The counties with the most homes selling under list price in North Carolina

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Counties with the most homes selling under list price in North Carolina

It's a tough time to be in the market for a new house. But as peak homebuying season begins, homebuyers are starting to have at least some negotiating power—especially in markets that recorded large price growth over the last few years.

The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November 2022, the highest level in more than a decade, as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rates to combat inflation. Today, rates remain at historic highs ; even half of a percentage point change can significantly affect the monthly payments required for a mortgage.

Since mortgage rates were under 4% for the better part of the past decade, many homebuyers locked in far more affordable rates than what's available in today's environment. And sellers aren't exactly coming down on price: Nationally, home prices are still increasing—just more slowly than they did during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nationally, the median home sale price in March was $420,321, 4.8% higher than the year before. In North Carolina, the median sale price was $368,300, while the average price difference was 1.36% below asking.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in North Carolina where homes typically sell below list price using data from Redfin .

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#30. Durham County

- Average price difference: 0.21% below list
-- Median list price: $449,000
-- Median sale price: $409,000
- Total homes sold: 356
-- Share that sold above list: 35.7%

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#29. Wake County

- Average price difference: 0.24% below list
-- Median list price: $488,250
-- Median sale price: $476,000
- Total homes sold: 1,346
-- Share that sold above list: 29.1%

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#28. Mecklenburg County

- Average price difference: 0.39% below list
-- Median list price: $448,000
-- Median sale price: $425,250
- Total homes sold: 1,396
-- Share that sold above list: 30.2%

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#27. Union County

- Average price difference: 0.47% below list
-- Median list price: $469,900
-- Median sale price: $434,759
- Total homes sold: 286
-- Share that sold above list: 27.6%

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#26. Franklin County

- Average price difference: 0.60% below list
-- Median list price: $401,764
-- Median sale price: $380,000
- Total homes sold: 119
-- Share that sold above list: 22.7%

Nikola Spasic Photography // Shutterstock

#25. Pitt County

- Average price difference: 0.61% below list
-- Median list price: $268,990
-- Median sale price: $264,815
- Total homes sold: 186
-- Share that sold above list: 26.9%

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#24. Pender County

- Average price difference: 0.69% below list
-- Median list price: $462,450
-- Median sale price: $399,000
- Total homes sold: 141
-- Share that sold above list: 22.0%

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#23. Johnston County

- Average price difference: 0.96% below list
-- Median list price: $368,999
-- Median sale price: $360,000
- Total homes sold: 347
-- Share that sold above list: 16.7%

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#22. Onslow County

- Average price difference: 0.97% below list
-- Median list price: $311,000
-- Median sale price: $280,000
- Total homes sold: 382
-- Share that sold above list: 21.2%

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#21. Moore County

- Average price difference: 0.98% below list
-- Median list price: $439,900
-- Median sale price: $455,000
- Total homes sold: 195
-- Share that sold above list: 22.1%

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#20. Forsyth County

- Average price difference: 1.03% below list
-- Median list price: $299,900
-- Median sale price: $306,000
- Total homes sold: 364
-- Share that sold above list: 28.8%

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#19. Harnett County

- Average price difference: 1.14% below list
-- Median list price: $334,995
-- Median sale price: $325,000
- Total homes sold: 241
-- Share that sold above list: 22.0%

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#18. Alamance County

- Average price difference: 1.22% below list
-- Median list price: $325,500
-- Median sale price: $329,000
- Total homes sold: 212
-- Share that sold above list: 18.9%

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#17. Guilford County

- Average price difference: 1.22% below list
-- Median list price: $323,900
-- Median sale price: $297,900
- Total homes sold: 558
-- Share that sold above list: 28.1%

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#16. Craven County

- Average price difference: 1.45% below list
-- Median list price: $315,000
-- Median sale price: $300,000
- Total homes sold: 149
-- Share that sold above list: 22.1%

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#15. Cabarrus County

- Average price difference: 1.48% below list
-- Median list price: $375,000
-- Median sale price: $385,000
- Total homes sold: 253
-- Share that sold above list: 24.9%

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#14. Henderson County

- Average price difference: 1.55% below list
-- Median list price: $469,535
-- Median sale price: $425,000
- Total homes sold: 139
-- Share that sold above list: 20.1%

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#13. Cumberland County

- Average price difference: 1.67% below list
-- Median list price: $239,900
-- Median sale price: $240,000
- Total homes sold: 417
-- Share that sold above list: 28.5%

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#12. Buncombe County

- Average price difference: 1.84% below list
-- Median list price: $550,000
-- Median sale price: $460,000
- Total homes sold: 283
-- Share that sold above list: 22.6%

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#11. Lincoln County

- Average price difference: 1.88% below list
-- Median list price: $436,450
-- Median sale price: $410,500
- Total homes sold: 114
-- Share that sold above list: 26.3%

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#10. Brunswick County

- Average price difference: 1.88% below list
-- Median list price: $392,480
-- Median sale price: $369,397
- Total homes sold: 544
-- Share that sold above list: 13.2%

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#9. Rowan County

- Average price difference: 1.91% below list
-- Median list price: $305,000
-- Median sale price: $277,500
- Total homes sold: 123
-- Share that sold above list: 22.0%

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#8. Gaston County

- Average price difference: 1.96% below list
-- Median list price: $331,450
-- Median sale price: $317,500
- Total homes sold: 305
-- Share that sold above list: 20.7%

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#7. Wayne County

- Average price difference: 1.99% below list
-- Median list price: $259,900
-- Median sale price: $249,900
- Total homes sold: 115
-- Share that sold above list: 24.3%

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#6. Davidson County

- Average price difference: 2.06% below list
-- Median list price: $288,995
-- Median sale price: $286,995
- Total homes sold: 230
-- Share that sold above list: 20.4%

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#5. New Hanover County

- Average price difference: 2.11% below list
-- Median list price: $489,000
-- Median sale price: $410,000
- Total homes sold: 359
-- Share that sold above list: 20.6%

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#4. Catawba County

- Average price difference: 2.15% below list
-- Median list price: $348,950
-- Median sale price: $316,999
- Total homes sold: 176
-- Share that sold above list: 24.4%

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#3. Dare County

- Average price difference: 2.20% below list
-- Median list price: $649,000
-- Median sale price: $564,950
- Total homes sold: 112
-- Share that sold above list: 16.1%

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#2. Iredell County

- Average price difference: 2.22% below list
-- Median list price: $417,000
-- Median sale price: $389,000
- Total homes sold: 291
-- Share that sold above list: 14.8%

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#1. Carteret County

- Average price difference: 2.53% below list
-- Median list price: $517,000
-- Median sale price: $485,500
- Total homes sold: 112
-- Share that sold above list: 20.5%

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 28 states.