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Western North Carolina | Q4 2025

Q4 Market Report & Forecast | January 2026

MARKET REPORT

Western North Carolina closed out 2025 with notable year-over-year growth in home sales, led by Asheville and surrounding submarkets. While the gains reflect strengthening buyer demand, a portion of the increase particularly in Buncombe County and the City of Asheville stems from the rebound following Hurricane Helen, which disrupted fourthquarter 2024 activity.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Asheville (City, North)

Downtown Asheville Condos Buncombe County Arden

Biltmore Forest Henderson County Haywood Fairview/Fletcher Foothills

FORECAST

With a steady pipeline of pending sales and inventory still elevated, early 2026 should offer a favorable environment for both buyers and sellers

PODCAST

From market forecasts, interviews, and house marketing ideas, join the team at Ivester Jackson Blackstream I Christie's for the latest in Carolina’s luxury real estate content

Current Trends

Western North Carolina closed out 2025 with strong year-over-year growth in home sales, particularly across Asheville and surrounding submarkets. While much of the increase reflects a genuine rise in buyer demand, some of the gains, particularly in Buncombe County and the City of Asheville, are tied to recovery from Hurricane Helen, which disrupted the fourth quarter of 2024 closings and temporarily paused market activity.

With recovery mostly completed and access fully restored, many buyers have returned to the market in 2025, creating a bounce-back effect in key areas. Even when accounting for this, the region displayed stable fundamentals: strong buyer interest, increased inventory, and continued migration from urban centers throughout the United States.

CITY OF ASHEVILLE

The City of Asheville posted a strong quarter Mid-market sales from $600K–$999K increased to 108 closings, up from 66 the previous year Luxury-market activity from $1M–$1 99M more than doubled, increasing from 22 to 48 sales, while ultra-luxury sales rose from seven to 10 Some of this momentum reflects the clearing of backlogged transactions delayed by Hurricane Helen, but the overall pace of showings and contract volume also signals healthy demand, particularly in core neighborhoods

CITY OF ASHEVILLE

NORTH ASHEVILLE

North Asheville mirrored the citywide trend. The mid-market segment nearly tripled year-over-year, with 27 closings compared to 10 in the same period last year. Luxury activity also climbed, with 19 closings compared to seven in the fourth quarter of 2024. Ultra-luxury sales from $2M+ slipped slightly from three to two closings, and with no current pendings in that tier, sellers in this category may need to adjust pricing or marketing strategies heading into the new year

NORTH ASHEVILLE

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE CONDOS

Downtown condo activity picked up considerably The $600K–

$999K segment posted six closings, up from just one last year, a clear sign of post-storm normalization The ultra-luxury segment held steady at one closing, while the luxury tier from $1M–$1 99M

recorded no closings, though seven units are currently under contract These pending deals suggest renewed strength in early

2026 as buyers return to the convenience and amenities of lock-andleave urban living

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE CONDOS

BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Buncombe County led the region in growth, with all three price segments showing significant gains Mid-market sales from $600K–$999K, surged to 218, up from 137 in the same time period last year The luxury segment rose to 72 from 44 in the fourth quarter of 2024, and ultra-luxury sales from $2M+ jumped from 15 sales to 21 this quarter While part of this leap reflects a catch-up in closings following Hurricane Helen’s impact, the quarter also saw robust new contracts and a strong pipeline into the first quarter of 2026, especially in popular areas like Reynolds, North Buncombe, and Cane Creek

BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Homes Sold

BILTMORE FOREST

Biltmore Forest posted modest but notable growth at the top of the market. The $2M+ segment saw two closings in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from zero in the same period of 2024. The mid-market and luxury tiers remained quiet, with one and two closings, respectively. Inventory in the ultraluxury tier remains elevated, with 12 homes listed and only one currently under contract. With longer days on market becoming more common, sellers may need to reevaluate their positioning early in 2026

BILTMORE FOREST

Q4 Homes Sold

ARDEN & FAIRVIEW/ FLETCHER

Arden continued its steady performance, with 25 closings in the mid-market compared to 18 in the same period of 2024 There were seven ultra-luxury closings over $2M, up from five in the fourth quarter of 2024. The luxury market remained stable with five closings in both years With eight homes over $2M currently under contract, Arden is positioned for a strong start to 2026, driven by its proximity to the airport and appeal to primary and second-home buyers alike

Fairview and Fletcher recorded modest gains in the luxury segment to close out 2025 Sales in the $1M–$1 99M range increased to five, up from two in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the $2M+ segment saw three closings, compared to two during the same period last year Although overall volume remains relatively low, the upward trend points to growing buyer interest in privacy, scenic views, and convenient access to Asheville With balanced inventory and renewed buyer activity, this submarket enters 2026 well positioned particularly for sellers offering modern construction and lifestyle-driven amenities

ARDEN

Q4 Homes Sold

FAIRVIEW/FLETCHER

Q4 Homes Sold

HENDERSON COUNTY

Henderson County posted a strong fourth quarter finish, particularly in the ultra-luxury segment, which rose from just one sale in the fourth quarter of 2024 to seven this quarter The midmarket also showed growth, climbing to 86 closings this quarter, up from 63 in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the luxury range range inched up from 26 to 28 sales. The market remains active and attractive to relocation buyers, with stable inventory and a growing reputation for offering luxury and value just south of Asheville

HENDERSON COUNTY

Homes Sold

HAYWOD COUNTY

Haywood County delivered a solid quarter, with steady activity in the $600K–$999K segment, recording 36 closings in both the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2025 While the luxury tier experienced a modest decline from eight to six closings, the ultraluxury segment gained traction with three sales this quarter, up from none last year Although pending sales are lighter heading into the first quarter of 2026, overall demand remains intact, particularly for view-oriented properties and second homes with short-term rental potential.

HAYWOOD COUNTY

Homes Sold

FOOTHILLS: POLK, RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND COUNTY

The Foothills market showed meaningful gains in the fourth quarter The $600K–$999K segment climbed to 55 closings up from 31 in the fourth quarter of 2024, while luxury activity rose to 15 closings, up from 11 Ultra-luxury sales, which were nonexistent in the fourth quarter of 2024, posted three closings this year Inventory remains higher than demand in many pockets, but well-priced, well-presented homes are moving Buyers continue to be drawn to the region for privacy, acreage, and affordability relative to core markets

FOOTHILLS: POLK, RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND COUNTIES

Homes Sold

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MARKET FORECAST

A Renewed Market in the Mountains:

Western North Carolina Heads into 2026

As we enter 2026, Western North Carolina is emerging from a year of recovery and stabilization. The post-Hurricane Helen rebound in Asheville and surrounding areas has run its course, and the region now moves forward with a more normalized pace of sales. Buyer interest remains strong across price points, particularly in lifestyle-driven markets that offer natural beauty, privacy, and a high quality of life.

With a steady pipeline of pending sales and inventory still elevated, early 2026 should offer a favorable environment for both buyers and sellers

Continued interest rate relief, increased tourism, and economic stability are expected to support another strong year for real estate across the mountains.