Charleston Home Sales Are Down From 2019, but Listings Are Down More

By Blake Heron, Realtor, Heron Homes CHS with eXp Realty. Updated October 2026.

The Charleston Check takes one national housing headline and tests it against the Charleston MLS, so you know what is actually happening here.

The Verdict for Charleston

Half true. Sales here slowed like the rest of the country, but listings fell even further, so Charleston is not seeing the inventory spikes showing up in parts of Florida and Texas.

The National Headline

ResiClub, a housing research newsletter, reports that U.S. resale turnover has now spent four straight years in the bottom 25th percentile. Resale activity keeps running near what ResiClub calls the Ds of Housing floor, the sales that happen out of necessity, like death, divorce and disability. In pockets of Florida, Texas, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest where inventory has spiked, some sellers are having to adjust. Read the full ResiClub report.

What the Charleston MLS Shows

From October 2025 through September 2026, 7,774 homes sold in Charleston County. That is up about 4 percent from the year before, but still about 15 percent below the 9,101 that sold from October 2018 through September 2019, before the pandemic.

The difference is supply. In September 2026 there were 2,241 active listings in the county, compared to 3,503 in September 2019, about 36 percent fewer. At the past year's pace of sales, that is roughly three and a half months of supply, compared to about four and a half months in 2019.

To see how ten Charleston areas compare on price, sales and supply, see Charleston home prices by area.

What It Means for Sellers

Buyers are still out there, and there is less competition from other listings than before the pandemic. Price still matters. In September, sellers got 97.4 percent of their final asking price on average, but only 94.8 percent of their original asking price. That gap is what price cuts cost, so the first price is the one to get right. To see how your part of town compares, start with the West Ashley, James Island or City of Charleston market pages.

What It Means for Buyers

Choices are still limited compared to before the pandemic, and homes that sold in September averaged about 51 days on market, so there is time to look carefully without rushing. If you are looking at new construction, ask what incentives the builder is offering and compare the total cost against resale homes nearby.

From the Field

A buyer from out of state who toured homes with me in the spring went quiet for months, then answered a quick text from me this month with the line I keep hearing this fall, still watching rates and staying put until next year.

Ask Blake

If you want the numbers for your street, call or text Blake Heron at 843-718-6338.

How We Measured

Charleston MLS, all residential, Charleston County. Twelve month totals compare October through September. Active listings and days on market are September figures. Pulled October 2026.