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Market Update June 15 (Period May 1-31 2026)
I thought I would cover the popular areas of Johnston County this week, including Clayton, Garner, Wendell & Zebulon. I wasn’t sure if I would be surprised or not, but it looks like the story isn’t much different than the west side.
FOR BUYERS
Johnston County is really two markets happening at the same time.
The Fast Market
- 52% of homes that closed in May went under contract in 10 days or less.
- Well-priced, move-in-ready homes can still attract offers within a weekend.
- If the right home hits the market, waiting several days to decide may mean losing it.
The Slow Market
- The overall median days on market was 34 days.
- That number is being pulled up by homes sitting 45, 60, even 90+ days.
- Many of these sellers are more willing to negotiate on price, repairs, or concessions.
What This Means for Buyers
The key is identifying which type of listing you’re looking at. When a desirable home is priced correctly, move quickly. When a home has been sitting, slow down, negotiate, and use the extra leverage the market is giving you.
FOR SELLERS
The Johnston County market is still rewarding sellers—but only those who come to market prepared.
What Changed From Last Year?
- Closed sales fell from 268 to 197 (-26.5%)
- Pending sales actually increased from 208 to 216
- Median days on market increased from 29 to 34 days
This seems contradictory on the surface…. Fewer homes OVERALL sold. And more homes expired without selling. But we have more pending sales this year than we did for the same period last year. I cannot repeat this enough. Buyers are still buying, but they will not buy a house that isn’t prepared for market. Demand hasn’t disappeared. Buyers are simply becoming more selective.
The Homes Winning
- Sellers are still receiving 99.1% of list price on average (Think about that. Buyers are willing to pay when the product is right.)
- 13.7% of homes sold above list price, up from 11.6% last year
- Well-prepared, well-priced homes continue to attract strong buyer interest
The Homes Struggling
- 61 listings expired in May, up 56% from last year
- Many of these sellers entered the market overpriced or underprepared
- The longer a home sits, the more negotiating power shifts to buyers
What This Means for Sellers
This is a two-speed market. The question isn’t whether buyers exist—they do. The question is whether your home will be one of the listings that sells quickly or one of the listings that sits.
If you’re thinking about selling, our process will ensure you’re part of the have’s rather than the have nots. Learn more about our process here.
FOR INVESTORS
The May numbers are creating more opportunity than Johnston County has seen in some time.
Where the Opportunity Is
- 61 expired listings in May (+56% year-over-year)
- Median days on market increased to 34 days
- More sellers are experiencing longer marketing times and greater pressure to negotiate
Expired listings often represent owners who have already been through a failed sale attempt and may be far more motivated than a typical seller.
Market Direction
- 252 new listings hit the market in May
- 216 homes went pending
- Absorption rate was approximately 86%
Inventory isn’t flooding the market, but it is building gradually.
What This Means for Investors
Quality properties in desirable areas of Clayton, Wendell, and Zebulon can still move quickly, so hesitation can be costly. However, aging inventory, price reductions, and expired listings are creating opportunities for buyers willing to negotiate strategically.
The long-term fundamentals remain strong. The opportunity today is finding value in the market’s short-term softness. 📈
Want to Talk About the Market in Your Area?
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Local Happenings
Beginners Conga Drumming Class — 3rd Mondays, 7–8 PM
Y’all, I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you can absolutely learn to play conga drums on a Monday night in Midtown Raleigh for $25 — loaner drums included, no experience required. This class covers the basics of polyrhythmic music and honestly sounds like the most fun you can have on a weeknight that doesn’t involve a drive-through. Bring your own drum and save five bucks.
Holly Springs Salamanders vs. Wilmington Sharks — June 19, 6:30 PM
It’s College Rivalry Night at North Main Athletic Complex, which means you get to dust off your school colors, argue loudly about whose alma mater is better, and watch some genuinely great baseball while doing it — mascot special guests included. The Holly Springs Salamanders are one of the Triangle’s best-kept summer secrets, and a Thursday night game under the lights is about as perfect as a June evening gets down here. Grab your tickets before they’re gone and maybe don’t wear your rivals’ shirt if you want to make friends in the stands.
Staying Alive Special Exhibition — NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh
Seventeen live animals, armadillos in actual armor, a two-toed sloth doing absolutely nothing at a concerning pace, and toads that will genuinely trip you out — the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is out here giving us a full nature documentary you can walk through. “Staying Alive” is all about how animals defend themselves, from camouflage and mimicry to what the exhibit delightfully calls “caboose cannons,” and I promise that alone is worth the visit. It’s offered in English and Spanish, perfect for families, and honestly just a really good reminder that nature is way weirder and more wonderful than we give it credit for.
Day Trips
Danville Children’s Festival — June 20, 10 AM–3 PM | Danville, VA
If you’ve got little ones bouncing off the walls this weekend, load them up and head to Danville for their “Enchanted” themed Children’s Festival at Carrington Pavilion — inflatables, a toddler zone, caricatures, and something called Backyard Bass from the Danville Science Center that I have questions about but in the best way. It runs 10 to 3, it’s stacked with activities, and it’s the kind of day where the kids sleep hard on the drive home and you feel like a hero. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.
NC Blueberry Festival — June 19–20 | Burgaw, NC
Pack the cooler and point the car toward Burgaw, because the 23rd Annual NC Blueberry Festival is here and southeastern NC is about to remind everyone why they grow the best berries in the state. We’re talking a 5K, a bike tour, a car show, a shag contest, live music including a Fleetwood Mac tribute band on Friday night (don’t you dare skip that), craft vendors, and enough blueberries to make your teeth temporarily purple — and admission is free. This is the kind of small-town summer festival that makes you feel like you accidentally wandered into a really good movie, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.
Under the Oaks Arts Festival — June 23–24 | Historic Corolla Park, OBX
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to make that Outer Banks run before summer gets away from you, here it is — the Under the Oaks Arts Festival at the Whalehead in Historic Corolla is two days of paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworks, and local food, set in one of the prettiest spots on the NC coast. It’s free to attend, there’s a silent art auction open to the public, and you’ll probably come home with something one-of-a-kind that looks way better than anything you’d find at a big-box store. Pack sunscreen, bring your wallet, and give yourself permission to turn it into a whole weekend.
