Western North Carolina Housing Market Update: January 2026

What Buncombe County, Asheville & Hendersonville Homeowners Should Know

If you’ve been wondering whether the Western North Carolina housing market is still “hot,” the short answer is: it’s changing — not crashing.

New data from the January 2026 Canopy MLS reports shows a market that’s slowing down, giving buyers more options and requiring sellers to be more strategic than they’ve been in years.

Here’s what’s happening across Buncombe County, Asheville, Henderson County, and Hendersonville — and what it means if you’re thinking about buying or selling this year.

Big Picture: A Shift Toward Balance

Across Western North Carolina, we’re seeing a consistent pattern:

  • New listings are down

  • Inventory is rising

  • Homes are taking longer to sell

  • Prices are adjusting slightly, not collapsing

This is a move away from the frenzied seller’s market of recent years and toward a more balanced, healthy housing market.

Buncombe County Housing Market — January 2026

In Buncombe County, the slowdown is clear:

  • New listings: Down 20.9% year over year

  • Closed sales: Down 10.7%

  • Median sales price: $465,000, down 2.1%

  • Inventory: Up 39.6%

  • Months of supply: 4.2, up from 3.2 last year

More inventory means buyers have choices again — and sellers need to price accurately and prepare their homes properly to stand out.

City of Asheville Real Estate Market

Asheville continues to attract demand, but buyers are no longer rushing:

  • New listings: Down 31.7%

  • Pending sales: Up 9.1%

  • Median sales price: $494,000, down 5.0%

  • Inventory: Up 33.8%

  • Months of supply: 4.2

Homes that are priced well and show well are still selling. Overpriced homes are sitting longer and often require price adjustments.

Henderson County Housing Market

Henderson County is showing more stability compared to Buncombe:

  • New listings: Down 32.2%

  • Closed sales: Nearly flat (down 0.8%)

  • Median sales price: $435,000, down 1.6%

  • Months of supply: 3.8

This market hasn’t cooled as dramatically, but sellers no longer have unlimited leverage.

City of Hendersonville: A Bright Spot

Hendersonville stands out as one of the stronger performers right now:

  • New listings: Down 30.0%

  • Median sales price: $435,000, up 6.2%

  • Inventory: Up slightly (3.2%)

  • Months of supply: 3.6

Lower inventory is helping support prices, making Hendersonville one of the more resilient local markets.

What This Means for Homeowners

If you’re thinking about selling in 2026, the strategy matters more than timing.

Today’s market rewards:

  • Realistic pricing from day one

  • Strong presentation and preparation

  • A clear plan based on local data — not headlines

What worked in 2021 won’t work now. But homes that are priced correctly and marketed well are still selling.

Thinking About Your Next Move?

Whether you’re considering selling this year or just want to understand where your home fits in today’s market, having local, up-to-date data makes all the difference.

At Frisbee Real Estate, we help homeowners cut through the noise with honest guidance and a clear plan — no pressure, no hype.

👉 If you’d like a personalized home value or a strategy conversation, we’re happy to help.

Source: Canopy MLS, January 2026. Data current as of February 5, 2026.