FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wilmington MSA Housing Market Cools as Listings Surge
WILMINGTON, N.C. (June 13, 2025)
As active listings crossed into the 4,000-unit range, HiveMLS housing market data raises concerns for affordability across the Wilmington MSA. Active listings in the May 2025 market climbed to an all-time high of 4,206 active listings. A year-over-year comparison indicates active listings in May 2025 increased by 31.2 percent compared to the 3,205 active homes a year ago. This was a 7.5 percent increase when compared to the available inventory from the previous month. New listings for the Wilmington MSA totaled 1,667, a 1.4 percent decrease from the previous month. Year-over-year, the new listings increased by a total of 20.6 percent. Pending sales landed at 1,222, representing a 1.7 percent increase from April 2025. Month’s supply of inventory saw a 5.7 percent increase compared to April 2025. Ending the year with 3.9 months of inventory, the Wilmington MSA experienced a 38.2 percent increase compared to the 2.8 months of supply in May 2024.
Closed sales for the Wilmington MSA increased 1.9 percent compared to April 2025, leading to 1,086 sales in May 2025. Compared to May 2024, closed sales decreased 5.2 percent. The May 2025 housing market experienced an average of 67 cumulative days on the market, representing an 8.1 percent year-over-year increase. A month-over-month comparison reveals a 4.3 percent decrease in cumulative days on market. The median sales price remained unchanged from May 2024, at $425,000, representing a month-over-month increase of 6.3 percent.
“The Wilmington MSA housing market presses against the concerns of housing affordability. While the desirability of the Wilmington MSA remains unchanged, houses are staying on the market for much longer. There is a strong drive to sell right now, and that is not met with an equivalent drive to purchase. Whether the current population is finding it more difficult to afford homeownership or the transient nature of our area is experiencing a shift in ownership, it is evident that the steady pricing of units in the area is keeping more and more people away from the American Dream,” states 2025 CFR President Brittany Allen. “Cape Fear REALTORS® continues to monitor the local housing market. Active listings will inevitably exhibit a decrease in original listing pricing; however, the timing of a transition to a buyer’s market remains unknown. While we navigate the uncertainties of any market, it is essential to have the expertise of a REALTOR® who can guide you through the process.”
If you have plans to enter the market in 2025, we believe that the REALTOR® difference is crucial to your transaction. Cape Fear REALTORS® members are well equipped to guide a buyer or seller through the increase in active listings and slower sales. When looking to step into the demands of the housing market in the Cape Fear region, look for the R. That’s the REALTOR® difference.
Cape Fear REALTORS® continues to monitor the housing market activity and provide monthly updates. Working with an expert who keeps a watchful eye on trends and follows the Code of Ethics is important. That’s Who We R.