Horry County, SC Sees 51.5% of Home Sales Close Off-Market in July 2026
Horry County, South Carolina, experienced a significant volume of private real estate transactions in July 2026, with over half of all home sales closing off-market.
County Overview
In July 2026, Horry County, South Carolina, recorded a total of 19,264 home sales, making it a highly active market. A striking 51.5% of these transactions occurred off-market, meaning 9,922 sales bypassed traditional listing services and closed privately. This indicates a robust segment of the market operating outside the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), often favored by investors, wholesalers, and private sellers seeking efficiency or discretion. Conversely, on-market sales accounted for 48.5% of the total, with 9,342 properties closing through the MLS, according to BatchData's On Market vs Off Market Sold Report.
The dominance of off-market transactions in Horry County positions it as a key area for real estate professionals tracking alternative deal flow. The fact that more than half of all sales are occurring without public listing suggests a competitive environment for traditional buyers and agents, while simultaneously presenting direct sourcing opportunities for investors. This substantial off-market share underscores the importance of accessing comprehensive property data to uncover these less visible deals.
Local Market Context
Horry County's real estate market stands out within South Carolina, leading the state in overall sales activity relevant to this report. The county ranks #1 among 46 counties in South Carolina for total sales, contributing a substantial 13.0% of the state's total 148,199 sales in July 2026. This high volume, combined with its pronounced off-market activity, signals a dynamic market where properties frequently change hands without public exposure. For investors, this environment implies that a significant portion of potential deals may not be visible through conventional channels, necessitating alternative strategies for lead generation and property discovery.
The 51.5% off-market share in Horry County diverges notably from what might be observed in less active or less investor-driven markets. This high proportion of private sales suggests that local investors, developers, or even individual homeowners are frequently engaging in direct transactions. These sales, totaling 9,922, represent a substantial segment that is often driven by factors such as speed, avoiding agent commissions, or direct property acquisition for renovation and resale. Understanding this market structure is crucial for anyone looking to gain an edge in a region where nearly 10,000 properties are trading hands monthly without hitting the open market.
For real estate investing, Horry County's off-market prevalence implies that strategies like skip tracing to find motivated sellers, leveraging bulk data delivery for targeted outreach, and utilizing a property data API for rapid analysis are particularly valuable. With 9,342 on-market sales still occurring, the traditional market remains robust, but the sheer volume of off-market activity highlights a parallel ecosystem that offers distinct opportunities for those equipped to navigate it. The significant scale of sales in Horry County, which contributes to the national total of 6,619,217 sales, reinforces its importance as a regional real estate hub where investor activity plays a defining role in transaction dynamics.