Asheville Housing Market Update: What September's Numbers Mean for You
If you've been watching the headlines and wondering whether now is a good time to buy or sell in the greater Asheville area, here's what the numbers have to say.
A typical fall slowdown, not a retreat
Across Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties, September activity dipped compared with a year ago. Pending sales fell 5.3% to 590 homes under contract, closed sales dropped 7.3% to 568, and new listings slipped 2.9% to 879.
Zoom out, though, and the year looks healthy. Through the first nine months of 2026, pending sales are up 4.5% and closed sales are up 4.8% over last year. Inventory edged up just 1.4% to 3,366 homes for sale, yet months of supply fell from 6.4 to 6.0. In plain terms: more homes came on the market, but buyers kept absorbing them.
Prices: steady, with a September bump
The median sales price rose 3.9% year-over-year in September to $457,145. The average climbed 11.7% to $611,258, pulled up by activity at the higher end. The year-to-date median is $450,000—exactly where it was last year—and the year-to-date average is up a modest 2.9% to $570,929.
Sellers received 92.7% of their original list price in September, a touch better than last September's 92.0%. That's a reminder that pricing right from day one still pays off.
Buyers are still out there—and homes are selling faster
Total showings were down in September, but showings per listing were up 5.5% from a year ago. Homes between roughly $219,000 and $463,000 drew the most interest per listing, while homes over $463,000 saw the most showings overall. The City of Hendersonville led the region at 2.3 showings per listing, with the City of Asheville and Henderson County close behind at 2.2.
Speed improved too. Days on market fell from 70 to 64, and the full listing-to-closing timeline shortened from 115 to 106 days. Year-to-date, homes are still taking longer to sell than in 2025, so patience remains part of the process.
Dave Noyes of the Canopy MLS Board summed it up well: buyers haven't left, they've simply become more selective as they weigh affordability and mortgage rates.
County by county
Each of our four counties told a slightly different story in September.
County | Median price (Sept) | Change vs. 2025 | Days on market | Months of supply |
Buncombe | $499,000 | +6.2% | 66 | 6.3 |
Madison | $475,000 | +11.8% | 69 | 8.8 |
Henderson | $440,000 | +4.8% | 60 | 5.1 |
Haywood | $378,000 | −8.9% | 63 | 5.9 |
Buncombe: Closed sales rose 3.2% and are 7.3% ahead of last year. The year-to-date median holds at $490,000.
Henderson: The tightest supply of the four, and the fastest sales.
Haywood: Pending sales jumped 21.7%, and homes sold two weeks faster than a year ago.
Madison: New listings rose 25% and inventory grew, giving buyers more choice. Its small sales volume can make monthly prices swing.
What this means for you
If you're buying, this fall can be a smart time to shop. Inventory is slightly higher than last year, and sellers are typically getting about 93% of their original asking price, so there's often room to negotiate. Get pre-approved early so you can move confidently when the right home appears.
If you're selling, demand is still there, but today's buyers compare carefully. Homes that are well-prepared and priced right from the start are the ones moving faster. Overpricing and waiting for offers costs time in a market that rewards getting it right up front.
Every neighborhood and price point behaves a little differently, and the county averages only tell part of the story. If you'd like to know what these numbers mean for selling your home or your search for the next one, I'm ready to sit down with you.
Source: Canopy MLS, "Asheville Housing Market Maintains Momentum Despite September Slowdown," October 23, 2026. Data reflects existing-home sales of single-family homes, condos and townhomes in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties. More data at CarolinaHome.com.
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