Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Deal Killer Report · January 2026

What a dead deal costs sellers in Brunswick County

When a contract falls apart, the home sits longer, costs more to carry and usually sells for less. Here's how often it happens and what it costs — from the MLS, not guesses.

Estimated cost of a dead deal

$22,700

on a typical $402,500 home with a mortgage · $16,500 if it's paid off

Contracts that fell apart
30%
about 1 in 3 · 92 of 309
Extra days on the market
96
155 vs. 59 on the first contract
Lower sale price
3.3 pts
90.7% vs. 94.0% of first asking
Never sold at all
23%
of the homes whose deal died
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When a deal died in Brunswick County in January 2026, it cost the seller about $22,700

92 of about 309 contracts for resale homes in Brunswick County fell apart in January 2026 — about 1 in 3. The ones that sold later took 96 more days and sold for 3.3 points less of their first asking price than homes that closed on the first contract. And 23% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all. That's up 3.4 points from January 2025.

  • Holding costs run about $98 a day on a typical $402,500 home — 96 extra days is about $9,420.
  • The price scar alone is about $13,300 on a $402,500 home.
  • Where the MLS kept the date, the contract lasted a median of 67 days before it fell apart.
  • 38% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 8.2% below the first price).
  • Most resale deals die over the home inspection, the appraisal or the buyer's loan. A pre-market inspection finds the big items before a buyer does.

What would it cost you?

Put in your own numbers. Leave the loan at 0 if your home is paid off.

$22,700

96 extra days at about $98 a day = $9,418 in holding costs, plus $13,283 from a 3.3-point lower price.

An estimate, not a quote. Uses this area's extra days and price scar; interest only on the mortgage; taxes scaled from the area's median bill; insurance $250/month, upkeep 1% of value a year, utilities $250/month, HOA $42/month (area median).

Take the surprise off the table

Most resale deals die over the inspection, the appraisal or the loan. A pre-market inspection finds the big items before a buyer does — so there's nothing left to renegotiate or walk away over. It's part of our home selling system.

or text (910) 395-1000

Compared with other months

Fell apartDeals lostContractsEst. cost
January 202630%92309$22,700
Month before17%55329$32,800
Same month last year26%66250$21,000

Deals that fell apart in a recent month may still sell — their "what happened next" fills in over the coming months.

What happened next

  • Sold later 71% — after 155 days in all, for 90.7% of the first price
  • Still trying 9% — back on the market or under contract again
  • Never sold 21% — expired, canceled or withdrawn

Homes that sold on their first contract took 59 days and sold for 94.0% of their first price. 38% of the homes that came back on the market cut their price.

When deals fall apart

Weeks after the home went under contract. Most die in the first few weeks — the inspection and due diligence window — and the rest over the appraisal, the loan or the closing.

  1. Week 14
  2. Week 21
  3. Week 33
  4. Week 41
  5. Week 51
  6. Week 60
  7. Week 70
  8. Week 80
  9. Later11

Based on the 21 deals where the MLS kept the contract date (median: 67 days).

Share of contracts that fell apart, month by month
  1. 18%Oct 25
  2. 19%Nov 25
  3. 17%Dec 25
  4. 30%Jan 26
  5. 23%Feb 26
  6. 20%Mar 26
  7. 18%Apr 26
  8. 19%May 26
  9. 16%Jun 26
  10. 18%Jul 26
  11. 20%Aug 26
  12. 24%Sep 26

Darker bars are well above the 12-month average (20.1%). Tap a month for its own report.

By age of the home

Older homes give inspectors more to find.

ContractsFell apartExtra daysPrice scarEst. cost
Under 10 yrs8226%831.2 pts$15,600
10–19 yrs4831%1746.5 pts$44,500
20–29 yrs9028%1124.9 pts$25,500
30–49 yrs8038%524.3 pts$25,300

Crawl space vs. no crawl space

Moisture, wood rot and insect damage under the house are common inspection findings on the coast.

ContractsFell apartExtra daysPrice scarEst. cost
Crawl space9234%554.5 pts$21,500
No crawl space19326%1002.2 pts$21,000

By first asking price

ContractsFell apartExtra daysPrice scarEst. cost
Under $300K8638%571.8 pts$7,700
$300–400K6327%1166.4 pts$30,600
$400–500K4626%683.3 pts$20,600
$500–750K5625%781.4 pts$18,700
$750K–1M1926%———
$1M+3928%1493.4 pts$78,900

Homes behind the numbers

Sold after a deal fell apart

It closed — on a later contract.

Most recent first. Homes that were withdrawn, expired or canceled are counted in the numbers but not listed here.

Questions sellers ask

How often do home sale contracts fall apart in Brunswick County?

92 of about 309 contracts for resale homes in Brunswick County fell apart in January 2026 — about 1 in 3.

What does a failed contract cost a seller in Brunswick County?

About $22,700 on a typical $402,500 home — 96 extra days of holding costs (about $98 a day with a mortgage) plus a 3.3-point lower sale price. With no mortgage it's about $16,500.

Why do home sale contracts fall apart?

The MLS doesn't record the reason. In our experience the most common are home inspection findings (roof, HVAC, moisture and crawl space, wood-destroying insects, electrical and plumbing), appraisals below the price, and buyer financing. In North Carolina a buyer can walk away for any reason during the due diligence period.

How can a seller keep a deal from falling apart?

Have the home inspected before it goes on the market, then fix or disclose the big items up front. Buyers can't use a surprise to renegotiate or walk away when there's no surprise left. A pre-market inspection is part of the Buddy Blake Team's home selling system.

Resale homes only — new construction and land are left out. A deal "fell apart" when a home went under contract and then came back on the market, or was canceled, withdrawn or expired after a contract was written, however long the contract lasted. Extra days and the price scar compare homes that sold after a deal fell apart with homes that sold on their first contract in the same area and slice. The MLS doesn't record why a contract ended. Source: Hive MLS data compiled by the Buddy Blake Team, updated October 3, 2026. Numbers for January 2026 only.

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