Weekly DC Market Data

Weekly Washington DC (City) Market Data

Real Estate Data

District of Columbia

Summary

Real estate activity in Washington DC remained relatively steady during the second week of August, although seasonal trends continue to influence weekly numbers. Late summer is typically one of the quieter periods of the year as many residents are away before the fall market begins.

Buyer activity remained stable, with 1,787 showings, down 10.1% from the same week last year but only 2.6% below the previous week. Buyers signed 120 new sales contracts, an increase of 4.3% from a year ago despite a modest 4.8% decline from the prior week.

Homes that went under contract spent a bit longer on the market. The median time to contract increased to 58 days, compared with 52 days during the same week last year and 50 days the previous week. Weekly changes in marketing time can fluctuate, particularly during the slower summer months.

Sellers introduced 159 new listings, down 18.5% from a year ago and 5.4% from the previous week. The median list price for newly listed homes increased to $595,000, up from $565,000 a year earlier and $500,000 the previous week. Because the median list price reflects only homes newly listed during the week, it can vary considerably depending on the mix of properties entering the market.

Inventory remained relatively stable at 2,507 active listings, down 5.0% from the same week last year and 1.4% from the previous week. Meanwhile, 6.6% of active listings had reduced their asking price, down from 7.6% the previous week but slightly above 5.8% one year ago. Sellers also canceled 27 listings, compared with 19 during the same week last year.

As always, weekly results should be interpreted cautiously. Activity during August is often uneven because of vacations and seasonal scheduling, making longer-term trends a better measure of overall market conditions than any single week's data.

Weekly Metro Market Data

Weekly Metro Market Data

Real Estate Data

Washington DC Metro Area

The DC Metro Area market consists of District of Columbia, Arlington Va, Alexandria Va, Alexandria City Va, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Montgomery County Md, Loudoun County Md, and Frederick County Md.

Summary

DC City Monthly Data

Monthly Washington DC (City) Market Data

Monthly Real Estate Data

District of Columbia

Summary

Washington DC Housing Market | July 2026

The Washington DC housing market remained relatively stable in July as activity eased from June's pace, reflecting the typical seasonal slowdown. Compared with July 2025, however, market conditions changed very little.

Closed sales totaled 608, down just 1.0% from a year earlier, while total sold dollar volume was essentially unchanged at $574.7 million, up 0.1% year over year. The median sold price was $672,500, a modest 0.4% decline from last July, while the average sold price increased 1.6% to $932,176, reflecting continued strength in higher-priced transactions.

Homes continued to sell at a steady pace. The median time on market was 30 days, slightly faster than a year ago, while the average remained unchanged at 45 days. Although homes generally took longer to sell than they did in June, month-to-month changes are typical as the market moves through the slower summer season. Inventory also remained relatively tight, with 2,630 active listings, about 4% fewer than a year ago, and new listings declined 8.3% year over year.

The broader market continues to show a split between property types. Attached homes posted stronger pricing than detached homes, while the condo market remained more competitive. Condo and co-op sales activity softened from last year, homes spent longer on the market, and contract activity remained well below historical norms.

Overall, July's results suggest a market that remains balanced rather than one undergoing a significant correction. Buyers continue to purchase homes despite higher borrowing costs, prices have remained relatively stable, and well-priced properties continue to attract demand, even as seasonal activity moderates.

The Condominium Market: Washington's Weakest Link

One of the biggest stories of the past two years has been the steady deterioration of the District's condominium market. While detached homes have remained relatively resilient, condominiums have become the weakest segment of Washington's housing market and account for a disproportionate share of the city's inventory surplus.

Condos are highly reactive to market and economic conditions. They are typically the first housing segment to weaken during market downturns and among the last to recover. Condominiums were just beginning to recover from a severe demand drop during the pandemic when the city's economic trajectory changed in early 2025. Since then, weakening demand, affordability challenges, and slower household growth have continued to weigh on the market.

New pending condo sales declined from 300 in the five-year July average to 270 in July 2025, and to 232 in July 2026, a 14% drop from last year and 23% below the historical July average. Active inventory, while down modestly from June, remained at 1,547 available units, the highest July inventory level in the past five years. The Contract Ratio, which measures buyer demand relative to available inventory, slipped again to 0.16, down from 0.19 in June, 0.23 a year ago, and well below the five-year July average of 0.31, confirming that buyer demand continues to lag available supply. Average marketing time also increased to 54 days, compared with a five-year July average of 43 days, while sellers received an average of 94.7% of their original list price, the lowest July level in five years.

The Most Active Pricepoints

Although buyer demand has weakened overall, sales continue to be concentrated in the middle of the market.

Of the 258 condominium and cooperative sales recorded in July, approximately 62% occurred between $300,000 and $799,999. The largest concentrations of sales occurred in the $300,000 to $399,999 (48 sales), $400,000 to $499,999 (39 sales), $500,000 to $599,999 (33 sales), and $600,000 to $799,999 (41 sales) price ranges.

Entry-level demand has not disappeared entirely. There were 52 sales below $300,000, demonstrating that buyers remain active at lower price points. However, inventory remains elevated across virtually every price range, making it difficult for existing supply to be absorbed.

Only 23 condominiums sold above $1 million during July, while approximately 120 active listings were available in those price ranges at month end. Buyers continue to have abundant choices, placing additional pressure on sellers competing in the upper end of the market.

Elevated inventory can be found across nearly every major price segment, suggesting the challenge is not simply one of pricing, but of overall buyer demand.

Declining Values

Some may argue that lower condo prices should improve affordability and attract buyers. In theory, that's true. In practice, many sellers have little room to reduce their asking prices.

Unlike detached homeowners who often purchased years ago, accumulated substantial appreciation, and built significant equity through principal reduction, many condominium owners:

• Purchased more recently.
• Made down payments of only 3% to 10%.
• Bought during the pandemic price peak.
• Financed mortgage insurance.
• Paid premiums for new construction.
• Experienced little or no appreciation, and in some cases declining values.
• Continue facing rising HOA fees, insurance costs, and utilities.

Their equity cushions are often thin or nonexistent.

When prices soften, homeowners with decades of accumulated equity may be able to negotiate aggressively. Many condominium owners cannot. Even modest price declines can leave sellers owing more than they can recover at closing without bringing additional cash to the settlement table.

Washington's condominium market has historically depended on two primary buyer groups.

The first is the first-time homebuyer. Condominiums have long served as the entry point into homeownership for young professionals beginning careers in government, law, consulting, lobbying, nonprofits, healthcare, and related industries.

The second is the part-time or pied-à-terre buyer. Members of Congress, federal executives, diplomats, attorneys, corporate executives, and other professionals have traditionally purchased condominiums because they wanted a secure, low-maintenance residence close to Capitol Hill, downtown, and federal agencies.

Both buyer groups have weakened.

Affordability challenges and higher mortgage rates have reduced purchasing power for first-time buyers. At the same time, slower population growth and continued domestic outmigration have reduced the number of new households entering the District's for-sale housing market. Fewer potential buyers, combined with elevated inventory, have left the condominium market carrying a disproportionate share of Washington's housing slowdown.

Condominiums are not just another housing type in Washington. They are the foundation of the District's homeownership ladder. When fewer buyers enter through that first rung, fewer owners move up to larger homes, reducing liquidity throughout the entire housing market.

Unfortunately, the challenges facing condominium owners are poised to become even greater.

Beginning this summer, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are implementing sweeping underwriting changes that will make financing more difficult for many condominium and cooperative buildings. Higher reserve funding requirements, stricter reserve study standards, lower deductible thresholds, and the elimination of limited reviews for most projects will leave many underfunded or poorly managed associations unable to meet agency standards. Buyers may not discover that a building is non-warrantable until late in the financing process, causing transactions to fail just before closing.

At the same time, the DC Council is considering the Condominium Insurance Amendment Act of 2025 (B26-0495), legislation that would substantially increase the financial exposure of condominium owners by raising deductible pass-through limits, expanding insurance requirements, and requiring broad waivers of subrogation. Although presented as consumer protection, the proposal could shift significantly more financial risk from condominium associations onto individual owners, particularly in situations where the origin of property damage is disputed, a common occurrence in multifamily buildings.

Taken together, these trends suggest the District's condominium market is no longer facing a temporary cyclical slowdown, it's undergoing a structural shift. A smaller pipeline of first-time and part-time buyers, rising ownership costs, tighter financing standards and additional legislative uncertainty are all reducing the buyer pool. Until that buyer pipeline begins to expand again, condominiums are likely to remain the weakest segment of Washington's housing market, and the first place where broader economic changes become visible.

DC Metro Monthly Data

Monthly Washington DC Metro Market Summary

Market Overview

District of Columbia Metro Area

July 2026

DCMA Summary

The Greater Washington DC housing market remained resilient in July despite the normal seasonal slowdown. Compared with a year ago, home sales, prices, and overall market activity changed little, suggesting buyers and sellers continue to adapt to elevated mortgage rates.

Closed sales increased 1.1% year over year to 6,348 homes, while total sold dollar volume rose 2.8% to $4.72 billion. The median sold price held steady at $600,000, unchanged from July 2025, while the average sold price increased 1.9% to $741,852, reflecting modest appreciation across the region.

Inventory continued to expand, giving buyers more choices than they had a year ago. Active listings climbed 13.4% to 15,520 homes, while new listings increased 6.3%. At the same time, buyer demand softened slightly, with new pending sales declining 2.4% and all pending sales slipping 1.2% from last July. Even so, transaction volume remained essentially unchanged from a year ago.

Homes sold in an average of 28 days, three days longer than a year ago, while sellers continued to receive an average of 98.5% of their original asking price, indicating that well-priced homes remained competitive despite a more balanced market. Detached homes continued to outperform attached homes in sales activity, with detached transactions increasing 2.6% year over year.

Overall, the regional housing market remains healthy. Inventory has continued to improve without placing meaningful downward pressure on prices, giving buyers more negotiating opportunities while allowing sellers of well-priced homes to achieve strong results

Featured Areas

Arlington County, VA – July 2026

Arlington's housing market remained one of the strongest in the Washington region during July, with home prices continuing to rise despite a modest decline in sales activity. The median sold price increased 15.9% from a year earlier to $823,000, while the average sold price climbed 16.4% to just over $1.0 million. Total sales volume increased 10.4%, even though closed sales declined 5.0%, reflecting continued strength at higher price points.

Inventory continued to improve, with 480 active listings, up 11.4% from last July, providing buyers with more choices than they had a year ago. However, demand moderated somewhat, as new pending sales declined 7.8% year over year. Homes sold in an average of 24 days, three days longer than last July, while sellers continued to receive an average of 98.4% of their original asking price.

Although buyers have more inventory to choose from, Arlington remains one of the region's most competitive housing markets. Strong price appreciation and high sold-to-list price ratios suggest well-located, well-priced homes continue to attract significant buyer interest.

Alexandria (City), VA – July 2026

Alexandria City's housing market remained stable in July, with home prices continuing to edge higher even as sales activity slowed from last year's pace. The median sold price increased 3.6% year over year to $710,000, while the average sold price rose 1.5% to $826,512. Closed sales slipped 2.3%, and total sold dollar volume was essentially unchanged from July 2025.

The most notable change was inventory. Active listings increased 33.4% from a year ago to 411 homes, giving buyers substantially more choices than last summer. At the same time, new pending sales fell 32.0% and total pending sales declined nearly 30%, indicating that buyer demand softened as available inventory expanded. Homes sold in an average of 24 days, only one day longer than a year ago, while sellers still received an average of 98.9% of their original asking price.

Despite slower contract activity, Alexandria City continues to demonstrate price resilience. Buyers have gained greater selection and negotiating opportunities than they had a year ago, while sellers who price their homes appropriately continue to achieve strong results.

Market Insight: Is there another "Alexandria" VA?

Yes, there is. One source of confusion in Northern Virginia real estate data involves the distinction between Alexandria City and neighborhoods with Alexandria mailing addresses. Outside of the independent City of Alexandria, the broader Alexandria market includes numerous Fairfax County communities, and even some well-known neighborhoods associated with Arlington, because postal addresses, neighborhood names and MLS market areas don't always align with municipal boundaries. As a result, buyers and sellers should be careful to compare homes within the same market area rather than relying solely on the mailing address.

A substantial portion of what many buyers simply think of as "Alexandria" is actually located in Fairfax County, where neighborhoods share an Alexandria postal address but follow Fairfax County government, schools and tax structure. These communities often behave differently from Alexandria City and can produce noticeably different market outcomes.

Monthly National Market Summary

The Bond Market And Mortgage Rates