Are Brunswick County Home Prices Falling? What Sellers Must Know About the New Construction Divide
The 6-Month Forecast: Improvement, Not a Correction
While the national conversation focuses on uncertainty, I believe the Brunswick County market will strengthen over the next six months.
My forecast is positive: home prices will generally remain stable or see slight increases. This stability is fundamentally driven by the strong population growth and expected buyer incentive from lowering interest rates. As affordability improves, buyer activity will return, which should keep prices firm across the county.
However, viewing Brunswick County as one single market is a mistake. The real story lies in the contrast between two distinct segments:
The Great Divide: New Construction vs. Resale
January typically sees lower inventory, as many sellers wait for the spring market to list their homes. However, this also means less competition for sellers already on the market. For buyers, fewer options could mean limited choices but potentially less competition on pricing.
Brunswick County is currently in a unique position where the market dynamics are splitting based on age and inventory:
New Construction is Exploding: Builders are offering incredible incentives and low prices on homes built in bulk. This volume of inventory is attracting a significant portion of the buyer pool with attractive financing options.
Resale Homes are Dropping Significantly: Because of the builder competition, existing resale homes in the same towns are struggling. We are seeing these homes stay on the market for longer periods and requiring large price reductions to sell.
This isn't a market correction; it's a massive shift in buyer preference driven by cost and incentive. Resale sellers are no longer competing against last year's prices—they are competing directly against the builder across the street who is offering 2-1 buydowns.
Expert Advice: Stop Living in the 2023 Market
For sellers planning to list in the spring, the single most important piece of advice is to stop living in 2023. You must face the current market honestly to have success.
Price Aggressively (Based on Your Timeline): Your price must reflect the current competition, especially the new construction incentives. Price your home to sell based on your timeline, not your wish list.
Elevate Presentation and Staging: Buyers must immediately see the value of a lived-in, well-maintained resale home. Your home must be impeccably staged and look its absolute best for every showing.
Invest in High-Quality Visuals: Buyers will see your home online first. Secure high-quality photography and videography to compete with the builder's perfect model home photos.
Launch with a Plan: Have a detailed marketing plan in place to launch your home from day one. In this competitive environment, you must capitalize on every advantage immediately after listing.
Final Thoughts
The market is balanced, but the competition is fierce. If you are selling a resale home in Brunswick County, let's schedule a consultation to create a pricing and marketing plan that beats the builders. With deep knowledge of Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, Oak Island, and surrounding Brunswick County areas, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Contact me today, and let’s make your real estate goals a reality!
👉 Visit ncbeachrealestate.com for more insights and property listings.
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