Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach
September 24, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
Wilmington Beach: 1 In 4 Listings Didn't Sell
Over the last 12 months in Wilmington Beach, 57 listings ended and 43 sold. Typical time to sell was 28 days, with sold homes fetching 97.4% of first asking price. Homes priced right from the start sold in a median of 17 days, while those needing price cuts sat a median of 76 days.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in Wilmington Beach, Carolina Beach 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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: 76 days, and sold for 94.9% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $4,051 |
| Property taxes | $195 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $638 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $5,380 |
About $5,380 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 187 days — roughly $33,100 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
7%
3 of about 46 before closing
Those homes that later sold
67%
33% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
96.7%
vs. 97.5% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
44
vs. 28 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 63% · cash 23% · VA 0% · FHA 0%.
If you're selling
- Price it right from day one. Listings priced correctly sold in 17 days versus 76 days for ones that needed cuts.
- 1 in 4 listings didn't sell in the last 12 months, though that's better than the 39% rate the year before.
- Listings that never sold sat a median of 187 days and still needed a 4.8% price cut on average.
- If a contract falls apart, most often it's inspection, appraisal or financing issues. Homes that go back on market and later sell get 96.7% of asking, close to the 97.5% first-contract homes get.
If you're buying
- Most homes here sell close to asking. Typical sold price was 97.4% of the first ask, so there's not a lot of room to lowball.
- 74% of homes sold below the first asking price, so some negotiating room exists even in a market that moves fast.
- Most buyers are paying with conventional loans (63%) or cash (23%). VA and FHA financing weren't part of the mix this year.
Did you know?
- The median sold price in Wilmington Beach was $765,000.
- Contracts fell apart on about 1 in 15 sales, but two-thirds of those homes went on to sell anyway.
- Carrying a typical $765,000 home costs an estimated $5,380 a month, or about $33,100 if it sits unsold.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
25%
down 14.3 pts from a year ago
14 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 43 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
97.4%
up 2.8 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
74%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
4.8%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
28
down 51 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
2.6%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
21%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$765K
up 2.0% from a year ago
43 homes sold
The last 24 months
0% latest month · Aug 26
34 latest month · Aug 26
100.5% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300–400K | 1 | 0 | 0% | 17 | 97.5% |
| $400–500K | 2 | 0 | 0% | 112 | 96.8% |
| $500–750K | 13 | 2 | 13% | 65 | 96.1% |
| $750K–1M | 16 | 8 | 33% | 22 | 97.4% |
| $1M+ | 11 | 4 | 27% | 11 | 97.6% |
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 24, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000