COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 3, 2026)-- Columbus REALTORS® released its 2025 Year-in-Review housing report, based on statistics from the Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS, highlighting a year of moderate sales growth, rising inventory, and pricing that remains firm with clearer signs of stabilization.
Affordability pressures and higher mortgage rates continued to shape buyer behavior, while increased listing activity and a growing number of homes for sale gave buyers more options and helped ease some of the strain on the marketplace.
Total residential real estate volume reached a record-high $11.1 billion in central Ohio in 2025.
“Central Ohio’s housing market is moving in a healthier direction,” said 2026 Columbus REALTORS® President Gloria Alonso Cannon. “We saw more homes come to market, steady buyer demand, and pricing that has started to stabilize. As we head into 2026, this shift gives both buyers and sellers a clearer picture of where the market stands.”
Nationwide, first-time buyers accounted for only 21% of all home purchases, and the typical first-time buyer was 40, a record high, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). This aging trend extended across the broader market, with the median age of all homebuyers reaching 59. NAR data also show that homeowners set a record, staying in their homes a median of 11 years before selling.
Key 2025 highlights for central Ohio
- More homes came to market
New listings increased 7.4% to 37,130 - Sales activity rose from 2024 levels
Pending sales increased 2.5% to 29,842
Closed sales increased 3.0% to 29,626 - Inventory continued to rebuild
The market ended the year with 4,440 homes for sale, up 14.2% year over year. It peaked at 5,913 homes for sale in October - Prices held steady with slower upward movement
The median sold price rose 2.4% to $327,500
The average sold price rose 3.1% to $376,599
What this means heading into 2026
The report indicates a market that is not weakening into a downturn but is shifting toward more typical conditions. More inventory and longer decision-making windows can help buyers compete with less urgency, while sellers benefit most from smart pricing and strong preparation.
Columbus REALTORS® will continue to track local trends and provide members with timely market insights, tools, and resources to support clients through changing conditions.
