All housing markets are local (be wary of national headlines!) and Cary, NC and Fuquay-Varina, NC demonstrate this perfectly! Let’s look at how the over list home sales data paints very different pictures of each town’s real estate market.
At first glance, Cary and Fuquay might seem like close cousins. They’re just 10 miles apart, connected by a quick drive down Highway 55. But when it comes to the housing market, these two towns march to very different rhythms. Recent data on over-list activity — when homes sell for more than their asking price — shows just how stark the contrast can be.
Five key ways Cary and Fuquay’s housing markets differ:
1. Cary’s Market is Hotter — And More Volatile
Cary consistently sees far more over list home sales than Fuquay. Not only is the volume higher, but Cary also experiences sharper swings. Peaks and valleys are part of the Cary story, while Fuquay’s market stays relatively steady, even if lower overall.
2. Seasonality Hits Cary Harder
The vast majority of Cary’s over-list activity happens between March and June. If you’re buying during that window, expect competition, bidding wars, and the possibility of paying a premium. For sellers, it’s the golden season—your best chance to attract multiple offers. Interestingly, there’s also a small secondary spike in October, just before the holiday slowdown.
In Fuquay, the timeline looks a little different. Over-list offers don’t really start climbing until April, and the peaks are much less dramatic. That steadiness can work in a buyer’s favor.
3. Cary First, Fuquay Second?
One intriguing possibility: some buyers may set their sights on Cary first. When they can’t find what they want—or when competition gets too fierce—they shift their attention to Fuquay. That could explain why Fuquay’s over-list activity starts later, trailing Cary’s surge by about a month.
4. Steady vs. Surging
Cary is a market of highs and lows. One month, it’s bursting with over-list offers; the next, it’s quiet. Fuquay doesn’t see that roller coaster effect. While fewer homes sell above list, the pace is steadier, with fewer dramatic spikes and dips. For some buyers, that stability is more appealing than Cary’s pressure-cooker environment.
5. The “Crash” That Isn’t
Headlines love to declare that the housing market has “crashed.” But the data tells a more nuanced story. In both Cary and Fuquay, the sharp decline after June looks less like a collapse and more like a seasonal slowdown. Families pause their home searches once school starts, and activity doesn’t rebound until the following spring. Last year’s numbers show nearly the same pattern, with only slightly higher competition.
The Takeaway
Cary and Fuquay-Varina may share geography, but they don’t share the same market behavior. Cary is competitive, fast-moving, and sharply seasonal. Fuquay is steadier, with less extreme competition but a later spring surge.
For buyers, this means your experience will vary dramatically depending on which town you’re shopping in—and when. For sellers, it means timing is everything, especially in Cary.
Both towns remind us that real estate is hyper-local. Even a 10-mile drive can land you in a completely different market.
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