Years ago, it seemed as if the Grand Strand area simmered down after Labor Day. Children were back to school, keeping families close to home until Spring Break. But over the last several years, we’ve seen more and more fall activity in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding beach towns. This year, with a pandemic keeping many home over the spring and summer seasons, and many children participating in virtual learning, the Grand Strand may see even more visitors this fall than usual. Of course, you’ll still find there will be more elbow room, great shopping, golfing and fishing, and temperatures that stay in the mid-seventies through October.

Golf Capital of the World

The summertime heat can make for an uncomfortable round of golf. But since snow is extremely rare here, golf courses don’t close down for the fall and winter months. Most courses perform their maintenance during the summer, so they’re typically in top shape for September, October and November golf. With over 100 area courses and tee-friendly temperatures, whether you’re ready for a full week of golf or just a single round, Myrtle Beach is sure to have a course that’s right for you this fall.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

Nearly everywhere you turn in Myrtle Beach, you’ll find great shopping. Summertime makes for busy stores and long lines. Fall temperatures and fewer folks in town makes for a good relaxing day of shopping, either at an indoor mall or at one of many outdoor shopping centers. From Barefoot Landing and Coastal Grand Mall to Market Common and two Tanger Outlet locations, there’s no shortage of variety. Start your holiday shopping early or treat yourself!

Fishing Coastal Waters

When the temperatures cool down, the fishing heats up along the Grand Strand. In the fall, tarpon travel south through coastal waters, cruising the beaches along the way. Speckled sea trout also congregate during the cooler months, making them fairly easy targets for the knowledgeable angler. Red drum are one of the most popular game fish in the area and can be reeled in from any number of piers, in the inlets, and even from the surf. Even those without experience can get in on the action by booking a fishing charter, whether private or a head boat. Saltwater Grande offers this and more as part of our extensive concierge service.

Lower Accommodation Rates

Luxury condo and home rates drop by 35% mid-August, and another 15% heading into late-September. These lower prices on accommodations make for a more affordable vacation. Whether you’re looking for an oceanfront condo or a large waterway home, Saltwater Grande offers luxurious vacation rentals that you’re sure to fall in love with! Keep the savings for yourself or use that extra cash to splurge on the activities we’ve mentioned here. Either way, the vacation experience and memories made will be worth every penny!

Buyers are finding greater selection in their house hunt as new listings increase above pre-pandemic levels, according to realtor.com®’s latest Weekly Recovery Report, reflecting the week ending Aug. 8. The increase in new listings now brings all four major components of housing activity tracked on the index—also including housing demand, asking prices, and pace of sales—above the pre-pandemic baseline of January 2020.

“Seller confidence has been improving gradually after reaching its bottom in mid-April, and now it appears to have reached an important recovery milestone,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com®. “After five long months, sellers are back in the housing market; while encouraging, the improvement to new listings is only the first step in the long road to solving low inventory issues keeping many buyers at bay.”

The realtor.com® Housing Market Recovery Index reached a reading of 105.6 nationwide for the week ending Aug. 8, 5.6 points above the pre-COVID-19 baseline. The index uses 100 as its baseline period to compare the housing market’s recovery to January 2020, before the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S.

While new listings growth has recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels, it still remains down 6% year over year, realtor.com® reports. “The small number of homes for sale has been a key limited factor for buyers in the market, so continued recovery in new listings bodes well for home sales in the coming months,” realtor.com® reports.

Meanwhile, homes are selling four days faster than a year ago, and median listing prices jumped 9.9% over a year ago, realtor.com® reports. “The combination of eager buyers, low mortgage rates, and dwindling for-sale homes set the stage for further price increases,” realtor.com® notes in its report. “But the tide could be turning as sellers come back to the market and new construction picks up. This could help price growth move back to a more normal rate of increase.”

Source: realtor.com®