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LUXURY MARKET REPORT & FORECAST

Western North Carolina | Q3 2026

contents Q3 Market Report & Forecast | October 2026 MARKET REPORT Western North Carolina’s housing market remained balanced during the third quarter of 2026, with healthy transaction activity continuing despite elevated inventory and a more selective buyer environment.

COMMUNITY UPDATES Asheville (City, North) Downtown Asheville Condos Buncombe County Arden Biltmore Forest Henderson County Haywood Fairview/Fletcher Foothills

FORECAST Pending activity across many of the region’s key markets also provides a healthy pipeline heading into the final quarter.

PODCAST From market forecasts, interviews, and house marketing ideas, join the team at Ivester Jackson Blackstream I Christie's for the latest in Carolina’s luxury real estate content.

Current Trends

Western North Carolina’s housing market remained balanced during the third quarter of 2026, with healthy transaction activity continuing despite elevated inventory and a more selective buyer environment. Performance varied by price point, with the mid-market generally holding steady and the $1 million to $1.99 million segment showing mixed results across the region. The strongest momentum emerged at the top of the market, where several communities posted significant year-over-year gains in sales above $2 million. With buyers enjoying greater selection, strategic pricing and thoughtful presentation remain increasingly important for sellers. Pending activity across many of the region’s key markets also provides a healthy pipeline heading into the final quarter, even as increased inventory gives buyers more time and greater choice. At the same time, the strength of the ultra-luxury market demonstrates continued confidence in Western North Carolina, particularly among affluent buyers drawn to the region’s lifestyle, natural beauty, and distinctive properties.

CITY OF ASHEVILLE The City of Asheville delivered a solid third quarter, with strength at both ends of the market offsetting some softness in the core luxury segment. Sales between $600,000 and $999,999 increased from 114 to 131 transactions year over year, while the $1 million to $1.99 million segment declined from 54 to 44 closings. At the top of the market, activity accelerated considerably, with sales above $2 million climbing from 13 to 22, reinforcing Asheville’s continued appeal to high-end buyers. With 50 mid-market homes pending at quarter-end, activity in the $600,000 to $999,999 range remains encouraging heading into the fourth quarter, while elevated inventory across the market continues to provide buyers with greater selection.

LAST 90 DAYS

CITY OF ASHEVILLE

Q3 Homes Sold

NORTH ASHEVILLE North Asheville remained resilient during the third quarter, although performance varied across price points. Mid-market sales edged higher from 30 to 32 transactions, while the $1 million to $1.99 million segment slowed from 23 to 16 closings. Ultra-luxury activity remained healthy, with eight sales above $2 million compared with seven last year, demonstrating continued demand for exceptional properties in one of Asheville’s most established luxury markets. Inventory remains healthy across the upper price ranges, giving luxury buyers more choices while reinforcing the importance of proper pricing in an increasingly selective market.

LAST 90 DAYS

NORTH ASHEVILLE

Q3 Homes Sold

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE CONDOS Downtown Asheville’s condominium market posted one of its most encouraging quarters in recent years. Sales between $600,000 and $999,999 increased from three to ten transactions, while six condominiums closed between $1 million and $1.99 million compared with none during the same period last year. The $2 million-plus segment held steady with two closings, suggesting renewed buyer interest across a broad range of downtown price points. With inventory expanding across each price segment, buyers have more downtown options than in recent years, while pending activity suggests a measured but continuing level of demand.

LAST 90 DAYS

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE CONDOS

Q3 Homes Sold

BUNCOMBE COUNTY Buncombe County recorded healthy third-quarter activity, led by strong performance at the top of the market. Mid-market sales increased from 230 to 250 transactions, while the $1 million to $1.99 million segment moderated from 86 to 74 closings. Ultra-luxury activity was particularly impressive, with sales above $2 million rising from 20 to 37 year over year, demonstrating continued demand for exceptional homes throughout the county. Pending activity also remains healthy, particularly in the mid-market and core luxury segments, with 102 and 40 properties under contract, respectively at quarter-end.

LAST 90 DAYS

BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Q3 Homes Sold

BILTMORE FOREST Biltmore Forest’s limited size naturally produces greater quarter-to-quarter variation, but the upper end of the market performed particularly well during the third quarter. Six homes closed between $1 million and $1.99 million compared with five last year, while four properties sold above $2 million versus just one during the third quarter of 2025. With no active inventory below $1 million at quarter-end, opportunities remain particularly limited at the lower end of this tightly held market. Biltmore Forest remains firmly positioned as one of Western North Carolina’s most exclusive residential communities.

LAST 90 DAYS

BILTMORE FOREST

Q3 Homes Sold

ARDEN & FAIRVIEW/ FLETCHER Arden delivered one of the strongest performances in the region during the third quarter. Mid-market sales increased from 13 to 24 transactions, while the $1 million to $1.99 million segment softened from six to three closings. The standout was the ultra-luxury market, where sales above $2 million surged from five to 13, highlighting growing demand for high-end homes and communities throughout South Asheville. At the same time, 47 available properties above $2 million provide considerably more choice for buyers, suggesting that proper positioning will remain important despite the segment’s impressive sales growth. Fairview and Fletcher saw a more measured quarter, with buyers remaining selective. Mid-market sales declined from 28 to 22, while the $1M–$1.99M segment held relatively steady with seven closings versus eight last year. Two sales above $2M marked an improvement from none in the third quarter of 2025. With 15 mid-market and 10 luxury properties pending, activity could gain momentum heading into the fourth quarter.

LAST 90 DAYS

ARDEN

Q3 Homes Sold

LAST 90 DAYS

FAIRVIEW/FLETCHER

Q3 Homes Sold

Recently Offered

2511 Kanuga Road Hendersonville, NC

16 Smokey Ridge Trail Arden, NC

$2,300,000

$3,950,000

65 Crestwood Road Asheville, NC $2,875,000

35 Peach Knob Drive Asheville, NC $3,495,000

HENDERSON COUNTY Henderson County remained remarkably stable during the third quarter, particularly across its two largest price segments. Midmarket sales increased slightly from 82 to 85 transactions, while the $1 million to $1.99 million category recorded 30 closings compared with 35 in the third quarter of 2025. Ultra-luxury activity remained limited, with one sale above $2 million compared with two during the third quarter of last year, reflecting a market that continues to be driven primarily by buyers below the ultra-luxury threshold. The 51 pending mid-market sales provide a healthy pipeline heading into the final quarter, while increased luxury inventory continues to offer buyers greater choice.

LAST 90 DAYS

HENDERSON COUNTY

Q3 Homes Sold

HAYWOD COUNTY Haywood County delivered steady results during the quarter, with the mid-market continuing to account for the majority of activity. Sales between $600,000 and $999,999 increased from 47 to 50 transactions, while the $1 million to $1.99 million segment was essentially unchanged at 16 closings compared with 17 in last year’s third quarter. No properties above $2 million closed during the quarter, indicating that demand remains concentrated primarily below the ultra-luxury level. Nine pending sales in the $1 million to $1.99 million segment suggest continued buyer engagement heading into the fourth quarter, even as activity above $2 million remains limited.

LAST 90 DAYS

HAYWOOD COUNTY

Q3 Homes Sold

FOOTHILLS: POLK, RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND COUNTY The Foothills market produced mixed results during the third quarter as activity shifted toward the core luxury segment. Mid-market sales declined from 58 to 48 transactions, while closings between $1 million and $1.99 million increased from nine to 14. Ultra-luxury activity slowed from four transactions to one, illustrating the quarter-to-quarter variability that remains characteristic of the region’s relatively small $2 million-plus market. With 172 mid-market properties available and 20 pending at quarter-end, buyers continue to benefit from considerable selection, reinforcing the increasingly competitive environment for sellers. .

LAST 90 DAYS

FOOTHILLS: POLK, RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND COUNTIES

Q3 Homes Sold

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MARKET FORECAST WNC Market Enters Year-End With Balanced Conditions and Resilient Luxury Demand As Western North Carolina enters the final quarter of 2026, the market appears positioned to maintain its increasingly balanced footing. Pending activity across several of the region’s largest markets suggests a healthy pipeline through year-end, while elevated inventory should continue to provide buyers with greater choice and negotiating flexibility. Sellers face a market that increasingly rewards accurate pricing, strong presentation, and distinctive properties. Most encouraging is the continued strength at the top of the market, where significant gains in several key communities demonstrate that demand for Western North Carolina’s premier properties remains firmly intact.

Significant Sales

112 Moon Shadow Lane | Marshall | $5,500,000

12 Sunset Summit | Asheville | $3,700,000

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