Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in Middlesex

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.

Download the PDF report

Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Market insights: Middlesex

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

Middlesex: 1 in 5 Homes Didn't Sell Last Year

Over the last 12 months, 64 Middlesex listings ended and 51 of them sold. Typical seller got 100.0% of asking price, and homes that were priced right from the start sold in just 25 days. Homes that needed price cuts sat for 122 days and still only brought 93.0% of asking.

16 sold out of every 20 listed 4 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled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 Middlesex 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 25 days. Needed price cuts: 122 days, and sold for 93.0% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $305,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$1,628
Property taxes$132
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$254
Utilities$250
About$2,510

About $2,510 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 153 days — roughly $12,700 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

19%

12 of about 63 before closing

Those homes that later sold

83%

17% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

96.4%

vs. 100.0% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

105

vs. 34 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 71% · cash 4% · VA 4% · FHA 16%.

If you're selling

  • Price it right from day one — pricedright listings sold in 25 days, the ones that needed cuts sat 122 days
  • 13 listings didn't sell this year, that's 1 in 5, though it's better than last year's 27%
  • Listings that never sold had a median price cut of 3.0% and still sat 153 days
  • 19% of contracts fell apart before closing, most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues — if that happens, homes that later sold still got 96.4% of asking, but it took 105 more days

If you're buying

  • Nearly half of Middlesex sales, 45%, closed below the first asking price — there's room to negotiate
  • Typical time to sell is 47 days, but homes with price cuts took 122 days, so patience can pay off
  • Most buyers here use conventional financing, 71%, with 16% FHA, 4% VA and 4% paying cash

Did you know?

  • Median sold price in Middlesex over the last 12 months was $305,000
  • On a home priced at $305,000, with a 7.03% mortgage rate, estimated monthly carrying cost is about $2,510
  • If a home sits unsold, estimated carrying cost while waiting runs about $12,700

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

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

20%

down 6.2 pts from a year ago

13 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 51 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

100.0%

about the same as a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

45%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

3.0%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

47

down 16 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

0.0%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

0%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$305K

up 1.7% from a year ago

51 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K2000%57100.0%
$300–400K22724%29100.0%
$400–500K4233%22594.8%
$500–750K300%15095.7%
$750K–1M1267%18383.5%
$1M+1267%1990.9%

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

Whenever you're ready — no forms, no pressure. Call or text and a real person answers.