Skip to Main Content

North Carolina housing market

The North Carolina housing market isn’t that competitive. The median home sales price in September 2024 has decreased in the past 3 months to $377,700. That’s up 3.8% and $14,000 higher than September 2023 of last year. That is higher than the national median home sales price of $428,818. Homes typically sell after 44 days on market, which is slower than the national average and higher than 35 days in September 2023 a year prior.

Housing market overview for

Caret Down
Trended Median Home Values

How much do homes in North Carolina cost?

The median home price in North Carolina was $377,700 in September 2024, up 3.8% from last year.

September's median sale price
$378K
Caret UpUp $14K and 3.8% since Sep 2023
Trended Homes Inventory

How many homes are available in North Carolina?

The real estate market in North Carolina had 38,663 homes for sale in September and is up from 37721 homes for sale the month prior and up from 29,236 homes in September 2023.

Homes for sale in September
38,663
Caret UpUp 9427 and 32.2% since Sep 2023
Trended Homes Sold

How many homes are sold in North Carolina?

There were 11147 homes sold in September 2024, trending down from 12038 homes sold a year ago.

Homes sold in September
11,147
Caret DownDown 891 and 7.4% since Sep 2023
Trended Median Days on Market

How long does it take to sell a home in North Carolina?

Homes in North Carolina are staying on the market for 44 days. That’s 9 days slower than the median in September 2023, which means that the market is less competitive today.

Median days on market in September
44
Caret UpUp 9 and 25.7% since Sep 2023

Is it a buyer’s or seller’s market in North Carolina?

It is considered a seller’s market right now. Housing inventory is up since last year, which means supply is less constrained. Mortgage rates are 6.9%, making the average house payment $2,579, which is $1.6K higher than a year before.

Total months of housing supply available for sale is 3.5 months, up 45.8% from 2.4 month(s) in September 2023.

Months of Supply

The Months of Supply housing metric is an estimate of how long it would take to sell all the homes for sale relative to the number of homes sold each month. Historically, 5 to 6 months is the average. You may also hear this metric referred to as the "absorption rate."

Lower months of housing supply typically signal a seller’s market whereas when months of supply is greater than 6 months typically signal a buyer’s market.

Sales to Listing Ratio

Sales to Listing Ratios are an indicator of supply and demand. It is all the completed sales in the past month divided by the total number of active listings.

In a balanced real estate market, the total number of home sales to active listings ratio is between 0.12 and 0.2 while markets with a ratio higher than 0.2 favors seller’s, as homes are selling fast and there is limited inventory, while markets below 0.12 favor home buyers because there is a larger supply of homes to purchase.

Selling a house in North Carolina

Home values have increased by 3% since last year, and the number of days it takes to sell a home has increased from 36 days in September 2023 to 44 days in September 2024.

The best time to sell your home in North Carolina is in May, when homes sell fastest and for the most money.

Sellers typically pay the commission of both the listing and buyer’s agents, which typically total 5-6% of the home sale price. That’s $22,662 paid in commission to the real estate agents. You’d also need to factor in closing costs, plus other fees and your mortgage payoff amount, to calculate the net proceeds from your home sale.

Buying a house in North Carolina

Homes in North Carolina have a median price of $377,700, which means you’ll need $37,770 for a 10% down payment. Housing costs have increased 3% in the past year. When you’re several months out and have your down payment saved, make sure to get pre-approved for a mortgage and find a real estate agent.

Home values are only one part of the home affordability equation. When buying a house in North Carolina, don’t forget to also account for closing costs, which are typically 3-4% of the home cost. In addition to a down payment of $37,770 you should have $15,108 as well as budget for cash reserves, moving expenses and ongoing homeownership costs for home maintenance and repairs or HOA fees.

North Carolina home values are 0.5% more expensive than South Carolina and 13.5% cheaper than the national median home value.

How does the North Carolina real estate market compare to other markets?

The North Carolina real estate market has a median sale price of $377,700, which is 13.5% lower than the national median sale price of $428,818. Compare other markets or nearby cities, as they can vary significantly.

North Carolina
Caret Down
South Carolina
Caret Down
National
Median home saleMedian home saleMedian home sale
$377,700$375,700$428,818
Days on marketDays on marketDays on market
447339
Monthly house payment
Monthly house payment
Monthly house payment
$2,579$2,526$2,548
Cost to buy a house
Cost to buy a house
Cost to buy a house
$52,878$52,598$60,035
Cost to sell a house
Cost to sell a house
Cost to sell a house
$26,439$26,299$30,017

Take the next step in North Carolina: Find an agent

Navigating the North Carolina housing market can be tricky, but you don’t have to go it alone. When you're ready to learn more, reach out to a local North Carolina real estate agent to get the process started. We recommend interviewing multiple candidates and coming prepared with a list of all your questions.

North Carolina housing market FAQs

Related housing resources

home buying

Buying a house in Raleigh, NC

The capital city of North Carolina is a popular area, with high home prices to match.

6 min read