First Quarter 2026 Real Estate Market Report
Franklin & Hampshire Counties MA | Single-Family Homes & Condominiums
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Prices stayed resilient Most segments held or posted gains in median price. |
Sales volume slowed Closed sales were lower across both counties. |
Buyers are being more selective Market times increased year over year in addition to seasonal highs. |
Overview: A Market Adjusting, Not Declining
The first quarter of 2026 showed a clear pattern across both Franklin and Hampshire Counties: prices remained firm or moved higher in most segments, while the number of closed sales declined.
That points to a market that is rebalancing rather than weakening. Buyers are still active, but they are moving more carefully and taking more time to make decisions.
Franklin County - Single-Family Homes
- Median Price: $344,500 to $358,000 (+3.9%)
- Closed Sales: 94 to 77 (-18.1%)
- Estimated Sales Volume: $32.4M to $27.6M (-14.9%)
- Days on Market: 60 to 65 (+8.3%)
- Pending Sales: 88 to 94 (+6.8%)
- New Listings: 99 to 95 (-4.0%)
What it means: Prices held up well even with fewer closings. Pending sales improved, which suggests buyers are still in the market, but they are taking longer to commit and close.
Franklin County - Condominiums
- Median Price: $317,500 to $259,900 (-18.1%)
- Closed Sales: 10 to 3 (-70.0%)
- Estimated Sales Volume: $3.18M to $0.78M (-75.4%)
- Days on Market: 42 to 8 (-81.0%)
- Pending Sales: 11 to 3 (-72.7%)
- New Listings: 10 to 5 (-50.0%)
What it means: Franklin County condos had a very soft first quarter. Because the sample size is small, quarter-to-quarter swings can be dramatic, but activity and pricing both came in lower this year.
Hampshire County - Single-Family Homes
- Median Price: $410,000 to $440,000 (+7.3%)
- Closed Sales: 174 to 146 (-16.1%)
- Estimated Sales Volume: $71.3M to $64.2M (-10.0%)
- Days on Market: 59 to 69 (+16.9%)
- Pending Sales: 173 to 168 (-2.9%)
- New Listings: 183 to 185 (+1.1%)
What it means: Hampshire single-family homes continued to show strong price growth, but the pace of the market slowed. Inventory looks a bit healthier, though buyers are still moving cautiously.
Hampshire County - Condominiums
- Median Price: $314,250 to $325,000 (+3.4%)
- Closed Sales: 50 to 35 (-30.0%)
- Estimated Sales Volume: $15.7M to $11.4M (-27.6%)
- Days on Market: 53 to 75 (+41.5%)
- Pending Sales: 55 to 55 (no change)
- New Listings: 67 to 71 (+6.0%)
What it means: Condo pricing improved modestly, but fewer transactions closed and market time rose noticeably. Buyers are still engaged, though clearly more selective than a year ago.
Interest Rate Impact
Average 30-year mortgage rates were slightly lower in the first quarter of 2026 than in the first quarter of 2025, which helped somewhat with affordability.
- Q1 2025: about 6.8%
- Q1 2026: about 6.1%
Even with that improvement, rates remain high enough to keep many buyers cautious about thier price point, and monthly payment.
Key Takeaways
- Prices were generally stable to higher.
- Closed sales and estimated sales volume were lower year over year.
- Homes took longer to sell in some price points.
- The market is now more balanced compared to the peak frenzy years of the past several years.
Final Thought
This is not a declining market. It is a more normalized one - and that makes good pricing, strong presentation, and local guidance more important than ever for both buyers and sellers.
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Thinking About Buying or Selling? If you are wondering how these trends affect your next move, I would be happy to help you make sense of your options. Corinne Fitzgerald | Fitzgerald Real Estate | Call/Text 413-320-9509 | Corinne@FITZGERALD-RealEstate.com |
Data source: Realtor Association of the Pioneer Valley and MLS PIN
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