Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Princeton
September 26, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Princeton: 1 in 4 Listings Didn't Sell Last Year
In Princeton, 71 of 99 homes that ended found a buyer over the last 12 months, and 28 didn't sell. Priced-right homes sold in 17 days, while ones that needed cuts sat 102 days and still sold for less.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Princeton 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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: 102 days, and sold for 93.7% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $1,814 |
| Property taxes | $147 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $283 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $2,740 |
About $2,740 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 202 days — roughly $18,200 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); 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
5%
4 of about 75 before closing
Those homes that later sold
25%
75% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
88.7%
vs. 97.8% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
102
vs. 44 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 27% · cash 20% · VA 21% · FHA 28%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Homes priced correctly sold in 17 days. Ones that needed cuts took 102 days and sold at 93.7% of asking.
- Under $300K struggled most, with a 37% did-not-sell rate. $300-400K did better at 28%.
- Listings that never sold sat a median of 202 days and still had a 3.0% price cut along the way.
- If a contract falls apart, expect a longer road: homes that later sold after a fall-through took 102 days and sold at 88.7%, versus 44 days and 97.8% on a first contract.
If you're buying
- Homes needing price cuts make up 33 of the recent sales, so there is room to negotiate on ones that have sat a while.
- Typical sold price is $339,800, with buyers paying a median 97.7% of first asking price.
- Financing varies: 28% FHA, 27% conventional, 21% VA, and 20% paid cash.
Did you know?
- 1 in 19 contracts in Princeton fell apart before closing.
- At a $339,800 price with a 7.03% rate, estimated monthly carrying cost runs about $2,740.
- A home that sits unsold for a while runs an estimated $18,200 in carrying costs.
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Thinking of selling in Princeton? What it takes and what it costs →
For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
28%
up 7.0 pts from a year ago
28 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 71 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
97.7%
down 1.3 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
71%
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
46
down 17 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
2.3%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
18%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$340K
up 5.4% from a year ago
71 homes sold
The last 23 months
33% latest month · Aug 26
36 latest month · Aug 26
98.3% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 19 | 11 | 37% | 42 | 94.4% |
| $300–400K | 37 | 14 | 28% | 50 | 97.8% |
| $400–500K | 11 | 2 | 15% | 21 | 99.8% |
| $500–750K | 2 | 1 | 33% | 113 | 98.0% |
| $750K–1M | 2 | 0 | 0% | 161 | 94.7% |
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