09/09/2026
August brought more choices for buyers—and another shift in the balance of the Seattle-area housing market.
Despite the typical summer slowdown and continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S. and global economy, buyers are still out there looking for opportunities.
Inventory continued to build year over year, with homes for sale up 30.3% across King County, 23.3% in Seattle, and 43.6% on the Eastside. With significantly more homes to choose from, buyers can afford to be patient, selective, and more aggressive in their negotiations.
But there’s an interesting story underneath the numbers.
Pending sales in King County increased 1.1%, while the Eastside jumped an impressive 10.8% YoY despite having the largest increase in inventory. Seattle was the outlier, with pending sales down 5.4%. So even amid heightened economic and job-market uncertainty, demand hasn’t disappeared—especially on the Eastside.
Perhaps the biggest opportunity right now is pricing.
Median sold prices fell 6.1% in King County, 7.0% in Seattle, and 6.6% on the Eastside compared with last August. Pair softer pricing with elevated inventory, and buyers have negotiating leverage we simply haven’t seen in years.
That can mean more time for due diligence, opportunities to negotiate price and concessions, and less pressure to make rushed decisions.
For sellers, the message is equally clear: pricing and presentation matter more than ever. Buyers are active, but they’re selective. With more homes competing for their attention, simply putting a property on the market isn’t enough.
As we head into fall, the question isn’t whether buyers are out there—they are. It’s which homes are giving them a reason to act.
More choices. More selective buyers. More opportunities—but also more reason to have the right strategy.
