January 2026 Central Ohio Housing Report from Columbus REALTORS®
Home sales in January hold steady despite the deep freeze, and buyers have more time to shop as days-on-market increase.
Sortable Housing Stats by School District/County
Central Ohio Housing Statistics
COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 12, 2026) — The numbers point to a steady start for central Ohio real estate, even in the heart of winter. Closed sales were nearly unchanged from a year ago, with 1,506 sales in January 2025 compared to 1,504 in January 2026.
New listing activity also stayed steady. The market added 2,226 new listings in January, up 0.4% from last year.
“I see this as a positive indicator for our market in central Ohio,” stated Gloria Alonso Cannon, President of Columbus REALTORS® in 2026. "Despite a predictable seasonal slowdown and a significant winter storm, buyer demand remained stable."
Buyer activity strengthened as more homes went under contract. The market recorded 2,152 pending sales in January, up 5.5% year over year.
Inventory also improved. The region ended January with 4,164 homes for sale, up 7.2% from 3,886 a year earlier.
“A drop in inventory as we transition to winter is typical, so seeing our inventory increase is meaningful, especially in a month when many sellers tend to sit on the sidelines,” Alonso Cannon said.
Months of supply increased to 1.7 months, which continues to reflect seller-leaning conditions. Buyers have more options, but should expect competition for well-priced, move-in-ready homes.
Prices rose across the market. The median list price of new listings in the region was up 4.8% to $325,000, while the overall median sale price was $319,900, a 6.7% year-over-year increase.
With more supply, homes also took longer to sell. Median days on market increased 11.6% to 48 days.
“Homes may be taking a little bit longer to sell, but buyers get more time to compare options and negotiate,” said Alonso Cannon. “Sellers shouldn’t assume that the first weekend will create a bidding war and bring the best offer. Patience matters on both sides of the transaction.”
In the local market spotlight, Hilliard City School District posted 68 closings, a 62% increase from January 2025, while Hilliard proper added 23 sales, up 109% year over year. The sales boost in Hilliard was driven by a 29% increase in new listings, with 103 added to the market in January.
About Columbus REALTORS®
Columbus REALTORS® represents more than 10,000 real estate professionals across Central Ohio and serves as the voice for real estate and property ownership in the region.
The Columbus & Central Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, and Union Counties, and parts of Athens, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Knox, Logan, Muskingum, and Ross counties. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbus REALTORS®.
For media inquiries, please contact Craig Hicks, Senior Director of Communication & Engagement at Columbus REALTORS®.
