LUXURY MARKET REPORT Coastal NC | Q3 2026
contents Q3 Market Report | October 2026 COMMUNITY UPDATES Wrightsville Beach & Landfall Wilmington Carolina & Kure Beach Topsail Island & Surf City Ocean Isle & Sunset Beach Oak Island Holden Beach Figure Eight Island, Porter's Neck, & Hampstead Southport Bald Head Atlantic Beach & Emerald Isle
FORECAST Summary & Projection to 2027
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Ste ady De ma nd A More Balanced Market
The third quarter of 2026 reflects a coastal North Carolina real estate market that remains active while continuing to shift toward greater balance. Across the markets analyzed—from Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle to Wilmington, Southport, Topsail Island, and the Cape Fear beaches—results varied by location and price point. Several areas posted notable year-over-year gains, including Bald Head Island at 40.9%, Figure Eight Island, Porter’s Neck and Hampstead at 34.9%, Wilmington at 21.9%, and Southport at 21.9%. Meanwhile, Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle, Oak Island, and Topsail Island experienced modest declines, highlighting the increasingly localized nature of the coastal market. Higher-priced properties were a particular source of strength. Wilmington’s $1 million– $2 million sales increased 42.3%, while its $2 million-plus segment rose 90%. Wrightsville Beach and Landfall recorded gains of 40% in the $1 million–$2 million range and 25% above $2 million, while Bald Head Island and the Figure Eight Island, Porter’s Neck and Hampstead market also saw substantial growth between $1 million and $2 million. At the same time, strong activity below $1 million in markets such as Holden Beach and Southport demonstrates that buyer demand remains broad. Looking ahead, coastal North Carolina appears positioned for steady but increasingly selective activity. Growing inventory is providing buyers with more choices and negotiating leverage, while healthy pending sales indicate continued demand. As the market becomes more balanced, competitive pricing and property condition will likely play a greater role in determining sales performance, with well-positioned properties continuing to attract buyers across a wide range of coastal communities.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH & LANDFALL
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. The Wrightsville Beach and Landfall real estate market showed solid growth in 2026, particularly at higher price points. Closings between $600,000 and $1 million declined from 12 to eight, a 33.3% decrease, while $1 million–$2 million sales increased from 15 to 21, a 40% gain. The $2 million-plus segment also strengthened, rising from 16 to 20 closings, a 25% increase. Overall, sales increased from 43 in 2025 to 49 in 2026, representing a 14% year-over-year gain. With 63 active listings and 19 pending sales, demand remains particularly healthy in the luxury segment. Looking ahead, the market appears positioned for continued strength above $1 million, while the lower price range may remain more selective and price-sensitive.
WILMINGTON
Wilmington is a historic port city along the Cape Fear River that features three gorgeous beaches. The historic artistic culture is complemented by the small beach town aesthetic offered by toprated pristine beaches at Wrightsville Beach, historic Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach. The art, music, food, architecture, history, and natural beauty keep Wilmington in the running as top places to move in the U.S. The Wilmington real estate market showed strong growth across all price ranges in 2026. Closings between $600,000 and $1 million increased from 180 in 2025 to 202 in 2026, a 12.2% gain, while $1 million–$2 million sales jumped from 52 to 74, a 42.3% increase. The luxury market was especially strong, with $2 million-plus closings rising from 10 to 19, a 90% increase. Overall, sales climbed from 242 to 295, representing a 21.9% year-over-year increase. With 320 active listings and 107 pending sales, demand remains healthy despite greater buyer choice. Looking ahead, Wilmington appears positioned for continued momentum, particularly in the $1 million-plus market, although higher inventory should keep competitive pricing important.
CAROLINA & KURE BEACH
With its proximity to Wilmington, the ferry to Southport, and the limited inventory 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 small-town beach atmosphere, this area’s real estate market has seen major jumps in property values as well as unit sell-through. The Carolina and Kure Beach real estate market showed modest growth overall this quarter, with the strongest activity below $2 million. Sales in the $600,000–$1 million range increased from 50 to 55, a 10% year-over-year gain, while $1 million–$2 million closings rose from 15 to 20, a strong 33.3% increase. The $2 million-plus segment declined from two sales to one, though the small volume makes percentage changes less significant. Overall, closings increased from 67 in Q3 2025 to 76 in Q3 2026, a 13.4% increase. With 151 active listings and 32 pending sales, buyers have a healthy selection of properties while demand remains solid. Looking ahead, the market should maintain steady momentum, particularly in the $600,000–$2 million range, while higher inventory may continue to favor competitively priced homes.
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 real estate market showed mixed performance in 2026, with stronger activity in the $1 million–$2 million segment. Closings between $600,000 and $1 million declined from 36 in 2025 to 27 in 2026, a 25% decrease, while $1 million–$2 million sales increased from 23 to 28, a 21.7% gain. Sales above $2 million remained unchanged at five. Overall, closings declined slightly from 64 to 60, a 6.3% year-over-year decrease. With 173 active listings and 21 pending sales, buyers have significantly more choices across all price ranges. Looking ahead, Topsail Island should see continued demand in the $1 million–$2 million range, while elevated inventory may create a more competitive environment for sellers and greater negotiating opportunities for buyers.
OCEAN ISLE & SUNSET BEACH
Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach are two popular islands in the southernmost 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 rare views of the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean. The Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach real estate market showed positive overall momentum in 2026, led by strong activity in the $600,000–$1 million range. Closings in this segment increased from 58 in 2025 to 67 in 2026, a 15.5% gain, while $1 million–$2 million sales remained nearly steady, declining slightly from 24 to 23, or 4.2%. The $2 million-plus segment was unchanged at four sales. Overall, closings increased from 86 to 94, representing a 9.3% year-over-year increase. With 144 active listings and 33 pending sales, buyers have ample inventory while demand remains healthy. Looking ahead, the market should maintain steady momentum, particularly below $1 million, while higher inventory may encourage more competitive pricing across all price ranges.
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, and 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 real estate market showed varied performance in 2026, with strength at the luxury end offsetting slower activity in other price ranges. Sales between $600,000 and $1 million remained nearly unchanged, with a 1.6% decrease, while $1 million–$2 million sales declined from 28 to 18, a 35.7% drop. In contrast, $2 million-plus closings increased from two to six, a 200% gain. Overall, closings declined from 91 to 84, representing a 7.7% year-over-year decrease. With 146 active listings and 33 pending sales, buyers have considerably more choice across the market. Looking ahead, Oak Island should maintain steady activity, but elevated inventory may favor buyers and place greater emphasis on competitive pricing, particularly in the $1 million–$2 million segment.
HOLDEN BEACH
Holden Beach, a favorite South Brunswick Island, 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, Ben's grandson, surveyed a section which he called Holden Beach Resort in 1924. The Holden Beach market showed mixed results in 2026, with strong growth in the $600,000–$1 million segment. Closings in this range jumped from 9 in 2025 to 19 in 2026, an impressive 111.1% increase, while $1 million–$2 million sales declined from 13 to seven, a 46.2% decrease. Sales above $2 million decreased from three to two, a 33.3% decline, although volume remains limited. Overall, closings increased slightly from 25 to 28, representing a 12% year-over-year gain. With 40 active listings and nine pending sales, the market continues to show healthy activity. Looking ahead, momentum should remain strongest below $1 million, while higher-priced properties may experience a slower pace and greater sensitivity to pricing.
FIGURE EIGHT, PORTER'S 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 real estate market north of Wilmington posted strong year-over-year growth in the third quarter. Sales in the $600,000–$1 million range increased from 49 to 63, a 28.6% gain, while $1 million–$2 million closings rose from 12 to 19, a significant 58.3% increase. The $2 million-plus segment also improved from two to three sales, although transaction volume remains small. Overall, closings climbed from 63 in 2025 to 85 in 2026, representing a robust 34.9% increase. With 117 active listings and 36 pending sales, demand appears healthy across the market. Looking ahead, continued pending activity suggests positive momentum into the next quarter, particularly in the $600,000–$2 million range, while available inventory should provide buyers with greater choice.
SOUTHPORT
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 real estate market showed solid overall growth in the third quarter, driven primarily by the $600,000–$1 million segment. Closings in this range increased from 44 in 2025 to 64 in 2026, a strong 45.5% increase, while $1 million–$2 million sales declined from 18 to 10, a 44.4% decrease. The $2 million-plus segment doubled from two to four closings. Overall, sales increased from 64 to 78, representing a 21.9% year-over-year gain. With 116 active listings and 34 pending sales, buyer demand remains healthy despite increased inventory. Looking ahead, Southport should maintain positive momentum, particularly below $1 million, while higher-priced properties may require more competitive pricing to attract buyers.
BALD HEAD ISLAND
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 Bald Head Island real estate market showed strong growth in 2026, led by the $1 million–$2 million segment. Sales in this range increased from 14 in 2025 to 20 in 2026, a 42.9% year-overyear increase, while the $2 million-plus category recorded seven closings compared with eight last year, a 12.5% decline. The $600,000–$1 million segment also recorded four sales in 2026 compared with none in 2025. Overall, closings increased from 22 to 31, representing a substantial 40.9% increase year over year. With 38 active listings and five pending sales, Bald Head Island continues to demonstrate healthy demand, particularly in the $1 million–$2 million range. Looking ahead, the market is positioned for continued activity, although growing inventory may create a more balanced environment and make strategic pricing increasingly important.
ATLANTIC BEACH & EMERALD ISLE
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. The Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle real estate market remained relatively steady in 2026, with strength concentrated in the $1 million–$2 million range. Closings between $600,000 and $1 million fell 19.4%, from 31 in 2025 to 25 in 2026, while $1 million–$2 million sales increased 25%, from 20 to 25. In the $2 million-plus market, closings declined from three to two, a 33.3% decrease. Overall, closings across the three price ranges dipped just 3.7% year over year, from 54 to 52. With 122 active listings and 15 pending sales, inventory remains plentiful, giving buyers more choices and negotiating power. Looking ahead, activity should remain steady, with the $1 million–$2 million segment likely to continue outperforming while competitive pricing becomes increasingly important across the market.
COASTAL MARKET FORECAST The third quarter of 2026 showed continued resilience across coastal North Carolina, with most markets recording year-over-year growth despite greater inventory and increasingly selective buyers. Bald Head Island posted one of the strongest gains, with closings up 40.9%, followed by Figure Eight Island, Porter’s Neck and Hampstead at 34.9%. Wilmington and Southport each increased approximately 21.9%, while Wrightsville Beach and Landfall, Carolina and Kure Beach, Holden Beach, and Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach also recorded gains. Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle, Oak Island, and Topsail Island experienced modest declines, emphasizing the increasingly localized nature of market conditions. Activity remained strongest in the $600,000–$1 million range across many communities, while demand for higher-priced properties was particularly notable in several luxury markets. Wilmington’s $1 million–$2 million closings increased 42.3%, and its $2 million-plus sales rose 90%. Wrightsville Beach and Landfall saw sales increase 40% between $1 million and $2 million and 25% above $2 million. Bald Head Island and the Figure Eight Island, Porter’s Neck and Hampstead market also experienced significant growth in the $1 million–$2 million category, demonstrating continued strength among higher-end buyers. At the same time, increased active inventory is giving buyers more choices and creating a more balanced marketplace. Healthy pending activity across most communities suggests demand remains intact, but buyers can afford to be more selective. This environment places greater importance on competitive pricing, property condition, and presentation as sellers compete for buyer attention. Looking ahead, coastal North Carolina appears positioned for steady but increasingly selective activity through the remainder of 2026. Current pending sales should support continued transactions, while elevated inventory may moderate the pace of sales in some areas. Overall, the market appears to be moving toward greater balance rather than a broad slowdown, with continued opportunities for both buyers and sellers across the region.
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