Market TrendsMyrtle Beach Real EstateGrand Strand Housing
March 02, 2026

Myrtle Beach and the wider Grand Strand started 2026 with slightly lower median prices and a noticeable boost in affordability, creating more room for buyers to negotiate while sellers still benefit from years of appreciation. At the same time, national data shows slower price growth and improving affordability, which lines up closely with what we’re seeing in Horry County.​

 

Myrtle Beach median home prices: where January 2026 landed

In January 2026, the median sales price for single‑family homes in the Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® region (which includes Myrtle Beach and much of Horry County) dipped 2.4% year over year to $357,248. Condo and townhome median prices saw a slightly larger pullback, down 4.5% to $236,250 compared with January 2025. These shifts follow a 2025 calendar year in which single‑family median prices in the region rose 1.4% to $365,000, while condo values eased 3.7% to $238,825.

Activity also shows a market that is active but not overheated. New single‑family listings were up 4.5% year over year in January, and pending sales jumped 13.3%, even as closed sales slipped 3.5%. On the condo side, new listings increased 6.4%, pending sales were flat, and closed sales declined 15%, a sign that buyers have more options and time when shopping the Grand Strand condo market. For buyers comparing neighborhoods along the Grand Strand, the 2025 annual data show Horry County’s overall median at $310,000, with Myrtle Beach proper closing 2025 around a $260,000 median across property types, reflecting the area’s mix of condos and single‑family homes.

 

Housing affordability is improving along the Grand Strand

One of the most important January 2026 shifts was in the Housing Affordability Index. For single‑family homes in the Coastal Carolinas region, the index climbed from 77 in January 2025 to 85 in January 2026, a 10.4% improvement, meaning typical buyers have more income relative to qualifying for a median‑priced home. For condos, affordability improved even more, with the index rising from 115 to 129, a 12.2% gain, which reflects both softer condo prices and modest income growth.​

Inventory and months of supply also help explain why Myrtle Beach median home prices are moderating. Single‑family inventory in January 2026 edged up to 3,586 active listings with 3.9 months of supply, while condos reached 3,058 listings and 7.4 months of supply across the Coastal Carolinas MLS. Market‑wide, a 12‑month housing supply overview shows inventory up 3.1%, with condo inventory leading the way and a balanced to slightly buyer‑leaning feel in several Grand Strand submarkets. For buyers focused specifically on Horry County home values in 2026, the 2025 annual median of $310,000 and a flat year‑over‑year change suggest the market is stabilizing after several years of rapid appreciation.

 

How Myrtle Beach trends compare to national numbers in early 2026

Local trends are closely tied to what is happening nationally. In January 2026, U.S. existing‑home sales fell 8.4% month over month, but the National Association of REALTORS® noted that affordability conditions are the best since March 2022, thanks to slower home price growth and stronger wages. NAR’s supplemental January 2026 data show the national median existing‑home price up just 0.4% year over year to about $405,400, confirming that the rapid price spikes of earlier years have cooled.​

Mortgage rates are also playing a major role in 2026 affordability. As of February 26, 2026, the average 30‑year fixed‑rate mortgage stood at 5.98%, down from 6.76% a year earlier, while the 15‑year fixed averaged 5.44%. Freddie Mac notes this is the first time in about three and a half years that the 30‑year rate has dropped back into the 5% range, a shift that meaningfully improves monthly payments for buyers considering Myrtle Beach and Horry County properties. Combined with local price softening and rising affordability indices, these rate trends help explain the stronger pending sales numbers seen in the Coastal Carolinas region at the start of 2026.

 

What this means for Myrtle Beach buyers and sellers in 2026

For buyers, the combination of slightly lower median prices, more inventory—especially on the condo side—and sub‑6% mortgage rates means more choice and more negotiating leverage than in the peak post‑pandemic years. The strongest sales gains over the past 12 months have been in lower price ranges; properties at $150,000 and below saw pending sales jump 21% region‑wide, underscoring demand from value‑focused buyers along the Grand Strand. At the same time, higher inventory and longer days on market in some segments are encouraging sellers to price strategically and to pay close attention to recent comparable sales in their specific Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, or Surfside Beach neighborhoods.

For owners watching Horry County home values in 2026, it is important to remember how far the market has come in a few years. The entire Coastal Carolinas market’s median price has climbed more than 30% since 2021, even after a 0.6% dip in 2025, and Horry County’s median is up more than 32% over the same timeframe. That longer‑term appreciation, coupled with today’s more balanced conditions, means sellers still have meaningful equity, while buyers have more breathing room as they enter the market. Carolina

Crafted Homes stays current on Myrtle Beach market trends and can answer questions about Myrtle Beach median home prices. Reach out anytime for guidance—no pressure, just straightforward expertise.​

FAQs

1. What is the Myrtle Beach median home price in January 2026?
In January 2026, the median sales price for single‑family homes in the Coastal Carolinas region, including Myrtle Beach, was $357,248, down 2.4% from January 2025. Condo and townhome properties posted a median of $236,250, a 4.5% year‑over‑year decline. These figures reflect the broader Grand Strand market as reported by the Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS®, and they show modest softening rather than a steep price drop.​

2. How are Horry County home values trending going into 2026?
Across 2025, the median price for the entire Horry County market held at $310,000, unchanged from 2024 but more than 32% higher than in 2021, indicating a period of stabilization after several strong growth years. Single‑family homes in the Coastal Carolinas region finished 2025 with a median of $365,000, up 1.4% year over year, while condo prices eased 3.7% to $238,825. Taken together, this suggests that Horry County home values in early 2026 remain historically high, even as month‑to‑month data show some moderation.

3. Is the Grand Strand becoming more affordable for buyers?
Yes, multiple indicators point to improving affordability along the Grand Strand. The single‑family Housing Affordability Index in the Coastal Carolinas region rose from 77 in January 2025 to 85 in January 2026, a 10.4% improvement. Condos saw the index climb from 115 to 129 over the same period, a 12.2% gain. These shifts align with NAR’s statement that national affordability in early 2026 is the best since March 2022, thanks to slower price growth and better wage dynamics.​

4. How do Myrtle Beach price trends compare to national housing trends in 2026?
Locally, January 2026 data show small year‑over‑year declines in median prices for both single‑family and condo properties in the Coastal Carolinas, while the national median existing‑home price is up about 0.4% compared with a year earlier. That means Myrtle Beach and the broader Grand Strand are seeing slightly more price relief than the U.S. average. At the same time, both locally and nationally, price growth has cooled dramatically from earlier years, supporting a slower, more balanced market environment.​

5. How are mortgage rates affecting Myrtle Beach buyers in early 2026?
As of late February 2026, the average 30‑year fixed‑rate mortgage is 5.98%, down from 6.76% a year earlier, while the 15‑year fixed averages 5.44%. This drop below 6% for the 30‑year rate, combined with stable to slightly lower Myrtle Beach median home prices, reduces monthly payment pressure for many buyers. These conditions help explain why pending sales across the Coastal Carolinas region have risen modestly even as prices have leveled off.

 

References and Data Sources

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