September 29, 2025

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Home sales across the 13 counties surrounding Asheville and the MSA in August reflected stronger buyer engagement. Pending sales—a key indicator of future closings—rose 17.8 percent year-over-year, with just over 1,000 homes going under contract, marking the second consecutive month of annual growth in contract activity. Month-over-month, contract activity held steady compared to July. Buyers across the region were likely encouraged by easing mortgage rates, which dipped to 6.59 percent in late July and early August. Data in this report is sourced from Canopy MLS and includes single-family homes, condos, and townhome sales only for 13 counties in western North Carolina, which include: Buncombe, Burke, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, McDowell. Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties.

The region’s closed sales declined 7.8 percent year-over-year, with 885 homes sold in August, and were down 3.2 percent compared to July. Showing activity, a key measure of buyer interest, also dipped 7.4 percent from last year, averaging 2.2 showings per listing. Encouragingly, buyer engagement improved from July, rising 6.6 percent, with Asheville and Hendersonville leading the way—listings in both cities drew nearly three showings each, underscoring continued demand in those markets.

New listings declined in August for the first time this year, breaking a nine-month streak of growth. Listings fell 7.6 percent year-over-year, with 1,360 homes added to the market, and were down 9.3 percent compared to July. Even so, inventory at report time (Sept. 5, 2025) surged 56.1 percent to nearly 5,000 homes for sale, representing 6.4 months of supply. Overall, supply is 68.4 percent higher than a year ago. 

“Buyer demand across the Asheville region remained steady in August, with pending sales up significantly for the second month in a row, said Dave Noyes, a Canopy MLS Board of Director and Realtor®/broker with eXp Realty. Even as closed sales and new listing activity slowed, buyers are clearly responding to lower mortgage rates and taking advantage of the growing inventory, which now offers more options and negotiating power. The region’s core cities of Asheville and Hendersonville continue to draw strong interest, which should signal to sellers that well-priced homes that show well, especially in these locations, will always attract motivated buyers.” 

With demand strengthening in August, prices across the region remained stable. The median sales price slipped just 0.5 percent year-over-year to $427,745, while the average sales price edged up 0.5 percent compared to August 2024. The average list price rose 3.1 percent to $620,117, bringing the original list price-to-sales price ratio down to 92.7 percent from 95 percent a year ago. Time on market also lengthened: the list-to-close metric, which measures the full selling process from listing to closing, rose 17.4 percent to 108 days compared to 92 days last August. Days on market, tracking the time a home is listed before going under contract, increased 37 percent to 63 days versus 46 days a year ago.

The Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Sales across the Asheville MSA (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison Counties) reflected similar conditions to the broader region: a balanced market that favors neither buyers nor sellers and a slower sales pace that gives buyers more time to shop. Buncombe and Madison saw slower sales but rising supply, with Madison also posting sharp price gains, while Haywood County experienced a strong surge in contract activity and higher median prices. Henderson County reflected a mix of softer closed sales but stronger buyer demand, as rising inventory across all four counties gave buyers more choices and negotiating power. 

Closed sales for the MSA fell 8.5 percent year-over-year to 574 homes, yet contract activity surged 23 percent, with 674 homes going under contract in August. Month-over-month, contract activity was also up 2.3 percent. Seller confidence held steady, with 941 new listings, down less than a percent (-0.8%) compared to last year. Inventory rose sharply, climbing 50.4 percent to nearly 3,200 homes for sale, equal to 6.3 months of supply.

Both price indices softened, offering some relief to buyers. The median sales price declined 3.8 percent to $450,000, while the average sales price fell 7.2 percent year-over-year to $571,518. The average list price also dipped 3.8 percent to $641,643, pulling the original list price-to-sales price ratio down 2.8 percent to 92.9 percent. Homes continued to take longer to sell, with days on market rising to 64 days on average compared to 47 days a year ago. 

Noyes continued, “Heading into the fall, economic headwinds and elevated mortgage rates remain a reality; however, should rates stabilize around 6 percent, conditions will improve for both buyers and sellers, as suggested by the National Association of Realtors®. Affordability can also improve with tools like Down Payment Resource, which shows that nearly 83 percent of Canopy MLS listings qualify for assistance, helping buyers stretch their dollars further in today’s market.”

County Summaries See data for August 2025

Home sales activity in Buncombe County softened in August, with closed sales falling 9.2 percent year-over-year to 287 transactions, even as contract activity rose 13.4 percent to 314 pending sales. New listings dipped slightly, down 1.9 percent to 477, while inventory surged 68.2 percent to 1,684 homes for sale, pushing months of supply up nearly 89 percent to 6.6 months. Prices showed mixed trends, as the median sales price declined 4.0 percent to $485,000 and the average sales price dropped 9.5 percent to $644,648. Homes also took longer to sell, with days on market increasing nearly 49 percent to 67 days. These shifts highlight a market that is becoming more balanced, with more choices for buyers but slower sales momentum for sellers

Haywood County’s housing market showed renewed buyer activity in August, with pending sales surging 67.5 percent year-over-year to 139 contracts, while closed sales inched up 4.1 percent to 102. New listing activity was steady, rising 1.2 percent to 167, which, along with a 26.7 percent increase in inventory, pushed supply to six months, up 17.6 percent from last year. Prices were mixed: the median sales price climbed 7.1 percent to $402,665, yet the average sales price dipped 6.2 percent to $466,442. Homes also took longer to sell, averaging 53 days on market, a nearly 18 percent increase. 

Henderson County’s housing market reflected mixed conditions in August, as closed sales dropped 12.6 percent year-over-year to 167, even as contract activity rose 17.3 percent to 197 pending sales. Seller activity improved slightly with new listings up 3.5 percent to 267, contributing to a 39.7 percent increase in inventory and boosting supply to 5.7 months. Prices softened, with the median sales price edging down 1.1 percent to $455,000 and the average price slipping 3.9 percent to $517,289, though the average list price jumped nearly 15 percent to $623,670. Homes also stayed on the market longer, averaging 64 days until sale, a 36 percent increase from last year.

Madison County’s housing market slowed in August, with closed sales down 18.2 percent year-over-year to 18 transactions and new listings falling 25 percent to just 30 homes. Contract activity, however, showed some momentum, rising 20 percent to 24 pending sales. Prices moved sharply higher, with the median sales price up 17.7 percent to $455,500 and the average sales price climbing nearly 15 percent to $498,203. Inventory expanded 35.2 percent to 146 homes, pushing supply to 8.9 months—up 74.5 percent from last year—signaling strong buyer leverage in negotiations. Homes averaged 72 days on market, holding relatively steady compared to a year ago.

Other counties around the region

Burke County’s housing market softened in August, as buyer and seller activity slowed compared to last year. New listings dropped sharply, down 39.1 percent year-over-year with just 70 homes added to the market, while pending sales fell 17.7 percent and closed sales declined 11.8 percent with 67 transactions. Despite fewer sales, home prices held firm, with the median sales price rising 2.9 percent to $258,500 and the average sales price up 1.1 percent to $333,368. Sellers, on average, received 93 percent of their original asking price, unchanged from last year. Inventory grew 11 percent to 243 homes, pushing months of supply up to 3.8, a 15.2 percent increase, giving buyers slightly more options. Homes also sold faster, with days on market until sale dipping 8 percent to 46 days.

Jackson County’s housing market showed mixed conditions in August, with more new listings but fewer sales. New listings rose 22.6 percent year-over-year to 38 homes, yet pending sales slipped 8.0 percent and closed sales fell 20.0 percent with just 24 transactions. Prices were mixed: the median sales price declined 7.3 percent to $375,000, while the average sales price surged 26.1 percent to $663,320, reflecting a shift in higher-end sales. Sellers received 92.6 percent of their original asking price, down slightly from last year. Inventory increased sharply, up 64.6 percent to 158 homes, which pushed months of supply to 8.3, an 80.4 percent jump that signals a much more balanced to buyer-leaning market. Homes also took longer to sell, with days on market rising 81.8 percent to 80 days, highlighting slower absorption despite greater listing activity. 

McDowell County’s housing market was steady in August, with some gains in demand but fewer new listings. New listing activity fell 26.6 percent year-over-year with just 47 homes added to the market, while pending sales rose 16.7 percent to 35 and closed sales held even with last year at 41 transactions. Prices showed mixed trends: the median sales price dipped 4.8 percent to $300,000, while the average sales price climbed 11.6 percent to $412,824. Sellers received 92.9 percent of their original list price, a slight decline from last year. Inventory expanded 32.7 percent to 207 homes, driving months of supply up 37.0 percent to 6.3, signaling improving options for buyers. Homes, however, took longer to sell, as days on market rose 53.2 percent to 72 days, underscoring slower absorption despite resilient sales activity. 

(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 was marked by both rising supply and softer sales in August. New listings jumped 38.1 percent year-over-year with 29 homes added, while pending sales inched up 11.1 percent to 10. Closed sales, however, fell sharply, down 42.9 percent with just 8 transactions. Prices moved lower overall, as the median sales price dropped 27.1 percent to $272,500 and the average sales price declined 24.5 percent to $319,675. Sellers, on average, received 94.3 percent of their original asking price, a notable 6.8 percent improvement from last year. Inventory swelled 42.3 percent to 111 homes, pushing months of supply to 12.2, a 60.5 percent increase that points to abundant options for buyers. Homes spent roughly the same time on the market, with the average days on market edging up 1.5 percent to 67 days. 

(Due to smaller sample sizes in counties where there is a smaller pool of listings, percentage increases or decreases may seem extreme)
Polk County’s housing market in August reflected both rising prices and greater inventory alongside softer sales activity. New listings declined 21.4 percent year-over-year with 33 homes added, while pending sales rose 37.5 percent to 33, suggesting stronger contract activity ahead. Closed sales slipped 6.1 percent with 31 transactions. Prices climbed significantly, as the median sales price jumped 36.1 percent to $565,000 and the average sales price increased 30.9 percent to $642,871. Sellers, on average, received 90.9 percent of their original asking price, a slight dip from last year. Inventory expanded 54.5 percent to 190 homes, pushing months of supply to 8.7, a 74.0 percent surge that offers buyers more choices. Still, homes took longer to sell, with days on market rising 15.4 percent to 60 days.

Rutherford County’s housing market in August reflected stronger contract and sales activity alongside expanding inventory. New listings dropped 29.3 percent year-over-year with just 82 homes added, yet pending sales increased 25.8 percent to 78, and closed sales rose 3.3 percent to 63 transactions. Prices strengthened, with the median sales price up 9.8 percent to $300,000 and the average sales price rising 5.9 percent to $387,536. Sellers, on average, received 91.1 percent of their original asking price, down nearly three points from last year. Inventory grew 21.9 percent to 379 homes, lifting months of supply to 6.8, a 38.8 percent increase that provides buyers with more choices. Homes, however, took longer to sell, as days on market climbed 57.5 percent to 63 days, pointing to slower absorption despite healthy contract activity.

Transylvania County’s housing market in August saw stronger sales activity paired with rising prices and a significant increase in supply. New listings were nearly flat, down just 1.4 percent with 69 homes added, while pending sales jumped 33.3 percent to 60 and closed sales rose 12.8 percent to 53 transactions. Prices moved higher, as the median sales price increased 5.2 percent to $525,000 and the average sales price surged 47.9 percent to $1,065,791, reflecting activity at the upper end of the market. Sellers received 93.6 percent of their original asking price, down more than four points from last year. Inventory expanded 53.8 percent to 283 homes, driving months of supply up 69.0 percent to 7.1, giving buyers more choices. Homes also took longer to sell, with days on market rising 77.8 percent to 64 days.

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 MLS is a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of Canopy Realtor® Association and is the private broker cooperative used by Realtors® to bring buyers and sellers together with access to thousands of residential listings in a multicounty service area, including Charlotte, Asheville and Catawba Valley regions spanning across North Carolina, South Carolina and outside of the Carolinas. Canopy MLS, which has 21,000 subscribers, provides the most trustworthy, timely, accurate and complete property data along with proprietary tools for showings, market stats, predictive analytics, and more. Canopy MLS is used by its members to support consumers in their residential real estate transactions, whether selling, buying, investing or renting.