January 2026 Market Overview
January 2026 opened with a market that's slower, wider, and more deliberate than a year ago. Across the Asheville region, inventory sits at 4.4 months of supply, and homes are taking a median of 90 days on the market before going under contract. From listing to closing, expect roughly 140 days. That's a meaningfully longer timeline than a year ago across every metric.
Pricing tells a consistent story. Regionally, homes are closing at about 91% of their original asking price, which suggests sellers are absorbing real price adjustments before and during negotiations. Median sale prices have held relatively steady, down just slightly year over year, but the gap between what sellers ask and what buyers pay continues to widen. This is a market that rewards accuracy from the start.
January 2026 Buncombe Co.
- Inventory: 4.2 months
- DOM: 86 / 97 (med / CDOM)
- List-to-Close: 135 days
- Orig. List to Sale: ~91.5%
- Sale Price: $465K / $697K (med / avg)
- Active Listings: 1,173 (+40% y)
- New Listings: 242 (-21% y)
- Homes Sold: 191
Sellers
The data is clear: pricing accuracy at listing is the single biggest factor in how fast your home moves. Buncombe County homes are closing at roughly 91.5% of their original ask, and days on market have climbed significantly year over year. Overpriced homes are sitting, accumulating days, and often requiring one or more reductions before drawing an offer. Well-priced, well-presented homes are still transacting, but even they should expect about 4.5 months from list to close. Patience and realism are doing the heavy lifting right now.
Buyers
Inventory is up nearly 40% year over year in Buncombe County, and the pace has slowed enough to give buyers real breathing room. Competition is thinner than it's been in years, and the original-list-to-sale gap suggests there's genuine room to negotiate. That said, preparation still matters. Get pre-approved, know your numbers, and be ready to move when the right home appears. Once under contract, plan for about 6 to 7 weeks to close.
Hot Take: The Pricing Gap
Sellers are still pricing for 2024. Buyers are shopping in 2026. The ones meeting in the middle are the ones closing.
