06/23/2026
Everyone keeps asking me if the Charleston real estate market is slowing down.
Here's my answer:
If the market was "dead," someone forgot to tell the buyers.
Nationally, existing home sales hit a 5-month high in May while mortgage rates were still above 6% and the headlines were filled with uncertainty. Over 4.17 million homes sold on an annualized basis.
First-time buyers accounted for 35% of all purchases, the highest share we've seen in years.
Purchase applications increased nearly 5% year-over-year, and refinance activity is up over 60%.
The reality is simple: buyers have accepted that 6% interest rates are the new normal.
They're not waiting.
They're buying.
Now let's talk Charleston.
Here in the Charleston region, inventory has improved compared to the frenzy of 2021 and 2022, but we're still seeing strong demand in many areas. Well-priced homes in Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Daniel Island, West Ashley, Johns Island, and parts of Goose Creek continue to move quickly when they're properly marketed.
Charleston-area median home prices remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, and while we're no longer seeing 20 offers on every listing, quality homes are still attracting serious buyers.
What I'm seeing on the ground every day:
✅ Buyers are negotiating more than they could two years ago.
✅ Sellers who price correctly are still selling.
✅ Luxury properties continue to attract relocation buyers.
✅ Charleston remains one of the most desirable places to live in the Southeast.
✅ People are still moving here every single day.
The biggest mistake you can make is listening to national headlines and assuming they apply to your neighborhood.
Real estate has always been local.
What's happening in Austin isn't what's happening in Summerville.
What's happening in Miami isn't what's happening in Mount Pleasant.
Pull your local MLS numbers.
Look at months of inventory.
Look at pending sales.
Look at days on market.
That's the truth.
Not cable news.
Not social media.
Not the guy at the barbecue who heard the market crashed, Not your uncle who purchased his last home in 1993.
The truth is this:
Homes are selling every day across Charleston.
Buyers are buying.
Sellers are selling.
Families are relocating.
Investors are investing.
And the agents who stay focused on serving people instead of chasing headlines are the ones winning.
Charleston isn't slowing down.
It's simply returning to a healthier, more balanced market.
Now let's get back to those real estate goals!
— Shawn Kemp
CharlestonHomesGuide.com
IndigoOaks | Christie's International Real Estate
