Market Updates Monthly: February 2026 – National and Coastal Carolina Trends
By Salt & Soil Realty
Market Updates Monthly brings together national housing data and local coastal Carolina trends so buyers and sellers can make informed decisions. Here's the February 2026 recap.
National Overview
Inventory Recovery Is Plateauing
Inventory grew for a 28th consecutive month year-over-year, but the pace of improvement has cooled. Active listings climbed 7.9% year-over-year in February, reaching 914,860 homes. Annual growth has slowed for nine straight months since peaking last spring. Nationally, housing supply remains 16.8% below typical 2017–2019 levels. New listings grew only 2.4% year-over-year, with storm damage disrupting activity in the Northeast.
Source: Realtor.com® February 2026 Monthly Housing Report
Mortgage Rates
Thirty-year fixed rates fell below 6% for the first time since September 2022, averaging 5.98% for the week ending February 26. Rates subsequently ticked back up to around 6% by early March. Geopolitical tensions at the end of February created concerns about rising inflation potentially reversing rate declines. Pending home sales increased 4.2% year-over-year in February—the largest annual gain since November 2024—likely supported by lower rates.
Sources: Realtor.com® February Report, HouseJet – February 2026 Market Wrap-Up
Pricing and Time on Market
The median list price fell 2.1% year-over-year to $403,450. Time on market increased to 70 days—4 days longer than a year ago—marking the 23rd straight month of slowing sales pace. Price reductions appeared on 15.5% of listings, down from 16.8% a year earlier. The market is shifting toward buyers as inventory climbs, though many sellers remain reluctant to move due to ultra-low mortgage rates.
Sources: Realtor.com®, Yahoo Finance, CNBC
Regional Differences
All four U.S. regions posted annual inventory gains, led by the West (+11.3%) and Midwest (+10.0%), followed by the South (+6.9%) and Northeast (+3.8%). Compared with pre-pandemic norms, inventory remained 56.8% lower in the Northeast and 39.5% lower in the Midwest. The South (-0.6%) and West (+1.1%) are roughly in line with 2017–2019 levels. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia saw 24.6% active listing growth and an 11.4% rise in new listings; Raleigh-Cary saw 15.2% active listing growth.
Source: Realtor.com® February 2026 Report
Local: Wilmington and Brunswick County
Wilmington
Wilmington experienced significant inventory growth in February 2026, with active listings reaching 1,520 properties—up 13.4% year-over-year. The absorption rate stood at 2.8 months, indicating a more balanced market tilting slightly toward buyers. Median list price was $458,000 (up 5.2% from February 2025). Average days on market rose to 37 days from 28, giving buyers more time to negotiate. Close-to-list ratio remained strong at 98.4%.
Sources: Homes and News – Wilmington Feb 2026, Homes and News – Wrapping Up February
Brunswick County
Brunswick County showed robust early-year activity with 367 January sales—the highest January figure in three years. New listings increased 15.4% to 736. Total sales volume jumped 17.2% to $181.1 million. Average sales price rose 2.2% to $493,504; median price remained stable at $375,729. Days on market averaged 87 days. Luxury sales remained strong with 31 homes selling for $1 million or more.
Sources: Brunswick County Association of Realtors – January 2026, Retire Coastal NC – January 2026 Update
Takeaways for Buyers and Sellers
Buyers: More inventory and slightly lower prices nationally. Get pre-approved, factor in insurance and flood costs for coastal properties, and move quickly on well-priced homes. See our home buyer guide.
Sellers: Price competitively from the start. Coastal markets remain active for well-maintained, accurately priced homes. See our seller guide.
Market Updates Monthly will return next month with March 2026 data. Contact us for a market-specific analysis in your area.