East of 17

Local Opinion

Verdict: these homes often have creek views, and sometimes have creek access, but are prone to flooding

The oceanfront areas aren’t the only ones with access to the creek. All along the eastern side of Highway 17, there are homes and small communities with mixed access to Litchfield and Pawleys creeks. I say “mixed access” because for one reason or another, many do not have direct access in the sense of docks and boats. Instead, some simply have creek views, while others have shared docks for a given development. Regardless of which kind of access, these homes are very desirable for their views and recreational potential.

I have grouped all of the homes in the narrow band east of 17 into this single “community”, but they are actually a bunch of different communities with different flavors. Some, like the homes on Sea Level Loop, are older, with a lot of locals. These areas tend to be a mixed bag of housing styles, with some houses close to the ground. Others, like the homes on Half Shell Court, are newer developments. These have homes that are more or less all the same: high on stilts to avoid coastal flooding and take advantage of views and breezes, narrow to fit into small lot footprints. Salt Marsh Cove is made up of condos. So style-wise, your options are pretty wide.

One obvious downside to many if not most of these homes is that the proximity to the creek makes them more prone for flooding. Be sure to check your flood zone as part of any home search process, and understand that insurance rates will be higher. Balancing these factors with the kind of access you want is important to finding a place you’ll enjoy east of 17.