Charleston has been called a lot of things over the years — charming, desirable, over-loved, hard to crack. But in the National Association of Realtors’ newly released Housing Hot Spots for 2026 report, the Charleston metro earned a quieter, more meaningful label: well-aligned.
That word shows up again and again in the data. And it’s the reason Charleston landed in the top 10 nationwide.
The study looks at ten indicators — not vibes, not headlines — but fundamentals. Who lives in a market. Who’s moving in. How fast incomes are growing. Whether homes are actually being listed at prices local households can support. And how sensitive demand is when mortgage rates ease.
Charleston checks more than half those boxes. Comfortably.
Start with people. Millennials now make up 36% of households in the Charleston metro, a share above the national average. That matters because younger households are the most rate-sensitive — meaning when borrowing costs come down, they tend to re-enter the market quickly.
Then there’s income. Local household income growth outpaced last year by 6%, giving buyers more purchasing power than they had even a year ago. Pair that with 3.2% job growth and strong domestic migration, and you get something that’s been missing in many markets since the pandemic boom cooled: sustainable demand.
But the most telling indicator isn’t who wants to buy. It’s what’s for sale.
According to the report, Charleston’s inventory is increasingly aligned with local incomes — up more than 9% year-over-year. In plain terms, more homes are showing up at price points people here can realistically afford. That doesn’t mean Charleston is suddenly “cheap.” It means the market is functioning more rationally than it has in years.
Mortgage rates play a role, too. If rates ease toward 6%, the study estimates more than 20,000 additional Charleston-area households would qualify for a median-priced home. That’s not a surge fueled by speculation — it’s pent-up demand waiting for math to work again.
Of course, none of this erases real pressures. Prices have risen faster than many locals would like. Geography still matters. And affordability remains uneven across the metro. But the data suggests something important: Charleston isn’t overheating — it’s recalibrating.
That’s why the NAR frames 2026 as a “transition year.” Opportunity is returning, but selectively. Markets with strong demographics, real job growth, and inventory that meets buyers where they are will outperform. Charleston is one of them.
For homeowners, that’s a signal of durability. For buyers, it’s a sign that timing — not frenzy — may finally be back on the table.
And for anyone watching Charleston’s growth with a mix of pride and concern, the takeaway is simple: this market isn’t running on hype anymore. It’s running on fundamentals.
A quick note before you scroll on
We don’t chase headlines — we try to translate them. If you’re curious how these trends connect to your corner of the Charleston metro, or just want to sanity-check what you’re hearing, hit reply. No pitch. Just a conversation with people who live here and watch this market closely.
