Gaston County Real Estate Market Update – November 2026

Fewer Homes Sold in October — But Prices Held Steady

October brought a noticeable decline in home sales across Gaston County. But if you’re wondering whether that means home prices are falling, the latest numbers tell a different story.

According to closed-sale data from Canopy MLS, 226 homes sold in October, compared with 300 in September. That’s a 24.7% decrease in transactions.

Yet the median sale price barely changed.

September’s median was $339,200. October finished at $338,000, a difference of just $1,200.

And that’s not the only interesting development.

The median price per square foot increased, the typical home that closed sold slightly faster, and fewer transactions included seller concessions.

Let’s take a closer look.

October by the Numbers

Here’s how October compared with September using closed-sale data directly from Canopy MLS:

*Median concession is calculated among closed sales reporting a positive seller concession. Data reflects Canopy MLS transactions reported through November 4, 2026.

Sales Dropped Nearly 25%. Should We Be Concerned?

A drop from 300 closings to 226 certainly gets my attention.

But before interpreting that as a weakening housing market, we need to consider the time of year.

October marks the beginning of a traditionally slower period for real estate. Summer vacations are behind us, the school year is underway, and the holidays are approaching.

Fewer transactions during this period aren’t necessarily unusual.

What matters is whether other indicators are moving in the same direction.

And that’s where October gets interesting.

Despite the significant drop in sales volume, the median sale price declined by just 0.4%.

The average sale price actually increased to approximately $392,000.

That doesn’t prove home values are rising or falling. The mix of homes sold can change from month to month.

But it does suggest that October’s lower transaction count wasn’t accompanied by a meaningful decline in the median sale price.

Homes Sold for More Per Square Foot

One of the more interesting numbers this month was the median price per square foot.

In September, it was approximately $187.

In October, it increased to $196.08, a gain of nearly 5%.

That’s worth watching.

Price per square foot isn’t a perfect measure of home values. Smaller homes, newer construction, location and property condition can all influence the number.

Still, when we see a relatively stable median sale price alongside a higher price per square foot, it tells us that the composition of closed sales may be changing.

That’s why I prefer looking at several indicators rather than drawing conclusions from one statistic.

Are Homes Taking Longer to Sell?

This month’s Days on Market numbers tell two different stories.

The median Days on Market decreased from 33.5 to 32 days.

But the average increased from approximately 46 to 55 days.

How can both be true?

The median represents the middle of the data. The average is more sensitive to properties that spend an unusually long time on the market.

In other words, October included some longer-marketed properties that pulled the average higher.

But the typical home that successfully closed actually spent slightly less time on the market.

For sellers, the lesson remains the same.

Pricing, condition and presentation matter.

A well-positioned home can still attract a buyer relatively quickly. An overpriced property may require additional time, price adjustments or concessions before reaching the closing table.

Seller Concessions Declined — But They’re Still Common

This is one of the trends I’ve been following closely in our monthly market reports.

In September, approximately 71% of Gaston County closed sales included seller concessions.

In October, that figure declined to 63.3%.

That’s a meaningful month-to-month change.

However, it still means that nearly two out of every three October transactions included some form of seller concession.

Among those transactions, the median concession was approximately $7,575.

These concessions may help buyers with closing costs, prepaid expenses or financing costs, depending on the terms of the transaction.

And that brings us back to something I’ve discussed in previous reports.

The purchase price doesn’t always tell the whole story.

A home might sell for $340,000, but if the seller contributes $8,000 toward the buyer’s expenses, the economics of that transaction are different from a sale at the same price without concessions.

That’s why buyers and sellers need to evaluate the entire offer rather than focusing exclusively on the sale price.

Sellers Are Still Getting Close to Asking Price

In October, homes closed at an average of approximately 98% of their final list price.

That’s down slightly from September’s 98.4%.

But it still suggests that properties are generally closing relatively close to their final advertised prices.

The important word here is final.

A home initially listed at $400,000 might undergo one or more price reductions before eventually selling for $365,000.

If the final list price was $370,000, that sale would appear relatively close to asking price even though the seller accepted substantially less than the original price.

For sellers, this reinforces the importance of establishing the right price early.

The market will eventually tell you what buyers are willing to pay.

The question is how long you want to wait for that answer.

What This Means for Sellers

October’s results offer some encouragement for homeowners considering selling.

Despite fewer transactions, the median sale price remained relatively stable, and the typical closed home spent about a month on the market.

But that doesn’t mean sellers can ignore their competition.

Buyers are still negotiating, and seller concessions remain a significant part of the market.

If you’re selling, I would focus on three things:

• Price realistically. Study comparable properties that have actually closed, not just homes currently listed.
• Make the property stand out. Condition, presentation and photography can influence how buyers respond.
• Evaluate the net offer. A strong offer isn’t always the one with the highest purchase price.

The goal isn’t simply to get your home under contract.

It’s to get it closed on terms that make sense for you.

What This Means for Buyers

For buyers, the decline in October closings doesn’t automatically mean sellers are desperate.

But opportunities still exist.

Nearly two-thirds of October transactions included seller concessions, demonstrating that buyers are continuing to negotiate assistance with transaction costs.

Depending on your financing, a concession toward closing costs or an interest-rate buydown could make a meaningful difference.

At the same time, homes are still closing near their final asking prices.

That suggests a thoughtful, well-supported offer may be more effective than simply submitting an extremely low number.

Understand the property’s condition, its competition and its history on the market.

Then negotiate the deal as a whole.

The Market Always Tells the Truth

October was an interesting month for Gaston County real estate.

Sales declined nearly 25%, yet the median sale price remained essentially unchanged.

The median price per square foot increased, the typical closed home sold slightly faster, and seller concessions became less common — although they remained prevalent.

So is the market getting stronger or weaker?

I don’t think one month of closed-sale data gives us enough information to make that declaration.

What it does tell us is that Gaston County remains a market where pricing, preparation and negotiation are critical.

And that’s precisely why I put these reports together.

Each month, I’ll continue examining actual Gaston County closed-sale data from Canopy MLS, looking beyond the headlines to explain what the numbers may mean for people buying or selling homes in our community.

The market always tells the truth. You just have to know where to look.

Craig Graves
REALTOR® | eXp Realty
The Unbeatable Broker

Thinking about buying or selling in Gaston County? Let’s look at your specific property or situation and see what the numbers tell us.