Central Ohio Housing Market Update: July 2026

Aug 25

2 min read

Central Ohio's housing market kept building on its summer momentum in July, with closed sales up sharply and inventory reaching its highest point in years.

Closed Sales Jump

3,083 homes closed across the Entire MLS area in July, up 6.3% from July 2025's 2,899 closings — the strongest year-over-year gain of the summer so far. Year-to-date, closed sales total 17,238, up 3.0% over the same period last year.

Buyer Demand Holds Steady

3,017 homes went under contract in July, a modest 0.7% increase year-over-year. Year-to-date contract activity is up 3.8%, with 19,104 homes in contract through July compared to 18,397 last year.

Prices Keep Climbing

The average sale price reached $404,335 in July, up 4.6% from $386,524 a year ago. The median sale price came in at $350,000, up 2.3% year-over-year. Year-to-date, the median sale price is up 4.0%, from $328,000 to $341,000, and the average price per square foot rose to $218.67, up 3.7%.

A Slightly Slower, More Balanced Pace

Days on market ticked up to 28 days, a 3.7% increase from July 2025. Sellers still received strong offers relative to asking price: 97.5% of original list price (up slightly from 97.4%) and 99.3% of last list price (up from 99.2%).

New Listings Keep Coming

3,943 new listings hit the market in July, up 3.4% from 3,812 last year. Year-to-date, new listings are up 2.8%, with 23,922 new listings so far in 2026 versus 23,260 in 2025.

Inventory Reaches a New High

Inventory of homes for sale grew to 6,193, a 9.8% increase from July 2025's 5,638 — the largest inventory gain of the year. Months supply of inventory rose to 2.4 months, from 2.3 last year.

Central Ohio Housing: The Bottom Line

July's numbers show a market shifting gradually toward more balance: sales are up strongly, buyers have more listings to choose from than they've had in years, and homes are taking just a bit longer to sell. For buyers, this means more negotiating room and selection. For sellers, prices are still rising and offers remain close to asking — it's still a solid time to list, just with a bit less urgency than earlier in the year.

Data source: Columbus REALTORS® Local Market Update, July 2026 (Entire MLS). Current as of August 10, 2026.