Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Oak Island
October 18, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
Oak Island: 1 in 4 homes didn't sell in the last 12 months
Of 797 Oak Island homes that came off the market in the last 12 months, 583 sold and 214 didn't. That's 27%, or 1 in 4, down from 30% the year before. The typical home that sold took 54 days and went for 95.9% of the first asking price.
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 Oak Island 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 15 days. Needed price cuts: 93 days, and sold for 91.8% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $184 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $538 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $1,217 + mortgage |
About $1,217 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 166 days — roughly $6,631 in taxes, insurance, upkeep and utilities alone, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: Brunswick County rate 0.342 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
15%
101 of about 687 before closing
Those homes that later sold
52%
44% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
92.0%
vs. 96.4% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
121
vs. 46 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 62% · cash 29% · VA 1% · FHA 1%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. The 238 homes priced right sold in a typical 15 days. The 345 that needed price cuts took 93 days and sold at 91.7%.
- Small cuts late don't fix it. Listings that never sold cut a median 2.0% and sat a median 166 days.
- The $1M+ range struggled most, with 31% not selling. $300-400K did best, at 23%.
- Waiting costs money. On a typical $645,000 home, estimated carrying costs are about $1,217 a month before mortgage. About $6,631 while the home goes unsold.
If you're buying
- You have room to negotiate. 82% of homes that sold went for less than the first asking price.
- Homes that sit are the ones to watch. Listings that never sold sat a median 166 days, so a seller who has waited may be more flexible.
- Cash buyers are 29% of purchases. Conventional loans are 62%, VA 2% and FHA 1%. Know where your financing stands before you make an offer.
Did you know?
- Did you know? The median sold price on Oak Island over the last 12 months was $645,000.
- Did you know? When a contract fell apart, 51% of those homes later sold and 45% never sold.
- Did you know? A home that sold after a contract fell apart took a median 112 days and sold at 92.1% of first ask. Homes that held their first contract took 50 days and sold at 96.2%.
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Thinking of selling in Oak Island? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
27%
down 2.8 pts from a year ago
215 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 586 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.0%
up 0.5 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
82%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.1%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
53
down 7 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
4.0%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
32%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$645K
down 0.8% from a year ago
586 homes sold
The last 24 months
23% latest month · Sep 26
62 latest month · Sep 26
94.5% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 9 | 3 | 25% | 33 | 92.9% |
| $300–400K | 31 | 9 | 23% | 25 | 97.1% |
| $400–500K | 86 | 28 | 25% | 48 | 95.6% |
| $500–750K | 216 | 71 | 25% | 60 | 96.8% |
| $750K–1M | 127 | 51 | 29% | 61 | 96.2% |
| $1M+ | 117 | 53 | 31% | 53 | 94.8% |
Neighborhoods in Oak Island
| Neighborhood | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tranquil Harbor | 130 | 44 | 25% | 45 | 95.2% |
| Pinners Point | 30 | 14 | 32% | 60 | 96.4% |
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