Understanding what’s really happening in the housing market isn’t always straightforward. Activity, prices, and availability can shift from month to month and vary from one part of Maryland to another. Looking at both the statewide monthly and annual trends can help you understand the bigger picture of how Maryland’s housing market is changing. At the same time, the breakdown by county shows how those trends play out locally, giving you a clearer view of what the numbers may mean for your own community and your home-buying or selling plans.
Home Sales and Pricing
For the full year, 67,245 homes sold across Maryland in 2025, a 3.1% decrease from 2024. December followed that same year-over-year pattern, with fewer sales than in December 2024. Even with fewer sales for both the year and the month, prices did not fall. The median home price for 2025 increased to $431,000, showing that prices increased despite slower activity. That combination meant buyers generally had more time to look at homes, compare options, and think through decisions before making an offer. With homes spending more time on the market than in recent years, buyers also sometimes had more room to negotiate details such as closing timelines or repairs, while sellers still benefited from firm prices due to limited inventory.
The median home price can be a more realistic view of home prices instead of the mean because a small number of very high or low-priced homes can change the mean and give a misleading impression of current average home prices. The median shows the price right in the middle of the market, where half the homes sold for more and half sold for less. December’s numbers showed many of the same trends seen throughout 2025 still in place as we head into 2026, including fewer sales than a year earlier, higher home prices, limited inventory, and homes taking longer to sell.
Supply, Demand, and the Pace of the Market
One reason prices continued to rise slightly is that fewer homes came onto the market. Even though the drop in inventory was not as steep as in previous years, the total number of homes for sale was still lower than what buyers were used to. Inventory fell about 6% in 2025 — compared with much steeper drops in 2024 (13%) and 2023 (21%).
Another way to measure the market is through “months of inventory,” which shows how long it would take to sell all homes currently on the market at the current pace of sales. When months of inventory is low, it means there are still more buyers than available homes, which keeps competition strong and prices firm. For buyers, this means choices remain limited, even with a slower pace. For sellers, it means well-priced homes can still attract interest, though they may not sell as quickly as they did a few years ago.
Last year, months of inventory rose to 2.2 months. The numbers point to a market that is beginning to rebalance from sellers toward buyers. Sales have slowed, and homes are taking longer to sell, giving buyers slightly more time to look and compare options.
2025 sales took longer to move to a contract. Across the year, homes spent a median of 14 days on the market, up from 11 days in 2024. In December specifically, the typical home took 22 days to sell, compared with 17 days the year before. That longer timeline shows buyers are taking more time to compare options and make decisions, rather than the mad rush of the market in the fastest years of the pandemic-era market.
What the Data Means for You
Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking for a bigger home, or looking to downsize, you may have experienced longer search times, fewer homes in your price range, and possibly tougher decisions about location, size, or condition.
Homes weren’t selling in a single weekend the way they did earlier in the decade, but if you were in the housing market, or thinking about buying, selling, or renting, you may have felt the shift, too. Competitively priced homes in good condition still found buyers, but shoppers were more careful about how each listing stacked up against others on the market.
- View the December 2025 Housing Stats infographic here.
- View the 2025 Year End Housing Stats infographic here.
What December 2025 Tells Us About 2026
December closed the year with signs of a calmer, more measured market. Inventory was still limited, homes were taking a bit longer to sell than in 2024, and buyers were still actively making offers. Together, those point to a 2026 market that continues the calm but competitive trend with the supply of homes for sale remaining relatively scarce.
Your Local Market
There isn’t just one housing market in Maryland. Conditions can look very different depending on where you live. In the DC Suburbs, prices remain among the highest in the state, but the local market is still active. In Western Maryland and parts of Southern Maryland, buyers are more likely to see lower price points and a slower pace. On the Eastern Shore, activity can vary widely by county and by season.
Each region has its own considerations when you’re buying or selling, so it is important to understand how these housing stats vary in the region you’re looking to buy or sell in. Learn more about your local market with the county-by-county housing data charts:
- View the December 2025 Housing Stats by county here.
- View the 2025 Year End Housing Stats by county here.
Paying attention to what’s happening in your own county (how many homes are for sale, how quickly they’re moving, and what buyers are actually paying) can help you set realistic expectations. If you’re planning to buy or sell in 2026, a REALTOR® can help you understand what those local numbers mean for you.
