September 29, 2026
Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Catawba Valley housing market settled into a steady pace in August as growing inventory continued to expand choices for buyers while home prices, market time, and seller returns remained largely stable. Inventory rose 11.4 percent from a year ago to 1,512 homes, while the median sales price held steady from July at $305,000 and days on market remained unchanged from a year ago at 49 days. 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 increased 0.9 percent from July and 11.4 percent year-over-year to 1,512 homes for sale. Months of supply held steady from July at 4.3 months but increased 10.3 percent from 3.9 months one year ago. While supply remains below the six months generally associated with a balanced market that favors neither buyers nor sellers, the continued increase in available homes is providing buyers with more choice and helping move the market toward balance. Three-bedroom homes continue to hold the largest slice of inventory. New construction accounted for 377 active listings, representing 25 percent of the region’s inventory on the MLS.

New listings totaled 574 in August, up 15.7 percent from a year ago, although activity slowed 9.3 percent from July. New construction accounted for 130 new listings, or 23 percent of the month’s new supply. Pending sales increased 7.6 percent year-over-year to 395 contracts but declined 3.4 percent from July. Closed sales totaled 357, down 12.1 percent from last August and 8.5 percent month-over-month. Year-to-date, closed sales are down 4.8 percent, while pending sales are nearly even with last year, down just 0.8 percent.

The combination of more listings and relatively steady contract activity continues to provide buyers with additional options without producing significant changes in other key market measures. Homes averaged 49 days on market in August, unchanged from one year ago and down 3.9 percent from July. Sellers received 94.9 percent of their original list price, unchanged from July and up 1.4 percent year-over-year. The 12-month rolling average for percent of original list price received was 94.3 percent, nearly unchanged from the previous 12-month period.

Showing activity moderated following July’s increase. The Catawba Valley region recorded 5,579 showings in August, averaging 3.2 showings per listing. Catawba County generated the most activity with 2,888 showings and averaged 3.5 showings per listing. Hickory recorded the strongest buyer interest at 3.9 showings per listing, followed by Newton at 3.6 and Morganton at 3.2.

“We’re continuing to see the market move toward greater balance as buyers have more homes to choose from and more time to make decisions,” said Natalie Armstrong, Realtor®/Broker with Coldwell Banker Boyd & Hassell and 2026 president of the Catawba Valley Association of Realtors®.

Home prices were relatively stable in August. The median sales price was $305,000, unchanged from July and up 1.7 percent from a year ago. The average sales price increased 8.1 percent year-over-year and 1.3 percent month-over-month to $387,094, while the average list price rose 5.1 percent from last August and 2.4 percent from July to $418,751. On a rolling 12-month basis, the median sales price increased 2.8 percent, and the average sales price increased 3.9 percent. New-construction homes had a median sales price of $319,500 and an average sales price of $400,887 in August.

Armstrong continued, “A market with more choices creates opportunities, but buyers still have to navigate affordability, financing, and differences from one community to another. Working with a Realtor® is especially important for understanding local conditions and developing a strategy that reflects what is happening at the neighborhood and price-point level.”

Affordability remains a challenge despite the relative stability in home prices. The Catawba Valley’s Housing Affordability Index stood at 91 in August, compared with 93 one year ago. The index indicates that the median household income was approximately 91 percent of what was needed to qualify for the median-priced home under current interest rates.

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.

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 46 new listings in August, up 39.4 percent year-over-year. Pending sales increased 17.4 percent to 27 transactions, while closed sales declined 18.2 percent to 18. The median sales price increased 4.5 percent to $292,500, while the average sales price rose 18.9 percent to $456,050. Sellers received 97.4 percent of their original list price, up from 93.1 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 20 days on market, down sharply from 91 days last August. The average list price declined 4.3 percent to $462,313. Inventory totaled 96 homes, up 3.2 percent year-over-year, representing a 4.1-month supply of homes, down 2.4 percent from one year ago.

Burke County recorded 120 new listings in August, up 69.0 percent year-over-year. Pending sales increased 28.3 percent to 77 transactions, while closed sales rose 2.9 percent to 70. The median sales price increased 12.2 percent to $289,950, while the average sales price rose 10.4 percent to $366,426. Sellers received 94.1 percent of their original list price, compared with 93.1 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 54 days on market, up 17.4 percent year-over-year. The average list price declined 2.0 percent to $398,239. Inventory expanded 29.0 percent to 325 homes, representing a 5.1-month supply of inventory, up 27.5 percent year-over-year.

Caldwell County recorded 104 new listings in August, unchanged from one year ago. Pending sales increased 14.3 percent to 80 transactions, while closed sales were also unchanged at 67. The median sales price rose 8.2 percent to $297,500, while the average sales price declined 2.4 percent to $351,639. Sellers received 94.8 percent of their original list price, up from 92.2 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 40 days on market, down 16.7 percent year-over-year. The average list price increased 5.4 percent to $367,206. Inventory increased 3.4 percent to 274 homes, representing a 3.9-month supply of inventory, down 7.1 percent year-over-year.

Catawba County recorded 304 new listings in August, up 5.6 percent year-over-year. Pending sales declined 1.4 percent to 211 transactions, while closed sales fell 18.9 percent to 202. The median sales price declined 1.8 percent to $308,500, while the average sales price increased 10.3 percent to $399,871. Sellers received 94.9 percent of their original list price, compared with 94.2 percent one year ago. Homes averaged 52 days on market, up 10.6 percent year-over-year. The average list price increased 8.3 percent to $438,014. Inventory rose 9.4 percent to 817 homes, representing a 4.2-month supply of inventory, up 13.5 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.