North Carolina Housing Market Update | February 2026

Leland, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Charlotte & Cary Real Estate Trends

If you’re researching the North Carolina housing market in 2026, you’ll quickly realize something important:

There is no “one” NC market.

Leland behaves differently than Charlotte. Cary doesn’t move like Fayetteville. And Wilmington’s coastal demand creates its own rhythm.

Below is a city-by-city breakdown of median home prices, days on market, year-over-year trends, negotiation leverage, and whether each area is currently a buyer’s or seller’s market.

🏡 Leland, NC Housing Market 2026

Median Home Price: Approximately $375,000, with modest year-over-year growth around 2–3%.

Days on Market: Homes are averaging 80+ days on market, noticeably longer than during peak seller conditions.

Year-Over-Year Price Trend: Prices are holding steady with slight appreciation, but growth has clearly slowed.

Are Homes Selling Over or Under List Price? The sale-to-list ratio is around 99%, meaning many homes are selling at or slightly below asking price.

Buyer or Seller Market? ⚖️ Leland is trending balanced to buyer-leaning. Buyers have more room to negotiate than they did in 2021–2022, especially when homes are priced aggressively.

🌊 Wilmington, NC Housing Market 2026

Median Home Price: Roughly $410,000–$458,000, depending on property type and neighborhood.

Days on Market: Homes are averaging 40–75 days, up from prior years.

Year-Over-Year Price Trend: Prices are still appreciating modestly, but the pace has slowed compared to peak pandemic demand.

Are Homes Selling Over or Under List Price? Sale-to-list ratios hover around 98%, meaning fewer bidding wars and more negotiation room.

Buyer or Seller Market? ⚖️ Wilmington is currently a balanced market. Demand remains strong due to coastal appeal, but buyers now have options and time to evaluate.

🎖 Fayetteville, NC Housing Market 2026

Median Home Price: Around $220,000–$230,000, making it one of the more affordable housing markets in North Carolina.

Days on Market: Homes average 43–48 days, indicating steady activity.

Year-Over-Year Price Trend: Prices are essentially flat, with very modest movement up or down.

Are Homes Selling Over or Under List Price? Approximately 25% sell above list price, while nearly half sell below asking — outcomes vary based on condition and pricing strategy.

Buyer or Seller Market? ⚖️ Fayetteville is a stable, balanced market. It remains attractive for first-time homebuyers and military relocation due to affordability.

🏙 Charlotte, NC Housing Market 2026

Median Home Price: Approximately $425,000, with around 6% year-over-year appreciation.

Days on Market: Homes are averaging 50–55 days, slower than peak frenzy years but still active.

Year-Over-Year Price Trend: Charlotte continues to see steady growth supported by job expansion and population growth.

Are Homes Selling Over or Under List Price? The average sale-to-list ratio is around 98%, meaning homes generally sell close to asking.

Buyer or Seller Market? ⚖️ Charlotte is balanced, slightly leaning toward buyers as inventory improves. Buyers have more negotiating power than in previous years, but well-priced homes still move.

🌳 Cary, NC Housing Market 2026

Median Home Price: Approximately $550,000+, making it one of the higher-priced markets in the Triangle area.

Days on Market: Homes average 45–50 days, relatively quick compared to many NC cities.

Year-Over-Year Price Trend: Cary has experienced price softening in some segments, particularly at higher price points.

Are Homes Selling Over or Under List Price? A majority of homes are selling at or below list price, with fewer competitive bidding wars than prior years.

Buyer or Seller Market? ⚖️ Cary is currently balanced to buyer-leaning, especially in luxury and upper-middle price brackets.

📊 North Carolina Housing Market Trends 2026 – Big Picture

Across Leland, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Charlotte, and Cary, we’re seeing consistent statewide themes:

✔️ Homes are sitting longer

✔️ Inventory levels are improving

✔️ Fewer bidding wars

✔️ More homes selling at or below list price

✔️ Price growth slowing — not collapsing

This is not a crash.

It’s a normalization.

For buyers, that means strategy matters more than speed.

For sellers, pricing correctly is critical.

If you’re researching the North Carolina housing market in 2026, the key takeaway is this:

Your city, price range, and financing plan will determine your opportunity — not the headlines.

And in this market, informed buyers win. Click here to get informed!