This SC city to have one of best US housing markets in 2026, forecast says. It’s not Greenville

Looking toward 2026, the real estate market in the Midlands is likely to see a slight increase in activity, realtor.com said in its latest report.

The organization says Columbia will see 0.3% increase in sales and 7.2% price growth year over year and listed Columbia as the nation’s 18th best market for 2026.

Other parts of the state are not likely to see increases in sales, the report said.

The report projects Greenville will see an 8.1% decrease in sales and 3.1% price growth. Charleston is projected at -7.6% and 3.3% respectively.

The report said nationally the housing market will be steadier than 2025, which was described as flat.

“Columbia is finally getting its moment in the limelight,” said Karen Yip, owner of Yip Premiere Real Estate in Columbia.

She said sales in the area this year exceeded the national average and home prices, both median and average numbers, have continued to increase.

In fact, over the past five years, home prices have increased by 49% while homes are more affordable than in other parts of the country, she said.

She is so bullish on Columbia’s rise she is investing $1.5 million to renovate her headquarters on Sumter Street across from the old Cadillac dealership where 330 luxury apartments are being built.

Main Street, Bull Street, Finlay Park and the future greenway connecting the Riverwalk to Lake Murray added to the long-standing economy resulting from Fort Jackson, the University of South Carolina and state government have made Columbia a sought-after destination.

“The secret is getting out,” she said.

Realtor.com had a generally upbeat assessment of what to expect in the new year across the United States.

“It’s not yet off to the races,” the report said. “Mortgage rates are forecast to average 6.3%, easing affordability pressures slightly, while home prices rise modestly by 2.2%.”

They said existing-home sales should be 4.12 million nationwide, an increase of about 1.7%.

“A small but meaningful gain from 2025’s near 30-year low,” the report said. “If home sales eke out a gain in 2025, as anticipated, 2024 existing-home sales (4.06 million) will remain the record, 29-year low (in 1995, existing-home sales were 3,849,000).”

Overall, they said the market will become more balanced for buyers and sellers and affordability will improve. Incomes will outpace inflation, “pushing the typical payment share of income below 30% for the first time since 2022.”

The rates on existing mortgages are higher than what’s being offered for refinancing or new home buying.

“In fact, recent data showed that 4 out of every 5 homeowners with a mortgage has a rate below 6%,” realtor.com said.

That limits sales to people moving for job changes or a need for more or less space.

Monthly payments on a median-priced home may fall 1.3% year over year, the first decline in monthly payments on average since 2020.

“Rising incomes, which should outpace inflation, give buyers more purchasing power, helping to shrink the share of a paycheck that has to be put toward the mortgage,” realtor.com said.

This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM.