Thursday, October 1, 2026
The summer home buying season ended on a strong note, as sales and the median price of a single-family residence climbed amid a stout increase in the number of active listings.
The action helped push the median price of a residence in Thurston County to $536,950 in September from $515,000 in September 2024. That was up 4.26 percent in the period, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service’s Monthly Market Update.
At the same time, the residential market posted an 11.82 percent increase in sales to 312 from 279.
The condominium market was slow with the median price coming in at $285,000 in September. That was down 7.76 percent from $309,500 in September 2024. Condo sales dipped to nine from 10 in the same period.
Condo and home sales were influenced by low inventory levels in the region earlier this year, something that changed during the summer months.
A total of 2.67 months of inventory existed in September, up from 2.54 months of inventory in August and 2.49 months of inventory in July.
The most recent reading ranked Thurston County as the third lowest in the state, a position it held throughout the summer.
Kitsap County ranked lowest at 2.23 months of inventory in September, followed by Snohomish County at 2.43 months of inventory. Pierce County and Cowlitz County rounded out the top five at 2.84 and 2.88 months of inventory, respectively.
“A balanced market is considered to be (four) to (six) months by most industry experts,” the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) said in its Monthly Market Update.
“At the current rate of sales, it would take a little longer than (three) months (3.25) to sell every home that is active in the NWMLS inventory.”
Active residential listings were up for the fifth straight month. The total climbed to 816 in September from 548 in September 2024, the update showed. At the same time, active condo listings jumped 33.33 percent to 40 from 30.
The 48.1 percent overall increase in active residential and condo listings ranked Thurston County second in the state. Ferry County was first at 61.5 percent. Island County was third at 45.7 percent, followed by Snohomish County at 41.7 percent and Walla Walla County at 40.5 percent.
New residential listings rose to 354 in September from 306 in September 2024, while new condo listings leaped to 24 from 10 in the same period.
Pending residential sales inched up to 337 in September from 336 in September 2024, while pending condo sales surged to 17 from 10 at the same time.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Southsoundguy
prices need to come down 80%. none of these homes are worth these prices. 3/2 homes with busted foundations and no maintenance over 30 years are half a million dollars? Get real. sellers and brokers need to come to grips with reality, a house isn't a speculative investment, its not a wealth building retirement plan, and treating it as such as completely destroyed our society.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
Southsoundguy, whoa whoa there, guy that sounds like socialism.
Do you want unrestricted free market capitalism or not?
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Cobra, not surprising that you have no mental model to understand where I might be coming from. I have never said I am for unrestricted free market anything. I don't even believe markets are free.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
So just keep talking yourself in circles, I guess.
Maybe you want that 'limited government' to step in and regulate the market?
If not, get used to the prices from your overlords.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Dude, you’re just saying things. Your worldview is a mess.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
You're so close to figuring this out all by yourself
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this