2025 Annual Report on the Charleston Area Housing Market
FOR RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY FROM THE CHARLESTON TRIDENT ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® MLS
The U. S. housing market navigated a challenging landscape throughout 2025. Mortgage rates remained elevated compared with recent years, and home prices continued to rise nationwide. Demand for affordable housing far outpaced supply, and with fewer buyers able to keep up with rising costs, sales of previously owned homes were subdued. Younger buyers faced steep hurdles as high rents, inflation, and student loan debt limited their ability to save for a down payment. By mid-2025, first-time buyers accounted for just 21 % of all home purchases, while the typical age of a first-time buyer reached a record high of 40, according to the National Association of REALTORS ®( NAR). This aging trend extended across the broader market, as the median age of all homebuyers reached 59. NAR data show that homeowners also set a record, staying in their homes a median of 11 years before selling.
With sales activity down, inventory continued to edge higher, and homes spent more time on the market compared with the previous year, signaling a shift toward more balanced market conditions. The rise in supply has given buyers more options and reduced the sense of urgency that characterized the postpandemic market, while sellers have rediscovered the importance of strategic pricing, especially in areas where inventory growth is strongest. Although price appreciation has slowed, home values remain roughly 50 % higher than prepandemic levels, stretching budgets and prompting many would-be buyers to delay their home search until affordability increases.
New Construction: Months of supply for New Construction homes ended 2025 at 2.7 months. New Construction homes received 98.0 percent of their original list price, while Previously Owned homes received 95.3 percent.
Prices: Home prices were up compared to last year. The overall median sales price increased 2.4 percent to $ 426,947 for the year. Single Family home prices were up 3.5 percent compared to last year, and Townhouse / Condo home prices were down 1.4 percent.
Looking ahead to 2026, experts are forecasting an improvement in market activity. Mortgage rates declined through the second half of 2025 and are expected to stay in the 6 % range in the year ahead, supporting incremental gains in affordability. As inventory builds, sales volume is projected to increase. Economists anticipate modest increases in home prices, well below the rapid appreciation of recent years. While conditions should become somewhat more favorable for buyers, affordability constraints and the effects of a decadelong supply shortfall will continue to shape the market. Taken together, these trends suggest 2026 will be a year of stabilization and recovery, rather than dramatic change.
Sales: Pending sales increased 2.6 percent, finishing 2025 at 18,007. Closed sales were up 1.7 percent to end the year at 17,776.
Listings: Comparing 2025 to the prior year, the number of homes available for sale was up 8.9 percent. There were 4,489 active listings at the end of the year. New listings increased by 7.3 percent to finish the year at 25,531.
Showings: Compared to last year, the total number of showings were up by 8.0 percent. There were 8 showings before pending, which remained the same as last year.
Distressed Properties: In 2025, the percentage of closed sales that were either foreclosure or short sale decreased by 12.5 percent to finish the year at 0.7 percent of the market.
Table of Contents 3 Quick Facts 5 Property Type Review 6 Distressed Homes Review 7 New Construction Review 8 Showings Review 9 Area Overviews 10 Area Historical Median Prices
Current as of January 9, 2026. All data from the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Report © 2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC. | 2