Market insights

What really happens to homes listed in ZIP 28557 · Morehead City

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 28557 · Morehead City

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

In ZIP 28557, 1 in 5 homes listed didn't sell

In the last 12 months, 313 homes finished their time on the market in ZIP code 28557 (Morehead City area): 248 sold and 65 did not — about 1 in 5. The ones that sold took a median of 27 days, counted from the first day listed, and closed at 95.8% 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16 sold out of every 20 listed 4 didn't expired, withdrawn or canceled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 28557 · Morehead City 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 The outlined ones expired, were withdrawn or were canceled.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 8 days. Needed price cuts: 59 days, and sold for 91.7% of the first price.

What waiting costs

A typical $435,000 home, per month
Mortgage (principal + interest)$2,322
Property taxes$82
Homeowners insurance$250
Upkeep$363
Utilities$250
About$3,270

About $3,270 every month the home sits.

Listings that didn't sell stayed on the market a median of 162 days — roughly $17,400 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); Carteret County rate 0.225 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%

54 of about 305 before closing

Those homes that later sold

72%

20% never sold

Sold vs. first ask after a fall-through

94.0%

vs. 96.2% on the first contract

Days to sell after a fall-through

91

vs. 18 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 45% · cash 41% · VA 8% · FHA 2%.

If you're selling

  • Homes priced right from day one sold in a median of 8 days. Homes that needed price cuts took 59 days and sold for 91.7% of their first price.
  • Price range matters: 28% of homes starting at $1M+ didn't sell, compared with 11% at $300–400K.
  • Waiting costs money. A $435,000 home runs about $3,270 a month to hold — roughly $17,400 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 94.0% of first asking, versus 96.2% for homes that closed on the first contract.

If you're buying

  • 75% 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 162 days.

Did you know?

  • 41% of buyers paid cash, and 8% used VA loans.
  • A year earlier, 16% of listings didn't sell; now it's 21%.
  • When a contract fell apart, 20% of those homes never sold at all.

For sellers

Listings that didn't sell

21%

up 4.8 pts from a year ago

65 expired, withdrawn or canceled vs 248 sold

Sold vs. first asking price

95.8%

down 0.5 pts from a year ago

median sale price ÷ original list price

Sold below first asking

75%

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

down 2 days from a year ago

median for sold homes, counted from the first listing

Typical room below first ask

4.2%

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

$435K

up 5.5% from a year ago

248 homes sold

By starting price

First askingSoldDidn't sell% didn't sellTrue daysSold vs. first ask
Under $300K42816%2596.3%
$300–400K47611%1496.4%
$400–500K481220%4693.5%
$500–750K541825%3196.2%
$750K–1M23826%6394.5%
$1M+341328%8100.0%

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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