April 2026 Report
Washington D.C. Metro
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Home Demand Index
The Home Demand Index (HDI) for the Washington DC metro area stands at 91 for this report period, up from 78 last month but still below the 98 recorded during the same period one year ago. The thirteen-point month-over-month gain signals a strong spring rebound in buyer activity, marking a shift from the slower winter months to a more dynamic market. This significant improvement suggests that pent-up demand is converting into active market engagement. However, the seven-point year-over-year deficit indicates that the DC market has yet to fully recover to last year’s level. Despite this, the current pace of recovery, supported by the region’s resilient demand fundamentals, points to the potential for further alignment with prior-year benchmarks as peak season conditions develop.
Demand by home type in the Washington DC metro shows broad-based spring improvement this period, with all segments posting month-over-month gains and several approaching prior-year levels. Entry-level single-family homes rose to 83 from 77 last month but remain slightly below last year’s level, signaling improving first-time buyer engagement. Mid-range single-family homes advanced to 77 from 63 last month but also trail last year’s level, reflecting steady spring momentum in move-up activity that has not yet fully returned to prior-year pace. High-end single-family homes climbed sharply to 110 from 80 last month but remain well below last year’s elevated level, indicating a strong seasonal reactivation in luxury demand while discretionary sensitivity continues to influence year-over-year performance in this segment. Entry-level condos increased to 115 from 102 last month and remain slightly below last year’s level, continuing to serve as a key affordability outlet in a high-cost market where attached housing remains a primary entry point for buyers. High-end condos rose to 119 from 114 last month but are meaningfully below last year’s level, suggesting improving momentum but a slower recovery in premium attached demand relative to prior-cycle conditions. Townhouses, rowhouses, and twin homes advanced to 93 from 82 last month but remain modestly below last year’s level, reflecting solid spring reactivation in a segment that continues to benefit from its balance of space, location efficiency, and relative affordability across the metro.
Monthly Statistics for April 2026
Home Demand
Index
Index
91
(Steady)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
78
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
98
Index change
from prior month
from prior month
16.7%
Index change from
same time last year
same time last year
-7.1%
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Home Demand Index | Historical Year-over-Year Comparison
Over the past 12 months, the Washington DC metro’s Home Demand Index (HDI) has followed its typical seasonal pattern, peaking in the low-to-mid 100s during spring before tapering off through the fall and bottoming in the low-50s in December. A steady recovery began in January, continuing through February and March, and has now carried into the current period. The current reading of 91 marks the strongest HDI for the DC metro since last summer, reflecting a significant improvement from the winter months when the year-over-year gap was ten or more points. While still eight points below last April’s 98, the recovery slope has steepened more decisively than in previous months. If this momentum continues through the peak selling season, the DC market could reach near-parity with last year’s demand levels by late spring.
Home Demand Index
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Home Demand Map
Regional demand across the Washington DC metro has strengthened broadly this period, with the structural geographic hierarchy that characterizes this market remaining intact as overall activity accelerates. Arlington and Alexandria in Northern Virginia continue to lead the metro, supported by strong employment fundamentals, established move-up demand pipelines, and competitive inventory dynamics that consistently generate above-average buyer engagement. Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Washington DC proper are tracking near or slightly above the metro-wide index, reflecting solid spring improvement. Meanwhile, Falls Church, Loudoun, Montgomery, Frederick, and Prince George’s counties are tracking below the metro average, with outer suburban and Maryland corridor markets exhibiting more cautious buyer activity as affordability thresholds and commute dynamics continue to shape demand across the region.
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Demand and Inventory by Home Type
Demand by home type in the Washington DC metro shows broad-based spring improvement this period, with all segments posting month-over-month gains and several approaching prior-year levels. Entry-level single-family homes rose to 83 from 77 last month but remain slightly below last year’s level, signaling improving first-time buyer engagement. Mid-range single-family homes advanced to 77 from 63 last month but also trail last year’s level, reflecting steady spring momentum in move-up activity that has not yet fully returned to prior-year pace. High-end single-family homes climbed sharply to 110 from 80 last month but remain well below last year’s elevated level, indicating a strong seasonal reactivation in luxury demand while discretionary sensitivity continues to influence year-over-year performance in this segment. Entry-level condos increased to 115 from 102 last month and remain slightly below last year’s level, continuing to serve as a key affordability outlet in a high-cost market where attached housing remains a primary entry point for buyers. High-end condos rose to 119 from 114 last month but are meaningfully below last year’s level, suggesting improving momentum but a slower recovery in premium attached demand relative to prior-cycle conditions. Townhouses, rowhouses, and twin homes advanced to 93 from 82 last month but remain modestly below last year’s level, reflecting solid spring reactivation in a segment that continues to benefit from its balance of space, location efficiency, and relative affordability across the metro.
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Single Family Home Below $575k
The index for entry-level single-family homes in the Washington DC metro stands at 83 this report period, up from 77 last month but slightly below the 84 recorded one year ago. The six-point month-over-month gain reflects steady spring reactivation among first-time and value-driven buyers, consistent with the broader seasonal upswing in metro demand conditions. The modest year-over-year gap highlights that affordability remains a persistent structural constraint at the entry tier in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets, where even lower-priced single-family segments require substantial financial commitment. As a result, while demand momentum is improving, the pace of full recovery in this segment is likely to remain sensitive to financing conditions and the availability of accessible inventory through the remainder of the spring cycle.
Monthly Statistics for Single Family Home Below $575k
Home Demand
Index
Index
83
(Slow)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
77
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
84
Months of
inventory
inventory
2.6
Average daily inventory last month
1,039
Inventory sold
last month
last month
397
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Single Family Home $575k - $1375k
Mid-range single-family homes in the Washington DC metro registered an index of 77 this report period, up from 63 last month but below last year’s reading of 90. The fourteen-point month-over-month acceleration reflects strengthening spring momentum in the move-up segment, consistent with broad-based sequential improvement across most demand categories this period. The year-over-year gap indicates that while qualified move-up households are increasingly active compared to the winter months, purchasing behavior remains measured as buyers continue to balance elevated home prices and persistent financing costs against near-term economic uncertainty. This caution is particularly evident among households more sensitive to regional economic dynamics, contributing to a recovery that is improving but not yet fully aligned with prior-year demand levels.
Monthly Statistics for Single Family Home $575k - $1375k
Home Demand
Index
Index
77
(Slow)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
63
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
90
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
1.8
Average daily inventory last month
1,607
Inventory sold
last month
last month
902
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Single Family Home Above $1375k
The index for luxury single-family homes in the Washington DC metro stands at 110 this report period, up from 80 last month but below last year’s reading of 132. The thirty-point month-over-month gain signals a strong reactivation among high-end buyers entering the spring market, reflecting a seasonal rebound in discretionary demand as premium inventory returns and buyer engagement improves. However, the year-over-year gap indicates that the luxury segment continues to lag prior-year conditions, suggesting a more measured recovery at the high end of the market. This softness likely reflects ongoing caution among affluent buyers, influenced by broader economic uncertainty and the Washington region’s sensitivity to federal employment dynamics and policy-driven household mobility, which can make luxury demand more reactive to non-market conditions than in other major metros.
Monthly Statistics for Single Family Home Above $1375k
Home Demand
Index
Index
110
(Moderate)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
80
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
132
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
2.6
Average daily inventory last month
620
Inventory sold
last month
last month
236
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Condo Below $600k
Entry-level condo demand in the Washington DC metro stands at 115 this report period, up from 102 last month and slightly below last year’s level of 117. The thirteen-point month-over-month improvement signals a strong acceleration in buyer interest in more accessible attached housing options as spring activity builds across the region, consistent with broad-based sequential gains across most demand categories. At 115, this segment meaningfully outperforms the metro-wide index and all single-family tiers, underscoring the continued role of entry-level condos as a primary affordability outlet in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets, where the price gap between attached and detached housing continues to steer a significant share of demand into this segment.
Monthly Statistics for Condo Below $600k
Home Demand
Index
Index
115
(Moderate)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
102
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
117
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
4.8
Average daily inventory last month
2,597
Inventory sold
last month
last month
538
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Condo Above $600k
Luxury condo demand in the Washington DC metro registered 119 this report period, up from 114 last month but well below last year’s level of 157. The five-point month-over-month gain signals a strong spring reactivation among affluent condo buyers, reflecting the lifestyle-driven and downsizing demand patterns that tend to accelerate as the selling season opens and premium inventory becomes more visible. While the year-over-year gap remains significant, this segment is seeing a solid recovery, indicating that DC luxury condo buyers are becoming more engaged with the market, though not yet at the levels seen in the prior year.
Monthly Statistics for Condo Above $600k
Home Demand
Index
Index
119
(Moderate)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
114
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
157
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
4.0
Average daily inventory last month
464
Inventory sold
last month
last month
116
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Townhouse/Rowhouse/Twin All prices
Townhouse/
Rowhouse/Twin
All prices
The index for townhouses, rowhouses, and twin homes in the Washington DC metro stands at 93 this report period, up from 82 last month but slightly below last year’s level of 95. The eleven-point month-over-month gain reflects a strong spring reactivation in the attached single-family segment, consistent with this category’s continued appeal across the DC metro’s diverse submarkets, where townhouses and twin homes offer a compelling blend of space, accessibility, and relative price efficiency. While the segment is tracking slightly below last year’s pace, it remains one of the stronger performers across the metro and is well-positioned to narrow the year-over-year gap further as peak season conditions continue to unfold.
Monthly Statistics for Townhouse/Rowhouse/TwinAll prices
Home Demand
Index
Index
93
(Steady)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
82
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
95
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
2.6
Average daily inventory last month
2,809
Inventory sold
last month
last month
1,074
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Note
1. This report is generated with data from the following counties:
- Maryland-West Virginia Panhandle – Allegany, MD; Berkeley, WV; Garrett, MD; Grant, WV; Hampshire, WV; Hardy, WV; Jefferson, WV; Mineral, WV; Morgan, WV; Pendleton, WV; Washington, MD;
- North Central Virginia – Caroline, VA; Clarke, VA; Culpeper, VA; Fauquier, VA; Frederick, VA; Fredericksburg City, VA; King George, VA; Madison, VA; Manassas City, VA; Orange, VA; Page, VA; Prince William, VA; Rappahannock, VA; Shenandoah, VA; Spotsylvania, VA; Stafford, VA; Warren, VA; Winchester City, VA;
- Southern Maryland – Calvert, MD; Charles, MD; Saint Marys, MD;
- Washington D.C. Metro – Alexandria City, VA; Arlington, VA; Fairfax, VA; Falls Church City, VA; Frederick, MD; Loudoun, VA; Montgomery, MD; Prince Georges, MD; Washington, DC;
2. This report is for the April 2026 period with data collected from the previous month.
Released: April 13, 2026
Reference ID: 2407
Washington D.C. | April 2026
Home Demand Map (Zip Codes)
Regional demand across the Washington DC metro has strengthened broadly this period, with the structural geographic hierarchy that characterizes this market remaining intact as overall activity accelerates. Arlington and Alexandria in Northern Virginia continue to lead the metro, supported by strong employment fundamentals, established move-up demand pipelines, and competitive inventory dynamics that consistently generate above-average buyer engagement. Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Washington DC proper are tracking near or slightly above the metro-wide index, reflecting solid spring improvement. Meanwhile, Falls Church, Loudoun, Montgomery, Frederick, and Prince George’s counties are tracking below the metro average, with outer suburban and Maryland corridor markets exhibiting more cautious buyer activity as affordability thresholds and commute dynamics continue to shape demand across the region.
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com