Quick answer: In September 2026, the Wilmington NC housing market’s median sale price was $464,779, up 3.3% year over year, and the typical home took 55 days to sell, 23 days longer than a year earlier (Redfin). Mortgage rates rose to 7.40% the week of October 8 (Freddie Mac), and North Carolina sat at 5.93 months of supply (NC REALTORS®).
This is the second post in my monthly series. If you missed it, last month’s update covered the August numbers. One honest note before we dig in: Redfin revises prior months as late closings are recorded, so a few August figures now read slightly differently than they did last month. Everything below is the September data as posted when I checked on October 13, 2026, with sources and dates attached.
The Wilmington NC housing market by the numbers
All figures below come from Redfin’s public market pages for the most recent month each page showed when I checked on October 13, 2026. Beach towns and smaller markets have small sample sizes, so single-month swings there can look bigger than they really are.
- Wilmington (city): median sale price $464,779, up 3.3% year over year; 55 median days on market (up 23 days); 494 homes sold (up 1.6%); sale-to-list ratio 97.2%; 37.7% of listings had a price drop (Redfin, September 2026).
- New Hanover County: median sale price $463,962, down 1.3%; 61 median days on market (up 27 days); 339 homes sold (flat, up 0.1%); sale-to-list ratio 97.8% (Redfin, September 2026).
- Leland: median sale price $399,810, up 3.8%; 79 median days on market (up 40 days); 296 homes sold (down 14.1%); sale-to-list ratio 98.3% (Redfin, September 2026).
- Hampstead: median sale price $394,509, down 20.7%; 103 median days on market (up 66 days); 83 homes sold (up 131.3%); sale-to-list ratio 98.0% (Redfin, September 2026). Hampstead’s closings more than doubled year over year; a shift in which homes happened to close can push a small market’s median down even while sales rise, so watch the trend rather than one month.
- Carolina Beach: median sale price $669,681, up 4.7%; 97 median days on market (up 31 days); 94 homes sold (up 8.6%); sale-to-list ratio 97.5% (Redfin, September 2026).
- Wrightsville Beach: median sale price $1,946,573, up 8.1%; 86 median days on market (up 53 days); 30 homes sold (up 32.5%); sale-to-list ratio 95.0% (Redfin, September 2026). With only 30 closings, one or two oceanfront sales can move that median a lot.
Two more data points for context. The Brunswick County Association of REALTORS® reported 573 homes sold in Brunswick County in August 2026, down 8.9% from August 2025, with a median sale price of $392,000 (essentially flat year over year), 784 new listings (down 5.5%), and 35 sales at $1 million or more. Year to date through August, Brunswick County closings were up 7.1% to 4,513 with a median of $387,334, up 4.2% (BCAR report released September 25, 2026). Statewide, NC REALTORS® put North Carolina at 5.93 months of supply in September 2026, with closed sales down 11% year over year, the median price up 0.7% to $370,000, and inventory up 3.5% (NC REALTORS® September 2026 NC Housing Report, published October 5, 2026).
What it means if you’re buying
- Rates are the story this month. The 30-year average moved from 6.95% in mid-September to 7.40% the week of October 8, 2026 (Freddie Mac). On a $400,000 loan, that difference is roughly $120 a month in principal and interest. If you’re pre-approved, ask your lender to re-run your numbers, and ask about seller-paid rate buydowns, which are a realistic request when homes are sitting 55 days.
- You still have time to think. Median days on market across Wilmington, Leland, Hampstead, and Carolina Beach ranged from 55 to 103 in September 2026 (Redfin). That’s room to see a home twice and run a full inspection. My buying a home in Wilmington guide walks through the due-diligence period.
- Budget the whole payment. With rates near 7.4%, taxes and insurance matter even more. Read my 2026 property tax and homeowners insurance cost posts before setting a ceiling, and the cost of living in Wilmington guide if you’re relocating.
- Compare towns, not just houses. Leland’s September median ($399,810) sat about $65,000 under Wilmington’s, and Brunswick County’s median was $392,000 (BCAR). If you’re weighing the river crossing, my Leland vs. Wilmington comparison covers commute, taxes, and the bridge question.
What it means if you’re selling
- Price to the last 60 days of comps. Wilmington prices are still up year over year, but 37.7% of September listings took a price drop (Redfin, September 2026). Homes that start at the number recent closings support tend to skip that step and draw the early showings.
- Plan for weeks, not days. A median of 55 days in Wilmington and 79 in Leland (Redfin, September 2026) means a well-priced home can still move quickly, but build a few weeks into your timeline, and more if you’re at the beach.
- Expect a little off asking, and expect rate help requests. Wilmington’s 97.2% sale-to-list ratio in September 2026 (Redfin) means a $500,000 list price typically closed near $486,000. With rates at 7.40%, expect buyers to ask for closing cost or rate buydown credits. Decide in advance how you’ll answer.
- Condition matters when buyers have choices. Pre-listing repairs, clean inspections, and honest disclosures are what I see moving homes right now. My selling a house in Wilmington guide has the full checklist.
Rates
Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% for the week of October 8, 2026, up from 7.28% the week before and 6.30% a year earlier. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.73%, up from 6.60% (Freddie Mac PMMS, October 8, 2026). That’s a national survey average; your quote depends on credit, down payment, loan type, and lender. Nobody can promise where rates go next, but if they stay above 7%, payment math will keep shaping what buyers can offer, which matters on both sides of the table.
Around town this month
- Cape Fear Memorial Bridge: a push for a federal re-look. On October 1, 2026, seven local environmental and community groups joined the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, and the Town of Leland in asking North Carolina’s congressional delegation to request a new review of the 135-foot clearance requirement that drives the replacement’s $1 billion-plus cost and likely tolls (WHQR, October 1, 2026; Port City Daily, October 1, 2026). NCDOT’s public comment period on the two replacement alternatives runs through October 15, 2026 (NCDOT, August 14, 2026). My bridge toll explainer has the background.
- Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement is under contract. NCDOT awarded the Phase 1 contract for the West Salisbury Street bridge over Lees Cut to Balfour Beatty for $8.67 million, with waterline relocation starting in October 2026 and a full closure of that span to follow once a date is set (NCDOT, September 30, 2026). The larger project replaces three spans on US 74 and US 76 over several years, with the Heide Trask drawbridge moving to on-the-hour openings once construction is active (WECT, October 2, 2026). If you’re comparing the beaches, start with Wrightsville Beach vs. Carolina Beach.
- Brunswick County’s year is still ahead of 2025. Even with a slower August, Brunswick County’s year-to-date closings were up 7.1% and sales volume was up 12.2% through August 2026 (BCAR, September 25, 2026). For the Pender County side of the map, my is Hampstead a good place to live guide covers the area and the bypass.
Want the numbers for your neighborhood or your house?
City-wide medians are a starting point, and Episode 004 with Tim Milam explains how to read them by price band and area. What your street is doing can be very different. Call or text Tabi at 910-983-8963, or send me a note, and I’ll pull the comps for your neighborhood.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wilmington NC housing market cooling in fall 2026?
The pace has slowed more than prices have. Wilmington’s median sale price was $464,779 in September 2026, up 3.3% from a year earlier, but median days on market was 55, about 23 days longer than in September 2025 (Redfin, September 2026). Statewide, NC REALTORS® put September 2026 at 5.93 months of supply, which it describes as balanced.
What is the median home price in Wilmington NC right now?
Redfin reported a median sale price of $464,779 for the city of Wilmington in September 2026, up 3.3% year over year. New Hanover County’s September 2026 median was $463,962 (Redfin). Brunswick County’s August 2026 median was $392,000 (Brunswick County Association of REALTORS®). Neighborhood medians vary widely.
How long do homes take to sell in Wilmington NC?
In September 2026, the median Wilmington home went under contract after 55 days on market, versus about 32 days a year earlier (Redfin, September 2026). Leland ran 79 days, Hampstead 103, Carolina Beach 97, and Wrightsville Beach 86 in the same month. Well-priced, well-prepared homes still tend to sell faster than the median.
What are mortgage rates in October 2026?
Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% for the week of October 8, 2026, up from 7.28% the week before and 6.30% a year earlier. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.73%. Your actual quote depends on credit, down payment, loan type, and lender.
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Figures reflect sources available as of October 13, 2026 and are for general information only; they are not a guarantee of value, a forecast, or an appraisal. Market data changes monthly and varies by neighborhood, price range, and property type. Please verify current figures with your agent or lender before making decisions.
Sources: Redfin, Wilmington NC housing market (September 2026); Redfin, New Hanover County (September 2026); Redfin, Leland (September 2026); Redfin, Hampstead (September 2026); Redfin, Carolina Beach (September 2026); Redfin, Wrightsville Beach (September 2026); Brunswick County Association of REALTORS®, August 2026 report (September 25, 2026); NC REALTORS® September 2026 NC Housing Report (October 5, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (week of October 8, 2026); WHQR (October 1, 2026); Port City Daily (October 1, 2026); NCDOT (August 14, 2026); NCDOT (September 30, 2026); WECT (October 2, 2026).
