Which seller lists sell in North Carolina? 95 counties, counted
By Josh MillerUpdated 4 min readAcross the North Carolina counties we could measure, the list that sold best was expired and cancelled listings: about 8 of every 100 sold off-market within 12 months, against about 1.5 for a house picked at random. Free and clear owners, the most-mailed list, sold at about 1.6 per 100.
Across 95 North Carolina counties with records we could trust, about 1.4 of every 100 single-family homes sold off-market in an arm's-length sale over 12 months, about 53,641 homes, and about 36 of every 100 sales went without an MLS listing. Which of those sellers could you have found on a list first? We counted every list in every North Carolina county with enough records to measure.
The count, list by list
| List | Of every 100, sold | Any house, at random | Counties | Owners on it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listing expired or cancelled | 8.1 | 1.5 | 29 | 13,579 |
| Sitting vacant | 3.6 | 1.5 | 25 | 27,435 |
| Behind on taxes, 2 to 4 years | 2.6 | 1.4 | 36 | 93,853 |
| Behind on taxes, 5 or more years | 2.6 | 1.4 | 18 | 24,952 |
| High equity, living elsewhere | 2.0 | 1.5 | 95 | 1,115,912 |
| Owns it free and clear | 1.6 | 1.4 | 95 | 1,636,362 |
| Owner 65+, living elsewhere | 0.9 | 1.5 | 72 | 348,086 |
Source: GoForClose count of off-market, arm's-length deeds in county records. A county is counted for a list only where the list was big enough to measure; lists measurable in fewer than 3 North Carolina counties are left out. Counties whose records don't mark MLS sales are left out entirely.
What stands out
Expired listings lead, at a lower rate. About 8 of every 100 owners whose listing expired sold off-market within a year, across 29 counties, below most states. In Guilford County, Greensboro, about 11.
Foreclosures and liens weren't measurable. No North Carolina county had enough foreclosure or lien records to count honestly. Vacant houses sold at about 4 per 100; in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, about 7, one of the best vacant numbers we saw anywhere.
The biggest counties
| County | Listing expired or cancelled | Sitting vacant | Owns it free and clear | Any house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Mecklenburg County | 8.4 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 1.8 |
| Guilford County | 10.8 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 |
| Forsyth County | 9.5 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Cumberland County | 6.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Source: GoForClose count of off-market, arm's-length deeds in county records.
How North Carolina forecloses
North Carolina forecloses under a power of sale, outside a lawsuit, but with a hearing before the county clerk of superior court, who has to approve before the trustee can sell. That sets how long a pre-foreclosure owner has, and how long you should keep writing. What the filing is called, state by state. This is general information, not legal advice.
Check your county
The state number hides real differences between counties. Or see when each list sells in any North Carolina county.
Questions investors ask
What is the best motivated seller list in North Carolina?
Across the North Carolina counties we could measure, expired and cancelled listings: about 8 of every 100 sold off-market within 12 months, across 29 counties. A house picked at random sold at about 1.5 per 100.
How many homes sell off-market in North Carolina?
About 53,641 single-family homes sold off-market in an arm's-length sale over 12 months across 95 North Carolina counties we could measure, about 1.4 of every 100 homes and 36 of every 100 sales.
Should I mail free and clear owners in North Carolina?
Not first. Free and clear owners sold off-market at about 1.6 per 100 within a year across 95 North Carolina counties, about the rate of a random house. Lists that start with a filing sold far better.
Does North Carolina foreclose through the courts?
North Carolina forecloses under a power of sale, outside a lawsuit, but with a hearing before the county clerk of superior court, who has to approve before the trustee can sell.