Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Kenly
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
In Kenly, 1 in 5 Listings Didn't Sell Last Year
Kenly homes that sold typically took 44 days and brought 97.5% of the asking price. But 1 in 5 listings didn't sell at all, and homes in the $300-400K range struggled the most.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Kenly 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 33 days. Needed price cuts: 92 days, and sold for 92.7% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $1,593 |
| Property taxes | $129 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $249 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,470 |
About $2,470 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 145 days — roughly $11,800 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); 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
16%
12 of about 77 before closing
Those homes that later sold
83%
17% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
98.3%
vs. 97.5% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
66
vs. 43 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 45% · cash 8% · VA 15% · FHA 28%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one: homes priced correctly sold in 33 days, but those that needed cuts sat 92 days and still only got 92.7% of asking.
- The $300-400K range is the toughest spot right now, with a 24% did-not-sell rate. Under $300K homes did best at 16%.
- Waiting costs money. An unsold home in Kenly runs about an estimated $11,800 in carrying costs before it ever sells.
- 1 in 6 contracts fell apart before closing. Most often that's inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that had this happen and later resold took 66 days and still sold at 98.3% of asking.
If you're buying
- Homes are selling at a median 97.5% of the first asking price, and 67% sold below that first ask. There's room to negotiate.
- If a home has sat for a while, look closer. Listings that never sold typically sat 145 days before the seller gave up.
- Most buyers here aren't paying cash. 45% used conventional loans, 28% FHA, 15% VA, and only 8% paid cash.
Did you know?
- The did-not-sell rate in Kenly jumped from 12% a year ago to 20% now.
- At a 7.03% mortgage rate, a typical Kenly home priced at $298,370 runs about $2,470 a month.
- Sellers who had to cut their price still needed a median 1.6% reduction just to get a contract.
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Thinking of selling in Kenly? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
20%
up 8.4 pts from a year ago
16 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 64 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
97.5%
down 1.2 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
67%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
1.6%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
44
about the same as a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
2.5%
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
$298K
up 1.5% from a year ago
64 homes sold
The last 24 months
17% latest month · Aug 26
55 latest month · Aug 26
100.0% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 31 | 6 | 16% | 25 | 97.2% |
| $300–400K | 22 | 7 | 24% | 99 | 97.4% |
| $400–500K | 5 | 3 | 38% | 93 | 98.8% |
| $500–750K | 4 | 0 | 0% | 22 | 100.0% |
| $750K–1M | 2 | 0 | 0% | 7 | 99.3% |
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