Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Pender County
October 18, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
1 in 4 Pender County homes ended without a sale
In Pender County over the last 12 months, 2,132 homes came off the market. 1,624 sold and 508 didn't, a 24% rate, up from 19% the year before. The typical home that sold took 37 days and went for 97.6% of its 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 Pender County 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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: 80 days, and sold for 93.1% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $279 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $378 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $1,156 + mortgage |
About $1,156 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 123 days — roughly $4,693 in taxes, insurance, upkeep and utilities alone, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: Pender County rate 0.7375 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
19%
384 of about 2,005 before closing
Those homes that later sold
67%
32% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
95.2%
vs. 98.0% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
92
vs. 30 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 48% · cash 20% · VA 18% · FHA 10%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. The 900 homes priced right sold in a typical 15 days. The 724 that needed cuts took 81 days and sold at 93.1% of asking.
- Small cuts after months of waiting don't fix it. Listings that never sold cut a median of just 1.2% and sat a median of 123 days.
- The $1M+ range is the toughest, with 44% not selling. The $300–400K range is the best at 18%. The higher your price, the sharper your pencil needs to be.
- Waiting costs money. On a typical $453,950 home, estimated carrying costs run about $1,156 a month before mortgage. That's about $4,693 while it sits unsold.
If you're buying
- There's room to talk. 67% of homes sold below their first asking price, and the median sold price was $453,950.
- Homes that sit give you leverage. Listings that never sold sat a median of 123 days, and homes that sold after a contract fell apart took a median of 92 days and sold at 95.2% of asking.
- Cash isn't the only way in. Buyers paid cash on 20% of sales, conventional on 48%, VA on 18% and FHA on 10%.
Did you know?
- Did you know? In Pender County, 68% of homes that lost a contract later sold, but 31% never did.
- Did you know? A first contract sold at 98.0% of asking in a typical 30 days. After a fall-through, it was 95.2% in 92 days.
- Did you know? The $300–400K range had the lowest rate of homes not selling in Pender County, at 18%.
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Deal Killer Report: how often contracts fall apart in Pender County — and what it costs the seller →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
24%
up 5.4 pts from a year ago
511 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 1,620 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
97.6%
about the same as a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
67%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
1.3%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
37
up 3 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
2.4%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
28%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$454K
about the same as a year ago
1,620 homes sold
The last 24 months
27% latest month · Sep 26
28 latest month · Sep 26
98.3% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 233 | 70 | 23% | 24 | 96.6% |
| $300–400K | 369 | 82 | 18% | 37 | 97.8% |
| $400–500K | 313 | 90 | 22% | 33 | 97.9% |
| $500–750K | 441 | 98 | 18% | 44 | 98.0% |
| $750K–1M | 130 | 64 | 33% | 37 | 97.6% |
| $1M+ | 134 | 107 | 44% | 61 | 94.5% |
By town
| Town | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampstead | 835 | 293 | 26% | 37 | 98.0% |
| Surf City | 233 | 111 | 32% | 66 | 96.2% |
| Rocky Point | 174 | 21 | 11% | 25 | 97.8% |
| Burgaw | 136 | 51 | 27% | 40 | 96.8% |
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