Should You Build Now or Wait? A 2025 Market Timing Guide
If you’re considering building a custom home in South Carolina, especially in the Myrtle Beach area, you may be asking yourself the question on everyone’s mind: should I build now or wait? It’s a fair one—between rising costs, fluctuating interest rates, and a constantly shifting housing market, many would-be homeowners are stuck in decision paralysis.
In this blog, we’ll unpack what the 2025 landscape looks like, the pros and cons of building now versus later, and why building now may actually be your smartest move. Whether you’re dreaming of ocean breezes or investing in your future, this post will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
The 2025 Housing Market: What We Know Right Now
The South Carolina housing market, including Myrtle Beach, remains in transition. After years of pandemic-era frenzy, we’re finally seeing some normalization—but that doesn’t mean prices have dropped significantly or that supply has caught up with demand.
Interest rates have steadied but remain higher than many had hoped. Material costs are no longer skyrocketing, but volatility still lingers. Labor shortages, while improving, continue to stretch timelines.
In other words, uncertainty is still part of the equation. So the question becomes: build now or wait? And what are the trade-offs either way?
Why Building Now is the Smart Play
While waiting may seem like a safer bet, there are several strong reasons why moving forward now could save you time, money, and stress in the long run:
1. Prices Aren’t Dropping Anytime Soon
Despite some market softening, construction and labor costs are not expected to fall in any meaningful way. In fact, inflation and demand are likely to push prices higher in late 2025 and beyond. Waiting could mean paying more for the same build next year.
2. Financing Flexibility is Improving
Lenders are getting more creative. Even with higher interest rates, many are offering options like rate buydowns, builder partnerships, or refinancing incentives. By starting your build now, you gain access to today’s solutions and lock in your construction loan while preparing to refinance if rates drop later.
3. The Clock is Your Ally
Custom home builds typically take 12 months. Starting now positions you for a 2026 move-in, while waiting delays every milestone—design, permitting, and construction. If you think you might want to build “someday,” starting the process now makes “someday” a reality.
4. Lock in Your Location
Myrtle Beach continues to grow, and desirable lots are becoming more scarce. Building now allows you to secure the right property before it’s gone and avoid future bidding wars or settling for a less-than-ideal site.
5. More Control Over the Process
The further ahead you plan, the more control you have. Starting now allows for intentional decision-making without feeling rushed. Waiting could compress your timeline later, increasing stress and reducing flexibility.
Real-Life Delays That Could Cost You Later
Even buyers who start with the intention to build later often encounter setbacks. Here are some of the biggest ones:
- Land availability dries up. The lot you were eyeing last year may be gone, or doubled in price.
- Permitting delays grow. South Carolina municipalities are seeing increased application volume. What used to take 4–6 weeks now might take 12 or longer.
- Builder availability tightens. As more buyers re-enter the market, builder calendars fill fast. Waiting too long could push your build out by an entire season or more.
Planning ahead now gives you a better shot at avoiding these bottlenecks.
What Happens If You Wait?
It’s tempting to think waiting will bring lower costs, more choices, or a more stable market. But here’s the reality:
- Construction costs are sticky. Once pricing goes up, it rarely comes down in a meaningful way.
- Demand is rising again. As more buyers re-enter the market, builder waitlists could grow longer.
- You’re not really saving time. Even if you wait to sign a contract, you’ll still need to plan, design, and prep—and those steps take time regardless.
Delaying often means making the same decisions later—under more pressure, and possibly at a higher price.
The Cost of Waiting: A Math Problem Worth Solving
Let’s say the average cost to build a home in Myrtle Beach is $750,000 in 2025. If construction costs rise by even 5% over the next year (a conservative estimate), that’s an extra $37,500—just to build the same home.
Now factor in rising property values, potential mortgage rate fluctuations, and limited lot availability, and the true cost of waiting adds up fast.
Even if interest rates come down slightly, you may not save in the end if build costs continue to climb. Building now lets you lock in today’s pricing, protect your investment, and plan around what you can actually control.
What Building Now Looks Like
If you’re considering building a custom home in Myrtle Beach or anywhere along the coast, here’s what building now actually means:
- You begin design and planning today while material and labor pricing is still relatively stable
- You can break ground within a reasonable timeline, especially if you’re working with a builder that prioritizes clear communication and schedule alignment
- You’re positioned to make smarter decisions, spread across a longer runway, with better financial preparation
And if you’re still exploring whether a fully custom or semi-custom approach is right for you? That’s part of the planning process—one that you’ll be ahead of by starting now.
How to Start Without Feeling Overwhelmed
You don’t have to know your floor plan, your finishes, or even your final budget to begin. Starting the process today is less about commitment and more about exploration.
Many of our clients begin with a consultation or even a casual land tour—no pressure, no push. The goal is to gather the right information so that when you’re ready, you’re prepared.
Here’s what getting started might look like:
- Meet with a builder to review the process and timeline
- Talk to a lender about construction loan options
- Research neighborhoods or available land in your target area
- Sketch out your priorities for layout, accessibility, and square footage
Taking these steps now doesn’t mean you have to build tomorrow. But it does mean you’re setting yourself up for fewer surprises and more control when the time is right.
Building Now Is the Best Investment You Can Make
At the end of the day, there’s rarely a “perfect” time to build, but there is a right time for you. And in 2025, with costs continuing to rise and inventory tightening, acting sooner rather than later puts you in a stronger position.
Starting your build now doesn’t just help you avoid future price hikes—it gives you more design flexibility, more time to make confident decisions, and a head start in one of the most desirable regions of South Carolina.
Whether you already have land, or you’re still exploring neighborhoods around Myrtle Beach, it’s worth finding out what’s possible now before timelines stretch and costs increase.
Let’s explore your options together.
We’re here to help you think it through. If you’re weighing your options and asking whether to build now or wait, let’s connect and talk through your goals, budget, and next steps.home that feels effortless, comfortable, and truly yours.
Written and produced by Swift Creek Homes
