National Headlines vs. Craven County Real Estate Data

I saw a recent Economy and Personal Finance Gallup Poll from early April showed that 67% of Americans say now is a bad time to buy a home.

That number is actually down from a high of 78% in 2023 and 2024. Gallup started asking this same question in 1978, and the sentiment did not rise above 50% for the first time until late 2010 during the Great Recession. Now, it has stayed above 50% for five straight years.

But here is the question: does our local real estate data in Craven County agree with that national feeling?

I am not so sure.

In fact, the number of sales in Craven County is up 5.5% compared to last year.

National Headlines Do Not Always Tell the Local Story

If you have read any of my writings over the last 23ish years of real estate, you know I love numbers.

I actually had a whole story written in my head about RED Day, which we celebrate at Keller Williams Realty every year on the second Thursday of May. RED Day is an amazing time when every Keller Williams Realty office worldwide closes for the day to take part in local community-based service projects. It is truly something special to be a part of.

However, the real estate data nerd in me prevails again.

The numbers are telling the story of what is going on in the market right now.

Craven County Homes Are Selling Faster Than They Have in Months

The average days on market in Craven County, on a month-over-month basis, dropped to its lowest point since October of 2025.

Homes are now averaging 73 days on the market.

At first glance, you might think the market is hustling and bustling for everyone. After all, average days on market are lower and the number of sales is higher.

But that is not the case for every part of the market.

The Market Is Moving Differently Depending on Price Range

Year to date, the average sales price in Craven County is down 1.25%, while the median price is up 3.23%.

That may sound contradictory, but it has a lot to do with what is selling and what is not selling.

At the end of April, homes priced between $300,000 and $549,999 had seen strong activity. Craven County has sold 287 homes in that range compared to 232 last year.

That is about a 24% increase.

The price range from $550,000 to $849,999 tells a very different story. In the first four months of this year, only 16 homes in Craven County have closed in that range compared to 32 last year.

You read that correctly.

Only about four homes per month are selling across that entire $300,000 price spread.

So the question Gallup has been asking since 1978 has to be asked again.

Is Now a Good or Bad Time to Buy a House?

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications went up last week, and purchase activity jumped 4%.

That shows buyers may be realizing that 6% to 6.5% interest rates are going to be the norm for now.

It is also important to note that sellers are negotiating and trying to price homes more in line with the market to get them sold.

In Craven County, homes that closed in April had sellers negotiate an average of 2.8% off their price. That is up from 5% off in January.

In the last seven days, we saw:

• 47 properties negotiated to contract
• 51 price changes

Both are positive signs for buyers.

Fear in the Market Can Create Opportunity

Is now a bad time to buy a home?

As a Realtor® and real estate investor, I believe most of the time is a good time to buy a home — depending on your situation, your goals, and the property in front of you.

Warren Buffett said:

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”

If more people are fearful of the market, there may be more opportunities for the buyers who are willing to look closely at the numbers.

We are still seeing some homes sell in a matter of days, while others are taking longer to sell. We also have buyers looking in both the busy and slower price ranges who still cannot find “the one.”

That tells us this market is not dead.

It is selective.

Craven County Still Has Momentum

Look around at what is happening in Craven County.

Cherry Point is growing for both Marines and civilian employees. Events happen every weekend that continue to draw people here. I-42 is making its way through the region and will encourage more growth for businesses and industries in our area. Bosch is continuing its work here and bringing more people into the community.

All of this highlights something we already know:

We are lucky to live in such a wonderful area.

Final Thought: Is Buying a Home Right Now a Bad Idea?

Do you think buying a home now would be a bad idea?

I think not.

The national headlines may say one thing, but the local numbers tell a more detailed story. In Craven County, some parts of the market are moving quickly, some price ranges are slower, sellers are negotiating, and buyers may have more opportunities than they realize.

The key is understanding the local data — not just reacting to national sentiment.

Click HERE to hear from Rowland himself!