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Continued Demand Growing Inventory
The second quarter coastal North Carolina market has seen widespread inventory growth across all regions, with varying levels of absorption. In Wilmington, active listings climbed 15% to 197 homes in the $600K–$1M range, while closed sales surged 23% (from 171 to 211), showing demand keeping pace Topsail Island, however, reflected more caution: $600K–$1M active listings more than doubled to 82, but closings fell 23% year-over-year (from 39 to 30), pointing to softening demand amid expanded supply. Oak Island’ s $1M–$2M listings rose to 74, more than tripling the prior year ’ s closed volume, while sales dipped 8%
Smaller markets showed similarly mixed dynamics Southport saw $1M–$2M closed sales drop by 50% (from 18 to 9), alongside a 39% increase in active listings, suggesting buyers have more leverage. Figure 8 Island and Porters Neck maintained healthier absorption, with $600K–$1M closings up 23% and $2M+ sales also improving modestly Meanwhile, Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach boasted robust gains in the $2M+ segment, where closed sales more than tripled (from 2 to 7) despite inventory growth Carolina and Kure Beach followed suit, with $600K–$1M active listings up 85% but closings rising only 12%, highlighting that rising supply is outpacing demand in some price brackets
The Wrightsville Beach & Landfall market stands out for its remarkable strength in the upper end $2M+ closed transactions jumped 183% (from 6 to 17), while active listings climbed to 34, indicating a surge in luxury buyer activity. The $1M–$2M segment also saw closed sales rise 40% year-over-year (from 25 to 35) despite moderate inventory In contrast, the $600K–$1M range remained stable, with just 9 active listings and 8 closed sales, suggesting balanced conditions
Overall, the region continues to trend toward a more buyer-friendly environment in midmarket categories, while the luxury tier, especially around Wrightsville Beach, is experiencing strong momentum as affluent buyers remain highly engaged
Wrightsville Beach is the furthest eastern part of Wilmington and one of the most popular beaches on the East Coast Just a few minutes inland sits the prestigious Landfall community This is a flagship gated golf course community in Wilmington, situated between Wrightsville Beach and the intracoastal waterway
Wrightsville Beach and Landfall shows growing strength in the higher price segments alongside increased inventory In the $600K–$1M range, active listings rose 50% to 9 homes compared to 2024, while closed sales climbed 33% (from 6 to 8), reflecting steady buyer interest despite more options The $1M–$2M segment saw a notable 40% increase in closed transactions year-over-year, even as active listings remained moderate at 13, suggesting strong demand driving faster absorption. The $2M+ category experienced the most striking gains, with active listings jumping to 34 homes more than five times the 6 closed sales in 2024 and closings nearly tripling, up 183% (from 6 to 17), indicating surging interest in luxury properties Overall, the market is vibrant, with expanding high-end activity and enough buyer momentum to keep pace with rising inventory levels across all segments
WILMINGTON WILMINGTON
Wilmington is a historic port city along the Cape Fear River that features three gorgeous islands The historic artistic culture is complemented by the small beach town aesthetic offered by top-rated pristine beaches at Wrightsville Beach, historic Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. The art, music, food, architecture, history, and natural beauty of Wilmington make it the #1 place to move in the US
Wilmington shows a surge in both inventory and closed sales across all price segments, reflecting continued buyer demand even with growing supply In the $600K–$1M range, active listings reached 197 homes, up 15% from 2024, while closed transactions climbed 23%, underscoring strong absorption The $1M–$2M segment experienced a 70% jump in active listings, alongside a 42% increase in closed sales (from 53 to 75), indicating robust movement in the mid-luxury tier The $2M+ market was particularly notable, with active listings more than tripling to 52 properties, and closed sales up 60% (from 15 to 24), highlighting rising interest in the high-end segment. Overall, Wilmington continues to demonstrate an expanding market, where supply is growing rapidly but demand is matching pace across all price points
CAROLINA & CAROLINA & KURE BEACH KURE BEACH
With its proximity to Wilmington, the ferry to Southport, and the limited inventory and price appreciation of Wrightsville Beach, the Pleasure Island areas of Carolina and Kure Beach have become a highly sought after coastal destination Long known for its relaxed vibe and smalltown beach atmosphere, this area ’ s real estate market has seen major jumps in property values as well as unit sell-through
Carolina and Kure Beach reflects strong listing activity and steady sales, particularly in the $600K–$1M segment Active inventory in this price range reflects a slight increase, while closed sales increased modestly by 12% year-over-year (from 60 to 67) In the $1M–$2M bracket, active listings grew significantly to 51 properties, while closed sales dipped 19%, suggesting emerging oversupply The $2M+ market remained limited in volume, with 5 active listings and just 1 closed sale in 2025 versus 2 in 2024 Overall, inventory expanded in some price points, especially in the mid-market, while absorption has not kept pace, pointing to a more competitive environment for sellers and increased options for buyers heading into the second half of the year
TOPSAIL ISLAND TOPSAIL ISLAND
Topsail Island is a barrier island almost an hour north of Wilmington Although folklore has it that the island was named Topsail because pirate ships hid behind the island with their topsails visible from the sea, the name came from New Topsail Inlet Topsail Island has long been a vacation spot favorite and Surf City is one of the most popular cities on Topsail Island
The Topsail Island market shows a minimal rise in inventory alongside moderating sales activity In the $600K–$1M segment, active listings remained the same as in 2024, while closings fell 23% year-over-year (from 39 to 30), indicating leveling supply and softening demand The $1M–$2M range saw active inventory increase slightly from 70 to 72, while closed sales declined 22% (from 32 to 25) The $2M+ market maintained stable closed transactions, with 4 sales matching the second quarter of 2024 levels, but active listings more than doubled to 23 properties, pointing to potential oversupply at the top end Overall, the market is shifting decisively in favor of buyers, with expanding inventory across all price points and fewer sales to offset the growing selection
Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach are two popular islands in the furthest southwest corner of North Carolina Ocean Isle was named in 1949 by Virginia Williamson whose husband, Odell Williamson, purchased the land as a resort development project Sunset Beach not only encompasses both a mainland and an island, but it earned its name in 1955 by Manson C Gore who was impressed by the sunsets the southeast-facing island offered and its rare views of the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean
Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach show robust listing growth and healthy sales activity across most price segments In the $600K–$1M range, active listings decreased from 67 to 61 homes, while closed sales rose 11% year-over-year, signaling steady demand The $1M–$2M category experienced a slight climb in active listings, while closed transactions creeped up 16%, reflecting solid absorption of higher-end offerings The $2M+ segment, though smaller and with a slight decrease in active listings, saw a notable increase in activity, with closed sales more than tripling Overall, the market remains strong across all tiers, with continued buyer interest, suggesting continued momentum heading into the latter half of the year
OAK ISLAND OAK ISLAND
Oak Island is one of the larger South Brunswick Islands southwest of Wilmington Oak Island became inhabited in the early 19th century after Fort Caswell was constructed in 1838 It grew slowly, but by the 1930s, it had become a popular beach and hunting destination Today, it is combined with several other towns and Caswell remains a separate entity on the end of the island, mainly in use for conventions and large events
The second quarter market shows significant growth in inventory alongside steady sales performance In the $600K–$1M segment, active listings climbed 107 homes compared to 96 last year, while closings edged up slightly by 3%, indicating that demand is largely keeping pace with supply The $1M–$2M category saw active listings surge to 74 from 59, while closed transactions dipped 8% year-over-year, indicating a comfortable supply in the mid-luxury tier
The $2M+ market remained very limited, with a slight increase in active listings but only 2 closed sales, unchanged from last year Overall, while buyer activity remains healthy, sellers may face more competition and longer marketing times in the coming months
HOLDEN BEACH HOLDEN BEACH
Holden Beach, a favorite South Brunswick Island, southwest of Wilmington, was voted number one family-friendly beach several years in a row and remains one of the more restful and residential islands Benjamin Holden in 1756 bought four mainland tracts and the island between his plantation and the ocean and John Holden, Benjamin's grandson, started a commercial fishery on the island in 1924 and surveyed a section which he called Holden Beach Resort
The Holden Beach market shows healthy activity and notable shifts in the mid-range segment In the $600K–$1M bracket, active listings remained steady from 2024, while closed sales increased slightly by 13% year-over-year, reflecting stable demand The $1M–$2M category saw no significant jump in active inventory, even though closed transactions doubled, rising 100% from 8 to 16 sales, indicating strong absorption and buyer interest The $2M+ segment stayed limited, with only 2 active listings and 2 closings in 2025, maintaining a low but steady pace Overall, Holden Beach is experiencing balanced market conditions and gentle growth
FIGURE EIGHT, PORTER'S FIGURE EIGHT, PORTER'
NECK, & HAMPSTEAD NECK, & HAMPSTEAD
Figure Eight Island, Porter's Neck, and Hampstead are north of Wilmington Porter's Neck and Hampstead are two emerging markets that are developing a robust luxury market, while Figure Eight Island remains one of the region’ s flagship upscale communities with some of the most significant coastal estate homes in the Carolinas
The second quarter market reflects robust activity and expanding inventory across all price points In the $600K–$1M segment, active listings and closings experienced a steady rise, with closings going up 23% year-over-year The $1M–$2M category saw a slight increase in active inventory, while closed sales edged up a little by 8%, suggesting balanced but cautious buyer activity In the $2M+ segment, active listings reached 20 homes, from 2024's 17 active homes, and closed transactions rising 17%, underscoring steady high-end interest Overall, rising active listings across all price brackets indicate increasing seller participation, while moderate gains in closings point to healthy demand absorbing much of the new supply
The southeastern tip of North Carolina has historically been a popular vacation spot for decades The mix of historical significance as one of one of the earliest military settlements at the entrance of the Cape Fear and the coastal beauty has made this area highly desirable Bald Head’s unique atmosphere, exclusivity and ban on cars has also contributed to it becoming a popular destination
The Southport market reflects some slight decreases in inventory and softer sales across most segments compared to last year In the $600K–$1M range, active listings increased, while closed transactions fell 23% from 2024, indicating a slight slowdown in demand The $1M–$2M segment also saw active listings decrease, while closed sales declined 50% The $2M+ market remained limited, with 4 active listings and only 1 closed sale, unchanged from last year Overall, the market has shifted toward higher inventory and slower sales velocity, suggesting increased leverage for buyers and more pricing pressure on sellers as competition intensifies, particularly in the mid-range segment
The southeastern tip of North Carolina has historically been a popular vacation spot for decades The mix of historical significance as one of one of the earliest military settlements at the entrance of the Cape Fear and the coastal beauty has made this area highly desirable Bald Head’s unique atmosphere, exclusivity and ban on cars has also contributed to it becoming a popular destination
Bald Head Island shows rising inventory and mixed sales performance across segments In the $600K–$1M range, active listings fell to just 2 homes, while closed sales also declined steeply to only 3 transactions in 2025, down 62% from 2024 The $1M–$2M segment saw active listings jump to 25 homes, yet closings slipped by 38%, indicating slower absorption Notably, the $2M+ market maintained stable closed sales at 3 units for both years, but active listings rose slightly to 17 homes Overall, the market is experiencing a substantial increase in available properties, particularly in the mid and upper price ranges, while sales activity has softened, pointing to growing leverage for buyers heading into the second half of the year
One of the most popular destinations for vacationers, Atlantic Beach, and Emerald Isle rest on North Carolina's northern barrier islands below the Outer Banks Emerald Isle is famous for its pristine, emerald-colored beaches and Atlantic Beach, north of Emerald Isle, is near popular Morehead City and across from the famous historic port town of Beaufort, NC
Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle reveals notable shifts across price segments compared to the second quarter of 2024 In the $600K–$1M range, active listings and closed sales held steady (33 in 2025 vs 35 in 2024) The $1M–$2M segment showed a rise in active listings (29 homes from 23) but an 18% decline in closed transactions, indicating a slower absorption rate Notably, the $2M+ market had 23 active listings up substantially with only 8 closings in 2025, a modest 33% increase over the 6 closings in 2024, yet no pending sales recorded, underscoring buyer hesitation at the high end Overall, inventory has expanded across all price points, while closed sales are flat or down, pointing to a market increasingly favorable to buyers as supply begins to outpace demand, particularly in the luxury tiers
COASTAL MARKET FORECAST
Summary:
Coming into the second quarter of 2025, the real estate market across coastal North Carolina reflects a consistent theme of expanding inventory, particularly in the $600K–$2M segments Wilmington demonstrated the most robust performance overall, with $600K–$1M closed sales rising 23% and $1M–$2M closings up 42%, underscoring healthy buyer demand that kept pace with new listings Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach also posted solid gains, including a 250% surge in $2M+ closings, suggesting renewed confidence in high-end properties In contrast, Topsail Island and Oak Island both saw year-over-year declines in closings of 8–23%, signaling some buyer hesitation
Regional Variations:
Smaller and mid-sized markets showed diverging trends Southport saw $1M–$2M closed transactions drop 50%, despite a slight increase in listings Holden Beach stood out for balance: the $1M–$2M segment doubled in closings (from 8 to 16) while inventory increased only modestly Figure 8 Island and Porters Neck recorded 23% higher $600K–$1M sales and stable high-end activity, indicating steady demand among moveup and affluent buyers Carolina and Kure Beach were mixed $600K–$1M inventory and closed sales inched up 12%, with mid-luxury inventory increases not being matched with the same sale increases hinting at slower turnover and more competition for sellers
Luxury Market Highlights:
Wrightsville Beach & Landfall emerged as the strongest luxury performer The $2M+ segment saw closed sales jump 183% (from 6 to 17) and the $1M–$2M bracket climbed 40% (from 25 to 35), while inventory remained moderate This signals sustained appetite for premium homes, likely driven by affluent buyers seeking second residences and lifestyle-driven relocations Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle displayed softer momentum, with active listings remaining steady in the $600K–$1M range and closings flat year-over-year
Forecast:
Looking ahead to late 2025 and early 2026, the coastal markets are likely to remain active but increasingly segmented The mid-market ($600K–$1M) is expected to see rising days on market and more frequent price adjustments as inventory outpaces demand in places like Southport, Topsail, and Carolina Beach Conversely, the high-end luxury segment particularly in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach will likely maintain momentum, supported by strong relocation and investment demand Sellers in the $1M–$2M range should be prepared for a more competitive landscape and consider strategic pricing and staging Overall, buyers will benefit from greater choice and negotiating leverage, while sellers must be attuned to market shifts to capture qualified buyers efficiently
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The long history of high demand of the Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach area has led many people to turn to other markets for luxury inventory. To read our most recent report on coastal North Carolina's emerging markets, please visit the link below.
