Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in Elizabeth City

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: Elizabeth City

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

Elizabeth City: 1 in 5 Listings Didn't Sell

Over the last 12 months, Elizabeth City saw 800 listings end, with 635 selling and 165 not selling, a didNotSellRate of 21%. Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 16 days, while those needing price cuts took 57 days and still sold at 92.7% of asking. The median sold price came in at $318,000, with typical time to sell at 24 days.

16 sold out of every 20 listed 4 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled

Which pile do you want to be in?

Out of every 20 homes listed in Elizabeth City 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 16 days. Needed price cuts: 57 days, and sold for 92.7% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $318,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$1,698
Property taxes$164
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$265
Utilities$250
About$2,630

About $2,630 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 118 days — roughly $10,200 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); Pasquotank County rate 0.62 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

18%

143 of about 781 before closing

Those homes that later sold

77%

22% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

97.5%

vs. 100.0% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

49

vs. 20 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 27% · cash 16% · VA 36% · FHA 18%.

If you're selling

  • Price it right from day one. Listings priced correctly sold in 16 days versus 57 days for those needing cuts.
  • Homes in the $400–500K range struggled most, with a 32% didNotSellRate. The $300–400K range did best at 16%.
  • Waiting has a cost. Homes that never sold sat a median of 118 days before coming off the market.
  • Contracts fell apart 18% of the time, about 1 in 5. Most often this comes down to inspection, appraisal or financing issues, so be prepared going in.

If you're buying

  • 51% of homes sold below the first asking price, so there's often room to negotiate.
  • Homes that need a price cut still sell, just slower, at 57 days versus 24 days typical.
  • Buyers are financing in a mix of ways: 36% VA, 27% conventional, 18% FHA, and 16% paying cash.

Did you know?

  • The typical home in Elizabeth City sold for 99.4% of its first asking price.
  • When a contract fell apart, 77% of those homes went on to sell later, at a median 97.5% of asking.
  • At today's 7.03% rate, carrying a $318,000 home runs about $2,630 a month, or an estimated $10,200 while it sits unsold.

Thinking of selling in Elizabeth City? What it takes and what it costs →

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

21%

down 3.4 pts from a year ago

165 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 635 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

99.4%

about the same as a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

51%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

0.0%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

24

down 1 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

0.6%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

26%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$318K

up 4.3% from a year ago

635 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K2705517%2298.2%
$300–400K2164216%26100.0%
$400–500K884232%34100.0%
$500–750K532431%17100.0%
$750K–1M6225%5797.5%
$1M+200%2695.2%

Neighborhoods in Elizabeth City

NeighborhoodSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Tooley Harbor382943%5999.1%
Adams Landing41918%2299.2%

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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