Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Waterside, Surf City
October 24, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
Waterside: 1 in 3 contracts fell apart in the last year
In the Waterside neighborhood in Surf City, 29% of contracts fell apart over the last 12 months, or 1 in 3. Even so, 79 of 86 listings sold, and the median sold price was $374,690. Typical time to sell was 54 days.
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 Waterside, Surf City 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 17 days. Needed price cuts: 103 days, and sold for 94.2% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $230 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $312 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $1,045 + mortgage |
About $1,045 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 79 days — roughly $2,713 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
29%
32 of about 111 before closing
Those homes that later sold
94%
6% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
93.8%
vs. 97.5% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
158
vs. 28 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 47% · cash 11% · VA 25% · FHA 15%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Homes priced right sold in a median of 17 days across 33 homes.
- Waiting costs money. Homes that needed price cuts took a median of 103 days across 46 homes, and sold at a median of 94.2%.
- A fall-through is not the end. 94% of those homes later sold, though the median took 158 days.
- Carrying costs add up. Estimated at about $2,713 before mortgage while a home sits unsold.
If you're buying
- Room to negotiate. 79% of homes sold below the first ask, and the median sold price was 96.2% of the first ask.
- Homes that sit can come down. Listings that never sold had a median price cut of 0.9% and sat a median of 79 days.
- Here is how buyers are paying: 48% conventional, 25% VA, 15% FHA, and 11% cash.
Did you know?
- About 1 in 12 listings in Waterside ended without selling, down from 11% the year before at 8%.
- Typical days to sell in Waterside were 54 days.
- For a typical home at $374,690, estimated carrying costs are about $1,045 a month before mortgage.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
8%
down 3.2 pts from a year ago
7 expired or canceled vs 79 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.2%
down 1.8 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
79%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
0.9%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
54
up 21 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
3.8%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
71%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$375K
down 3.7% from a year ago
79 homes sold
The last 24 months
0% latest month · Sep 26
48 latest month · Sep 26
95.9% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300–400K | 47 | 2 | 4% | 95 | 95.2% |
| $400–500K | 19 | 3 | 14% | 45 | 96.9% |
| $500–750K | 13 | 2 | 13% | 15 | 97.5% |
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 24, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000