Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

More Salem listings are giving buyers a little more room

By Cynthia Nina-Soto | Nina-Soto Realty

Real estate, Salem (SF)

The number that changes things most right now: the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 105 homes for sale in Salem (ZIP 01970) during the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 36.4% from the same period last year. More inventory means buyers have more to compare. For sellers, that means your price and your prep matter more than they did a year ago.

This lines up with what is happening nationally. Realtor.com reported that active listings topped 1.16 million homes for sale across the country in September 2026. Salem moved in the same direction. More supply at both levels tells the same story: buyers have more options than they did a year ago.

What the rest of the numbers say

Prices held up. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price at $625,000, up 1.6% from a year before. Homes still sold. At 148 closed sales, volume was up 5.7%. So this is not a market that stopped moving. It is a market that gave buyers a little more breathing room.

Sellers are still getting over asking, but the edge is smaller

The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that exactly half of Salem homes sold above list price during the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 2.9 points from a year before. The average sale came in at 101.2% of list price, down 0.4 points. Homes are still closing above asking on average, but the gap is tightening. Price your home right and it can still happen. Price it too high and buyers have more to walk toward.

Fewer homes are going under contract in the first two weeks

That 47.9% figure is down 16 points from the same period in 2025, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Nearly half of homes still moved fast. But a year ago, that number was much higher. The first two weeks used to be almost automatic. Now they matter more, not less.

Mortgage rates are not helping buyers stretch. Realtor.com reported that rates climbed above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Fannie Mae expects the 30-year fixed rate to average 7.5% in 2026, according to Housingwire. That keeps monthly payments high and limits what some buyers can offer.

What this means for you

Buyers: 2.2 months of supply is still a seller's market by most measures. But 36.4% more homes for sale means you have more to compare. You have a little more room to think. Sellers: homes are still selling, prices are still up, and half of homes still close above asking. The difference is that buyers now have options. A well-priced, well-prepared home still does well. One that is not will sit.

One more thing: these numbers cover all of ZIP 01970. One street can read very differently from the ZIP code as a whole. A two-family on one block and a single-family two streets over can be in completely different conversations right now. If you want to know what is happening at your specific address, reach out.