19 February January 2026 Housing Stats by Jacky Mueck Housing Stats 0 0 Comment 34 Inventory Shortages Persist Despite Slower Home Sales Maryland REALTORS® call for reforms to boost housing supply and affordability ANNAPOLIS, MD — February 11, 2026 — Maryland home sales declined 11.9 percent in January, with 3,660 homes sold compared to 4,155 a year earlier. This could signal the early stages of a shift in market conditions to those favoring buyers. Inventory and days-on-market trends suggest some easing for buyers, even as supply challenges persist. The average sales price increased 3.4 percent year over year to $495,038, while the median sales price edged up just 0.5 percent to $410,000, reflecting slower price growth amid reduced sales activity. Buyer demand remains present, however. Pending sales — homes under contract — rose 8.1 percent compared to last year. At the same time, active inventory fell 13.2 percent, and new listings dropped sharply by 23.5 percent, tightening the supply of available homes. “With pending sales up, it clearly shows buyer demand is still there,” said Denise Lewis, 2026 President of Maryland REALTORS®. “What’s concerning is that active inventory and new listings are falling at the same time. Housing supply is not being replenished.” Persistent supply constraints continue to limit affordability across the state. One ongoing barrier to increasing housing availability has been resistance at the local and state levels to zoning and policy reforms that would allow for more housing options and greater affordability. Housing supply and affordability solutions were a central focus of the Maryland REALTORS® 2026 State of Housing News Conference held earlier this month. According to Lewis, nine in ten Maryland voters now say the cost of housing is too high. “In 2020, 57 percent of voters said the cost of buying a home was too high,” Lewis said. “By 2026, that number has climbed to 90 percent — an increase of 33 points.” At the news conference, Maryland REALTORS® reiterated support for several legislative proposals aimed at increasing housing supply and affordability, including: The Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act of 2026 (HB 894/SB 389 The Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026 (HB 239/SB 36) The Housing Certainty Act of 2026 (HB 548/SB 325), sponsored by Delegate Dylan Behler and Senator Malcolm Augustine HB 778, sponsored by Delegate Nick Allen, to expand middle housing options across Maryland “Taken together, these proposals would provide a much-needed boost to Maryland’s housing market by increasing supply, improving affordability, and strengthening the state’s economy,” Lewis said. “It’s also important to note that while 22 percent of Maryland voters say taxes are their top concern in 2026, none of these proposals would raise taxes on Marylanders. Maryland voters do not want to see an increase in taxes, this election year. Additional Resources Download January 2026 Housing Statistics Download January 2026 Housing Infographic Download 2026 State of Housing Survey Watch Maryland REALTORS® 2026 State of Housing News Conference 2026, Housing Stats, January Share Comments are closed.