Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Deal Killer Report · September 2026

What a dead deal costs sellers in New Hanover 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

—

on a typical $470,000 home with a mortgage · — if it's paid off

Contracts that fell apart
21%
about 1 in 5 · 73 of 347
Extra days on the market
—
— vs. 26 on the first contract
Lower sale price
—
— vs. 97.0% of first asking
Never sold at all
67%
of the homes whose deal died
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21% of contracts for homes in New Hanover County fell apart

73 of about 347 contracts for resale homes in New Hanover County fell apart in September 2026 — about 1 in 5. And 67% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all. About the same as a year earlier.

  • Where the MLS kept the date, the contract lasted a median of 19 days before it fell apart.
  • 25% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 4.6% 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.

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
September 202621%73347—
Month before16%64393$32,100
Same month last year21%74346$31,900

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 4% — after — days in all, for — of the first price
  • Still trying 88% — back on the market or under contract again
  • Never sold 8% — expired, canceled or withdrawn

Homes that sold on their first contract took 26 days and sold for 97.0% of their first price. 25% 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 13
  2. Week 26
  3. Week 314
  4. Week 49
  5. Week 51
  6. Week 60
  7. Week 70
  8. Week 80
  9. Later4

Based on the 37 deals where the MLS kept the contract date (median: 19 days).

Share of contracts that fell apart, month by month
  1. 16%Oct 25
  2. 18%Nov 25
  3. 13%Dec 25
  4. 17%Jan 26
  5. 11%Feb 26
  6. 19%Mar 26
  7. 18%Apr 26
  8. 19%May 26
  9. 14%Jun 26
  10. 13%Jul 26
  11. 16%Aug 26
  12. 21%Sep 26

Darker bars are well above the 12-month average (16.4%). 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 yrs7718%———
10–19 yrs215%———
20–29 yrs7519%———
30–49 yrs9421%———
50+ yrs8030%———

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 space11323%———
No crawl space22521%———

By first asking price

ContractsFell apartExtra daysPrice scarEst. cost
Under $300K4421%———
$300–400K8622%———
$400–500K5623%———
$500–750K9114%———
$750K–1M2814%———
$1M+4236%———

Homes behind the numbers

Back on the market

Their contract fell apart; they're for sale again.

Under contract again

Second try under way.

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 New Hanover County?

73 of about 347 contracts for resale homes in New Hanover County fell apart in September 2026 — about 1 in 5.

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 September 2026 only.

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