Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Market Update – Q1 2026
The Palmetto Bluff real estate market entered 2026 with strong momentum, continuing the activity we experienced at the close of last year. After the fourth quarter of 2025 marked the most active period for home sales in more than two and a half years, the first quarter of 2026 built on that strength in an even more meaningful way.
During the first quarter, 40 resale homes went under contract in Palmetto Bluff — the highest quarterly total since early 2021, during the height of the post-COVID real estate surge. Across homes and homesites combined, 64 total properties went under contract between January and March, reflecting continued confidence and demand within the community.
The resale home market remained particularly healthy throughout the quarter. A total of 29 homes closed, with the average closing price rebounding to approximately $3.5 million and the average closing price per square foot rising to $844. Median days on market fell to just 41 days, another indication that well-positioned properties continue to attract buyers quickly.
One of the more notable aspects of the quarter was the consistency of buyer activity despite broader economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Questions naturally arose regarding the impact of volatility in the equity markets and escalating tensions in the Middle East following events that began on February 28. Within Palmetto Bluff, however, contract activity remained steady throughout the quarter, with 15 homes going under contract in January, 12 in February, and 13 in March. For a market that includes a meaningful number of second-home and vacation-home buyers, that level of consistency is particularly encouraging.
Inventory also continues to play an important role in supporting pricing throughout the Bluff. Available resale homesites remain extremely limited, especially within the more established areas of the community. Sixteen resale homesites closed or went pending during the quarter, and as of this writing, only six resale homesites are actively available on the market. With such a finite supply of property in core areas of Palmetto Bluff, values have remained resilient and pricing has continued to strengthen.
Several notable sales highlighted the strength of the upper end of the market during the quarter, including transactions exceeding $5 million and one significant sale closing at $11.6 million. Demand also remained strong across a broad range of price points, with homes throughout Wilson Village, Moreland, River Road, South Wilson, and May River Forest continuing to attract attention from both primary and secondary home buyers.
As we move further into 2026, the overall outlook for the Palmetto Bluff market remains positive. While interest rates, financial markets, and global events will always influence buyer sentiment to some degree, the combination of limited inventory, strong lifestyle appeal, and long-term demand for high-quality communities continues to support the market exceptionally well.
Palmetto Bluff remains one of the most unique residential communities in the Southeast, and it continues to attract buyers seeking not only luxury homes, but also the lifestyle, natural beauty, and sense of community that make the Bluff so special.
Thank you, as always, to my clients, friends, and neighbors for your continued trust and support as we navigate the Palmetto Bluff real estate market together. If you are considering purchasing in Palmetto Bluff, it would be my honor to share my knowledge and experience in this unique market with you.
—
Thomas Maybank
Maybank Properties Advisory
