Spacious properties and proximity to Myrtle Beach
Longs is a developing inland area on the edge of the Grand Strand in Horry County. The town is home to two highly regarded golf courses and a variety of housing styles, including some new construction. Homeowners can get a single-family home with land – something that’s hard to come by a few miles south in the popular Myrtle Beach area. “You have the option for a decent sized yard, like a four-to-five-bedroom home on an acre, whereas Myrtle Beach is out of land,” says Stacy Stoll, a Realtor with Realty ONE Group Dockside in Myrtle Beach. And though it’s not directly on the beachfront, Longs provides proximity to the shopping, dining and coastline of Myrtle Beach. The size of properties available here paired with its location and relative affordability are the primary draws that bring homebuyers to Longs. “You’re within 15 minutes of the beach, but without beach prices on your home,” says Stoll.
Master-planned communities, condos and manufactured homes in Longs
Longs’ diverse residential landscape includes newly built homes and master-planned communities, with architectural styles including modern transitional, New Traditional and ranch-style homes. Prices range from about $180,000 to $870,000; there are outliers on either end of that spectrum, with some fixer-uppers and the occasional $1 million property exceeding 30 acres. Home prices typically depend on size, age and acreage. Homes under $200,000 are usually about 1,000 square feet; those between $200,000 and $600,000 are frequently in the 2,000 square-foot range; houses priced above $600,000 can be as large as 6,000 square feet. The median single-family home price is about $310,000, and the average single-family house size is just over 2,100 square feet. Condos and townhouses range from about $100,000 to $300,000. Similarly, manufactured home prices fall between about $140,000 and $300,000. There is also land on the market.
Spending the day on the golf course, river or at Myrtle Beach
With more than 60 golf courses within the city limits, Myrtle Beach is a golfing destination in addition to all of the other amenities residents can find there. Longs’ contribution to that highly esteemed golf scene include two marquee courses: The Long Bay Golf Club, designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, and the Aberdeen Country Club, where members can play the three links-style courses inspired by the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland. The Waccamaw River is another outlet for outdoor recreation, where locals can go kayaking and fishing for catfish and bass.
Residents of Longs also enjoy proximity to the wide, sandy beaches of South Carolina. Longs is about 13 miles from public beach access in North Myrtle Beach. “It depends where you are, but some parts of Longs are only a fifteen-minute drive to the beach,” Stoll says. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, a paved path between hotels and the shoreline, is about 30 miles away. “All the locals go into the tourist areas, too. We’ll stay away during peak season, but the majority of time, we’ll go where the tourists go,” Stoll adds.
Students are zoned for Horry County Schools
Within Horry County Schools, rated A-minus on Niche, students may be zoned for one of two school pipelines. Those living in the northern part of Longs attend public schools in the town of Loris, while those living in the community’s southern portion attend schools in North Myrtle Beach. Noris-area schools include the B-plus-rated Daisy Elementary, B-rated Loris Middle and B-rated Loris High School. Students attending school in North Myrtle Beach can attend Riverside Elementary School and North Myrtle Beach Middle, both rated A-minus, as well as North Myrtle Beach High, rated B-plus. Holy Trinity Catholic School, rated A, offers a private option in Longs for prekindergarten through fifth grade.
Shopping, dining and entertainment along U.S. Route 17
Locals can get groceries at Food Lion, and those looking for a Mexican restaurant will find it at La Familia Fonda, but most shopping and dining destinations lie towards Myrtle Beach along Highway 17. Options there include Ross Dress for Less and PetSmart at Coastal North Town Center, as well as a lively atmosphere and plenty of seafood at Boardwalk Billy’s. Heading into North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, attractions range from mini golf courses to tiki bars to live entertainment venues, like the Alabama Theater.
Weather-related risks in Longs
Like much of the southeastern United States, Longs gets hot and humid in the summer. Proximity to the coast also means that homeowners should stay attuned to the weather radar during hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. Longs sits at a low elevation, and areas lining the Waccamaw River have an increased flood risk. Conversely, in the winter and spring, the lack of moisture in the air coupled with airborne remnants from debris burns may cause fires. “It gets dry here; we do have the dry season,” Stoll says. “If there’s a spark, within a couple days, emergency crews have it contained. People evacuate quickly and then get right back to normal living.”
Driving through Longs and into Myrtle Beach
Longs is a car-dependent area. The community’s central point is where Highway 905 meets Highway 9, which extends about 7 miles to McLeod Seacoast Hospital. Highway 9 also leads to U.S. Route 17, a heavily trafficked commercial corridor that stretches along the Grand Strand. Air travel is available at Myrtle Beach International Airport, about 30 miles south.
