Could this be the long awaited buyers advantage in Brunswick County real estate?
Our coastal market follows the national trends, particulary the North East as we are 2nd home and retirement destination. Majority of our buyers come here as a choice not a necessity so the market elsewhere determines our local demands.
National news with a fresh labor market data and a jump in housing inventory offer new hope to prospective buyers, even as high mortgage rates continue to weigh on affordability. The latest Realtor.com report suggests the shift in the housing market is favoring buyers again, first in quite a long time.
A confluence of factors—including more homes for sale, rising price cuts, and slower-moving inventory—is giving buyers more leverage than they’ve had in years, according to the June 2025 housing report from Realtor.com®. There are an estimated 1.9 million homes for sale across the country, but only about 1.5 million active homebuyers. That leaves a gap of nearly 500,000 — the largest on record, according to Redfin. If the tables are turning in the U.S. housing market, at this time buyers are calling the shots.
The number of homes for sale has now increased for 20 consecutive months, reaching a post-pandemic high, according to Realtor.com data. The increased inventory has helped to extend time on the market and push more sellers to cut prices—both favorable trends for buyers. For the first time since the pandemic, a growing number of sellers are no longer actively trying to off load their homes. As opposed to slashing the list price to attract buyers, some sellers are taking their properties off the market altogether.
Are you wondering if now is the best time to sell your home? National real estate expert forecasts say prices could dip by about 1% by the end of 2025. Our local inventory is up, sellers are more open to offers, and buyers have more leeway to negotiate. The hottest housing markets continue to be concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest, which means buyers in those regions still face competition. As those that are the seasoned sellers prepare for their new choice relocation to our coastal area they will be expecting to negotiate and move fast. Brunswick county’s residential real estate market has fortunatly proven resilient, and our numbers continue to show strong results. So, you should keep all of these factors in mind if you’re considering putting your house on the market. Be smart by being competitive, you gain the most attention when first listed, do make it stand out.
Buyers and sellers please always remember to use a local area expert broker when entering our real estate market. In our complex and ever-changing neighborhoods, a market-savvy local guide with deep experience is an extremely valuable asset. Navigation without one will be a deficiency as you sail through these uncharted waters. Since the pandemic, our area steadily continues to gain attention in record-breaking numbers. It may seem to be trending toward a buyer’s market this summer, but we remain a ‘hot’ location and a consistently proven solid investment opportunity.
According to the Cape Fear Realtors of Brunswick County, the residential real estate market in Brunswick County continued its positive momentum through June. Infact, sales last month were the second-highest in a decade. Remember, life (and real estate) really is always better at the beach!
New Listings
June 2025: 731
June 2024: 724
Increase/Decrease: +1%
Units Sold
June 2025: 558
June 2024: 557
Increase/Decrease: +0.2%
Average Sales Price
June 2025: $521,568
June 2024: $445,709
Increase/Decrease: +17%
Total Sales Volume
June 2025: $291,034,700
June 2024: $248,259,701
Increase/Decrease: +17.2%
Mary's Gone Coastal 