A realistic target matters more than a bold ask
If you are debating the list price that will actually move your home, start with the reality of what buyers have been willing to pay relative to asking. In Southern Pines, NC, the smart play is to price for traction and negotiate from strength.
Looking at the latest numbers, the clearest signal was this recent offers landed about 95.7% of asking last month, and a typical closed price was $434,000 in that same period. This changes your plan because buyers have been negotiating, not simply matching every list price. Some metrics were not reported for this period, but when the typical closed price is $434,000 and buyers are paying around 95.7% of asking, you can protect your net by pricing to attract serious traffic instead of baking in an unrealistic gap. Choose a list price that anticipates negotiation and still keeps you inside your required net. Launch with clean disclosures and strong presentation so the negotiation focuses on price, not repairs. If your timeline is strict, set expectations around a typical 97-day path last month and plan your next housing step with that runway in mind.