Why Some NC Homes are Selling Like Hotcakes and Others are Just... Aren't

Remember a few years ago in Harnett, Johnston, Cumberland, and Southern Wake Counties? You could list a literal shack with a leaky roof for a crazy price, and people would be lining up with multiple cash offers, fighting each other like it was the last jar of Cheerwine. Ah, those were the days!

Well, put your feet back on the ground, buttercup. That party is over.

Inventory is up—way up! We're talking almost 20% more houses than last year, and in some areas, we're back to 2017-2019 levels. For you, the hopeful seller, this means one very important thing: Your house can no longer be "just fine." It needs to be the star quarterback on listing day, not the awkward kid eating lunch alone.

The Anatomy of a Shelf-Sitter

The real kicker? Most of the inventory growth isn't from a flood of New Listings. It's from Active Listings—the poor, sad homes that are just sitting on the market, gathering dust and realtor excuses. These are the homes that got put on the bench, and they're refusing to sell.

You do NOT want your Southern Wake split-level or your Cumberland County ranch to become a famous "Active Listing" landmark.

The Simple, Painful Truth About Selling Now

The secret to a quick sale in this new reality is simple: Make your house so easy to say "yes" to, a buyer could accidentally agree to buy it while distracted by their phone.

To achieve this state of buyer Nirvana, you must:

1. Stop Clinging to the Past: That neighbor who sold for an astronomical price three years ago? God bless 'em. Their ship sailed. You need to price your home based on what's happening right now in Johnston or Harnett County, not based on your fantasy fund or a family legend.

2. Fix Your Darn Stuff: Those "charming" cosmetic issues you've been ignoring? A buyer sees them as a $10,000 problem, not a $200 repair. Fix the leaky faucet. Replace the stained carpet. Buyers want move-in ready, not a DIY project that costs them weekends.  But be smart about your fixes. Check out our blog Don't Fix Everything for more details.

3. Showtime, Baby: Stage the house like a professional (or at least hide your extensive collection of porcelain dolls). Good photos and great presentation are your only chance to get a buyer off pause and into your house.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Stale Listings

According to the experts, here's why that cute little house in Fayetteville or Clayton keeps seeing its listing days tick up:

• Priced Too High from the Get-Go: This is the biggest killer. Your first two weeks are your most critical. Get the price wrong, and you miss the boat entirely.

• Skipping Necessary Repairs: See above. No one wants to start their homeownership journey with a broken HVAC.

• A "Creative" Staging Effort: Buyers want to see a future home, not your past life.

• Sellers Who Won't Negotiate: When a buyer makes a fair offer, don't get greedy. No one likes a high-maintenance relationship.

• Limited Showings: You have to be ready to let people in. All the time. No exceptions. Think of it as a temporary side gig.

• Photos Taken with a Potato: If your listing pictures look like they were snapped by a dizzy squirrel, you're not going to get clicks.

Your Superhero in a Slightly Less Super Market

Selling quickly isn't luck; it's a strategy. And you are probably not a real estate marketing genius. This is where a great agent comes in.

A good agent doesn't just stick a sign in your yard. They'll tell you the cold, hard truth about that weird paint color, suggest a price that actually sells in your specific corner of the NC market, and craft a marketing plan that makes your house stand out from the 20% extra competition.  At Anthem we offer digital staging on vacant homes, we can even physically stage empty homes. We also do a full court press on social media.  Again, its all about the eyeballs on your property.

As the big wigs say, sellers with an agent are almost twice as likely to accept an offer within a month. Why? Because agents know how to stop your house from becoming another dusty "Active Listing" statistic.

Bottom Line: The low-inventory free-for-all is over. If you want your house in Harnett, Johnston, Cumberland, or Southern Wake to sell fast, you need to be realistic about price, get the house looking sharp, and partner with a pro.

Let Anthem help you find out exactly what your house needs to move off the market before it gets a nickname.