Estimated cost of a dead deal
$17,600
on a typical $449,950 home with a mortgage · $7,300 if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 20% about 1 in 5 · 15 of 77
- Extra days on the market
- 144 196 vs. 52 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- 0.5 pts 96.2% vs. 96.7% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 40% of the homes whose deal died
When a deal died in Pender County in January 2026, it cost the seller about $17,600
15 of about 77 contracts for resale homes in Pender County fell apart in January 2026 — about 1 in 5. The ones that sold later took 144 more days and sold for 0.5 points less of their first asking price than homes that closed on the first contract. And 40% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all. That's down 11.4 points from January 2025.
- Holding costs run about $107 a day on a typical $449,950 home — 144 extra days is about $15,370.
- The price scar alone is about $2,200 on a $449,950 home.
- 20% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 9.6% 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.
What would it cost you?
Put in your own numbers. Leave the loan at 0 if your home is paid off.
$17,600
144 extra days at about $107 a day = $15,372 in holding costs, plus $2,250 from a 0.5-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.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 20% | 15 | 77 | $17,600 |
| Month before | 19% | 23 | 119 | $5,500 |
| Same month last year | 31% | 25 | 81 | $9,800 |
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 60% — after 196 days in all, for 96.2% of the first price
- Still trying 0% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 40% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 52 days and sold for 96.7% of their first price. 20% 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 | 24 | 13% | — | — | — |
| 10–19 yrs | 14 | 14% | — | — | — |
| 20–29 yrs | 13 | 15% | — | — | — |
| 30–49 yrs | 16 | 38% | 145 | 1.1 pts | $20,800 |
| 50+ yrs | 10 | 20% | — | — | — |
Crawl space vs. no crawl space
Moisture, wood rot and insect damage under the house are common inspection findings on the coast.
| Contracts | Fell apart | Extra days | Price scar | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawl space | 29 | 21% | — | — | — |
| No crawl space | 39 | 21% | 139 | 0.1 pts | $16,100 |
By first asking price
| Contracts | Fell apart | Extra days | Price scar | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 15 | 20% | — | — | — |
| $300–400K | 14 | 7% | — | — | — |
| $400–500K | 13 | 23% | — | — | — |
| $500–750K | 13 | 8% | — | — | — |
| $750K–1M | 11 | 27% | — | — | — |
| $1M+ | 11 | 36% | — | — | — |
Homes behind the numbers
Sold after a deal fell apart
It closed — on a later contract.
- 1909 S Shore Drive, Surf CitySold · $760,000 · fell apart Jan 24, 2026
- 618 Creek Drive, HampsteadSold · $210,000 · fell apart Jan 16, 2026
- 87 Strut Way, Rocky PointSold · $399,000 · fell apart Jan 12, 2026
- 74 S Hummingbird Lane, Rocky PointSold · $510,000 · fell apart Jan 10, 2026
- 732 Azalea Drive 413, HampsteadSold · $209,000 · fell apart Jan 9, 2026
- 604 S Shore Drive, Surf CitySold · $2,700,000 · fell apart Jan 7, 2026
- 312 Peanut Road, HampsteadSold · $218,000 · fell apart Jan 6, 2026
- 918 N New River Drive 333, Surf CitySold · $419,000 · fell apart Jan 4, 2026
- 901 Riverview Drive, BurgawSold · $835,000 · fell apart Jan 3, 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 Pender County?
15 of about 77 contracts for resale homes in Pender County fell apart in January 2026 — about 1 in 5.
What does a failed contract cost a seller in Pender County?
About $17,600 on a typical $449,950 home — 144 extra days of holding costs (about $107 a day with a mortgage) plus a 0.5-point lower sale price. With no mortgage it's about $7,300.
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.