Market Summary for the Beginning of April 2026

Here are the basics – the ARMLS numbers for April 1, 2026 compared with April 1, 2025 for all areas & types:

• Active Listings: 25,571 versus 24,990 last year – up 2.3% – and up 0.3% from 25,502 last month
• Under Contract Listings: 9,799 versus 9,113 last year – up 7.5% – and up 12% from 8,720 last month
• Monthly Sales: 7,719 versus 6,976 last year – up 11% – and up 31% from 5,875 last month
• Monthly Average Sales Price per Sq. Ft.: $314.14 versus $310.70 last year – up 1.1% – but down 0.5% from $315.64 last month
• Monthly Median Sales Price: $455,000 versus $459,500 last year – down 1.0% – but up 1.1% from $450,000 last month

Most of these numbers are stronger than we expected. With mortgage rates rising sharply from around 6% to 6.45% and dramatic rises in fuel costs, we expected more sales to fall through and contract signings to drop. We were wrong. The closing counts for March were excellent (up 11% from a year ago) and listings under contract are still up 3.6% from this time last year. We also expected showings to decline, but according to Aligned Showings, the number of showings during March were up about 11% over February and reached the highest level in a year.

It is not great news that active listing counts rose between March and April but the increase is small and the gap from last year is now negligible.

Monthly sales at 7,719 look good, up 11% from March 2025. However they were helped by having one extra working day in March 2026 versus March last year, so up about 6% in closings per working day. This is still a good number in the circumstances.

The market over $2 million is keeping the average price per square foot at an elevated level. The median sales price is a more realistic guide to the bulk of the market and this is roughly level with this time last year (down 1% in fact). Prices are not weak, but neither are they strong. “Holding up well” would be the phrase that springs to mind, unless you are thinking about the luxury market which is still appreciating. The low end of the condo market is in rough shape with high HOA fees and escalating reserve requirements putting off many buyers. These properties are often more attractive to rent than buy at the moment. Tenants can let the landlord worry about the high fees and insurance – the rent has to be competitive with the overall market or the property stays empty.

I don’t have a satisfactory explanation why the March numbers look as good as they do. This makes me a bit nervous about the month to come. We are watching every day even more closely than usual.  Cromford Report

The market may shift, trends may change, but my commitment doesn’t. Strategic guidance, elevated marketing, and a client-first approach to every transaction, every time. The standard has always been high, and it stays that way.  If 2026 is your year, I’m here to guide you through it.

Don’t Let Home Prices Headlines Fool You

Spend about 5 minutes online searching for news about the housing market, and odds are you’ll see something pop up about home prices.     Continue Reading