The Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR) reports that homes are taking longer to sell across Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., signaling a slower winter market and shifting conditions that may benefit buyers.
According to new GCAAR data, the median days on market for a residential property in Montgomery County and D.C. rose 25 percent to 30 days. That increase is seen when compared to both the previous month and December 2024. The slowdown is also reflected in sales activity, with closed residential sales down 2.3 percent from a year ago, though still up 12.5 percent compared to November 2025.
Inventory remains elevated across the region. In December, there were 3,199 active listings, well above the five year average of 2,440. At the same time, new contract activity declined sharply, with a 19.2 percent month over month drop and just 927 new pending sales recorded.
Home prices, however, continue to show resilience. The median sold price for a residential property in December was $650,000, marking a 4.8 percent increase compared to December 2024. Prices were essentially flat month over month, slipping just 0.1 percent from November.
In Washington, D.C., the median sold price rose to $720,000, up 0.7 percent from November. Homes spent an average of 49 days on the market, an increase of one day, while new listings fell 32.9 percent to 330.
Montgomery County followed a similar pattern. The median sold price reached $639,000, up 0.6 percent from the prior month. Average days on market climbed to 35, up three days, and new listings declined 30.2 percent to 369.
GCAAR President Russell Brazil said the current conditions favor buyers. “Real estate is all about timing, and the advantage right now is on the buyer’s side,” Brazil said. “There’s definitely been a slowdown in the local market, which is typical for the winter months, but also could be attributed to the continued uncertainty among the federal workforce. The good news is that the rapid rise in home prices we’ve seen during the past few years has finally tapered off. When you also consider the higher inventory and lower interest rates, this is a great time to buy a house.”
