As autumn settles across the region, the Montgomery County and Washington, D.C. housing markets are showing signs of seasonal slowdown. According to the latest report from the Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (GCAAR), homes in September 2025 took noticeably longer to sell than they did a year earlier, signaling a market that’s stabilizing after several years of intense competition.
Residential properties across the region spent a median of 27 days on the market, a 108% increase from September 2024 and up 17.4% from August 2025. The number of closed sales also dipped, with 1,179 homes sold in September and 4,931 active listings across Montgomery County and DC, giving buyers more choices than they’ve had in recent months.
The median sold price for regional residential properties was $618,260, representing a slight 1.7% decrease from August but a 4.4% increase year-over-year. Meanwhile, new contract activity remained strong, with 1,407 new pending sales, an 11.2% jump from August, and total pending sales rising 7.7% month-over-month to 1,674.
In Montgomery County, the median sold price fell 3.2% from August to $599,450, while the average days on market rose by three days to 32. The county also saw 1,043 new listings, a 29.4% increase from the previous month, contributing to the higher inventory levels now available to prospective buyers.
Across the border in Washington, D.C., market trends showed slight differences. The city’s median sold price climbed 1.5% to $680,000, while homes spent an average of 47 days on the market (up three days). New listings surged 68.8% to 1,146, marking a significant boost in available inventory heading into the cooler months.
“The market is adjusting as we head into fall — homes are spending more time on the market, but buyers are benefiting from a wider range of choices and steady prices,” said GCAAR President Samantha Damato. “It’s still important to remember that last year at this time, the market still heavily favored sellers – and since then, it seems to have become more balanced.”
While demand remains solid, GCAAR’s latest numbers suggest the regional housing landscape has entered a more sustainable phase, one where buyers can take a breath, sellers must manage expectations, and both sides benefit from a more even playing field.
