Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in ZIP 28504 · Kinston

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 28504 · Kinston

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

In ZIP 28504, 1 in 5 homes listed didn't sell

In the last 12 months, 194 homes finished their time on the market in ZIP code 28504 (Kinston area): 151 sold and 43 did not — about 1 in 5. The ones that sold took a median of 38 days, counted from the first day listed, and closed at 96.2% 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16 sold out of every 20 listed 4 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled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 28504 · Kinston 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 15 days. Needed price cuts: 74 days, and sold for 92.8% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $235,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$1,255
Property taxes$132
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$196
Utilities$250
About$2,080

About $2,080 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 141 days — roughly $9,700 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); Lenoir County rate 0.675 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

23%

45 of about 198 before closing

Those homes that later sold

71%

29% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

93.1%

vs. 96.8% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

104

vs. 29 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 31% · cash 24% · VA 23% · FHA 20%.

If you're selling

  • Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 15 days. Homes that needed price cuts took 74 days and sold for 92.8% of their first price.
  • Price range matters: 23% of homes starting at Under $300K didn't sell, compared with 15% at $300–400K.
  • Waiting costs money. A $235,000 home runs about $2,080 a month to hold — roughly $9,700 over the time a typical unsold listing sat.
  • About 1 in 4 contracts fell apart before closing. Homes that went back on the market sold for 93.1% of first asking, versus 96.8% for homes that closed on the first contract.

If you're buying

  • 71% 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 141 days.

Did you know?

  • 24% of buyers paid cash, and 23% used VA loans.
  • A year earlier, 16% of listings didn't sell; now it's 22%.
  • When a contract fell apart, 29% of those homes never sold at all.

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

22%

up 6.3 pts from a year ago

43 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 151 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

96.2%

down 1.2 pts from a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

71%

share of homes that sold

Price cut on homes that didn't sell

2.4%

median — and they still didn't sell

For buyers

True days on market

38

up 4 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

3.8%

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

$235K

up 6.8% from a year ago

151 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K1173523%3396.4%
$300–400K23415%6197.1%
$400–500K5338%3394.9%
$500–750K3125%8895.7%
$750K–1M200%22594.1%
$1M+100%4280.5%

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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