2025 CHARLOTTE Housing Market Sales Decline: What It Means

by TOP CHARLOTTE REAL ESTATE AGENT Danielle Edwards

2025 Charlotte housing marketing sales decline and what it means.

Here in the Charlotte real estate market our numbers have caught up to the rest of the nation.  I have gathered information from all the top real estate sites and put together my report. It all starts with supply and demand. As a top real estate agent in the Charlotte area who has had a variety of listings this year, I have seen first hand the dramatic affects of supply and demand and when economic woes are top of mind. You can see from the graph below what a difference three years makes in simply the percent of list price sellers are receiving on their Charlotte area homes.

How today compares with past drops

Housing cycles are not new. Recovery happens, but timing varies.

• 1980s recession: 50% sales drop, ~4-year recovery
• 2008 financial crisis: 51% sales drop, ~3-year recovery
• COVID 2020: 27% sales drop, ~8-month recovery
• 2022–Present: 39% sales drop, recovery TBD

Prices have leveled off

Despite slower sales, prices aren’t falling off a cliff. After early-year softness, list prices stabilized, with July closing around $439,450. Flat isn’t flashy, but it beats freefall.

Builders are buying down the pain

New-construction sellers are leaning in. Per the National Association of Home Builders, 66% of builders are offering incentives such as rate buydowns and closing-cost help. That keeps new homes competitive with resales and gives buyers leverage. A reported 39% of builders are also lowering pricing too!

Days on market – Charlotte Real Estate

Homes are taking longer to go from listing to closing date. That means buyers get more time to evaluate and negotiate, while sellers should budget for a longer runway.

Quick takeaways for Charlotte buyers and sellers

• Two-thirds of builders offer incentives. Ask about buydowns and closing costs.
• First-time buyers made up 24% of all homebuyers, down from 32% the previous year.
• Many home owners are choosing to stay in their homes with low interest rates since the math does not make sense whether it is to upgrade or downsize.

Note: Some national outlets report “homes selling far below list.” Local results vary by price point and neighborhood. Want a read on your property or target area? I’ll run the numbers and bring the comps.