May 2026 Report
Washington D.C. Metro
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Home Demand Index
The Home Demand Index (HDI) for the Washington DC metro area stands at 98 for this report period, up from 95 last month but slightly below the 102 recorded during the same period one year ago. The three-point month-over-month increase reflects a modest uptick in buyer activity as the market continues to transition into the spring season. This gradual improvement indicates steady engagement rather than a sharp surge in demand. However, the four-point year-over-year gap suggests that activity remains just below last year’s pace. Overall, with demand holding within the Steady category, the market reflects stable conditions, with consistent buyer interest supporting a balanced and measured pace of activity as the season progresses.
Demand by home type in the Washington DC metro reflects mixed performance this period, with overall conditions showing uneven strength across price segments. Entry-level single-family homes stand at 85, indicating stable but constrained activity consistent with affordability pressures in the lower-tier market. Mid-range single-family homes rise to 90, reflecting improving momentum in the move-up segment and signaling one of the stronger areas of demand within the single-family category. Luxury single-family homes register 133, showing the most pronounced strength among single-family tiers and pointing to continued interest in higher-end properties despite broader market sensitivity. Entry-level condos stand at 115, reflecting moderated activity while still serving as a key affordability channel in the metro. Luxury condos at 125 show firmer engagement at the upper end of the condominium market, though demand remains uneven across segments. Townhouses and twin homes at 98 indicate broadly stable conditions with modest softness relative to other property types, highlighting a more measured pace in this middle-housing category.
Monthly Statistics for May 2026
Home Demand
Index
Index
98
(Steady)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
95
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
102
Index change
from prior month
from prior month
3.2%
Index change from
same time last year
same time last year
-3.9%
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 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 above 100 during the late spring before tapering through the fall and reaching a low in the mid-50s in December. A steady recovery began in January and continued through February and March, carrying into the current report period. The current reading of 98 marks the strongest HDI since early summer of last year, reflecting a sustained rebound from the winter slowdown. Compared to the same period last year at 102, the market is now just four points lower, indicating a narrower year-over-year gap than in prior months. The increase from 95 in the previous month to 98 in the current report period signals continued, measured growth in buyer activity. With demand now in the Steady category, the market reflects stable conditions, and if this gradual upward trend holds, DC could move closer to matching last year’s demand levels as the spring season progresses.
Home Demand Index
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Home Demand Map
Regional demand across the Washington DC metro is holding steady this period, with the geographic hierarchy that defines this market remaining intact as overall activity stabilizes. 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 is outperforming the metro-wide index, while Fairfax City, Falls Church, and Washington DC proper are tracking near or slightly above the metro average, reflecting consistent buyer activity. Meanwhile, Loudoun County is in line with the metro, while Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Frederick counties are tracking below the metro average, with Maryland corridor and outer suburban 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. | May 2026
Demand and Inventory by Home Type
Demand by home type in the Washington DC metro reflects mixed performance this period, with overall conditions showing uneven strength across price segments. Entry-level single-family homes stand at 85, indicating stable but constrained activity consistent with affordability pressures in the lower-tier market. Mid-range single-family homes rise to 90, reflecting improving momentum in the move-up segment and signaling one of the stronger areas of demand within the single-family category. Luxury single-family homes register 133, showing the most pronounced strength among single-family tiers and pointing to continued interest in higher-end properties despite broader market sensitivity. Entry-level condos stand at 115, reflecting moderated activity while still serving as a key affordability channel in the metro. Luxury condos at 125 show firmer engagement at the upper end of the condominium market, though demand remains uneven across segments. Townhouses and twin homes at 98 indicate broadly stable conditions with modest softness relative to other property types, highlighting a more measured pace in this middle-housing category.
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Single Family Home Below $575k
The index for entry-level single-family homes in the Washington DC metro stands at 85 this report period, down from 86 last month but slightly above the 84 recorded one year ago. The slight month-over-month decline reflects a modest easing in near-term activity following prior gains, while the year-over-year comparison indicates that demand remains broadly consistent with last year. Overall conditions continue to show stable movement within this segment, with activity remaining contained in a narrow range as affordability continues to shape buyer behavior.
Monthly Statistics for Single Family Home Below $575k
Home Demand
Index
Index
85
(Slow)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
86
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
84
Months of
inventory
inventory
2.8
Average daily inventory last month
1,182
Inventory sold
last month
last month
425
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Single Family Home $575k - $1380k
Mid-range single-family homes in the Washington DC metro registered an index of 90 this report period, up from 81 last month but below the 96 recorded one year ago. The month-over-month increase reflects a stronger rebound in move-up demand, consistent with improved spring activity across this segment. However, the year-over-year decline indicates that overall conditions remain below prior levels, suggesting that while buyer engagement has strengthened in the short term, affordability and financing constraints continue to influence purchasing behavior.
Monthly Statistics for Single Family Home $575k - $1380k
Home Demand
Index
Index
90
(Steady)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
81
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
96
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
1.8
Average daily inventory last month
2,108
Inventory sold
last month
last month
1,190
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Single Family Home Above $1380k
The index for luxury single-family homes in the Washington DC metro stands at 133 this report period, up from 115 last month but below last year’s level of 146. The 18-point month-over-month increase reflects a renewed lift in high-end activity as spring demand improves and more premium listings re-enter the market, supporting stronger engagement from luxury buyers. Despite this monthly gain, the year-over-year decline shows that conditions are still softer compared to last year, indicating that the upper tier is not yet fully back to prior momentum. This continued gap suggests that affluent buyer behavior remains more cautious, with demand still influenced by broader economic uncertainty and the region’s exposure to federal employment shifts, which can affect confidence and mobility in higher-priced segments.
Monthly Statistics for Single Family Home Above $1380k
Home Demand
Index
Index
133
(High)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
115
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
146
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
2.4
Average daily inventory last month
826
Inventory sold
last month
last month
346
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Condo Below $600k
Entry-level condo demand in the Washington DC metro stands at 115 this report period, down from 121 last month and slightly below last year’s level of 120. The six-point month-over-month decline indicates a moderation in near-term buyer activity following the prior period’s strength, suggesting some cooling in momentum as the spring cycle progresses across more affordable attached housing segments. Despite the pullback, demand remains relatively firm and continues to reflect sustained interest in entry-level condos as a key affordability option in the metro, where pricing differentials versus single-family homes continue to support structural demand for lower-cost attached inventory.
Monthly Statistics for Condo Below $600k
Home Demand
Index
Index
115
(Moderate)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
121
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
120
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
4.7
Average daily inventory last month
2,922
Inventory sold
last month
last month
617
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Condo Above $600k
Luxury condo demand in the Washington DC metro registered 125 this report period, up from 121 last month but below last year’s level of 149. The four-point month-over-month gain signals a continued seasonal uptick in luxury condo activity, reflecting improving buyer engagement as premium listings gain visibility in the spring market. While demand is still trailing last year’s level, the recent increase suggests gradual reactivation in this segment, with buyers showing more responsiveness to current inventory conditions even as overall activity remains below prior-year strength.
Monthly Statistics for Condo Above $600k
Home Demand
Index
Index
125
(Moderate)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
121
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
149
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
5.6
Average daily inventory last month
538
Inventory sold
last month
last month
96
Bright MLS | T3 Home Demand Index
www.homedemandindex.com
Washington D.C. | May 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 98 this report period, up from 97 last month but slightly below last year’s level of 99. The one-point month-over-month increase reflects a stable but mildly improving level of activity in the attached single-family segment, indicating continued steady demand rather than a pronounced shift in momentum. This category remains supported by its balance of affordability and urban accessibility, which continues to attract consistent buyer interest across the DC metro’s submarkets. While current activity is nearly aligned with last year’s performance, it remains just under prior-year levels, suggesting a broadly steady but slightly softer year-over-year positioning as the market moves through the season.
Monthly Statistics for Townhouse/Rowhouse/TwinAll prices
Home Demand
Index
Index
98
(Steady)
Home Demand Index
from prior month
from prior month
97
Home Demand Index
from prior year
from prior year
99
Months of
Inventory
Inventory
2.4
Average daily inventory last month
3,232
Inventory sold
last month
last month
1,324
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 May 2026 period with data collected from the previous month.
Released: May 11, 2026
Reference ID: 2423
Washington D.C. | May 2026
Home Demand Map (Zip Codes)
Regional demand across the Washington DC metro is holding steady this period, with the geographic hierarchy that defines this market remaining intact as overall activity stabilizes. 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 is outperforming the metro-wide index, while Fairfax City, Falls Church, and Washington DC proper are tracking near or slightly above the metro average, reflecting consistent buyer activity. Meanwhile, Loudoun County is in line with the metro, while Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Frederick counties are tracking below the metro average, with Maryland corridor and outer suburban 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