Arlington homes are selling a lot more slowly than they were last summer.

The average Arlington home that sold in August had spent 41 days on the market — almost double the 23-day average in August 2024.

New data from the multiple-listing service Bright MLS suggests that buyers are taking their time given uncertain economic conditions.

When the market is particularly active in Northern Virginia, homes in many areas often spend less than 20 days between getting listed and receiving a ratified sales contract. Sometimes, the average is in the single digits.

While sales data for Arlington was mixed, there were some signs that buyers are gaining more leverage as the market transitions from the more active spring and summer months to the frequently less robust autumn and winter period.

Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist for Bright MLS, said the Mid-Atlantic market that includes Northern Virginia remains in limbo.

“The market is transitioning, though it is too early to call it a ‘buyer’s market’ or even a ‘balanced market,’” she said. “Rather, we are in a ‘stuck market’ as both buyers and sellers are moving cautiously.”

The average per-square-foot sales price for Arlington homes sold in August was $468. That’s down 4.1% from $488 a year before, and compares to $487 for the first eight months of this year.

Arlington’s 4.1% year-over-year decline was mirrored in both D.C. and Alexandria, while areas of Northern Virginia outside the inner core posted increases.

August sales were up 2.1% from 188 to 192 in Arlington, while the average sales price of $938,095 was up 7.9% from $869,462.

The increase was due, in part, to more single-family homes in the overall sales mix. This August, detached single-family properties represented 34% of all sales, compared to 30% a year before.

The average sales price for single-family homes was down 2.5% year-over-year to $1,536,255, while the market for attached homes (townhouses, row houses and condominiums) rose 11.1% to $624,773 and the condo-only segment of the market was up 7.9% to $563,400.

Homes that went to closing in August garnered 97.1% of their listing price, down from 98.9% a year ago — another signal that buyers were acting judiciously when selecting properties.

Total countywide sales volume for the month was just over $183.2 million, up 12.4% from a year ago due to increases in sales and sales price.

Regionally, Sturtevant said, high costs are keeping some potential purchasers from taking action.

“Many prospective homebuyers are being left on the sidelines, even as mortgage rates have started to ease,” she said. “Affordability remains a big challenge in the market, and will only improve with further rate declines and slower price growth.”

As a result, some sellers also are backing away, Sturtevant said:

“In addition to fewer new listings, more sellers are pulling their home off the market. Our recent survey found that the main reason sellers are delisting is because they are not getting offers at the price they hoped for. There is going to be a period where sellers will need to reset their price expectations, but many will relist their homes in the coming months.”

Across the D.C. region as a whole in August:

The 4,264 closed sales represented a decline of 2% from a year ago, although the number of new pending contracts was up 2.9%
The median sold price was $625,000, up 2.1% from a year ago, although some local markets posted declines
New listings coming on the market during the month were down 2.7% from a year before
Home showings for the month totaled 89,359, up 7.1% from a year before

Figures are from MarketStats from ShowingTime. They represent most, but not all, homes on the market. All August 2025 figures are preliminary and are subject to revision.