Durham, NC Housing Market Report

The Durham housing market is currently undergoing a significant transition toward more balanced conditions, trending slightly in favor of buyers as we close out 2025. With active inventory surging by 31.72 percent year-over-year to 1,740 units, shoppers have considerably more options than they did twelve months ago. This influx of supply, coupled with homes sitting on the market for an average of 79 days—a 20-day increase from last year—indicates that the frantic pace of previous years has cooled, allowing for more deliberate decision-making and negotiation.

Price trends reflect this cooling sentiment, as the median home value has dipped to $389,648, representing a 1.88 percent decline over the past year. Data from the last six months shows a consistent, incremental softening of prices from a high of $393,176 in July. This correction is likely a response to higher borrowing costs and the increased inventory levels, which have stripped away the sense of urgency that previously drove rapid appreciation. Despite this, the sale-to-list ratio remains strong at 0.99, suggesting that while prices are moderating, sellers are still achieving near-asking prices when their homes are priced correctly for the current climate.

Looking ahead, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area remains a resilient market anchored by the Research Triangle's robust employment sectors. For buyers, the current environment offers a rare window of opportunity to leverage increased inventory and longer days on market to secure favorable terms. Sellers, on the other hand, must adjust expectations; the days of immediate multiple offers are largely over, and success now depends on competitive pricing and high-quality property presentation. While home values have softened, the rental market continues to grow at a modest 1.76 percent annually, indicating that demand for housing in the region remains fundamentally healthy.