2026 Mid-Year Market Snapshot
Key year-to-date statistics
for the Hilton Head and Bluffton real estate markets
As we reach the halfway point of 2026, we wanted to share a quick look at how the Hilton Head and Bluffton real estate market is performing. While headlines often tell only part of the story, local market trends reveal valuable insights for buyers, sellers, and homeowners alike. Below you’ll find a snapshot of year-to-date activity, along with a few noteworthy updates from around the Lowcountry.
The Inventory Gap
New listings outpaced pending sales every month from January through June, showing that inventory is building faster than buyers are absorbing it. While buyer activity remained steady, and even strengthened in May, the consistent gap between new supply and under-contract activity points to a more competitive marketplace for sellers to consider when positioning a new listing. In today’s environment, pricing, presentation, and condition matter more than ever.
Monthly Housing Supply
The Monthly Housing Supply helps to identify the Mood of the Market! When the MHS falls between 3 and 6 months, the market is considered “balanced”. Technically, a buyer’s market becomes more in play when the MHS exceeds 6-months, while a seller’s market tends to come into play when the MHS falls below 3-months.
Months of inventory eased through the Spring as buyer activity absorbed some of the available supply, but the trend shifted higher again in June. With inventory back above five months, sellers are facing more competition and buyers have more options.
Sales Price to List Price Ratios
Sale prices are still landing close to the final asking price, with close-to-list ratios holding around 97.5%–98%. However, the gap between the final list price and the original list price shows that many sellers are having to adjust before finding the market.
The takeaway: buyers are still willing to pay strong prices – but they are rewarding homes that are priced correctly and overlooking those that start too high.
Listing Success – Closed Sales vs Withdrawn/Expired
Closed sales strengthened through the Spring, peaking in April and remaining solid into May before easing in June. At the same time, withdrawn and expired listings remained a steady part of the market each month – a reminder that not every listing is converting into a sale.
The takeaway: buyers are still active, but they are selective. Homes that are priced, prepared, and positioned correctly are selling; those that miss the mark are more likely to sit, expire, or be pulled from the market.
