Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Sunset Beach
November 1, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
Sunset Beach: 1 in 4 listings didn't sell this past year
Out of 578 listings that ended in the last 12 months in Sunset Beach, 431 sold and 147 didn't. That's 25%, close to the 24% the year before. The $1M+ range is the hardest, with 38% of listings not selling.
Summary written October 30, 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 Sunset Beach 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 12 days. Needed price cuts: 99 days, and sold for 91.8% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $135 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $394 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $1,033 + mortgage |
About $1,033 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 154 days — roughly $5,237 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
18%
92 of about 525 before closing
Those homes that later sold
61%
38% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
92.2%
vs. 97.0% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
147
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 51% · cash 41% · VA 5% · FHA 2%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Homes priced right from the start had a median 11 days to sell.
- Watch the $1M+ range. It's the hardest spot here, with 38% not selling.
- Waiting costs money. Listings that never sold came down a median 2.0% and sat a median 154 days.
- Contracts fall apart about 1 in 6 times here. Get ready for inspection, appraisal and financing questions before you go under contract.
If you're buying
- There's room to negotiate. 73% of homes sold below their first ask, and the median sale was 96.6% of first ask.
- Some homes sit. Listings that never sold sat a median 154 days.
- Cash is common. 41% of buyers paid cash, 51% used conventional loans, 5% used VA and 2% used FHA.
Did you know?
- 578 listings ended in the last 12 months here. 431 sold and 147 didn't.
- The didn't-sell rate was 24% the year before, and it's 25% now.
- The median sold price in Sunset Beach was $472,760, and the median time to sell was 55 days.
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Thinking of selling in Sunset Beach? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
25%
about the same as a year ago
145 expired or canceled vs 433 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.5%
up 1.4 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
73%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.2%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
55
up 24 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
3.5%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
22%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$475K
up 18.8% from a year ago
433 homes sold
The last 24 months
43% latest month · Oct 26
45 latest month · Oct 26
95.2% latest month · Oct 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 92 | 45 | 33% | 42 | 95.4% |
| $300–400K | 82 | 22 | 21% | 62 | 93.7% |
| $400–500K | 40 | 17 | 30% | 70 | 93.9% |
| $500–750K | 177 | 42 | 19% | 33 | 99.7% |
| $750K–1M | 18 | 5 | 22% | 69 | 94.9% |
| $1M+ | 24 | 14 | 37% | 85 | 93.2% |
Neighborhoods in Sunset Beach
| Neighborhood | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Trail Plantation | 137 | 40 | 23% | 39 | 97.8% |
| Ocean Ridge Plantation | 50 | 4 | 7% | 69 | 99.8% |
| Sandpiper Bay | 33 | 16 | 33% | 38 | 95.5% |
Sunset Beach housing market: quick answers
How long do homes take to sell in Sunset Beach?
Homes that sold in Sunset Beach over the last 12 months took a median of 55 days, counted from the day they were first listed (relists included). That's up 24 days from a year ago.
What do homes in Sunset Beach sell for compared to the asking price?
The median home in Sunset Beach sold for 96.5% of its first asking price in the last 12 months, and 73% of the homes that sold went for less than the original price. That's up 1.4 pts from a year ago.
What percentage of homes listed in Sunset Beach don't sell?
25% of homes listed in Sunset Beach over the last 12 months expired or were canceled without selling — about 1 in 4 (145 didn't sell vs 433 sold). That's about the same as a year ago. The homes that didn't sell had already cut their price a median 2.2%.
What is the median sold price in Sunset Beach?
The median sold price in Sunset Beach over the last 12 months was $475,000, across 433 homes sold. That's up 18.8% from a year ago.
What is my home worth in Sunset Beach?
The median home in Sunset Beach sold for $475,000 over the last 12 months (433 sales), up about 18.8% from $400,000 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 Sunset Beach going down?
No — not at the median. Homes in Sunset Beach sold for a median of $475,000 in the last 12 months, up about 18.8% from $400,000 the prior 12 months. More homes sold (433 vs 431), and the median time on the market went from 31 to 55 days. Prices move differently by neighborhood and price range, so check the band your home falls in below.
Where do these Sunset Beach 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