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📊 Baltimore City & County Real Estate Market Update — January 2026
Home Sales & Market Activity
A total of 485 homes sold in January 2026, marking a 20% decrease from December 2025.
Home Prices are cooling
Average sale prices are trending lower:
- $251,000 average sale price — a 13% decrease over December 2025.
🏙 Baltimore City: Prices Up, Sales Down
The city’s market continues to show modest price appreciation despite slower buyer activity.
- Median Sale Price: $216,500, up 3.1% year-over-year
- Homes Sold: 484 homes, down from 599 the year prior, indicating reduced transaction volume.
- Days on Market: Homes averaged 61 days, 30% increase over December 2025 sales.
Even with slower movement, the upward price trend signals continued buyer interest—especially in affordable rowhome and starter-home segments.
🏡 Baltimore County: Steady Growth & Cooling Demand
While direct county‑specific January data is reflected within the broader Baltimore metro reporting, regional trends show similar patterns: moderate price growth and softer demand.
- Median Sale Price (Baltimore Metro): $218,000, up 3.8% year‑over‑year—a reflection of combined city/county activity
- Homes Sold: 485 sales, down from 599 the prior year, mirroring the slowdown seen in the city
- Days on Market: Average of 65 days, compared to 52 days the year before
County buyers continue to face tight inventory and elevated demand in popular suburban pockets—Towson, Catonsville, Perry Hall—though demand has cooled compared to 2025.
Time on Market
Homes sold slower last year than they are now, but the pace is changing.
- Average days on market: now 61 days, up 30% over December 2025.
Inventory is increasing
Supply
- 5 months of inventory, signaling the end of a seller’s market, and shift towards a buyer’s market.
- Year‑over‑year listing inventory is up 16.75%, but still far below balanced market levels.
📉 Demand Softens Across the Baltimore Metro
Bright MLS’s Home Demand Index underscores a noticeable shift:
- Index Level: 55 (Limited Demand), down sharply from 73 in December and below last year’s 57 indicator [homedemandindex.com]
- Demand declines were seen across all home types, with entry‑level single‑family homes feeling the most pressure due to affordability challenges.
This cooling demand environment suggests buyers are more cautious—but still active, especially where good value appears.
📦 Inventory Still Tight but Slowly Improving
While Maryland statewide inventory fell year‑over‑year, Baltimore’s listing levels remain below balanced-market thresholds.
- Buyers benefit from slightly more time to act.
- Sellers continue to hold leverage due to relatively low supply.
Affordability pressures remain the region’s biggest hurdle, keeping many first‑time buyers on the sidelines.
💡 What This Means for Buyers & Sellers
For Sellers
- Rising prices and limited supply keep the market in your favor.
- Proper pricing and strong presentation remain essential as days-on-market lengthens.
For Buyers
- Expect more negotiation room than in previous years.
- Slower activity means less competition—good news for well‑prepared buyers.
*sources: Bright MLS, Coldwell Banker Realty
