Published October 27, 2026 in Market Update

More homes are selling, but buyers still have choices in the Primary market

By Jodi Bakst

Real estate, Primary market

The one fact that changes what you should do right now: more homes sold AND more homes are sitting available. That means pricing carefully is the move, for everyone.

These numbers cover the three months ending August 31, 2026. Every count comes from the Real Estate Data Aggregator for the Primary market, which spans ZIP codes 27514, 27516, 27510, 27707, 27713, 27278, 27312, 27519, 27513, 27511, 27560, and 27302.

Sales are rising across the Primary market

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,671 homes sold in the Primary market. That is up 8.2% from the same three months in 2025. Demand is real and it is moving.

Pending sales tell the same story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,583 pending sales, up 8.1% year over year. Buyers are still making decisions.

Buyers have more to choose from

The Real Estate Data Aggregator found 1,644 homes for sale in the Primary market, up 1.5% from a year ago. More choices mean buyers can compare. That is good for them and a signal for sellers to price carefully from the start.

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.32% as of October 22, 2026. That rate shapes what buyers can afford. It has not stopped sales from rising, but it does slow some decisions.

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing-home sales nationally reached 3.99 million units in September 2026. Prices nationally rose 1.3% that same month. The Primary market is moving in the same direction.

Some ZIP codes are moving faster than others

Not every ZIP code tells the same story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows wide differences in speed and price across this market.

ZIP 27511 in Cary had a median of just 19 days on market, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 27312 in Pittsboro sat at 53 days. That is a 34-day gap between two parts of the same market.

Prices held up in most ZIP codes

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that most ZIP codes saw prices hold steady or tick up. A few dipped a little.

ZIP 27519 in Cary led the market at a median of $742,850, up 5.9% from a year ago, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. ZIP 27302 in Mebane came in at $373,490, down 1.6%. ZIP 27510 in Carrboro dipped 23.3% to $441,000, though that ZIP had only 30 sales, so the mix of homes sold can move that number.

How quickly are homes going under contract?

Speed varies a lot by ZIP code. The Real Estate Data Aggregator tracks the share of homes that went under contract within two weeks of listing.

In ZIP 27511 in Cary, 52.4% of homes went under contract within two weeks, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found. In ZIP 27560 in Morrisville, that share was just 13.9%, down 14.9 points from a year ago. Same market, very different pace.

The national picture adds context

Zillow reported that newly pending listings dropped 12.8% year over year in its latest weekly data as of October 23, 2026. The Primary market is holding up better than that national trend.

Zillow also reported that inventory nationally is expected to grow 6.6% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Primary market's 1.5% inventory rise is more modest than that national forecast.

The National Association of Realtors reported that national inventory rose to 1.60 million homes in September 2026. Buyers nationally and locally have more to look at than they did a year ago.

What this means for you

More sales and more inventory at the same time is a balanced signal. Sellers who price to the data are still closing near list. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows most ZIP codes averaging 98% to 99.7% of list price.

Buyers have more time and more choices than a year ago in most ZIP codes. A few pockets, like ZIP 27511 in Cary and ZIP 27513 in Cary, are still moving fast.