Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in Washington

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.

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Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage

Market insights: Washington

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

In Washington, 1 in 3 Listings Didn't Sell

Over the last 12 months in Washington, 219 of 312 listings sold and 93 didn't, a 30% didn't-sell rate, up from 23% the year before. Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 13 days, while those needing price cuts sat a median of 82 days before finding a buyer.

14 sold out of every 20 listed 6 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled

Which pile do you want to be in?

Out of every 20 homes listed in Washington 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 13 days. Needed price cuts: 82 days, and sold for 90.8% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $298,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$1,591
Property taxes$111
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$248
Utilities$250
About$2,450

About $2,450 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 160 days — roughly $12,900 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); Beaufort County rate 0.445 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%

53 of about 275 before closing

Those homes that later sold

60%

38% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

89.4%

vs. 96.2% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

112

vs. 27 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 50% · cash 32% · VA 9% · FHA 8%.

If you're selling

  • Price it right at listing: homes priced right sold in 13 days versus 82 days for those needing cuts
  • The $500-750K range struggled most, with a 41% didn't-sell rate, while Under $300K did best at 19%
  • 19% of contracts fell apart before closing, most often inspection, appraisal or financing issues in general industry experience
  • Homes that never sold sat a median of 160 days and still needed a 2.9% price cut

If you're buying

  • Typical sold price was $298,000, at 95.9% of first asking price, and 77% of homes sold below that first ask
  • Listings needing price cuts still sold, at a median 90.8% of ask, so there's room to negotiate
  • Buyers paid in a mix of ways: 50% conventional loans, 32% cash, 9% VA, 8% FHA

Did you know?

  • Typical time to sell in Washington was 34 days
  • If a contract fell apart, homes that later sold took a median of 112 days to close, compared to 27 days on the first contract
  • At a 7.03% mortgage rate, carrying a typical $298,000 home runs about $2,450 a month, or an estimated $12,900 while it sits unsold

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

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

30%

up 6.9 pts from a year ago

93 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 219 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

95.9%

about the same as a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

77%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

2.9%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

34

up 6 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

4.1%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

14%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$298K

up 2.6% from a year ago

219 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K1002419%2996.0%
$300–400K502735%3596.7%
$400–500K301330%4494.4%
$500–750K251741%6895.9%
$750K–1M9744%10095.4%
$1M+5550%6493.2%

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

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