Published October 7, 2026 in Market Update

North Myrtle Beach tightened even with rates above 7%

By Bill Sullivan

Real estate, Primary market

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. That is the headline number every buyer is watching. But the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 2,062 homes sold across North Myrtle Beach in the three months ending July 31, 2026, up 4.1% from the same months a year before. Buyers are still moving. Inventory is not keeping up.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows inventory across NMB fell 18.6% from a year ago. New listings rose only 3.8%. That gap between supply and demand is what kept the market moving despite high rates. Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales up 1.6% year-to-date through the first eight months of 2026. NMB outpaced that.

ZIP 29582: Cherry Grove and the beach side

ZIP 29582 covers Cherry Grove and the beach side of NMB. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 477 homes sold here, up 12.5% from a year ago. That is one of the stronger sales gains in the market. The median sale price came in at $431,000, down 1.7% from the same period last year. Prices dipped a little, but volume rose. Buyers are finding deals and taking them.

Cherry Grove channel homes are their own market. Buyers there want a boat dock and water access. Flood insurance is a real ownership cost on the channel side and belongs in any affordability conversation. Beach side and channel side are not the same comparison.

Oceanfront condos in this ZIP carry HOA dues and the possibility of special assessments. Those costs are part of what you actually pay each month, not just the mortgage.

ZIP 29566: Little River and the off-beach side

ZIP 29566 is west of Highway 17 territory, the off-beach single-family market. Year-round residents, retirees, and relocators shop here. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 273 homes sold, up 14.2%. Pending sales jumped 19.1%. That is real momentum.

The median sale price was $314,000, down 6.3% from a year ago. Prices softened, but homes moved faster. Median days on market fell 22 days to 95 days. The share going under contract within two weeks rose 3.2 points to 22%. West of 17 is mostly outside the high-risk flood zones, though that must be verified for any specific property.

ZIP 29568: Longs and the inland market

ZIP 29568 had the biggest sales jump in the market. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 445 homes sold, up 34.8%. Inventory fell 28%. Months of supply dropped to 2.7, the tightest reading across all six ZIPs. This is inland, off-beach single-family country. Buyers priced out of the beach side are finding value here.

The median sale price was $325,000, up 1.6%. Days on market fell 27 days to 93. The sale-to-list ratio reached 98.4%, up 0.6 points. More than 1 in 10 homes sold above list price. This ZIP moved fast and priced firm. West of 17 is mostly outside the high-risk flood zones, though any specific property must be verified.

ZIP 29579: Carolina Forest and the western corridor

ZIP 29579 tells a different story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 484 homes sold, down 15.4%. Pending sales fell 21.2%. Sales slowed noticeably here. The median sale price was $367,950, down 5.7%.

The bright spot: homes that did sell moved faster. Median days on market fell 31 days to 70, the quickest in the market. Inventory dropped 31.2%. Buyers who commit are finding less competition. But the volume decline is real, and sellers here need to price carefully.

ZIP 28467: Calabash and the NC side

ZIP 28467 covers the North Carolina edge of the market, including Calabash. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 246 homes sold, down 12.8%. Days on market rose 15 days to 86. This is the one ZIP where time on market went the wrong direction for sellers.

The median sale price was $344,450, down 0.9%. The share of homes sold above list fell 5.1 points to 7.3%. Sellers here are working harder for the same result. The sale-to-list ratio held at 97.9%, so most deals are still closing close to ask. Patience matters more here than in other ZIPs right now.

ZIP 28468: Ocean Isle Beach area

ZIP 28468 is the smallest ZIP by volume. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 137 homes sold, up 3%. But inventory rose 34.7% and months of supply climbed to 4.4, up 1 month from a year ago. Homes are sitting longer: median days on market jumped 51 days to 97.

One number stands out. The share of homes selling above list price rose 13.8 points to 16.8%. That is the highest above-list share of any ZIP. A smaller set of well-priced homes is generating real competition. Overpriced homes are waiting. Oceanfront condos here carry HOA dues and potential special assessments that belong in any cost conversation.

How each ZIP stacked up

What the national picture adds

Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. Realtor.com noted rates crossed 7% in late September for the first time since January 2025. That is the rate environment every buyer in NMB is working inside.

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported 4.9 months of supply, the highest level in over ten years. NMB's combined supply of 2,894 homes is down 18.6% from a year ago. This market is tighter than the national picture suggests.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. NMB's price moves are mixed by ZIP, ranging from up 1.6% in 29568 to down 6.3% in 29566. Section and ZIP matter here more than any national average.