What the February 2026 CCAR Report Tells Spring Buyers — Hereda Team at Carolina Crafted Homes

Market TrendsMyrtle Beach Real EstateHome BuyingGrand Strand Housing

April 13, 2026

TL;DR: The February 2026 CCAR MLS report shows the Myrtle Beach area entering spring with more balanced conditions than in recent years — inventory is up, affordability is improving, and buyer activity is rising across the Grand Strand. Here's what the numbers actually mean for anyone planning a purchase this season.

The Spring Market Is Already Moving — February's Data Proves It

February is often dismissed as a slow month in real estate. But in the Grand Strand, it's actually one of the most telling months of the year — the point where buyer activity starts climbing and sellers begin positioning for spring. The February 2026 CCAR MLS Monthly Indicators report, published March 10, 2026, gives us a detailed look at exactly where the market stands as the spring buying season opens. The picture it paints is nuanced: some softening in prices, a meaningful improvement in affordability, and showing data that suggests buyer demand is building quietly but steadily.

What the February 2026 CCAR Market Report Reveals About Pricing and Inventory

Price and supply are the two metrics most buyers watch closely — and both shifted in ways that matter heading into spring.

According to CCAR MLS (February 2026), the median sales price for single-family homes came in at $350,000, a 1.8% decline from one year earlier. Condo median prices dropped more sharply, falling 6.0% to $220,000. These are meaningful data points for buyers who have been waiting for some price relief in the Horry County market.

At the same time, inventory levels tell an interesting story. Single-family home inventory held nearly flat at 3,699 units — essentially unchanged from February 2025. Condo inventory rose 5.0% to 3,130 units. On the supply side, single-family months of inventory actually tightened, dropping 4.8% to 4.0 months — still within the generally accepted range of a balanced market (4–6 months). Condo supply sits at 7.6 months, reflecting a segment with more options and less urgency.

What does this mean practically? For buyers targeting single-family homes in the Myrtle Beach area, the supply picture is tighter than it might appear. Prices have eased slightly, but well-priced properties are not sitting idle. The year-to-date data through February 2026 shows single-family pending sales up 3.9% compared to the same period in 2025, signaling that contract activity is accelerating even as closed sales data catches up.

One additional data point worth noting: sellers received 96.8% of list price on single-family homes in February 2026, per CCAR MLS. That's a marginal decline from 97.3% one year prior — but it still reflects a market where negotiating room remains limited on competitively priced properties.

Affordability Is Improving — and the Numbers Back It Up

One of the more encouraging findings in the February 2026 CCAR report is the movement in the Housing Affordability Index (HAI). The HAI measures the relationship between median household income and what it takes to qualify for a median-priced home at current interest rates. A score above 100 means the median income is sufficient to qualify.

According to CCAR MLS (February 2026), the single-family HAI reached 88 in February — up 8.6% year-over-year. The condo HAI climbed even more substantially, hitting 140, a 13.8% increase from February 2025. That's a meaningful shift from where things stood during the tighter rate environment of 2024.

For broader context, the 2025 Annual Report on the Coastal Carolinas Housing Market noted that mortgage rates declined through the second half of 2025 and were expected to remain in the 6% range through 2026. That rate environment, combined with modest price softening in the Grand Strand, is what's driving the HAI improvement.

Affordability gains don't automatically make purchasing easy — a single-family HAI of 88 still means the median income falls short of what's needed to qualify for a median-priced home without assistance or a stronger down payment. But the direction of movement is positive, and it's a trend that spring buyers should factor into their planning.

Showing Data Points to a Spring Surge in Buyer Interest

Numbers like median price and inventory give you the "what." Showing data gives you the "who" and the "when" — and February 2026's showing figures are one of the clearest early signals that spring demand is building.

According to CCAR MLS Showings Report (February 2026), Myrtle Beach recorded 7,134 total showings in February — an 8.2% increase year-over-year and a 2.7% month-over-month gain. Buyer interest (measured as showings per listing) reached 2.3 in Myrtle Beach, up 15.7% from February 2025. Murrells Inlet came in at 2.7 showings per listing, while Surfside Beach and Pawleys Island both posted 3.0 — among the highest in the region.

This is consistent with historical Grand Strand patterns. The 2025 Annual Report on the Coastal Carolinas Housing Market identified February as the peak showing activity month across the region, with showings per listing reaching 4.5 at their highest point that year. While February 2026 figures are more moderate, the trend direction — up month-over-month and year-over-year in Myrtle Beach — confirms that buyer engagement is increasing as spring approaches.

Also worth highlighting: across the 12-month period from March 2025 through February 2026, the price range with the strongest pending sales growth in the CCAR region was the $150,000 and Below segment, up 18.6%, according to CCAR MLS Housing Supply Overview (February 2026). Entry-level price points are generating the most activity — a signal of where demand is concentrated as affordability constraints persist.

Key February 2026 Market Metrics at a Glance Source: CCAR MLS Monthly Indicators, February 2026

  
      Metric
      Single-Family
      Condo
    
      Median Sales Price
      $350,000 (–1.8% YOY)
      $220,000 (–6.0% YOY)
    
      Months Supply of Inventory
      4.0 months (–4.8% YOY)
      7.6 months (+5.6% YOY)
    
      Housing Affordability Index
      88 (+8.6% YOY)
      140 (+13.8% YOY)
    
      Pending Sales (Feb)
      911 (+2.2% YOY)
      438 (–1.1% YOY)
    
      % of List Price Received
      96.8%
      95.0%
    
      Days on Market
      134 days (+3.9% YOY)
      134 days (+16.5% YOY)

Metric	Single-Family	Condo
Median Sales Price	$350,000 (–1.8% YOY)	$220,000 (–6.0% YOY)
Months Supply of Inventory	4.0 months (–4.8% YOY)	7.6 months (+5.6% YOY)
Housing Affordability Index	88 (+8.6% YOY)	140 (+13.8% YOY)
Pending Sales (Feb)	911 (+2.2% YOY)	438 (–1.1% YOY)
% of List Price Received	96.8%	95.0%
Days on Market	134 days (+3.9% YOY)	134 days (+16.5% YOY)

Source: CCAR MLS Monthly Indicators, February 2026. Current as of March 10, 2026.

The February 2026 CCAR data presents a spring market that rewards preparation. Prices have softened modestly, affordability is measurably better than a year ago, and showing activity in the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand area is trending upward — all before peak spring season hits. If you're weighing your options this spring and want to understand how these trends apply to your specific situation, the team at Carolina Crafted Homes is here to help you work through the details. Reach out to start the conversation.

FAQ SECTION

Q1: What did the February 2026 CCAR report show about home prices in the Myrtle Beach area?

According to CCAR MLS (February 2026), the median sales price for single-family homes in the region was $350,000 — a 1.8% decline from the same month in 2025. Condo prices dropped more significantly, falling 6.0% to $220,000. These declines reflect a market that has moderated after several years of rapid appreciation. Prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels historically, but the direction of movement provides some relief for buyers who have been priced out in prior years.

Q2: Is now a good time to buy a home on the Grand Strand based on current market data?

The February 2026 data shows improving affordability conditions in the Grand Strand. The Housing Affordability Index for single-family homes rose 8.6% year-over-year to 88, while the condo index climbed 13.8% to 140, per CCAR MLS (February 2026). At the same time, single-family inventory remains relatively tight at 4.0 months of supply. Market conditions are always individual — consult with a licensed real estate professional to evaluate your specific financial situation, as programs and rates are subject to change.

Q3: Are there more homes available to buy in Myrtle Beach now compared to a year ago?

The picture varies by property type. Single-family inventory in the CCAR region was essentially flat year-over-year at 3,699 active listings in February 2026. Condo inventory rose 5.0% to 3,130 units. Regionally, total active supply across all price ranges increased 1.9% to 16,121 listings, according to CCAR MLS Housing Supply Overview (February 2026). Buyers have somewhat more options than a year ago, but meaningful shortages persist in certain submarkets and price ranges.

Q4: What does the February showing data tell us about spring buyer demand?

Showing data is one of the earliest leading indicators of buyer demand — and February 2026's figures suggest demand is building. Myrtle Beach recorded 7,134 total showings in February, up 8.2% year-over-year, per CCAR MLS Showings Report (February 2026). Buyer interest (showings per listing) reached 2.3 across Myrtle Beach, a 15.7% increase from a year prior. Surfside Beach and Pawleys Island were among the most active submarkets, both posting 3.0 showings per listing.

Q5: How does the Myrtle Beach market compare to national housing trends right now?

The national picture diverges somewhat from local conditions. Nationally, the median existing-home price edged up 0.9% year-over-year to $396,800 in February, per the National Association of REALTORS® — a new record high for the month. Locally, the Grand Strand saw price softening in both single-family and condo segments. National inventory stood at roughly 3.7 months of supply, while Horry County's single-family supply sits at 4.0 months — slightly more balanced than the national average. The Grand Strand is tracking closer to equilibrium than much of the country.

Q6: What price ranges are seeing the most buyer activity in the Coastal Carolinas right now?

According to CCAR MLS Housing Supply Overview (February 2026), the $150,000 and below price range posted the strongest pending sales growth over the trailing 12-month period, up 18.6%. Showing data from February 2026 also shows strong activity at entry-level price points across multiple Grand Strand communities. The 4-bedroom-or-more segment saw an 8.2% increase in active inventory, suggesting expanded options for buyers seeking larger floor plans.