We often hear people talk about wanting to return to a “normal” real estate market — like the one we had before COVID hit. But how does today’s market actually stack up against 2019? Let’s look at the first five months of each year and see what’s really changed.

Category	2019 (YTD)	2025 (YTD)	% Change
Homes Listed	614	498	-18.9%
Homes Under Contract	237	229	-3.4%
Homes Closed	332	287	-13.6%
Median Sold Price	$277,250	$489,000	+76.4%
Median Days on Market	57	25	-56.1%

What These Numbers Tell Us

• Listings Are Down: Inventory is still tight compared to 2019, with nearly 19% fewer homes listed so far in 2025.

• Demand Remains Strong: The number of homes going under contract is only slightly down (3.4%) despite fewer listings — showing buyer interest is holding steady.

• Fewer Closings: Closed sales are down about 13.6%, but that’s not surprising given the limited inventory.

• Prices Have Soared: The median sold price jumped from $277,250 in 2019 to $489,000 in 2025 — a 76% increase. Home values have nearly doubled in six years.

• Homes Sell Faster: Median days on market have been slashed by more than half — from 57 days in 2019 to just 25 days today. Well-priced homes are moving quickly, even in a more “normal” environment.

The Big Picture

Compared to pre-COVID days, Carroll County’s market is very different:

• There are fewer homes for sale.

• Prices are dramatically higher.

• Homes are selling much faster.

While some signs suggest a bit of normalization — like more price adjustments and buyers being slightly more selective — the market hasn’t returned to 2019 conditions. If anything, we’ve entered a new era where inventory remains tight and prices reflect the high demand and limited supply that have defined the past several years.

If you’ve been paying attention to the Carroll County real estate market this spring, it feels like the market is cooling down — more homes are hitting the market, price reductions are becoming more common, and buyers seem to be taking a little more time.

But when we dig into the actual numbers from January 1st through June 1st, the reality tells a different story.

Category	2024 (YTD)	2025 (YTD)	% Change
Homes Listed	370	498	+34.6%
Homes Under Contract	162	229	+41.4%
Homes Closed	230	287	+24.8%
Median Days on Market	26	25	-3.8%
Median List Price	$469,900	$499,000	+6.2%
Median Sold Price	$460,000	$489,000	+6.3%

What It Feels Like:

• More homes for sale and more price reductions make it seem like sellers are struggling.

• Buyers are seeing more options, which can create the sense that they have the upper hand.

• Overall, it feels like the market is slowing down compared to the red-hot years we’ve just come through.

What’s Really Happening:

• Inventory is up — listings have increased by 34.6%, giving buyers more choices, but demand is also keeping up.

• Buyer activity is strong — homes under contract jumped 41.4% compared to last year.

• Sales are up — closed transactions rose 24.8%, meaning homes are still selling at a strong pace.

• Homes are selling slightly faster — median days on market dropped from 26 to 25 days.

• Prices are rising — median sold prices are up 6.3% year-over-year.

Big Picture:

Yes, there’s more inventory, and yes, some sellers are adjusting expectations — but the fundamentals are still strong. Homes are selling faster, and prices are higher than they were a year ago. It’s not the frantic market of a couple of years ago, but it’s still very healthy.

Bottom Line:
While it feels like a shift, the reality is that Carroll County’s real estate market is holding steady and even showing signs of growth.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, understanding the data behind the feeling can give you a real advantage.