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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Catawba Valley housing market gained momentum in July as buyers responded to a growing selection of homes for sale. Inventory reached its highest level of the year, while new listings and pending sales both increased from June, signaling continued market engagement. 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.

Inventory climbed to 1,439 homes for sale in July, up 6.2 percent from a year ago and 2.9 percent from June. The continued growth in available homes pushed months’ supply up 5.1 percent year over year and 2.5 percent month over month to 4.1 months. While still below the six months of supply generally associated with a balanced market that favors neither buyers nor sellers, improving inventory is giving buyers considerably more choice and decision-making time than they have had in recent years. New construction accounted for 373 active listings, representing 26 percent of the region’s inventory on the MLS.

Homes averaged 49 days on market in July, 4.3 percent longer than one year ago and unchanged from June. Sellers received 94.9 percent of their original list price, up 0.7 percent from July 2025 but down 1.0 percent month-over-month. Together, these measures point to a market in which buyers have gained some negotiating room while sellers continue to capture a substantial share of their asking price.

Showing activity also strengthened during July. The Catawba Valley recorded 5,752 showings, an increase of 8.6 percent year-over-year and 14.2 percent from June, averaging 3.4 showings per listing. Hickory generated the strongest buyer interest with 4.3 showings per listing, followed by Lenoir at 4.0 and Newton at 3.9. Catawba County led the region with 2,950 total showings.

New listings rose 3.3 percent year-over-year and 10.9 percent from June to 631 properties, with 147 new-construction listings accounting for 23 percent of the month’s new supply. Pending sales also strengthened, rising 2.6 percent year-over-year to 436 contracts and surging 24.2 percent from June. Notably, July’s contract activity surpassed levels seen during the region’s spring market, signaling continued buyer engagement as inventory expanded. Closed sales totaled 377, down 8.0 percent year-over-year and 4.6 percent from June.

 “We’re seeing encouraging signs that buyers are responding to the additional choices available in today’s market,” said Natalie Armstrong, Realtor®/Broker with Coldwell Banker Boyd & Hassell and 2026 president of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors®. “The increase in pending sales is particularly notable because it tells us that demand is still there. Buyers may have more time and more options than they did a few years ago, but well-positioned homes continue to attract attention.”

Home prices showed mixed movement in July, reflecting the range of properties changing hands across the region. The median sales price was $300,000, up 3.8 percent from a year ago but down 6.3 percent from June. Meanwhile, the average sales price climbed 4.5 percent year-over-year and 2.1 percent month-over-month to $378,931. Sellers brought homes to market at an average list price of $415,814, a 4.7 percent increase from last July despite a 3.1 percent decline from June. New-construction homes continued to command higher price points, with a median sales price of $332,500 and an average sales price of $393,195 in July.

Affordability improved somewhat in July as the region’s median sales price moderated from the previous month. The Catawba Valley’s Housing Affordability Index increased from 88 in June to 92 in July, meaning the median household income was approximately 92 percent of what was needed to qualify for the median-priced home under prevailing interest rates. While affordability remains below July 2025, when the index stood at 95, the month-over-month improvement provides some relief for buyers navigating home prices and borrowing costs.

Down payment assistance can further expand purchasing opportunities for qualified buyers. Through Canopy MLS, Realtors® have access to Down Payment Resource (DPR), a tool that helps connect properties and buyers with thousands of local, state and national homeownership programs. More than 80 percent of active residential listings on Canopy MLS may qualify for some form of assistance, including grants, forgivable loans, tax credits and other programs. Assistance is not limited to first-time buyers and may also be available to repeat buyers, veterans, healthcare professionals, educators, public servants and other qualified purchasers for homes up to $800,000.

Armstrong continued, “Affordability remains a challenge, but the improvement we saw in July is encouraging, and buyers shouldn’t assume that the purchase price alone determines whether homeownership is within reach. Realtors® can help buyers understand the full picture, from financing and down payment assistance programs to neighborhood trends and available inventory, while helping sellers develop pricing strategies that reflect today’s market.”

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 in July, up 3.0 percent year-over-year. Pending sales declined 7.7 percent to 24 transactions, while closed sales fell 15.8 percent to 16. The median sales price declined 2.5 percent to $307,000, while the average sales price increased 27.7 percent to $439,722. Sellers received 93.3 percent of their original list price, up from 91.8 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 67 days on market, an 11.7 percent increase. The average list price rose 5.2 percent to $412,979. Inventory totaled 85 homes, down 3.4 percent from last July, representing a 3.6-month supply of homes, down 10.0 percent year-over-year.

Burke County recorded 116 new listings in July, up 7.4 percent year-over-year. Pending sales increased 28.8 percent to 85 transactions, while closed sales rose 3.7 percent to 84. The median sales price declined 6.4 percent to $257,350, and the average sales price decreased 13.2 percent to $315,389. Sellers received 95.7 percent of their original list price, up from 93.5 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 36 days on market, down 26.5 percent year-over-year. The average list price increased 13.0 percent to $376,704. Inventory expanded 17.4 percent to 304 homes, representing a 4.9-month supply of inventory, up 22.5 percent year-over-year.

Caldwell County added 128 new listings in July, an increase of 20.8 percent year-over-year. Pending sales surged 36.9 percent to 89 transactions, while closed sales increased 10.3 percent to 75. The median sales price rose 15.4 percent to $308,000, while the average sales price increased 12.9 percent to $370,084. Sellers received 93.7 percent of their original list price, compared with 94.0 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 50 days on market, an 11.1 percent increase. The average list price rose 8.5 percent to $369,590. Inventory increased 5.5 percent to 269 homes, representing a 3.9-month supply of inventory, down 7.1 percent year-over-year.

Catawba County recorded 353 new listings in July, down 3.0 percent from one year ago. Pending sales declined 11.2 percent to 238 transactions, while closed sales fell 16.5 percent to 202. The median sales price increased 8.3 percent to $325,000, while the average sales price rose 8.1 percent to $403,825. Sellers received 95.1 percent of their original list price, up from 94.7 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 52 days on market, up 10.6 percent year-over-year. The average list price increased 3.3 percent to $446,518. Inventory rose 3.7 percent to 781 homes, representing a 3.9-month supply of inventory, up 5.4 percent year-over-year.

*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.