New listings came on strong, which makes your opening price even more important.
If your question is whether this is the month to test an ambitious asking price, I would be careful. New inventory jumped in Durham County, NC, and that makes first-impression pricing more important because buyers have more fresh options to compare against yours.
Over the previous 30 days, 524 new listings hit the market, up 32.3% from the prior month, and the typical new asking price was $420,000. At the same time, the typical active asking price was $399,900, while the typical closed price was $382,230.
That spread is where sellers need to pay attention. A higher typical price on fresh listings tells me new sellers are entering the market with confidence, but the closed number is still lower than both the new and active asking levels. I do not read that as a warning to underprice. I read it as a reminder that the market still rewards homes that are positioned credibly from the start. If you reach too far, you risk joining the group that sits longer while buyers move on to the next option.
I would study the difference between the newest asking prices and the most recent closed prices before setting your number. I would also make sure your launch condition matches your asking strategy, because stronger competition raises the cost of coming out half-ready. Price to attract attention early, watch showing activity closely, and adjust quickly if the response is softer than expected.
