Port City Homes - Article
Grand Strand New Home Guide - Spring 2020
Experience and Quality...
Hallmarks of Port City Homes
When you decide to build a home—whether it’s your first home, you need more space, or it’s your retirement dream home—you want a builder with experience.
You also want a builder who uses the highest quality materials and latest building methods, and knows the area in which they’re building. A local builder can offer all of those benefits.
Port City Homes, a custom home builder based in Murrells Inlet, S.C., is celebrating its 11th year in business in 2020. Constructing homes on the southern end of Myrtle Beach, including the Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, and Pawleys Island areas, owner Drew Hanna says that when you work with Port City Homes, you can expect “an experienced team of professionals to help guide our customers through the home building process, from picking the right home site, their home design, interior and exterior design consultation” and more.
“I have been building homes for more than 15 years,” says Hanna. “Our team here in Murrells Inlet has over 60 years of combined experience.
When most people hear the term “custom home,” they believe that it comes with a price tag; however, that’s not always the case. Port City Homes strives to provide customers with a superior product at a price that fits almost any budget.
“The difference between Port City Homes and some of the national builders is that not only do we strive to incorporate the wants and needs of our customers, we know that one size does not fit all,” says Hanna. “We are flexible in our design approach, allowing clients to customize their homes no matter the size or budget, so they can get exactly what they want.”
Slower Pace of Life
If you’re looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, the areas south of Myrtle Beach—also known as the South Strand—can deliver.
“We find that most folks enjoy these areas because of the great schools,convenience to shopping and dining, hospitals, parks, and some of the best beaches in the area,” says Hanna. “Generally, the south end of Myrtle Beach lends itself to a slower pace of life, with close proximity to all of the amenities someone would want.”
Murrells Inlet—known as the Seafood Capital of South Carolina—offers the Marsh Walk, a half-mile wooden boardwalk that provides access to restaurants and events along the waterfront. Other attractions in the area include Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens.
There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy golfing, boating, fishing, and biking. The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway is an 18.6-mile paved path that parallels U.S. 17 from Garden City to Pawleys Island. It’s perfect for biking, walking, jogging, or simply strolling with your family and pets.
Exclusive Communities
Port City Homes has built homes in some of the most desirable communities in the area, including Bellwood Landing, Highwood Landing, Waverly Bay, Palm Bay, Bays of Litchfield, North Litchfield, Hagely Estates, Pawleys Plantation, and Cypress River Plantation, to name a few. “In addition, we have built many homes in non-neighborhood settings,” Hanna adds. “Our build on your lot program is set up not only to help folks build on homesites they already own, but also assist families in finding the right homesite, and designing and building a home that meets their specific needs.”
In addition, Port City Homes is currently the exclusive builder in two communities, Reflection Pointe in Garden City Beach, and Phase 6 Collins Creek Landing in Murrells Inlet.
Reflection Pointe features beach-style homes in the heart of Garden City, just a golf cart ride away from beaches and downtown Garden City. The community features a clubhouse, pool, and natural gas, and homes start in the mid-$350s.
Collins Creek Landing is a custom, gated neighborhood in Prince Creek, with homes starting from the $500s, says Hanna. Amenities include a pool, clubhouse, soccer field, batting cages, boat ramp with day dock, and boat storage.
Another new community coming online early this year is Caroline’s Court in Murrells Inlet.
This natural gas community will feature homes from the $300’s with 1 and 2-story homes ranging from 1,650-2,700 sq ft. Some plans will offer floorplans that can accommodate 4 or even 5 bedrooms so while the one-level living will obviously appeal to pre and early retirees it is also going to be popular with young growing families.
Caroline’s Court is a “boutique community” as there will only be 20 homesites. Given the quaint size of the neighborhood, there will be no in-community amenities, however it’s the location that sets this community apart from the rest. Port City Homes has built a number of homes in this area of Murrells Inlet as many people find this particular area one of the most attractive anywhere along the Grand Strand. If you are a boater, then this community places you a golf-cart ride from Wacha Wache Marina with direct access to the Waccamaw River which links a boater to the Great Pee Dee River and the Winyah Bay just to the south. So whether you want to get out to the ocean for some off-shore fishing or you want to explore the endless wilds of the Great Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers or you want to pull the kids on tubes and water skis…this is the spot. If you don’t own a boat, boat rentals are available at the marina. The other attractions of this area include the natural beauty as old growth trees abound. Much of this area was the site of former rice plantations and probably explain why its home to several beautiful golf courses. Wachesaw Plantation East is a nearby neighbor and is a Clyde Johnson designed course and a very nice amenity to have so close by. And of course, Murrells Inlet’s reputation is as a fishing Village due to its unique geography allowing direct access to the ocean and accommodating an amazing assortment of wonderful seafood restaurants.
Given the many attractions of Caroline’s Court it is expected these homes will not last long. Keeping with tradition, Port City Homes will have ready-to-move-in homes as well as homes under construction that can be customized to your needs and wants and homesites available for your fully custom designed home.
A Home Builder You Can Trust
When you choose Port City Homes as your builder, you know you’ll have a home that will stand the test of time.
And your new home will be stylish inside and out. “Most of the homes we build are of a true coastal/Lowcountry design, although we are experienced in building all types of architecture,” says Hanna.
What sets a Port City Homes community apart from others? “[Our] communities are well thought-out, and centrally located near all that the south end of Myrtle Beach has to offer,” says Hanna, adding that the custom home sites offer the architectural flexibility to build what you want. “None of the neighborhoods are cookie cutter, and each one is unique.”
South Strand
Port City Homes is located on the south end of the Grand Strand, with an office in Murrells Inlet, an area known for its slower pace of life, natural beauty, and modern conveniences.
There are a multitude of amenities in the south strand. Shop national chain stores and boutique shops, and dine in locally owned restaurants.
Medical services are plentiful as well. Anchored by Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, clinics and specialists provide preventive care and treatment when you need it. There are also many options for health and fitness in the area, from traditional equipment to modern group classes and aquatic programs.
Living on the south strand puts miles of pristine beaches at your doorstep, from Garden City to Litchfield to Pawleys Island. There is also an array of protected areas, such as the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, Huntington Beach State Park, and Hobcaw Barony research reserve. Brookgreen Gardens—one of the country’s largest outdoor sculpture gardens—is also nearby.
The south strand welcomes you home to a slower pace of life—with all the modern amenities you desire.