Market report · SC

Charleston, SC

Buyer's market

Investor-friendly fundamentals across the board — Charleston scores 71/100 on the MDR investor index.

DATA · Zillow Research (via scrape.do) · AS OF APRIL 2026

$594k
Typical home value
↑12.6%
+0.6%
YoY change
$2,186
Median rent
↑8.6%
4.42%
Gross yield
28
Median DOM
71/100
MDR score
Detail Value Detail Value
Median list price $650,729 Median sale price $577,500
Sale-to-list ratio 0.969 % sold below list +78.1%
Active inventory 1,633 New listings 445
Trends · 36-month series

How Charleston has moved.

Typical home value $527k → $594k · ↑12.6% (36mo)
$527k $549k $572k $594k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median rent (ZORI) $2k → $2k · ↑8.6% (36mo)
$2k $2k $2k $2k May 23Nov 24Apr 26
Median days on market 69d → 28d · ↓60.0% (36mo)
28d 42d 55d 69d Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26
Sale-to-list ratio 0.000 → 0.969 · ↑0.0% (36mo)
0.000 0.324 0.647 0.971 Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26

Charleston sits at a median home value of $593,739 as of the latest Zillow read, essentially flat year-over-year, which historically is the most workable environment for disciplined wholesalers.

The sale-to-list ratio sits at 0.969, and 78.1% of closed sales are landing below list. That’s a clear buyer’s market — sellers are negotiating, and motivated-seller direct mail is converting at rates we haven’t seen since 2014.

Rents are workable but not generous. ZORI of $2,186/mo against a $594k median gives a 4.42% gross yield — average for the metro tier, requiring tight underwriting on any hold.

Median days-on-market is running around 28 days against 1,633 active listings — that’s a fast-moving market. Speed is the moat; pre-arranged proof of funds and a tight buyers list are the difference between getting under contract and getting outbid.

MDR’s composite investor score for Charleston is 71/100 based on rent yield, sale-to-list discount, motivated-seller proxies, and DOM. Solid mid-tier. A disciplined operator can build a real book here; a tourist will get hurt.

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FAQ

Charleston for investors.

Is Charleston a good market for real estate investors in 2026?

Metro Deal Report's composite investor score for Charleston is 71/100, based on rent yield, sale-to-list ratio, motivated-seller proxies, and days on market. Charleston is a solid mid-tier market — workable for disciplined operators but not a top-of-list pick.

What is the median home price in Charleston?

The typical home value in Charleston as of the most recent Zillow read is $593,739. Median list price is $650,729 and median sale price is $577,500. Year-over-year change: +0.6%.

What can a landlord expect to rent a property for in Charleston?

Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Charleston is $2,186/mo. Against the typical home value of $594k, that produces a gross annual rent yield of 4.42% — right at the national baseline, requiring tight underwriting on holds.

Is Charleston a buyer's or seller's market?

Charleston's current sale-to-list ratio is 0.969 with 78.1% of homes closing below list. That's a clear buyer's market — sellers are negotiating. Median days on market: 28 days. Active inventory: 1,633 listings.

Which investment strategy works best in Charleston?

Charleston's data favors a mixed approach — no single strategy dominates, so selective deal sourcing wins. See the per-strategy breakdowns at /wholesaling/charleston, /brrrr/charleston, and /flipping/charleston.

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