific buildings.
Can I Airbnb any condo in Myrtle Beach?
No. Inside city limits, short-term rentals are allowed only in certain zoning districts, and the condo association can restrict rentals further. Confirm both before you sign.
What do condo HOA fees cover?
It varies by building. Fees commonly fund the master insurance policy, exterior maintenance, amenities and reserves. Ask for the budget so you can see the breakdown.
Do I need my own insurance on a condo?
Usually yes. The master policy covers the building as defined in the documents, and a unit-owner policy typically covers interior finishes, contents, liability and possibly the association's deductible.
Is a condo assessed at 4% or 6%?
The same rules as a house: 4% if it is your qualifying legal residence and you apply, 6% otherwise.
What is a special assessment?
It is a one-time charge the association levies on owners, usually for a large repair or an insurance deductible that the reserves cannot cover. Ask whether any are approved or being discussed, and read the last year of board minutes.
Which condo documents should I review before closing?
The master deed, bylaws, rules, current budget, reserve study if available, master insurance declarations, recent minutes and any rental or pet rules. I request them as soon as we are under contract so you can review them inside your due diligence period.
Let's map out your next move
Book a free buyer or seller consultation and get a straight answer from someone who lives here.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these sources, checked November 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm details for your specific property.
