As winter winds down along the Grand Strand, many buyers circle “spring” on the calendar as their ideal time to shop—only to discover they’re suddenly competing harder and paying more for the same Myrtle Beach homes that sat longer in January and February. Coastal Carolinas data already shows activity ramping up: pending sales for single-family homes in January 2026 jumped 13.3% year-over-year, giving buyers more company at the negotiation table right before the traditional spring surge. At the same time, months’ supply is still under four months for single-family homes, which keeps sellers in a solid position even as mortgage rates ease a bit.
Why Myrtle Beach demand spikes in spring
On the Grand Strand, showing activity and buyer traffic tend to peak late winter into spring, well ahead of the summer beach season. In 2025, February was the peak month for total showings across the Coastal Carolinas region, with 194,308 in-person showings and a median of seven showings before a home went under contract—evidence of concentrated buyer interest early in the year. Horry County alone accounted for more than 176,000 showings in 2025, with Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, and Murrells Inlet among the most heavily toured areas.
Several factors drive this pattern. Many buyers time their search around school schedules, job moves, or lease renewals, which cluster in late spring and summer even if they’re not moving for “lifestyle” reasons. Nationally, 45% of recent buyers told NAR the timing felt “just right” and they were simply ready to buy—rather than trying to perfectly time the market—which often coincides with spring for practical reasons like weather, travel, and work calendars. On top of that, Myrtle Beach’s resort appeal brings in out-of-area buyers who prefer to shop when flights are easy, weather is mild, and they can combine home tours with a quick beach trip.
In early 2026, lower mortgage rates compared with 2025 have also pulled some buyers off the sidelines. The Housing Affordability Index for single-family homes in the Coastal Carolinas improved from 77 in January 2025 to 85 in January 2026, meaning typical incomes now cover a larger share of the payment on the median-priced home. Yet affordability is still stretched compared with pre-2020 levels, so when more buyers jump back at once—especially in a destination market like Myrtle Beach—the competition tends to land in the same spring window.
How more spring competition pushes prices up
Even in a calmer market than 2021–2022, the basic math of supply and demand still matters. When more buyers write offers on roughly the same number of Grand Strand listings, those properties rarely get cheaper. Coastal Carolinas data show that for the 12 months ending January 2026, closed sales were up 3.9% for single-family homes while inventory increased just 0.3%, holding months’ supply around 3.9 months—below the six-month “balanced” benchmark. That dynamic gives sellers leverage to hold closer to list price or entertain multiple offers, particularly in popular submarkets like Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, and Conway.
Over the last year, the median single-family price in the region has held near 365,000, up 1.4% on a rolling 12‑month basis even as condo prices slipped. At the same time, sellers are still receiving about 97.3% of list price for single‑family properties on a 12‑month average, and homes that sell in two weeks or less typically achieve 100% of asking price nationally. In practice, that means a Myrtle Beach home that might have sold for a modest discount during a slower winter month is more likely to sell at or near list once spring buyers arrive in force.
Condo buyers along the Grand Strand feel this too, especially in the most affordable ranges. Pending condo sales in the region have been strongest under 150,000, up 29.0% over the past 12 months, even though overall condo sales are down 4.3%. Those entry-level and investment-oriented listings often see a flurry of interest when spring visitors arrive, shrinking buyers’ ability to negotiate and, in some cases, shifting them into higher price brackets where days on market are longer but total carrying costs are higher.
Seasonality, days on market, and “paying more for the same home”
Seasonality shows up clearly in both days on market and how close sellers come to their asking prices. For the 12 months through January 2026, the average days on market in the Coastal Carolinas ticked up to 123 days for single-family homes and 132 days for condos, but that’s a rolling figure that masks much faster sales in the most in-demand brackets. Within Horry County, the 350,001–500,000 range currently sells fastest at around 120 days on average, even though it’s a higher price tier, because that’s where much of today’s buyer demand is concentrated.
Crucially, national data show that when homes sell quickly, sellers give up less ground on price. In 2025, the median U.S. sale closed at 99% of final list price, and homes that went under contract within two weeks often sold at 100%. Locally, the Coastal Carolinas single-family market is echoing this pattern with an average 97.3% of list price received over the past year and very small year-over-year changes. Put another way, the same Myrtle Beach home might linger and accept a lower offer during a quieter month, but once spring reduces days on market, that discount often disappears—and in tightly priced segments, buyers sometimes have to stretch above their ideal budget to “win” the property they want.
You can also see this tension in the distribution of closed sales by price range. Over the last year, the 150,000‑and‑below bracket saw closed sales jump 20.2% across all property types, while the 250,001–350,000 range slipped 3.1% and 350,001–500,000 dropped 4.4%. That pattern suggests buyers who hoped to stay in certain price bands either settled for more modest homes (which were bid up) or moved into higher tiers where there was more inventory—both forms of “paying more” in exchange for getting under contract in a competitive seasonal window.
Strategy tips if you’re targeting a Myrtle Beach home this spring
If you’re looking in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, or nearby Grand Strand communities, you do not have to avoid spring altogether—but it pays to be strategic. First, understand that inventory is improving but not dramatically: overall homes-for-sale counts rose just 3.1% across the region in the past year, driven mostly by a 6.6% gain in condo inventory. With months’ supply at 3.9 for single‑family and 7.4 for condos, buyers have more options than a year or two ago but still face competition in well-priced segments.
Second, recognize that more buyers are financing again as rates level off. Nationally, 74% of 2025 buyers used a mortgage, and first-time buyers financed 90% of their purchase price on median, with a 10% down payment—the highest first-time down payment share since 1989. When many buyers share similar financing profiles and timelines, small advantages matter: having pre-approval in hand, being flexible on closing dates, and writing clean offers can sometimes offset the need to offer a dramatically higher price.
Finally, consider starting your search a little earlier than everyone else. The Coastal Carolinas region already saw new single-family listings rise 4.5% year-over-year in January 2026, while pending sales jumped 13.3%—a sign that buyers are moving as soon as attractive listings hit the market. Touring homes in late winter, staying plugged into daily MLS updates across Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Horry County, and being ready to act when a right-fit home appears can help you capture value before the peak spring rush tightens negotiating room.
Carolina Crafted Homes stays current on Myrtle Beach market trends and can answer questions about why spring buyers often pay more for the same homes. Reach out anytime for guidance—no pressure, just straightforward expertise.
FAQS
Q1: Do Myrtle Beach home prices actually rise in spring, or does it just feel that way?
In the Coastal Carolinas, overall annual pricing has been fairly steady, with the single-family median price up about 1.4% over the last 12 months, but the perception of “spring price jumps” comes from tighter negotiations and faster-selling listings. Sellers have been receiving around 97.3% of list price on average, and homes that go under contract quickly often get 100%—which is more common in high-traffic months. So while list prices may not spike dramatically in spring, buyers usually have less room to negotiate, which can feel like paying more for the same home.
Q2: How competitive is the Myrtle Beach market right now compared with last year?
Competition has increased modestly but not overheated. Pending sales for single-family homes in January 2026 were up 13.3% year-over-year, while inventory only rose 0.3%, keeping months’ supply under four months. At the same time, region-wide pending sales over the past 12 months rose 1.5%, led by a 21.0% surge in the 150,000‑and‑below price range. This mix points to a market that’s more active than early 2025, especially in affordable segments, but still offers opportunities for prepared buyers.
Q3: Are condos along the Grand Strand less seasonal than single-family homes?
Condos show strong seasonal patterns too, but in a slightly different way. Over the past 12 months, condo closed sales across the Coastal Carolinas actually declined 4.3%, while condo inventory rose 6.6% and months’ supply reached 7.4—indicating more breathing room for buyers overall. However, pending condo sales under 150,000 jumped 29.0%, showing that the most affordable units still draw intense attention—often from investors and second‑home buyers who visit during spring and summer.
Q4: How do mortgage rates and affordability affect spring pricing pressure?
As rates eased in late 2025, the Housing Affordability Index for Coastal Carolinas single-family homes improved from 77 to 85 by January 2026, implying payments on the median home are somewhat more manageable for typical incomes. Nationally, mortgage rates during the July 2024–June 2025 window averaged about 6.69%, which kept many would‑be buyers on the sidelines. When rates dip from those levels, more demand tends to show up at once—often in spring—creating bursts of competition that narrow discounts and nudge final sale prices closer to list.
Q5: Is it smarter to buy in winter to avoid paying more for the same home?
Winter can offer negotiating advantages, especially if a property has been on the market longer, because data show that the longer a home sits, the more likely sellers are to accept a discount from list price. In the Coastal Carolinas, though, inventory often increases in late winter and early spring, and January 2026 already saw new listings up 4.5% for single‑family and 6.4% for condos year-over-year. A practical approach is to start shopping in late winter, stay flexible on timing, and be ready to move on the right home when it appears—whether that’s February or April.
Q6: What price ranges see the most spring competition around Myrtle Beach?
Region-wide, the 150,000‑and‑below bracket has seen the strongest momentum, with pending sales up 21.0% and closed sales up 20.2% on a 12‑month basis. In Horry County areas like Myrtle Beach and Conway, there’s also strong activity between 250,001 and 500,000, where days on market are shortest around 120 days and sellers often receive a high share of their asking price. Buyers targeting these segments should expect less room for aggressive discounts during peak season.
