3rd Quarter 2026- Asheville and Buncombe County Real Estate Market Analysis

Asheville / Buncombe County Market Analysis

The Asheville and Buncombe County housing market stabilized in the third quarter of 2026, with conditions remaining generally balanced between buyers and sellers in the market overall, but with variations between price ranges.

Number of homes sold  Compared to the first three quarters of 2025, the number of homes sold in Asheville rose 6.8% in 2026, while in Buncombe County the number of home sales rose by 8.7%. Home sales in Asheville and Buncombe County were also both higher when comparing the third quarter of 2025 and the third quarter of 2026. Interest rates rose in the last month of the third quarter of 2026, and if they stay elevated throughout the end of the year, fourth quarter home sale may decline.

Inventory levels  Inventory is the best predictor of market direction. A balanced market is typically defined as having six months of inventory—meaning it would take six months to sell all available homes at the previous year’s sales pace. Less than six months indicates a seller’s market, while more than six months signals a buyer’s market. Rising inventory indicates movement toward a buyer’s market, while declining inventory signals a shift toward a seller’s market. Comparing the third quarters of 2025 and 2026, inventory levels fluctuated between price ranges, increasing in some price ranges and decreasing in others. Some lower- and mid-priced segments remained below six months of inventory, most categories were near 6 months, and some higher-priced segments exceeded six months.

Median home sale price The median home sale price in the City of Asheville was $500,000 in the first three quarters of 2026, which was unchanged from 2025. The median home sale price of $479,000 in the first three quarters of 2026 in Buncombe County was virtually unchanged from the $477,000 median home sale price in 2025. The median home sale price decreased in Asheville and increased in Buncombe County between the second and third quarters of 2026, which is most likely random variability between quarters, but which is a data point that will be important to monitor for future trends.

Average Days on Market (DOM)  DOM rose between 2025 and the first three quarters of 2026, with 82 DOM in the City and 85 DOM in the County, showing that buyers are taking longer to make home buying decisions. The current figures are similar to the pre-Covid DOM numbers of 2019, when the market was also balanced.

For a complete market analysis, including Trends in Green Homes, Inventory or Price Per Square Foot, view the entire report here. If you have any questions or would like a price evaluation of your house, please contact one of our agents or call us at (828) 707-9556.

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