Estimated cost of a dead deal
—
on a typical $384,000 home with a mortgage · — if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 27% about 1 in 4 · 11 of 41
- Extra days on the market
- — — vs. 34 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- — — vs. 96.8% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 100% of the homes whose deal died
27% of contracts for homes in ZIP 28401 fell apart
11 of about 41 contracts for resale homes in ZIP 28401 fell apart in September 2026 — about 1 in 4. And 100% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all. That's down 16.6 points from September 2025.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 27% | 11 | 41 | — |
| Month before | 21% | 6 | 28 | — |
| Same month last year | 43% | 23 | 53 | $31,300 |
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 0% — after — days in all, for — of the first price
- Still trying 82% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 18% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 34 days and sold for 96.8% of their first 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 | 13 | 31% | — | — | — |
| 50+ yrs | 22 | 27% | — | — | — |
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 | 19 | 21% | — | — | — |
| No crawl space | 21 | 33% | — | — | — |
By first asking price
| Contracts | Fell apart | Extra days | Price scar | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300–400K | 17 | 24% | — | — | — |
| $400–500K | 10 | 20% | — | — | — |
Homes behind the numbers
Back on the market
Their contract fell apart; they're for sale again.
- 1202 Chestnut Street, WilmingtonBack on the market · $1,450,000 · fell apart Sep 30, 2026
- 804 S 6th Street, WilmingtonBack on the market · $250,000 · fell apart Sep 28, 2026
- 1305 Wellington Avenue, WilmingtonBack on the market · $165,000 · fell apart Sep 20, 2026
- 1312 Dock Street, WilmingtonBack on the market · $299,900 · fell apart Sep 14, 2026
- 441 Tributary Circle 67, WilmingtonBack on the market · $364,900 · fell apart Sep 14, 2026
- 118 Jamaica Drive, WilmingtonBack on the market · $364,400 · fell apart Sep 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 ZIP 28401?
11 of about 41 contracts for resale homes in ZIP 28401 fell apart in September 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 September 2026 only.