August 28, 2026
Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Home sales activity throughout the four-county Asheville area (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison Counties) remained steady in July, even as mortgage rates remained elevated and volatile throughout the month. Pending sales rose 2.6 percent year-over-year, as 625 homes went under contract. While contract activity declined 9.6 percent from June, buyers continued to engage with the market despite higher borrowing costs and ongoing affordability pressures. Closed sales also strengthened, rising 7.4 percent year-over-year as buyers completed 656 transactions during the month, though closings dipped 2.7 percent from June. 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.

Seller activity softened slightly across the four counties in July, as new listings declined 3.8 percent year-over-year, with 938 homes added to the market. New listings were also down 2.9 percent compared to June. Despite the pullback in new listings, overall inventory remained stable at 3,286 homes for sale, up just 0.7 percent from last July. Months of supply fell 13.6 percent year-over-year, from 6.6 months to 5.7 months, keeping the market near balanced conditions and providing opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

“Affordability is top of mind for buyers right now, particularly when mortgage rates move higher, but what we’re seeing in the Asheville market is that buyers haven’t stopped looking or purchasing,” said Dave Noyes, REALTOR®/Designated Managing Broker with eXp Realty and Canopy MLS Board of Director. “They’re being more thoughtful about what they can afford and where they’re willing to compromise. The good news is that today’s more balanced market gives buyers more time to make decisions, more choices and greater opportunity to negotiate, while steady demand continues to support sellers. That’s a much healthier dynamic for the market overall.”

July Showing Activity
July showing activity across the 13-county mountain region continued to reflect healthy buyer engagement, even as elevated borrowing costs challenged affordability. Buyer interest, measured by showings per listing, increased 17.1 percent year-over-year and 10.5 percent from June, while total showings rose 5.8 percent compared with July 2025 and 6.2 percent month-over-month. Homes priced between $319,000 and $462,999 generated the strongest buyer interest, averaging 2.8 showings per listing, while the $463,000-and-above price segment attracted the greatest overall showing activity. Among individual markets, the City of Hendersonville led the region with 2.7 showings per listing, followed by the City of Asheville, Henderson County and Transylvania County, each averaging 2.6 showings per listing. The continued strength in showing activity suggests buyers remain actively engaged and willing to move forward when they find homes that meet their needs and budgets.

Prices stable as attached housing offers affordability options.
Home prices remained stable across the four-county Asheville MSA in July, with the median sales price rising just 0.5 percent year-over-year to $465,000, while the average sales price declined 1.9 percent to $573,718. The average list price increased a modest 1.3 percent to $659,860, a notable moderation from the stronger increases seen earlier this year. Buyers continued to find some negotiating room, with sellers receiving an average 93.6 percent of the original list price, essentially unchanged from 93.5 percent last July. Together, the measures point to a market where prices have largely stabilized, giving buyers more time and flexibility to negotiate while preserving home values for sellers.

A closer look at market activity by price range across the broader region continues to show particularly strong sales growth in the more affordable and mid-priced segments. Over the past 12 months, single-family closed sales increased most significantly in the $200,001 to $300,000 range (+17.4 percent), followed by the $600,001 to $700,000 segment (+19.8 percent) and homes priced $700,001 and above (+13.1 percent). Inventory trends, however, were mixed: supply declined 4.9 percent among homes priced $300,001 to $400,000 and 3.6 percent in the $400,001 to $500,000 range, while inventory increased 13.9 percent in the $600,001 to $700,000 segment and 13.4 percent above $700,000. This continues to point to tighter choices in several mid-priced segments even as higher-end buyers have more options.

By property type, single-family homes continued to drive overall market activity, with closed sales increasing 11.1 percent year over year over the rolling 12-month period, while condo-townhome sales rose an even stronger 13.0 percent. Inventory moved in opposite directions, increasing 4.4 percent for single-family homes while declining 1.8 percent for condo-townhomes. The combination of stronger attached-home sales and slightly tighter inventory reinforces the important role condos and townhomes can play for buyers seeking more affordable price points, lower-maintenance living or downsizing opportunities.

“What stands out in July is that demand continues to grow without putting renewed upward pressure on prices,” said Noyes. “Through the first seven months of the year, pending sales are up 9.4 percent, and closed sales are up 7.4 percent, while the median price is essentially unchanged from last year. That stability matters, especially when higher borrowing costs are already stretching buyers’ budgets. We’re also seeing buyers explore a wider range of housing options, including condos and townhomes, as they look for the right combination of price, location and lifestyle.”

Time-on-market metrics also reflected a more balanced market across the Asheville-metro area, giving buyers additional time to evaluate homes and negotiate terms. List-to-close time, which measures the total number of days from listing to closing, increased 9.1 percent year-over-year to 108 days. Meanwhile, days on market rose 17.9 percent to 66 days, compared with 56 days last July. While homes are taking longer to sell, the increase in both pending and closed sales suggests the longer market times reflect a more deliberate pace rather than a pullback in buyer demand.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Counties at a Glance

Buncombe County’s housing market remained active in July, with steady seller activity and continued growth in buyer demand. New listings were essentially unchanged from last year, increasing 0.8 percent to 513 homes, while pending sales rose 3.6 percent and closed sales increased 6.7 percent to 350 transactions. Home prices moderated, with the median sales price declining 4.9 percent to $485,000 and the average sales price falling 5.4 percent to $613,276, providing some relief for buyers facing elevated borrowing costs. Sellers received 93.6 percent of their original list price, nearly unchanged from 93.7 percent last year. Inventory increased 6.8 percent to 1,812 homes, while months of supply declined from 6.7 to 6.1 months as continued buyer demand helped absorb available inventory. Homes spent more time on the market, averaging 64 days compared with 49 days last July, giving buyers additional time to evaluate their options and negotiate while sales activity continued to grow.

Haywood County’s housing market moderated in July, although year-to-date activity continues to point to resilient buyer demand. New listings declined 14.0 percent year-over-year to 135 homes, while pending sales dipped 4.7 percent and closed sales declined 3.7 percent to 104 transactions. Despite the monthly pullback, pending sales remain up 5.1 percent year-to-date and closed sales are 7.2 percent ahead of last year. Home prices remained relatively stable, with the median sales price increasing 3.4 percent to $393,000 and the average sales price rising 4.9 percent to $492,525. Sellers received 93.4 percent of their original list price, up slightly from 93.0 percent last July. Inventory declined 6.2 percent to 517 homes, while months of supply fell sharply from 6.9 to 5.7 months. Homes also moved more quickly, averaging 61 days on market compared with 70 days a year ago, suggesting that despite softer July activity, buyer demand continues to support the market.

Henderson County’s housing market continued to demonstrate solid buyer demand in July, even as fewer new listings entered the market. New listings declined 4.5 percent year-over-year to 255 homes, while pending sales edged up 1.7 percent and closed sales jumped 14.6 percent to 180 transactions. Home prices moderated, with the median sales price declining 4.0 percent to $446,500 and the average sales price falling 5.3 percent to $514,857, offering some potential relief for buyers challenged by higher borrowing costs. Sellers still received 94.4 percent of their original list price, up from 93.3 percent last July. Inventory declined 6.1 percent to 805 homes, while months of supply fell from 5.8 to 4.8 months as buyer activity continued to absorb available homes. Properties averaged 68 days on market compared with 60 days a year ago, giving buyers somewhat more time to make decisions even as closed sales remained strong.

Madison County continued to see strong buyer activity in July despite fewer homes coming to market. New listings declined 16.7 percent year-over-year to 35 homes, while pending sales increased 33.3 percent and closed sales rose 22.2 percent to 22 transactions. The median sales price increased 28.8 percent to $515,830, while the average sales price rose 70.1 percent to $811,593; however, monthly price swings can be significant in a smaller market such as Madison County, where relatively few transactions can substantially affect averages and medians. Inventory declined 3.8 percent to 152 homes, while months of supply fell considerably from 9.9 to 7.6 months as stronger buyer activity absorbed available inventory. Homes averaged 90 days on market compared with 64 days last July, continuing to give buyers more time to evaluate properties in this higher-supply market.

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

Housing Activity Remains Healthy as Greater Supply Creates Opportunities Across Mountain Counties

Across the surrounding western mountain counties where Canopy MLS tracks housing trends, July housing activity remained healthy overall, though conditions varied considerably among individual markets. Buyer activity strengthened in several counties, with particularly strong gains in pending sales in Polk, Transylvania, Mitchell and Burke counties, while Jackson and Yancey experienced the variability common in smaller mountain markets. Inventory remained elevated across most of the region, giving buyers greater choice, while median prices declined year over year in several counties, including Burke, Transylvania, Jackson, Rutherford and Polk. Overall, the combination of greater supply, moderating prices in several markets and continued buyer engagement points to increasingly balanced conditions and additional opportunities for buyers across much of the region.

Burke County's housing market in July showed strengthening buyer activity alongside continued inventory growth and moderating prices. New listings increased 7.4 percent year over year to 116 homes, while pending sales jumped 28.8 percent and closed sales increased 3.7 percent to 84 transactions. Home prices declined during the month, with the median sales price falling 6.4 percent to $257,350 and the average sales price decreasing 13.2 percent to $315,389. Sellers received 95.7 percent of their original list price, up from 93.5 percent a year ago, while inventory expanded 17.4 percent to 304 homes and months' supply increased from 4.0 to 4.9 months. Homes also moved more quickly, with days on market declining 26.5 percent to 36 days, suggesting buyers remained engaged as greater supply and lower prices provided additional opportunities.

Transylvania County's housing market in July reflected strong buyer demand despite fewer new listings, while inventory remained elevated and prices moderated from last year. New listings declined 17.2 percent year over year to 72 homes, while pending sales surged 43.2 percent and closed sales increased 4.8 percent to 44 transactions, signaling continued buyer activity. The median sales price declined 2.3 percent to $557,000, while the average sales price was nearly unchanged, down 0.3 percent to $716,643. Sellers received 91.2 percent of their original list price, compared with 93.3 percent a year ago, while inventory increased 6.0 percent to 318 homes. Months' supply declined from 7.8 to 7.2 months but continued to provide buyers with substantial choice. Homes averaged 81 days on market, unchanged from a year ago, even as pending activity strengthened considerably.

Jackson County's housing market in July reflected the continued variability typical of smaller mountain markets. New listings declined 29.6 percent year over year to 38 homes, while pending sales fell 28.1 percent and closed sales decreased 25.9 percent to 20 transactions. The median sales price declined 8.5 percent to $420,000, while the average sales price increased 22.2 percent to $836,417. Inventory expanded 12.8 percent to 185 homes, increasing months' supply to 9.6 months and providing buyers with more choices.

McDowell County's housing market in July reflected mixed buyer activity alongside growing inventory. New listings increased 6.3 percent year over year to 68 homes and pending sales rose 8.5 percent, while closed sales declined 19.5 percent to 33 transactions. The median sales price increased 37.7 percent to $365,000, while the average sales price rose 64.7 percent to $536,193. Inventory increased 11.4 percent to 244 homes, while months' supply edged up to 7.0 months.

Rutherford County's housing market remained active in July, with both seller and buyer activity increasing. New listings rose 15.9 percent year over year to 124 homes, pending sales increased 12.5 percent, and closed sales rose 4.5 percent to 69 transactions. The median sales price declined 4.4 percent to $279,000, while the average sales price fell 15.7 percent to $316,619. Inventory increased 7.8 percent to 441 homes, while months' supply declined to 7.2 months as buyers continued to absorb available inventory.

(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 July reflected strengthening sales activity alongside elevated inventory. New listings were unchanged year over year at 20 homes, while pending sales increased 33.3 percent and closed sales rose 46.2 percent to 19 transactions. The median sales price increased 16.7 percent to $350,000, while the average sales price rose 15.9 percent to $336,158. Inventory expanded 25.5 percent to 123 homes, while months' supply declined to 10.5 months. 

Polk County's housing market in July reflected strengthening pending activity alongside lower inventory. New listings increased 16.7 percent year over year to 49 homes and pending sales jumped 52.0 percent, while closed sales declined 12.5 percent to 21 transactions. The median sales price declined 15.7 percent to $399,000, while the average sales price increased 1.1 percent to $567,631. Inventory fell 13.5 percent to 186 homes, reducing months' supply to 7.2 months.

Yancey County's housing market in July reflected mixed activity as closed sales strengthened despite fewer new listings and pending sales. New listings declined 4.0 percent year over year to 48 homes and pending sales fell 35.7 percent, while closed sales increased 25.0 percent to 30 transactions. The median sales price increased 3.5 percent to $372,500, while the average sales price rose 24.2 percent to $492,196. Inventory increased 17.8 percent to 218 homes, while months' supply remained elevated at 12.0 months.

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.