May 22, 2026
Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Region housing market gained additional momentum in April as more homeowners entered the market and buyer activity accelerated. Higher listing activity and stronger contract and closing totals point to a healthy spring market, while home prices remained stable and inventory levels continued to provide buyers with more options than in recent years. 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.

Seller activity led the market in April. New listings rose 5.6 percent year-over-year to 599 properties and increased 9.1 percent compared to March, adding fresh inventory just as the spring market reached full speed. Three of the region’s four counties posted year-over-year increases in new listings, with Alexander County as the only market to record a decline.

Inventory of homes for sale increased 3.0 percent from one year ago to 1,186 homes and up 5.8 percent from March’s total. Months supply of inventory measured 3.3 months, down slightly from 3.4 months last month. New construction accounted for 29 percent of all properties listed on Canopy MLS. Buyers now have significantly more options than they did during the highly competitive inventory shortages of recent years.

Pricing remained remarkably steady despite the increase in available homes. The median sales price edged down just 0.6 percent year-over-year and 6.1 percent from March to $298,195. The average list price climbed 8.0 percent to $445,272, suggesting sellers remain confident in the region’s long-term housing fundamentals even as buyers become more selective and price-conscious. The average sales price dipped 3.1 percent annually and down 9 percent from the previous month, landing at $356,363.

“April reflected the kind of steady progress that is encouraging for both buyers and sellers,” said Natalie Armstrong, Realtor®/broker with Coldwell Banker, Boyd & Hassell, and 2026 president of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors®. “More homeowners chose to list their properties, buyers remained active, and home prices held firm. That combination points to a market that is expanding in a healthy and sustainable way.”

Buyer demand also strengthened. Pending sales increased 9.0 percent year-over-year to 437 contracts and rose 7.6 percent compared to March, signaling continued activity in the coming months. Closed sales totaled 365 transactions, an 11.6 percent increase over April 2025 and a 12 percent increase over March. These gains suggest buyers are adapting to mortgage rates that remain elevated but generally consistent with the range seen over the past year.

Homes took an average of 61 days to go under contract, up 5.2 percent from last year but down from 70 days in March. Sellers received 94.7 percent of original list price, slightly below last year but still indicative of strong pricing performance. Buyers are gaining more room to negotiate, but well-priced homes in desirable locations continue to attract solid interest.

Armstrong added, “In a market with more choices and more nuanced negotiations, a trusted Realtor® helps consumers understand pricing, evaluate opportunities, and make informed decisions that align with their goals.”

Showing activity confirmed that buyer demand remained healthy throughout the region. A total of 5,704 showings were recorded in April, up 7.7 percent from the same month last year, with an average of 3.8 showings per listing. Newton posted the highest buyer interest at 4.9 showings per listing, followed by Hickory at 4.5. Catawba County experienced 4.3 showings per listing, Caldwell County saw 4.0, followed by Alexander County and Burke County with 3.1 and 2.9 showings per listing. These figures demonstrate that competitively priced homes continue to attract substantial buyer attention.

A closer look at sales across the four counties:
(Due to smaller sample sizes in counties where there is a smaller pool of listings, percentage increases or decreases may seem extreme)

Alexander County recorded 34 new listings, down 24.4 percent year-over-year. Pending sales increased 3.1 percent to 33 transactions, while closed sales declined 20.7 percent to 23. The median sales price decreased 11.9 percent to $275,000, and the average sales price fell 28.3 percent to $301,165. Sellers received 94.3 percent of original list price, down 1.4 percent. Homes averaged 24 days on market, down 58.6 percent. The average list price rose 38.4 percent to $522,214. Inventory totaled 65 homes, down 16.7 percent, representing a 2.6-month supply of homes.

Burke County posted 100 new listings, up 3.1 percent year-over-year. Pending sales declined 10.7 percent to 67 transactions, and closed sales decreased 5.5 percent to 69. The median sales price increased 6.0 percent to $264,900, while the average sales price rose 12.7 percent to $319,304. Sellers received 94.8 percent of original list price, up 0.6 percent. Homes averaged 69 days on market, up 19.0 percent. The average list price increased 12.6 percent to $471,883. Inventory rose 3.0 percent to 238 homes, representing a 3.9-month supply.

Caldwell County saw one of the strongest performances in the region with 126 new listings, up 28.6 percent year-over-year. Pending sales rose 13.8 percent to 91 transactions, while closed sales jumped 31.0 percent to 76. The median sales price increased 2.3 percent to $275,000, and the average sales price rose 4.1 percent to $322,288. Sellers received 94.4 percent of original list price, down 1.8 percent. Homes averaged 68 days on market, up 51.1 percent. The average list price increased 8.4 percent to $413,967. Inventory totaled 207 homes, up 5.6 percent, representing a 3.0-month supply.

Catawba County, the region’s largest market, recorded 339 new listings, up 3.7 percent year-over-year. Pending sales increased 15.0 percent to 246 transactions, and closed sales rose 18.0 percent to 197. The median sales price climbed 5.7 percent to $333,000, while the average sales price decreased 6.5 percent to $388,933. Sellers received 94.8 percent of original list price, down 0.1 percent. Homes averaged 60 days on market, down 3.2 percent. The average list price increased 4.1 percent to $441,789. Inventory rose 4.5 percent to 676 homes, representing a 3.3-month supply.

*Data Note: Canopy MLS is the primary source for existing-home sales data. Because builders are not required to list new construction in the MLS, MLS data reflects only a small portion of the overall new construction market. For a comprehensive view of new construction activity in the Hickory-Lenoir MSA, please visit FoothillsHBA.com.

For more residential-housing market statistics, visit www.CarolinaHome.com and click on “Market Data.” For an interview with the 2026 president of Catawba Valley Association of REALTORS®, Natalie Armstrong, Realtor®/Broker at Coldwell Banker Boyd & Hassell, 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 the Hickory-Lenoir MSA spanning across North Carolina and South Carolina to outside the Carolinas. Canopy MLS provides the latest technology, tools, and analytics that real estate licensees utilize to support consumers with their residential real estate transactions.