Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Emerald Isle
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Emerald Isle: 1 in 3 Listings Didn't Sell Last Year
Emerald Isle saw 317 listings end in the last 12 months, and 200 sold while 117 didn't. Homes priced right from the start sold in a typical 14 days, but listings that needed price cuts took a typical 106 days and still had to cut price by a median of 2.1%. Median sold price came in at $816,000.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Emerald Isle 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 14 days. Needed price cuts: 106 days, and sold for 92.2% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $4,356 |
| Property taxes | $153 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $680 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $5,690 |
About $5,690 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 154 days — roughly $28,800 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%
41 of about 243 before closing
Those homes that later sold
59%
37% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
89.7%
vs. 94.7% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
194
vs. 57 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 58% · cash 30% · VA 4% · FHA 1%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one: homes priced correctly sold in 14 days versus 106 days for the rest.
- The $750K-1M range struggled most, with a 51% rate of not selling. The $500-750K range did best at 31%.
- 117 listings didn't sell this year, up from a 32% rate the year before to 37% now.
- 17% of contracts fell apart before closing, most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues in general industry experience. Homes that went back on the market took a typical 194 days to sell the second time.
If you're buying
- Typical sold price is 94.6% of first asking price, and 84% of homes sold below that first ask - there's room to negotiate.
- Homes that never sold sat a typical 154 days before coming off the market.
- Most buyers used conventional financing at 58%, and 30% paid cash.
Did you know?
- Carrying an $816,000 home in Emerald Isle runs an estimated $5,690 a month at a 7.03% mortgage rate.
- A home that sits unsold for the typical 106 days costs an estimated $28,800 in carrying costs.
- When a contract falls apart, 59% of those homes go on to sell later, but 37% never sell at all.
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Thinking of selling in Emerald Isle? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
37%
up 4.8 pts from a year ago
117 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 200 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
94.6%
down 0.8 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
84%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.1%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
63
up 19 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
5.4%
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
$816K
up 8.8% from a year ago
200 homes sold
The last 24 months
19% latest month · Aug 26
114 latest month · Aug 26
91.8% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 2 | 4 | 67% | 299 | 87.7% |
| $300–400K | 9 | 2 | 18% | 58 | 94.8% |
| $400–500K | 14 | 7 | 33% | 38 | 95.7% |
| $500–750K | 59 | 27 | 31% | 46 | 96.6% |
| $750K–1M | 28 | 29 | 51% | 59 | 95.5% |
| $1M+ | 88 | 48 | 35% | 84 | 92.5% |
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