Wilmington is once again one of the toughest places in the country to buy a home, according to the latest NBC News Homebuyer Index.
- New Hanover County’s difficulty rating climbed sharply to 87.9 in March, up more than seven points from February and reaching the highest level since July 2024, when it hit a record 90.
Supply & Demand: The biggest driver behind the surge was the scarcity index, which measures the number of homes available for sale. It jumped to 65.9 in March, a 17-point increase from February, and marks the highest reading since July 2021.
- The competition index, which measure how many people are vying for a home and how aggressive the demand is, rose to 99.8 in March — just shy of the all-time record of 99.9, which was reached three separate times last year — signaling near-peak buyer aggressiveness.
- Meanwhile, the cost index, reflecting how expensive it is to buy a home, climbed to 87.1, the highest level since August 2024.
The Economy: Adding to the pressure, the economic instability index — which factors in local market volatility, unemployment, and interest rates — surged to 95.4, the highest mark since November 2023.
Bucking Trends: Wilmington’s housing strain stands in stark contrast to the broader U.S. market. Nationally, the homebuyer difficulty index fell to 78.8 in March, the lowest level since December 2021.
- The national scarcity index plunged to its weakest reading since February 2020, while competition remained near post-pandemic lows.
- Costs nationally held steady, though economic instability ticked up to the highest level since May 2023.
Bottom Line: While much of the country is seeing easier conditions for homebuyers, Wilmington’s housing market remains historically tight and fiercely competitive.
