While National Sales Slowed in January… Dayton Started 2026 Strong

January 2026 housing data is a tale of two markets.

Nationally, the numbers came in softer than expected. Existing-home sales declined 8.4% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million. Month-over-month and year-over-year sales fell across all regions.

Economists pointed to unusually cold temperatures and above-normal precipitation as likely contributors, making it difficult to determine whether January’s dip reflects broader economic forces or simply weather-related delays.

However, there is an important national takeaway: affordability has been improving for several consecutive months, and homeowners continue to build long-term equity and wealth.

So while transaction counts were lower nationally, the fundamentals are stabilizing.

And then there’s Ohio.

Ohio Outperformed — And So Did Dayton

After attending our State Winter Conference and hearing the national economic review firsthand, one statement stood out:

“Ohio outperformed the national average by 6.9% in 2025.”

That strength carried right into January.

According to Dayton-area MLS data, our local market told a very different story:

• 799 transactions in January 2026

• Up from 782 last year

• A 2% increase year-over-year

And it gets even stronger.

Sales Volume

• $220 million in total sales

• Up 4.7% year-over-year

Pricing Strength

• Average sale price: $276,169 (up 2.5%)

• Median sale price: $237,500 (up 3%)

Inventory Growth

• 1,169 new listings in January

• Up 7% year-over-year

• 2.6 months of inventory at month’s end

And remember — this happened during one of the coldest January stretches in recent years.

What This Means for Buyers & Sellers in Dayton

While national headlines highlight slowing sales, Dayton demonstrated:

✔ Stable demand
✔ Healthy appreciation
✔ Increasing listing activity
✔ Balanced inventory growth

This is not a stagnant market.
This is a steady, functioning, resilient one.

Affordability is gradually improving due to wage growth and slightly lower mortgage rates. Combine that with Ohio’s relative price point, and our region continues to be positioned as a value-driven market with long-term upside.

The Bigger Picture

National media often focuses on slowdown, price corrections, or interest rates.

But real estate is hyper-local.

And locally?

Dayton began 2026 with:

• More listings

• More sales

• Higher volume

• Rising prices

• Activity despite severe winter weather

That tells a very different story than the national narrative.

If you’re watching the market — whether as a homeowner, buyer, investor, or simply someone who cares about local economic strength — January shows that our region remains notably strong.

And that’s something worth paying attention to.  Want an even more micro-view on your neighborhood activity?  Tammy is happy to pull the specific data for you 🙂