March 23, 2026

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

Steady contract activity signals continued demand heading into the spring, while core markets remain competitive.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte region’s housing market in February reflected typical seasonal patterns, with closed sales declining 8.8 percent year-over-year to approximately 2,600 homes sold, consistent with activity levels seen during the slower winter selling season since February 2023. Month-over-month, however, closings rose 16.7 percent, signaling early momentum. Pending sales, or contract activity, remained steady and largely in line with last year, with 3,537 homes going under contract, up 4.2 percent from January and signaling stronger closed sales in the months ahead if transactions follow the typical 45–60 day closing timeline.

Despite rising energy costs and broader cost-of-living pressures brought on by rising global tensions at the end of February, buyers continued to respond to improving mortgage conditions. Thirty-year fixed rates averaged about 6.1 percent at the beginning of February and dipped as low as 5.87 percent by month’s end, providing an encouraging signal for housing activity in the months ahead. 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.

Showing Activity Highlights Market Hotspots

Showing activity across the MSA in February revealed total showings up 2.8 percent year-over-year and up 12.4 percent compared to January. Top areas reflecting steady buyer interest during the month were: Matthews, where listings averaged 6.1 showings per listing, followed by Waxhaw (5.8), City of Charlotte (5.3), Fort Mill, SC (5.1), Concord (5), Huntersville (4.9), and Rock Hill, SC (4.5).

Seller activity was essentially unchanged compared to last year, with new listings dipping just 0.2 percent as 4,531 homes were added to the market. Month-over-month, however, new listings rose 8.4 percent, contributing to continued growth in both inventory and overall supply. Inventory increased 14.7 percent year-over-year, pushing months of supply up 11.5 percent to 2.9 months.

Supply gains, however, are unfolding unevenly across the region. The largest increases in listings last month occurred in outlying county markets, where inventory is expanding faster, and conditions are moving closer to balance. While inventory remains higher than a year ago, months of supply have held relatively steady over the past several months, suggesting that new listings entering the market are being absorbed at a pace consistent with buyer demand. In contrast, core markets such as Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, and York counties continue to face tighter supply, keeping competition stronger in those areas.

Home prices saw modest appreciation, with the median sales price rising 1.3 percent year-over-year to $390,000, largely in line with last year’s levels, while the average sales price increased 2.1 percent to $483,300. Sellers continued to list with confidence, reflected in the average list price climbing 4.5 percent to $553,500. At the same time, buyers gained slightly more negotiating room as inventory expanded, with the percent of original list price received slipping from 95.9 percent to 95.0 percent.  

“February’s housing activity reflects a market settling into its typical seasonal rhythm,” said Joan B. Goode, 2026 president of Canopy MLS and a Realtor®/broker with Dickens Mitchener. “Buyer demand remains steady, mortgage rates improved as the month progressed, and inventory is gradually expanding. While core markets remain competitive, the increase in supply is giving some buyers more time and negotiating flexibility as we move closer to the spring market, even as home prices continue to show stable year-over-year growth.”

Time on market reflected typical seasonal dynamics. List to Close, which measures the total number of days a home is on market from listing date to close date, increased 11.9 percent to 113 days, while days on market, which accrues for “Active” and “Under Contract-Show statuses, increased 23.6 percent to 68 days on market compared to 55 days a year ago. 

See Feb 2026 data for 30+ communities

Mecklenburg County’s housing market in February showed steady listing activity alongside modest price growth and expanding inventory. New listings increased 7.0 percent year-over-year to 1,708 homes, while pending sales held relatively steady, inching up 0.2 percent to 1,266 contracts, indicating buyer demand remained stable despite seasonal slowdowns. Closed sales declined 6.8 percent to 940 transactions, reflecting contract activity from late 2025. Home prices continued to rise modestly, with the median sales price increasing 1.3 percent to $440,500 and the average sales price edging up 0.5 percent to $562,847. Sellers remained confident, with the average list price rising 3.1 percent to $656,353. However, as inventory expanded, buyers gained slightly more negotiating room, reflected in the percent of original list price received dipping to 95.4 percent. Market conditions continued to normalize as inventory expanded 15.6 percent to 3,191 homes for sale, pushing months of supply up to 2.5 months. While supply is gradually improving, the pace of growth has moderated in recent months, suggesting buyer demand continues to absorb much of the inventory entering the market.

“With the spring approaching, preparation will be key for both buyers and sellers, especially in the core markets of Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte, where inventory is tighter,” said Goode, “Buyers should be decisive and ready to move quickly, while sellers who price strategically will have fewer price cuts while attracting strong demand.”

The City of Charlotte reflected similar trends with new listings increasing 11.3 percent to 1,428 homes in February, while pending sales rose modestly by 1.2 percent to 1,020 contracts, indicating steady buyer demand. Closed sales declined 5.5 percent to 756 transactions. Home prices continued to rise modestly, with the median sales price increasing 2.3 percent to $420,000 and the average sales price up 1.1 percent to $541,397. The average list price climbed 4.9 percent to $631,068, while the percent of original list price received dipped slightly to 95.3 percent. Inventory expanded 16.1 percent to 2,640 homes, pushing months of supply up to 2.6 months. Homes also took longer to sell, with days on market increasing 41.7 percent to 68 days, reflecting improving supply and a market gradually moving toward more balanced conditions.

Canopy Realtor^® Association provides monthly reports on residential real estate market activity for the Charlotte region, representing 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, timely property data across a multi-county service area spanning North Carolina and South Carolina, including the Charlotte, Asheville, and Hickory-Lenoir MSAs. With more than 21,000 subscribers, Canopy MLS delivers comprehensive property data and innovative tools that support residential real estate transactions, from buying and selling to investing and renting.