June 25, 2026
Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — May home sales across the four-county Asheville area (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison counties) reflected a spring market that remains active and competitive. A total of 592 homes closed in May, representing a 6.3 percent increase compared to May 2025 and a 2.1 percent gain over April. Buyer demand continued to strengthen, with pending sales, a leading indicator of future closings, surging 22.4 percent year over year as 728 properties went under contract during the month. Contract activity also increased 7.1 percent compared to April, signaling that buyers remained engaged despite mortgage rates averaging approximately 6.5 percent throughout May. Data in this report is provided by Canopy MLS, a subsidiary of the Canopy Realtor® Association, and reflects existing-home sales of single-family homes, condominiums, and townhomes only.

While buyer activity increased significantly, new listing activity moderated. Sellers introduced 1,165 homes to the market in May, a 6.7 percent decline compared to the same month last year and a 7.7 percent decrease from April. Even so, the region's inventory of homes for sale continued to expand, rising 3.2 percent year over year to 3,092 properties at report time. Months of supply, however, declined from six months in May 2025 to 5.4 months this past May, suggesting that the pace of buyer demand is absorbing available inventory faster than new listings are being added. Although buyers have more choices than a year ago, the market remains relatively balanced, with strong contract activity continuing to support overall sales momentum.  REALTOR®/Designated Managing Broker

"The strength of buyer demand in May is encouraging and reflects continued confidence in the Asheville region as a place to live, work, and invest," said Dave Noyes, a REALTOR®/Designated Managing Broker with eXp Realty and Canopy MLS Board of Director. "Buyers are adapting to today's mortgage rates and taking advantage of the increased inventory we've seen over the past year. Although fewer new listings came onto the market in May, homes continue to attract strong interest, which is helping maintain a healthy balance between supply and demand as we head into the summer months."

May Showing Activity
May showing activity across the 13-county mountain region continued to reflect healthy buyer engagement as the spring market moved toward summer. Buyer interest, measured by showings per listing, increased 22.7 percent year over year and 2.9 percent compared to April, while total showings rose 12.0 percent from a year ago and 3.4 percent month over month. Homes priced between $319,000 and $462,999 generated the strongest activity in the region, averaging 3.1 showings per listing, while Asheville and Hendersonville continued to lead the market in buyer engagement at 2.9 and 2.7 showings per listing, respectively. The sustained increase in showing activity reflects continued buyer demand across the region, particularly in the mid-price segment, even as inventory levels have expanded and buyers gained more choices.

Pricing Mixed in May
Home prices were mixed in May across the four-county Asheville MSA. The median sales price declined 3.2 percent year over year to $446,500, providing some relief for buyers, while the average sales price increased 2.7 percent to $573,215. Meanwhile, the average list price rose 15.5 percent compared to last May, reaching $718,512 and reflecting continued activity in the upper-end segments of the market. As buyers gained more negotiating power, the original list price-to-sales price ratio eased 1.4 percent year over year to 94.4 percent, suggesting sellers are becoming more flexible on pricing and concessions as market conditions continue to move toward greater balance.

A closer look at market activity by price range shows that buyer demand remains strongest in the middle of the market. Over the past 12 months, closed sales increased most significantly in the $200,001 to $300,000 (+18.4 percent) and $300,001 to $400,000 (+16.5 percent) price ranges, while sales also remained strong among homes priced above $700,000 (+11.2 percent). Inventory growth, however, has been concentrated at higher price points, with available homes rising 18.7 percent in the $700,001-and-above segment and 10.3 percent in the $600,001 to $700,000 range, providing buyers with more options in the luxury market.

By property type, single-family homes continued to drive overall market activity, with closed sales rising 9.9 percent year over year and inventory increasing 6.9 percent. Condo and townhome sales also posted gains, increasing 4.3 percent compared to last year, while inventory in that segment declined slightly. The combination of rising sales and stable-to-lower inventory suggests demand for attached housing remains steady as buyers continue to seek affordability and lower-maintenance ownership opportunities.

"As inventory continues to grow and buyers gain more options, we're seeing the Asheville market return to a healthier balance," said Noyes. "That doesn't mean homes aren't selling; they are, but sellers can no longer assume that simply listing a property will generate multiple offers. Pricing accurately from the start, preparing the home for market, and working with a knowledgeable Realtor® are more important than ever as buyers become more selective and take additional time to make purchasing decisions."

Time-on-market metrics also reflected a more balanced and typical spring market, giving buyers time to evaluate homes and negotiate terms at a healthy pace. List-to-close time, which measures the total number of days from listing to closing, increased 8.3 percent year-over-year to 104 days. Meanwhile, days on market rose 25.5 percent to 64 days, up from 51 days in May 2026. 

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Counties at a Glance

Buncombe County's housing market continued to move toward more balanced conditions in May, as strong buyer demand helped offset a slowdown in new listing activity. New listings declined 8.7 percent year over year to 641 homes, while pending sales surged 27.3 percent and closed sales increased 2.8 percent to 296 transactions, reflecting continued buyer engagement despite elevated mortgage rates and affordability challenges. Home prices remained relatively stable, with the median sales price easing 1.0 percent to $500,000 while the average sales price increased 6.7 percent to $656,761, reflecting ongoing activity in higher-priced market segments. Sellers received 94.2 percent of their original list price, down from 95.8 percent a year ago, as buyers gained additional negotiating leverage. Inventory expanded 5.1 percent to 1,663 homes, while months of supply declined from 6.3 to 5.6 months as strong contract activity absorbed available inventory. Homes also spent more time on the market, with days on market increasing 56.8 percent to 69 days, further reflecting a market that is normalizing and providing buyers with more time to evaluate their options.

Haywood County's housing market remained steady in May, as continued buyer demand helped absorb available inventory despite a decline in new listing activity. New listings fell 7.7 percent year over year to 181 homes, while pending sales increased 5.5 percent and closed sales rose 7.4 percent to 87 transactions, signaling ongoing buyer engagement despite affordability challenges and elevated mortgage rates. Home prices also showed modest growth, with the median sales price increasing 1.6 percent to $408,500 and the average sales price rising 1.3 percent to $463,783. Sellers received 93.7 percent of their original list price, down from 94.7 percent a year ago, reflecting a market that continues to favor more balanced negotiations. Inventory remained relatively unchanged, increasing just 0.8 percent to 508 homes, while months of supply declined from 6.4 to 5.6 months as buyer demand continued to absorb available inventory. Homes spent about the same amount of time on the market as a year ago, with days on market increasing slightly to 62 days, suggesting that well-priced homes continue to attract buyer interest while overall market conditions remain stable.

Henderson County's housing market remained active in May, as strong buyer demand helped drive increases in both pending and closed sales despite a decline in new listing activity. New listings fell 6.5 percent year over year to 289 homes, while pending sales rose 14.0 percent and closed sales increased 7.0 percent to 183 transactions, reflecting continued buyer engagement across the market. Home prices moderated during the month, with the median sales price declining 4.4 percent to $410,000 and the average sales price easing 0.5 percent to $508,860, providing some relief for buyers navigating affordability challenges. Sellers received 95.6 percent of their original list price, down slightly from 96.0 percent a year ago, indicating a modest increase in negotiating power for buyers. Inventory remained virtually unchanged at 769 homes, while months of supply declined from 5.2 to 4.6 months as strong contract activity absorbed available inventory. Homes also sold more quickly than they did a year ago, with days on market falling 17.2 percent to 48 days, suggesting that well-priced homes continue to attract buyer interest even as market conditions become more balanced.

Madison County's housing market continued to reflect the variability typical of smaller mountain markets in May, with strong gains in listing and sales activity alongside softer pricing and longer market times. New listings increased 31.7 percent year over year to 54 homes, while pending sales surged 130.8 percent and closed sales rose 52.9 percent to 26 transactions, signaling a significant increase in buyer and seller activity compared to a year ago. Home prices moderated during the month, with the median sales price declining 19.2 percent to $416,000 and the average sales price falling 17.7 percent to $440,212, reflecting the influence that a relatively small number of transactions can have on pricing trends in a rural market. Sellers received 90.9 percent of their original list price, down from 95.7 percent a year ago, indicating buyers gained additional negotiating leverage. Inventory increased 9.4 percent to 152 homes, while months of supply declined from 8.6 to 7.9 months as stronger contract activity helped absorb available inventory. Homes also spent considerably more time on the market, with days on market rising 95.2 percent to 123 days, underscoring the slower pace and property-specific nature of sales activity in the county.

See data for 20+ Mountain-area Communities in Western NC, May 2026

Spring Demand Remains Strong Across the Broader Western Region

Throughout the western region counties where Canopy MLS tracks market activity, May's housing market reflected continued buyer engagement alongside growing inventory and increasingly balanced conditions. Across the 13-county mountain region, pending sales increased 18.7 percent year over year while closed sales rose 1.5 percent, signaling that buyers remained active despite affordability challenges and elevated mortgage rates. Inventory expanded 5.7 percent to nearly 5,000 homes, providing buyers with more choices across the region, while months' supply declined slightly to 5.8 months as strong contract activity continued to absorb available inventory. At the same time, homes generally took longer to sell, giving buyers additional time to evaluate properties and negotiate terms in a market that continues to move toward greater balance.

At the county level, Rutherford County led the region in overall market momentum, posting strong gains in both pending and closed sales alongside continued price appreciation. Mitchell and Yancey counties also reported significant increases in contract activity, while Burke County saw growing buyer interest and faster sales. In contrast, Jackson and Transylvania counties continued to move toward more balanced conditions as inventory expanded and homes spent more time on the market, giving buyers additional leverage.

Burke County's housing market in May reflected increasing buyer activity alongside expanding inventory and moderating prices. New listings increased 29.6 percent year over year to 127 homes, while pending sales rose 25.4 percent, signaling growing buyer interest heading into the summer market. Closed sales declined 14.7 percent to 64 transactions, likely reflecting the timing gap between contracts and closings. The median sales price decreased 6.3 percent to $281,090, while the average sales price fell 2.4 percent to $313,084. Sellers received 94.7 percent of their original list price, slightly higher than last year, while inventory expanded 8.8 percent to 259 homes, pushing months' supply up to 4.1 months. Homes also sold more quickly than a year ago, with days on market declining 9.0 percent to 61 days, suggesting demand remains healthy even as market conditions continue to move toward greater balance.

Jackson County's housing market in May reflected softer buyer activity alongside rising inventory levels and continued variability in pricing. New listings declined 32.8 percent year over year to 43 homes, while pending sales fell 38.5 percent and closed sales dropped 42.9 percent to 12 transactions. Despite slower sales activity, the median sales price increased 12.9 percent to $378,250, while the average sales price declined 11.5 percent to $398,542, reflecting differences in the mix of properties sold during the month. Sellers received 93.6 percent of their original list price, down slightly from last year, as inventory expanded 20.4 percent to 177 homes and months' supply increased to 8.7 months, giving buyers additional negotiating leverage. Homes also spent significantly more time on the market, with days on market increasing 103.6 percent to 114 days, reflecting a market that continues to normalize as supply grows and buyers become more selective.

McDowell County's housing market in May reflected softer buyer activity alongside moderating prices and stable inventory levels. New listings declined 42.2 percent year over year to 48 homes, while pending sales remained unchanged and closed sales fell 12.8 percent to 34 transactions. The median sales price decreased 20.7 percent to $277,500, while the average sales price declined 33.5 percent to $314,918, reflecting variability across price segments. Sellers received 89.0 percent of their original list price, down from last year, as inventory remained relatively stable at 212 homes. Months' supply declined to 5.8 months, keeping the market near balanced conditions, while days on market increased 58.3 percent to 76 days, indicating buyers are taking more time to evaluate their options.

Rutherford County's housing market in May reflected strong buyer demand, rising prices, and steady inventory levels. New listings declined 4.6 percent year over year to 124 homes, while pending sales surged 39.7 percent and closed sales increased 18.5 percent to 64 transactions. The median sales price climbed 10.2 percent to $307,450, while the average sales price rose 23.0 percent to $372,602, signaling continued price strength across the market. Sellers received 94.7 percent of their original list price, up from last year, while inventory increased 6.1 percent to 401 homes. Months' supply remained relatively stable at 6.7 months, while days on market rose 35.4 percent to 65 days, reflecting a market that is becoming more balanced despite strong demand.

Transylvania County's housing market in May reflected continued price strength alongside rising inventory and moderating sales activity. New listings declined 14.3 percent year over year to 78 homes, while pending sales fell 13.0 percent and closed sales slipped 2.0 percent to 50 transactions. The median sales price increased 7.7 percent to $554,500, while the average sales price declined 1.8 percent to $598,674, suggesting some moderation at higher price points. Sellers received 92.6 percent of their original list price, down from 97.6 percent a year ago, as inventory expanded 22.7 percent to 308 homes and months' supply increased to 7.2 months, creating more balanced conditions for buyers and sellers. Homes also spent significantly more time on the market, with days on market increasing 84.1 percent to 81 days, reflecting a slower-paced but still active market environment.

(Due to smaller sample sizes in counties where there is a smaller pool of listings, percentage increases or decreases may seem extreme.)

Mitchell County's housing market in May reflected improving sales activity alongside continued inventory growth, typical of smaller mountain markets. New listings increased 27.6 percent year over year to 37 homes, while pending sales rose 75.0 percent and closed sales increased 25.0 percent to 10 transactions. The median sales price climbed 8.1 percent to $327,500, while the average sales price rose 10.4 percent to $363,155, reflecting continued price strength despite a limited number of transactions. Sellers received 90.9 percent of their original list price, down slightly from last year. Inventory expanded 30.3 percent to 116 homes, while months' supply remained elevated at 10.2 months, signaling a buyer-leaning market with expanded choice despite stronger sales activity.

Polk County's housing market in May reflected rising sales activity alongside moderating prices and tightening inventory levels. New listings declined 20.0 percent year over year to 40 homes, while pending sales fell 16.0 percent and closed sales increased 18.2 percent to 26 transactions. The median sales price declined 17.1 percent to $414,500, while the average sales price fell 15.7 percent to $434,568, reflecting variability across price segments and the mix of homes sold during the month. Sellers received 89.2 percent of their original list price, down from 92.7 percent a year ago, as negotiations became more common. Inventory declined 10.4 percent to 173 homes, while months' supply fell to 6.9 months, indicating a market that remains active despite slower contract activity. Homes also spent more time on the market, with days on market increasing 63.8 percent to 95 days, suggesting buyers are taking additional time to make purchasing decisions.

Yancey County's housing market in May reflected strong buyer interest alongside growing inventory and mixed sales activity. New listings increased 3.6 percent year over year to 57 homes, while pending sales surged 70.6 percent, signaling continued buyer engagement. Closed sales declined 37.5 percent to 15 transactions, reflecting the timing gap between contracts and closings. The median sales price increased 3.1 percent to $337,500, while the average sales price rose 21.0 percent to $490,067, reflecting strength in higher-priced sales activity. Sellers received 89.9 percent of their original list price, down from 91.2 percent a year ago, as inventory expanded 22.5 percent to 185 homes. Months' supply remained elevated at 9.7 months, while days on market increased 75.6 percent to 137 days, highlighting a market that continues to favor buyers despite improving contract activity.

For more residential-housing market statistics, visit www.CarolinaHome.com and click on “Market Data.” For an interview with a Realtor®/broker representing the Canopy MLS service area in the western/mountain region of North Carolina, 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.