Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Market insights: ZIP 28428 · Carolina Beach
September 23, 2026
(910) 395‑1000 · buddyblake.ai
In ZIP 28428, 1 in 2 homes listed didn't sell
In the last 12 months, 618 homes finished their time on the market in ZIP code 28428 (Carolina Beach area): 350 sold and 268 did not — about 1 in 2. The ones that sold took a median of 59 days, counted from the first day listed, and closed at 95.9% of their first asking price.
Which pile do you want to be in?
Out of every 20 homes listed in ZIP 28428 · 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 16 days. Needed price cuts: 95 days, and sold for 93.1% of the first price.
What waiting costs
| Mortgage (principal + interest) | $3,575 |
| Property taxes | $172 |
| Homeowners insurance | $250 |
| Upkeep | $563 |
| Utilities | $250 |
| About | $4,810 |
About $4,810 every month the home sits.
Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 164 days — roughly $25,900 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
18%
75 of about 425 before closing
Those homes that later sold
43%
53% never sold
Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through
93.2%
vs. 96.0% on the first contract
Days to sell after a fall-through
135
vs. 54 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 64% · cash 25% · VA 3% · FHA 0%.
If you're selling
- Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 16 days. Homes that needed price cuts took 95 days and sold for 93.1% of their first price.
- Price range matters: 49% of homes starting at $300–400K didn't sell, compared with 40% at $750K–1M.
- Waiting costs money. A $675,000 home runs about $4,810 a month to hold — roughly $25,900 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 93.2% of first asking, versus 96.0% for homes that closed on the first contract.
If you're buying
- 84% 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 164 days.
Did you know?
- 25% of buyers paid cash, and 3% used VA loans.
- A year earlier, 39% of listings didn't sell; now it's 43%.
- When a contract fell apart, 53% of those homes never sold at all.
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For sellers
Listings that didn't sell
43%
up 4.8 pts from a year ago
268 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 350 sold
Sold vs. first asking price
95.9%
up 1.0 pts from a year ago
median sale price ÷ original list price
Sold below first asking
84%
share of homes that sold
Price cut on homes that didn't sell
3.1%
median — and they still didn't sell
For buyers
True days on market
59
up 4 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
18%
of listings that didn't sell the first time
Median sold price
$675K
up 4.7% from a year ago
350 homes sold
The last 24 months
38% latest month · Aug 26
68 latest month · Aug 26
95.6% latest month · Aug 26
By starting price
| First asking | Sold | Didn't sell | % didn't sell | True days | Sold vs. first ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300K | 4 | 5 | 56% | 36 | 95.0% |
| $300–400K | 27 | 26 | 49% | 93 | 94.8% |
| $400–500K | 35 | 30 | 46% | 68 | 97.0% |
| $500–750K | 126 | 90 | 42% | 64 | 95.9% |
| $750K–1M | 93 | 63 | 40% | 49 | 96.1% |
| $1M+ | 65 | 54 | 45% | 37 | 95.2% |
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 23, 2026. Totals only — no individual listing is shown. Buddy Blake Team · Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · (910) 395‑1000