Bluffton real estate market October update

The Bluffton market continues to show resilience this fall, with some surprising shifts worth noting as we move into the final quarter of the year. Inventory, demand, and pricing all tell a clear story of a market that remains competitive, but one that is also evolving in important ways.

The number of homes for sale in Bluffton has dropped again, down to 760 from 776 last month. This represents another meaningful reduction in supply, bringing available inventory to its lowest point since early summer. For comparison, October 2024 recorded 754 homes on the market, so current levels are nearly identical to where we stood a year ago.

Days on market held steady at 78, the same as last month, but this is a significant jump from the 46 days it took to sell a home at this time last year. In fact, the current figure represents a 70% increase year over year. Homes are sitting longer, even though inventory is tightening. Buyers have more time to make decisions, while sellers need to be precise on pricing strategy.

Pending sales showed a strong surge this month, climbing to 214 compared to 174 last month. That’s a 23% increase month over month and well ahead of the 191 pending sales recorded last October. This uptick is likely tied to recent improvements in interest rates, which have encouraged more buyers back into the market. If this trend continues, we can expect buyer activity to remain strong through the remainder of the year.

Closed sales year-to-date now sit at 1,953, up from 1,823 last month. That’s a monthly gain of 130 sales, or about 7%. Looking back to October 2024, Bluffton had 1,527 closed sales at this point in the year. Meaning 2025 is running nearly 28% ahead of last year’s pace, underscoring the strength of demand despite longer selling times.

The absorption rate currently stands at 3.6 months, down from 4.5 months last month. This sharp drop confirms the impact of rising pending sales against shrinking inventory. With less than four months of supply available, Bluffton is firmly in a seller’s market by definition.

Pricing trends continue to tell an encouraging story. The median sale price in Bluffton is $567,495 year-to-date, up from $560,000 in 2024 and $540,000 in 2023. Over the past five years, prices have climbed by more than 63%, reflecting steady appreciation and the ongoing desirability of Bluffton as a place to live and invest.

In summary, Bluffton remains in a clear seller’s market. Improving interest rates are boosting buyer confidence, pending sales are on the rise, and prices continue to show long-term strength. Sellers hold the advantage, but buyers who act quickly are benefitting from more favorable financing options as conditions evolve.

Talk soon, Bluffton!

Dan Prud’homme is the Visionary & Success Coach of The Prud’homme Team at William Raveis Real Estate. dan@danprudhomme.com theprudhommeteam.com