December Market Action Report: 2025 in Review
- The McCreith Team
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
...and what the first week of 2026 is already showing us.
Download the full Market Action Report here!
First of all, Happy New Year! The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is typically fairly quiet, like a reset. We hope you and your families and friends enjoyed that reset, because the first Monday of 2026 had our phones ringing. We are seeing more momentum heading into 2026 than we have in years. So, what's causing the phones to ring?
Buyers. Our team launched representation agreements with 6 new buyers on day 1 of the work week. At the very end of 2025, rates dipped to their lowest in 12 months, and buyers who have been waiting patiently to move into the market are taking that as a good sign.
Price Reductions. As 2025 wound down, the strategy seems to have been "just wait", because on day one of the year we were also seeing price reductions like crazy, resulting in calls from our clients who had been looking through the fourth quarter, and from those motivated to move forward with their plans based on the new prices.
Sellers. No one chooses to meet with their Realtor about listing their home during the holidays unless they really need to. Typically sellers put that off until the New Year. For a handful of our sellers, that call was made immediately after the New Year began. Our team is getting ready to list:
A starter fixer in Beaverton, OR
A large-acreage buildable parcel off Skyline Blvd in Portland
An investment opportunity in McMinnville
A large custom home in Portland
All that to say, the first week of 2026 has been very busy, and it's only Wednesday! So before everything takes off, let's look back at December's Market Action Report to round out the year.
2025 was the first full year we consistently published our Monthly Market Action Reports, and we hope these monthly updates have been helpful for you! All in all, it seemed like the market calmed down, found its footing, and proved more resilient than most expected.
2025: A Year of Rebalancing
(Not Retreating)
Across Portland Metro and Polk & Marion Counties, 2025 wasn’t about dramatic swings, it was about modest adjustment.
Here’s the simple flow we saw all year:
Growing inventory → slower Buyer decisions → longer market time → stable prices
That pattern showed up fairly consistently in our markets.
2025 Year-End Snapshot by Area
Portland Metro Stability Took the Lead
2025 vs. 2024 (year-over-year):
Average sale price: +0.6% to $612,100
Median sale price: +1.1% to $549,000
Closed sales: +1.4%
Inventory finished the year at 2.9 months
Average market time: 81 days
The main takeaway? Even though price correction was happening throughout 2025 as inventory climbed, prices (both average and median) are merely leveling off, not dropping as people have long speculated they would. This is a simple factor of supply and demand. As long as inventory remains under 4 months, we will see that trend continue.
Polk & Marion Counties Fewer Sales, Firmer Prices
2025 vs. 2024 (year-over-year):
Average sale price: +2.7% to $478,100
Median sale price: +2.7% to $449,300
Closed sales: -4.4%
Inventory finished at 3.7 months
Average market time: 80 days
December 2025: Launching 2026
If you like looking at the graphs in our attached pdf as much as we do, yay! If not, here's the short of it: real estate sales follow a pattern, year after year after year. The chart and graphs helpfully illustrate this by showing us numbers from 2023, 2024, and 2025 for side-by-side comparisons. This gives us great data for planning an strategizing with our clients.
The Inventory in Months chart on page 1 shows the pattern that we again saw repeated in December's numbers: inventory levels dropped (by almost a full month!) from November to December (no one chooses to list during the holidays unless they must), and if we were betting people, we'd put our money on that number increasing in January, in line with the pattern that repeats year after year.
When you know the pattern and you know the data, you're already at a strategic advantage. Let us help you use that to plan accordingly!
Here's some additional numbers from December's Report:
Portland Metro (December)
Closed sales: +7.1% over November
Average sale price dipped down slightly; median was flat
Total market time grew by 9 days
What We’re Recommending in 2026
For Sellers
Pricing accuracy matters. We are moving toward the season that typically delivers the best results to sellers (Spring), so position accordingly.
Condition and presentation will separate you from your competition. Buyers are seeking concessions and tend to be more aggressive when a home is in disrepair.
Overpricing predictably leads to longer market time, and may not even achieve a higher price to you in the long run
Deal in facts and data, not speculation.
For Buyers
Growing inventory gives you better options and negotiating leverage. The data shows around 3-5%.
While negotiation room exists, sellers still have the market numbers to back their asking price. It is rare to "get a steal" on the average home in this type of a market.
Patience and expert guidance matter when considering your options.
Deal in facts and data, not emotion.
A Local Team, Backed by a Proven Track Record
As we head into an already busy 2026, we want to thank all of those who have entrusted their real estate transaction to our team. Bella Casa Real Estate Group continues to rank as the number one brokerage in our area, a reflection of exceptional service, strong data-driven strategy, and deep local expertise.
The McCreith Team is proud to be work within a brokerage that puts professionalism, collaboration, and client-first standards at the center of everything we do.
Thinking About a Move in 2026?
Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply trying to understand what today’s market means for your home, The McCreith Team is here to help you make sense of the data and build a clear plan.
Our approach is steady, data-driven, and grounded in fundamentals: no pressure, no hype, just honest guidance based on what’s actually happening in the market.
Reach out to Amy, Catherine, or Joni anytime. We're always happy to talk through options, timing, and next steps.
Amy McCormick, Principal Broker
Phone: 503-310-7803
Email: amy@thebellacasagroup.com
Catherine Summers, Principal Broker
Phone: 971-219-9858
Joni McCreith, Principal Broker
Phone: 503-310-5613
Email: joni@thebellacasagroup.com
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