Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: ZIP 28594 · Emerald Isle
October 23, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.com
In 28594, 1 in 3 Emerald Isle area listings didn't sell
In ZIP code 28594 (Emerald Isle area), 317 homes ended in the last 12 months. 199 sold and 118 didn't, a 37% rate, up from 33% the year before. Price is the dividing line: homes priced right sold in a median of 16 days, and homes that needed cuts took a median of 106 days.
Summary written October 17, 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 28594 · Emerald Isle 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 16 days. Needed price cuts: 103 days, and sold for 92.2% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Property taxes | $153 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $679 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| Your mortgage payment | if you have one |
| About | $1,336 + mortgage |
About $1,336 every month the home sits — plus your mortgage payment.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 166 days — roughly $7,262 in taxes, insurance, upkeep and utilities alone, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: Carteret County rate 0.225 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%
44 of about 243 before closing
Those homes that later sold
52%
46% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
94.0%
vs. 94.7% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
212
vs. 57 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 58% · cash 30% · VA 3% · FHA 1%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. The 60 homes priced right sold in a median of 16 days. The 139 that needed cuts took a median of 106 days and sold at a median of 92.2% of asking.
- The $750K–1M range struggles most here, with 51% not selling. The $500–750K range did best, though 31% still didn't sell. If you're in the higher range, your first price matters even more.
- Waiting costs money. On a typical $815,000 home, estimated carrying costs are about $1,336 a month before a mortgage. About $7,262 is the estimated cost of carrying a home that goes unsold, also before a mortgage.
- Contracts fall apart on 18% of deals, about 1 in 6. The MLS doesn't record why. In general, it's most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Get ahead of them with repairs, documents and a realistic price. After a fall-through, the typical home took 212 days to sell, versus 57 days for homes whose first contract held.
If you're buying
- There is room to negotiate. 84% of homes sold below their first asking price, and the median sale came in at 94.6% of first ask.
- Homes that sit are the ones to watch. Listings that never sold sat a median of 166 days and cut their price a median of just 2.1%. Those cuts may not have been enough.
- You may be bidding against cash. 31% of buyers paid cash, 58% used conventional loans, 3% used VA and 1% used FHA.
Did you know?
- Of homes whose first contract fell apart, 52% later sold and 43% never sold.
- Homes that sold after a contract fell apart went for a median of 94.0% of asking. Homes whose first contract held sold at 94.7%.
- The median sold price in ZIP code 28594 over the last 12 months was $815,000.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
38%
up 5.7 pts from a year ago
123 expired or canceled vs 199 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
94.6%
down 0.8 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
84%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.1%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
62
up 18 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
5.4%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
18%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$815K
up 8.7% from a year ago
199 homes sold
The last 24 months
54% latest month · Sep 26
153 latest month · Sep 26
85.2% latest month · Sep 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 3 | 5 | 63% | 226 | 94.6% |
| $300–400K | 9 | 5 | 36% | 58 | 94.8% |
| $400–500K | 13 | 8 | 38% | 44 | 95.9% |
| $500–750K | 59 | 29 | 33% | 46 | 97.0% |
| $750K–1M | 28 | 30 | 52% | 64 | 95.3% |
| $1M+ | 87 | 46 | 35% | 81 | 91.8% |
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