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After three years of sluggish home sales nationally, 2026 is shaping up as a turning point for residential real estate. For South Carolina attorneys handling closings, title work, and property disputes, these shifting conditions create both challenges and opportunities worth understanding now.

The National Association of Realtors projects existing home sales will climb 14% nationally in 2026, marking the first meaningful rebound since pandemic-era volatility disrupted the market. Chief Economist Lawrence Yun points to easing mortgage rates, continued job gains, and improving market stability as drivers behind the anticipated uptick. Mortgage rates are expected to average around 6% through the year, down modestly from recent highs.

South Carolina attorneys should prepare for busier closing calendars. The state’s median home price sits at $335,000, reflecting a 2.8% year-over-year increase. Inventory has expanded to 4.4 months of supply, up from 3.4 months previously, giving buyers more negotiating room while keeping sellers engaged. Homes now average 80 days on market statewide, a pace that allows for more deliberate due diligence compared to the frantic bidding wars of 2021 and 2022.

At a Crossroads: SC’s Housing Market Faces Mounting Affordability Pressures explores the broader affordability dynamics shaping buyer behavior across the Palmetto State.

Charleston closed 2025 with more than 17,000 home sales, and economists at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business describe the 2026 outlook as a return to “normalcy.” Research economist Joey Von Nessen attributes South Carolina’s resilience to population growth, which continues adding roughly 90,000 new residents annually. That sustained migration keeps transaction volumes elevated compared to states experiencing outflows.

For attorneys, increased transaction volume means more title searches, more contract reviews, and more opportunities for disputes. The title insurance industry reflects this momentum. According to the American Land Title Association, title insurance premiums reached $4.9 billion in Q3 2025, representing a 14.2% increase over the same period in 2024. ALTA also reports fraud and forgery claims now account for more than 40% of title insurer losses, with average claim costs for fraud running nearly seven times higher than other claim types.

Real estate attorneys should anticipate increased scrutiny around seller impersonation schemes, wire fraud attempts, and title defects tied to heirs’ property complications. The American Land Title Association has flagged coordinated, multi-stage attacks that exploit communication channels and funds transfer timing as growing threats heading into 2026.

Construction Costs and Labor Shortages Reshape South Carolina Home Building examines supply-side pressures that continue affecting housing availability across the state.

First-time buyers remain a shrinking segment of the market. NAR data shows first-time purchasers dropped to just 21% of all transactions in 2025, the lowest share on record. The typical first-time buyer age has climbed to 40. These demographics mean attorneys are increasingly serving repeat buyers with existing equity rather than young families navigating their first closings.

Charleston’s luxury segment continues operating somewhat independently from rate sensitivity, with most high-end buyers using cash or borrowing against investments. Pam Harrington of Pam Harrington Exclusives notes that 80% of her Kiawah and Seabrook Island clients come from outside South Carolina, using Charleston-area properties as second homes rather than primary residences.

For attorneys, the market normalization creates more predictable transaction timelines and fewer rushed closings driven by panic buying. That measured pace supports thorough title examination, proper disclosure review, and careful contract negotiation.

How Toppe Consulting Supports South Carolina Real Estate Attorneys

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About the Author

Jim Toppe is the founder of Toppe Consulting, a digital marketing agency specializing in law firms. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Clemson University and teaches Business Law and Marketing at Greenville Technical College. Jim also serves as publisher and editor for South Carolina Manufacturing, a digital magazine. His unique background combines legal knowledge with digital marketing expertise to help attorneys grow their practices through compliant, results-driven strategies.

Disclaimer

Toppe Consulting is a digital marketing agency. We do not provide legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for legal matters.

Works Cited

“NAR Forecast: Home Sales Expected to Jump 14% in 2026.” National Association of Realtors, 14 Nov. 2025, www.nar.realtor/newsroom/nar-forecast-home-sales-expected-to-jump-14-in-2026.

“Industry News.” American Land Title Association, 2026, www.alta.org/news-and-publications/industry-news.

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• At a Crossroads: SC’s Housing Market Faces Mounting Affordability Pressures
• Construction Costs and Labor Shortages Reshape South Carolina Home Building