Carolina Coastal Real Estate

The Carolina coastal real estate market continues to attract both buyers and investors, with notable trends differing by region. For Carolina Beach, North Carolina, the median home sold price reached $642,500 in June 2025—a 5.3% increase from the previous year—while the median price per square foot was $456. Although prices have risen, Carolina Beach has shifted to a buyer’s market, meaning inventory is higher and homes tend to stay on the market longer than in previous years^[1]. Recent listings range from around $550,000 for smaller units to $1,375,000 for larger properties.

According to recent data, the average home value in Carolina Beach now sits at approximately $609,496, down 2.1% over the past year, with homes typically going under contract in about 41 days^[5]. This slight year-over-year price drop contrasts the statewide trend, where the average home value in North Carolina is $327,215 (up 2.0% from the previous year), with prices generally rising at a moderate 3-4% annual pace^[2].

North Carolina as a whole has seen inventory growth (21.8% year-over-year) due to new construction and legislative measures to address historic shortages. Improved affordability and economic strength—along with an influx of new residents—are sustaining strong demand, most notably in metropolitan areas and increasingly in coastal communities like Wilmington and Carolina Beach^[2]. Mortgage rates are expected to stabilize in the mid-5% range by the end of 2025, potentially encouraging further market activity.

South Carolina’s coast is also experiencing robust changes. Influxes of new residents are driving housing demand higher, particularly among older adults seeking affordability, natural beauty, and vibrant communities. The Greenville-Anderson area and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia corridor (which crosses into South Carolina) have both been named among the hottest real estate markets in the country for 2025^[3]. Along the Coastal Low Country (including Hilton Head and Bluffton), prices remain elevated compared to pre-2020, but the market is more balanced and offers buyers greater negotiating room than during the peak of recent bidding wars^[4]. Inventory in these areas has increased substantially compared to historic lows in early 2022, creating a more stable environment for both buyers and sellers.

Overall, expectations for the broader Carolina coastal market in late 2025 include:

Moderate price growth or slight declines in select markets, with more stability and less volatility than previous years
Expanding housing inventory due to new construction and policy support, benefiting buyers
Continued attraction of in-migrants, especially retirees and remote workers seeking coastal lifestyles
Market shifts driven by stabilized mortgage rates and local economic dynamics

References

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