Columbus Housing Market: Trends and Forecast 2025-2026

If you've been keeping an even half-eye on the Columbus housing market, you've probably noticed things have been a bit of a rollercoaster lately. Well, I've got some good news to start: the Columbus housing market isn't looking like it's about to crash. In fact, the latest trends show a market that's holding steady with a slight upward tick in home prices, and the forecast for 2025 suggests a continued, albeit measured growth, especially as we look towards the end of the year and into early 2026.

Let's dive into what's really happening and what we can expect.

Columbus Housing Market Trends in 2025

So, what's the scene like right now in Columbus? It's a mixed bag, but mostly leaning towards positive for sellers, though buyers are starting to see a tiny bit more breathing room.

Home Prices: Holding Their Own (and Then Some!)

According to data from Realtor.com, in September, we saw a nice little bump in Columbus home prices. The median listing price hit $282,450. What's interesting is that typically, home prices per square foot in Columbus tend to cool down a bit in September. But this year? Nope! The price per square foot actually increased by 0.3% compared to the month before.

Now, how does this compare to the rest of the country? Well, nationally, the price per square foot actually decreased by 0.8%. That means Columbus is outperforming the national trend, which is a pretty good sign for our local market. This tells me that even with some shifts happening, the desire for homes in Columbus is still strong.

Housing Inventory: A Little More Choice, But Not a Flood

One of the biggest factors in any housing market is how many homes are available – that's your housing inventory. In September, Columbus saw a 3.6% increase in the number of listings on the market compared to August. That sounds great, right? More homes means more options for buyers.

However, Realtor.com also points out that this increase is smaller than normal for this time of year in Columbus. On top of that, while inventory is up 21.1% compared to last year, the number of new listings was actually down 1.4% from the same time last year and 4.7% from the month before. This suggests that while some homes are staying on the market a bit longer (we'll get to that!), we're not exactly swimming in new properties hitting the market.

Nationally, the active inventory saw a small increase of 0.2%, but the number of new listings across the U.S. fell by 1.8%. So, again, Columbus is showing a slightly different, and in some ways stronger, picture than the national average.

Time on Market: Homes Are Sticking Around a Bit Longer

This is where buyers might see a small advantage. In September, homes in Columbus took an average of 45 days to sell. That's one day more than the month before and, more importantly, nine days more than the same month last year.

For comparison, nationally, homes spent an average of 62 days on the market in September. This means that while homes are still selling, they aren't flying off the shelves as quickly as they did last year. This is a pretty normal shift as we move from the peak of summer buying to the fall season, but it's something to keep an eye on. It suggests that buyers might have a little more time to consider their options and potentially negotiate a bit.

Buyer's vs. Seller's Market: Where Do We Stand?

Based on these trends, Columbus is currently leaning towards a balanced market, with some aspects favoring sellers and others offering a bit more leverage to buyers.

• Seller Advantages:
  • Rising home prices, even on a per-square-foot basis, indicate continued demand.
  • The slight increase in inventory is not a flood, meaning there's still competition for desirable properties.
• Buyer Advantages:
  • Homes are taking longer to sell compared to last year, offering more time for decisions.
  • The increase in inventory, even if slight and seasonal, provides more options.

It’s not a full-blown seller’s market where bidding wars are the norm on every property, nor is it a buyer’s market where you can name your price. It's a more nuanced situation.

Columbus Housing Market Forecast 2025-2026

Now, let's peer into the crystal ball and see what the experts are predicting for the Columbus housing market. Remember, forecasts are just that – predictions. But they're based on solid data and expert analysis, giving us a good idea of what to expect.

Short-Term Outlook (Late 2025)

Zillow provides some interesting insights into the near future. As of September 2025, the forecast for the Columbus MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) is looking quite steady.

Columbus Housing Market Forecast (Short-Term)

Timeframe	Projected Home Value Change
October 2025	+0.3%
December 2025	+0.7%

This means that between now and the end of 2025, we can expect a continued, modest increase in home values. This isn't a huge surge, but rather a consistent, healthy growth.

Let's look at how Columbus stacks up against other major areas in Ohio, according to this forecast:

Ohio Housing Market Comparison (Short-Term Forecast)

Region	October 2025	December 2025
Columbus, OH	+0.3%	+0.7%
Cleveland, OH	+0.3%	+0.7%
Cincinnati, OH	+0.3%	+0.8%
Akron, OH	+0.3%	+0.6%
Toledo, OH	+0.3%	+0.7%
Youngstown, OH	+0.6%	+1.3%
Canton, OH	+0.4%	+1.0%
Huntington, WV	0%	+0.1%

As you can see, Columbus is pretty much in line with many of its Ohio counterparts for the immediate future, with Cincinnati showing a slightly stronger push towards year-end. Youngstown and Canton are showing a bit more robust growth projections in this timeframe.

Longer-Term Outlook (Up to September 2026)

Looking further ahead, Zillow predicts a slightly more significant upward trend for Columbus.

Columbus Housing Market Forecast (1-Year)

Timeframe	Projected Home Value Change
September 2026	+2.4%

This suggests that the positive momentum we're seeing is expected to continue and even build slightly over the next year.

National Housing Market Forecast: A Broader View

To understand Columbus's place, it's helpful to see the bigger national picture.

• Zillow's Key Predictions:
  • After a somewhat flat period in late 2025 and early 2026, Zillow expects home value growth to recover, potentially peaking at nearly 1.9% by August 2026.
  • They anticipate home sales to finish 2025 at around 4.07 million, which is a bit better than 2024.
  • Rents are expected to cool down, meaning rent growth will be slower than in recent years.
• NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun's Optimistic Outlook:
  • Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is feeling pretty good about the future. He thinks “brighter days may be on the horizon.”
  • Existing Home Sales: He expects them to rise 6% in 2025 and then jump another 11% in 2026. That's a big rebound!
  • New Home Sales: These are also predicted to increase, with a 10% rise in 2025 and a further 5% in 2026. This is great news for addressing the shortage of homes available.
  • Median Home Prices: Yun forecasts a modest increase of 3% in 2025 and 4% in 2026. This sounds like a much more sustainable pace than the crazy price hikes we saw a few years back.
  • Mortgage Rates: This is a big one! Yun predicts rates to average 6.4% in the second half of 2025 and then dip to 6.1% in 2026. He even called mortgage rates a “magic bullet” because they have such a huge impact on what people can afford and their demand for homes.

So, Will Home Prices Drop in Columbus? Can It Crash?

Based on all the data and forecasts, the answer is a resounding no, it's highly unlikely that home prices will crash in Columbus in the near future.

The trends show a market that is stable and growing at a reasonable pace. The Columbus housing market is outperforming the national average in some key areas, and the forecasts from both Zillow and NAR point towards continued, albeit modest, appreciation.

What we're seeing is more of a normalization of the market after the frenzy of the past few years. Homes might be staying on the market a little longer, and price growth is slowing down to more sustainable levels. This is actually a healthier situation for the long-term stability of the market.

A Peek Further Out: 2026 and Early 2027

If we extend the Zillow forecast of a 2.4% home value increase by September 2026, and combine it with NAR's prediction of 4% price growth in 2026, we can infer a positive trajectory.

For the end of 2026 and into early 2027, my expert opinion is that the Columbus housing market will likely continue this trend of steady appreciation. We might see:

• Continued Home Value Growth: Expect modest increases, perhaps in the 3-5% range annually, driven by sustained demand and a slowly improving housing supply.
• More Balanced Market Conditions: The shift towards slightly longer times on market might persist, giving buyers more choice and negotiation power, though this could tighten again if demand significantly outpaces supply.
• Mortgage Rate Influence: If mortgage rates continue to decline as predicted, this will likely fuel buyer demand and support home price growth. Conversely, any unexpected spike in rates could temper the market.
• Inventory Challenges Remain: While inventory has increased, the underlying issue of a long-term housing shortage is unlikely to be resolved in the next year or two. This will continue to provide a floor for home prices.

Essentially, the Columbus housing market is shaping up to be a resilient one. It's not immune to economic shifts, but the current trends and future forecasts suggest a market that is maturing into a more balanced and sustainable environment. For buyers, this means potentially better negotiation opportunities, and for sellers, it means continued value in their homes.