Virginia Beach Housing Market: Prices and Forecast 2025-2026

Thinking about buying or selling a home in Virginia Beach? Let's dive into what's happening right now in the Virginia Beach housing market. Spoiler alert: for 2025, things are looking steadier than some might expect, with modest price growth and a market that's not doing a complete flip-flop.

We'll look at where prices are heading, how many homes are actually for sale (that's called inventory!), and what's happening with mortgage rates. Plus, I'll share some predictions for the coming year, drawing from reliable sources. We’ll get a clear picture of whether Virginia Beach is a Buyer's or Seller's Housing Market.

Virginia Beach Housing Market Trends: What's Happening Now

Let's start with the here and now. It's always good to know the current situation before we talk about the future. Think of this as your real-time update, straight from the front lines of the Virginia Beach real estate scene.

Home Prices: A Gentle Climb

According to Realtor.com, in September 2025, home prices in Virginia Beach saw a slight bump from the month before. The median listing price was $453,475. Now, that might sound like a lot, but it's important to remember this is a median – meaning half the homes sold for more, and half sold for less.

What's interesting is how home prices are behaving per square foot. Typically, in Virginia Beach, this number goes down a bit in September. The latest data shows it dipped by just 0.1% compared to August. How does this compare to the rest of the country? Nationally, the price per square foot dropped by a larger amount, 0.8%. This tells me that our Virginia Beach housing market is a little more stable when it comes to these price per square foot changes, which is good news for homeowners.

Housing Inventory or Supply: A Tight Squeeze

This is a big one for buyers: how many homes are actually available? In September, the number of homes for sale in Virginia Beach shrank by 1.8% from the month before. This is a bit more of a dip than we usually see at this time of year, and it's a bigger decrease than the national trend.

Nationally, the active inventory actually rose slightly by 0.2%. Here in Virginia Beach, we had 864 homes for sale in September. While this is 6.1% more than the same time last year, the slight dip from August suggests we're not exactly overflowing with options. This lower housing inventory can sometimes mean more competition for buyers.

Time on Market: Homes Selling Slower

When homes are flying off the market, it's usually a seller's market. When they sit a bit longer, it can lean more towards a buyer's market. In Virginia Beach, as of September, homes were taking an average of 36 days to sell.

This is just one day longer than the previous month and two days longer than last September. So, while homes are selling slower than they were last year, it's not a dramatic change. For comparison, nationally, homes spent an average of 62 days on the market in September. That's a big difference! It means that here in Virginia Beach, even though things have slowed down a little, homes are still selling pretty quickly compared to the national average. This indicates a relatively active market.

Here's a quick snapshot of the trends:

Metric	Virginia Beach (September)	US National (September)	What it Means
Median Listing Price	$453,475	N/A	Stable pricing, showing modest increases month-over-month.
Price/Sq Ft Change	-0.1%	-0.8%	Virginia Beach is holding its value better than the US.
Active Inventory Change	-1.8%	+0.2%	Fewer homes are becoming available locally.
Homes for Sale	864	1,100,407	Limited options for buyers in Virginia Beach.
Days on Market	36	62	Homes are still selling relatively quickly here.

(Data from Realtor.com)

Virginia Beach Housing Market Forecast for 2025 and 2026

Now, let's peer into the future. Predicting the housing market is always a bit of an educated guess, but by looking at expert forecasts, we can get a pretty good idea of what's likely to happen.

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News MSA Forecast: Steady Growth Ahead

Zillow provides us with some interesting projections for our region, the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Currently, the average home value here is $360,624, which has seen a 1.8% increase over the past year. Homes here are also pending sale in about 30 days, which aligns with the “days on market” data we saw earlier.

Here's a look at the housing market forecast for our MSA:

Timeframe	Predicted Home Value Change
October 2025	+0.3%
December 2025	+0.8%
September 2026	+2.1%

What does this mean? For the rest of 2025, Zillow expects home prices to continue their slow and steady climb. By the end of October 2025, we might see a slight increase of 0.3%, growing to 0.8% by the end of the year. Looking out to September 2026, the forecast is for a 2.1% increase in home values. This isn't a boom, but it's definitely not a crash either. It suggests a healthy, if moderate, appreciation.

Comparing Virginia Beach to Other Virginia Cities

It's always helpful to see how our area stacks up against other parts of the state. Here's how Virginia Beach's housing market forecast compares with other MSAs in Virginia:

City/Region	Oct 2025 Forecast	Dec 2025 Forecast	Sep 2026 Forecast
Virginia Beach, VA	+0.3%	+0.8%	+2.1%
Richmond, VA	+0.4%	+0.8%	+2.5%
Roanoke, VA	+0.5%	+1.1%	+3.3%
Lynchburg, VA	+0.4%	+1.0%	+2.8%
Charlottesville, VA	+0.2%	+0.6%	+1.8%
Blacksburg, VA	+0.4%	+0.8%	+1.5%
Winchester, VA	+0.3%	+0.8%	+2.3%

(Source: Zillow MSA Forecast, Data as of September 2025)

Looking at this table, Virginia Beach's forecast is pretty much in line with many other areas in Virginia. Cities like Roanoke and Lynchburg are projected to see slightly higher growth, while Charlottesville and Blacksburg might see a bit less. Richmond and Winchester are very similar to Virginia Beach. This suggests a generally positive, albeit moderate, housing trend across the state.

The US Housing Market Forecast: What the Experts Are Saying

To get an even bigger picture, let's look at the nationwide housing market forecast.

Key Predictions from Zillow:

• Home Value Growth Recovery: Zillow believes that after a flat period in late 2025, home value growth will start to pick up, reaching a peak of nearly 1.9% by August 2026. This aligns with the moderate growth we're seeing predicted for Virginia Beach.
• Home Sales: They expect total home sales to end 2025 at around 4.07 million, which is a slight increase from 2024. This signals a more active market with more transactions happening.
• Rents: Zillow also predicts that rent growth will continue to slow down in 2025, which is good news for renters.

Key Predictions from NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun:

Lawrence Yun, a big name in real estate economics, has an optimistic view. He anticipates “brighter days” for the U.S. housing market.

• Existing Home Sales: Yun forecasts a 6% increase in existing home sales in 2025, with an even bigger 11% jump in 2026. This means more people are expected to buy and sell their homes.
• New Home Sales: He also projects new home sales to climb by 10% in 2025 and another 5% in 2026. This is important because it suggests new construction will help ease the housing supply shortage.
• Median Home Prices: Yun expects median home prices to continue their modest rise, with a 3% increase predicted for 2025 and a 4% increase for 2026. This is a return to more sustainable price growth.
• Mortgage Rates: This is a crucial point! Yun anticipates mortgage rates to average 6.4% in the second half of 2025 and then dip to 6.1% in 2026. He calls mortgage rates the “magic bullet” because lower rates make homes more affordable for buyers and can really boost demand.

So, Will Home Prices Drop in Virginia Beach? Can it Crash?

Based on the data and expert forecasts from Realtor.com, Zillow, and NAR, it's highly unlikely that home prices in Virginia Beach will drop significantly in the near future, and a crash seems even less probable. The current trends show modest price increases and a stable market. The forecasts from Zillow and NAR point towards continued, albeit slow, appreciation.

Factors contributing to this stability include:

• Limited Inventory: As we've seen, the number of homes for sale in Virginia Beach is not excessively high. When supply is tight, prices tend to hold steady or rise.
• Steady Demand: Even with higher mortgage rates, there's still demand for homes in desirable areas like Virginia Beach.
• Economic Factors: While national economic conditions play a role, our local market is showing resilience.

Possible Forecast for 2026 End and Early 2027

Looking beyond the immediate forecasts, I believe the Virginia Beach housing market will continue its trajectory of steady, moderate growth.

By the end of 2026, we could see home values in Virginia Beach reflecting the national trend of appreciation, potentially reaching closer to the 2.1% to 2.5% range predicted for September 2026 by Zillow for our MSA. If mortgage rates continue to trend downwards as predicted by NAR (to around 6.1%), this could stimulate even more buyer activity.

For early 2027, I'd anticipate this trend to continue. We might see home price appreciation in the 2.5% to 3.5% range, assuming interest rates remain somewhat stable or continue to decline. Home sales should also remain robust, driven by improved affordability and the ongoing need for housing. The housing inventory might start to see a slight increase as more homes are built and potentially more sellers feel confident listing their properties. It's unlikely to be a rapid boom, but rather a continuation of a healthy, sustainable market.

In conclusion, if you're thinking about the Virginia Beach housing market, whether you're a buyer or a seller, the outlook for 2025 and into 2026 is generally positive and stable. It's not a market that's poised for a dramatic crash, but rather one that offers consistent, albeit not explosive, growth. Keep an eye on those mortgage rates – they are still a big driver of affordability and buyer behavior!

Is Virginia Beach a Good Place to Invest in Real Estate?

Virginia Beach is a popular destination for real estate investment due to its robust and competitive housing market. The city offers a diverse range of properties, including beachfront homes, condos, townhouses, and single-family homes.

Here are the top reasons to invest in the Virginia Beach MSA for the long term:

Sure, here's more information on each point:

• Strong economy: Virginia Beach has a strong and diversified economy, with major industries including military, tourism, healthcare, and education. The military presence is particularly significant, with several military bases and facilities located in the area, including Naval Air Station Oceana and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. This helps to provide stability to the local economy and job market.
• Population growth: Virginia Beach has seen steady population growth over the years, with a current population of over 450,000 people. This growth is expected to continue in the coming years, which bodes well for real estate investors. With more people moving to the area, there will be increased demand for housing, which can drive up prices and rental rates.
• Rental market: Virginia Beach has a strong rental market, with a high percentage of renters in the area. This is due in part to the large military population, many of whom prefer to rent rather than buy. Additionally, the area's strong tourism industry means that there is a steady demand for short-term rentals, such as vacation homes and Airbnb.
• Affordable housing: Despite its many amenities and strong economy, Virginia Beach is still relatively affordable compared to other coastal cities. The median home value in the area is around $313,000, which is significantly lower than the median home value in cities like San Francisco or New York. This makes it a more accessible market for real estate investors who may not have the capital to invest in more expensive cities.
• Quality of life: Virginia Beach is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States, thanks to its high quality of life. The area boasts miles of beautiful beaches, excellent schools, and a wide range of cultural and recreational amenities. This makes it an attractive place for people to live and work, which in turn makes it an attractive place to invest in real estate.
• The Landlord-Friendly State of Virginia: Virginia is generally considered a landlord-friendly state due to its laws and regulations that tend to favor landlords over tenants. This means that if you decide to invest in rental property in Virginia, you can expect a relatively smooth and hassle-free process of managing and renting out your property. Some examples of landlord-friendly laws in Virginia include allowing landlords to charge non-refundable fees, enforcing strict lease terms, and relatively quick eviction processes. These factors can make Virginia a desirable state for real estate investors looking to maximize their rental income while minimizing their risks and legal liabilities.

Overall, these factors combine to make Virginia Beach a strong real estate investment market. With a strong economy, growing population, strong rental market, affordable housing, and high quality of life, it's easy to see why investors are drawn to the area. The Virginia Beach real estate market presents an ideal mix of high demand, constrained supply, and a large number of renters who won’t go buy a house if interest rates drop. The diverse local economy allows you to cater to tourists knowing you can rent the property out to locals, as well.