Home sales across Montgomery County and Washington, D.C. dropped sharply in November, as rising inventory and ongoing economic uncertainty continued to shape the regional housing market, according to new data from the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR).
GCAAR reports that closed sales fell nearly 16 percent in November compared to October, and were down about 17 percent compared to the five year average of 1,353 sales. At the same time, active listings climbed to 4,179 homes across the region, well above the five year average of 3,216. Homes also took longer to sell, with the average days on market increasing to 38 days, a 31 percent jump from October.
In Washington, D.C., the median sold price in November was $715,000, up 5.9 percent from the previous month. Homes in the District spent an average of 48 days on the market, two days fewer than October, while new listings declined significantly, falling 43.2 percent to 492.
Montgomery County saw similar trends, though with slightly different pricing dynamics. The median sold price rose to $635,000, an increase of 1.6 percent from October. The average days on market increased by two days to 32, and new listings dropped 44.3 percent to 529.
GCAAR President Samantha Damato said uncertainty surrounding the federal workforce continues to weigh heavily on the market. She noted that as inventory grows and buyers have more options, sellers may need to recalibrate their pricing strategies heading into the new year in order to remain competitive.
Looking ahead, Bright MLS’ 2026 Housing Market Outlook for the D.C. metro area projects that inventory will continue to increase into 2026. While that added supply is expected to bring more buyers back into the market, the report anticipates relatively weak price growth, with some markets potentially seeing price declines. Bright MLS expects sales activity to improve in 2026 as buyers take advantage of increased inventory and lower interest rates, though the overall median home price is projected to see a modest year over year decline.
