Wake County’s median sales price fell to $460,000 in August, the lowest August figure since this data began tracking in 2022, and a break from four straight years of August price gains. That drop landed alongside near-record inventory, 4,968 listings, the second-highest total on record, and the slowest August on record in this same stretch at 30 days on market. Price and pace rarely move the same direction at once, but this month they did, and both point toward buyers.
Wake County’s August 2026 Numbers at a Glance
| Metric | Aug 2026 | Jul 2026 | Aug 2025 | MoM Change | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available Inventory | 4,968 | 5,184 | 4,634 | -4.2% | +7.2% |
| Average Days on Market | 30 | 27 | 26 | +3 days | +4 days |
| Median Sales Price | $460,000 | $480,000 | $485,000 | -4.2% | -5.2% |
| Median Price per Sq Ft | $220 | $224 | $224 | -1.8% | -1.8% |
| % of Original List Price Received | 96.1% | 96.6% | 96.1% | -0.5 pts | 0.0 pts |
Is Wake County’s Housing Inventory Growing?
Yes, and it remains near its highest point on record. August’s 4,968 active listings are down 4.2 percent from July’s all-time high of 5,184, but up 7.2 percent from August 2025’s 4,634. Even with that seasonal pullback, it’s the second-highest inventory total since this data began tracking in 2022, trailing only last month.
How Many Homes Are Selling in Wake County?
Closed sales came in at 1,413 for August, down 10.3 percent from July’s 1,575 and down 7.3 percent from August 2025’s 1,524. Homes under contract eased slightly too, 1,408, essentially flat with July’s 1,411 but down 3.1 percent from a year ago, so the slowdown in closings looks like more than a one-month gap catching up with a stronger prior month.
How Fast Are Homes Selling?
Homes spent an average of 30 days on the market in August, the slowest August this data has recorded since tracking began in 2022, continuing a steady year-over-year lengthening (12 days in 2022, 16 in 2023, 18 in 2024, 26 in 2025, now 30). It’s also 3 days slower than July.
Are Home Prices Going Up or Down?
Down, on both measures, and by more than a typical seasonal dip. Median sales price fell to $460,000, down 4.2 percent from July’s $480,000 and 5.2 percent below August 2025’s $485,000. That’s the lowest August figure since 2022, breaking a run of four consecutive years of August price gains. Price per square foot followed the same path to $220, down from both July’s $224 and August 2025’s $224, also the lowest August level since 2022.
How Much Housing Supply Is There Right Now?
Months of supply measures how long it would take to sell through all current inventory at the recent pace of sales, without any new listings added. Lower numbers point toward a seller’s market, higher numbers toward a buyer’s market, and somewhere around five to six months is generally considered balanced. Wake County’s 3.5 months of supply in August sits just below July’s record 3.6, and it’s above where the county stood a year ago (3.4) and well above two years ago (2.5). New listings totaled 1,851, down 17.4 percent from July’s 2,242, which is typical for the seasonal shift into fall, but still up slightly, 0.8 percent, from August 2025’s 1,837.
Are Sellers Still Getting Their Asking Price?
Sellers received an average of 96.1 percent of their original list price in August, down slightly from July’s 96.6 percent and exactly matching August 2025’s 96.1 percent, tying it for the lowest August figure since 2022. Measured against their most recent list price, sellers received 98.6 percent, down marginally from July’s 98.7 percent but essentially flat with a year ago. The movement is modest, but it’s one more data point pointing toward buyers gaining ground.
Quick Takeaways
- Median sales price fell to $460,000, the lowest August figure since 2022, breaking four straight years of August gains.
- Price per square foot dropped to $220, also the lowest August level since 2022.
- Available inventory held near an all-time high at 4,968, the second-highest total on record, just behind July.
- Days on market stretched to 30, the slowest August since tracking began in 2022.
- Closed sales fell to 1,413, down 7.3 percent from a year ago.
- Sellers received 96.1 percent of original list price, tying the lowest August figure since 2022.
So What Does August’s Data Actually Mean for Wake County?
Unlike months where Wake’s numbers split in different directions, August’s data points largely one way. Prices fell on both measures, days on market hit a multi-year August high, inventory is sitting near a record, and sellers collected less of their asking price than they have in years at this time of year. None of these are dramatic swings by themselves, but stacked together, they describe a market that’s shifted further toward buyers than it has been at any August since this data began tracking in 2022. Homes are still selling, most within a month, but pricing realistically and expecting some room to negotiate matters more this month than it has in recent years.
If you’ve been wondering what a cooling August means for your specific neighborhood, that’s worth an actual conversation. We’re always glad to have it.
Data provided by MarketStats by ShowingTime and Doorify MLS. Data reflects reports available at time of publication.