Market Report

Your Real Estate Market Update:

Local Market Information provided by the Columbus Board of Realtors MLS.

Updated November 21, 2025

Here you will find the latest local housing trends that will give you insights, updates and analysis to your local marketplace. If you have any questions about this report or anything else related to real estate, please feel free to reach out to us. We are proud to be a trusted adviser and help you make important business decisions when it comes to real estate.

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Sales surge, rates drop, and what’s all this talk about 50-year mortgages? We cover it all in this month’s Central Ohio Housing Report.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 20, 2025) — Local home sales rose nearly 10% in October, with 2,781 families either entering the housing market or moving to a new home or condominium, according to statistics from the Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS.

The median sales price increased by 3.2% year-over-year, climbing from $315,000 to $325,000. Year-to-date, the median sales price in central Ohio stands at $329,000, well below the national median of $415,200 reported by the National Association of REALTORS® last month.

“Entering the housing market right now might seem overwhelming, but that’s even more reason to work with a REALTOR®,” said Columbus REALTORS® President Buffie Patterson. “We’re fortunate to have a range of pricing options in our region, and REALTORS® are skilled at helping clients find the right fit for their needs.”

Several school districts stood out in October for both volume and affordability. One area coming in below the region’s median price was the South-Western City School District in Grove City, with 188 closed sales in October, up 14.6% year-over-year, at a median sales price of $306,000, down 3.2% from last year.

Outside the 270 loop, Lancaster (61 sales, $265,000 median), Newark (60 sales, $247,450 median), and Marion (52 sales, $182,500 median) continue to perform strongly.

Another standout was the Hilliard City School District, recording 103 closed sales with a median price of $387,000.

The National Association of REALTORS® released its annual Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers, and the median age of first-time buyers has risen to 40.

“In six years, we’ve seen the median age of the first-time home buyer increase from 33 to 40,” said Patterson.

“That shift impacts not only the housing market but the broader economy. Buying your first home later in life can make it more challenging to build long-term wealth through home equity. If you’re finding it difficult to enter the market, talk to a REALTOR®. We can help you find a home that fits your budget.”

Homes spent a median of 34 days on the market, up from 28 a year ago. Mortgage rates fell in October, reaching their lowest point of 2025, and are currently hovering around 6.25% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

A topic drawing national attention this month was President Donald Trump’s proposal to introduce a 50-year fixed-rate mortgage to boost affordability.

“A 50-year mortgage might lower your monthly payment by a couple of hundred dollars on a median-priced home in central Ohio,” said Patterson. “However, over the life of the loan, buyers would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars more in interest compared to a 30-year mortgage, and it would take decades to build meaningful equity.”

At the end of October, inventory stood at 5,913 units, giving buyers the broadest selection in nearly a decade. The last time inventory exceeded 6,000 units was in September 2016.