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Fairfax County home sales increased during the first quarter of 2026, even as falling prices per square foot and longer selling times pointed to a market still under pressure.

Between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2,192 properties went to closing, according to MarketStats by ShowingTime. That was a 5.2% increase from the 2,084 transactions recorded during the same period in 2025.

Pricing measures moved in different directions. The average sales price rose 0.3% to $871,279, while the median declined 1.4% to $725,000.

Because shifts in the types of homes sold can affect those figures, the average price per square foot may offer a clearer view of market movement. That measure fell 1.3% from a year earlier to $377.

Properties that closed during the quarter spent an average of 28 days on the market before receiving a ratified sales contract. That was six days longer than the 22-day average a year earlier.

March brought an increase in activity across the Washington region, aided by better weather and a temporary decline in mortgage rates early in the month. But Bright MLS chief economist Lisa Sturtevant described the outlook as “cautious.”

“Homes are taking longer to sell, inventory is rising, and buyers and sellers are still navigating higher mortgage rates and broader economic uncertainty,” Sturtevant said.

She warned that a more recent rise in rates, along with uncertainty surrounding the conflict with Iran, could restrict the market’s momentum in the coming weeks.

Across the D.C. metropolitan area, 3,818 properties closed in March, up 5.2% from the previous year. The regional median sales price increased 1.6% to $635,000.

Fairfax County recorded 900 transactions during the month, a 7.7% year-over-year increase. Its March median sales price rose 1.7% to $768,000.

Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax City and Falls Church each posted double-digit increases in March home sales compared with a year earlier. Loudoun County moved in the opposite direction, with its 383 transactions representing a 4.5% decline from March 2025.

The figures cover most, but not all, homes on the market. Data for March and the first quarter of 2026 remain preliminary and may be revised.