Listing strategy in early 2026 is all about timing your launch to match real buyer activity, not the calendar on the wall. Coastal Carolinas data shows buyer showings peak in late winter, with February 2025 clocking the highest monthly showings across the region, while inventory and days on market have both crept up, giving buyers more options and putting more pressure on pricing and presentation for Myrtle Beach sellers. At the same time, 30‑year fixed mortgage rates are hovering just above 6%, which keeps affordability tight and makes motivated, well‑priced listings stand out when they first hit the market.
Myrtle Beach spring listing patterns
Across the Coastal Carolinas, February was the peak month for showings in 2025, with 194,308 total showings recorded and February specifically identified as the “Peak Showing Activity Month,” confirming that buyer interest ramps up before the traditional spring season. Myrtle Beach alone accounted for over 30,800 showings during 2025 and remains the dominant condo and small‑home market on the Grand Strand. Region‑wide, homes sold in 2025 at a median of 99% of list price, and single‑family days on market averaged 121–123 days on a rolling basis, meaning your launch window and first 30 days still matter a great deal.
For December 2025, Myrtle Beach logged 4,147 showings with an average buyer‑interest figure of 1.5 showings per listing, even in what many consider an off‑season month, which suggests there is a steady base of winter shoppers who roll right into February and March. At the same time, closed single‑family sales in the region were up 12.2% year‑over‑year in December 2025 and condo closings were up 6.5%, reinforcing that buyers are willing to write offers in late winter when they see the right property.
February vs March: key differences in 2025 data
To understand whether to list in February or March, it helps to look at 2025’s month‑by‑month pattern. In 2025, new single‑family listings in the Coastal Carolinas ramped strongly from January (1,297) to March (1,517), while condos climbed from 806 in January to 892 in March, meaning competition was lower in February than at the March peak but still well above winter lows. Pending contracts followed a similar path: February single‑family pendings were 891 and March 1,070, while condo pendings were 443 in February and 460 in March, indicating more buyers writing contracts as spring approached.
Median prices, though, did not surge in March; single‑family medians dipped slightly from January’s 366,200 to 350,490 in March before stabilizing around 365,000 later in the year, while condo medians were lower in March (226,500) than February (234,000). This pattern suggests that more inventory and more buyers in March does not automatically translate into higher pricing; instead, sellers in March compete in a more crowded field, while February sellers often capture serious buyers who started looking in January but still face relatively lighter competition.
When listing in February makes the most sense
February tends to favor sellers who want an earlier, less crowded launch while still tapping into rising buyer traffic. In the Coastal Carolinas, February 2025 already saw elevated showing and contract activity, and by year‑end the market sat at about 4.7 months of supply overall, with 3.7 months for single‑family and 7.0 months for condos, indicating a tilt toward a more balanced environment where early movers can stand out. Mortgage affordability also improved slightly through late 2025, with the single‑family Housing Affordability Index ticking up from 74 to 77 over the year, while national 30‑year rates sat near 6.1% in late January 2026, which tends to draw back buyers who were previously on the sidelines.
Listing in February positions your home so serious Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand buyers see it early in their search, before they’ve been exposed to dozens of alternatives and before March’s listing wave fully hits. With median sale‑to‑list ratios still near 97%–99% in the region, a well‑priced February listing can capture strong offers from buyers who are motivated to lock something in before the busier spring break and early‑summer travel season.
When March is the better listing month
March can be the right choice if you need a few extra weeks to finish preparation or you are aiming to maximize exposure once more buyers are actively touring the Grand Strand. By March 2025, the Coastal Carolinas were seeing some of the highest monthly counts of new listings and pending sales of the year, especially in the 250,001–350,000 price band, which remained the largest slice of closed sales at nearly 4,800 transactions over 12 months. That higher level of activity can help if your home is in a popular Myrtle Beach or Carolina Forest price point or school zone where buyers are lining up for new inventory, even when there is more competition.
However, sellers should factor in that more inventory in March means buyers may negotiate harder on inspections and price adjustments, especially now that days on market have climbed into the 120‑plus range for many price brackets and the overall market has around 4.7 months of supply. If your home has unique features or updates that clearly differentiate it—like upgraded outdoor living, newer roof and systems, or a rare floor plan—launching in March can still perform well because those features stand out against a larger set of comparable listings.
How Myrtle Beach condo vs single‑family trends affect timing
In 2025, single‑family homes in the Coastal Carolinas saw a year‑over‑year median price gain of 1.4% to 365,000, while condo medians declined 3.7% to 238,825, and condo months‑of‑supply reached 7.0 compared with 3.7 for single‑family. This split matters for timing: higher condo inventory means a Myrtle Beach condo seller often benefits from hitting the market earlier, in February, when there are slightly fewer competing units and buyer showings are already climbing.
For single‑family homes in areas like Carolina Forest, Conway, and Socastee, inventory gains were more modest and months‑of‑supply lower, which can make March’s higher traffic levels more attractive if your home is well‑prepared and priced in line with recent neighborhood medians. As of 2025, those medians ranged around 260,000 in Myrtle Beach proper, about 398,900 in Carolina Forest, and 340,000 in Socastee, with most markets still receiving 97% or more of list price when properly positioned.
Practical timing guidelines for Myrtle Beach sellers
Here is a simple way to decide between February and March if you plan to sell in early spring 2026:
| Situation | February Listing Advantage | March Listing Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| You own a condo near the oceanfront or in a high-density complex | Slightly less competition while buyer traffic is ramping; condo inventory is higher overall, so earlier exposure helps. | Larger pool of seasonal visitors and buyers in town who may tour multiple buildings and are ready to write offers. |
| You own a single-family home in a popular Grand Strand neighborhood | Early access to motivated buyers before they see too many alternatives; good fit if you value speed and have flexibility on closing. | Higher number of new listings and pendings means more overall activity; helpful if you’ve done significant updates and want maximum in-person traffic. |
| You need to sell before buying again | Benefit from peak February showings with fewer direct competitors; helps limit days on market before you write your next offer. | Gives you time to complete repairs and staging so you present at the top of the March inventory wave, which can still net strong results in a ~4.7-month-supply market. |
In all cases, it’s important to tailor list price to current data, not last year’s headlines: 2025 Coastal Carolinas figures show median prices flattening, condo values edging down, and buyers securing smaller discounts off list price than in pre‑COVID years, which makes a precise pricing strategy more important than trying to “time” a perfect month. With buyers taking around 10 weeks to shop on average nationally and more inventory in our region, the most successful Myrtle Beach sellers are those who combine polished presentation with a realistic price and a launch window—February or March—that matches their specific property type and goals.
Carolina Crafted Homes stays current on Myrtle Beach market trends and can answer questions about when to list in February vs. March and how that fits your plans. Reach out anytime for guidance—no pressure, just straightforward expertise.
FAQS
Q1. Is February or March better for listing a home in Myrtle Beach?
Coastal Carolinas data shows buyer showings peaked in February 2025, with that month recorded as the peak showing activity for the region. March, however, brought the highest counts of new listings and strong pending sales, especially for single‑family homes, creating more overall activity but also more competition. If you want earlier exposure with less crowding, February usually has the edge, while March can work well if your home is highly competitive and you want to tap the full spring buyer pool.
Q2. Do homes sell for more in March than in February?
In 2025, single‑family median prices in the Coastal Carolinas did not spike in March; they actually dipped from January’s 366,200 to around 350,490 in March before stabilizing at 365,000 over the full year. Condos saw even softer pricing, with March medians at 226,500, lower than February’s 234,000, despite more contracts being written. That suggests that timing alone (February vs March) doesn’t guarantee a higher sale price—your pricing strategy and how your home compares to competing listings matter more.
Q3. How do current mortgage rates impact when I should list?
As of late January 2026, the national average 30‑year fixed mortgage rate is about 6.10%, down from recent peaks but still higher than pre‑2020 levels, which keeps affordability tight for many buyers. In the Coastal Carolinas, the Housing Affordability Index for single‑family homes improved from 74 to 77 between 2024 and 2025, and the condo index rose from 107 to 118, suggesting slightly better buying power. This combination favors well‑priced listings hitting the market when buyer activity is ramping up (February and March), because serious buyers are eager to act when they find something that fits their budget.
Q4. Is early spring different for condos versus single‑family homes?
Yes; in 2025, condo inventory in the Coastal Carolinas climbed 5.5% year‑over‑year with 7.0 months of supply, while single‑family inventory dipped slightly with 3.7 months of supply, signaling a more competitive environment for condo sellers. Condo median prices fell 3.7% for the year to 238,825, while single‑family medians rose 1.4% to 365,000, so condo sellers often benefit from listing earlier, in February, before more units flood the market. Single‑family sellers in sought‑after Myrtle Beach and nearby neighborhoods may be able to use March’s stronger showing and contract volume to their advantage if their home is well‑positioned.
Q5. How long are homes taking to sell around Myrtle Beach?
For 2025, the Coastal Carolinas saw average days on market of about 123 for single‑family homes and 132 for condos on a rolling 12‑month basis, both up from prior years but still far from the slowdowns of past cycles. In December 2025 specifically, single‑family days on market were 128 and condo days 128, showing that well‑priced listings can still move within roughly four months or less even in a more balanced market. This means early‑spring sellers should focus on pricing and presentation from day one, because the first 30–45 days are when you are most likely to attract your strongest offers.
