Here is the latest real estate analysis for the Hilton Head / Bluffton SC area through October, including some surprising trends, such as a 22% jump in pending sales compared to last year. Plus, practical tips to maximize your home’s ROI this off-season.

But before we dive into that, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its latest market report, which highlights a notable recovery in the housing market…

Existing home sales rose 3.4% month over month and 2.9% year over year, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.96 million. The median home price climbed 4% year over year to $391,600, with price increases seen across all regions.

Regionally, annual sales gains were strongest in the West (+8.5%), followed by the South (+2.3%) and Midwest (+1.1%), while the Northeast held steady. Housing inventory grew 19.1% from last year to 1.37 million units, equating to a 4.2-month supply at the current pace of sales.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that elevated mortgage rates are stabilizing, while economic growth is encouraging more buyers to re-enter the market, signaling resilience in demand despite challenges.