 A new ranking shows that a South Carolina town is the best in the nation to own or rent a beach house. Thomas Cage has this story. Pawleys Island has been named the best city in the U.S. to buy a beach house for short-term rental purposes, according to a report by Realtor.com and AirDNA. The Grand Strand is a popular destination for beachfront fun, and the rise of platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have opened up the hospitality market to homeowners.