Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Sunset Beach
September 29, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Sunset Beach: 1 In 4 Listings Didn't Sell
Over the last 12 months, 568 homes wrapped up in Sunset Beach, and 433 of them sold. The typical sale took 57 days and closed at 96.5% of the first asking price, but homes priced wrong from the start often sat for 152 days before giving up.
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 Sunset 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 11 days. Needed price cuts: 105 days, and sold for 91.7% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $2,637 |
| Property taxes | $142 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $415 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $3,690 |
About $3,690 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 152 days — roughly $18,500 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); Brunswick County rate 0.342 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
16%
84 of about 523 before closing
Those homes that later sold
67%
32% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
92.2%
vs. 96.8% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
147
vs. 50 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 51% · cash 41% · VA 4% · FHA 2%.
If you're selling
- Homes priced right from day one sold in a typical 12 days. Ones that needed price cuts sat for 105 days first.
- The $400-500K range struggled most, with 35% not selling. The $300-400K range did best, with only 17% not selling.
- 16% of contracts fell apart after going pending, most often over inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that later found another buyer took 151 days and closed around 91.5% of asking.
- Waiting on an overpriced listing costs money. Carrying a typical home here runs about an estimated $3,690 a month, or about $18,500 while it sits unsold.
If you're buying
- 73% of homes here sold below the first asking price, so there's room to negotiate.
- Listings that don't sell right away can sit a long time, a median of 152 days for ones that never sold at all.
- 42% of recent buyers paid cash, 50% used conventional financing. VA and FHA loans were less common, at 4% and 2%.
Did you know?
- The typical Sunset Beach home sold for $498,000 over the last 12 months.
- 1 in 6 contracts here fell apart after going under contract before closing.
- Homes that needed a price cut still sold, typically at 91.8% of asking, once they were repriced.
Get the Sunset Beach report every month
The same numbers, updated monthly, straight to your inbox. No spam, one click to stop.
Thinking of selling in Sunset Beach? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
25%
up 1.0 pts from a year ago
142 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 438 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.5%
up 1.2 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
73%
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
57
up 26 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
3.5%
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
$494K
up 31.7% from a year ago
438 homes sold
The last 24 months
34% latest month · Aug 26
67 latest month · Aug 26
95.6% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 89 | 42 | 32% | 46 | 94.8% |
| $300–400K | 81 | 19 | 19% | 64 | 94.0% |
| $400–500K | 39 | 21 | 35% | 77 | 93.5% |
| $500–750K | 186 | 42 | 18% | 32 | 99.7% |
| $750K–1M | 19 | 6 | 24% | 110 | 94.8% |
| $1M+ | 24 | 12 | 33% | 75 | 93.2% |
Neighborhoods in Sunset Beach
| Neighborhood | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Trail Plantation | 142 | 43 | 23% | 41 | 97.5% |
| Ocean Ridge Plantation | 47 | 4 | 8% | 68 | 99.7% |
| Sandpiper Bay | 33 | 16 | 33% | 42 | 95.3% |
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