Market update
A Cooler Market Across the Tri-State: What It Means for You
By Misty Ernde October 9, 2026
The housing market across the tri-state has cooled from the fast pace of a couple of years ago, and that changes the math for both buyers and sellers. Homes are sitting on the market a little longer, inventory is up in many towns, and prices are roughly flat to slightly down in places, with a few spots still climbing. Here is what the latest numbers say, and what they mean if you are buying or selling in Washington County, Franklin County, or the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
Fall 2026 market snapshot
What the latest numbers say
Market trackers like Redfin, Zillow, and Long & Foster publish regular snapshots for each county, and the recent ones tell a consistent story: more homes available, a little more time to sell, and prices that have leveled off in most places.
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Washington County, Maryland
Redfin reported a median sale price around $329,000 over the three months ending in April, up about 2.8 percent from a year earlier, with homes taking about 48 days to sell, up from about 39 days a year before. Long & Foster’s county snapshot showed active listings running well above the previous year.
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Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Redfin put the county’s median sale price around $299,000 over the three months ending mid-2026, up about 1.8 percent year over year. In Chambersburg, Zillow’s average home value was up about 2.2 percent in mid-2026, a slower climb than the market saw a couple of years ago.
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Eastern panhandle, West Virginia
The picture is split. Charles Town’s average home value was around $409,000, up about 3.2 percent year over year, with homes going under contract in about 17 days. Martinsburg’s median sale price was around $260,000, down about 13 percent from a year earlier, with homes taking about 68 days to sell.
These figures are snapshots, not forecasts. They change month to month, and your town, your price range, and your home’s condition may tell a different story than the county average.
What that means for buyers
More inventory and longer days on market add up to one thing for buyers: breathing room. You can tour more homes, compare more neighborhoods, and write an offer that fits your budget instead of racing the clock. Sellers are more willing to negotiate on price, repairs, and closing help than they were a couple of years ago, and you have more room to keep your inspection and financing contingencies in place. If you have been waiting on the sidelines, this is a genuinely good time to look.
What that means for sellers
For sellers, a cooler market rewards preparation. The homes that sell fastest are priced right from the first day, staged well, and photographed well, because buyers now have choices. Days on market are longer, so patience matters, and so does honest pricing based on what similar homes have actually sold for recently, not what they sold for at the peak. That is where a local agent’s market knowledge pays off.
Make a plan that fits your move
Whether you are buying your first home, selling and buying at the same time, or just testing the waters, the right move starts with a plan. Misty’s free Buy & Sell Guide walks through the process, the order of operations, and the financing options that can bridge the gap between two moves. And if you want to talk through your specific town and timeline, Misty is one call or text away.
Questions about your town’s market? Misty knows Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Smithsburg, Williamsport, Sharpsburg, Martinsburg, Charles Town, Chambersburg, Greencastle, and Waynesboro up close, and she is one call or text (240-527-7249) away.
Misty Ernde
Realtor® and Team Lead of The Misty Ernde Team at eXp Realty, licensed in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. This post is general market education, not legal or financial advice.