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THE SQUARE DEAL Monthly Market Summary - September 2026 Eight markets. One clear read on what actually happened. |
Month-End Read
September looked less like a market losing momentum and more like one becoming increasingly particular. Buyers were still shopping, sellers were still closing, and good homes still attracted attention. But the automatic urgency of tighter markets was harder to find. Buyers had enough choices to compare value, condition, and monthly payment before deciding whether a property deserved an offer.
That mattered because September rewarded accuracy. Listings that entered the market well prepared and reasonably positioned could still move efficiently. Listings that tried to borrow pricing power from a hotter season tended to discover that buyers were willing to wait. The market did not stop working - it simply stopped doing as much of the seller's work for them.
By month end, the lesson was consistent: leverage depended on the individual property. Buyers gained negotiating room where listings accumulated time or needed work, while sellers retained strength when the home, price, and presentation made sense together. September was not dramatic. It was disciplined. |
Eight-Market Snapshot| Market | Median Price | Inventory | DOM | Notable Movement |
| Washington, DC | $700,000 | 3,260 | 30 | Buyers had enough alternatives to make sellers earn urgency instead of assuming it. |
| Baltimore City | $250,000 | 2,340 | 34 | Affordability supported activity, but buyers were comfortable taking a second look. |
| Baltimore County | $395,000 | 2,700 | 31 | More choice turned some negotiations from bidding contests into actual conversations. |
| Prince George's County | $440,000 | 2,390 | 29 | Good listings still moved, but condition and pricing mistakes became increasingly expensive. |
| Montgomery County | $650,000 | 3,060 | 27 | Desirable homes retained leverage while average listings faced more comparison shopping. |
| Anne Arundel County | $535,000 | 2,210 | 32 | The market stayed active, but buyers showed less willingness to overlook compromises. |
| Charles County | $425,000 | 1,480 | 34 | Extra marketing time gave prepared buyers more room to negotiate around repairs and terms. |
| Howard County | $625,000 | 1,340 | 26 | Demand remained healthy, but premium pricing needed premium presentation to match. |
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Market Commentary
Washington, DC: Buyers became more deliberate as available choices gave them room to compare neighborhoods and condition. Sellers could still create competition, but the listing had to give buyers a reason to move quickly.
Baltimore City: Relative affordability continued to keep the city accessible. The slower decision cycle made preparation important without eliminating demand.
Baltimore County: Buyers benefited from a more balanced selection and were increasingly comfortable negotiating. Sellers who responded to early feedback were better positioned to protect momentum.
Prince George's County: Demand remained present, but buyers became less forgiving of deferred maintenance and aspirational pricing. Strong preparation separated listings that moved from listings that merely accumulated views.
Montgomery County: Location and condition continued to command attention, but buyers were more willing to compare competing homes before stretching. Premium pricing worked best when the property clearly supported it.
Anne Arundel County: The market stayed functional while becoming more selective. Buyers gained enough breathing room to evaluate tradeoffs instead of accepting them automatically.
Charles County: Longer exposure created opportunities to negotiate repairs, credits, and terms on properties that needed help. Sellers benefited from addressing obvious objections before they became bargaining chips.
Howard County: Strong fundamentals supported demand, but presentation mattered. Buyers still valued the market, yet expected the property itself to justify the price. |
Month-End Strategic Takeaways
For Buyers
September showed that leverage existed, but it needed to be identified property by property. Homes with longer exposure, visible condition issues, or prior price adjustments offered more room for negotiation. Buyers still needed to be decisive on strong listings, but did not need to treat every home like a competitive emergency.
For Sellers
The market rewarded sellers who treated pricing and presentation as strategy rather than formality. Early showing feedback mattered, and ignoring repeated objections often translated into additional days on market. The listings that worked best made the buyer's decision easier instead of asking the buyer to imagine why the price should make sense.
Equity Position Insight
As buyers became more selective, equity created options. Sellers with a clear understanding of their equity could make better decisions about repairs, concessions, pricing adjustments, or flexibility for the next purchase. Knowing the number before making the move helped turn market feedback into strategy instead of stress.
👉 Email info@realtor-squared.com to request a full equity analysis.
For Investors
September created more opportunities to study listings that remained available longer, but time on market alone did not make a property attractive. The useful opportunities were the ones where acquisition price, renovation costs, carrying expenses, rent or resale potential, and exit strategy still worked together. More inventory improved the hunting ground - discipline still determined whether the deal was worth catching. |
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