Low inventory continues to drive Bluffton’s real estate market

The Bluffton real estate market is beginning the summer with a very clear story: inventory is unusually low, buyer activity is holding up well, and the market remains firmly in seller’s market territory. While national headlines may sound uncertain, the local numbers continue to point to a market with very little excess supply.

There are currently 765 homes for sale in Bluffton, down from 788 last month, a 2.9% decrease during a time of year when inventory would typically be much higher. Last year at this time, there were 1,066 homes for sale, meaning today’s inventory is 28.2% lower year over year. The ten-year average for this point in the year is 1,157 homes, so Bluffton is running nearly 34% below normal. Even more notable, this is the lowest inventory ever recorded for this time of year; the second-lowest was 860 homes in 2023.

Days on market also improved over the past month. Homes are now averaging 83 days on market, down from 100 last month, a 17% improvement. That is still higher than the 76 days seen this time last year and above the ten-year average of 75 days, but the month-over-month improvement suggests buyers are still engaged and homes are moving more efficiently than they were just a month ago.

Pending sales are also encouraging. Bluffton now has 1,010 pending sales year-to-date, up from 910 in the previous update. That 100-sale increase in the year-to-date pending total is especially impressive given how limited inventory remains. Closed sales year-to-date are now at 857, compared to 801 at this point last year, a 7% increase. That shows the market has not only caught last year’s pace, but has moved ahead of it.

The absorption rate currently sits at approximately 3.6 months of inventory, compared to approximately 3.2 months last month, a 10.9% increase. Even with that slight rise, anything under four months generally favors sellers, which means Bluffton remains a seller’s market.

Overall, Bluffton’s market appears much stronger than national headlines might suggest. Geopolitical uncertainty, higher fuel prices, inflation concerns, and interest rate anxiety may be weighing on sentiment, but these pressures may prove temporary. With inventory at record lows for this time of year and demand still active, the second half of 2026 could bring a meaningful momentum shift—and potentially renewed upward pressure on prices.

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