Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Fairfield Harbour, New Bern
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Fairfield Harbour: 1 in 3 Listings Didn't Sell This Year
In Fairfield Harbour, 218 listings ended in the last 12 months and 143 sold. Typical days to sell was 74 days, and homes priced right from day one sold in about 30 days, while ones that needed price cuts sat around 106 days. 1 in 3 listings didn't sell at all, and homes in the $400-500K range struggled most, with a 51% did-not-sell rate there.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Fairfield Harbour, New Bern 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 30 days. Needed price cuts: 106 days, and sold for 93.0% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $1,788 |
| Property taxes | $124 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $279 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,690 |
About $2,690 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 148 days — roughly $13,100 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); Craven County rate 0.4448 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
27%
52 of about 195 before closing
Those homes that later sold
62%
37% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
95.0%
vs. 97.1% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
141
vs. 58 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 37% · cash 36% · VA 21% · FHA 5%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one: listings that started priced correctly sold in 30 days, versus 106 days for ones that needed cuts.
- The $400-500K range is the toughest right now, with a 51% did-not-sell rate. Under $300K is the strongest spot, at 22%.
- Listings that never sold still typically only cut price by 1.3%, and sat a median of 148 days before ending.
- 1 in 4 contracts fall apart before closing, most often due to inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that go back on the market after that typically take 141 days to sell versus 58 days on a first contract.
If you're buying
- Homes are typically selling at 96.8% of first asking price, and 76% of sales closed below that first ask, so there is room to negotiate.
- Homes priced right sell in about 30 days, but ones that needed a price cut often sat for 106 days, so a home sitting a while may have room to talk.
- Buyers are paying in a mix of ways: 36% cash, 37% conventional loans, 21% VA, and 5% FHA.
Did you know?
- A typical home in Fairfield Harbour, around $335,000, carries an estimated $2,690 a month at today's 7.03% mortgage rate.
- A listing that sits unsold costs an estimated $13,100 in carrying costs while it waits.
- Contracts that fall apart and later sell still typically close at 95.0% of asking, close to the 97.1% seen on first contracts that go straight through.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
34%
up 3.9 pts from a year ago
75 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 143 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.8%
about the same as 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
1.3%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
74
up 29 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
3.2%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
25%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$335K
up 8.7% from a year ago
143 homes sold
The last 24 months
47% latest month · Aug 26
74 latest month · Aug 26
97.7% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 49 | 14 | 22% | 51 | 95.3% |
| $300–400K | 59 | 31 | 34% | 107 | 97.2% |
| $400–500K | 20 | 21 | 51% | 62 | 98.1% |
| $500–750K | 11 | 9 | 45% | 30 | 95.8% |
| $750K–1M | 4 | 0 | 0% | 178 | 93.6% |
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