August 2025 — Market Action Report for Portland Metro Markets, including Yamhill County and Salem Markets
- Bella Casa Admin
- Sep 8
- 5 min read
Here is what is most strange about this market: yes, it has slowed, and yes, home sellers are waiting a bit longer and making more concessions to attract buyers. But there are still hot spots where sellers achieve multiple offers and top dollar for their homes. Reach out to Catherine, Amy, or Joni to discuss the best way to maximize selling strategy in today's strange market.
August wrapped with the typical seasonal slow-down. Kids headed back to school, schedules settle down, and the market sort of naturally shifts from summer highs. That doesn’t mean activity stops. In fact, despite the fact that moving into September often means fewer sales, out team has often had record setting closing in the final few months of the year.
So August’s market data gives us a roadmap for September. We'll break down the data for you, so you know exactly how to move forward, whether that means buying now, preparing to list, or strategizing a few months out.
Oh, and did you see that rates dropped last week? We'll have a post coming out about that soon, as buzz continues around another possible rate drop in Q4.
(Download the Market Action Report PDF here)
August Recap
Metric | Aug 2025 | Jul 2025 | Aug 2024 | Trend |
New Listings | 2,476 | 2,931 | 2,669 | Seasonal dip |
Pending Sales | 2,275 | 2,177 | 2,052 | Firm demand |
Closed Sales | 2,021 | 2,005 | 1,957 | Holding steady |
Avg. Sale Price | $620,500 | $621,800 | $620,800 | Flat |
Median Sale Price | $550,000 | $555,000 | $555,000 | Slight dip |
Inventory | 3.5 months | 3.7 months | 3.0 months | More balanced |
Market Time | 62 days | 52 days | 48 days | Lengthening |
Buyer Takeaways
You finally have more breathing room! With market time stretching to 62 days, you don't have to make split-second decisions, you have more choices, and sellers are giving buyers a bit more in terms of concessions.
Negotiation opportunities: After 3+ weeks on market, most buyers feel emboldened to ask for price reductions, repairs, or seller-paid concessions.
You still need to act quickly on the good ones. While the market is trending in your favor, the "good ones" still move fast. For a home that hits a sweet spot in the market (style, location, condition, etc), multiple offers are still happening. You buyers are savvy. You know a great home when you see it!
Pro tip for September: If you are wanting to "wait until rates come down," we strongly suggest getting your financing in place now. If that happens, chances are there are dozens more buyers with you operating under that same game plan. A flood of buyers to the market will create competition again, which drastically limits your negotiation leverage. Our advice: now is a great time to make a deal. If rates move down again in Q4 or Q1 of 2026, look into a refi at that time from the comfort of your new home!
Seller Takeaway
Price smart, not high. Inventory at 3.5 months is balanced, not red-hot. Homes that push pricing too far sit, plain and simple.
Presentation counts. With buyers comparing more homes side by side, staging and pre-inspections are your advantage. We can help you think through everything needed to best position your home in toady's market.
Patience is part of the plan. Expect 30–60 days to secure a solid offer. If activity slows after two weekends and 8–10 showings, adjust pricing or incentives by 1–2%.
Pro tip for September: Market photos matter even more with shorter daylight hours coming and get your listing live while fall colors are at their best! And with rates taking a dip last week, let's get your home in front of the buyers out there.
Local Spotlight: Yamhill County
Median Sales Price: $485,000
Average Sales Price: $521,800.
Market Time: 83 days → this is a jump, and shows a more balanced market. Keep in mind, it is an average.
What to Watch in September
Rates & affordability. At 6.5%, affordability keeps buyers cautious, but motivated. Rate drops could invigorate year-end sales.
Inventory trends. This is the time of year where new listings trend downward; if you’re selling, you’ll have less competition.
Seasonal rhythm. September often brings steady but not frenzied activity, expect balanced conditions.
Polk & Marion County Spotlight
Polk and Marion counties make up a diverse slice of the valley. From Salem’s steady core and Keizer’s family-friendly neighborhoods to Woodburn’s growth corridor and the quieter stretches of Polk County, buyers and sellers here see a different pace than Portland Metro. Homes trend more affordable than Metro, and the market shows wider variation by sub-area, slower in Polk, stronger in parts of Marion. For buyers, that means options and negotiating room. For sellers, it means pricing carefully and planning for a bit more market time.
New Listings: 265 (down 20.7% MoM, down 4.3% YoY).
Pending Sales: 240 (up 5.3% YoY, steady vs. July).
Closed Sales: 186 (down 19.5% YoY, down 6.5% MoM).
Inventory: 3.9 months (slightly more than Metro).
Market Time: 60 days (similar to Metro, longer than last year’s 49).
Avg. Sale Price: $474,600 (up 4.0% YoY).
Median Sale Price: $447,900 (up 4.3% YoY).
Bottom Line
September is shaping up to be steady and balanced across Metro, Yamhill, Polk, and Marion Counties. Buyers win buy being prepared; they have more room to negotiate methodically, but still need to be sharp when the right home appears. Sellers win by pricing to the market, presenting well, and being ready to adjust smartly.
No one sells more Real Estate!
Bella Casa Real Estate Group consistently ranks number one in our market. We are head-and-shoulders above the competition in terms of units and volume sold. We are proud of the strong name in Real Estate we've created over the past two decades. What that means for you:
confidence in the depth of experience you have working for you in the home buying and selling process.
reputation, because we have spent our entire real estate careers right here in your neighborhoods, building a solid reputation that delivers real results for our clients through great relationships with our colleagues and community partners.
consistency, because aren't just here as a part-time gig worker. This is our area of expertise, and we bring all of that with us into every deal we do.
The market doesn’t move in headlines, it moves in your neighborhood, your price range, and on your timeline. At The McCreith Team, we take the big-picture numbers and translate them into a plan that fits you. Whether that means getting your home ready for fall buyers, negotiating the right purchase before year-end, or simply understanding what today’s trends mean for your options, we’ll walk you through it with clarity and confidence.
📲 Reach out to Catherine, Joni, or Amy anytime. Let’s sit down, look at the data together, and map out your next move. Step by step, with no pressure, just honest, expert advice.
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