Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in ZIP 28405 · Wilmington

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: ZIP 28405 · Wilmington

September 23, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai

In ZIP 28405, 1 in 4 homes listed didn't sell

In the last 12 months, 587 homes finished their time on the market in ZIP code 28405 (Wilmington area): 456 sold and 131 did not — about 1 in 4. The ones that sold took a median of 28 days, counted from the first day listed, and closed at 96.7% of their first asking price.

16 sold out of every 20 listed 4 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled

Which pile do you want to be in?

Out of every 20 homes listed in ZIP 28405 · 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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: 65 days, and sold for 92.9% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $425,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$2,251
Property taxes$108
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$354
Utilities$250
About$3,210

About $3,210 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 129 days — roughly $13,600 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

15%

79 of about 535 before closing

Those homes that later sold

66%

32% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

93.3%

vs. 97.0% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

54

vs. 23 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 58% · cash 32% · VA 3% · FHA 4%.

If you're selling

  • Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 9 days. Homes that needed price cuts took 65 days and sold for 92.9% of their first price.
  • Price range matters: 31% of homes starting at $750K–1M didn't sell, compared with 12% at $500–750K.
  • Waiting costs money. A $425,000 home runs about $3,210 a month to hold — roughly $13,600 over the time a typical unsold listing sat.
  • About 1 in 7 contracts fell apart before closing. Homes that went back on the market sold for 93.3% of first asking, versus 97.0% for homes that closed on the first contract.

If you're buying

  • 76% 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 129 days.

Did you know?

  • 32% of buyers paid cash, and 3% used VA loans.
  • A year earlier, 18% of listings didn't sell; now it's 22%.
  • When a contract fell apart, 32% of those homes never sold at all.

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

22%

up 4.3 pts from a year ago

131 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 456 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

96.7%

about the same as a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

76%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

2.6%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

28

up 8 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

3.3%

how far under the original price homes sold

Didn't sell, then sold on a relist

26%

of listings that didn't sell the first time

Median sold price

$425K

up 4.9% from a year ago

456 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K892220%3096.8%
$300–400K993727%2397.0%
$400–500K741618%2196.9%
$500–750K68912%3695.2%
$750K–1M411831%5996.9%
$1M+852925%2496.4%

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

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