ESSEX COUNTY December - 2025 And... year end summary. MARKET UPDATE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAPPY NEW YEAR! ACTIVE 289 ↓ Inventory of Active Listings $1,542,722  ↑ Average List Price 154  ↓ New Listings   95  ↑ Avg. Days on Market   PENDING 140  ↓ Went Pending $796,442 ↓ Average List Price 63 ↑ Avg. Days on Market 42  ↑ Avg. Days to Offer   SOLD 381  ↑ Sold $845,070 ↑ Avg. Sales Price 98%  ↓ Percent of Original Price 100%  ↓ Percent of List Price  MLSPIN: SF HOMES IN ESSEX COUNTY FROM 12.01.2025 - 12.31.2025 CHANGE AS COMPARED TO LAST MONTH 11.01.2025 - 11.30.2025 THE INSIDER SCOOP December started the month with 424 active single family listings. The market added 154 new listings (63 in the last 2 weeks) the least number of new listings added in any month throughout the past year, attributed to seasonality and the holidays.  A total of 140 single family homes went under contract in December,  leaving 289 active listings to kick off the January market, a 32% decrease over the prior month  Days on market decreased slightly in December.  More than one third of the new inventory (52) were under contract within 10 days of being listed as buyer's appetite for fresh inventory remained strong. The highest sale price in December was $3.825M for a country estate in Newbury (sold over asking) and the lowest sale price was $310K for an antique in Haverhill (also sold over asking).  Presently, 41% of the single family inventory in Essex County is priced over $1M while 4% of the single family inventory is priced under $500k.  In recent weeks, the hottest price range for home sold was between $1,000,000 - $1,500,000. The median sale price for a single family home in Essex County in December rebounded to $728,000, following 3 months of a slow decline.                                                        ♦ 2025 Year End Summary: While national news would have you believing that housing sales are in crisis,  homes not selling, prices tanking, the exact opposite is true in our local market.  Essex County continues to outpace the rest of the country.   Year over year, we saw the average sale price increase a sustainable 2.7%.  The average days on market remained about the same in 2025 (34 days on market) with most homes under contract in an average of 21 days.  Despite a recent increase with days on market, the month of January kicked off with nearly one third of the remaining inventory going under contract in the first 2 weeks.  We listed about 6% more single family homes in 2025 and sold about 4% more homes than in 2024.  Average list price is up over 5% from the prior year.  Volatile interest rates and buyer fatigue resulted in nearly 23% of listings reducing their original price an average of 1%.   The outlook for 2026 will be more of the same.  Limited inventory throughout Essex County, a sustainable rise in average sale price and continued demand for housing throughout the area.  With interest rates moderating, I anticipate a more robust year for single family home sales in 2026.  What does this mean for Sellers: Price right!   Market demand is driving the price for you, leading to positive outcomes.  Adjust according to your timeframe.  The biggest mistake most sellers will make is trying to price ahead of the market in anticipation of a rise in value.  Price to the recent sales and let the demand work for you! Prepare right!  Make a great first impression!  Despite the limited inventory, buyers will pass over homes that don't show well... or they will undervalue the property once it sits.   Massachusetts has instituted a new millionaires law to withhold taxes for capital gains on homes sold by non-residents over $1,000,000.  There are exceptions but it's better to be informed before a surprise at the closing table! Contact me to explore what it takes to successfully sell your home in today's market! What does this mean for Buyers: Patience!  Inventory will continue to limit your choices and demand will make the best properties competitive.  Overpriced homes that sit, may be your opportunity.  Financial preparation!  Have your pre-approval in hand once you begin your search.  Allow yourself a buffer for those competitive situations. Expectations! Set expectations early and be prepared to compromise, especially of you have a limited timeframe to find a home!  Buyers could make offers on as many as 4-5 homes in the competitive market before a successful purchase. The new "Home Inspection" law is in affect.  No longer will a waived home inspection be a component of offer negotiations.  That said, it levels the playing field in that regard, providing buyer's the opportunity to educate themselves on the home they are purchasing,  Ready to make your move?  Contact me to learn achive success with your real estate goals in 2026!                                                   ♦ Mortgage interest rates have remained steady of late, hovering just under 6%.   As of this report, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 5.875%, down slightly from the prior month. CONSIDERING A MOVE...    I CAN HELP!