Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Columbus County
November 1, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
One in three Columbus County listings didn't sell in the last 12 months
Of 440 listings that ended in Columbus County over the last 12 months, 287 sold and 153 didn't. That's 35%, up from 32% the year before. The homes that sold took a typical 60 days, and most sold below their first asking price.
Summary written November 1, 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 Columbus County 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 27 days. Needed price cuts: 80 days, and sold for 88.9% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $148 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $183 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $831 + mortgage |
About $831 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 180 days — roughly $4,912 in taxes, insurance, upkeep and utilities alone, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: Columbus County rate 0.805 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
30%
121 of about 408 before closing
Those homes that later sold
57%
37% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
88.9%
vs. 93.8% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
151
vs. 43 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 32% · cash 29% · VA 12% · FHA 20%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Homes priced right from the start sold in a typical 27 days.
- Price ranges matter. The $300–400K range had the highest share of listings that didn't sell, at 44%.
- Waiting costs money. Listings that never sold sat a typical 180 days and took a median price cut of 4.0%.
- Prepare for the contract. About 30% of contracts fell apart, most often over inspection, appraisal or financing issues, based on general industry experience.
If you're buying
- There's room to negotiate. 84% of homes sold below their first asking price, at a typical 92.6% of first ask.
- Homes that sit can be a signal. Listings that never sold were on the market a typical 180 days before they came off.
- Buyers are paying different ways. Conventional loans made up 32% of purchases, cash 29%, FHA 20% and VA 12%.
Did you know?
- Estimated carrying costs for a typical home run about $831 a month before mortgage, based on a $219,990 example price.
- While a typical unsold home sits, estimated carrying costs before mortgage add up to about $4,912.
- The median sold price in Columbus County over the last 12 months was $219,990.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
35%
up 2.6 pts from a year ago
153 expired or canceled vs 287 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
92.6%
down 0.7 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
84%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
4.0%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
60
up 7 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
7.4%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
14%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$220K
about the same as a year ago
287 homes sold
The last 24 months
44% latest month · Oct 26
52 latest month · Oct 26
92.5% latest month · Oct 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 201 | 91 | 31% | 48 | 93.1% |
| $300–400K | 45 | 36 | 44% | 88 | 92.3% |
| $400–500K | 22 | 15 | 41% | 83 | 93.3% |
| $500–750K | 17 | 9 | 35% | 93 | 91.3% |
| $750K–1M | 2 | 0 | 0% | 308 | 92.0% |
| $1M+ | 0 | 2 | 100% | — | — |
By town
| Town | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteville | 115 | 57 | 33% | 62 | 93.3% |
| Tabor City | 55 | 24 | 30% | 48 | 93.2% |
Columbus County housing market: quick answers
How long do homes take to sell in Columbus County?
Homes that sold in Columbus County over the last 12 months took a median of 60 days, counted from the day they were first listed (relists included). That's up 7 days from a year ago.
What do homes in Columbus County sell for compared to the asking price?
The median home in Columbus County sold for 92.6% of its first asking price in the last 12 months, and 84% of the homes that sold went for less than the original price. That's down 0.7 pts from a year ago.
What percentage of homes listed in Columbus County don't sell?
35% of homes listed in Columbus County over the last 12 months expired or were canceled without selling — about 1 in 3 (153 didn't sell vs 287 sold). That's up 2.6 pts from a year ago. The homes that didn't sell had already cut their price a median 4.0%.
What is the median sold price in Columbus County?
The median sold price in Columbus County over the last 12 months was $219,990, across 287 homes sold. That's about the same as a year ago.
What is my home worth in Columbus County?
The median home in Columbus County sold for $219,990 over the last 12 months (287 sales), about the same as 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 Columbus County going down?
Not meaningfully. Homes in Columbus County sold for a median of $219,990 in the last 12 months, about the same as the prior 12 months. More homes sold (287 vs 278), and the median time on the market went from 53 to 60 days. Prices move differently by neighborhood and price range, so check the band your home falls in below.
Where do these Columbus County 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