Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Wilmington
September 28, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
1 in 4 Wilmington Listings Didn't Sell Last Year
In Wilmington, homes that were priced right from the start typically sold in 9 days. Ones that needed price cuts took 64 days and still closed at 93.1% of that lower ask. Overall, 1 in 4 listings ended without selling at all over the last 12 months.
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 Wilmington 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 9 days. Needed price cuts: 65 days, and sold for 93.1% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $2,404 |
| Property taxes | $116 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $378 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $3,400 |
About $3,400 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 120 days — roughly $13,400 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
15%
642 of about 4,179 before closing
Those homes that later sold
68%
30% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
94.8%
vs. 97.7% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
70
vs. 22 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 60% · cash 26% · VA 5% · FHA 5%.
If you're selling
- Homes priced right from day one sold in a median 9 days. Wait too long and you're looking at 64 days plus a price cut, closing around 93.1% of ask.
- The $1M+ range struggled most, with a 33% didn't-sell rate. The $500-750K range did best at 19%.
- Every month a home sits unsold costs about an estimated $3,400 in carrying costs. Sitting the median 120 days unsold runs about $13,400.
- 15% of contracts fell apart before closing, most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that came back after a fall-through took a median 70 days to sell versus 22 days on a first contract.
If you're buying
- Half the homes that sold went for less than the first asking price, with a typical sale at 97.4% of ask. There's room to negotiate.
- Listings that sat without selling stayed on the market a median 120 days before ending. If a home's been listed a while, that's worth noting.
- 60% of buyers used conventional financing, 26% paid cash, 6% used VA and 5% used FHA.
Did you know?
- 1 in 6 Wilmington contracts fell apart before closing over the last 12 months.
- When a contract fell apart, 68% of those homes later sold anyway, at a median 94.8% of ask.
- A typical $454,000 Wilmington home carries an estimated $3,400 a month at a 6.95% mortgage rate.
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Thinking of selling in Wilmington? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
23%
up 3.3 pts from a year ago
1,044 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 3,521 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
28
up 5 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
$454K
up 3.2% from a year ago
3,521 homes sold
The last 24 months
25% latest month · Aug 26
27 latest month · Aug 26
97.3% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 459 | 187 | 29% | 29 | 96.3% |
| $300–400K | 831 | 206 | 20% | 25 | 97.4% |
| $400–500K | 652 | 153 | 19% | 24 | 97.6% |
| $500–750K | 939 | 222 | 19% | 29 | 97.8% |
| $750K–1M | 301 | 112 | 27% | 24 | 97.8% |
| $1M+ | 339 | 164 | 33% | 43 | 96.3% |
Neighborhoods in Wilmington
| Neighborhood | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverlights | 170 | 23 | 12% | 48 | 98.5% |
| Landfall | 105 | 31 | 23% | 35 | 96.2% |
| Blake Farm | 71 | 2 | 3% | 47 | 97.8% |
| Porters Neck Plantation | 39 | 25 | 39% | 56 | 97.2% |
| Historic District | 38 | 24 | 39% | 31 | 95.4% |
| Indigo at Abbey Preserve | 62 | 0 | 0% | 13 | 100.0% |
| Downtown | 36 | 25 | 41% | 21 | 95.1% |
| Riverlights - Del Webb | 27 | 26 | 49% | 85 | 95.8% |
| The Cape | 36 | 12 | 25% | 56 | 96.1% |
| Pine Valley Estates | 29 | 17 | 37% | 31 | 97.1% |
| Echo Farms | 33 | 12 | 27% | 24 | 97.5% |
| Village at Motts Landing | 30 | 13 | 30% | 63 | 97.2% |
| Fawn Valley | 21 | 20 | 49% | 38 | 100.0% |
| Sunset Park | 26 | 14 | 35% | 13 | 97.9% |
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 28, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000