Locals to Know: Alicia Thompson, SC Commercial Real Estate Attorney

SC real estate attorney Alicia Thompson has been practicing law in the Myrtle Beach area for more than 15 years. Alicia and her husband, Greg, have three young children and a dog named Waffles. Today, she’s answering questions about Myrtle Beach and South Carolina development and commercial real estate!

First, five fun questions. Alicia’s local recommendations:

First neighborhood you lived in Myrtle Beach: My husband and I lived in Market Common, also known to us and our neighbors as the “bubble”. Our neighbors remain some of our closest friends today.
Go-to places to shop for courtroom attire: My go to spot for courtroom attire is J. Crew. You can’t go wrong with classic basics that coordinate easily and do not go out of style. I also love Anthropologie and Centro to add color and pattern and Marshalls and T.J. Maxx for bargain clothes that are more on trend.
Favorite spot to dine with your kids: During the summer, we love to take the boat to Barefoot Landing to grab a bite at Lulu’s or Crooked Hammock. The trip gets the kids outside for an adventure, both spots have outside eating areas, and you can conveniently dock for free. Restaurants that offer outside play for the kids are the best.
Go-to restaurant for a lunch meeting: There are so many good options in Myrtle Beach, but to name a few, I love Thai Lao, Earth Café, and Winnas Kitchen for a quick bite with a friend, Ciao, Sea Captain’s House, and Croissants for a nicer client lunch, and Kind Belly, Lekker Eats, and Bay Naturals to pick up something healthy to go.
Name a ‘hidden gem’ in the Grand Strand you love: Andy’s Snak Shack and Sun City are two of my favorite local places that are under the radar. They have wonderful food and character.

F.A.Q. about being a SC real estate attorney

How did you get into commercial real estate law in Myrtle Beach?

As a young lawyer, my focus was real estate and homeowners association disputes. One of my favorite clients was a developer that asked me to draft documents to create condominiums and governing documents forplanned communities. Those matters led me to developing a transactional practice, and today I handle cases and commercial transactions. I love litigation for the strategy and problem solving required. My litigation practice makes me a better transactional attorney, because I use practical knowledge from disputes to help tailor documents.

What’s a typical day like as a SC real estate lawyer?

Because I practice in both litigation and transactions, my days vary a lot. One day I may be handling a closing. The next day, I may be taking a deposition or arguing a motion in court. I like to be challenged and to grow, and all of these experiences help me expand my practice.

There is so much development right now all along the Grand Strand and Coast of South Carolina. Any predictions or trends you see for the future?

2021 was a record year in real estate sales due to many folks moving here during the pandemic. We have seen a slowdown in 2022 due to an increase in interest rates, however the volume is still strong. Even though a recession is predicted for 2023, if interest rates decrease as anticipated, I predict that we will continue to see folks moving here from outside the region to retire and work remotely. My hope is that Myrtle Beach will strategize to become more attractive to investors over the next few years, facilitating the development of downtown, attracting different industries, and growing our hospitality market. It seems to be trending in that direction, which is a good thing.

Thanks, Alicia!