May 2026- MLS Report
The High–Country Real Estate Market, which consists of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties, saw 152 closed sales of single-family, including condo/ townhouse properties, during May 2026, with a combined closing total of 96.4 million. The median sales price of $ 482,500 included all four counties for May 2026.
Nationally:
“The National Association of REALTORS ® applauds the House for the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, one of the most substantial bipartisan housing packages Congress has considered in decades.
This bill represents the growing bipartisan consensus that the nation needs bold action to expand housing inventory, improve affordability, and to establish more pathways to homeownership and rental opportunities. In turn, this amended bill offers communities new resources and best practices to modernize zoning and boost supply, streamline federal permitting, and broaden financing options for manufactured and rural housing. Additionally, the bill also modernizes key programs like CDBG and HOME to strengthen local housing investment, improve credit access for homebuyers, and help ensure veterans take full advantage of their VA home loan benefits.
NAR Statement on House Passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
Inventory: In May 2026, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties had 1,118 active single-family and condo/ townhouse listings, up by 17.7 % compared to April 2026, following an additional 410 new listings, an increase of 5.4 %, creating a supply of 7.4 for the month.
Land: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga closed with sixty-one land sales during May 2026, with a median sales price of $46,500, decreased by 41.1 % from April. There were 1,296 active land inventories, with 160 new listings, down 23.4% from last month, resulting in a 21.2 month’s supply of inventory for May 2026.
Commercial: There were forty-four active commercial properties listed in the High-Country Multiple Listings Service during May 2026, with zero commercial sales during the month of May 2026.
Alleghany County: Alleghany had ten closed sales in May 2026, which increased substantially compared to the previous month of 100.0%. The county’s median sales price for May 2026 was $297,500, a 13.8 % decrease compared to April 2026, with ninety-five active residential listings. Additionally, there were four land closings in the month of May
2026 with a median sales price of $ 174,950, up a significant amount compared to last month of 332.0%, along with 229 active land listings and an additional six new listings. Totaling a 57.2 % month's supply of inventory for property.
Ashe County: There were thirty-six closed residential sales in May 2026, up 89.5 % from April 2026. Median sales price of $496,000, up 29.1% from last month. In addition, there were 209 active residential properties, including seventy-six new listings, reflecting a 12.6 % decrease from April 2026. The county's median land sale for May 2026 was $48,750 with three hundred active listings and thirty- eight new listings, representing a drop of 29.6% compared to last month, creating a 25.0 -month’s supply of inventory for land.
Avery County: Avery County closed with thirty- three residential properties for May 2026, with a median sales price of $ 465,000 for the month, down 17.0% compared to April 2026. In addition, there were 359 active residential properties in inventory, with 127 new listings, up 41.1% compared to April 2026. In addition, Avery County closed nine land sales in May 2026 up 28.6% compared to last month, with a median sales price of $80,000, down by 72.9 % compared to last month. Furthermore, there are 322 active listings, with fifty- three new listings, resulting in a 35.8 months’ supply of land inventory.
Watauga County: Watauga County reported seventy-three closed residential sales in May 2026, up 17.7 % from the prior month. Median sales were $549,000; a 3.7 % decrease compared to April 2026. There were 455 active residential properties in inventory, along with 181 new listings in May 2026, up 3.4 % compared to last month. Additionally, Watauga closed with thirty-six closed land sales with a median sales price of $ 39,450 for May 2026, with 445 active land listings and sixty-three new land listings for May 2026, creating a 12.4-month’s supply of land inventory.
Disclaimer: Figures are based on the High-Country Multiple Listing Service information. Data is for informational purposes only and may not be accurate due to MLS reporting processes. This data reflects a specific point in time and cannot be used in perpetuity due to the fluctuating nature of markets.
Report graphics generated from Domus Analytics pulled from the HCAR Web API feed. HCAR Realtor® members can access these detailed and customizable reports and graphics for professional use by logging into the HCAR dashboard. A public graphic is available on our website homepage at highcountryrealtors.org.