Central Maryland prices held steady in September 2026 while the number of homes for sale climbed. The statewide median sale price was $432,000, up 0.5% from a year earlier. Active listings were up 21.3%, closed sales were down 7.8% and pending sales were down 16.5%, according to the Maryland REALTORS September 2026 housing statistics (Bright MLS data, current as of October 12, 2026).
Buyers have more to choose from and a little more time to decide. Sellers still get close to last year’s prices, but the homes take longer to sell. If you want to know where your own home falls in this, a home value report built from recent sales on your street is the place to start.
The numbers by county
Every figure below comes from one source and one month: Maryland REALTORS, September 2026 vs. September 2025, Bright MLS data. Months of inventory is active listings divided by the average monthly sales over the last 12 months.
| Area | Median sale price | Change vs. Sept 2025 | Closed sales | Change | Active listings | Months of inventory | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel County | $503,000 | +2.4% | 581 | -8.4% | 1,487 | 2.4 | 15 |
| Howard County | $615,000 | -0.8% | 250 | -19.1% | 587 | 2.1 | 12 |
| Montgomery County | $610,000 | +1.8% | 681 | -9.4% | 2,447 | 3.0 | 22 |
| Prince George’s County | $450,000 | 0.0% | 565 | -12.7% | 2,340 | 3.7 | 24 |
| Charles County | $459,999 | -1.1% | 184 | +0.5% | 722 | 3.6 | 39 |
| Baltimore City | $227,500 | -1.1% | 513 | -9.2% | 2,949 | 5.0 | 26 |
| Baltimore County | $365,000 | +0.1% | 618 | -7.8% | 1,807 | 2.6 | 17 |
| Maryland (statewide) | $432,000 | +0.5% | 5,169 | -7.8% | 18,748 | 3.5 | 20 |
A few things stand out:
- Inventory is up everywhere in our seven areas, from 14.4% more listings in Howard County to 28.5% more in Anne Arundel.
- Howard County had the steepest drop in closed sales (-19.1%) and still the fastest median sale, at 12 days.
- Charles County is the slowest of our areas at a median 39 days on market, up from 25 a year ago.
- Baltimore City has the most supply relative to sales, at 5.0 months. Baltimore County, next door, is at 2.6. If you are weighing the two, our Baltimore City vs. Baltimore County comparison covers the tax and housing differences.
Both Baltimore jurisdictions share one page on our site: Baltimore City and County.
What it means for buyers
You have more listings to look at than a year ago in every one of our seven areas, and in most of them homes are sitting a few days longer. That gives you room to get an inspection, ask for repairs or a credit, and not feel forced to waive everything to win.
Where the pressure is still on, it shows. In Howard County, 2.1 months of supply and a 12-day median mean a well-priced house there still moves fast. In Baltimore City and Charles County you can usually take a second look before you write.
Rates are the bigger cost right now (see below). Check the new listings in your target county, and if you are starting from scratch, our step-by-step guide to buying a house in Maryland walks through the order of things.
What it means for sellers
Prices are holding, but you are competing with more listings. Pending sales fell 16.5% statewide, which tells you fewer buyers are signing contracts each month. A house priced off last spring’s best sale can sit.
What to do about it:
- Price from the last 60 to 90 days of closed sales near you, not from list prices.
- Fix the things an inspector will flag before you list. Our post on repairs before selling goes through which ones are worth it.
- Expect buyers to negotiate on inspection items again, especially in Baltimore City, Prince George’s and Charles counties, where supply is above 3.5 months.
Our posts on how to price your home and the best time to sell go deeper.
Rates
Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the 30-year fixed average at 7.32% for the week of October 22, 2026. That is down from 7.40% the week before and up from 6.19% a year earlier. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.68%.
Here is what that gap does to a payment. Take the statewide median of $432,000 with 10% down, a $388,800 loan over 30 years. At 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,671 a month. At last year’s 6.19%, the same loan was about $2,379. That is roughly $290 a month more, before taxes and insurance, on a house that costs about the same.
Rates are general information. Talk to a lender about the rate and terms you would actually get.
What we’re seeing on the ground
We are leaving this section short this month on purpose: everything above is the published data, and we’d rather not put a guess next to it. The pattern in the numbers is plain enough. More listings, fewer contracts, steady prices and higher rates. If that holds through the rest of the year, expect more price reductions on homes that came on the market priced high, and more room for buyers to negotiate.
Bottom line
September 2026 was a steady-price, rising-supply month in Central Maryland. Buyers have more choice and more time. Sellers can still get last year’s price if they price from recent sales and show up with the house ready. Rates, at 7.32% for a 30-year fixed, are the cost that changed most.
Want the numbers for your own street? Ask us for a home value report and we’ll pull the recent sales around you.
Sources
- Maryland REALTORS, Housing Statistics, September 2026 (Bright MLS data, current as of October 12, 2026). Checked October 26, 2026.
- Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of October 22, 2026. Checked October 26, 2026.