Estimated cost of a dead deal
—
on a typical $1,339,250 home with a mortgage · — if it's paid off
- Contracts that fell apart
- 22% about 1 in 4 · 13 of 58
- Extra days on the market
- — — vs. 39 on the first contract
- Lower sale price
- — — vs. 95.0% of first asking
- Never sold at all
- 50% of the homes whose deal died
22% of contracts for homes listed $1M and up in ZIP 28443 fell apart
13 of about 58 contracts for homes listed $1M and up in ZIP 28443 fell apart over the last 12 months — about 1 in 4. And 50% of the homes whose deal died never sold at all.
- 23% came back on the market at a lower price (a median 10.6% 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.
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 31% — after — days in all, for — of the first price
- Still trying 38% — back on the market or under contract again
- Never sold 31% — expired, canceled or withdrawn
Homes that sold on their first contract took 39 days and sold for 95.0% of their first price. 23% 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 | 262 | 14% | 58 | 2.8 pts | $22,200 |
| 10–19 yrs | 116 | 16% | 52 | 2.7 pts | $21,200 |
| 20–29 yrs | 165 | 20% | 34 | 2.1 pts | $13,200 |
| 30–49 yrs | 154 | 25% | 90 | 5.9 pts | $30,800 |
| 50+ yrs | 22 | 27% | 92 | 3.8 pts | $34,500 |
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 | 236 | 23% | 63 | 2.8 pts | $22,600 |
| No crawl space | 432 | 16% | 48 | 3.6 pts | $23,600 |
Homes behind the numbers
Back on the market
Their contract fell apart; they're for sale again.
- 650 Red Fox Trail, HampsteadBack on the market · $2,499,999 · fell apart Sep 2, 2026
- 110 Seven Oaks Court, HampsteadBack on the market · $1,695,000 · fell apart Apr 24, 2026
Under contract again
Second try under way.
- 400 S Kingfisher Lane S, HampsteadUnder contract again · $1,100,000 · fell apart Aug 19, 2026
Sold after a deal fell apart
It closed — on a later contract.
- 106 Waterway Trail, HampsteadSold · $1,392,000 · fell apart Jul 11, 2026
- 2689 Sloop Point Loop Road, HampsteadSold · $1,195,000 · fell apart Mar 11, 2026
- 714 Hughes Road, HampsteadSold · $975,000 · fell apart Oct 14, 2025
- 1475 Kings Landing Road, HampsteadSold · $1,337,500 · fell apart Oct 9, 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 28443?
13 of about 58 contracts for homes listed $1M and up in ZIP 28443 fell apart over the last 12 months — 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.