January 30, 2026

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

Steady Sales, Healthier Supply, and Sustainable Price Growth Set the Stage for 2026 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —  According to data from Canopy MLS, home sales across the 16-county Charlotte region ended the year slightly higher than last year, with 43,361 total closings, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.9 percent. This marked the close of another challenging year, as buyers and sellers navigated mortgage rates that averaged 6.6 percent for much of 2025, slightly lower than in 2024, but still elevated. Overall, 2025 reflected a return of increased inventory and supply, contributing to greater market stability and moderate price growth, with several smaller markets across the region moving closer to balance. Data in this press release is sourced from Canopy MLS, a subsidiary corporation of the Canopy Realtor® Association, and reflects existing-home sales of single-family homes, condos, and townhomes only.

Pending sales, a forward-looking indicator, also showed improvement, with 43,426 homes going under contract in 2025, a 2.9 percent increase compared to 2024. This trend may help set the stage for a steadier and somewhat more encouraging outlook this spring, as the Charlotte market continues to show positive signs. Nationally, however, declining contract activity has tempered. The National Association of Realtors® 2026 outlook, with NAR Chief Economist, Dr. Lawrence Yun, notes “The housing sector is not out of the woods yet, even after several months of encouraging signs in pending contracts and closed sales activity.”

Joan B. Goode, 2026 President of Canopy MLS, said, “Even amid last year’s slower sales environment, the Charlotte region continued to outperform national trends. “Both closed sales and contract activity remained stronger than the prior year, while sellers continued to bring steady supply to the market. These balanced conditions signal a market that is normalizing in a healthy way, creating greater opportunity, stability, and confidence for both buyers and sellers as we move forward.” 

To further underscore the promise of Charlotte’s outlook, new listing activity across the region rose 7.1 percent year-over-year, with more than 59,000 homes listed for sale in 2025 and nearly 10,000 homes on the market as of Jan. 6, 2026. Additionally, pricing conditions remained stable across the region, with the median sales price holding at $399,990, up 2 percent from the 2024 median, reflecting steady appreciation amid improving supply and balance.  

Sales in December 2025

A closer look at December data shows that closed sales increased 3 percent year-over-year, with 3,458 homes sold compared to December 2024. Pending sales, a key indicator of buyer demand, totaled 2,523 contracts and were essentially on par with last year (+0.6%). Seller activity moderated slightly, as new listings dipped 0.8 percent year-over-year, with just over 2,700 homes coming on the market during the month.

Showing activity also reflected more typical seasonal patterns. Total showings in December reached 29,465, up just 0.3 percent from December 2024. However, listings across the Charlotte MSA averaged 3.3 showings per listing, down 8.3 percent year-over-year, further signaling a return to more normalized, winter-seasonal trends.

On an annual basis, listings across the MSA received an average of 12 showings before going under contract, down 7.7 percent compared to 2024. The cities and towns with the highest average number of showings per listing in 2025, which represents buyer foot traffic or interest, included Matthews (13.5), Kannapolis (13.2), and Waxhaw (12.5), followed by Rock Hill (12.4), Concord (12.2), and the city of Charlotte, Fort Mill and Lake Wylie rounded out the list, averaging 11.6 showings per listing last year.

Inventory and supply increased over the course of 2025, providing buyers with more choice, greater flexibility, and a less competitive environment. At report time (Jan. 6, 2026), inventory rose 15.8 percent year-over-year to approximately 10,000 homes, while months of supply increased 12 percent to 2.8 months. However, stronger sales activity in the fourth quarter pushed both metrics lower on a month-over-month basis. Compared to November 2025, December inventory declined 11.6 percent, while supply remained unchanged at 2.8 months, still indicating a market that remains favorable to sellers as 2026 begins.

“The data here at year-end reflects a market settling into more traditional seasonal patterns while maintaining solid fundamentals,” said Goode. “Buyer demand remained steady, sales continued to outpace last year, and inventory levels improved over the course of 2025, giving buyers more choice without tipping the market out of balance. While activity naturally slowed at the end of the year, the consistency we’re seeing across sales, showings, and supply points to a healthier, more sustainable market heading into the spring buying season.”

A Look at Prices
Year-end data shows prices remained steady throughout 2025. The median sales price, a key measure of long-term pricing trends, increased 2 percent year-over-year to $399,990, while the average sales price rose 3.3 percent compared to 2024, ending the year at $509,538.

When examining prices by property type, Canopy MLS data shows single-family home median prices reached $415,000, up 3.7 percent year-over-year, a pace widely viewed as healthy and sustainable. In contrast, condo-townhome median prices dipped 2.8 percent from last year to $345,000, reflecting softer price pressure in the attached-home segment. For all of 2025, homes sold at an average of 95.7 percent of their original list price, down slightly (1 percent) from 2024, yet still indicating conditions that remain favorable to sellers. By property type, single-family homes sold for 95.6 percent of asking price, while condo-townhome properties sold for 95.9 percent.

Price trends in December mirrored this overall stability. The median sales price increased 3.9 percent year-over-year to $400,000, while the average sales price rose 7.7 percent to $512,430. The average list price also climbed 3.3 percent in December to $475,427. Sellers, on average, received 94.3 percent of their original list price during the month, slipping by less than one percentage point and remaining consistent with seasonal market conditions.

Sales by Price Range in 2025
In 2025, closed sales by price range across the region show that homes priced at $500,000 and above accounted for the largest share of transactions, with 13,988 sales, an increase of 9.4 percent compared to 2024. Homes priced between $300,000 and $400,000 represented the second-highest level of sales, totaling 10,964 closings, and were nearly unchanged from activity in this price range last year. Affordability remains a key factor in the market, as reflected by the 8,200 homes sold in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. Meanwhile, homes priced between $400,000 and $500,000 accounted for nearly 7,300 closed sales in 2025.

A breakdown of sales by property type further illustrates market dynamics. The region recorded 36,165 single-family home sales in 2025, up 3.7 percent year-over-year. Townhome sales totaled 5,571, representing a 1.8 percent increase compared to 2024, while condominium sales declined to 1,625 transactions, down 8.3 percent from the prior year.

“The Charlotte region’s pricing trends reflect a market that is stabilizing”, said Goode. “Home prices across the region remained steady throughout 2025, with moderate, sustainable appreciation that points to a healthier market overall. At the same time, sales activity continues to be concentrated at higher price points, while entry-level segments remain more constrained, underscoring the ongoing affordability challenges many buyers face. Even so, the consistency we’re seeing in pricing, combined with improved supply, suggests the market is moving toward long-term stability this year.”

Year-end figures show homes spent more time on the market compared to recent years, signaling a shift toward more typical sales pacing. The average number of days from listing to closing (List-to-Close) increased 10.3 percent year-over-year to 96 days, up from 87 days in 2024. Meanwhile, the Days on Market metric, which includes both active and under-contract listings, averaged 51 days before sale, compared to 39 days in 2024, representing a 30.8 percent year-over-year increase. Together, these trends point to a market that is normalizing and returning to the more balanced pace experienced prior to the pandemic.

Looking at days on market by price range further highlights these dynamics. Homes priced between $300,000 and $400,000 recorded the longest average market time at 52 days until sale. Properties priced below $300,000 sold the fastest, averaging 48 days on market, while homes priced at $500,000 and above averaged 51 days on market in 2025.

Mecklenburg County home sales, accounting for nearly 35 percent of total regional activity, remained steady in 2025, with 15,406 homes sold, essentially flat compared to 2024 (+0.5%). Contract activity mirrored this trend, as 15,396 homes went under contract during the year, representing a 1 percent increase over 2024. Seller confidence strengthened throughout the year, with new listing activity rising 6.7 percent year-over-year, as 20,611 homes were brought to market.

Despite increased listing activity, inventory and supply remained constrained. Mecklenburg County ended the year with approximately 3,000 homes for sale and just 2.3 months of supply, levels that remain critically low. With buyer demand holding steady, prices continued to edge higher. The median sales price increased 1.6 percent year-over-year to $452,000, while the average sales price rose 3.1 percent to $611,220. Sellers received an average of 96.6 percent of their original list price in 2025, and homes spent an average of 56 days on the market before selling, compared to 49 days in 2024.

December sales activity within the city of Charlotte reflected a return to more typical seasonal patterns. Closed sales declined 4 percent year-over-year to 939 homes sold, while contract activity decreased 7.2 percent, with 660 homes going under contract during the month. New listings also dipped 2.5 percent year-over-year, with nearly 700 homes listed. Although inventory and months of supply increased 18.5 percent and 20 percent, respectively, the city’s market remained tight at 2.4 months of supply—below both Mecklenburg County and regional levels—placing continued upward pressure on prices.

As a result, December pricing showed notable gains. The median sales price rose 6.5 percent year-over-year to $426,000, while the average sales price increased 11.4 percent to $594,158. The average list price climbed 7.5 percent to $508,201, and the original list price-to-sales price ratio held steady at 95.1 percent. Homes averaged 55 days on market in December, up 14.6 percent from 48 days a year earlier. For the full year, the city of Charlotte posted a median sales price of $425,900, a modest 2.1 percent increase over 2024, while the average sales price rose 3.4 percent year-over-year to $590,900.

Canopy Realtor^® Association provides monthly reports on residential real estate market activity for the Charlotte region based on data from Canopy MLS. The Charlotte region, which this report is based on, includes 12 counties in North Carolina (Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union) and four counties in South Carolina (Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster, and York).

For more residential-housing market statistics, visit www.CarolinaHome.com and click on “Market Data.” For an interview with 2026 Association/Canopy MLS President Joan B. Goode, Realtor®/Broker with Dickens Mitchener, please contact Kim Walker.

Canopy Realtor® Association owns and operates Canopy MLS, the region’s primary source for accurate and timely property data in a multicounty service area including the Charlotte MSA, Asheville MSA and Catawba Valley region spanning across North Carolina and South Carolina to outside the Carolinas. Canopy MLS provides the latest technology, tools and analytics that Realtors® utilize to support consumers with their residential real estate transactions.