September Tri-Cities Area Market Update

**More Homes to Choose From — But Prices Are Still Holding**

The August real estate numbers are finally in, and they paint an interesting picture of the Northeast Tennessee market.

If you’ve been wondering whether the market is slowing down, the answer is:

**Yes — but that doesn’t mean prices are collapsing.**

Here’s what the latest NETAR report shows:

- **701 homes sold in August**
- Closed sales were **down 9.9% from last year**
- The **median sales price was $281,250**, up 1.04%
- The **average sales price was $330,004**, up 5.75%
- Inventory increased to **2,746 homes**, up 2.3%
- New listings increased **3.4%**
- Median days on market improved slightly to **61 days**, compared with 64 last year

So what does all of that actually mean?

### Buyers Have More Choices

One of the biggest differences from the market a few years ago is inventory.

There are simply more homes available.

That gives buyers more opportunity to compare properties, take a closer look at value, and sometimes negotiate terms that would have been much harder during the frenzy.

But more inventory does NOT automatically mean a buyer’s market.

Prices are still holding.

### Prices Continue to Edge Up

Even with fewer sales, the median sales price increased slightly from last year.

That is important because it tells us this is not a market where values are suddenly falling off a cliff.

Instead, we appear to be seeing a **slower, more deliberate market**.

Buyers are becoming more selective.

Sellers have more competition.

And pricing correctly matters more than ever.

### What This Means for Buyers

If you are thinking about buying, this market may give you more breathing room than we had a few years ago.

You may have:

- More homes to choose from
- More time to evaluate them
- Better opportunities to compare value
- Potential room to negotiate price, closing costs, repairs, or other terms

But well-priced homes can still sell quickly.

The key is not simply finding the cheapest home.

It is finding the **best value**.

### What This Means for Sellers

The days of simply putting a home on the market at any price and expecting buyers to line up are largely behind us.

Buyers have choices now.

That means your home needs to compete on:

**Price. Condition. Presentation. Marketing.**

The good news?

Prices are still holding, and buyers are still buying.

But sellers who price realistically from the beginning are in a much stronger position than those who start high and chase the market downward later.

### The Bottom Line

The August numbers look much more like a **normalizing market** than a collapsing one.

Fewer homes are selling than last year, but values remain steady.

Buyers have more choice.

Sellers still have equity.

And both sides need to be more strategic.

That’s actually a healthier market than the craziness we experienced a few years ago.

If you’re considering buying or selling, Karin and I are happy to look specifically at your price range, neighborhood, and situation.

Because the overall market tells us the big picture...

…but **your market may look very different.**

**Ed & Karin**  
*At Home with Ed & Karin*  
423-426-4939  
athomewithednkarin.net

*With HEART and a bit of HUMOR, you will feel At Home with Ed & Karin.*

*Market data is based on the August 2026 Northeast Tennessee Association of REALTORS® Home Sales Report. Conditions vary by location, price range, and property type.*