NC to SC — the tax math, the equity picture, and the Grand Strand communities that fit NC buyers
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Talk to a Specialist →North Carolina and South Carolina both offer good retirement tax treatment — better than most northern states. The key SC advantage is the stacked property tax structure: 4% ratio + $50K homestead + school mill exemption produces results that NC's exemption framework (income-limited elderly exclusion) does not match for buyers above the NC income threshold ($36,700 in 2025-2026). NC buyers who exceed the income threshold for the NC exemption benefit meaningfully from crossing the border to SC.
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NC buyers moving to Myrtle Beach typically come from the Wilmington and Brunswick County corridor — they are already coastal and are making a fine-tuning move, not a lifestyle change. Cresswind and Del Webb North Myrtle Beach are the most common landing spots for this buyer profile.
File for SC primary residence tax exemptions within the year of purchase — do not wait until the following year. The 4% legal residence ratio (filed with the Horry County Assessor) and the 65+ homestead exemption (filed separately with the Horry County Auditor) must both be filed by December 31 of your purchase year. Missing either filing costs you $1,500–$3,000 or more in that tax year with no retroactive correction available.
Tell us your North Carolina home value and target community — we will run the full tax comparison for your specific situation.
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