SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Sellers in the Spartanburg market added more homes in September than they did a year earlier, but fewer deals closed and properties took noticeably longer to sell, according to monthly figures from the Spartanburg Association of Realtors multiple listing service.
New listings rose 9.7% to 940, up from 857 in September 2025, the association’s data show. The number of homes for sale at the end of the month climbed by the same percentage, to 2,609 from 2,378, pushing months of supply to 4.6 from 4.2. Closed sales fell 9% to 559, while pending sales were unchanged from a year earlier at 535. Days on market rose to 61 from 48, a 27.1% increase.
Prices have not given way, at least for the month. The median sales price rose 3% to $298,585, and the average sales price increased 4.5% to $331,343, according to the report. Year to date, however, the median is down 1.2% to $290,000, and closed sales for the first nine months are off 1.8% at 5,140. Sellers received 97.9% of their list price on average in September, slightly less than the 98.2% they got a year before.
Borrowing costs are a key part of the picture. The report, which includes national commentary from the National Association of Realtors, notes that the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by a quarter point on Sept. 16 and that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate moved above 7% in late September, citing Freddie Mac. Locally, the association’s housing affordability index fell 8.8% to 104 from 114, a sign that higher prices and rates are stretching household budgets. Nationally, existing-home sales slipped to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 3.98 million, the report said, while U.S. inventory topped 1.6 million homes for the first time since late 2019.
For buyers, the Spartanburg numbers point to more choice and more time to negotiate, with nearly 10% more homes on the market than a year ago. Sellers face longer marketing periods and may need sharper pricing or concessions, particularly as higher rates thin the pool of qualified buyers. The trend echoes the western Upstate, where the Western Upstate Association of Realtors also reported a sharp rise in September inventory as pending sales cooled.
For builders and investors, firm median prices alongside rising inventory suggest a market that is rebalancing rather than falling. Developers bringing new subdivisions online in Spartanburg County may face more competition from resale listings, while the weaker affordability index could keep more households renting, supporting demand for apartments and build-to-rent product across the county.
Sources: Spartanburg Association of Realtors September 2026 Market Activity Report
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