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
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Listings Are Down: Inventory is still tight compared to 2019, with nearly 19% fewer homes listed so far in 2025.
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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.
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Fewer Closings: Closed sales are down about 13.6%, but that’s not surprising given the limited inventory.
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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.
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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:
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There are fewer homes for sale.
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Prices are dramatically higher.
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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.