Market Intelligence Report — NC-860

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Monthly housing intelligence, market trends, and trusted local expertise.

Ref. No: 2026-NC-08
As of the latest 2026 data
Cooling

Median Listing

$350K
-2.5% YoY

Pending Ratio

0.41
-13.1% YoY

Active Inventory

1,417
+22.1% YoY

Median DOM

58 Days
-1.7% YoY

Primary Intelligence Tool — Sold Score™

Will your home sell in today's cooling Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton market?

Sold Score™ analyzes 40+ local data points to estimate your home's probability of sale in the next 60 days across Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC.

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The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is exhibiting cooling market conditions, primarily driven by a pending ratio of 0.41. This metric indicates that demand absorption is moderate relative to available inventory, positioning the market within the lower end of the balanced spectrum.

Local Market Signals

Source: FRED (St. Louis Fed)

Local economic trends can influence how quickly homes sell and how much competition sellers may face.

Job Market

3.7%-0.2 pp YoY

Unemployment rate · Jul 2026

Shows whether local employment conditions are supporting buyer demand.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (St. Louis Fed).

Population & Migration

376,890+0.9% YoY

Resident population · Jan 2025

Shows whether the area is gaining or losing potential housing demand.

U.S. Census Bureau via FRED (St. Louis Fed).

Future Housing Supply

Data not yet available.

Shows whether future inventory pressure may increase.

Market Analysis

What's moving the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton market right now.

Active listings have expanded considerably, up 22.1% year-over-year to 1,417 units, while new listings also increased by 13.8% over the past year. Concurrently, the pending ratio experienced a significant year-over-year decline of 13.1%, reflecting a deceleration in transaction activity. Median listing prices have experienced slight contractions, decreasing by 2.2% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year. Overall inventory growth continues to outpace demand metrics.

Historical Analysis

Market Trends

Median Price

$350K-2.2% MoM

Active Inventory

1,417+22.1% YoY

Days on Market

58-1.7% YoY

Sold Score™

45-13.1% YoY

Sold Score™ Over Time

Market liquidity index • 36 months

45
Sep 23Aug 26

Price & Days on Market

Median listing vs market velocity

Price DOM
Sep 23Aug 26

Inventory Dynamics

Total active listings vs new monthly supply

Active New listings
Sep 23Apr 24Nov 24Jun 25Jan 26Aug 26

Sourced from Realtor.com RDC Inventory Core Metrics, supplemented by the Primpted research desk. Updated As of the latest 2026 data.

Market Signals & Indicators

Negotiating Leverage

The expanding inventory and declining pending ratio suggest a market where buyers are gaining increased latitude in negotiations. The slower pace of sales and reduced competition imply a need for price discipline from sellers to align with prevailing demand. While not severely lagging, the current environment necessitates more strategic pricing and marketing efforts for properties to achieve absorption.

Luxury Segment

No distinct luxury-segment signal in this dataset.

Supply Dynamics

1,417 active listings represent the current floor, with new supply arriving at roughly 528 per month.

Pricing Pressure
25.6%

of active listings carry a price reduction, +0.2% from prior period.

$/Sq Ft
$0K

Median price per square foot has moved -0.7% year-over-year.

Absorption
0.41

Pending-to-active ratio — Cooling.

Recommended For This Market

Cooling

Selling in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC? Inventory is up 22% from last year.

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is sitting near equilibrium. Preparation, pricing and timing decide whether a listing sells fast or lingers.

Buyer Demand Index
41%
Median Days on Market
58 days
Inventory YoY
+22%

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is balanced, so preparation decides the outcome. Your Sold Score shows where you stand today.

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Metro Demographics

Metro Area
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
CBSA Code
25860
State
NC

ZIPs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

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