Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: New Bern Downtown Historic, New Bern
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
New Bern Downtown Historic: 1 in 3 Listings Didn't Sell
Over the last 12 months in the New Bern Downtown Historic neighborhood, 54 homes ended and 35 sold. Homes priced right sold in a typical 23 days at 98.5% of asking, while the 19 that didn't sell sat a median of 122 days before giving up.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in New Bern Downtown Historic, 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 17 days. Needed price cuts: 70 days, and sold for 92.5% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $2,274 |
| Property taxes | $158 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $355 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $3,290 |
About $3,290 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 122 days — roughly $13,200 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
13%
5 of about 40 before closing
Those homes that later sold
80%
20% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
96.1%
vs. 98.6% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
138
vs. 20 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 54% · cash 37% · VA 6% · FHA 0%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one: homes that sold needed just 17 days and 21 sellers got it right, versus 70 days and a 2.6% cut for the 14 that needed price changes.
- Waiting has a cost: an unsold home carries an estimated $13,200 while it sits.
- 13% of contracts fell apart (1 in 8) — most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues.
- If your contract falls apart, 80% of those homes go on to sell later, at a median 96.1% of asking, but it takes about 138 days.
If you're buying
- Typical sold price is $425,900, and homes are going for 98.5% of the first asking price, with 69% selling below it — there's room to negotiate.
- Listings that don't sell sit a median of 122 days before coming off the market.
- Buyers are paying in a mix of ways: 37% cash, 54% conventional loans, and 6% VA.
Did you know?
- The typical sold price in New Bern Downtown Historic is $425,900.
- At a 7.03% mortgage rate, the estimated monthly carrying cost on a typical home here is $3,290.
- Last year the didn't-sell rate was 21% — this year it's up to 35%, or 1 in 3 listings.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
35%
up 14.0 pts from a year ago
19 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 35 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
98.5%
up 1.8 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
69%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
2.6%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
23
down 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
32%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$426K
down 24.4% from a year ago
35 homes sold
The last 24 months
0% latest month · Aug 26
12 latest month · Aug 26
98.9% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 8 | 0 | 0% | 25 | 97.3% |
| $300–400K | 7 | 3 | 30% | 49 | 98.9% |
| $400–500K | 4 | 4 | 50% | 5 | 98.8% |
| $500–750K | 12 | 8 | 40% | 18 | 98.8% |
| $750K–1M | 3 | 3 | 50% | 92 | 94.4% |
| $1M+ | 1 | 1 | 50% | 6 | 94.8% |
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