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As the real estate market continues feeling the pinch from the economic slowdown, business has been brisk at Brightwater.

A year after breaking ground, the senior retirement community has already sold about 30 villas and is in the process of building seven single family homes.

Not bad for a market that's suffering in other sectors.

"We had such heavy traffic this week," said Shane Hubbard, sales and marketing director for Brightwater. "It was one after the other."

Brightwater is a senior retirement community being built off International Drive in Carolina Forest.

Plans call for 108 single family homes and 160 condos and apartments, with 24 designed for enhanced living.

Primarily a residential community, there are also 24 assisted living and 24 skilled nursing rooms in the works.

The first model single family homes and villas opened this week, and the first residents should be moving in by April 2009, Hubbard said.

Concurrent with housing, Brightwater is also rapidly proceeding with construction of the central clubhouse.

The clubhouse and villas will be connected much in the same way the Myrtle Beach Convention Center is connected to the adjoining hotel. Residents can visit the clubhouse without ever having to step outside.

"It's like retiring on a cruise ship," he said. "What we do is take away any of your worries."

The two models that Brightwater has opened are theWashington and Ibis models.

TheWashington models are three bedroom, two bath single family homes with split floor plans.

They range in size between 1,441 to 1,914 heated square feet. Home prices are in the $275,000 to $351,000 price range.

Brightwater's other model is the Ibis villa model, with floor plans coming in one bedroom, two bedroom- two bath, and three bedroom models.

They range in size from 883 to 1,410 square feet, with pricing starting at $133,000.

A big part of the Brightwater package are the unique perks designed with the senior resident in mind.

Every unit is equipped with a special pull cord for emergencies, which alerts a nurse who's on call 24 hours a day.

Each home comes with its own golf cart so residents can drive around the premises or even the grocery store.

With the new Food Lion around the corner and Lowes Foods eyeing a store in 2009 or 2010, that made Brightwater's location ideal, Hubbard said.

"Knowing they can get on a golf cart without having to get on a big road is big selling point," he said.

Home repairs and other related needs are handled on site by Brightwater staff, so homeowners have the peace of mind of knowing their respective handyman.