Local Market Snapshot: May 2026 in the Longleaf Pine REALTORS® Region
What REALTORS® Are Seeing Across Our Communities Last Month
May housing data across the Longleaf Pine REALTORS® region points to a market with more inventory, continued long-term price resilience, and buyer activity that remains active but selective by price point, property type, and location.
Across all residential properties, new listings declined 2.0 percent year over year to 1,053, while pending sales increased 5.4 percent to 760. Closed sales, however, declined 12.3 percent to 680, indicating that while buyer interest remains, not all market activity is translating into completed transactions at the same pace. Homes for sale increased 14.1 percent to 2,542, bringing the region’s inventory to 4.1 months. Median sales price was nearly unchanged, down 0.3 percent to $304,000, while average sales price dipped 0.2 percent to $313,464.
The year-to-date view shows a steadier overall picture. Through May, new listings were up 2.6 percent, pending sales were up 2.7 percent, and closed sales were down only 0.7 percent compared to the same period last year. The year-to-date median sales price increased 1.4 percent to $298,990, while the average sales price rose 1.3 percent to $307,863.
The broader rolling 12-month view also suggests that the market continues to shift toward higher price points and varied product types. For the 12-month period spanning June 2025 through May 2026, pending sales increased 0.2 percent overall. The strongest pending sales gain came in the $350,000 and above price range, where activity rose 7.2 percent. New construction posted the strongest gain by construction status, up 5.5 percent, while townhouse/condo properties posted the strongest gain by property type, also up 7.2 percent. The rolling median sales price increased 3.1 percent to $299,000, and townhouse/condo properties continued to show notable price growth, with the rolling median sales price up 12.1 percent to $190,500.
Regional Overview
May’s numbers show a market that is moving on a more balanced footing than the highly compressed conditions of recent years. Inventory is up, buyers have more options, and pricing remains generally resilient. Days on market across all residential properties held steady year over year at 58 days, while the percent of list price received remained strong at 98.5 percent. That combination points to a market where correctly priced and well-positioned homes are still attracting serious buyers, but buyers have more room to compare options before making decisions.
Existing single-family homes remained the largest driver of regional activity. New listings declined 3.3 percent year over year to 799, while pending sales increased 5.0 percent to 546. Closed sales declined 6.2 percent to 488. Inventory in this segment increased 13.8 percent to 1,553 homes, and months of supply rose to 3.6. Median sales price increased 0.6 percent to $277,450, while average sales price dipped slightly to $299,430. Existing single-family homes are still showing pricing stability, but the increase in days on market to 44 days reflects a more deliberate pace for both buyers and sellers.
New construction continued to play an important role in regional supply. New construction listings were nearly flat year over year at 195, pending sales declined slightly to 167, and closed sales fell 20.6 percent to 170. Inventory rose 16.5 percent to 828 homes, bringing this segment to 5.3 months of supply. The median new construction sales price declined 2.8 percent to $343,440, while the average sales price declined 0.7 percent to $366,361. New construction continued to receive 99.9 percent of list price on average, and days on market improved to 98 days. This segment remains a key source of available inventory, particularly as buyers weigh price, timing, incentives, and move-in readiness.
Townhouse and condo activity showed mixed but notable movement in May. New listings increased 11.3 percent to 59, and pending sales jumped 46.9 percent to 47. Closed sales, however, declined 46.3 percent to 22. Inventory increased 5.9 percent to 161 homes, with 5.6 months of supply. Median sales price rose 20.8 percent to $206,500, while average sales price increased 12.1 percent to $218,398. Because this remains a smaller segment of the regional market, month-to-month changes can appear more dramatic; however, both May activity and the rolling 12-month data suggest continued interest in townhouse and condo options.
County-by-County Snapshot
Cumberland County
Cumberland County remained the region’s most active showing market in May, recording 5,684 showings, up 10.4 percent year over year and down only 1.0 percent from April. Buyer interest measured 4.2 showings per listing, while managed listings totaled 1,464. The $150,000 to $249,999 range generated the most activity with 2,353 showings and the strongest buyer interest at 5.0 showings per listing. The $250,000 to $349,999 range followed with 1,726 showings, while the $350,000 and above segment recorded 1,131 showings. Cumberland’s May data shows broad buyer activity, with especially strong engagement in the region’s core attainable and mid-market price ranges.
Hoke County
Hoke County recorded 957 showings in May, up 1.1 percent year over year but down 16.8 percent from April. Buyer interest measured 3.3 showings per listing, while managed listings totaled 325. The $250,000 to $349,999 range led the county with 513 showings, followed by the $350,000 and above range with 284 showings. The $150,000 to $249,999 range posted the strongest buyer interest at 4.2 showings per listing. Hoke’s May numbers suggest continued annual demand, though buyer activity slowed from the prior month.
Lee County
Lee County recorded 369 showings in May, down 1.9 percent year over year and 21.5 percent from April. Buyer interest measured 3.2 showings per listing, while managed listings increased 18.5 percent year over year to 141. The $350,000 and above range generated the most activity with 177 showings, followed by the $250,000 to $349,999 and $150,000 to $249,999 ranges. The $150,000 to $249,999 range posted especially strong buyer interest at 8.1 showings per listing, suggesting that more attainable inventory remains highly competitive when available.
Robeson County
Robeson County continued to show year-over-year momentum, recording 472 showings in May, up 32.2 percent from last year. Buyer interest rose to 2.3 showings per listing, up 36.4 percent year over year, while managed listings totaled 223. The $150,000 to $249,999 segment generated the most activity with 212 showings, followed by the $250,000 to $349,999 range with 151 showings. Robeson’s May numbers point to expanding buyer engagement across multiple price points, especially in attainable and mid-market segments.
Looking Ahead
May’s housing data shows a region that is still active, but more balanced and more segmented than in recent years. Inventory is higher, months of supply have increased, and buyers have more options than they did during tighter market conditions. At the same time, pending sales remain positive, list-price performance remains strong, and year-to-date pricing continues to show resilience.
For buyers and sellers alike, this remains a market where local expertise matters. Conditions continue to vary by county, by price point, and by property type, making hyper-local guidance more important than ever. For the most accurate neighborhood-level insight, Longleaf Pine REALTORS® members have the real-time market knowledge and professional expertise to help clients navigate today’s housing market with confidence.
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