New Hanover County’s October 2026 housing numbers tell a two-track story: fewer sales than a year earlier, but a higher middle sale price. According to the Buddy Blake Real Estate Team New Hanover County October 2026 market report (published Nov. 3, 2026), 300 homes sold at a middle price of $500,000—sales down 13.8% from 348 a year earlier, while the middle price rose 7.2% from $466,250.
If you are buying or selling in Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Ogden, Pleasure Island, or the Wrightsville approaches, those countywide figures are a useful backdrop—not a substitute for neighborhood comps. The report is computed from Hive MLS records and notes information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
October 2026 Snapshot
From the Buddy Blake October 2026 New Hanover report:
- 300 homes sold (down 13.8% year over year from 348)
- $500,000 middle (median) sale price (up 7.2% from $466,250)
- $266 per square foot middle
- 39 days on market middle
- 95.8% of first asking price; 22 sold above asking
- 4.5 months of supply; 1,335 for sale and 396 under contract as of report writing
- 478 new listings during the month
- New construction was 13.3% of sales
In plain language: fewer closings than last October, but the middle sale still moved higher, and well-priced homes still found buyers—sometimes above ask.
Busiest Neighborhoods in October
The same report lists these busiest neighborhoods by sales count (middle prices as published):
- Riverlights — 11 sales @ $520,965
- Sidbury Station (Castle Hayne) — 7 @ $350,000
- Scotts Hill Village — 5 @ $629,645
- River Bluffs (Castle Hayne) — 4 @ $750,000
- East and Mason — 4 @ $985,000
- Riverlights Del Webb — 4 @ $517,500
- Anchors Bend — 3 @ $549,500
- Arrondale — 3 @ $385,000
Activity clustered across master-planned Wilmington communities, Castle Hayne options, and a few higher-priced pocket sales. That mix matters if your search or listing sits near those nodes—or far from them.
What Buyers Should Do With This
Do not wait for a collapse that the data does not show. Sales volume cooled versus last year, but the middle price rose and months of supply sit around 4.5—not a flood of inventory by typical local standards.
Use negotiation room carefully. Sellers received 95.8% of first asking on average, and 22 homes cleared above ask. That suggests room exists on some listings—and almost none on others that are priced and presented well.
Watch new construction share. At 13.3% of October sales, builders remain part of the choice set. Compare incentives, HOA dues, and completion timelines against resale condition rather than assuming resale always wins on price.
Neighborhood still beats county median. A Castle Hayne buyer looking near Sidbury Station is not shopping East and Mason. Pull street-level comps.
What Sellers Should Do With This
Price to the current buyer pool. With 4.5 months of supply and a 39-day middle DOM, overpricing can quietly age a listing while fresher inventory arrives (478 new listings in October alone).
First ask still matters. Hitting near 95.8% of first asking on average is not the same as every home selling at list. Clean presentation, accurate condition disclosures, and a realistic first price still separate quick offers from long sits.
Do not lean on last October’s volume story alone. Fewer sales year over year can mean a pickier audience—not weaker prices everywhere. Your competition is today’s actives in your price band.
Reading County Data Across Submarkets
Wilmington proper, Castle Hayne, Ogden, Pleasure Island, and Wrightsville-adjacent pockets can move differently inside the same county total. Use the Buddy Blake county report as the monthly scoreboard, then ask for:
- Recent closed sales within a tight radius and similar beds/baths
- Active competition and days on market for those comps
- New-construction alternatives a buyer will tour the same weekend
- Insurance and flood questions specific to the address—not the county average
FAQ
How many homes sold in New Hanover County in October 2026?
300, according to the Buddy Blake report published Nov. 3, 2026—down 13.8% from 348 a year earlier.
What was the median sale price?
$500,000 middle sale price, up 7.2% from $466,250, with about $266 per square foot middle.
Is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?
4.5 months of supply and a 39-day middle DOM point to a more balanced feel than the frantic years—but well-priced homes still sold, including 22 above ask. Local comps decide which side of the table you are on.
Are these numbers guaranteed?
No. The report is based on Hive MLS records and states information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Later closings can change monthly tallies.
Talk With a Local Team
Want October’s New Hanover numbers translated to your Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Ogden, or Pleasure Island address? Contact Aspyre Collective—we will pair county data with neighborhood comps so your next move matches the market you are actually in.
