Real estate market update for August 2026: Pioneer Valley Massachusetts.
What the Numbers Tell Us about Spring and Summer Activity Heading into Fall
The August real estate numbers are in, and once again they show why it’s important to look beyond a single statistic when trying to understand our local housing market.
Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties each told a somewhat different story in August. Sales activity, available inventory and new listings varied considerably from county to county. But there was one number that caught my attention across all three markets: pending sales were up substantially.
That could be an encouraging sign as we move into the fall real estate market.
A Quick Note About August Sales
Before looking at the numbers, remember that homes closing in August generally went under agreement weeks—or even months—earlier. In other words, August closed sales tell us more about buyer activity during the late spring and early summer than what is happening in the market today.
That’s one reason I pay close attention to pending sales. They give us a better indication of the activity that may translate into closed sales in the coming weeks.
Franklin County
Franklin County had fewer single-family home sales in August, with 48 closed sales compared with 60 in August 2025, a decrease of 20%. Inventory also remained tight, with 100 homes for sale compared with 120 last year.
There were, however, some encouraging numbers:
❖ New listings increased from 46 to 60, up 30.4%.
❖ Pending sales increased from 43 to 75, a substantial 74.4% increase.
❖ The median sales price increased from $367,000 to $415,000.
❖ Homes took longer to sell, with cumulative days on market increasing from 31 to 53 days.
The combination of more new listings and significantly more pending sales is something worth watching as we move further into fall.
Hampshire County
Hampshire County presented a different picture:
❖ Closed single-family sales increased slightly, from 95 to 99.
❖ Inventory increased from 188 to 236 homes, a 25.5% increase.
❖ New listings increased from 77 last August to 125 this August.
❖ Pending sales increased from 83 to 125, up 50.6%.
❖ The median sales price rose from $455,000 to $520,000.
❖ Cumulative days on market increased modestly from 35 to 38 days.
Hampden County
Hampden County also showed a different mix of activity:
❖ Closed single-family sales increased from 306 to 340, up 11.1%.
❖ Inventory decreased from 577 homes to 523.
❖ New listings increased slightly from 353 to 367.
❖ Pending sales increased from 286 to 354, up 23.8%.
❖ The median sales price was essentially unchanged, moving from $367,250 to $366,500.
❖ Days on market increased from 29 to 37 days.
What Do These Numbers Mean for the Fall Market?
There isn’t one number that tells us everything we need to know about a real estate market. Each of our local counties showed something a little different in August:
❖ Franklin County continues to have limited inventory.
❖ Hampshire County has seen a noticeable increase in homes available for sale.
❖ Hampden County posted stronger August closed sales.
But the common thread across all three counties is the increase in pending sales.
❖ Franklin County pending sales were up 74.4%.
❖ Hampshire County pending sales were up 50.6%.
❖ Hampden County pending sales were up 23.8%.
Those pending numbers suggest buyers were actively putting homes under agreement as summer came to an end. We’ll have to see how many of those transactions make it to closing, but they give us something positive to watch as we move through the fall market.
One More Number Worth Understanding: Median Price
You’ll notice that median sales prices varied considerably among the three counties in August. But an increase in median price doesn’t necessarily mean that every home’s value increased by the same percentage.
Median price tells us something different about the market—and it’s an important distinction for buyers and sellers to understand.
That’s a topic worth taking a closer look at, so next week I’ll explain what median sales price really means, how it’s calculated and what it can—and can’t—tell you about the value of your home.
Corinne Fitzgerald
FITZGERALD Real Estate
Serving Franklin County and Beyond
413-774-6371
[email protected]
Market data provided by the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® and REALTOR® Association of Pioneer Valley. Monthly activity can sometimes appear more dramatic because of smaller sample sizes, particularly in individual