JCAR: New Homes Are Helping The County Catch Up, Not Get Ahead

This article was submitted by the Johnston County Association of REALTORS® (JCAR) and is published as submitted.

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — Growth is one of the most talked-about issues in Johnston County, and for good reason. New neighborhoods, increased traffic, pressure on schools, and infrastructure needs are real concerns for residents who care deeply about the future of their community.

At the same time, Johnston County cannot stop people from moving here. Families are relocating to Johnston County from across North Carolina and all over the country. The question is not whether growth will happen, but how the county will manage it in a way that protects current residents and keeps homeownership within reach.

According to a 2024 housing overview contracted out to Bowen National Research by Johnston County Association of REALTORS® (JCAR), the county has been trying to recover from a serious housing shortage following COVID, low inventory, rising costs, and development challenges. The report found Johnston County had an overall housing gap of 15,053 units, including 3,208 rental units and 11,845 for-sale units needed between 2024 and 2029. This is a major factor in the lack of affordable and attainable housing.

Bonnie White, Chief Executive Officer of the Johnston County Association of REALTORS®, said it is important to understand what current construction is really addressing.

“Despite the amount of new development we are seeing across Johnston County, our housing needs remain at a critical level. The county is not simply preparing for future growth; we are still working to close the housing gap that already exists,” White said.

The data shows how quickly Johnston County has grown. The county’s population increased from 168,874 in 2010 to 237,149 in 2023, a 40.4% increase, and was projected to reach 253,120 by 2028. The number of households increased by 25,157 between 2010 and 2023, with another 6,254 households projected by 2028.

Housing inventory is improving, but it is still not where it needs to be for a balanced market. As of May 31, 2024, Johnston County had only 328 homes available for sale and just 0.9 months of inventory. A balanced market is generally considered to have about four to six months of available inventory. By April 2026, inventory had improved to 1,249 active listings and 3.3 months of supply, according to the April 2026 Market Review. That is progress, but it still falls short of a fully balanced market.

“When housing supply does not keep up with demand, prices rise. When prices rise, teachers, first responders, those who maintain our community and the next generation can’t afford to live here.” White said.

Johnston County’s median sales price increased by 46.1% between January 2020 and May 2024, and the April 2026 Market Review showed a median sales price of $369,998.

That rising cost impacts more than buyers. Continued increases in housing prices can also contribute to higher property values, which may eventually lead to higher property tax burdens for existing homeowners. This makes housing affordability an issue for both future buyers and current residents.

The impact is also being seen nationally. The National Association of REALTORS® reported that the typical age of a first-time homebuyer has climbed to a record high of 40 years old, while first-time buyers now make up only 21% of all buyers. Limited inventory and affordability challenges are major reasons many potential buyers are being pushed further away from homeownership.

“No one can stop people from moving into Johnston County, but we want to do everything we can to prevent those born and raised here from being priced and pushed out,” White said.

Who is seeing the biggest impacts? The housing shortage affects young adults, first-time buyers, teachers, first responders, service workers, seniors hoping to downsize, and families who want to remain close to parents, grandparents, churches, schools, and support systems. The Bowen report also found that 41.9% of renter households and 18.9% of owner households in Johnston County are housing cost burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income toward housing.

The Johnston County Association of REALTORS® understands residents’ concerns and believes growth must be met with thoughtful planning, infrastructure investment, and open communication. JCAR is committed to working with elected officials, county leaders, builders, developers, landowners and residents to help identify solutions that support responsible growth while protecting quality of life.

The Johnston County Association of REALTORS® supports private property rights, responsible development, and balanced housing policies. JCAR’s position is not that every development is perfect or that residents should ignore the impacts of growth. Rather, JCAR believes the county must plan for growth responsibly instead of reacting to it after the fact. Trying to stop it just isn’t the answer.

White said the association’s message is not that growth should go unchecked, but that Johnston County must plan for it in a way that protects local families.

“Our greatest concern is that efforts to slow growth through added restrictions or development costs will only make housing more expensive. That will not stop people from moving to Johnston County; it will only guarantee making it harder for local families and those raised here to remain in the community they call home and achieve the American dream of homeownership.”