TL;DR: Nationally, homes averaged 2.3 offers per listing in February 2026 — but only 14% sold above list price. That gap tells the real story for Grand Strand sellers: multiple offers are still happening, but the terms inside those offers matter more than ever. Knowing how to read them is how you protect your net proceeds.
The Multiple-Offer Market Has Shifted — But It Hasn't Disappeared
There's a version of the Myrtle Beach market that sellers remember from 2021 and 2022 — offers arriving within hours, waived inspections, buyers paying well above asking without blinking. That version is largely gone. What's replaced it is more nuanced, and in some ways more demanding.
According to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), homes listed nationally averaged 2.3 offers per sale — essentially flat from a year ago. Yet only 14% of those homes sold above list price, down sharply from 21% in February 2025. More offers, fewer above-list outcomes. That's a market where buyers are engaged but disciplined, and where seller strategy determines which side of that equation you land on.
On the Grand Strand, the local data reinforces this picture. According to the Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® MLS (February 2026), buyer interest in Myrtle Beach — measured as showings per listing — rose 15.7% year-over-year. Buyers are active. They're showing up. But single-family inventory in Myrtle Beach also rose 13.6% over the same period, giving them more options than they had 18 months ago.
The sellers who do best in this environment aren't the ones who simply wait for a number they like. They're the ones with a clear process for evaluating what's actually in front of them.
How to Handle Multiple Offers Without Leaving Money on the Table
When competing bids arrive, the instinct is to act fast and take the highest number. Both of those impulses can cost you. A structured review process — ideally with an offer deadline communicated to all parties before any bids come in — lets you compare complete offers rather than react to incomplete ones.
Here's what experienced listing agents evaluate beyond purchase price:
Financing type. According to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), 31% of sales nationally were all-cash — up from 27% the prior month. A cash offer eliminates appraisal risk entirely and typically closes faster. When you have competing offers, the certainty that cash provides has real dollar value.
Contingency terms. In February 2026, 20% of buyers nationally waived inspection contingencies and 23% waived appraisal contingencies, according to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index. Both figures jumped significantly from January 2026 (12% and 15%, respectively), suggesting spring buyers are becoming more aggressive. An offer with fewer contingencies carries less risk of renegotiation or collapse after contract.
Closing timeline. Does the proposed date align with your situation? A higher offer requiring a 90-day close may net you less — in carrying costs and life disruption — than a slightly lower offer closing in 30.
Earnest money. A larger earnest money deposit signals buyer commitment. Buyers who put down 2–3% at contract have more skin in the game and are less likely to walk away over minor inspection findings.
Escalation clauses. Some offers automatically increase to beat competing bids up to a stated cap. These require careful review — the increment, the cap, and the verification requirements all affect what you actually receive.
According to the NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the final sales price nationally was a median of 99% of the final listing price across all sellers. Homes that went under contract within two weeks received a median of 100% of asking. That data reinforces a core truth: smart pricing and disciplined offer selection protect your proceeds — not speed, not urgency.
What the Local Data Tells Grand Strand Sellers Right Now
Understanding your position in the current market is essential before evaluating any offer — let alone several at once.
According to CCAR MLS data (February 2026), the percent of list price received for single-family homes in the broader Coastal Carolinas region stood at 96.8%, down from 97.3% one year earlier. The 12-month average for days on market reached 123 days for single-family homes across the region. In Myrtle Beach specifically, single-family days on market actually improved — dropping from 142 days in February 2025 to 101 days in February 2026, a 28.9% improvement. Well-priced single-family homes in Myrtle Beach are moving faster than the regional average.
The condo segment tells a different story. Condo days on market across the CCAR region rose 16.5% year-over-year to 134 days as of February 2026, and months supply for condos reached 7.6 months. Sellers in that segment are operating in a buyer's market and should approach any competing offer situation with that context clearly in mind.
On the contract side, the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026) reported that 6% of contracts were terminated in the prior three months and 14% experienced delayed settlements — with 8% of those delays tied to appraisal issues. These aren't abstract numbers. They're a reminder that a higher offer that falls apart at the appraisal stage costs you time, momentum, and negotiating position with the next buyer.
Grand Strand Market Snapshot vs. National Offer Conditions — February 2026
Sources: CCAR MLS / ShowingTime (March 2026); NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026)
| Metric | Local (CCAR/Myrtle Beach) | National (NAR RCI) |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Offers Per Listing | Not separately reported | 2.3 offers |
| Sold Above List Price | 94.6% of list received (SF, MB) | 14% sold above list |
| Cash Buyers | — | 31% of sales |
| Inspection Contingency Waived | — | 20% of buyers |
| Appraisal Contingency Waived | — | 23% of buyers |
| Contract Termination Rate | — | 6% (last 3 months) |
| SF Days on Market (MB) | 101 days (-28.9% YoY) | 47 days (national median) |
| Buyer Interest (Showings/Listing) | 2.3 (+15.7% YoY, MB) | — |
Note: Local contingency waiver and cash buyer data not separately reported by CCAR MLS. National figures from NAR RCI are used as reference benchmarks.
Three Mistakes Sellers Make When Multiple Offers Arrive
Even in a favorable position, sellers can undercut their own outcome. These are the three most common errors:
1. Responding before all offers are assembled. Some buyers submit early to create urgency. If your agent has set an offer deadline, hold to it. You want the complete picture before making a decision worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. A seller who reacts to the first offer rarely sees the best one.
2. Skipping the net sheet comparison. A $10,000 higher offer that includes seller-paid closing costs, a repair allowance, and a lengthy rent-back period may net you less than a lower, cleaner offer. Ask your agent to model each offer side-by-side before any comparison begins. The number at the top of the page is not your outcome — what closes is.
3. Not knowing when to counter versus when to call for highest and best. Sellers can respond to a multiple-offer situation by countering the strongest offer, or by inviting all parties to submit their best terms simultaneously. The right approach depends on how far apart the bids are and how motivated each buyer appears. According to the NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, helping sellers negotiate and deal with buyers was cited as a priority by 6% of sellers — a small share that reflects how often sellers underestimate this part of the process until they're in the middle of it.
For a deeper look at when holding out makes sense — and when it doesn't — see our post on when sellers shouldn't take the first offer in Myrtle Beach. And if a backup offer situation develops, this post on backup offer strategy in Myrtle Beach walks through how to structure and protect your position.
Navigating competing offers on a Grand Strand property is one of the highest-leverage decisions in a real estate transaction — and the data makes clear that how you handle it matters as much as the number on the page. If you're preparing to list in Myrtle Beach or Horry County and want to think through your offer strategy before the first bid arrives, the Carolina Crafted Homes team is here to help you work through it. Reach out and start the conversation before you're under the clock.
FAQ SECTION
Q1: How many offers does the average home receive right now?
According to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), homes listed nationally received an average of 2.3 offers on the most recent sale — flat from 2.3 one year earlier. That figure has held remarkably steady despite the broader market slowdown, which suggests that well-positioned listings are still generating real competition. The key shift is that fewer of those situations are producing above-list outcomes: only 14% of homes sold above list price in February 2026, down from 21% one year ago. More offers don't automatically mean higher prices — offer quality and terms matter.
Q2: Should I always accept the highest offer when I have multiple bids?
Not necessarily. The top-line number is one factor, not the whole picture. Contingencies, financing type, closing timeline, and requested concessions all affect your actual net proceeds and the probability the transaction closes. According to the NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the national median sales price was 99% of list — and homes under contract within two weeks averaged 100%. The gap between those outcomes is often explained by offer structure, not price alone. A side-by-side net sheet from your agent is the right tool before any decision is made.
Q3: What contingencies should I watch for when comparing offers?
The two most significant are the inspection contingency and the appraisal contingency. Buyers who waive these take on more risk themselves — which reduces the seller's exposure to renegotiation after contract. According to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), 20% of buyers nationally waived inspection contingencies and 23% waived appraisal contingencies — both figures up sharply from the prior month. An offer with both contingencies waived from a cash buyer represents a materially different risk profile than a financed offer with both intact, even if the price is similar.
Q4: What happens if a deal falls apart after I accept an offer?
It happens more often than sellers expect. According to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), 6% of contracts were terminated in the prior three months, and 14% experienced delayed settlements. Of those delays, 8% were tied to appraisal issues. Terminations reset your listing timeline, which can affect how subsequent buyers perceive the property. This is one reason that offer strength — not just offer price — matters. A cleaner offer at a slightly lower price often produces a better outcome than a higher offer with elevated termination risk.
Q5: Can I counter all offers at once, or do I have to pick one?
You have options. One common approach is to ask all buyers to submit their highest and best offer by a set deadline. Another is to counter only the strongest offer while notifying other parties that their offers are under consideration. The right approach depends on how far apart the bids are, how motivated each buyer appears, and what terms matter most to you. Your listing agent should help you map out the approach before any response goes out. For sellers weighing whether to hold out or move quickly, our post on pricing strategy and market timing adds useful context.
Q6: Does buyer financing type really affect which offer I should choose?
Significantly. Cash offers eliminate appraisal risk and typically produce faster, cleaner closings. According to the NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index (February 2026), 31% of sales nationally were all-cash in February 2026. Financed offers go through appraisal and lender underwriting, both of which can introduce delays or renegotiation points. In a market where 8% of delayed closings involved appraisal issues, the certainty of a cash offer has concrete value — even when the purchase price is modestly lower. Your agent can help you quantify that difference in net-sheet terms.
Sources
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® MLS — Local Market Update, February 2026: https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® — Monthly Indicators, February 2026: https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® — Showings Report, February 2026: https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
National Association of REALTORS® — REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, February 2026: https://www.nar.realtor/
National Association of REALTORS® — 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers: https://www.nar.realtor/
