January 2026 Housing Market: More Inventory, More
Balance for Buyers and Sellers
Summary: In January 2026, U.S. home sales fell 6% year over year while housing inventory rose nearly 11%, giving buyers more options and pushing the average days on market to 62 days. The national median home sales price was $425,000, up 1% from a year ago.
What Happened in the January 2026 Housing Market?
January reset the housing market, as it does every year. Typical seasonal trends seemed to be the norm. Home sales slowed, new listings came back online after the holiday pause, and buyers gained more choices than they had seen in recent years.
Across the 52 metro areas tracked in the REMAX National Housing Report, the data pointed to a market continuing to move toward balance. Home sales were down 32% from December 2025, a typical seasonal decline. Compared to January 2025, sales fell 6%. New listings surged 61.8% from December, adding supply just as buyer interest historically picks back up after the new year.
Inventory across all 52 metros was virtually unchanged from December (down 0.1%) but climbed 10.9% compared to January 2025, marking the 25th consecutive month of year-over-year inventory growth.
What Was the Median Home Price in January 2026?
The median home sales price in January 2026 was $425,000, which was:
- 1% higher than January 2025
- 2% lower than December 2025
On average, buyers paid 98% of the asking price, the same as both December 2025 and January 2025.
How Long Did It Take to Sell a Home in January 2026?
Homes that sold in January 2026 spent an average of 62 days on the market, up from 56 days in January 2025 and 61 days in December 2025. That was the longest January days-on-market figure in recent years.
For comparison, homes sold in:
- January 2024: 47 days
- January 2023: 51 days
- January 2022: 36 days
Markets where homes sat on the market longest (year over year):
- Dover, DE: up 28.4% (60 days)
- Washington, DC: up 27.7% (48 days)
- Manchester, NH: up 26.1% (31 days)
Markets where homes sold faster than a year ago:
- Fayetteville, AR: down 13.8% (73 days)
- Burlington, VT: down 8.6% (50 days)
- Cincinnati, OH: down 3.2% (45 days)
How Much Housing Inventory Was Available in January 2026?
Months' supply of inventory came in at 3.1 months in January 2026, based on the pace of sales. That compared to 2.8 months in January 2025 and 3.5 months in December 2025.
Markets with the most inventory (highest months' supply):
- Miami, FL: 7.0 months
- San Antonio, TX: 5.9 months
- New Orleans, LA: 5.6 months
Markets with the least inventory (tightest supply):
- Manchester, NH: 1.2 months
- Hartford, CT: 1.4 months
- Albuquerque, NM: 1.4 months
- Seattle, WA: 1.5 months
Which Markets Had the Strongest Home Sales Growth?
While national sales were down year over year, several markets posted notable gains:
- Wichita, KS: up 24.7%
- New Orleans, LA: up 23.7%
- Manchester, NH: up 15.5%
Markets with the steepest year-over-year sales declines included
Minneapolis, MN (down 16.4%), Hartford, CT (down 14.8%), and Denver, CO (down 14.0%).
Where Did Home Prices Rise and Fall the Most?
Nationally, prices were up 1% year over year, but individual markets told a more varied story.
Biggest year-over-year home price increases:
- Milwaukee, WI: +12.7%
- Trenton, NJ: +10.0%
- Philadelphia, PA: +8.6%
Biggest year-over-year home price decreases:
- Bozeman, MT: -8.5%
- Seattle, WA: -5.6%
- Raleigh, NC: -5.5%
Did Buyers Pay Over or Under Asking Price?
The national average close-to-list price ratio was 98% in January 2026, the same as a year prior. A ratio above 100% means a home sold above list price. Below 100% means it sold for less.
Markets where buyers paid above asking price:
- San Francisco, CA: 101.3%
- Hartford, CT: 101.0%
- Manchester, NH: 100.7%
Markets where buyers had the most negotiating room:
- Miami, FL: 93.3%
- Houston, TX: 95.9%
- New Orleans, LA: 96.0%
What Did January 2026 Mean for Home Buyers?
January was a strong month for buyers looking for more selection. With inventory up nearly 11% compared to a year ago and new listings flooding back onto the market, buyers had more homes to choose from than in any recent January. Homes were spending more time on the market, which gave buyers additional time to research, compare, and in some areas, negotiate.
The 98% close-to-list price ratio showed that sellers were still achieving close to their asking prices nationally, but the intense competition and above-asking bidding that defined the market in 2021 and 2022 was far less common. In markets like Miami and Houston, buyers carried meaningful negotiating leverage.
What Did January 2026 Mean for Home Sellers?
For sellers, January underscored how much local conditions varied. In tight supply markets like San Francisco, Hartford, and Manchester, homes were still selling above asking price and moving quickly. In higher-inventory markets like Miami, San Antonio, and New Orleans, buyers had more options and were more likely to negotiate on price. Across the board, accurate pricing mattered.
With more competition and longer days on market compared to recent years, homes that were priced well attracted attention while overpriced listings sat longer. Working with a knowledgeable real estate professional was particularly important in navigating those conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the January 2026 Housing Market
What was the median home price in January 2026?
- The median home sales price was $425,000, up 1% from January 2025.
How long did homes sit on the market in January 2026?
- Homes spent an average of 62 days on the market before going under contract, up from 56 days in January 2025.
Was there more or less housing inventory in January 2026 compared to last year?
- There was 10.9% more inventory year over year, the 25th consecutive month of annual inventory growth.
Did buyers pay over asking price in January 2026?
- On average, buyers paid 98% of the asking price nationally. In competitive markets like San Francisco and Hartford, homes sold above list price.
Which housing markets saw the biggest home price gains in January 2026?
- Milwaukee, WI led with a 12.7% year-over-year price increase, followed by Trenton, NJ at 10.0% and Philadelphia, PA at 8.6%.
Data sourced from the REMAX National Housing Report, which tracks 52 U.S. metro areas. Report reflects closed transactions and listing activity for January 2026.
