Somerset is an oceanfront condominium community within the gates of Litchfield by the Sea in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Made up of six mid-rise condominium buildings along South Dunes Drive, Somerset offers direct oceanfront and ocean-view residences with access to the beach, pools and the larger Litchfield by the Sea amenity system.
The six Somerset buildings are Fordham, Cambridge, Paget, Whitney Parrish, Warwick and Hamilton.
But buying in Somerset isn't simply a matter of choosing a floor plan. The six buildings occupy different positions within the community and offer different experiences. Some are directly oceanfront. Others sit back from the immediate beachfront while still offering Atlantic Ocean views. Hamilton is a smaller building, something certain buyers specifically prefer. Warwick sits just about dead center of the Litchfield by the Sea oceanfront. Whitney Parrish looks across the pool area toward the ocean, a position some buyers like for the additional separation from the immediate oceanfront exposure. And Fordham, with some larger residences and distinctive architecture, has a presence of its own within Somerset.
Even two condominiums with similar bedroom counts can live very differently depending on the building, floor, orientation, balcony, view and position within Somerset.
That's why we think it makes more sense to understand Somerset building by building.
Somerset isn't a separate gated community from Litchfield by the Sea. It is one of the residential sections inside Litchfield by the Sea, located along South Dunes Drive on the ocean side of the property.
That's an important distinction for buyers. Ownership in Somerset includes the amenities associated with Somerset as well as access to the broader Litchfield by the Sea amenities.
And when someone says they own "in Somerset," they may be talking about a residence in any one of six different buildings. The buildings share a community and management structure, but their location, architecture, size, floor plans, balconies and views can be quite different.
Fordham is an oceanfront building at 125 South Dunes Drive and has a strong visual presence within Somerset. It isn't at the geographic center of the community, but its architecture makes it something of a focal point.
Some of Somerset's larger floor plans can be found in Fordham, which can be particularly appealing to buyers who want condominium living without giving up as much interior or outdoor living space. Select residences feature especially large balconies, and corner and end locations can provide additional windows and different view orientations.
As with every Somerset building, the individual residence matters. Floor, orientation, balcony configuration and location within Fordham can make one unit quite different from another.
Cambridge is located at 135 South Dunes Drive and is directly oceanfront. Residences have private balconies that take advantage of the building's position along the Atlantic, with some locations also offering views across the Somerset pool area.
Cambridge offers a variety of condominium configurations, so buyers should compare individual residences for floor plan, size, balcony design, view and position within the building rather than assuming one Cambridge unit will be much like another.
Paget is part of the ocean-view portion of Somerset. Rather than sitting directly on the beachfront, its position within the community gives many residences views toward the Atlantic while keeping the building convenient to the beach, pools and other Somerset amenities.
The quality and direction of the view can vary by floor and by the residence's position within the building, making the individual unit particularly important when comparing Paget properties.
Whitney Parrish also sits back from the immediate beachfront, with many residences looking across the Somerset pool area toward the Atlantic Ocean.
That position creates a different kind of ocean view from the direct oceanfront buildings. Some buyers specifically prefer the additional separation from the immediate oceanfront exposure while still being able to look across the pools to the ocean.
As throughout Somerset, floor and orientation matter. Two Whitney Parrish residences may have different sightlines depending on where they are positioned within the building.
Warwick is directly oceanfront at 145 South Dunes Drive and sits just about dead center of the Litchfield by the Sea oceanfront.
That central position makes Warwick a useful reference point when you're trying to understand how Somerset fits into the larger Litchfield by the Sea oceanfront. Many residences have direct Atlantic Ocean views, with some also overlooking the Somerset pool area.
Different floor plans and unit positions create variations in interior space, windows, balconies and views throughout the building.
Hamilton is directly oceanfront and is a smaller building than some of its Somerset neighbors.
For certain buyers, that smaller scale is part of Hamilton's appeal. Someone looking for an oceanfront condominium in a smaller building may respond differently to Hamilton than to one of Somerset's larger buildings.
Residences have private balconies and ocean views, with the individual floor and location within the building determining the specific view and experience.
Putting six buildings under the Somerset name is convenient, but it can also be misleading when comparing properties.
A three-bedroom condominium in one building isn't automatically an apples-to-apples comparison with a three-bedroom condominium in another. Direct oceanfront versus ocean view matters. So do floor, orientation, balcony size, square footage, condition and the position of the building itself.
Even within the same building, a corner residence with additional windows and a larger balcony may appeal differently from an interior residence.
For buyers, those differences help determine which property best fits the way they want to use it.
For sellers, they matter when determining which recent Somerset sales really are meaningful comparisons. A recent sale elsewhere in Somerset may be useful context, but it isn't automatically the best comparable simply because it shares the Somerset name.
Somerset has its own amenity areas in addition to those available throughout Litchfield by the Sea.
Owners and guests have access to four swimming pools, along with jetted tubs and children's pool areas. Beach access connects Somerset directly to the Atlantic, making it easy to move between the condominium buildings, pools and beach
Parking includes assigned covered parking beneath the buildings, with specific parking arrangements varying by property.
Ownership in Somerset also provides access to the larger Litchfield by the Sea community.
Litchfield by the Sea is a private, gated oceanfront community with controlled access and 24-hour security.
This is an important part of understanding Somerset. You're buying within a condominium community at or near the ocean, but you're also part of the larger Litchfield by the Sea community and its amenity system.
The six Somerset buildings share the same management company, providing continuity across the community even though the individual buildings and residences can be quite different.
Somerset has also benefited from long-term on-site maintenance knowledge. The head of maintenance has been here for years and knows these buildings - not simply in general, but with the kind of building-by-building familiarity that comes from taking care of them over time.
That's something we think is worth knowing when you're considering a condominium. Floor plans, HOA documents and inspection reports tell you a lot. So can the people who have known the buildings for years.
Somerset works for several different kinds of ownership. Some owners live here as their primary residence, while others use their condominium as a second home or vacation property.
Vacation rentals are also found within Somerset. Rental arrangements, management companies and the rental history of individual properties can vary, so buyers interested in rental income should evaluate the specific residence along with current Somerset and Litchfield by the Sea rules.
The way you intend to use the property can also influence which Somerset building or location makes the most sense for you. A buyer looking primarily for personal use may weigh building size, balcony, view and location differently from someone who also intends to rent the property.
Somerset condominium owners have association responsibilities at both the Somerset and Litchfield by the Sea levels.
Somerset association expenses may include common-area utilities and maintenance, water and sewer, trash service, elevator and pool service, management, security, cable and internet, pest control and other shared condominium expenses. Property insurance may be assessed separately through the association.
Litchfield by the Sea has a separate assessment associated with access to the larger community and its amenities.
Association dues, insurance assessments, capital contributions and other charges can change and should always be verified for the individual property being considered.
Bedroom and bathroom count are only the beginning.
Sometimes the property that looks most comparable on paper isn't the one a buyer responds to as the closest alternative. Understanding those differences is an important part of buying - and selling - within Somerset.
Somerset's location inside Litchfield by the Sea puts owners close to both Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island.
Restaurants, grocery stores, locally owned shops and golf courses are a short drive from the gates. The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway runs through the Pawleys Island area, while Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park and Murrells Inlet are to the north and historic Georgetown is to the south.
For buyers looking specifically for condominium ownership near the ocean, Somerset combines the convenience of condominium living with the beach access, amenities and gated setting of Litchfield by the Sea.
Buying in Somerset often starts with a simple question: which building?
From there, it becomes a comparison of views, floor plans, balcony space, condition, carrying costs and how you plan to use the property. We help buyers make those comparisons not only within Somerset, but across Litchfield by the Sea and the other gated communities of Pawleys Island.
If you're selling in Somerset, those same distinctions matter. The right comparison isn't always the condominium that sold most recently. Understanding where a residence sits within its building, what makes that particular unit different and how the building itself fits into Somerset can make a meaningful difference in how the property is positioned.
Somerset may be one community, but its six buildings - and the individual residences within them - offer buyers distinctly different choices. Understanding those differences is where the search really begins.
Browse the available properties in the area below.
Browse the under-contract properties in the area below.
Browse the Sold properties in the area below.
Mariah and her team are absolutely awesome!!! They are extremely detailed oriented and always on top of the next steps in the selling process. She and her team gave me such peace of mind, I highly recommend her if you are looki...
We can’t thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into selling our house in Willbrook, and helping us find and purchase our new home in The Reserve. Your advice with all of the decision we had to make throughout thi...
Mariah and Hampton heard of a pocket listing that fit exactly what we were looking for, and got us in to see the house before it ever hit the market... they sold ours within hours at a top of the market price. From then on, the...
We have been involved in many real estate transactions (14) over the past 40 years and I would rate our positive experience with Mariah at the top. She is current on what is happening in the local market, which is an asset for ...
We were out of town for medical reasons and they helped us through the whole process. Mariah stepped in and took care of some problems I was having with my attorney's office for closing. I would definitely recommend Mariah as a...
She is extremely knowledgeable and just a pleasure to work with. She more than exceeded our expectations at every turn and, in the end, made the whole process truly seamless.
They were with us every step of the way, providing information and knowledge we needed. They are professional, but absolutely feel like family at the same time. We have and will continue to refer them to anyone interested in bu...
Mariah, Hampton, Dana and the entire team provide unparalleled real estate expertise and service. This was my third transaction with Mariah and my first working with the rest of the team. In the Pawleys area I would not even co...
We were so fortunate to have had Mariah and Hampton handle both the sale of our current house in the Reserve and the purchase of our new home in Heritage. Working together, Mariah and Hampton heard of a pocket listing that fit...
One of the smartest things I've done was to call Mariah Johnson when I was in the preliminary stages of thinking about selling my home in the Reserve. From the very beginning she was confident, knowledgeable, and always a pleas...
Keep Up With Us On Socials
