Myrtle Beach-area multifamily community trades to ANiMAL Group

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 28, 2026 - JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has completed the sale of The Lorrel, a 270-unit, garden-style multifamily community in Little River, South Carolina.

JLL represented the seller, Wakefield Residential, in the sale of the asset to ANiMAL Group.

Completed in 2023, The Lorrel features one-, two- and three-bedroom units with an average unit size of 879 square feet. Unit interiors showcase market-leading finishes, including designer kitchen backsplashes, stainless steel appliance packages, granite countertops, open-concept gourmet kitchens, wood-inspired flooring throughout, custom cabinetry and lighting packages, full-size washers and dryers, private patios or balconies in select units and oversized closets.

The 96%-leased community features best-in-class amenities, including a resort-style pool with in-water tanning ledge, a pickleball court, an expansive 24-hour fitness center with yoga-on-demand studio, outdoor fire pit with fireside seating, al fresco dining pavilion, spacious leash-free dog park, on-site pet spa, business center with private conference rooms, game lawn, interactive courtyards and guest suites available for residents' guests.

The Lorrel is strategically located at 3465 Sandler Blvd. in Little River, an amenity-rich coastal community that benefits from proximity to Myrtle Beach's $26 billion tourism economy while offering residents the charm and affordability of a less congested location. Little River provides convenient access to Myrtle Beach's major employers, world-renowned golf courses, the Intracoastal Waterway and beaches, creating an attractive coastal lifestyle at a more accessible price point than neighboring beach communities.

"The Lorrel represented a rare opportunity to acquire a virtually new, institutional-quality asset in one of the Southeast's fastest-growing markets," said JLL Managing Director John Mikels, who led the sale on behalf of the seller. "Little River has emerged as an extremely attractive residential destination, offering the coastal lifestyle appeal of Myrtle Beach while maintaining a more tranquil, affordable environment. The property's 2023 construction, premium amenity package and best-in-class unit finishes position it exceptionally well to capture continued rental growth as the market matures."

"The demographic fundamentals surrounding The Lorrel are outstanding," added Mikels. "With average household incomes exceeding $100,000 within a three-mile radius and the Myrtle Beach MSA growing nearly 14% since 2020, demand for quality rental housing continues to significantly outpace supply. The limited development pipeline, with just one asset under construction within 16 miles, creates a compelling supply-constrained environment that will support strong rental rate growth for years to come."

The Myrtle Beach MSA has experienced unprecedented population growth, expanding from 351,029 in 2020 to over 441,000 in 2025, a 13.6% increase in just four years. The region is projected to reach nearly 471,000 residents by 2030. This rapid growth, combined with the area's position as the #1 fastest-growing mid-sized metro area according to the United States Census (2020) and its status as the #4 best place to retire in South Carolina according to Niche (2024), has created sustained demand for high-quality rental housing.

"We are very pleased with the acquisition of The Lorrel. Wakefield delivered an exceptional asset, its location is impossible to replicate - directly adjacent to the recently complete North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex and at the center of Champions Crossing, a large-scale master-planned commercial and retail development," said Max Cookes, Co-Founder of ANiMAL.

"The Lorrel is a strong fit for the ANiMAL Living investment mandate, focused on acquiring institutional-grade, stabilized assets with durable cash flow in markets with strong long-term demand fundamentals," added Cookes. "Myrtle Beach continues to benefit from strong population growth and household formation trends, combined with above-average income growth, which underpins sustained rental demand and supports continued rent appreciation."

Cookes added that ANiMAL Living is actively acquiring assets across its target core target markets; Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville and Austin.

JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The group's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients, including investment sales and advisory, debt advisory, M&A and corporate finance, loan sales, equity & fund placement, net lease, derivative advisory and energy & infrastructure advisory. JLL Capital Markets has more than 3,000 specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries.

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