Horry County process guide
The Horry County Master in Equity and foreclosure sale dates
Because South Carolina foreclosures run through the courts, the process is verifiable. Knowing which office handles what — and which documents actually control the calendar — is the difference between guessing and knowing where you stand.
The short answer
- South Carolina foreclosure is judicial: a case is filed in the Court of Common Pleas and often referred to the Master in Equity.
- In Horry County, the Master in Equity handles many foreclosure hearings and the county's foreclosure sale process.
- The posted sale list is an administrative schedule, not a verdict on your options — entries can change.
- The documents served on you carry the deadlines that matter most. Take them to a South Carolina attorney promptly.
- Verify everything through the court, your attorney, or the servicer number printed on your own statement.
Who does what
Homeowners in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Socastee, and across the Grand Strand often hear three different offices named in the same conversation and assume they are interchangeable. They are not.
| Office or party | General role | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Court of Common Pleas / Clerk of Court | Where a foreclosure case is filed and where the case record lives | Give legal advice or negotiate with your lender for you |
| Master in Equity | Hears referred non-jury matters and handles the county foreclosure sale process, including the posted sale list | Represent you, or decide your loss-mitigation eligibility |
| Loan servicer | Collects payments, provides payoff figures, and reviews loss-mitigation requests | Control court deadlines once a case is filed |
| Your attorney | Advises you on deadlines, defenses, and any remaining balance questions | Guarantee an outcome |
| HUD-approved housing counselor | Free or low-cost independent guidance on options and servicer communication | Provide legal representation |
How a Horry County case generally moves
Filing and service
The case begins with a filing, and you are served with a summons and complaint. That packet contains response deadlines. This is the single most time-sensitive document in the process — see the foreclosure process overview for the wider sequence.
Referral and hearing
Foreclosure matters are commonly referred to the Master in Equity, where hearings are held and orders are issued. Loss-mitigation review by the servicer, if you have requested it, runs on its own separate track and does not automatically pause the court calendar.
Sale scheduling and the posted list
If a sale is ordered, the property may appear on the posted sale list for an upcoming sale date. Treat that list as an administrative schedule: it tells you a date exists, not what your remaining options are, and entries are sometimes continued or removed.
After a sale
Questions about proceeds, possession, and any remaining balance follow. Those are legal questions specific to your documents — our deficiency overview explains the vocabulary so you can ask an attorney better questions.
A verification checklist
- Confirm court and sale information with the Horry County Master in Equity or your attorney.
- Call your servicer using the number printed on your own mortgage statement.
- Ask in writing whether a case has been filed and whether a sale date is set.
- Get independent guidance through HUD's South Carolina counseling resources.
- Keep every letter and envelope in one dated folder.
- Be skeptical of unsolicited offers that follow a public filing — review the warning signs.
Why the calendar drives the decision
Options generally narrow as a case advances. A short sale needs time for lender review, and a modification review needs time for documentation. Both are easier to pursue weeks before a sale date than days before one. If the property is in Myrtle Beach or elsewhere on the Grand Strand, we can work the property-side facts — payoff, liens, condition, realistic value — while your attorney handles the legal track. See the foreclosure hub for the full picture.
Master in Equity questions
What is the Master in Equity?
The Master in Equity is a judicial officer who handles certain non-jury matters referred by the Court of Common Pleas, including many mortgage foreclosure cases. In Horry County, foreclosure hearings and the county's foreclosure sale process are commonly handled through the Master in Equity's office.
Does a foreclosure filing mean my house is being sold right away?
No. A filing begins a court case; a sale, if it happens, comes later and must be ordered by the court. The dates that matter are the ones printed on the paperwork you were served with, and the case's current status — both of which should be confirmed with your attorney or the court rather than assumed.
What is the posted foreclosure sale list?
It is a schedule of properties set for sale on an upcoming sale date. It is a public administrative record, not a judgment about your options, and listings can be postponed, withdrawn, or changed. It is also not a substitute for legal advice or for your servicer's own records.
Can a sale date be postponed?
Sale dates are sometimes continued or removed for reasons including case developments or servicer action, but no one can promise that will happen in your case. Ask your attorney what, if anything, can be requested, and confirm any change through official sources.
How do I verify information about my Horry County case?
Use official sources: your attorney, the Horry County Master in Equity's office, the Clerk of Court, and the loan servicer using the phone number printed on your own mortgage statement. Do not rely on a number or website provided by someone who contacted you unsolicited.
What happens to any surplus or remaining balance after a sale?
How sale proceeds are applied, and whether any remaining balance can be pursued, depends on the loan, the case, and South Carolina law applied to your facts. These are legal questions for a South Carolina attorney reviewing your documents.
Can I still sell the property while a case is pending?
In many situations a sale is still possible before a court-ordered sale takes place, either as a regular sale if proceeds cover the payoff or as a short sale with lender approval if they do not. Whether it is possible in your case depends on the case status and lender cooperation.
Bring what you have received
Not sure where your case stands?
We will help organize the property-side facts so your next conversation with an attorney, counselor, or servicer is productive. Call (843) 612-1361 or start the assessment.