Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Carteret County
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Carteret County: 1 in 4 Listings Didn't Sell This Year
Over the last 12 months in Carteret County, 1,524 homes sold and 590 didn't, a 28% didn't-sell rate, up from 24% the year before. Homes priced right from the start sold in 13 days, while ones that needed price cuts sat 84 days and still sold for less.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Carteret 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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: 84 days, and sold for 92.2% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $2,536 |
| Property taxes | $89 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $396 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $3,520 |
About $3,520 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 172 days — roughly $19,900 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); Carteret County rate 0.225 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
17%
321 of about 1,856 before closing
Those homes that later sold
65%
31% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
92.3%
vs. 96.2% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
118
vs. 40 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 48% · cash 34% · VA 10% · FHA 4%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one: homes priced correctly sold in 13 days, ones that needed cuts sat 84 days
- The $750K-1M range struggled most, with a 38% didn't-sell rate, while $300-400K homes did best at 23%
- 17% of contracts fell apart, about 1 in 6, most often due to inspection, appraisal or financing issues
- Listings that never sold sat a median of 172 days and still needed a 2.3% price cut along the way
If you're buying
- Typical home sold at 95.9% of first asking price, and 76% of homes sold below that first ask
- Homes that don't sell right away can sit a median of 172 days, so timing and patience matter
- Buyers paid in different ways: 34% cash, 48% conventional loans, 10% VA, 4% FHA
Did you know?
- 590 Carteret County homes didn't sell in the last 12 months, a 28% rate versus 24% the year before
- When a contract fell apart, 65% of those homes later sold, but 31% never sold at all
- At the median price of $475,000 with a 7.03% rate, estimated monthly carrying cost runs about $3,520, or about $19,900 while a home sits unsold
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
28%
up 4.2 pts from a year ago
590 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 1,524 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
95.9%
down 0.4 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
76%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.3%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
49
up 8 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
4.1%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
22%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$475K
up 6.4% from a year ago
1,524 homes sold
The last 24 months
23% latest month · Aug 26
59 latest month · Aug 26
95.0% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 241 | 85 | 26% | 36 | 96.2% |
| $300–400K | 277 | 81 | 23% | 36 | 96.4% |
| $400–500K | 251 | 77 | 24% | 48 | 96.1% |
| $500–750K | 373 | 136 | 27% | 57 | 96.5% |
| $750K–1M | 152 | 93 | 38% | 77 | 95.1% |
| $1M+ | 230 | 118 | 34% | 51 | 93.9% |
By town
| Town | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort | 286 | 104 | 27% | 61 | 96.3% |
| Newport | 269 | 82 | 23% | 36 | 97.4% |
| Emerald Isle | 200 | 117 | 37% | 63 | 94.6% |
| Morehead City | 248 | 65 | 21% | 27 | 95.8% |
| Atlantic Beach | 126 | 63 | 33% | 47 | 95.0% |
| Pine Knoll Shores | 74 | 22 | 23% | 52 | 94.9% |
| Cedar Point | 52 | 26 | 33% | 81 | 93.8% |
| Indian Beach | 45 | 27 | 38% | 88 | 95.7% |
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