Little River hosts an annual Blue Crab Festival every year in May, which is attended by both locals and far-flung visitors hoping to get in on the delicious flavor of this native seafood treat.
How does spending the next several years to the rest of your mortal life living in a vacation hotspot sound to you? If living near the beach while surrounded by small town charm sounds like the perfect combination, it's time to consider Little River, South Carolina
Little River hosts an annual Blue Crab Festival every year in May, which is attended by both locals and far-flung visitors hoping to get in on the delicious flavor of this native seafood treat.
How does spending the next several years to the rest of your mortal life living in a vacation hotspot sound to you? If living near the beach while surrounded by small town charm sounds like the perfect combination, it's time to consider Little River, South Carolina. Perched inland just minutes from Myrtle Beach, this adorable CDP has access to all of life's many pleasures, from tasty eateries to local shopping areas, plus it's got all the courtesy and kindness for which the South is known. Still not impressed? How about easy access to several highways, a low cost of living and a natural break point for tropical storms? That's right, you get the Atlantic with little risk of flooding out during hurricane season. If you love to boat, relax, suntan, eat and golf, consider yourself home. After all, why dream of one day retiring to a place like Little River, when you can spend an entire life there?
Before you pack a bottle of sunscreen and make for the airport, there are a few things any new resident should know before descending upon Little River with a smile and a cashier's check. Getting your facts straight about a brand new rental market and culture is imperative before any serious house hunt can begin. Let these suggestions help you find the perfect apartment or house rental of your dreams without the stress typical of a big move.
Paper Trail
Besides that cashier's check you've already got handy (good for you!), you'll also need a few other documents to ensure you can get the little bungalow of your dreams without any hiccups. Start by collecting your ID, credit report (and you've definitely checked it for accuracy recently, right?) and some recent pay stubs that prove you can handle the responsibility of renting an apartment. You may also need one or two more things, depending on the situation you're searching for, but these items will be requested, guaranteed.
Little Rock is quieter and more peaceful than Myrtle Beach, since its sits a bit inland, but it's definitely more popular during the high summer season when people come from miles around to vacation in the area. If you're hunting for a more permanent spot, it's in your best interest to avoid the high season so you can get a better deal and have a more expansive rental market to explore. In the off-season, you can expect a truly enormous vacancy rate, so do your best to get in on that.
A Host of Houses
With the cost of living below the national average, many people opt to own a home rather than rent a luxury apartment or townhouse. That said, the vast majority of properties are single-family homes, though there are a number of townhouses. As for renters, they should keep their eyes open for hi-rise apartment buildings, which are the most popular choice for those eschewing a mortgage.
Additionally, if you love high concept modern floor plans then the beach is not the best place to look. Most Little River places to rent feature established architecture built between 1970 and 2000. That doesn't mean you can't find an older, character-filled bungalow or a brand-spanking-new modern masterpiece, but they're few and far between. Also, if you love spacious lots, you have a selection of options, but most homes sit relatively close to one another for that great friendly neighborhood feeling. Make friends with your block -- it's the Southern thing to do.
The town of Little River is many wonderful things, but a big city with distinctive neighborhoods is not one of them. Though there are distinguishing features from one sector to the next, you shouldn't expect a giant disparity in culture from one compass point to another. Here is a general description to help you find your perfect nesting spot.
East: You've got the Heather Glen Golf Course, easy access to Highway 17 and 179 and stunning views of the water. You've also got the luxury seaside homes of Pointe Mariner's, which comes with a boat slip, swimming pool and tennis courts. You've also got most of the fancy restaurants boasting some of the freshest seafood you've ever tasted.
West: You can find homes on the water more easily on the west side than the east, and there are plentiful boat launches and harbors as well. There's also the River Hills Golf and Country Club and The Valley at Eastport Golf Club to satisfy your need to hit tiny, pebbled balls. If you're looking for apartments for rent, try Auburn Court, if it's houses for rent, try Summer Chase.
It's not all tee times and suntans in Little River, though admittedly it mostly is. Branch out from your house hunt to find all the cool attractions, amenities and cute, quirky details that make Little River such a lovely place to put down roots.
The Deep Blue Sea
The ocean is obviously the main attraction to living in Little Rock. While you are technically inland, the lapping waves are just a few minutes walk or drive away, depending on where you decide to reside. Boating, fishing, hiking, walking, suntanning and other water-related activities are all the rage year-round. Just because the air is nippy in December doesn't mean a stroll along the water's edge is any less fabulous for your constitution. People also love enjoying the fruits of the ocean, also known as seafood. There are a multitude of restaurants, both high-end and priced to sell, that offer the freshest of the day's catch, either saut̩ed, baked, fried or simply sliced and served raw. If you're not enjoying these amazing delicacies, you're missing out on half the fun of living here.
Scooting Around Town
You may be content to purchase a golf cart and just tool around in that bad boy for many months of the year, but it won't get you everywhere you want to go. It's true that Little River is fairly walkable, despite a walk score of only 23. If you live further inland, it's true -- you won't be able to walk to grocery stores or convenience stores. But closer to the water's edge offers greater foot traffic. Still, a car is a necessity to get to work or to run errands.
There are some buses, serviced by the SCDOT that visit North Myrtle Beach and parts of Little River. Getting around using these buses is easy once you get the hang of it, but you may find you prefer private transport at the end of the day. Try a little of both, or choose public transport during the busy summer months when traffic hits, and you'll have the best of both worlds.