Washington Housing Inventory Expands as August Home Sales Slow
Washington’s residential real estate market entered the late summer with significantly more homes available for sale, while August transactions declined compared with the same period last year.
According to the latest Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) market data, 24,675 properties were actively listed at the end of August 2026, a 22.0% increase from August 2025. That represents more than 4,400 additional properties available to buyers compared with a year earlier.
Inventory Levels Continue to Rise
The increase in available homes has been one of the most notable developments in Washington’s housing market this year.
NWMLS reported that brokers added 9,546 new listings in August, up 9.3% from the same month last year. Twenty-five of the 27 counties in the NWMLS service area recorded year-over-year inventory growth.
Some counties saw particularly large increases. Active listings rose 39.3% in Snohomish County, 38.4% in Okanogan County, 33.2% in Thurston County and 32.9% in Walla Walla County.
August Sales Activity Slowed
Despite the larger selection of homes, buyer activity did not increase at the same pace.
NWMLS recorded 5,861 closed residential and condominium sales in August, down 7.6% from the 6,341 transactions recorded in August 2025. Pending sales also declined 6.5% year over year to 7,121 units.
The combination of higher inventory and slower sales has created more options for buyers while reducing some of the urgency that characterized tighter markets.
Prices Also Ease
The median sales price for residential homes and condominiums in the NWMLS service area was $635,000 in August, down 2.3% from $650,000 a year earlier.
Prices continue to vary substantially throughout the state. King County recorded a median sales price of $845,000, while Snohomish County reached $724,500. At the lower end, Ferry County recorded a median of $202,500.
This variation highlights the importance of looking at individual counties and communities rather than relying solely on statewide or regional averages.
More Balanced Conditions for Buyers
At the August sales pace, the NWMLS service area had approximately 4.21 months of inventory, compared with 3.19 months a year earlier. Several counties, however, continued to have tighter supply, including Kitsap, Pierce, Thurston, Snohomish and Clallam.
Buyer activity also remains evident. NWMLS reported that 26,619 listings received at least one scheduled showing in August, an 11.4% increase from a year earlier, although the total number of scheduled showings declined 3.2%.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
For buyers, the growing number of available properties means more opportunities to compare homes, evaluate pricing and consider different neighborhoods before making an offer.
Sellers, meanwhile, are facing a market with more competing listings. Pricing a property appropriately and presenting it well may become increasingly important as buyers have more alternatives.
However, market conditions differ considerably by county, property type and price range. Some communities continue to have relatively limited inventory even as the broader NWMLS market moves toward greater supply.
Practical Takeaway
Washington’s August housing data points to more inventory, slower sales and modestly lower prices rather than a broad increase in transaction volume.
Buyers may benefit from the wider selection by carefully comparing properties and monitoring price changes. Sellers should pay close attention to comparable listings and local market conditions when setting an asking price.
Because conditions vary significantly across Washington, local housing data remains essential when making buying or selling decisions.