FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wilmington MSA Housing Market Experiences More Homes and Longer Wait Times
WILMINGTON, N.C. (September 17, 2025)
The Wilmington MSA housing market ended August 2025 with a steady increase in available homes and continued buyer activity, even as closed sales softened. Active listings in August 2025 decreased compared to July 2025, with inventory down 4.8 percent to 4,031. A year-over-year comparison indicates active listings in August 2025 increased by 16.5 percent compared to the 3,459 active homes a year ago. New listings for the Wilmington MSA dropped to 1,386, a 1.4 percent decrease from the previous month. Year-over-year, the new listings increased by a total of 8.3 percent. Pending sales remained unchanged from the previous month, totaling 1,244. This was a 17.6 percent increase from August 2024. The month’s supply of inventory increased by 4.6 percent compared to July 2025. Ending the month with 3.8 months of inventory, the Wilmington MSA experienced a 19.3 percent increase compared to the 3.2 months of supply in July 2024.
Closed sales for the Wilmington MSA decreased by 11.6 percent compared to July 2025, resulting in 1,022 sales in August 2025. Compared to August 2024, closed sales declined 5.3 percent. The August 2025 housing market experienced an average of 72 cumulative days on the market, representing a 24.1 percent year-over-year increase. A month-over-month comparison reveals a 4.3 percent increase in cumulative days on market. The median sales price rose to $425,000, a 2.2 percent increase from June 2024 and a month-over-month increase of 6.3 percent.
“As the Wilmington MSA Housing Market finds balance, it is marked by more inventory, stronger pending activity, slower closings, and longer selling times. Prices remain stable, giving both buyers and sellers a reason to stay engaged. Indicating the end of the summer, the market continues to stay active with a subtle anticipation that the cooler weather will also cool the market. With the Cumulative Days on Market surpassing two months, it is critical to get a head start with listing or purchasing a property,” states 2025 CFR President Brittany Allen. “The 2025 housing market has experienced stable activity through the end August. As the market is expected to slow down with the approach of fall and winter, working with a REALTOR® is essential. Despite August’s decline in closed sales, the Wilmington MSA is on track to outpace the number of closed sales from last year.”
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.