Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in southeastern NC

The numbers most home sites don't show: how many listings never sell, how long homes really take, and what they sell for against the first asking price.

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Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Market insights: Southeastern NC

November 1, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com

1 in 4 Southeastern NC listings didn't sell in the last year

Across Southeastern North Carolina's five coastal counties, 22,679 listings ended in the last 12 months. Of those, 17,371 sold and 5,308 didn't sell, a 23% rate, up from 21% the year before. The homes that sold took a typical 40 days.

Summary written October 30, 2026 from that day's numbers. The figures in the tiles update every hour, so they can differ slightly.

15 sold out of every 20 listed 5 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled

Which pile do you want to be in?

Out of every 20 homes listed in southeastern NC over the last 12 months, the solid houses sold. The outlined ones expired or were canceled.

Priced right from day one: sold in a median 16 days. Needed price cuts: 81 days, and sold for 92.8% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $375,000 home, per month
Property taxes$96
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$313
Utilities$250
Your mortgage paymentif you have one
About$906 + mortgage

About $906 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 134 days — roughly $3,993 in taxes, insurance, upkeep and utilities alone, and the home still didn't sell.

An example, not a quote: New Hanover County rate 0.306 per $100 (NC Department of Revenue, 2025-26 county rates); town taxes add more inside town limits; insurance, upkeep (1% of value a year) and utilities are typical estimates.

When contracts fall apart

Contracts that fell apart

18%

3,693 of about 21,059 before closing

Those homes that later sold

65%

32% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

94.9%

vs. 97.7% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

91

vs. 33 on the first contract

The MLS doesn't record why a contract ends. In our experience the most common reasons are home inspection findings, appraisals that come in below the price, and buyer financing. How buyers paid on closed sales: conventional 44% · cash 23% · VA 22% · FHA 8%.

If you're selling

  • Price it right from day one. Homes priced right sold in a median 16 days.
  • Waiting has a cost. Listings that needed price cuts took a median 81 days and sold at 92.7% of asking.
  • The $1M+ range struggles most, with 36% of listings not selling.
  • Contracts fell apart about 1 in 6 times. In my experience, that's most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues. The MLS doesn't record why, so prepare for those before you list.

If you're buying

  • 69% of homes sold for less than their first asking price. There's real room to negotiate.
  • Listings that never sold sat a median 134 days and took a median 2.0% price cut before they ended.
  • Buyers paid cash 23% of the time, conventional 44%, VA 22% and FHA 9%.

Did you know?

  • The median sold price in the area was $375,000.
  • After a contract fell apart, 65% of those homes later sold, and 33% never sold.
  • On a $375,000 home, estimated carrying costs run about $906 a month before mortgage. An unsold home runs an estimated $3,993 before mortgage.

Deal Killer Report: how often contracts fall apart in southeastern NC — and what it costs the seller →

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

24%

up 2.3 pts from a year ago

5,348 expired or canceled vs 17,365 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

97.4%

about the same as a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

69%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

2.0%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

40

up 6 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

2.6%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

21%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$375K

up 2.7% from a year ago

17,365 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K4,3491,20222%3098.0%
$300–400K4,9041,17919%4297.9%
$400–500K2,55872922%4097.5%
$500–750K3,15699924%4697.2%
$750K–1M1,13753732%4996.7%
$1M+1,26170236%5694.4%

By town

TownSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Wilmington3,4901,06023%2797.3%
Jacksonville2,19435814%27100.0%
Leland1,41839122%5297.0%
Hampstead82728826%3798.0%
Calabash71629229%5095.9%
Southport75325225%5495.5%
Ocean Isle Beach62522927%4794.3%
Oak Island57722428%5395.9%
Bolivia54617224%7995.8%
Hubert5407813%33100.0%
Carolina Beach34526243%5895.9%
Supply44915726%7094.9%
Sunset Beach43314525%5596.5%
Sneads Ferry44412322%2898.8%
Richlands4795310%3199.7%
Shallotte39612424%6295.6%
Holly Ridge32510925%3798.3%
North Topsail Beach15919655%9792.8%
Surf City23010932%6896.2%
Castle Hayne2845216%2998.4%

Southeastern NC housing market: quick answers

How long do homes take to sell in southeastern NC?

Homes that sold in southeastern NC over the last 12 months took a median of 40 days, counted from the day they were first listed (relists included). That's up 6 days from a year ago.

What do homes in southeastern NC sell for compared to the asking price?

The median home in southeastern NC sold for 97.4% of its first asking price in the last 12 months, and 69% of the homes that sold went for less than the original price. That's about the same as a year ago.

What percentage of homes listed in southeastern NC don't sell?

24% of homes listed in southeastern NC over the last 12 months expired or were canceled without selling — about 1 in 4 (5,348 didn't sell vs 17,365 sold). That's up 2.3 pts from a year ago. The homes that didn't sell had already cut their price a median 2.0%.

What is the median sold price in southeastern NC?

The median sold price in southeastern NC over the last 12 months was $375,000, across 17,365 homes sold. That's up 2.7% from a year ago.

What is my home worth in southeastern NC?

The median home in southeastern NC sold for $375,000 over the last 12 months (17,365 sales), up about 2.7% from $365,000 the prior 12 months. Your property's value depends on its size, condition, lot and street, and online estimates often disagree by a wide margin. Enter your address under "What's my home worth?" on the homepage to see what's for sale, under contract and sold around you, or call for a price built from the homes that actually compete with yours.

Are home prices in southeastern NC going down?

No — not at the median. Homes in southeastern NC sold for a median of $375,000 in the last 12 months, up about 2.7% from $365,000 the prior 12 months. More homes sold (17,365 vs 16,776), and the median time on the market went from 34 to 40 days. Prices move differently by neighborhood and price range, so check the band your home falls in below.

Where do these southeastern NC housing market numbers come from?

Hive MLS listing and sales records for homes only (land excluded), covering the last 12 months and updated November 1, 2026. The figures refresh from the MLS every hour; "didn't sell" counts only expired and canceled listings. Compiled by Buddy Blake Team, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.

Homes only (land excluded), last 12 months unless noted. "Didn't sell" = listings that expired or were canceled — withdrawn and on-hold listings are not counted (some owners stop for reasons that have nothing to do with the market); true days on market counts from the first listing, even when a home was relisted. Source: Hive MLS listing and sales records, updated November 1, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000

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