National Real Estate Market Update – April 2026
What Homebuyers, Sellers, and Investors Should Know (Including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Insights)
The housing market in April 2026 feels different than the last few years. Prices are still rising nationally, inventory is slowly improving, and mortgage rates have stabilized compared with recent volatility. Locally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shifting migration patterns and second-home demand are creating opportunities buyers and sellers are watching closely.
Here’s what the latest data says right now.
National Housing Market Overview
Across the U.S., the housing market is stabilizing after two years of limited inventory and affordability pressure.
Median home prices
The national median existing-home price reached $408,800 in March 2026, up 1.4 percent year over year (National Association of Realtors).
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-sales
This marked the 33rd consecutive month of annual price increases.
Price growth is slower than pandemic-era spikes but still trending upward overall.
Inventory levels and months of supply
Total inventory rose to 1.36 million homes, equal to roughly 4.1 months of supply.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-sales
A balanced market typically sits closer to six months, so supply remains tight despite improvement.
Existing home sales
Existing-home sales declined 3.6 percent month over month and 1.0 percent year over year to a 3.98 million annual pace.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-sales
This reflects affordability constraints rather than weak housing demand.
New construction activity
Builders continue filling supply gaps, but labor costs and financing conditions are slowing delivery timelines nationwide.
Source: https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/index.html
New-home availability remains one of the biggest variables shaping the 2026 market cycle.
Mortgage Rate Trends and Affordability
Mortgage rates remain the single biggest driver of buyer behavior right now.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits near 6.23 percent as of April 2026.
Source: https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms
Rates are more than half a percentage point lower than a year ago.
Some forecasts suggest rates could approach the mid-5 percent range by late 2026 if inflation continues easing.
Source: https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/forecasts-and-commentary
Lower rates compared with 2025 are already increasing mortgage applications and bringing some buyers back into the market.
Affordability is still stretched, but improving financing conditions are helping stabilize demand.
Buyer Demand Signals
Several early indicators show buyers returning cautiously this spring.
Pending home sales
Pending sales rose 1.5 percent in March 2026.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/pending-home-sales
Showing activity
Showing traffic has improved alongside falling mortgage rates, especially in relocation-friendly and lifestyle markets across the Southeast.
Source: https://www.showingtime.com/impact-of-showings/
First-time buyer participation
Higher borrowing costs continue to limit entry-level activity nationally. First-time buyers remain the most sensitive to rate changes.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics
Overall demand is stabilizing rather than accelerating quickly.
Housing Supply and Inventory Conditions
Inventory is improving slowly but remains historically tight.
Active listings
Total inventory increased 3.0 percent month over month in March.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-sales
New listings
Many homeowners still hold mortgages below 4 percent and remain reluctant to sell. This lock-in effect continues limiting resale supply.
Builder confidence and housing starts
Builder confidence remains cautious but stable as construction continues addressing national housing shortages.
Housing starts data:
https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/index.html
Regional Differences Across the U.S.
Housing conditions vary widely by region.
Northeast
Strong demand combined with limited inventory continues supporting price stability.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics
Midwest
Affordability advantages are keeping buyer activity steady compared with other regions.
South
Population growth continues supporting demand across Southern markets, with contract activity improving this spring.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/pending-home-sales
West
Sales activity remains slower due to affordability pressure and higher price points.
Migration trends continue favoring the Southeast, especially coastal lifestyle destinations and retirement-friendly areas like South Carolina.
Sources:
https://www.census.gov/topics/population/migration.html
Myrtle Beach Area Market Snapshot
The Myrtle Beach real estate market is moving differently than many larger metro areas.
Median home price trend
Recent Redfin data shows a median sale price near $190,000, influenced by shifts in condo inventory and vacation-property transactions.
Source: https://www.redfin.com/city/12572/SC/Myrtle-Beach/housing-market
Inventory changes
Inventory has increased compared with pandemic lows, giving buyers more leverage than they had two years ago.
Source: https://ccarsc.org
Days on market
Homes are averaging roughly 112 days on market locally.
Source: https://www.redfin.com/city/12572/SC/Myrtle-Beach/housing-market
Migration demand
Myrtle Beach continues attracting retirees, second-home buyers, and remote workers relocating from higher-cost states.
Source: https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-migration-trends
Second-home activity
Vacation buyers remain a major driver of the condo and resort-property segment across the Grand Strand.
Investor and Second-Home Market Trends
Myrtle Beach remains one of the Southeast’s most watched vacation property markets.
Short-term rental demand remains supported by strong tourism along the Grand Strand.
Investor activity remains strongest in oceanfront condos, golf course communities, and resort-style developments.
Rental demand continues benefiting from population growth and relocation from higher-cost states.
Source: https://www.zillow.com/research/data
Insurance costs and HOA fees are shaping investor returns more than in previous years.
Outlook for the Next 6–12 Months
Most national forecasts agree on three likely trends through early 2027.
Home prices
Expected to rise modestly. The National Association of Realtors projects approximately 4 percent price growth in 2026.
Source: https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports
Inventory
Gradual improvement is expected as more sellers re-enter the market and builders increase deliveries.
Mortgage rates
Forecasts suggest rates could move toward the mid-5 percent range if inflation continues easing later this year.
Sources:
https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/forecasts-and-commentary
https://www.fanniemae.com/research-and-insights/forecast
Sales volume is expected to increase slightly as affordability improves.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers in Myrtle Beach Right Now
If you are buying in Myrtle Beach, you have more negotiating power than during the pandemic years. Inventory has improved, and some property segments have adjusted downward in price. That creates opportunity, especially for long-term owners and relocation buyers.
If you are selling, pricing strategy matters more than timing. Homes that match current buyer expectations are still selling, while overpriced listings are sitting longer.
If you are investing, vacation rentals and second homes remain a core strength of the Myrtle Beach market. Smart investors are paying closer attention to HOA costs, insurance, and rental yield than they did two years ago.
The national market is stabilizing, and locally Myrtle Beach is shifting into a more balanced environment that rewards preparation and strategy on both sides of the transaction.
About Brian Staub – Myrtle Beach Real Estate Market Expert
If you’re planning to buy, sell, or invest along the Grand Strand, having current local insight makes a difference. Market conditions in Myrtle Beach can shift quickly depending on migration trends, vacation-home demand, and inventory levels.
Brian Staub is a real estate agent in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with Beach Properties Group Keller Williams, helping homebuyers, sellers, retirees, and second-home investors make confident decisions in today’s changing market.
Whether you’re relocating, purchasing a vacation property, or preparing to sell, Brian provides data-driven guidance tailored to the Myrtle Beach area.
Brian Staub
Real Estate Agent – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Beach Properties Group Keller Williams
601 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 385-6630
[email protected]
https://beachpropertiesgroup.com/
