Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Riverlights, Wilmington
September 23, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
In Riverlights, 1 in 8 homes listed didn't sell
In the last 12 months, 194 homes finished their time on the market in the Riverlights neighborhood in Wilmington: 171 sold and 23 did not — about 1 in 8. The ones that sold took a median of 47 days, counted from the first day listed, and closed at 98.5% of their first asking price.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Riverlights, Wilmington 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 11 days. Needed price cuts: 84 days, and sold for 93.6% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $2,860 |
| Property taxes | $138 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $450 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $3,950 |
About $3,950 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 77 days — roughly $10,000 in holding costs, and the home still didn't sell.
An example, not a quote: 20% down, 30-year fixed at 6.95% (Freddie Mac average, 2026-09-17); New Hanover County rate 0.306 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
11%
22 of about 194 before closing
Those homes that later sold
86%
14% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
98.2%
vs. 98.5% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
50
vs. 45 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 61% · cash 17% · VA 5% · FHA 3%.
If you're selling
- Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 11 days. Homes that needed price cuts took 84 days and sold for 93.6% of their first price.
- Waiting costs money. A $540,000 home runs about $3,950 a month to hold — roughly $10,000 over the time a typical unsold listing sat.
- About 1 in 9 contracts fell apart before closing. Homes that went back on the market sold for 98.2% of first asking, versus 98.5% for homes that closed on the first contract.
If you're buying
- 61% of homes sold below their first asking price — the first price is often a starting point.
- Homes that sit usually sit for a reason. Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 77 days.
Did you know?
- 17% of buyers paid cash, and 5% used VA loans.
- A year earlier, 14% of listings didn't sell; now it's 12%.
- When a contract fell apart, 14% of those homes never sold at all.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
12%
down 2.3 pts from a year ago
23 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 171 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
98.5%
down 0.6 pts from 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
0.0%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
47
down 10 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
17%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$540K
down 1.2% from a year ago
171 homes sold
The last 24 months
13% latest month · Aug 26
48 latest month · Aug 26
99.3% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300–400K | 7 | 1 | 13% | 64 | 94.9% |
| $400–500K | 47 | 5 | 10% | 16 | 98.9% |
| $500–750K | 95 | 13 | 12% | 62 | 97.3% |
| $750K–1M | 20 | 2 | 9% | 18 | 100.0% |
| $1M+ | 2 | 2 | 50% | 50 | 98.3% |
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 23, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000