Estimated cost of a dead deal
—
on a typical $670,000 home with a mortgage · — if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 24% about 1 in 4 · 13 of 54
- Extra days on the market
- — — vs. 52 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- — — vs. 95.1% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 33% of the homes whose deal died
24% of contracts for homes in Oak Island fell apart
13 of about 54 contracts for resale homes in Oak Island fell apart in July 2026 — about 1 in 4. And 33% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all. That's up 15.5 points from July 2025.
- 31% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 11.0% 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.
Compared with other months
| Fell apart | Deals lost | Contracts | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 24% | 13 | 54 | — |
| Month before | 11% | 6 | 57 | — |
| Same month last year | 9% | 3 | 35 | — |
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 31% — after — days in all, for — of the first price
- Still trying 54% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 15% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 52 days and sold for 95.1% of their first price. 31% of the homes that came back on the market cut their price.
By age of the home
Older homes give inspectors more to find.
| Contracts | Fell apart | Extra days | Price scar | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 yrs | 20 | 20% | — | — | — |
| 20–29 yrs | 12 | 25% | — | — | — |
| 30–49 yrs | 12 | 42% | — | — | — |
By first asking price
| Contracts | Fell apart | Extra days | Price scar | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $400–500K | 10 | 10% | — | — | — |
| $500–750K | 19 | 26% | — | — | — |
| $1M+ | 14 | 43% | — | — | — |
Homes behind the numbers
Back on the market
Their contract fell apart; they're for sale again.
- 2617 E Beach Drive, Oak IslandBack on the market · $2,290,000 · fell apart Jul 31, 2026
- 133 SE 48th Street, Oak IslandBack on the market · $850,000 · fell apart Jul 27, 2026
- 1506 E Oak Island Drive, Oak IslandBack on the market · $650,000 · fell apart Jul 24, 2026
- 6602 W Beach Drive, Oak IslandBack on the market · $1,100,000 · fell apart Jul 1, 2026
Under contract again
Second try under way.
- 116 NW 2nd Street, Oak IslandUnder contract again · $599,000 · fell apart Jul 18, 2026
- 3003 W Oak Island Drive, Oak IslandUnder contract again · $645,000 · fell apart Jul 8, 2026
Sold after a deal fell apart
It closed — on a later contract.
- 602 Mimosa Place, Oak IslandSold · $1,375,000 · fell apart Jul 23, 2026
- 107 NW 16th Street, Oak IslandSold · $450,000 · fell apart Jul 19, 2026
- 2605 E Beach Drive, Oak IslandSold · $2,915,000 · fell apart Jul 16, 2026
- 6008 W Beach Drive, Oak IslandSold · $2,390,000 · fell apart Jul 11, 2026
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 Oak Island?
13 of about 54 contracts for resale homes in Oak Island fell apart in July 2026 — about 1 in 4.
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 July 2026 only.