Weekly Contract Activity | DC, MD, VA, WV

D.M.V. Contract Activity

August Arrived. Buyers Really Didn’t

Another week, another fairly subdued report for the Metro DC housing market. Contract activity declined in five of the six jurisdictions, with Prince William County once again playing the contrarian and posting the region’s only increase.

The weekly numbers are unquestionably soft. But the year-to-date numbers continue to provide some useful perspective: four of the six jurisdictions remain ahead of last year, even as the cumulative regional gain has narrowed.

Key Takeaways

Total new contract activity fell from 1,023 contracts last year to 944 this year, a decline of 79 contracts, or 7.7%.
Prince William County was the only jurisdiction with an increase, rising 12.9%. The other five jurisdictions declined, including a particularly sharp 32.2% drop in Loudoun County.
The weighted average days on market increased only modestly, from 40.1 days last year to 41.3 days this year, an increase of 1.1 days, or 2.8%.
Year-to-date, total regional contract activity remains positive, rising from 34,102 contracts to 34,564, an increase of 462 contracts, or 1.4%.
Four of the six jurisdictions remain ahead of last year year-to-date: Northern Virginia (+2.8%), Prince William (+9.0%), Montgomery County (+1.7%), and Prince George’s County (+0.3%). Loudoun (-3.3%) and Washington, DC (-4.6%) remain below last year’s pace.

Why It Matters

There’s no getting around it: this was another lackluster week.
Coming on the heels of last week’s 5% decline, another 7.7% drop suggests that the summer slowdown has some staying power. Higher mortgage rates certainly haven’t helped, and early August is rarely prime house-hunting season.
But there are a few interesting details beneath the headline.
Prince William County continues to be the regional standout. Contracts rose from 116 to 131, a gain of 12.9%, and year-to-date activity is now 9.0% ahead of last year—by far the strongest performance among the six jurisdictions. Particularly notable is the strength below $750,000, where contracts increased nearly 15% for the week.
Loudoun County had the toughest week, with contracts dropping from 115 to 78. The decline was broad, but the upper end was especially soft: contracts above $750,000 fell 41%, including just one contract above $1.5 million compared with 13 last year. Those are small numbers and therefore volatile, but the magnitude is hard to miss.
The days-on-market numbers are actually somewhat reassuring. Despite a nearly 8% decline in contract volume, the regional weighted average increased by only about one day. That suggests we’re seeing fewer transactions rather than a dramatic deterioration in the pace at which appropriately priced homes are selling.
There are differences underneath that average. Northern Virginia and Montgomery County actually saw homes sell faster than last year, while Prince William, Loudoun, Prince George’s and DC experienced increases. Washington, DC remains the clear outlier at 71.2 days, compared with a regional average of about 41 days.
And the year-to-date trend bears watching. The region is still ahead of 2025, but the advantage has narrowed to 1.4%. Earlier in the year, that cushion was considerably larger. The market hasn’t reversed course, but summer has definitely taken some of the wind out of its sails.

The Real Estate Details

Northern Virginia: 321 → 312 (-2.8%)
Loudoun County: 115 → 78 (-32.2%)
Prince William County: 116 → 131 (+12.9%)
Montgomery County: 179 → 162 (-9.5%)
Prince George’s County: 184 → 164 (-10.9%)
Washington, DC: 108 → 97 (-10.2%)
Total contracts: 1,023 → 944 (-7.7%)
Weighted average days on market: 40.1 → 41.3 days (+2.8%)
Combined year-to-date contracts: 34,102 → 34,564 (+1.4%)

CONTRACT ACTIVITY SUMMARY →

Blue Ridge Contract Activity

The Heartbeat Is Back: One Down, One Up, Somehow Still Moving Forward

Apparently, synchronized swimming is not a popular sport in the Virginia Countryside and West Virginia Panhandle.

After last week’s sharp divergence, the two markets once again moved in opposite directions. The Virginia Countryside pulled back, while the Panhandle posted a solid gain. Put them together, though, and contract activity was essentially unchanged from a year ago—and the longer-term trend remains decidedly positive.

Key Takeaways

Combined contract activity was almost perfectly flat, slipping from 193 contracts last year to 192 this year, a decline of just one contract, or 0.5%.
The two markets once again went their separate ways:
- Virginia Countryside: 104 → 91 contracts (-12.5%)
- West Virginia Panhandle: 89 → 101 contracts (+13.5%)
The combined weighted average days on market actually improved substantially, falling from 41.1 days last year to 37.3 days this year, a decrease of 3.8 days, or 9.2%.
And the year-to-date story remains strong. Combined contract activity has increased from 5,585 contracts in 2025 to 5,882 this year, a gain of 297 contracts, or 5.3%.

Why It Matters

This may be the best example yet of why these smaller markets need to be viewed together—and why we shouldn’t read too much into any single week.
The Virginia Countryside declined 12.5%, while the Panhandle rose 13.5%. Those percentages look dramatic in isolation. Combined, however, we're talking about one fewer contract than last year.
There's that heartbeat again: one chamber contracts while the other expands, and somehow the patient keeps moving along quite nicely.
There are some interesting details underneath the totals.
- In the Virginia Countryside, weakness was concentrated in the middle of the market. Contracts from $300,000–$499,999 declined 28.0%, while the $500,000–$749,999 segment fell 25.0%. But activity below $300,000 jumped 42.9%, and contracts above $750,000 increased 37.5%. So while the overall number declined, demand certainly didn't disappear across the board.
- The West Virginia Panhandle was almost the mirror image. Activity below $300,000 fell 18.2%, but contracts from $300,000–$499,999 rose 26.1%, and the $500,000–$749,999 segment increased 33.3%. Overall activity below $750,000 was up a healthy 10.2%.
Perhaps the most encouraging number this week is days on market. Despite essentially flat combined contract volume, homes going under contract had spent about 9% less time on the market than a year ago. That improvement was entirely driven by the Panhandle, where average days on market dropped sharply from 38 to just 29 days.
And once again, the year-to-date numbers provide the best perspective. The Virginia Countryside is 4.4% ahead of last year, the Panhandle is 6.3% ahead, and together they're up 5.3%.
Weekly heartbeat: irregular. Longer-term vital signs: still quite healthy.

The Real Estate Details

Virginia Countryside: 104 → 91 (-12.5%)
West Virginia Panhandle: 89 → 101 (+13.5%)
Combined contracts: 193 → 192 (-0.5%)
Weighted average days on market: 41.1 → 37.3 days (-9.2%)
Combined year-to-date contracts: 5,585 → 5,882 (+5.3%)

CONTRACT ACTIVITY SUMMARY →

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