Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Sterling Oaks, Ash
October 23, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
Sterling Oaks: 1 in 2 listings didn't sell in the last year
In Sterling Oaks in Ash, 44% of listings that ended in the last 12 months didn't sell, up from 33% the year before. Sold homes went for a median $299,990, and the ones that sold did so at 100.0% of first ask. Pricing and timing are where sellers here are winning or losing.
Summary written October 22, 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 Sterling Oaks, Ash 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 1 days. Needed price cuts: 67 days, and sold for 89.5% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $85 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $250 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $838 + mortgage |
About $838 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 34 days — roughly $939 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
29%
12 of about 41 before closing
Those homes that later sold
17%
83% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
90.8%
vs. 100.0% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
102
vs. 1 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 52% · cash 7% · VA 10% · FHA 31%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Homes priced right sold in a median 1 days.
- Under $300K is the hardest range here, with 48% not selling.
- Waiting costs money. Listings that never sold sat a median 34 days before they ended.
- Get the house ready for inspection, appraisal and financing. Most contracts that fall apart do so for those reasons, as a general industry pattern.
If you're buying
- Room to negotiate exists. 24% of sales closed below first ask.
- Many homes sit. Listings that didn't sell lasted a median 34 days.
- Most buyers here use conventional loans (52%), followed by FHA (31%), VA (10%) and cash (7%).
Did you know?
- Contracts fell apart in 29% of cases here, about 1 in 3.
- Only 17% of homes whose contracts fell through later sold, and it took a median 102 days.
- At the $299,990 example price, estimated carrying costs before mortgage are about $838 a month, or about $939 while a home sits unsold.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
44%
up 10.9 pts from a year ago
23 expired or canceled vs 29 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
100.0%
up 8.0 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
24%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
0.0%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
1
down 45 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
0.0%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
9%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$300K
down 0.8% from a year ago
29 homes sold
The last 13 months
33% latest month · Sep 26
1 latest month · Sep 26
100.0% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 13 | 12 | 48% | 1 | 100.0% |
| $300–400K | 16 | 11 | 41% | 1 | 100.0% |
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 October 23, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000