MURRELLS INLET — Work continues on 81 single-family houses in Murrells Inlet, which are part of nearly 300 homes a national builder has planned for the Myrtle Beach area.

Lennar Homes has sold 10 houses in Brookefield Estates in Murrells Inlet, with plans to open a model home in mid-November, said Susan Martin, director of sales and marketing, broker-in-charge for Lennar Coastal Carolina.

Construction started on Brookefield Estates off McDowell Shortcut Road in June and is expected to be finished in two years, Martin said.

Brookefield Estates and Enclave, a separate residential section in the same area as Brookefield, opened in June for sales, Martin said. Enclave – where 13 out of 28 houses have sold- is at The International Club golf course in Murrells Inlet.

Lennar Homes Coastal Carolina Division announced at the end of May its purchase of three tracts in the Myrtle Beach area to build 296 single-family homes.

The tracts purchased by Lennar include the homesites at Brookefield Estates, Enclave and another 187 homesites at Ridge Pointe in Conway.

Ridge Pointe will open in mid-November for sales, Martin said.

Lennar already has a presence in the Myrtle Beach area with Emmens Preserve, a community of single-family houses and townhouses on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base near The Market Common.

With Emmens Preserve established, Lennar “thought it is the right time to market its product line in other areas,” Martin said about the new residential communities.

Houses at Brookefield Estates range in price from $179,000 to $232,000, Martin said.

Amenities for both Brookefield and Enclave include a planned swimming pool, playground and picnic pavilion, Martin said.

-Janelle Frost, jfrost@thesunnews.com