Johnston County, NC Real Estate Market – October & November 2025 Trends
Market Snapshot (Oct 2025) – Cooling Prices, Rising Inventory
The Johnston County housing market showed signs of cooling in October 2025. The median sale price was about $350,000, which is 3% lower than October 2024. At the same time, sales activity picked up slightly: 366 homes sold in October, up ~9% year-over-year (336 sold in Oct 2024). Homes are generally taking longer to sell – a median of 65 days on market versus 47 days a year earlier. This extended timeline reflects a shift from the frenzy of 2021–2022 toward a more balanced market. Buyers now have more time and choices, and sellers face more competition to attract offers.
Inventory has grown compared to last year. By the end of October, there were over 800 active listings in Johnston County, a sizable increase in available homes. New listings are coming on the market as well (around 258 new listings in October alone). With more supply and buyers being patient, pricing correctly and standing out online have become crucial. The sale-to-list price ratio hovered around 98–99%, slightly below last year. Only about 11.7% of homes sold above asking price in October (down 7.3 points YoY) – a clear sign that bidding wars have cooled. Most sellers are now accepting offers at or below list price, and price cuts on listings have become common. In short, Johnston County’s market in Fall 2025 is competitive but not overheated: well-priced, well-marketed homes sell, while others may linger without the right strategy.
Economic context: High mortgage rates in 2024–2025 (mostly in the 6–7% range for 30-year loans) have tempered buyer enthusiasm compared to the ultra-low-rate era. Realtors note that many buyers finally accepted that sub-3% rates aren’t coming back. This higher-rate environment has made buyers more picky and budget-conscious, especially at moderate price points. However, Johnston County’s relative affordability continues to draw interest. The median price in neighboring Wake County (Raleigh) tops $550K, while Johnston’s median is in the mid-$300Ks. For the price of a townhome in Raleigh, buyers can often get a single-family home with a yard in Clayton or Smithfield. This value proposition, combined with new highway connections (e.g. the I-540 extension) and ongoing population growth, keeps demand steady even as the market normalizes.
November 2025 Trends – Seasonal Slower Pace
Full November stats are still being tallied, but anecdotal reports suggest a typical seasonal slowdown.
Realtors in the Triangle area note that November and December see fewer new listings and a dip in buyer activity as the holidays approach. The overall market trajectory from October has likely continued – buyers remain cautious yet active for well-presented homes, and inventory stays higher than last year. Early data for the broader Triangle region showed active listings up nearly 30% year-over-year in Q4, so Johnston County sellers still face a more plentiful market. We can expect median prices to hold around the mid-$300Ks and days on market to stay elevated through November. Proper marketing becomes even more vital in late fall, when fewer buyers are actively searching. Homes that “wow” buyers online can still secure offers quickly, while stale or poorly presented listings might wait until the new year. In essence, the Fall 2025 market requires diligence: staying on top of pricing trends and leveraging standout visuals to capture the limited pool of off-season buyers.
New Developments: Construction Boom in Johnston County
Johnston County is experiencing a surge of new residential developments fueled by its rapid population growth (the county’s population grew ~19% in five years, making it the fastest-growing in NC as of 2025). In the Smithfield area alone, several major subdivisions are in the pipeline. For example, a developer has proposed a massive new community called “Bellamy” with 1,187 homes (870 single-family and 277 townhomes) on nearly 500 acres. This comes on the heels of a recently approved 1,327-home subdivision and the “Local 70” mixed-use community adding ~600 residences nearby. Clayton and other parts of the county are likewise seeing new neighborhoods and expansions of existing ones. With its proximity to Raleigh/I-95 and available land, Johnston County has become a hot spot for new construction, offering buyers brand-new homes at prices more attainable than in Raleigh’s core.
Impact on the market: As these developments come online (Bellamy is expected to break ground in 2–3 years), the housing supply will increase significantly. In the short term, builders are actively pre-selling homes and marketing model houses. Long term, resale sellers may face stiffer competition from a wave of new construction. For realtors, this means differentiating their listings is key. New homes often boast modern features and incentives, so when resales compete against brand-new inventory, strategic marketing (quality photography, virtual tours, etc.) becomes a deciding factor for buyers. The upside is that more development brings more interest to the area overall – attracting buyers from out of town who will be browsing both new and existing homes online. Realtors who stay informed about these new communities (locations, price ranges, amenities) can position themselves as local experts. Incorporating professional visuals when promoting a new subdivision or a listing near one can help capture buyer interest early. For instance, using drone shots to show a new neighborhood’s layout and nearby attractions can make marketing materials for these developments far more compelling than basic plat maps or renderings.
Why Great Photography, Drones, and 3D Tours Matter More Than Ever
In a market where buyers have more options and are taking their time, first impressions are everything. Almost all home searches start online, so the quality of a listing’s visuals can determine whether a buyer clicks “Schedule Tour” or scrolls by. Here are some key reasons professional real estate photography and other modern media are critical in Johnston County’s 2025 market:
Homes with Professional Photos Sell Faster and For More: Quality photos aren’t just pretty – they impact outcomes. One study found that homes with professional real estate photography sell 32% faster on average than those with amateur images. Better photos attract more interest and showings right away. Additionally, for mid-priced homes ($200K–$1M), listings with high-end photos sold for $3,000–$11,000 more** compared to similar homes with standard photos. In a balanced market, that price boost and speed can make a real difference for sellers (and by extension, their agents’ success).
Visual Content = More Online Views: Listings featuring virtual tours or 3D walkthroughs receive 87% more views on average than photo-only listings. Buyers are drawn to interactive content that lets them explore a home remotely. In fact, 67% of buyers say they want the option of virtual tours, and a large majority are more likely to inquire about a listing that has one. This is especially relevant in Johnston County, where many house-hunters are relocating from out of the area. A 3D tour allows out-of-state buyers to “walk through” a home from afar, narrowing down serious contenders. Research shows homes with virtual tours tend to sell 31% faster on average as well – likely because the tours increase buyer engagement (viewers spend 5–10× longer on listings with 3D tours) and can even lead to sight-unseen offers .
Drone Aerials Showcase Property Features: Drone photography has quickly gone from luxury to the new standard for marketing, particularly in scenic or growing areas like Johnston County. Aerial images can highlight a home’s surroundings – the land, neighborhood, and even nearby amenities – in one shot. Many parts of Johnston County feature larger lots, new subdivisions next to wooded areas, or homes in rural settings. Drone shots let buyers grasp the full context (Is there a wooded 3-acre buffer behind the home? Is there a community pool or park down the street? How close is the property to the Neuse River or a main highway?) in a way ground photos can’t. Statistics back up the impact: an MLS analysis cited by Redfin found listings with drone images sold 68% faster than those with only traditional photos, and they garnered 94% more online views. It’s no surprise over half of Realtors (52%) now use drones as a marketing tool – buyers are beginning to expect those eye-catching aerial perspectives when browsing homes. Agents who don’t include drone photos might soon be in the minority, especially for higher-end properties or homes on sizable land.
Virtual Staging and Twilight Shots for Extra “Wow” Factor: In today’s competitive market, going beyond the basics can pay off. Virtual staging is one cost-effective way to make an empty house feel like a home. Instead of showing bare walls and echoing rooms, virtually staged photos present a fully furnished space (digitally) without the expense of physical staging. This helps buyers emotionally connect to new construction homes or vacant listings by illustrating the potential – for example, showing how a living room can comfortably accommodate a sectional sofa and dining set. It’s convincing too: modern virtual staging renders can be indistinguishable from real furniture.
Meanwhile, twilight photography (photos taken at dusk, with warm interior lights glowing) can make a listing’s cover photo pop out in a sea of daylight shots. A professionally captured twilight exterior conveys a feeling of luxury and coziness that grabs attention as buyers scroll through listings. These enhanced visuals signal that a listing is high-quality and no detail is overlooked, which reflects well on the agent as well.
Leveraging Goodlook’s Services to Win in the Current Market
Given these trends, local realtors are wise to up their visual marketing game, and GoodlookNC offers a suite of services tailored for exactly that. Here’s how each key service can address the needs of Johnston County real estate in late 2025:
Professional Photography (Interiors & Exteriors): High-quality images of each room and the home’s exterior are baseline necessities now. In a market where buyers may scroll past dozens of listings, having bright, well-composed photos for every property is critical. Goodlook provides fully edited, HDR photography that makes homes look their best (clear windows, vibrant colors, true-to-life lighting). This is especially important as days on market increase – the longer a listing sits, the more its photos need to keep enticing new viewers. Every Goodlook shoot ensures consistent, magazine-quality images that grab attention from the first thumbnail. Realtors who use professional photos for every listing build a reputation for quality – something that can help win future clients in a competitive arena.
FAA-Licensed Drone Photography: As discussed, drone shots are becoming essential for marketing homes in Johnston County’s suburban and semi-rural locales. Goodlook offers FAA-certified drone pilots (Part 107 licensed), meaning agents get stunning aerial images and videos captured safely and legally. Use cases range from sprawling country homes (showing acreage, ponds, or barns) to suburban houses (highlighting a community clubhouse or a large fenced backyard). For new developments, drone shots can also document progress or give buyers a sense of the overall neighborhood plan. By incorporating aerial views, an agent can instantly set their listing apart – remember, only ~15% of listings in the area currently include virtual tours or drone media, so it’s a differentiator. Goodlook handles all aspects, from capturing the 400-foot view to low-angle flyovers that showcase a home’s curb appeal from above.
3D Virtual Tours (Matterport and Zillow 3D): Goodlook provides interactive 3D home tours using platforms like Matterport and Zillow 3D Home. This is a direct answer to the growing demand from buyers for more immersive online experiences. In Johnston County, where a chunk of buyers may be moving from other states or an hour away, having a virtual tour can dramatically widen your pool of prospects. It allows tentative buyers to virtually walk through the property at their own pace, often leading to more informed in-person showings. As noted, a majority of buyers even expect virtual tours now. By offering a 3D tour on most listings, an agent signals they are tech-forward and client-focused. These tours also keep listings active online – house-hunters spend considerably more time on a listing with a 3D tour, which boosts its visibility and engagement. Goodlook’s team handles the scanning and production of the tour, delivering a seamless link that can be embedded in MLS, Zillow, Redfin, and social media. It’s an easy add-on that can yield faster sales in the current market climate .
Virtual Staging & Image Enhancement: As mentioned, Goodlook offers virtual staging services to transform empty rooms. This is ideal for the plentiful new construction homes in Johnston County or any vacant property. Rather than showing cold, blank spaces, virtual staging inserts tasteful furniture and décor (tailored to the style of home and target buyer) so that online listings appear warm and lived-in. Additionally, Goodlook’s post-processing can do sky replacements (for those overcast listing days) and provide twilight conversions or genuine twilight shoots. The goal is to ensure every photo in the gallery is compelling. These enhancements help maximize the appeal of each listing, which is crucial as buyers may otherwise only focus on homes that “look amazing” online. In a cooler market, you want your client’s home to be one of those that stops scrolling thumbs – small investments in photography yield big returns in interest.
Neighborhood and Amenity Photos: Goodlook doesn’t just shoot houses – we can also capture neighborhood amenities (pools, parks, clubhouses) and nearby attractions to help sell not just the home, but the lifestyle. For example, if a listing is in a new Clayton subdivision with a forthcoming playground and greenway, Goodlook can take pro photos (or drone video) of those features. Similarly, for a property near downtown Smithfield, we could provide street-scene shots or local landmarks to include in the marketing. This service is a great value-add for agents marketing new developments or out-of-town buyers: it paints a fuller picture of the community. By bundling listing photos with amenity photos, agents can present a comprehensive story – “here’s the home, and here’s what the neighborhood offers” – which can be the extra push a buyer needs to choose one home over another.