If you own a coastal home in the Myrtle Beach or Grand Strand area, waiting “just a couple more months” to list can feel harmless—but current data suggests that delay can quietly chip away at your bottom line. Coastal Carolinas numbers for late 2025 show rising inventory, longer days on market for many segments, and softening condo prices, all of which can affect how much you net and how quickly you move on to your next chapter.
The hidden cost of waiting to list
On the surface, it can seem smart to wait 60 days: finish a few projects, see where mortgage rates go, or “time” the spring or summer wave of buyers. In reality, you’re stepping into a market where more sellers are competing for attention and buyers have become more price‑sensitive.
Across the Coastal Carolinas, active listings for single‑family homes ended 2025 almost unchanged year‑over‑year, while condo inventory rose 5.5 percent, giving buyers more choices, especially in beach‑oriented areas like Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. At the same time, the typical condo sold for 3.7 percent less in 2025 than in 2024, and days on market for condos jumped to an average of 132 days, up nearly 19 percent. If you wait and prices for your segment keep flattening or softening while inventory builds, the cost shows up as extra months of carrying costs and lower net proceeds at closing.
Why Myrtle Beach seasonality matters in 60‑day decisions
Coastal markets like Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Garden City–Murrells Inlet are highly seasonal, and showings don’t spread evenly across the year. In 2025, February was the peak month for showings across the Coastal Carolinas, with 194,308 total showings for the year and buyer activity ramping up early, not late. That means a 60‑day delay from early February can push you from the leading edge of buyer demand toward a period when more listings are hitting the MLS.
By December 2025, Myrtle Beach alone recorded 4,147 showings with a buyer‑interest ratio of about 1.5 showings per managed listing, reflecting solid but selective demand. Pawleys Island–Litchfield and Garden City–Murrells Inlet also ranked among the highest for showings per listing, at roughly 11.3 and 10.6 showings per listing respectively over the year, underscoring how quickly well‑priced coastal homes can draw attention when they enter the market during stronger showing windows. Listing sooner positions you to catch that demand while competing against slightly fewer new listings than you may see later in spring.
Price, net proceeds, and list‑to‑sale ratios
Even small percentage shifts in price and concessions can translate into tens of thousands of dollars for coastal properties. For the overall Coastal Carolinas market in 2025, the median single‑family price rose modestly to 365,000, while the condo median slipped to 238,825, with condo sellers giving up more ground on pricing than single‑family owners. In Myrtle Beach specifically, the rolling 12‑month median price for all properties ended 2025 at 260,000—around 5.3 percent below 2024—showing how quickly certain coastal submarkets can recalibrate.
At the same time, sellers were receiving an average of 97.3 percent of list price on single‑family homes and 96.1 percent on condos across 2025. If you list after an additional 60 days in a segment where prices are drifting down or buyers are negotiating harder, that 1–2 percent shift in both pricing and concessions can be more costly than many cosmetic updates you might complete during your waiting period. For example, on a 500,000 coastal home, a 2 percent change in effective sale price represents 10,000 of real money you no longer take to closing.
Days on market, carrying costs, and opportunity cost
Time is another part of the hidden cost equation. In 2025, single‑family homes across the Coastal Carolinas took an average of 123 days to go under contract, while condos averaged 132 days. That’s meaningfully longer than the historical lows reached in the post‑pandemic frenzy and signals that buyers now have more breathing room and are taking longer to make decisions.
If you add 60 days up front before you even list, you’re effectively stacking another two months onto the typical timeline—months in which you’re still paying taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA dues, and maintenance on a coastal property that may not be your primary residence. In Horry County, inventory for both single‑family and condo properties increased in 2025, reaching around 5.2 months of supply for the county overall, which is closer to a balanced market than a strong seller’s market. In a more balanced market, buyers are less inclined to rush, and longer days on market often translate into more aggressive negotiations and potential price reductions, increasing your total cost of waiting.
The coastal condo factor: when waiting hurts more
For many coastal owners, especially in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Surfside Beach, the property is a condo or townhome used for personal enjoyment, short‑term rentals, or a mix of both. Condo performance in 2025 is a clear example of how waiting can hurt more in certain segments. Across the Coastal Carolinas, closed condo sales declined 3.1 percent compared to 2024, even as inventory climbed and months of supply for condos rose to about 7 months, significantly above single‑family levels.
Condo days on market rose from 111 to 132 days from 2024 to 2025, while the typical condo seller received a smaller share of list price and a lower median sale price than the year before. In high‑condo markets like Myrtle Beach, where condo properties made up over 70 percent of 2025 sales, that extra supply and slower pace can put meaningful pressure on sellers who delay listing into a more crowded, price‑sensitive environment. If your condo is also a rental, another 60 days can mean lost rental income if you need to keep dates open for showings, further widening the financial gap between listing now and later.
The hidden cost of waiting 60 more days: a quick view
| Factor | Listing Now (Early 2026) | Waiting 60 Days (Into Late Spring 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer activity | Aligns more closely with peak or early-season showings; February was 2025’s peak month. | Risk of moving into a period with higher listing volume and more competition. |
| Prices | Single-family prices modestly higher, condo prices already adjusted downward modestly. | Potential for further softening in segments already under price pressure (notably condos). |
| Days on market | Typical single-family ~123 days, condos ~132 days from list to offer. | Similar or longer timeline plus an extra 60 days before listing, extending carrying costs. |
| List-to-sale price ratio | Sellers averaging ~97–96% of list price depending on property type. | Increased chance of deeper discounts or price reductions if inventory continues to edge up. |
| Inventory and months of supply | Horry County around 5.2 months of supply overall, condos at about 7 months. | Additional listings could push conditions further toward a balanced or buyer-leaning market. |
Each of these factors doesn’t just influence “market stats”—they show up as real money and time for coastal homeowners deciding whether to act now or wait.
Primary keyword focus: hidden cost of waiting to list your Myrtle Beach home
For sellers along the Grand Strand, including Horry and Georgetown counties, the hidden cost of waiting to list lies in how small shifts compound across price, time, and leverage. The region saw roughly 16,128 closed sales in 2025, with Horry County alone accounting for the vast majority and a median price of 310,000, unchanged year‑over‑year. That stability in the broader single‑family median can mask the reality that certain price ranges and coastal micro‑markets (for example, 250,000–350,000 or condo‑heavy buildings) experienced more volatility, including slower absorption and more negotiating.
If you wait 60 days and step into a market with slightly more supply and similar demand, your position as a seller becomes weaker: buyers see more alternatives, feel less urgency, and scrutinize pricing more closely. Coastal Carolinas showing data already indicates that buyers in Myrtle Beach and neighboring areas are active but selective, with showings per listing hovering around 8.6 across Horry County in 2025. Listing sooner with a sharp price and strong presentation allows you to meet that pool of buyers while they still have fewer homes to compare you against.
Carolina Crafted Homes stays current on Myrtle Beach market trends and can answer questions about the hidden cost of waiting to list your coastal home. Reach out anytime for guidance—no pressure, just straightforward expertise.
FAQS
Q1: Is spring always the best time to list a coastal home in Myrtle Beach?
Not necessarily. Coastal Carolinas data for 2025 shows that February was the peak month for showings, indicating strong buyer interest early in the year rather than only in late spring. Because inventory tends to rise as the year progresses, waiting until later in spring can mean more competition for a similar pool of buyers. The better approach is to focus on when buyer activity is building and your specific segment has favorable supply, not just the calendar month.
Q2: How much can a small price shift really cost me if I wait to sell?
Even a 2 percent change in effective sale price can be significant. Across the Coastal Carolinas, condo median prices fell about 3.7 percent in 2025, while single‑family prices rose only 1.4 percent, showing how modest percentage moves can play out in real dollars. On a 500,000 home, a 2 percent difference equals 10,000, which can outweigh the value of many cosmetic upgrades you might complete during a 60‑day delay.
Q3: Are condos affected differently than single‑family homes if I wait to list?
Yes, condos along the Grand Strand have faced more headwinds recently. In 2025, condo closed sales fell 3.1 percent year‑over‑year while inventory and months of supply climbed to about 7 months, much higher than for single‑family homes. Days on market for condos also rose from 111 to 132 days, and sellers received a smaller share of list price compared with prior years, meaning a delay could expose condo owners to additional softening and longer carrying times.
Q4: How long should I expect my Myrtle Beach home to be on the market?
For 2025, single‑family homes across the Coastal Carolinas took an average of around 123 days to go under contract, while condos averaged about 132 days. These are market‑wide figures, so your actual timeline will depend on price point, location, condition, and how accurately you price relative to recent sales. However, adding an extra 60 days before listing effectively extends your total window of ownership during a time when buyers have more choices.
Q5: Does rising inventory in Horry County really matter if my home is unique?
Uniqueness helps, but broader inventory trends still affect your leverage. Horry County’s overall months of supply was around 5.2 at the end of 2025, indicating a shift toward more balanced conditions where buyers have more options and negotiating power. Even standout properties are compared against active listings and recent sales, so entering the market before additional similar homes list can preserve some of your pricing advantage and reduce the risk of extended days on market.
Q6: Should I wait for mortgage rates to change before listing my coastal home?
Current forecasts from large housing finance organizations suggest mortgage rates moderated in the second half of 2025 and are expected to remain in a mid‑6 percent range in 2026, improving affordability slightly but not dramatically. While rates can influence buyer demand, the Coastal Carolinas market has already adjusted to higher rate levels through pricing, days on market, and inventory patterns. Waiting solely for a rate change may expose you to more competition and price drift without guaranteeing a stronger pool of buyers.
