Real Estate Investing in Horry County, SC: Local Data, Off-Market Leads and Deal Math
From Myrtle Beach to Conway and Loris, ForeclosuresDaily.com connects agents, investors, wholesalers and homeowners in Horry County, South Carolina with owners ready to sell.
In Horry County, foreclosure means a court case that ends in a Master-in-Equity sale, and buyers who reach owners before then have more room to negotiate.
A foreclosure suit, an estate, delinquent county taxes or storm repairs an owner cannot cover can force a Horry County sale on a deadline. Owners in that position often accept a lower price or a cash buyer rather than list and wait.
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Investment deal sources in Horry County
About 428,000 people live in Horry County, where the median home value is near $288,000, and the median household income is around $67,000. About 23% of occupied homes in Horry County are rented, and roughly 77% are owner-occupied.
Moderate prices give investors two options: flip older homes for owner-occupants or hold them as rentals. Lead sources differ in what they reveal about the owner and the timing, so stacking them improves your odds of finding the right property at the right price.
First areas to research in Horry County
What South Carolina foreclosure rules mean for investors in Horry County
Horry County at a glance
South Carolina treats every foreclosure as a court case in the county Court of Common Pleas.
Horry County’s Master-in-Equity usually auctions homes at the courthouse on a monthly sale day after three weeks of advertising, and the owner cannot buy the home back. An early offer gives an owner a way to sell before that day.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Horry County, South Carolina (2020 to 2024 American Community Survey; population estimate for July 1, 2025) and state foreclosure law summary.
South Carolina foreclosures are usually referred to the Master-in-Equity, who conducts the sale. Read the Horry County master’s sale list, deposit rules and bidding terms before you bid.
Price several exits for each Horry County property. Near the Grand Strand, a house that is a thin flip may still work as a rental, and the reverse holds too. A motivated, off-market seller’s price makes both plans work.
How attorneys and title companies help
Title company
Begin the title search right after signing in Horry County. Heirs living out of state, old judgments and unpaid taxes are common on distressed homes, and every one must be resolved before closing.
South Carolina attorney
Before closing a Horry County estate or foreclosure purchase, have the professional handling settlement confirm the seller’s authority and any open court steps.
Horry County investing mistakes
Assuming the auction ends on sale day costs Horry County buyers. If the lender seeks a deficiency judgment, South Carolina bidding stays open for 30 days, so read the sale terms first.
Overpaying for a coastal house is easy when buyers are active. Compare recent Horry County closings, factor in county permit timing and insurance, price repairs honestly, and settle the exit before you buy.
Building a repeatable process
Writing to Horry County owners
Be clear, kind and brief with Horry County owners. Many are dealing with a court case, so suggest one next step, give them time, and follow South Carolina and federal solicitation and privacy rules.
Horry County, SC by the numbers
Here is how Horry County compares with South Carolina on the figures investors check first. All numbers come from the U.S. Census Bureau.
| Measure | Horry County | SC (state) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (July 1, 2025) | 427,551 | 5,570,274 |
| Population change since April 2020 | 21.8% | 8.8% |
| Median home value | $287,700 | $259,000 |
| Median gross rent | $1,255 | $1,180 |
| Median monthly owner cost (with mortgage) | $1,446 | $1,529 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.3% | 71.9% |
| Median household income | $66,880 | $69,324 |
What this means for investors in Horry County
- Price vs. income: the median home costs about 4.3 times the median household income, compared with 3.7 times statewide. Higher ratios usually mean thinner buyer pools at the top of the market and more value in pricing discounts carefully.
- Rent vs. price: a year of median rent equals about 5.2% of the median home value (5.5% statewide). That is in line with the state. This is a rough gross figure before taxes, insurance and repairs.
- Renters: about 23% of occupied homes are renter-occupied (28% statewide). A smaller renter share means most homes are owner-occupied, so probate, divorce and pre-foreclosure leads matter more than landlord leads.
- Population: the county grew (21.8%) between April 2020 and July 2025. Growth supports demand for rehabbed homes and rentals.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Horry County, SC (American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates; population estimates July 1, 2025).
Next steps
If you are ready to invest in Horry County, choose your target ZIP codes and price range, then find a dependable distressed lead source such as ForeclosuresDaily.com lead lists, and review new leads consistently.
Current numbers on population and housing are listed in the Census profile for Horry County. To finish, arrange a lender, a contractor or property manager, and a title company ahead of your first offer.
Horry County, South Carolina investing FAQ
Can investors still find value in Horry County?
Yes, with careful numbers. Moderate prices and a high owner-occupancy rate, about 77%, favor flips to owner-occupants, though rentals can work too, so compare prices, rents, insurance, taxes and resale demand in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach and inland towns.
Which Horry County owners are most likely to sell at a discount?
Mostly off-market: Common Pleas foreclosure filings with a lis pendens, probate estates, tax-delinquent parcels and tired landlords, including second-home owners. Many want a quick, as-is sale, and the months before the Master-in-Equity sale are the best time to reach them.
In Horry County, is flipping or renting smarter?
Resale to owner-occupants is the better play when the price leaves a wide gap below after-repair value. Holding makes sense when rent covers the mortgage, taxes, coastal insurance and upkeep with room to spare. Horry County investors often own some of each.
Why use ForeclosuresDaily.com?
Since 2004, investors have turned to ForeclosuresDaily.com for off-market foreclosure, probate and tax-delinquent leads, a way to reach Horry County’s motivated sellers first.
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