A few years ago, mortgage rates dropped to jaw-dropping lows. At this time, buyers came flooding to the real estate market in hopes of purchasing their dream Sunset Beach home at a great deal. This led to intense bidding wars over the same home. Properties for sale were expected to face the fierce competition of about a dozen buyers putting in an offer on the same home.
Buyers quickly became discouraged as it seemed hopeless to find a home they loved and put an offer in. Some buyers gave up trying to purchase a home altogether because it seemed like a waste of time, as home prices were driven upwards by tens of thousands of dollars over the list price as a result of buyers offering more money, like they were trying to win an auction.
Some buyers who tried to purchase a home during that time might be wondering if there is still a possibility of facing bidding wars right now.
Should Buyers Still Expect Bidding Wars?
If you are a potential Sunset Beach homebuyer concerned about facing a bidding war, you will be relieved to know that although bidding wars are always possible, they are happening much less.
A recent survey shows that only 1 in 5 homes for sale across the country received more than one offer in June 2025. This number is down from 1 in 3 homes in 2024, which was a slight decrease from 2023. These numbers clearly show that bidding wars are coming down, and the competition to beat out another buyer for a home has significantly slowed.
John Burns Research and Consulting broke down bidding war numbers by regions across the country. The numbers for the southeast show that only 6% of homes sold received multiple offers. This number is down from 17% last year. The southeast region saw the least amount of multiple offers of any other region of the country. Areas with higher bidding war numbers have lower inventory numbers.
Buyers Have More Leverage
Another major shift in market conditions is that buyers have more purchasing power currently. Sellers are much more willing to negotiate with a buyer in a home purchase. Data from Redfin shows that nearly half of home sellers are offering concessions to help encourage buyers to make an offer and sign a purchase contract.
This shows that buyer competition has greatly slowed down. There is still a slight chance of facing more than one offer on a Sunset Beach home, but the likelihood is much lower. The best strategy for purchasing a home in 2025 in Sunset Beach is to work with an expert local real estate agent. The help of an agent is critical to negotiating the best deal possible. Should you enter a bidding war situation, your agent will help you navigate the best decision for you.
If you end up in a bidding war situation, an agent can guide you in moving forward. On whether to stick with making the strongest offer or to move on to a property that would fit you better. It is much less likely to experience competition with other buyers, but having the right agent working with you can help you to successfully navigate it.
If you are considering purchasing a home in Sunset Beach, please contact us. We are here to help you with any Sunset Beach real estate needs, both buying and selling properties.
“Karen and Frank Baker are patient and professional. They listen to what you want in a home and find it. It took me a few years to get to the “I’m ready to buy” point, but Karen and Frank stuck with me and never pressured me. We found my perfect home and I’m happy…..” – Sunset Beach and Beyond testimonial
Let the team at Sunset Beach and Beyond help you find your ideal Sunset Beach home. We are experts in Sunset Beach real estate.