Cary, Apex and Morrisville Housing Market Update: Steady Sales, Fewer New Listings

September 2026 | By Emme Zheng, Broker-in-Charge, Blue Orchid Realty

September's Cary, Apex and Morrisville housing report shows a market with steady closings, fewer new listings, and a modest increase in available inventory. The median sale price slipped slightly from last September, while the year-to-date median remained higher.

My takeaway: these numbers support a measured pricing and offer strategy. Buyers have somewhat more inventory to compare, but unchanged months of supply and steady September sales do not suggest broad negotiating power on every property. Sellers still need to show how their asking price compares with similar homes available today.

September 2026 Market Snapshot

Market measure	September 2026	September 2025	Year-over-year change
Median sale price	$575,000	$582,000	Down 1.2%
Closed sales	313	312	Up 0.3%
New listings	367	447	Down 17.9%
Homes for sale	901	849	Up 6.1%
Months of supply	2.8	2.8	Unchanged
Days on market until sale	31	32	Down 3.1%
Original list price received	96.6%	96.2%	Up 0.4 percentage points

Source: doorify MLS, Cary / Apex / Morrisville Local Market Update, September 2026. Data current as of October 10, 2026. Figures cover the combined reporting area, rather than each town separately.

Are Home Prices Falling in Cary, Apex and Morrisville?

The combined median sale price was $575,000 in September, down 1.2% from $582,000 a year earlier. For January through September, however, the median was $610,000, up 0.8% from the same period in 2025.

The average sale price also remained higher: September's average increased 1.3% to $655,013, while the year-to-date average rose 1.1% to $695,336.

Those figures describe a relatively small change in the combined market's price measures. They do not establish that every home gained or lost the same percentage. Changes in the mix of homes sold can affect both the median and average.

For an individual property, I would compare recent sales and active listings with similar locations, home styles, condition, lots, and layouts before recommending a price.

Fewer New Listings, but More Homes Available

New listings fell 17.9%, from 447 to 367. Yet available inventory increased 6.1%, from 849 to 901 homes.

These measures answer different questions. New listings count homes entering the market during the month; inventory measures the homes available at the reporting point. Fewer new arrivals can coexist with a larger selection already for sale.

September closed sales were nearly unchanged at 313, compared with 312 a year earlier. Months of supply also held at 2.8. The inventory increase therefore should not be read on its own as evidence that the sales pace has weakened substantially.

The year-to-date picture adds context: closed sales increased 7.2% to 3,026, while new listings rose just 0.8% to 4,207.

Selling Times Show a Mixed Picture

The report's days-on-market measure was 31 days in September, one day shorter than last September. Through the first nine months of the year, it was 27 days, compared with 23 days in 2025.

September itself did not show longer selling times than a year earlier, even though the broader year-to-date measure increased. Sellers should allow for a realistic marketing period and use property-specific showing activity and feedback to assess their response.

Neither figure predicts how long a particular home will take to sell.

Why the Neighborhood Matters More Than the Combined Median

This report groups Cary, Apex and Morrisville together. It does not establish separate September medians for each town or show whether townhomes, detached homes, and new construction followed the same pattern.

A renovated resale, an original-condition home, and a recently built property can compete for different buyers. Layout, maintenance, lot characteristics, and the available alternatives should be part of the comparison.

For more local context, explore our Cary Neighborhood Guide and Apex real estate guide. Buyers considering Morrisville alongside nearby communities can also use our Triangle relocation guide to organize their search around their own location and housing priorities.

What Sellers Should Focus On

Start with comparable homes. The $575,000 median is a market reference point, not an asking-price recommendation for your property. Review recent sales alongside the homes buyers can choose instead.

Prepare with a purpose. Identify needed repairs and presentation issues before committing to larger renovation spending. Lighting, furniture placement, paint condition, and clear photography deserve consideration as part of that plan.

Understand the price history behind the sale. September sellers received 96.6% of their original list price and 98.5% of the list price at the time of sale. The difference can reflect price reductions before an agreement. These measures exclude concessions and down-payment assistance, so they do not describe final seller proceeds.

Learn more about our Cary seller representation and Apex seller representation, including preparation, pricing, and offer review.

What Buyers Should Focus On

Use the available selection to compare condition, layout, likely repair costs, and pricing history. An extended marketing period may create negotiating room, while a home with stronger demand may call for a different approach.

A lower monthly median also does not automatically mean improved affordability. The report's housing affordability index fell from 81 to 77 compared with last September. Evaluate the full payment, including financing, taxes, insurance, and any HOA dues.

Our Triangle buyer representation services can help you compare properties and structure an offer around the evidence for the specific home.

My Take on the Market

September's combined Cary, Apex and Morrisville figures show steady sales activity, unchanged months of supply, and a small decline in the monthly median price. Year-to-date closings and the year-to-date median remained above 2025.

For sellers, that supports careful preparation and pricing based on current competition. For buyers, it supports comparing individual properties closely instead of expecting the same negotiating opportunity across all three towns.

Contact Blue Orchid Realty to discuss your home, your search, and the comparable properties that matter to your next move.

Emme Zheng | Broker-in-Charge | Blue Orchid Realty

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Data source: doorify MLS, Cary / Apex / Morrisville Local Market Update - September 2026, current as of October 10, 2026. Report copyright 2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC. Monthly comparisons are September 2026 versus September 2025; year-to-date comparisons cover January through September. Market interpretation is by Blue Orchid Realty. These combined-area figures do not separately establish trends for each town, neighborhood, price range, or property type.