Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: ZIP 28403 · Wilmington
October 19, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
In 28403, 1 in 4 listings ended without a sale
In ZIP code 28403 over the last 12 months, 558 homes came off the market and 134 of them didn't sell. That is 24%, up from 21% the year before. Homes that did sell took a median of 26 days and closed at a median of 96.8% 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 ZIP 28403 · Wilmington 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 9 days. Needed price cuts: 49 days, and sold for 93.1% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $113 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $369 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $979 + mortgage |
About $979 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 121 days — roughly $3,882 in taxes, insurance, upkeep and utilities alone, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: New Hanover County rate 0.306 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%
94 of about 518 before closing
Those homes that later sold
54%
46% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
93.7%
vs. 97.1% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
67
vs. 21 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 60% · cash 34% · VA 3% · FHA 1%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. In 28403, 204 homes priced right sold in a median of 9 days. The 220 that needed price cuts took a median of 50 days and sold at a median of 93.0% of asking.
- The listings that never sold cut their price by a median of only 0.2% and sat a median of 121 days. Small, late cuts didn't fix a price that started too high.
- Price range matters. Under $300K, 32% of listings didn't sell. In the $400–500K range, 15% didn't. The median sold price here was $442,500.
- Waiting costs money. On a typical $442,500 home, carrying costs are estimated at about $979 a month before the mortgage. Estimated cost of a home sitting unsold is about $3,882 before the mortgage.
If you're buying
- There is room to negotiate. 70% of homes sold below the first asking price, and the median sale came in at 96.8% of it.
- Homes that sit are your leverage. The ones needing price cuts took a median of 50 days and sold at a median of 93.0% of asking.
- You'll be competing with a mix of payment types. 34% of buyers paid cash, 59% used conventional loans, 3% used VA and 1% used FHA.
Did you know?
- Did you know? In 28403, 1 in 4 listings ended expired, withdrawn or canceled over the last 12 months.
- Did you know? A home that sold after a first contract fell apart took a median of 67 days, compared with 21 days for a first contract that held.
- Did you know? After a contract fell apart, 55% of those homes later sold and 45% never did. Those that sold went at a median of 93.8% of asking, against 97.1% for first contracts.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
24%
up 4.0 pts from a year ago
137 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 424 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.8%
about the same as a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
70%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
0.4%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
26
up 7 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
3.2%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
16%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$445K
up 12.9% from a year ago
424 homes sold
The last 24 months
28% latest month · Sep 26
43 latest month · Sep 26
96.2% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 84 | 41 | 33% | 31 | 96.2% |
| $300–400K | 90 | 24 | 21% | 39 | 95.8% |
| $400–500K | 60 | 11 | 16% | 20 | 97.5% |
| $500–750K | 93 | 28 | 23% | 14 | 97.8% |
| $750K–1M | 32 | 9 | 22% | 11 | 97.4% |
| $1M+ | 65 | 24 | 27% | 40 | 99.0% |
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 19, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000