Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: ZIP 28403 · Wilmington
September 23, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
In ZIP 28403, 1 in 4 homes listed didn't sell
In the last 12 months, 564 homes finished their time on the market in ZIP code 28403 (Wilmington area): 430 sold and 134 did not — about 1 in 4. The ones that sold took a median of 27 days, counted from the first day listed, and closed at 96.8% of their first asking price.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in ZIP 28403 · 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 9 days. Needed price cuts: 50 days, and sold for 92.9% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $2,310 |
| Property taxes | $111 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $364 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $3,280 |
About $3,280 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 121 days — roughly $13,000 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
16%
82 of about 513 before closing
Those homes that later sold
61%
39% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
93.6%
vs. 97.2% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
67
vs. 22 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 59% · cash 35% · VA 3% · FHA 1%.
If you're selling
- Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 9 days. Homes that needed price cuts took 50 days and sold for 92.9% of their first price.
- Price range matters: 31% of homes starting at Under $300K didn't sell, compared with 15% at $400–500K.
- Waiting costs money. A $436,250 home runs about $3,280 a month to hold — roughly $13,000 over the time a typical unsold listing sat.
- About 1 in 6 contracts fell apart before closing. Homes that went back on the market sold for 93.6% of first asking, versus 97.2% for homes that closed on the first contract.
If you're buying
- 70% 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 121 days.
Did you know?
- 35% of buyers paid cash, and 3% used VA loans.
- A year earlier, 20% of listings didn't sell; now it's 24%.
- When a contract fell apart, 39% of those homes never sold at all.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
24%
up 4.0 pts from a year ago
134 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 430 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
96.8%
about the same as a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
70%
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
27
up 9 days from a year ago
median for sold homes, counted from the first listing
Typical room below first ask
3.2%
how far under the original price homes sold
Didn't sell, then sold on a relist
19%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$436K
up 7.7% from a year ago
430 homes sold
The last 24 months
17% latest month · Aug 26
19 latest month · Aug 26
96.0% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 89 | 40 | 31% | 35 | 96.2% |
| $300–400K | 91 | 22 | 20% | 37 | 95.8% |
| $400–500K | 62 | 11 | 15% | 22 | 97.3% |
| $500–750K | 91 | 26 | 22% | 13 | 97.8% |
| $750K–1M | 32 | 10 | 24% | 11 | 97.4% |
| $1M+ | 65 | 25 | 28% | 41 | 99.3% |
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