South Shore Housing Market Update: Fall 2026
Buyers are back on the South Shore. According to the South Shore REALTORS® Local Market Update from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, pending single-family sales jumped 37% in August 2026 compared with a year earlier. Homes sold for full asking price on average, and fewer homes were for sale than last year. South Shore broker Michael Peppino breaks down what the latest numbers mean for anyone thinking about selling this fall.
The numbers at a glance
| Single-family homes | August 2025 | August 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sales price | $745,000 | $760,000 | +2.0% |
| Pending sales | 386 | 529 | +37.0% |
| Closed sales | 488 | 487 | -0.2% |
| New listings | 430 | 506 | +17.7% |
| Homes for sale | 855 | 767 | -10.3% |
| Months of supply | 2.4 | 2.1 | -12.8% |
| Days on market | 35 | 35 | about the same |
| % of list price received | 99.3% | 100.1% | +0.7% |
Source: MAR Local Market Update, South Shore REALTORS® region, August 2026.
Prices: steady gains and full-price sales
The single-family median price rose 2.0% to $760,000. On average, sellers received 100.1% of their original list price. That means homes priced close to recent sales are selling at or above asking, not after long negotiations.
Condos rose faster. The South Shore condo median climbed 9.0% to $535,000, up from $491,000 a year earlier.
Demand: buyers are signing contracts
The biggest story is the 37% jump in pending sales. In August, 529 single-family homes went under agreement, up from 386 a year earlier. Closed sales were flat, so many of those deals will close this fall.
Inventory: more listings, but still tight
More homeowners listed in August, with new single-family listings up 17.7%. Buyers absorbed them so quickly that total homes for sale actually fell 10.3%, to 767. That leaves 2.1 months of supply. A balanced market usually has 5 to 6 months, so the South Shore remains a seller's market.
Condo inventory is looser. Condos for sale rose 9.9% to 365, about 3.0 months of supply, and condos took 47 days on average to sell.
The wild card: mortgage rates
Mortgage rates moved back above 7% in early October 2026. Higher rates can thin the buyer pool over the winter, which is one reason many sellers prefer to list in the fall while buyers are still active.
What this means for South Shore sellers
- Price close to recent sales. Buyers are paying full price for homes priced right, and the first two weeks bring the most attention.
- List this fall rather than waiting for spring. Supply is tight now, and spring usually brings more competing listings.
- Make the first impression count. Good photos, decluttering and small repairs help a home stand out from new listings.
- Plan for about five weeks on market. The typical single-family home sold in 35 days in August.
Thinking about downsizing?
Strong prices are good news for homeowners ready to move into a 55+ community. Selling the family home in a seller's market can make the next move easier to afford. Browse every 55+ home for sale on the South Shore, or read the guide to 44 South Shore 55+ communities.
What is your home worth today?
Every street is different, and these regional numbers are only a starting point. Michael Peppino, a South Shore broker with 29 years of experience and more than 750 transactions, prepares a free, detailed market analysis for any homeowner who asks. Get a free home value, or call or text Michael at 617-875-4352.
Data: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Local Market Update for the South Shore REALTORS® region, August 2026. Median prices do not account for seller concessions. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Michael Peppino is a licensed broker with Real Broker MA, LLC.
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