Estimated cost of a dead deal
$10,000
on a typical $400,500 home with a mortgage · $7,900 if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 9% about 1 in 11 · 40 of 431
- Extra days on the market
- 33 50 vs. 17 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- 1.7 pts 96.6% vs. 98.3% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 24% of the homes whose deal died
When a deal dies on a home with no crawl space in ZIP 28411, it costs the seller about $10,000
40 of about 431 contracts for homes with no crawl space (slab, basement or pilings) in ZIP 28411 fell apart over the last 12 months — about 1 in 11. The ones that sold later took 33 more days and sold for 1.7 points less of their first asking price than homes that closed on the first contract. And 24% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all.
- Holding costs run about $97 a day on a typical $400,500 home — 33 extra days is about $3,190.
- The price scar alone is about $6,800 on a $400,500 home.
- 30% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 4.7% 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.
$10,000
33 extra days at about $97 a day = $3,189 in holding costs, plus $6,809 from a 1.7-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 $37/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.
What happened next
- Sold later 65% — after 50 days in all, for 96.6% of the first price
- Still trying 15% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 20% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 17 days and sold for 98.3% of their first price. 30% of the homes that came back on the market cut their price.
By age of the home
Older homes give inspectors more to find.
By first asking price
Homes behind the numbers
Back on the market
Their contract fell apart; they're for sale again.
- 6319 Shire Lane, WilmingtonBack on the market · $495,000 · fell apart Sep 19, 2026
- 403 Beach Road N, WilmingtonBack on the market · $3,895,000 · fell apart May 28, 2026
Under contract again
Second try under way.
- 7426 Springwater Drive, WilmingtonUnder contract again · $415,000 · fell apart Aug 30, 2026
- 7417 Montfaye Court, WilmingtonUnder contract again · $355,000 · fell apart Apr 27, 2026
Sold after a deal fell apart
It closed — on a later contract.
- 613 Bay Blossom Drive, WilmingtonSold · $351,000 · fell apart Aug 28, 2026
- 7760 Marymount Drive, WilmingtonSold · $380,000 · fell apart Jul 28, 2026
- 6809 Bridle Court, WilmingtonSold · $315,000 · fell apart Jul 21, 2026
- 811 Gordon Woods Road, WilmingtonSold · $339,000 · fell apart Jul 16, 2026
- 803 Spy Glass Court, WilmingtonSold · $367,000 · fell apart Jun 26, 2026
- 216 Olde Well Loop Road, WilmingtonSold · $373,000 · fell apart Jun 19, 2026
- 802 Garrison Court, WilmingtonSold · $310,000 · fell apart Jun 10, 2026
- 235 Long John Silver Drive, WilmingtonSold · $400,000 · fell apart May 18, 2026
- 524 Beaumont Oaks Drive, WilmingtonSold · $664,000 · fell apart Apr 17, 2026
- 7217 Haskell Court, WilmingtonSold · $317,000 · fell apart Apr 12, 2026
- 332 Putnam Drive, WilmingtonSold · $395,000 · fell apart Apr 9, 2026
- 2841 Valor Drive, WilmingtonSold · $300,000 · fell apart Mar 24, 2026
- 7345 Walking Horse Court, WilmingtonSold · $384,000 · fell apart Mar 23, 2026
- 233 Buff Circle, WilmingtonSold · $335,000 · fell apart Mar 22, 2026
- 23 Comber Road, WilmingtonSold · $4,000,000 · fell apart Mar 17, 2026
- 131 Meadowood Drive, WilmingtonSold · $330,000 · fell apart Mar 16, 2026
- 313 Lord Drive, WilmingtonSold · $781,000 · fell apart Mar 7, 2026
- 4826 Castleboro Court, WilmingtonSold · $395,000 · fell apart Feb 3, 2026
- 1279 Pandion Drive, WilmingtonSold · $695,000 · fell apart Feb 1, 2026
- 7226 Copperfield Court, WilmingtonSold · $335,000 · fell apart Jan 28, 2026
- 7725 Marymount Drive, WilmingtonSold · $410,000 · fell apart Jan 9, 2026
- 814 Bay Blossom Drive, WilmingtonSold · $315,000 · fell apart Jan 1, 2026
- 2745 Scotts Hill Loop Road, WilmingtonSold · $502,000 · fell apart Dec 16, 2025
- 7319 Thurgood Road, WilmingtonSold · $555,000 · fell apart Nov 29, 2025
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 28411?
40 of about 431 contracts for homes with no crawl space (slab, basement or pilings) in ZIP 28411 fell apart over the last 12 months — about 1 in 11.
What does a failed contract cost a seller in ZIP 28411?
About $10,000 on a typical $400,500 home — 33 extra days of holding costs (about $97 a day with a mortgage) plus a 1.7-point lower sale price. With no mortgage it's about $7,900.
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.