Fort Wayne, IN Housing Market Report

The Fort Wayne housing market as of December 2025 is characterized by a transition toward a more balanced environment, though it still retains a slight edge for sellers due to a high sale-to-list ratio of 0.99. With a median home value of $234,157, the market remains one of the more affordable metropolitan areas in the Midwest, attracting both first-time buyers and investors. However, the 9.12 percent year-over-year increase in active inventory suggests that the extreme supply shortages of previous years are beginning to ease, providing buyers with more options than they have seen in recent cycles.

Price trends in Fort Wayne have shown consistent, incremental growth over the latter half of 2025. After a period of relative stagnation in mid-summer, values began a steady climb from $231,601 in July to $234,157 in December. This upward trajectory, totaling a 2.32 percent annual increase, reflects a healthy demand for housing that is keeping pace with the rising inventory levels. The rental market is mirroring this stability, with median rents rising nearly 2 percent to $1,153, indicating that the overall cost of living in the region remains competitive but is gradually adjusting to broader economic pressures.

Looking ahead, the increase in days on market—now averaging 52 days—signals that buyers are becoming more selective and are taking advantage of the increased inventory to conduct thorough due diligence. Sellers should be prepared for longer listing periods and may need to be more flexible in negotiations compared to the rapid-fire sales of 2023 and 2024. For buyers, the current climate offers a rare window of opportunity where price appreciation is manageable and the inventory surge provides better leverage to negotiate repairs or closing costs without the immediate threat of losing out to multiple competing offers.