Where are the most homes being built? Here’s how SC ranked in nationwide study

Mary Dimitrov

Amid Beaufort County’s low housing inventory, South Carolina ranked fourth for new houses being built nationwide, according to a new study.

The state had 9.76 new builds per 1,000 people, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data and Statista by Matin Real Estate.

A healthy housing market typically has a four- to six-month supply, and the average for 2022 was a 1.5-month supply, according to market reports. This number is up from the previous year, when it there was a 1-month supply average. Pre-pandemic, that number normally sat between four and seven.

When asked if Beaufort County will see more development in 2023, REsides CEO Colette Stevenson said she thought development would stay consistent. REsides is a statewide Multiple Listing Service, which includes Hilton Head, Bluffton, Daufuskie and Hardeeville. Real estate agents use the MLS as a database to help buy and sell properties.

A new study found that Utah has the most new homes being built per 1,000 residents at 11.7
A new study found that Utah has the most new homes being built per 1,000 residents at 11.7

“I think we will see consistent home-building, but affordability is still difficult,” she said in an interview earlier this month. “Everything’s so expensive to build, and the land is more expensive now.”

A short supply of housing generally drives prices up: The average price of homes in 2022 was nearly $70,000 more than in 2021, according to the reports.

When asked the same question, Realtor Edward Dukes said it can be difficult to develop property in the Lowcountry.

“It can be challenging to develop property in the Lowcountry between ordinances and setbacks and all that. And that’s not necessarily bad,” he said in an interview earlier this month. “What we want to do is protect our way of life and our quality of life.”

He also mentioned the Lowcountry’s landscape compared to other areas in the state.

A new study found that Rhode Island has the least new homes being built per 1,000 residents at 1.27
A new study found that Rhode Island has the least new homes being built per 1,000 residents at 1.27

“There’s obviously only so much oceanfront or waterfront property,” he said. “So that’s a finite amount of property that can be had.”

The study didn’t have data on how many new builds there were in Beaufort County, only statewide.

Utah, Florida and Idaho ranked above South Carolina in the study. The lowest number of builds was in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Illinois.

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