Active Listings

The total number of properties listed for sale increased 16.8% year over year, with 21,381 active listings on the market at the end of May 2026, compared to 18,310 at the end of May 2025. Month over month, active inventory increased by 15.2%, up from 18,563 in April 2026.

Buyers had access to 2,818 more homes than the previous month, continuing a trend of rapidly expanding inventory across the Northwest MLS service area. While inventory levels remain below historical norms in many areas, the number of available homes is at its highest level so far in 2026.

Nearly all NWMLS counties experienced year-over-year inventory growth. The five counties with the largest year-over-year inventory increases were Okanogan (+43.7%), Walla Walla (+38%), Thurston (+35.6%), Snohomish (+33.6%), and Chelan (+29%).

Use the drop-down menu in the chart below to view the available inventory counts in each county:

New Listings

NWMLS brokers added 12,562 new listings to the database in May 2026. While that represented a year-over-year decrease of 4.3% compared to May 2025 (13,129), new listings increased 3.3% from April 2026, when 12,155 listings were added to the NWMLS database.

The modest month-over-month increase suggests sellers remain active as the market moves into the summer season, even as higher inventory levels provide buyers with more options than they had a year ago.

Use the drop-down menu in the chart below to view the number of new listings added in each county:

Pending Sales

There were 8,168 residential and condominium units under contract in May 2026, a slight decrease of 1.0% compared to May 2025 (8,249). However, pending sales increased 7.7% from April 2026, when 7,584 listings were under contract.

The month-over-month increase in pending sales indicates buyers remained active despite affordability challenges and higher mortgage rates. However, inventory continues to grow faster than buyer demand, contributing to a more balanced market environment.

Use the drop-down menu in the chart below to view the pending sales in each county:

Closed Sales

Closed sales decreased 3.9% year over year, with 6,213 transactions in May 2026 compared to 6,467 in May 2025. Month over month, sales increased 9.5%, up from 5,674 in April 2026.

Although annual sales activity remains below year-ago levels, the increase from April reflects the typical seasonal spring market acceleration. The total dollar value of closed sales in May 2026 was $4.68 billion for residential homes and $446.5 million for condominiums, for a combined total of $5.13 billion.

Use the drop-down menu in the chart below to view the number of closed sales in each county:

Months of Inventory

A balanced market is considered to be four to six months of inventory by most industry experts. At the current rate of sales, it would take approximately 3.44 months to sell every home currently active in the NWMLS inventory, up from 3.27 months in April.

The increase in months of inventory reflects the growing supply of homes available for sale and provides buyers with more negotiating power and choice than they have had in recent years. While inventory remains below balanced market levels in many counties, conditions continue to move toward a more balanced market overall.

Use the drop-down menu in the chart below to view the months of inventory in each county:

Median Price

The median sales price for residential homes and condominiums sold in May 2026 was $650,000, a decrease of 0.8% compared to May 2025 ($654,995). Month over month, the median price was unchanged from April 2026.

Despite substantial inventory growth throughout the region, home prices have remained remarkably stable. The combination of increased inventory and relatively flat pricing may create opportunities for buyers who have struggled with limited housing supply over the past several years.

The counties with the highest median sales prices were San Juan ($1,125,000), King ($875,000), and Snohomish ($759,875), while the lowest median prices were recorded in Adams ($309,000), Okanogan ($327,000), and Grays Harbor ($369,000).

San Juan County posted the highest median sales price in the NWMLS service area at $1.125 million, more than 3.6 times higher than Adams County’s median price of $309,000, highlighting the significant variation in housing affordability across Washington.

Use the drop-down menu in the chart below to view the median sales price in each county:

---