Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Southeastern NC
September 29, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
1 in 4 Listings Didn't Sell in Southeastern NC
Over the last 12 months across southeastern North Carolina's five coastal counties, 22,676 listings ended, and 5,221 of them didn't sell. Homes priced right sold in a typical 40 days at 97.4% of first asking price, while homes that needed price cuts sat a lot longer before finding a buyer.
Summary written September 23, 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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) | $1,981 |
| Property taxes | $95 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $312 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,890 |
About $2,890 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 134 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 6.95% (Freddie Mac average, 2026-09-17); 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%
3,454 of about 20,936 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 43% · cash 23% · VA 22% · FHA 9%.
If you're selling
- Homes priced right from day one went under contract in a typical 16 days. Homes that needed cuts sat a typical 81 days first.
- The $1M+ range struggled most, with a 36% rate of not selling. The $300-400K range did best, at 19%.
- 1 in 6 contracts fell apart before closing. Most often that's inspection, appraisal or financing issues, based on general industry experience.
- Sitting unsold costs money. An unsold home near the $374,000 median carries an estimated $12,700 in carrying costs while it waits.
If you're buying
- Typical homes sold at 97.4% of first asking price, and 69% sold below that first ask. There's room to negotiate.
- Homes that don't sell right away can sit a long time, a typical 134 days for unsold listings.
- Buyers paid in different ways: 23% cash, 43% conventional loans, 22% VA, and 9% FHA.
Did you know?
- 1 in 6 contracts in this area fell apart before closing over the last 12 months.
- When a deal fell apart and the home later sold, it took a typical 92 days and sold at 94.8% of asking, compared to 33 days and 97.7% on a first contract.
- At a 6.95% mortgage rate, the estimated monthly carrying cost on a $374,000 home is about $2,890.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
23%
up 2.6 pts from a year ago
5,219 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 17,409 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
17,409 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 | 4,403 | 1,158 | 21% | 29 | 98.0% |
| $300–400K | 4,930 | 1,142 | 19% | 42 | 97.9% |
| $400–500K | 2,583 | 724 | 22% | 40 | 97.6% |
| $500–750K | 3,123 | 974 | 24% | 46 | 97.1% |
| $750K–1M | 1,144 | 533 | 32% | 51 | 96.8% |
| $1M+ | 1,226 | 688 | 36% | 57 | 94.5% |
By town
| Town | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 3,521 | 1,044 | 23% | 28 | 97.4% |
| Jacksonville | 2,217 | 347 | 14% | 26 | 100.0% |
| Leland | 1,428 | 383 | 21% | 51 | 97.1% |
| Hampstead | 821 | 289 | 26% | 37 | 98.0% |
| Southport | 750 | 258 | 26% | 56 | 95.4% |
| Calabash | 720 | 274 | 28% | 50 | 96.0% |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 609 | 220 | 27% | 47 | 93.8% |
| Oak Island | 580 | 216 | 27% | 54 | 95.9% |
| Bolivia | 533 | 166 | 24% | 76 | 96.1% |
| Carolina Beach | 353 | 266 | 43% | 58 | 96.0% |
| Hubert | 549 | 68 | 11% | 32 | 100.0% |
| Supply | 429 | 150 | 26% | 70 | 95.0% |
| Sunset Beach | 438 | 139 | 24% | 57 | 96.5% |
| Sneads Ferry | 443 | 120 | 21% | 28 | 98.9% |
| Richlands | 480 | 49 | 9% | 31 | 99.4% |
| Shallotte | 391 | 113 | 22% | 68 | 94.8% |
| Holly Ridge | 325 | 102 | 24% | 39 | 98.3% |
| North Topsail Beach | 165 | 185 | 53% | 92 | 92.9% |
| Surf City | 235 | 110 | 32% | 65 | 96.5% |
| Castle Hayne | 276 | 54 | 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 29, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000