News Title:New Home Competition Is Growing Around Traditions at Carolina Forest as River Oaks Corridor Evolves
A growing number of new-home choices are emerging along River Oaks Drive in Carolina Forest, bringing additional competition to an area where Chesapeake Homes has been selling homes at Traditions at Carolina Forest since late 2024. With Mungo Homes introducing North Cove and Ashton Woods opening its nearby Landing at River Oaks community, buyers now have more opportunities to compare builders, floor plans, amenities and pricing in this increasingly active residential corridor.
Traditions at Carolina Forest is a single-family home community by Chesapeake Homes, offering an extensive selection of floor plans ranging from approximately 1,483 to 3,501 square feet. Homes have sold from the middle $300,000s to the middle $700,000s, with an average selling price of approximately $500,000. The community has attracted buyers looking for everything from smaller, single-story homes to larger two-story residences with additional bedrooms, flexible living areas and multigenerational options.
The timing of the growing competition is particularly interesting because Traditions has a substantial home selection of its own. Chesapeake currently advertises 18 floor-plan options, organized around three collections: Villas, Beach Bungalows and Cottages. The designs offer a considerable range of sizes, bedroom arrangements and customization opportunities.
Three collections and 18 floor plans
The Villas collection includes some of the community's smaller and more manageable home designs, while still offering open-concept living areas and opportunities to expand certain floor plans.
The Sycamore offers approximately 1,795 square feet with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and a two-story layout. Its open downstairs living area connects the great room, kitchen and dining space, while an upstairs loft can be converted into a fourth bedroom. Optional features include a covered rear porch and gas fireplace. Starting at $349,900 (as of November 2026).
The Orchid is one of the smallest designs, with 1,483 square feet, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This single-story floor plan features an open kitchen, dining area and great room, with a secondary bedroom and flex space. Buyers can also add a covered rear porch and upgrade the kitchen with features such as double wall ovens and a larger island. Starting at $354,000 (as of November 2026).
The Sunflower provides approximately 1,510 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This single-story design features an open great room, kitchen and family area, along with a spacious pantry, laundry room and two-car garage. The owner's suite includes a private bathroom and walk-in closet, while a covered rear porch provides additional outdoor living space. Starting at $359,900.
The Jasmine offers approximately 1,607 to 2,168 square feet, with two to three bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. The primary layout features one-story living, with an optional second floor adding approximately 561 square feet for an additional bedroom, bathroom and sitting area. Tray ceilings, additional storage and flexible living arrangements are among its features. Starting at $364,900.
The Hibiscus is a two-story design with approximately 1,932 square feet, three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. Its signature double-height foyer leads into an open downstairs living area, while a large kitchen island provides a central gathering space. Upstairs, the plan includes two bedrooms, a full bathroom and an open loft. Starting at $379,900 (as of November 2026).
The Beach Bungalows collection offers additional coastal-inspired designs, including single-story homes with optional second-floor living areas.
The Cherry Grove offers approximately 1,672 to 2,391 square feet, with two to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Its first-floor layout includes an owner's suite and additional bedrooms, while an optional second floor can provide another bedroom, bathroom, loft or unfinished storage space. The plan also offers options for an extended covered porch or sunroom. Starting at $394,900 (as of November 2026).
The Redbud is a single-story home with approximately 1,847 square feet, three to four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Its kitchen features a large island and pantry, while the owner's suite includes a tray ceiling, double sinks and a walk-in shower. Buyers can also choose to convert one of the additional bedrooms into a private study. Starting at $404,900 (as of November 2026).
The Shorebreak offers approximately 1,938 to 2,766 square feet, with three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Its open kitchen, dining and great room arrangement connects to an approximately 179-square-foot covered porch. The owner's suite includes a large walk-in closet and private bathroom, while an optional second floor can accommodate an additional bedroom, loft or storage area. Starting at $419,900.
The Cottages collection includes some of the larger and more flexible home designs, with several plans offering optional second floors, additional bedrooms and expanded living areas.
The Longboard offers approximately 2,030 to 2,857 square feet, with three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Its primary design is a spacious single-story layout featuring an open kitchen, dining area and great room. Options include a gourmet kitchen island, fireplace, extended rear porch, study and an additional upstairs living area. Starting at $431,900 (as of November 2026).
The Boardwalk provides approximately 2,189 to 2,815 square feet, with three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. The first-floor design features two secondary bedrooms, an open dining area, large kitchen island and spacious owner's suite. An optional second floor adds another bedroom, full bathroom and loft. Starting at $434,900 (as of November 2026).
The Waverunner is a two-story home offering approximately 2,666 to 2,808 square feet, with four to five bedrooms and two-and-a-half to four bathrooms. Its open kitchen and great room are complemented by an upstairs owner's suite and central loft, which can serve as a media room, playroom or additional gathering space. Starting at $449,900 (as of November 2026).
The Wave Crest is a single-story home with approximately 2,046 square feet, three bedrooms and two to two-and-a-half bathrooms. It includes a separate study, dining room, spacious kitchen and great room, along with a covered rear porch. The owner's suite features a tray ceiling, large walk-in closet and private bathroom. Starting at $444,900 (as of November 2026).
The Seashore offers approximately 2,336 to 3,309 square feet, with three to five bedrooms and two to three-and-a-half bathrooms. One of its distinguishing features is an optional multigenerational suite with its own living area and kitchen. The home also offers a large owner's suite, gourmet kitchen and an optional second floor with an additional bedroom, bathroom and loft. Starting at $464,900 (as of November 2026).
The Seashore Multi-Gen is a variation designed specifically for households that need additional independent living space. Offering approximately 2,336 to 3,501 square feet, it provides two to four bedrooms and two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, with the multigenerational living arrangement making it an alternative for buyers who want to accommodate extended family under one roof. Starting at $482,800 (as of November 2026).
The Driftwood offers approximately 2,704 to 2,860 square feet, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Its layout features a first-floor owner's suite, large kitchen, separate dining room and substantial outdoor living area. Upstairs, a 23-foot-wide flex space can be used as a media or recreation room, accompanied by another bedroom and full bathroom. Starting at $479,900 (as of November 2026).
The Sand Dollar offers approximately 2,390 to 3,154 square feet, with three to four bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. Its open layout connects the great room, kitchen, dining and breakfast areas, with options for a sunroom, covered porch, fireplace and additional upstairs living space. Starting at $484,900 (as of November 2026).
The Surfrider offers approximately 2,326 to 3,487 square feet, with three to five bedrooms and three to four bathrooms. The first floor features an open kitchen, dining area and great room, along with a covered rear porch and owner's suite. An optional second floor provides additional bedroom, bathroom, loft and storage possibilities. Starting at $489,900 (as of November 2026).
As of November 2026, Chesapeake Homes' advertised starting prices for these floor plans range from $349,900 to $489,900. Actual available homes can be priced considerably higher depending on the floor plan, homesite, upgrades and construction status.
Chesapeake Homes has an established presence throughout the region
Traditions at Carolina Forest is one part of Chesapeake Homes' broader building operation across the coastal Carolinas. The company has other developments in the Myrtle Beach region and neighboring Brunswick County, North Carolina, including Bridgewater, Waterbridge, Heritage Park at Longs, The Willows and Coastal Club of the Carolinas.
Bridgewater in Little River is a large master-planned development with multiple residential offerings, including Shorehaven Village, Waterside Village and the Paired Villas at Bridgewater. Waterbridge is an established master-planned community in Carolina Forest, while Heritage Park at Longs and The Willows in Loris provide additional options in the northern part of Horry County. Coastal Club of the Carolinas, located in Calabash, North Carolina, extends Chesapeake's presence into the neighboring Brunswick County market.
Together, these projects demonstrate the builder's significant involvement in the region's new-home market and its ability to offer different styles of homes and price points across several communities.
North Cove and Landing at River Oaks bring new competition
The competitive landscape around Traditions is changing with the introduction of two nearby developments.
North Cove, being developed by Mungo Homes, is located on the former Bear Course at River Oaks Golf Club. The community offers nine floor plans ranging from approximately 1,693 to 2,808 square feet, with advertised pricing in the mid-$300,000s. Planned amenities include a community pool and cabana. Its location places it in close proximity to Traditions and gives buyers another option for new single-family homes in Carolina Forest.
Landing at River Oaks, developed by Ashton Woods, is another nearby single-family home community. Ashton Woods recently held its model-home grand opening in October 2026, marking another step in bringing the development to market. The builder advertises homes starting at $379,990, with floor plans ranging from approximately 1,590 to 3,273 square feet. Its planned amenities include a swimming pool and cabana, playground, pickleball courts and dog park.
The three communities offer different selections of floor plans and amenities, but their proximity creates a growing concentration of new-home construction along River Oaks Drive. For buyers, this means more opportunities to compare home sizes, layouts, pricing and builder offerings within the same general area.
River Oaks Drive widening remains an important future project
Beyond the new residential construction, another development worth watching is Horry County's planned widening of River Oaks Drive.
The project is included in the county's RIDE 4 transportation program and calls for widening the entire corridor to four lanes, with turn lanes at intersections and multimodal improvements that include sidewalks and bicycle facilities. Horry County lists a project budget of approximately $142 million and currently identifies the project as being under design contract. Construction has not yet started, and the county's published schedule places the anticipated start within the 2025-to-2030 period.
As additional residential communities are developed along this corridor, the planned improvements could become increasingly important for traffic flow, access and connectivity throughout Carolina Forest. The widening is a long-term project rather than an immediate improvement, but it is an important part of the area's future infrastructure plans.
A changing new-home market in Carolina Forest
Traditions at Carolina Forest has been selling homes for approximately two years, building a broad selection of single-family homes with prices that have reached from the mid-$300,000s to the mid-$700,000s. Its 18 advertised floor plans provide buyers with a wide range of choices, from smaller single-story homes to larger residences with multigenerational living options.
But the market around River Oaks Drive is no longer defined by one major new-home community. With North Cove and Landing at River Oaks now adding new inventory and Chesapeake Homes continuing to offer homes at Traditions, buyers have more choices than they did when the community first began selling in late 2024.
That expanding competition, combined with the planned River Oaks Drive widening, makes this one of the more important areas of ongoing residential growth to watch in Carolina Forest.