About Us

Since 1973, Garden City Realty has been bringing satisfied guests, property owners, buyers, and sellers together in one of the east coast’s most frequented vacation destinations. We’ve worked carefully to build a reputation that reflects our undying commitment to provide quality service with a touch of Southern hospitality. Specializing in Garden City Beach and Surfside Beach rentals, Garden City Realty strives to give our guests the perfect vacation rentals to come enjoy the Garden City Beach and Surfside Beach areas.

Established in June 1973 when President and Broker-in-Charge Eugene (Beau) Forshee, Fred L. Wilcox, and M. Murray (Mackie) McLendon purchased Martin’s Real Estate Co. They changed the business name to Garden City Realty to reflect its location at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Dogwood Drive in Garden City Beach.

The first office consisted of two rooms (approximately 500-square-feet) and served the company well until 1978 when Garden City Realty moved to its present location.

In August 1977, licensed real estate agent, Dennis McElveen, joined Garden City Realty. He became partner and Vice President in 1982. In 1981, W. Lee Hewitt, III, joined the team as a licensed real estate agent and eventually obtained his South Carolina Real Estate Broker’s license.

Since 1973, the vacation rental inventory has grown from 18 to approximately 400 properties.

In 2001, Garden City Realty acquired By the Sea Realty and its on-site oceanfront office located at Surf Master By The Sea. In 2009, they purchased Condotels, adding more premier high-end oceanfront properties to its vacation rental inventory.

In October 2006, President Eugene (Beau) Forshee retired and transferred his stock to President Dennis McElveen and Vice President W. Lee Hewitt III.

In August 2021, President Dennis McElveen transferred his stock to his son, Andrew (Drew) H. McElveen, a licensed South Carolina Real Estate Broker. Drew joined Garden City Realty after graduating college in 2014.

Today, Garden City Realty’s stockholders include President W. Lee Hewitt III and Vice President Andrew (Drew) H. McElveen.

The Sales Department has 12 sales professionals, all of whom strive to provide clients with the most satisfying, well-informed real estate experience.

In addition to extensive knowledge of the local real estate market, Garden City Realty can assist real estate needs worldwide through our affiliation with the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.

Garden City Realty is proudly affiliated with: Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Myrtle Beach Area Better Business Bureau, Garden City Beach Community Association, National Association of REALTORS, South Carolina Association of REALTORS, Coastal Carolina Multiple Listing Service and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

VOTED BEST OF THE BEACH & READERS' CHOICE

We know we have the BEST guests, property owners, buyers, and sellers on the Grand Strand and we want to thank you for voting us Best on the Beach.

Best of the Beach, an annual contest of The Sun News and MyrtleBeachOnline.com, features the best of Myrtle Beach, SC, area restaurants, attractions, businesses, and more. Year after year, Garden City Realty is consistently recognized in the Best of the Beach contest as Best Vacation Rental Company. In 2021 Garden City Realty's real estate department and vacation rentals department were both voted Best of the Beach. Likewise, our Property Management department was also voted best on the beach in the Georgetown Times Readers Choice awards.

Readers' Choice, an annual contest of the Georgetown Times and South Strand News, features categories showcasing the best places to eat, shop, golf, have fun, and more as voted by readers in Georgetown and Horry counties.

2022 BEST ON THE GRAND STRAND

We're pleased to announce that Garden City Realty is the Gold winner in The Myrtle Beach Sun News 2022 Best of the Beach contest in the following categories:

Likewise, we're pleased to announce that Garden City Realty is the winner of The Post and Courier Myrtle Beach Georgetown Times 2022 Readers' Choice contest in the following categories:

WINNER - BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
RUNNER UP - BEST VACATION RENTAL AGENCY
FINALIST - BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

And, finally, we're pleased to announce that Garden City Realty is the winner of the WMBF News 2022 Best of the Grand Strand contest in the following category:

BEST REAL ESTATE GROUP

2021 Best Vacation Rental Company - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2021 Best Real Estate Company - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2021 Best Property Management Company - The Georgetown Times Readers Choice
2019 Best Real Estate Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2019 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2018 Best Vacation Rental Company - The Georgetown Times Readers Choice
2018 Best Real Estate Company - The Georgetown Times Readers Choice
2018 Best Real Estate Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2018 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2017 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2016 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2015 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2015 Best Real Estate Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2014 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2013 Best Vacation Rental Company - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2012 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2011 Best Vacation Rental Company finalist - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2010 Best Vacation Rental Company - The Sun News Best of the Beach
2009 Best Vacation Rental Company - The Sun News Best of the Beach

real estate sales

In 2005 Garden City Realty began surveying buyers and sellers, 100 percent of our clients said they would choose Garden City Realty again to purchase or sell their property – and many of them already have. Garden City Realty’s undisputed reputation of integrity, professionalism, and trust is confirmed time after time by the buyers and sellers who choose us for all of their real estate needs.

For more information on sales, including our Marketing plan, please visit WhyGardenCityRealty.com.

vacation rentals

For many homeowners, the prospect of renting their own property is quite alluring. You take bookings directly from travelers without paying a fee or commission to a rental company – sounds easy right? According to Vacation Rental By Owner reviews, an overwhelming majority of homeowners say they get better results when choosing a professionally-managed vacation rental company like Garden City Realty to rent their property.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Garden City Realty is a full-service vacation rental property management company. We offer an end-to-end turnkey solution that gives you comfort in knowing your property is being cared for and marketed by local professionals. As one of the largest vacation rental companies in the area and with nearly 50 years of experience, see for yourself what it means to be part of the Garden City Realty family.