Estimated cost of a dead deal
—
on a typical $950,000 home with a mortgage · — if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 15% about 1 in 7 · 11 of 73
- Extra days on the market
- — — vs. 40 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- — — vs. 96.7% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 67% of the homes whose deal died
15% of contracts for homes under 10 years old in ZIP 28428 fell apart
11 of about 73 contracts for homes under 10 years old in ZIP 28428 fell apart over the last 12 months — about 1 in 7. And 67% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all.
- 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.
What happened next
- Sold later 18% — after — days in all, for — of the first price
- Still trying 45% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 36% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 40 days and sold for 96.7% of their first price.
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 | 58 | 28% | 145 | 5.6 pts | $65,900 |
| No crawl space | 334 | 22% | 89 | 5.4 pts | $48,400 |
By first asking price
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
- 1407 Searay Lane Unit 2, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $809,999 · fell apart Aug 20, 2026
- 305 Ivy Lane, Carolina BeachBack on the market · $789,900 · fell apart Aug 16, 2026
Under contract again
Second try under way.
- 408 Goldsboro Avenue, Carolina BeachUnder contract again · $1,249,000 · fell apart Sep 30, 2026
- 109 South Carolina Avenue, Carolina BeachUnder contract again · $1,775,000 · fell apart Sep 17, 2026
Sold after a deal fell apart
It closed — on a later contract.
- 711 Carolina Beach Avenue N, Carolina BeachSold · $1,533,000 · fell apart Mar 15, 2026
- 1225 Pinfish Lane, Carolina BeachSold · $950,000 · fell apart Nov 26, 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 28428?
11 of about 73 contracts for homes under 10 years old in ZIP 28428 fell apart over the last 12 months — about 1 in 7.
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.