The big picture: Greater Boston homebuyers had more properties to choose from at the end of August 2026 than in the first eight months of 2025; however, increased inventory hasn’t lowered median sale prices, according to data compiled by Buyers Brokers Only from MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN).
Here’s what the numbers show for the first eight months of 2026.
Single-Family Homes: More Inventory, Fewer Sales
By the numbers: Homebuyers purchased 12,926 single-family homes from January through August, down about 2 percent from the same period in 2025.
![Greater Boston Real Estate Infographic for January through August 2026 [AI-generated Image]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!JdBl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F812d4d3f-1f03-453d-89f6-d459af3612c6_2400x1792.jpeg "Greater Boston Real Estate Infographic for January through August 2026 [AI-generated Image]")
Meanwhile:
Median sale price: $850,000, up nearly 2 percent from $837,000.
Homes for sale: 3,061 on Aug. 31, a 24 percent increase from 2,465 a year earlier.
Months of inventory: 1.86, up from 1.50. Still a seller’s market, but specific location matters.
Original asking price received: A median of 100.18 percent, down from 100.75 percent. This is the median. Not every home is selling above asking price.
Why it matters: Buyers have more choices, and sellers are receiving slightly less relative to their original asking prices. But with less than two months of inventory, the single-family market remains firmly in seller’s market territory.
Another number worth watching: During the 12 months ending Aug. 31, 2026, 6,552 single-family listings recorded a price change, an 11 percent increase over the previous 12-month period.
Meanwhile, 12-month sales volume declined slightly from 19,752 to 19,714 homes.
Condominiums: Inventory Is Growing Even Faster
The headline: Condo buyers are seeing a bigger inventory increase than single-family buyers, while median sale prices have remained relatively flat.
By the numbers:
Closed sales: 8,696 from January through August, up nearly 3 percent year over year.
Median sale price: $650,000, up less than 1 percent from $645,000.
Condos for sale: 3,084 on Aug. 31, up 29 percent from 2,382 a year earlier.
Months of inventory: 2.93, compared with 2.31. Getting closer to a balanced market (about five months).
Original asking price received: A median of 99.01 percent, down from 100 percent. Condo buyers have more negotiating power.
Zoom out: Condo inventory has nearly doubled since August 2023, when just 1,569 units were listed for sale. That’s a 97 percent increase in three years.
Here’s what’s interesting: During the 12 months ending Aug. 31, 2026, 6,124 condo listings recorded a price change, up 23 percent from the prior 12-month period.
Condo sales also rose 2 percent over that period to 12,640.
Why it matters: Condo buyers have more inventory to consider, and the median sale-to-original-list-price ratio has fallen below 100 percent. That suggests less pricing pressure than a year earlier, even as sales activity has increased.
For prospective first-time homebuyers looking to crack the Greater Boston real estate market, buying a condominium may be the easiest entry point over the coming months.
The Bottom Line for Greater Boston Homebuyers
More inventory doesn’t necessarily mean lower prices.
The August numbers highlight three important trends:
More choices: Single-family inventory increased 24 percent, while condo inventory jumped 29 percent.
Higher prices: Median sale prices increased for both property types, although the gains were modest.
Different market dynamics: Single-family closings declined about 2 percent through August, while condo sales increased nearly 3 percent.
The takeaway: Greater Boston’s housing market is offering buyers more options, but conditions differ between single-family homes and condominiums.
Before making an offer, buyers should look beyond regional averages and review inventory conditions in the specific community where they’re considering a purchase.
Source: MLS Property Information Network, Inc. (MLS PIN). For this report, Buyers Brokers Only defines Greater Boston as the City of Boston and 126 additional cities and towns within Interstate 495. Year-to-date figures cover January through August 2026.