Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in Beaufort County

The numbers most home sites don't show: how many listings never sell, how long homes really take, and what they sell for against the first asking price.

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Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Market insights: Beaufort County

September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai

Beaufort County: 1 in 3 Listings Didn't Sell

In Beaufort County, 636 listings ended in the last 12 months, and 446 sold. Homes priced right from day one sold in 13 days, while homes that needed price cuts sat for 77 days, so the starting price matters a lot here.

14 sold out of every 20 listed 6 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled

Which pile do you want to be in?

Out of every 20 homes listed in Beaufort County over the last 12 months, the solid houses sold. The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.

Priced right from day one: sold in a median 13 days. Needed price cuts: 77 days, and sold for 90.6% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $308,500 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$1,647
Property taxes$114
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$257
Utilities$250
About$2,520

About $2,520 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 173 days — roughly $14,300 in holding costs, and the home still didn't sell.

An example, not a quote: 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.03% (Freddie Mac average, 2026-09-24); Beaufort County rate 0.445 per $100 (NC Department of Revenue, 2025-26 county rates); town taxes add more inside town limits; insurance, upkeep (1% of value a year) and utilities are typical estimates. If your home is paid off, the mortgage line drops out — the rest still adds up.

When contracts fall apart

Contracts that fell apart

21%

120 of about 571 before closing

Those homes that later sold

63%

35% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

89.4%

vs. 95.8% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

134

vs. 32 on the first contract

The MLS doesn't record why a contract ends. In our experience the most common reasons are home inspection findings, appraisals that come in below the price, and buyer financing. How buyers paid on closed sales: conventional 42% · cash 39% · VA 8% · FHA 9%.

If you're selling

  • Price it right from day one. Listings priced correctly sold in 13 days. Listings that needed cuts took 77 days, and there were 284 of them.
  • Homes priced under $300K sold at the best rate. Homes at $1M+ struggled most, not selling 44% of the time.
  • 30% of listings didn't sell in the last 12 months, up from 27% the year before. That's 1 in 3.
  • 21% of contracts fell apart, most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that later found a new buyer took 134 days and sold at 89.4% of asking, versus 32 days and 95.8% for homes that held their first contract.

If you're buying

  • Typical home sold at 95.2% of first asking price, and 79% of homes sold below that first asking price, so there's room to negotiate.
  • Homes that never sold sat a median of 173 days before coming off market, so a home sitting a while is a sign, not a red flag by itself.
  • Buyers paid cash 39% of the time, used conventional loans 42%, VA 8%, and FHA 9%.

Did you know?

  • At the median sold price of $308,500 and a 7.03% mortgage rate, the estimated monthly carrying cost for a typical Beaufort County home is about $2,520.
  • Homes that sat unsold racked up an estimated $14,300 in carrying costs before coming off market.
  • Listings that never sold still had a median price cut of 2.6% along the way.

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

30%

up 2.8 pts from a year ago

190 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 446 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

95.2%

about the same as a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

79%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

2.6%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

41

up 5 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

4.8%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

12%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$309K

up 2.9% from a year ago

446 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K1995622%3394.3%
$300–400K803530%4195.6%
$400–500K613335%5394.1%
$500–750K664239%4895.9%
$750K–1M251232%7295.4%
$1M+151244%5693.2%

By town

TownSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Washington2199330%3495.9%
Chocowinity772927%3295.5%
Belhaven512634%6891.7%

Homes only (land excluded), last 12 months unless noted. "Didn't sell" = listings that expired, were withdrawn or were canceled (some owners stop for reasons that have nothing to do with the market); true days on market counts from the first listing, even when a home was relisted. Source: Hive MLS listing and sales records, updated September 26, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000

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