February 2026 • Market Minute
Asheville & WNC Area Market Update ⟡ Buyer & Seller Insights with Annie Blue Pettry
Low heat, slow cook. February rewards the patient and the precise.
3 Month Market Snapshot
3 Month Market Snapshot
February 2026 Market Overview
February continued the pattern that January established: more inventory, longer timelines, and buyers operating with real leverage for the first time in years. Buncombe County is sitting at about 4.1 months of supply with a median 81 days to contract (Ruiz), though cumulative days on market stretch to 109 when you account for relisted properties. From listing to closing, sellers should plan on roughly 132 days. That's a meaningful shift from the pace we saw a year ago.
Pricing tells the fuller story. Homes are closing at about 90% of their original asking price and 95% of their final list price, which means sellers are absorbing roughly 5% in price reductions before an offer even comes in. Median sale prices in Buncombe dipped to $468K, down nearly 6% year over year. The average, at $548K, remains elevated by a strong high-end segment, but the broad middle of the market is softening. Showings are up 25% month over month in Buncombe, though, which signals that buyers are active. They're just not rushing.
Februaru 2026 ⟡ Buncombe Co.
Inventory: 4.1 months
Days to Contract: 81 (median, Ruiz)
DOM: 91 / 109 (med / CDOM)
List-to-Close: ~132 days
Orig. List to Sale: ~90-91%
Price Cut Before Contract: ~5%
Final List to Sale: 95%
Sale Price: $468K / $548K (med / avg)
Active Listings: 1,161-1,482 (+29% y)
New Listings: 301 (-9% y)
Homes Sold: 188-194
Sellers
Pricing accurately from day one continues to be the defining factor. The data shows sellers are giving up about 5% before even receiving an offer, and homes that overshoot their market land in the 100+ day category fast. Well-positioned homes in the $300K-$400K range are moving most consistently, with strong pending activity in that bracket. Strategy, preparation, and realistic expectations are what separate a smooth 4-month transaction from a stale listing and multiple reductions. Plan for roughly 4 to 4.5 months from list to close.
Buyers
Inventory is up nearly 30% year over year in Buncombe, and buyer interest is climbing. Showings jumped 25% from January, particularly in the $319K-$463K range where buyer interest hit 4.4 showings per listing. There's room to negotiate across most price points, and the original-list-to-sale gap confirms it. That said, well-priced homes in strong locations are still drawing attention, so readiness matters. Get pre-approved, know your range, and plan for about 6 weeks from contract to keys.
Hot Take: Farmer’s Market Shoppers
Buyers showed up in February. They're just shopping like it's a farmer's market, not a fire sale.
Based on information from Canopy MLS and Ruiz Reports for the Asheville Region.