Aiken has seen prices rise alongside a shift in how quickly properties are moving, and the two together describe the market better than either alone.
What is happening
Price growth has been accompanied by changing days on market, which is the more revealing figure. When prices rise while marketing times lengthen, it usually means asking prices are running ahead of what buyers will actually pay.
Reading days on market
It is the earliest indicator of a turning point. Prices are backward-looking, reflecting deals struck weeks ago. Time on market reflects current buyer behavior, which is why it moves first.
For sellers
Rising area prices do not guarantee a quick sale. Price against what has actually closed recently and expect a longer marketing period than the headline suggests.
For buyers
Properties that have been listed a while carry negotiating room even in a market described as booming.
For investors
Smaller markets can move quickly in both directions because thin transaction volume amplifies each sale. Treat the trend as directional rather than precise.
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