If you’re planning to build in Myrtle Beach in 2026, a workable starting range for many buyers is roughly 3–4 times gross annual household income, assuming typical debts and a 10–20% down payment. From there, you fine‑tune using today’s mortgage rates, local lot and construction costs, and your comfort level with the monthly payment.
2026 market snapshot: Myrtle Beach and financing context
Across the Coastal Carolinas region, the overall median sales price (all property types) finished 2025 at about $328,000, with single‑family homes at $365,000. Condo prices were lower, with a rolling 12‑month median around $238,825, which gives buyers multiple entry points into the Myrtle Beach area market. In the broader Horry County area, the median sales price held near $310,000, indicating solid but not runaway home values going into 2026.
Construction and land sit on top of this backdrop. Coastal Carolinas data show that inventory for all properties rose about 2.3% in 2025, with condo inventory up 5.5%, which has helped temper price pressure and restore more balanced conditions. At the same time, the 30‑year fixed mortgage rate was about 6.11% as of February 5, 2026, down from roughly 6.89% a year earlier, improving affordability compared with much of 2024–2025.
How much house can you afford to build in Myrtle Beach?
To frame a realistic price range, most lenders use a front‑end ratio where housing costs (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA if any) are capped around 28% of gross monthly income and a back‑end ratio where all debts stay below roughly 43%. Many Myrtle Beach–area buyers fall into a practical comfort zone closer to 25–30% of income for housing when planning a new build, especially with variable costs like utilities and maintenance along the Grand Strand.
A simple rule of thumb is that you can usually afford a total home price around 3–4× your gross annual income, assuming average consumer debt and a down payment of at least 10%. For example, with a $110,000 household income, that points to roughly $330,000–$440,000 in total build cost (land plus construction), which lines up well with the current Coastal Carolinas single‑family median of $365,000. If you carry higher car payments, student loans, or credit card balances, you may need to stay closer to 3× income; if your debts are very low and your credit is strong, you may qualify for more but should still choose a monthly payment you’re comfortable with.
Understanding the components: lot, build cost, and soft costs
When you “buy” a new construction home in Myrtle Beach, your budget actually covers three main buckets: land, the structure itself, and soft costs (fees and closing costs). In many Horry County submarkets, existing single‑family resale homes at the median $365,000 price point effectively bundle all three, while custom building gives you more control over how each piece is allocated.
Here’s how a typical budget might break down at a total target of $400,000:
Land and lot prep (clearing, utilities, grading): ~20–25% of total budget.
Construction (sticks and bricks, finishes, systems): ~60–65%.
Soft costs (permits, design fees, closing costs, contingency): ~10–15%.
Because Coastal Carolinas single‑family prices rose about 1.4% in 2025, while condos fell 3.7%, buyers focused on value sometimes lean toward slightly smaller footprints or more efficient floor plans to stay under key price thresholds in the $300,000–$350,000 range. That kind of structure-first planning is often a better guide than starting with finishes, especially given that days on market in the region now hover around 120+ days for many price bands, which rewards well‑priced, practical builds.
Myrtle Beach price ranges: what different budgets typically support
Using current Coastal Carolinas data and today’s ~6.1% 30‑year fixed rates, here is a general illustration of what different total build budgets might support, assuming property taxes and insurance typical of the Myrtle Beach and Horry County area.
| Household income | Approx. max total build (3–4× income) | Illustrative monthly P&I at 6.1% (20% down) | How this aligns with local prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| $80,000 | $240,000–$320,000 | ~$1,170–$1,560 | Typically below single-family median ($365K) but competitive with more modest new builds and some townhome/condo options. |
| $100,000 | $300,000–$400,000 | ~$1,460–$1,950 | Directly in the band where many new single-family homes can be built near or slightly below the $365K regional median. |
| $125,000 | $375,000–$500,000 | ~$1,830–$2,440 | Comfortably above the Coastal Carolinas median, offering more flexibility on square footage, upgrades, or premium lots near Myrtle Beach. |
These figures are illustrative only; lender underwriting will adjust based on credit score, down payment, debts, and the exact tax and insurance profile of your chosen location within the Grand Strand. As of late 2025, the Housing Affordability Index for single‑family homes in Coastal Carolinas was around the mid‑70s (e.g., 76 in December), which means the “median” buyer has slightly less than the income needed to comfortably afford the median‑priced home—another reason to stay conservative on payment targets when building.
Local Myrtle Beach trends that influence affordability
Affordability isn’t just about price; it’s also about how quickly homes sell and how much competition you face for land and finished product. Closed sales for single‑family homes in the Coastal Carolinas rose about 3.6% in 2025, while overall closed sales rose 1.5%, suggesting steady demand even as buyers adjusted to higher rates. Condo sales, by contrast, dipped about 3.1%, aligning with the softer condo pricing and improved affordability in that segment.
Inventory tells a similar story. In December 2025, there were roughly 3,416 single‑family homes and 2,881 condos on the market across the Coastal Carolinas, with months’ supply around 3.7 for single‑family and 7.0 for condos. For buyers planning a build, a 3.7‑month supply indicates a market that’s no longer extremely tight but still favors well‑positioned sellers, while the higher 7.0‑month condo supply hints at more options and negotiating room on attached product near Myrtle Beach.
How to translate your income into a Myrtle Beach build budget
Here’s a simple step‑by‑step way to ballpark what you can afford to build in Myrtle Beach or greater Horry County:
Calculate safe housing spend.
Multiply your gross monthly income by 0.25–0.28 to get a target housing budget (PITI).Estimate loan size.
Using a 6.1% rate and typical 30‑year term, back into a principal amount that fits that payment, then add your down payment to find a rough total home price.Overlay local pricing.
Check whether that total is above or below the current Coastal Carolinas single‑family median ($365,000) and Horry County median (~$310,000) to see where you’ll land in the Myrtle Beach market.Allocate land vs. build.
Decide how much of that total you want to dedicate to your lot (often 20–25%), then work with a builder to design a plan that fits the remaining construction budget.
Given that the Coastal Carolinas Housing Affordability Index for condos sits around 118–120, considerably higher than for single‑family homes, some buyers choose a townhome or condo build approach as an intermediate step to stay within comfortable payment ranges while securing a foothold in the Myrtle Beach area.
Internal links: helpful Carolina Crafted Homes resources
When you’re ready to refine your numbers, these pages can help you translate general affordability rules into a specific Myrtle Beach build plan:
Carolina Crafted Homes communities overview:
https://carolinacraftedhomes.com/communitiesMyrtle Beach and Grand Strand insights blog:
https://carolinacraftedhomes.com/blogAbout Carolina Crafted Homes:
https://carolinacraftedhomes.com/aboutContact page for questions or planning:
https://carolinacraftedhomes.com/contact
Carolina Crafted Homes stays current on Myrtle Beach market trends and can answer questions about how much house you can afford to build locally. Reach out anytime for guidance—no pressure, just straightforward expertise.
Want a deeper dive on Myrtle Beach affordability?
FAQs
1. How do I know my max budget to build a home in Myrtle Beach?
Lenders usually start with your debt‑to‑income ratio, aiming to keep total housing costs around 28% of gross income and all debts below roughly 43%. In the Myrtle Beach area, that typically equates to a total build cost in the range of 3–4× your gross annual income, assuming a 10–20% down payment and today’s 30‑year fixed rate near 6.1%. A local lender can run exact scenarios based on taxes, insurance, and HOA fees for the specific community where you want to build.
2. Is it more affordable to build or to buy an existing home near Myrtle Beach?
The Coastal Carolinas median single‑family price at the end of 2025 was about $365,000, while the overall median across property types was around $328,000. Custom building can be similar or higher once you add land and soft costs, but it also lets you right‑size the home and avoid over‑paying for square footage or features you do not need. In a market where single‑family closed sales grew 3.6% in 2025 and inventory is moderate, building becomes most competitive when you already own a lot or choose a more efficient plan.
3. How do current mortgage rates affect how much house I can afford to build?
At a 30‑year fixed rate of about 6.11% as of early February 2026, each dollar you borrow costs more monthly than during the ultra‑low‑rate years, but less than in much of 2023. This means your maximum loan amount is somewhat lower than it would be at 4% but higher than it would be at 7%, so staying within 25–30% of income for housing is especially important. As Coastal Carolinas affordability indices show—roughly mid‑70s for single‑family and around 118–120 for condos—product choice can also offset rate impacts.
4. What down payment should I plan for when building in Horry County?
Nationally, buyers who finance typically put down around 20–26% of the purchase price, though many successful buyers put down less with loan programs that allow it. In Coastal Carolinas, where median prices are in the low‑to‑mid $300,000s, a 10–20% down payment is common and helps you keep monthly payments manageable while avoiding or limiting private mortgage insurance. When you’re building, you may also need funds for construction‑phase costs or upgrades, so keeping some cash aside beyond the minimum down payment is wise.
5. How do Myrtle Beach area prices compare to the national market?
The national median existing‑home price was about $409,200 heading into late 2025, while the Coastal Carolinas median sat around $328,000. That gap means many buyers relocating to Myrtle Beach see more purchasing power, particularly if they’re coming from higher‑cost metros. However, local single‑family prices have still risen roughly 20–30% since 2021, so affordability planning is still essential even if the area feels less expensive than where you’re moving from.
