The October numbers are in from the High Country Association of Realtors. Across Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties, we closed 198 homes in October for a combined $142.0 million, with a region-wide median sale price of $517,000. Active listings stood at 1,183, with 234 new listings hitting the market during the month.
Here's the headline: we're at 6.0 months of supply, which reads as a balanced market — but only just. The scale runs under 5 months for a seller's market, 5 to 6 for balanced, and over 6 for a buyer's market. At 6.0, we're standing exactly on the line between balanced and buyer territory. Sales eased from September's 206 closings, and the median slipped a touch from $520,000, but nothing here looks like a market falling apart.
The regional residential figures include single-family homes, condominiums, and townhomes across the four-county High Country market.
| Statistic | October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Closed sales | 198 |
| Sales volume | $142.0 million |
| Median sale price | $517,000 |
| Active listings | 1,183 |
| New listings | 234 |
| Months of inventory | 6.0 |
Closed sales were down 3.9% from September's 206, and the median was down 0.6% from $520,000. Active listings fell from September's 1,223, and new listings came in below September's 276 — fewer fresh choices arriving, even as supply barely moved, from 5.9 months in September to 6.0 in October.
| County | Closed sales | Median sale price | Median change vs prior month | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga | 76 | $635,000 | +6.7% | 515 |
| Avery | 57 | $510,000 | +6.8% | 333 |
| Ashe | 46 | $470,000 | −3.8% | 231 |
| Alleghany | 19 | $330,000 | −14.1% | 104 |
Watauga is still the engine of this market, even on a slower month. Seventy-six homes closed in October, down 20.0% from September's 95 — the sharpest sales drop of the four counties. But the median went the other way, climbing 6.7% to $635,000, the highest county median in the region. With 515 active listings and 107 new ones, Watauga still holds nearly half the region's for-sale inventory. Learn more about the area on my Explore High Country page.
Ashe is my home county, so I watch it closest, and October was a two-sided month here. Forty-six homes closed, up 21.1% from September's 38 — the only county where sales jumped. But the median eased 3.8% to $470,000, down from September's $488,450. When sales climb and the median dips, it usually means more activity at the attainable end of the market, and that's a healthy sign, not a weak one.
Ashe inventory grew too: 231 active listings and 55 new ones, both up from September.
On the land side, Ashe keeps its reputation as the value play. Twenty land sales closed at a median of $54,950 — the lowest land median of the four counties — with 323 active land listings, 59 new ones, and a 16.1-month supply. If you want mountain dirt at a price that leaves room to build, Ashe is still where the math works best. See what to look for in my land guide.
Avery was the steady one. Fifty-seven homes closed, with the median up 6.8% to $510,000 — the second-highest county median in the region. Active listings stood at 333, with 44 new listings during the month. More on the county in my Explore High Country guide.
Alleghany is the smallest market of the four, and October showed it. Nineteen homes closed — exactly flat with September — while the median fell 14.1% to $330,000, the lowest in the region. In a county with this few sales, one or two closings can move the median a lot, so I wouldn't read a crash into a single month. What it does mean, plainly, is that Alleghany remains the most affordable entry point in the High Country. County details are on my Explore High Country page.
Land is still a buyer's market by a wide margin. Seventy-three land sales closed across the region, up from September's 53, but the median sale price per transaction eased to $87,000, with 1,317 active land listings and 135 new ones. That works out to an 18.0-month supply of land: at October's sales pace, it would take a year and a half to sell everything currently listed.
| Statistic | October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Closed land sales | 73 |
| Median land sale price (per transaction, not per acre) | $87,000 |
| Active land listings | 1,317 |
| New land listings | 135 |
| Months of land inventory | 18.0 |
By county, land medians ran from $54,950 in Ashe to $107,500 in Watauga, with land supply from 16.1 months in Ashe to 21.7 months in Alleghany. My land guide covers what to check before you buy: access, perc, utilities, and views.
First, a plain explanation of the number that drives all of this. Months of supply is how long it would take to sell every home currently listed if no new listings appeared and sales kept their current pace. Under 5 months, sellers hold the leverage. Over 6, buyers do. Between 5 and 6, neither side has a clear edge. At 6.0, October sits on the boundary — balanced by the book, with a lean toward buyers.
For buyers, that means choice and time, especially in land and in Watauga's deeper inventory. It does not mean sellers are giving homes away: the region-wide median is still $517,000, and well-priced homes in good spots still move. What it does mean is room to negotiate and room to inspect properly. If you're buying, start with my buying guide and get your financing lined up before you fall for a place.
For sellers, the message is the same one I give every month, and October's numbers back it up: price it right on day one. At 6.0 months of supply, buyers have alternatives, and overpriced listings sit while correctly priced ones sell. Watauga's rising median shows buyers will still pay for the right home. A home priced to this month's comparable sales will still get attention; a home priced to last spring's market will not. If you're thinking of selling, my selling guide walks through how I price a home, and the previous month's breakdown is here: September 2026 edition.
The region-wide median sale price was $517,000 across Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties, down 0.6% from September's $520,000.
198 homes sold — single-family homes, condominiums, and townhomes combined — for a total volume of $142.0 million.
Watauga County, at $635,000, up 6.7% from September. Avery was second at $510,000, followed by Ashe at $470,000 and Alleghany at $330,000.
There were 1,183 active residential listings and 234 new listings in October, working out to 6.0 months of supply — balanced territory, right on the edge of a buyer's market.
The median land sale price was $87,000 per transaction (not per acre), with 73 land sales closed and an 18.0-month supply of land listings.
No. A county median reflects the mix of homes that happened to sell that month, not the value change of any individual home. Your home's value depends on its condition, location, and comparable sales in your neighborhood — that's a conversation worth having directly.
County-level numbers are a great starting point, but your neighborhood and price range tell their own story. Whether you're buying, selling, or just want to know what your place is worth, reach out to me directly and we'll look at your specifics.
John Blevins, Broker-in-Charge | Regency Properties | West Jefferson, NC | NC License #322850
Data source and scope: High Country Association of Realtors, October 2026 MLS Market Report (published November 3, 2026), covering residential and land activity in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties. Residential figures include single-family homes, condominiums, and townhomes.
Accuracy 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.