Charlotte housing market: Everything you need to know
Charlotte homebuyers and sellers both have reason to be hopeful.
The North Carolina housing market is pretty competitive. The median home sales price in March 2024 has increased in the past 3 months to $368,300. That’s up 4.7% and $16,400 higher than March 2023 of last year. That is higher than the national median home sales price of $420,321. Homes typically sell after 41 days on market, which is slower than the national average and lower than 43 days in March 2023 a year prior.
The median home price in North Carolina was $368,300 in March 2024, up 4.7% from last year.
The real estate market in North Carolina had 28,810 homes for sale in March and is up from 26815 homes for sale the month prior and up from 23,999 homes in March 2023.
There were 12316 homes sold in March 2024, trending down from 13402 homes sold a year ago.
Homes in North Carolina are staying on the market for 41 days. That’s 2 days faster than the median in March 2023, which means that the market is more competitive today.
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 7.2%, making the average house payment $2,499, which is $342 higher than a year before.
Total months of housing supply available for sale is 2.3 months, up 21.1% from 1.9 month(s) in March 2023.
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 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.
Home values have increased by 4.6% since last year, and the number of days it takes to sell a home has decreased from 46 days in March 2023 to 41 days in March 2024.
The best time to sell your home in North Carolina is in June, 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 $22,098 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.
Homes in North Carolina have a median price of $368,300, which means you’ll need $36,830 for a 10% down payment. Housing costs have increased 4.6% 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 the down payment of $36,830 you should have $14,732 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% cheaper than South Carolina and 14.1% cheaper than the state median home value.
The North Carolina real estate market has a median sale price of $368,300, which is 14.1% lower than the national median sale price of $420,321. Compare other markets or nearby cities, as they can vary significantly.
North Carolina | South Carolina | National |
---|---|---|
Median home sale | Median home sale | Median home sale |
$368,300 | $370,100 | $420,321 |
Days on market | Days on market | Days on market |
41 | 66 | 40 |
Monthly house payment | Monthly house payment | Monthly house payment |
$2,577 | $2,552 | $2,567 |
Cost to buy a house | Cost to buy a house | Cost to buy a house |
$51,562 | $51,814 | $58,845 |
Cost to sell a house | Cost to sell a house | Cost to sell a house |
$25,781 | $25,907 | $29,422 |
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.
Charlotte housing market: Everything you need to know
Charlotte homebuyers and sellers both have reason to be hopeful.
Buying a house in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is a competitive market for homebuyers.
Sell your home fast in Charlotte
Home prices in Charlotte are on the decline.
Sell your home fast in Raleigh, NC
Homes in North Carolina’s capital are taking longer to sell than they did last year.
The capital city of North Carolina is a popular area, with high home prices to match.
Raleigh housing market: Everything you need to know
This capital city has a booming population and a real estate market to match.