Raleigh Area Fall 2025 Market Trends: Clayton & Garner – Stats, Virtual Tours, and Drones
Clayton & Garner Housing Market Update (Recent Months)
The suburban markets of Garner and Clayton (Raleigh area) have seen a notable cooling in recent months.
In Garner, the median sale price in September 2025 was about $416,000 – down 4% year-over-year.
Clayton experienced an even sharper drop, with a median price of $292,000, down 10.3% from last year. Homes are also taking longer to sell than they did a year ago. On average, Garner homes now sell in ~61 days (vs. just 25 days last fall), and Clayton homes take ~53 days (vs. 34 days last year). This increase in days on market reflects a more balanced, less frenzied market compared to the rapid sales of 2024.
Sales Activity and Inventory:
Despite softer prices, transaction volume has been steady or rising. Garner saw 100 homes sold in Sep 2025 (up 42.9% year-over-year), and Clayton had 55 sales (up from 50 last year). The jump in sales alongside slower sell-through times suggests higher inventory and more choices for buyers. Indeed, active listings are plentiful: as of October, Garner has ~521 homes on the market and Clayton about 622 homes for sale. With more supply and buyers taking their time, sellers and agents need to work harder to make listings stand out. Pricing correctly and using effective marketing are key in this environment.
Competitive but Not Frenzied:
Both markets are classified as "somewhat competitive." Houses do still receive offers (on average ~1–2 per listing in these areas) and sell for just slightly under list price. For example, in Garner the typical home sells for about 2% below asking and "hot" listings can still go under contract in ~13 days. In Clayton, hot homes can go pending in ~11 days. This means the best-prepared and best-presented listings are still moving quickly, while others may linger. Below we explore how modern marketing tools – virtual tours and drone photography – can give those listings a needed edge.
Rise of Virtual Tours in Listings
Adoption in Garner & Clayton:
Virtual tours (especially 3D interactive walkthroughs) have gone from a novelty to an expected feature for many buyers. In the Raleigh region, dozens of listings now offer virtual tours in Garner and Clayton. On Redfin, for example, Garner currently has 81 homes with virtual tours (out of ~521 listings). That's roughly 15% of active inventory. Clayton has 91 homes with tours (out of ~622, about 14.6%). Zillow similarly shows on the order of 120+ listings in Garner with 3D home walkthroughs. This means a significant minority of sellers are already leveraging virtual tours – and the usage is growing – but the majority of listings still rely only on photos. For forward-thinking realtors, this gap represents an opportunity: offer virtual tours to stand out against the 85% of listings that don't have one.
Why Realtors Value 3D Tours:
Industry surveys underscore the importance of this tech. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, virtual tour technology is becoming standard – 67% of home buyers say they want to see virtual tours available, and 90% of buyers are more likely to inquire about a property with a tour. It's telling that over half of Realtors (52%) now use or outsource drone/3D tour content as part of their marketing toolkit. In essence, buyers now expect a rich online experience, and many sellers recognize this: one nationwide survey even found 89% of home sellers believe their home will sell faster with a virtual walkthrough. In Clayton and Garner – where some buyers are relocating from out-of-area – a 3D tour lets interested parties explore the home remotely, filtering in serious buyers and reducing wasted showings.
Do Virtual Tours Help Homes Sell Faster?
Realtors often ask if the extra effort and cost of a virtual tour pay off in concrete results. Research increasingly says yes. Homes marketed with 3D/virtual tours do tend to sell faster on average than those without. In fact, multiple studies show time on market reductions for listings with virtual walkthroughs. For example, an analysis of MLS data across several U.S. metros found that listings with a 3D virtual tour closed 31% faster on average. A similar study by Matterport (a 3D tour provider) found homes with their virtual tours sold 20–31% quicker than comparable listings lacking tours. Even if our local market differs, the trend is clear: virtual tours correlate with speedier sales.
Why the faster sales?
Buyer engagement is much higher for listings with virtual tours. Such listings generate 87% more views on average than those with photos alone. Moreover, buyers spend 5–10× longer on websites looking at a 3D tour than on listings without one. This increased exposure and interest often translate into more showings and offers. Agents also report that virtual tours can attract offers sight-unseen – in 2020, 63% of homebuyers made an offer on a property they toured only virtually. All of this can compress the selling timeline. In a cooler market (where Garner/Clayton homes are sitting ~2 months), cutting even a few weeks off the time can be a big advantage for sellers.
Higher Sale Prices Too:
In addition to speed, some data suggest virtual tours may help achieve a better price. The Matterport analysis noted listings with 3D tours sold for 4–9% higher prices (controlling for other factors). While local results vary, the ability to reach more buyers (and out-of-town buyers) with a great virtual presentation often leads to stronger offers. At the very least, a virtual tour signals a high-quality listing and an attentive seller, which can justify the asking price in buyers' minds.
Drone Photography: A New Standard for Listings
Alongside virtual tours, aerial drone photography has become one of the hottest real estate marketing trends – particularly in scenic North Carolina markets. Drone shots showcase a property's exterior, acreage, and neighborhood context in ways standard photos simply can't. In areas like Clayton and Garner – which feature plenty of large lots, new subdivisions, and rural vistas – drone imagery is extremely effective for highlighting a home's surroundings (e.g. a big backyard, proximity to parks or lakes, a cul-de-sac location).
Growing Use of Drones by Agents:
Just a few years ago, drones were rare in real estate, but now they're heading toward mainstream use. According to NAR's latest tech survey, drone photography/videography is used by 52% of Realtors – making it the third most popular marketing tech tool after e-signatures and social media. Other research puts usage even higher; RubyHome reports 61% of agents now incorporate drone imagery in their listings. Locally, you've probably noticed more listings on Zillow and the MLS featuring those sweeping aerial shots of the home's roof and yard. In 2024, roughly one-third of real estate professionals in our region had adopted drones for listings, and that number has only grown. Simply put, buyers are beginning to expect aerial views – especially for higher-end and suburban properties. Realtors who don't offer drone photos might soon be in the minority.
Impact on Selling Speed and Interest:
Like virtual tours, drone photos have proven benefits for engaging buyers and even accelerating sales. One MLS study (cited by Redfin) found that listings with drone aerial images sold 68% faster than those with traditional photos only. Additionally, those listings received 94% more views online on average. That's nearly double the eyeballs – a massive boost in exposure. More views lead to more inquiries and showings, which often lead to faster offers. It makes sense: a set of stunning drone shots (showing the entire property, the landscape, and even the surrounding community amenities) immediately grabs buyers' attention as they scroll through listings. It creates a premium, polished look that signals "this home is special." In a competitive market, that can be a deciding factor.
Beyond speed, drone imagery helps attract the right buyer. For example, if a home backs up to woods or sits on a spacious lot, aerial photos can convey those selling points at a glance, drawing in buyers specifically seeking privacy or land. In Garner and Clayton, where many buyers value space and outdoor features, drone footage is often the best way to market features like large yards, pools, or nearby green spaces. By telling a home's story from the air, you're more likely to connect with a buyer who loves that story – resulting in enthusiastic offers.
Key Takeaways for Realtors: Leveraging These Trends
In summary, the Raleigh metro real estate market (and Clayton/Garner in particular) has shifted to a more normalized pace. Homes aren't flying off the shelf in days anymore – many are taking 2+ months to find a buyer. In this climate, strategic marketing becomes crucial to success. Realtors can add significant value by embracing virtual tours and drone photography in their listings:
Stand Out from the Competition: With only ~15% of listings in Clayton/Garner using virtual tours, and perhaps a similar fraction using drone photos, adding these to your marketing package immediately differentiates your listings. The investment signals to sellers that you're going the extra mile, and it grabs buyers' attention in crowded online search results.
Sell Homes Faster: Data shows that homes with 3D tours and aerial images tend to sell substantially faster on average. While results vary, even a modest improvement in days on market is a competitive edge. Faster sales mean happier clients and quicker commission turnover.
Attract More Qualified Buyers: Virtual tours and drone shots act like a 24/7 open house, filtering in truly interested buyers. Out-of-state or busy buyers can experience the home remotely – increasing your pool of prospects. The listings get more views and shares (up to ~94% more views with drone media)
Ultimately, modern buyers are digitally driven, and marketing a home now goes well beyond yard signs and MLS blurbs. Realtors in the Clayton and Garner area can provide great value by incorporating professional virtual walkthroughs and drone photography into their standard practice. Not only do these tools align with current market trends and buyer expectations, but they directly address today’s challenges of longer sales cycles. By packaging listings with immersive 3D tours and stunning aerial views, you’re more likely to secure faster sales at better prices – a win-win for both you and your seller In a shifting market, leveraging these tech solutions is one of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve and deliver results for your clients.
Sources: Recent Redfin and Zillow market data for Garner & Clayton redfin.com redfin.com redfin.com, industry research on virtual tours (PhotoUp, Matterport)photoup.net matterport.com, and statistics on drone photography adoption (HomeJab, NAR)homejab.com nar.realtor. All data is current as of Fall 2025 and reflects residential listings in the Raleigh NC region.