Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Johnston County
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Johnston County: 1 in 4 Listings Didn't Sell
Over the last 12 months in Johnston County, 924 listings ended and 714 sold, but 210 didn't sell, a rate of 23%, up from 21% the year before. Homes priced right sold in a median of 41 days, while homes that needed price cuts took 90 days and typically sold at 93.9% of asking, so pricing matters from day one.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Johnston 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 41 days. Needed price cuts: 90 days, and sold for 93.9% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $1,788 |
| Property taxes | $145 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $279 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,710 |
About $2,710 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 156 days — roughly $13,900 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); Johnston County rate 0.52 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
11%
87 of about 804 before closing
Those homes that later sold
82%
17% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
98.4%
vs. 98.7% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
84
vs. 55 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 14% · VA 14% · FHA 19%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from the start: listings priced correctly sold in 41 days, but ones needing a cut took 90 days and settled for less, 93.9% of asking versus a higher return for priced-right homes.
- Homes in the $500–750K range struggled most, with 43% not selling. The $300–400K range did best, with only 15% not selling.
- Listings that never sold sat a median of 156 days and still saw a 1.3% price cut before giving up. Waiting doesn't pay off.
- 11% of contracts fell apart, about 1 in 9. Most often this comes down to inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that went back on the market after a fall-through took a median of 84 days to sell again, but 82% did sell, typically at 98.4% of asking.
If you're buying
- The typical home in Johnston County sold at 98.5% of the first asking price, and 61% of homes sold below that first ask, so there's often room to negotiate.
- Homes that don't get priced right sit a lot longer, a median of 156 days for ones that never sold at all. That's leverage for a patient buyer.
- Financing varies here: 48% of buyers used conventional loans, 19% FHA, 14% VA, and 14% paid cash.
Did you know?
- The median sold price in Johnston County over the last 12 months was $334,900.
- For a home at that price, with a 7.03% mortgage rate, estimated monthly carrying costs run about $2,710.
- A home that sits unsold for the median 156 days carries an estimated $13,900 in carrying costs.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
23%
up 1.6 pts from a year ago
210 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 714 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
98.5%
down 0.6 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
61%
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
57
up 12 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
1.5%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
13%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$335K
down 2.9% from a year ago
714 homes sold
The last 24 months
30% latest month · Aug 26
39 latest month · Aug 26
99.1% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 164 | 51 | 24% | 48 | 96.4% |
| $300–400K | 381 | 69 | 15% | 64 | 99.4% |
| $400–500K | 112 | 49 | 30% | 58 | 98.3% |
| $500–750K | 43 | 32 | 43% | 46 | 96.4% |
| $750K–1M | 11 | 6 | 35% | 67 | 98.7% |
| $1M+ | 3 | 3 | 50% | 48 | 86.5% |
By town
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