Estimated cost of a dead deal
—
on a typical $620,000 home with a mortgage · — if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 25% about 1 in 4 · 12 of 49
- Extra days on the market
- — — vs. 53 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- — — vs. 95.9% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 60% of the homes whose deal died
25% of contracts for homes in ZIP 28428 fell apart
12 of about 49 contracts for resale homes in ZIP 28428 fell apart in August 2026 — about 1 in 4. And 60% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all. That's up 14.5 points from August 2025.
- 17% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 9.7% 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.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 25% | 12 | 49 | — |
| Month before | 19% | 7 | 36 | — |
| Same month last year | 10% | 4 | 40 | — |
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 17% — after — days in all, for — of the first price
- Still trying 58% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 25% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 53 days and sold for 95.9% of their first price. 17% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 yrs | 11 | 27% | — | — | — |
| 30–49 yrs | 21 | 19% | — | — | — |
By first asking price
| Contracts | Fell apart | Extra days | Price scar | Est. cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500–750K | 21 | 14% | — | — | — |
| $750K–1M | 14 | 36% | — | — | — |
Homes behind the numbers
Back on the market
Their contract fell apart; they're for sale again.
- 1231 Pinfish Lane, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $850,000 · fell apart Aug 27, 2026
- 625 Spencer Farlow Drive 30, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $315,000 · fell apart Aug 20, 2026
- 1407 Searay Lane Unit 2, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $809,999 · fell apart Aug 20, 2026
- 902 Fifth Street S A & B, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $748,000 · fell apart Aug 19, 2026
- 305 Ivy Lane, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $789,900 · fell apart Aug 16, 2026
- 1615 Lake Park Boulevard S Unit 612, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $535,000 · fell apart Aug 5, 2026
- 101 Delaware Avenue, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $619,000 · fell apart Aug 3, 2026
Sold after a deal fell apart
It closed — on a later contract.
- 222 Carolina Beach Avenue N Unit 112, Carolina BeachSold · $355,000 · fell apart Aug 30, 2026
- 901 S Lake Park Boulevard Unit 304, Carolina BeachSold · $494,000 · fell apart Aug 17, 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 28428?
12 of about 49 contracts for resale homes in ZIP 28428 fell apart in August 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 August 2026 only.