US Metro Real Estate Intelligence
Rankings/Burlington, NC

Burlington, NC

NeutralTier 1CBSA 15500Compare
Risk Rank: #128 of 273Month: 2026-08Score change (12m):— +2
50score
Composite risk percentile vs 273 metros (higher = higher risk)

Executive Summary

Burlington's housing market shows average risk, ranking 128th of 273 metros. The market recently entered Expansion. Inventory is growing moderately (+13% YoY) with stable liquidity. Broad-based growth with healthy fundamentals.

Burlington experienced a market correction from late 2025 through late 2025. The market has since normalized and entered Expansion.

Inventory is growing at a moderate +13% pace with homes taking +3% longer to sell — within normal ranges.

Rent growth is roughly keeping pace with price appreciation, suggesting valuations are not stretched.

Cycle Phase

RecoveryExpansionHypersupplyRecession
1 month in current phase

Normal growth conditions with balanced fundamentals

20192020202120222023202420252026

Key Dynamics

Risk is primarily driven by permits per capita and price momentum, while employment provides the most support.

Top Drivers

Permits per Capitap93
Permits per 1,000 residents
Price Momentump71
12-month HPI change
Affordabilityp46
Mortgage payment / income

Market Signals

Inventory is growing at a moderate +13% pace with homes taking +3% longer to sell — within normal ranges.

Liquidity

Stable↑
Active Listings YoY
+13.5%p63
Days on Market YoY
+3.3%p55
Months in status1
Data through Aug 2026

Valuation

Balanced—
Rent vs. Price Growth
-1.2%p44
Months in status1
Data through Aug 2026Rent growth vs price growth (rent support). Note: Affordability and Valuation measure different structural dimensions and can diverge.
Factor Details
Lower riskHigher risk
Low RiskBelow AvgNeutralElevatedHigh Risk
Price MomentumElevated
+3.3%p71

12-month HPI change — higher = overheating

Permit GrowthBelow Avg
-8.4%p32

YoY permit change — higher = supply pressure

Permits per CapitaHigh Risk
11.22p93

Permits per 1,000 residents — higher = overbuilding risk

AffordabilityNeutral
0.29p46

Mortgage payment / income — higher = more burdened

EmploymentBelow Avg
+1.0%p25

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

MigrationBelow Avg
+$50Kp31

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

National Context

Credit Conditions

Credit Regime

Stable—

Normal expansion. Credit is available, transactions are healthy — no constraints on current growth momentum.

Bank Lending Standards
+0.0Normal
Rate Change (YoY)
+11 bpsNormal
Mortgage Risk Premium
+196 bpsElevated
Stable for 10 quartersData through 2026-Q3

Supply Pipeline

Supply Regime

Accumulating—

Supply pipeline is building up while credit remains available. New units are accumulating in the system — watch for delivery pressure in coming quarters.

Pipeline Ratio
0.89Elevated
Completion-Permit Divergence
-19.2 ppNormal
Accumulating for 6 quartersData through 2026-Q3
Local Signals

Metro Permit Activity

Permit Activity

Normal
YoY Permit Growth
-8.4%Within norm

Raw signal — not the composite percentile

Relative to 2016–2019 norms for this metro

Supply and demand are in equilibrium. No unusual activity on either side of the market.

Employment Concentration

Employment

Moderate
Largest SectorHealth Care 19.3%
QCEW 2024 annual averages
Internal Structure

County-level structural analysis.

County-level structural analysis is not available for this metro due to fewer than 3 qualifying counties.

Score History
MonthScore
2026-0652
2025-1235
2025-1146
2025-1050
2025-0947
2025-0848
2025-0748
2025-0542
2025-0440
2025-0253
2024-1148
2024-1056
2024-0962
2024-0752
2024-0650
2024-0545
2024-0355
2024-0256
2024-0152
2023-1240
2023-1139
2023-0940
2023-0842
2023-0649
2023-0346
2023-0154
2022-1065
2022-0863
2022-0663
2022-0565
2022-0361
2022-0160
2021-1256
2021-1052
2021-0749
2021-0446
2021-0247
2020-1242
2020-1040
2020-0940
2020-0744
2020-0451
2020-0250
2019-1241
2019-1036
2019-0939
2019-0744
2019-0439
2019-0144
Data Vintages
Price (HPI)2026-Q2
Permits2026-08
Income2024
Employment2026-08
Migration2023