Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Carolina Beach
October 18, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
Carolina Beach: 43% of homes that listed didn't sell
In the last 12 months, 615 Carolina Beach listings ended, and 266 of them didn't sell. That's 43%, up from 39% the year before. The 349 that did sell took a typical 59 days and went for a median $672,000.
Summary written October 14, 2026 from that day's numbers. The figures in the tiles update every hour, so they can differ slightly.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Carolina Beach over the last 12 months, the solid houses sold. The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.
Priced right from day one: sold in a median 18 days. Needed price cuts: 95 days, and sold for 93.0% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $171 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $560 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $1,228 + mortgage |
About $1,228 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 167 days — roughly $6,748 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
21%
93 of about 439 before closing
Those homes that later sold
41%
57% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
92.9%
vs. 96.1% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
147
vs. 53 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 64% · cash 25% · VA 3% · FHA 0%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. The 142 homes priced right sold in a typical 17 days. The 207 that needed price cuts took 95 days and sold at 93.0% of asking.
- Cutting late doesn't work. Listings that never sold took a median price cut of just 3.1% and sat a typical 167 days.
- Watch your price range. The $300–400K range was the toughest at 49% not selling. The $500–750K range did best, though still 40% didn't sell.
- Waiting costs money. On a typical $672,000 home, estimated carrying costs run about $1,228 a month before the mortgage. A home that sits unsold racks up an estimated $6,748.
If you're buying
- You have room to negotiate. 83% of homes sold below their first asking price, and the typical sale came in at 96.0% of asking.
- Look hard at homes that have sat. Listings that never sold typically sat 167 days. A home that sat 95 days and needed cuts sold at 93.0% of asking.
- Know who you're up against. 25% of buyers paid cash and 64% used conventional loans. VA was 3% and FHA was 0%.
Did you know?
- Did you know? In Carolina Beach, 266 of 615 ended listings in the last 12 months didn't sell. That's 43%.
- Did you know? After a first contract fell apart, 57% of those homes never sold. 41% did sell later, but at 92.9% of asking versus 96.3% for first contracts.
- Did you know? A first contract that held took a typical 53 days. After a fall-through, the typical time was 147 days.
Get the Carolina Beach report every month
The same numbers, updated monthly, straight to your inbox. No spam, one click to stop.
Thinking of selling in Carolina Beach? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
44%
up 5.1 pts from a year ago
266 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 346 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
95.9%
up 0.9 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
83%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
3.1%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
59
up 2 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
4.1%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
18%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$671K
up 5.3% from a year ago
346 homes sold
The last 24 months
46% latest month · Sep 26
71 latest month · Sep 26
95.5% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 5 | 4 | 44% | 37 | 94.4% |
| $300–400K | 27 | 26 | 49% | 93 | 94.5% |
| $400–500K | 33 | 31 | 48% | 58 | 97.2% |
| $500–750K | 124 | 84 | 40% | 65 | 96.2% |
| $750K–1M | 92 | 70 | 43% | 55 | 96.0% |
| $1M+ | 65 | 51 | 44% | 37 | 95.0% |
Neighborhoods in Carolina Beach
| Neighborhood | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington Beach | 42 | 16 | 28% | 28 | 97.5% |
Homes only (land excluded), last 12 months unless noted. "Didn't sell" = listings that expired, were withdrawn or were canceled (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 October 18, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000