Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: New Bern
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
1 in 6 New Bern Listings Didn't Sell This Year
In New Bern, 1,432 homes sold over the last 12 months, but 311 didn't sell at all. Homes priced right from the start sold in 22 days, while ones that needed price cuts sat for 81 days and still sold for less. The market is telling a clear story: pricing and timing matter more than ever.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 22 days. Needed price cuts: 81 days, and sold for 92.9% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $1,772 |
| Property taxes | $123 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $277 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,670 |
About $2,670 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 122 days — roughly $10,700 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); 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
18%
307 of about 1,746 before closing
Those homes that later sold
75%
23% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
95.1%
vs. 98.9% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
94
vs. 32 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 32% · cash 22% · VA 36% · FHA 9%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one: homes that sold quickly took 22 days, needing cuts stretched things to 81 days.
- The $750K-1M range struggled most, with a 33% did-not-sell rate. $300-400K homes did best at 14%.
- Waiting has a real cost: staying on market unsold runs about an estimated $10,700 in carrying costs.
- 1 in 6 contracts fell apart before closing, most often due to inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that found a second contract took 94 days and sold at 95.1% of asking.
If you're buying
- Sellers are negotiating: typical sale price is 98.5% of first asking price, and 61% of homes sold below that first ask.
- Homes that sat too long, a median 122 days, saw price cuts of about 1.5%.
- Financing varies: 36% of buyers used VA loans, 32% conventional, 22% paid cash, and 9% used FHA.
Did you know?
- The typical New Bern home took 40 days to sell.
- After a contract fell apart, 75% of those homes later sold, at a median 95.1% of asking.
- At today's 7.03% rate, a home at the median price of $331,870 runs about $2,670 a month estimated.
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Thinking of selling in New Bern? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
18%
up 2.4 pts from a year ago
311 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 1,432 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
98.5%
about the same as 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
1.5%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
40
up 7 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
23%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$332K
up 3.2% from a year ago
1,432 homes sold
The last 24 months
18% latest month · Aug 26
42 latest month · Aug 26
98.2% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 465 | 81 | 15% | 25 | 97.7% |
| $300–400K | 619 | 103 | 14% | 49 | 99.7% |
| $400–500K | 196 | 58 | 23% | 44 | 98.5% |
| $500–750K | 112 | 49 | 30% | 47 | 97.1% |
| $750K–1M | 26 | 13 | 33% | 91 | 96.0% |
| $1M+ | 14 | 7 | 33% | 84 | 91.3% |
Neighborhoods in New Bern
| Neighborhood | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Harbour | 143 | 75 | 34% | 74 | 96.8% |
| Bluewater Rise | 109 | 6 | 5% | 71 | 100.0% |
| River Bend | 72 | 22 | 23% | 37 | 97.2% |
| Madeline Farm | 67 | 6 | 8% | 46 | 100.0% |
| Tyler, Home on the Lake | 67 | 5 | 7% | 43 | 100.0% |
| Carolina Colours | 55 | 12 | 18% | 106 | 98.2% |
| West New Bern | 58 | 9 | 13% | 57 | 100.0% |
| New Bern Downtown Historic | 35 | 19 | 35% | 23 | 98.5% |
| Carolina Pines | 39 | 6 | 13% | 15 | 98.6% |
| Taberna | 35 | 6 | 15% | 36 | 97.1% |
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