Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Southeastern NC
September 30, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
1 in 4 Southeastern NC Listings Didn't Sell This Year
Over the last 12 months, southeastern North Carolina's five coastal counties saw 22,500 listings end, and 1 in 4 of them didn't sell. Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 16 days, while ones that needed price cuts sat a median of 81 days. The typical home that did sell went for 97.4% of asking price, in a median of 40 days.
Summary written September 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 southeastern NC 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 16 days. Needed price cuts: 81 days, and sold for 92.8% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $1,991 |
| Property taxes | $95 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $311 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,900 |
About $2,900 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 133 days — roughly $12,700 in holding costs, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.03% (Freddie Mac average, 2026-09-24); 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. If your home is paid off, the mortgage line drops out — the rest still adds up.
When contracts fall apart
Contracts that fell apart
17%
3,461 of about 20,943 before closing
Those homes that later sold
70%
27% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
94.9%
vs. 97.7% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
90
vs. 33 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 44% · cash 23% · VA 22% · FHA 9%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Homes priced correctly sold in a median of 16 days. Ones that needed cuts sat a median of 81 days and still sold for less, 92.8% of asking.
- The $1M+ range struggles most, with a 36% rate of not selling. The $300-400K range does best at 19%.
- Listings that never sold got a median price cut of 2.0% and still sat a median of 133 days before ending expired, withdrawn or canceled.
- Contracts fall apart 1 in 6 times, most often from inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that go back on the market after a fall-through take a median of 90 days to sell, versus 33 days on the first try.
If you're buying
- 23% of listings didn't sell in the last 12 months, so there's room to negotiate on homes that have been sitting.
- 69% of sales closed below the first asking price, and the typical sale went for 97.4% of asking.
- Buyers are paying in different ways: 23% cash, 44% conventional loans, 22% VA, 9% FHA.
Did you know?
- The median sold price in southeastern North Carolina's five coastal counties over the last 12 months was $373,000.
- At a 7.03% rate, the estimated monthly carrying cost on a $373,000 home is about $2,900.
- A home that sits unsold can rack up an estimated $12,700 in carrying costs while waiting.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
23%
up 2.1 pts from a year ago
5,139 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 17,366 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
97.4%
about the same as a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
69%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.0%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
40
up 7 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
2.6%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
23%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$373K
up 2.2% from a year ago
17,366 homes sold
The last 24 months
22% latest month · Aug 26
43 latest month · Aug 26
97.0% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 4,396 | 1,142 | 21% | 29 | 98.0% |
| $300–400K | 4,917 | 1,122 | 19% | 42 | 98.0% |
| $400–500K | 2,567 | 719 | 22% | 40 | 97.5% |
| $500–750K | 3,119 | 958 | 24% | 47 | 97.2% |
| $750K–1M | 1,144 | 524 | 31% | 51 | 96.7% |
| $1M+ | 1,223 | 674 | 36% | 56 | 94.5% |
By town
| Town | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 3,516 | 1,026 | 23% | 28 | 97.4% |
| Jacksonville | 2,216 | 343 | 13% | 26 | 100.0% |
| Leland | 1,420 | 377 | 21% | 52 | 97.0% |
| Hampstead | 820 | 285 | 26% | 37 | 98.0% |
| Southport | 753 | 254 | 25% | 55 | 95.5% |
| Calabash | 716 | 269 | 27% | 50 | 96.0% |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 609 | 222 | 27% | 47 | 93.9% |
| Oak Island | 576 | 214 | 27% | 55 | 95.8% |
| Bolivia | 530 | 166 | 24% | 76 | 96.1% |
| Carolina Beach | 353 | 260 | 42% | 58 | 96.0% |
| Hubert | 546 | 65 | 11% | 32 | 100.0% |
| Supply | 430 | 149 | 26% | 70 | 95.0% |
| Sunset Beach | 437 | 141 | 24% | 57 | 96.5% |
| Sneads Ferry | 442 | 120 | 21% | 28 | 98.9% |
| Richlands | 480 | 48 | 9% | 31 | 99.4% |
| Shallotte | 389 | 114 | 23% | 67 | 94.8% |
| Holly Ridge | 324 | 100 | 24% | 39 | 98.3% |
| North Topsail Beach | 165 | 178 | 52% | 92 | 92.9% |
| Surf City | 237 | 105 | 31% | 65 | 96.2% |
| Castle Hayne | 273 | 52 | 16% | 28 | 98.4% |
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 September 30, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000