The Myrtle Beach real estate market may appear to be at the bottom of a hole, but Builder magazine (the trade journal of the home building industry) expects our market to dig its way out this year and begin its climb back to the top.

Builder magazine ranked Myrtle Beach among the top 20 “healthiest housing markets for 2010,” highlighting the area’s continued influx of new residents and a recent increase in building permits. Myrtle Beach’s appeal and the pent up demand to move to the area persists despite the tough economic times, according to Fred Coyne, President of the Horry-Georgetown Home Builders Association.

We’ve seen many local builders, including Chicora, Centex, DRHorton and Lennar all ratchet up construction activity during the first two months of 2010 in anticipation of the rebound. They’re competing with short sales and foreclosures, but they’ve done a great job of narrowing the gap.

You can read the article here or search Myrtle Beach homes, condos and land here.

The home building industry’s trade magazine has ranked Myrtle Beach in their list of “Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009.”

The list, compiled by a review of home prices, jobs, building permits and population, included Myrtle Beach as number 15 on their list.  Myrtle Beach stood out due to our population growth numbers.  “Though permit activity dropped sharply last year, Myrtle Beach remains one of the hottest markets in the country, especially when you analyze the number of permits pulled per resident,” the magazine said.

Okay, we’re a little biased.  But our heads are swimming with all of the good news the media just can’t ignore anymore about the Myrtle Beach real estate market.  We have a long way to go – but we have to crawl before we can start running again.

Once you’ve made that important decision to build your home instead of buying an existing home, decision number two is usually, “How do I choose a builder?”

In the Myrtle Beach real estate market, this question is especially challenging. Clearly, you’ll want someone who is established and trustworthy, who can manage a large group of tradespeople and make it seem effortless. And, equally as important, you’ll want someone with whom you’ll get along; someone who understands what you really mean – based on the words you actually say.

So, how do you find that builder?  I have four broad suggestions:

1. Who in your circle of friends has built their own home recently?  Word-of-mouth is almost always the best way to find a fantastic home builder.  You can always widen your search to include family (and their circle) and co-workers (and their circle) to find potential building partners.

2. Find out, either from the builders, or from your local chamber or commerce or BBB, how long the builders have been building homes?  How many homes they’ve built?  References – both positive and negative?

3. Ask the basics, even if you think you’re being picky. What kind of homes have you built?  Will I get a warranty? What will it cover? How long will it last? What happens if… (fill in the blank).  When it comes to contracts, make sure you read everything carefully – or consult with a real estate attorney.

4. Pay attention to how each builder listens to your questions, and how they formulate and express their answers. Sometimes the only difference between two builders is their personalities.  In that case, wouldn’t you rather do business with a friend?

Now, go make your dream home a reality!