Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Market insights: Carolina Beach

October 3, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai

Carolina Beach: Nearly Half of Listings Didn't Sell

Over the last 12 months, 613 listings ended in Carolina Beach and 260 of them didn't sell, that's 1 in 2. Homes that were priced right from the start sold in a median of 17 days, while ones that needed price cuts sat a median of 96 days before selling. The median sold price was $675,000, with typical sales landing at 96.0% of first asking price.

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 Carolina Beach 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 17 days. Needed price cuts: 93 days, and sold for 93.1% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $675,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)	$3,604
Property taxes	$172
Homeowners insurance	$250
Upkeep	$563
Utilities	$250
About	$4,840

About $4,840 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 163 days — roughly $25,900 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

19%

81 of about 434 before closing

Those homes that later sold

44%

52% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

93.8%

vs. 96.3% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

135

vs. 53 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 64% · cash 25% · VA 3% · FHA 0%.

If you're selling

Price it right from day one, homes priced correctly sold in a median of 17 days versus 96 days for ones that needed cuts
The $400–500K range struggled most, with a 48% rate of not selling
83% of homes that did sell went for below the first asking price, so set expectations accordingly
18% of contracts fell apart, that's 1 in 6, most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues in general industry experience

If you're buying

Typical sales closed at 96.0% of first asking price, giving buyers some room to negotiate
Homes that didn't sell sat a median of 163 days before coming off the market
Most buyers used conventional financing at 64%, with 25% paying cash

Did you know?

Carrying a typical $675,000 home while unsold is estimated at about $25,900
Homes where the contract fell apart and later sold anyway closed at 93.8% of asking, versus 96.1% for homes that sold on the first contract
Listings that never sold saw a median price cut of 3.0% before coming off the market

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Thinking of selling in Carolina Beach? What it takes and what it costs →

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

43%

up 3.8 pts from a year ago

264 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 351 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

96.0%

up 1.0 pts from a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

83%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

3.0%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

up 2 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

4.0%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

19%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$675K

up 5.6% from a year ago

351 homes sold

The last 24 months

Didn't sell (%)

46% latest month · Sep 26

True days on market (sold)

71 latest month · Sep 26

Sold vs. first asking (%)

95.5% latest month · Sep 26

By starting price

First asking	Sold	Didn't sell	% didn't sell	True days	Sold vs. first ask
Under $300K	4	4	50%	36	95.0%
$300–400K	27	25	48%	93	94.5%
$400–500K	33	31	48%	58	97.3%
$500–750K	128	85	40%	64	96.2%
$750K–1M	95	67	41%	63	96.1%
$1M+	64	52	45%	37	95.1%

Neighborhoods in Carolina Beach

Neighborhood	Sold	Didn't sell	% didn't sell	True days	Sold vs. first ask
Wilmington Beach	42	16	28%	28	97.5%

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 3, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000