The area's residential real estate market exhibits some ongoing trends even as some slight shifts occur when it comes to mortgage rates and buyer profiles. As in previous years, the region's number of homes for sale – its inventory – has been increasing in 2026. The overall market seems to be balanced, industry leaders say, but they're keeping their eyes on buyer demographics and how mortgage rate changes might impact the market in years to come.
1. Inventory on the Rise
Realtors say housing inventory has been increasing in the Wilmington area. In January, the latest report from Cape Fear Realtors as of press deadline, active home sale listings rose 14% compared to January 2025. Manda Price, the 2026 president of CFR, said increases in inventory appear to be continuing. "We track them daily, and we're seeing the same trend right now," she said in February.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the nation's inventory of existing homes for sale rose 3.4% from January to the same month in 2025. While a variety of factors is likely driving inventory additions, life circumstances are probably major contributors, Price said.
2. Who Has the Power?
Balance is a good thing, residential real estate experts contend. Price said the Wilmington home sale market is moving closer to buyer-seller equilibrium after some years of hectic competition and rapid appreciation. "I think we're moving a little towards balanced, and you know, that's a good place to be for both parties," she said in February.
"You're seeing a little more seller concessions. You're seeing a little more negotiations on the close-to-sale price ratio. So, there are opportunities for buyers today that didn't quite exist in the same way during the COVID frenzy."
3. Buyer Profiles
In its buyer profile study released in November, the NAR found that the share of first-time homebuyers dropped to a low of 21%, while the typical age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40.
Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research, stated in a release, "The share of first-time buyers in the market has contracted by 50% since 2007 – right before the Great Recession. The implications for the housing market are staggering."
Locally, equity-rich baby boomers continue to make the lifestyle decision to move to the region. Price also pointed out that single women are starting to outpace single men in the profile of the first-time homebuyer.
4. Mortgage Rate Ups and Downs
In late February, national news outlets carried headlines about mortgage rates dipping below 6%, the lowest since 2022. Local Realtors warned that predicting the future impact of such mortgage news on the Wilmington-area market is impossible.
"Ideally, the reduction should bring out some more buyers who didn't qualify previously, especially when rates were 7%+," wrote the leaders of the Brunswick County Association of Realtors in February. "Having said that, we would need inventory to meet the demand should the buyer pool increase considerably, and it could."
"And at the end of the day, 5.98% is still considered a low interest rate for a mortgage when compared to the past 50 years of mortgage rates," the BCAR officials said.
5. Ongoing Outer Luxury
Higher-priced luxury sales are continuing to occur in nontraditional parts of the tri-county region of New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties. In Brunswick County, for example, the exclusive Bald Head Island community typically sees the highest-priced sales. But in January, of the 31 homes that sold for $1 million or more, the top eight in terms of prices were located in other areas, including the largest sale, which was a $4.5 million home in Ocean Isle Beach, according to BCAR's report.
