- by Cole Gargaro
2026 Maine mid-year housing report
For this report, we are examining the Maine real estate market, focusing on three property types: single-family homes, condominiums, and multi-family homes. Data is provided by FlexMLS and compares the first six months of 2026 (January 1 – June 30) to the same period in 2025.
Number of Homes Sold Decreased by 0.2%
Home sales held essentially flat across Maine, with 7,432 homes sold in the first half of 2026, compared to 7,448 during the same period in 2025:
- Single-family home sales edged up 0.2%, while condo sales declined 2.5% and multi-family sales declined 1.6% year over year.
- The chart below shows sales activity was mixed month to month, with 2026 running slightly behind 2025 in January and February before pulling closer and ultimately closing the half essentially even with last year.
- With sales flat despite a solid rise in new listings, Maine’s market appears to be absorbing extra inventory at a measured pace rather than translating it directly into significantly higher sales volume so far.
Prices Increased 0.4%
Average sales prices edged up to $503,000 in the first half of 2026, a slight 0.4% increase from $500,954 during the same period in 2025.
- Single-family home prices rose 0.2%, condo prices dipped 0.3%, and multi-family prices increased 5.6%.
- After several years of strong appreciation, Maine’s price growth has largely leveled off so far this year, with single-family and condo prices essentially flat and multi-family properties driving most of the gain.
- The chart below shows 2026 running close to 2025 across most months, occasionally dipping just below it – a notable change of pace after years of consistent month-over-month record highs.
Homes Listed Increased 5.3%
There were 12,874 new listings in the first half of 2026, compared to 12,221 in 2025, a 5.3% increase. Measured against 2024, listings are up 17%, continuing a strong multi-year rebound in seller activity.
- More sellers continue to enter the Maine market as life changes such as relocations, family growth, and job changes make holding onto a low pandemic-era rate less of a priority.
- Listing activity was up in nearly every month compared to 2025, with June posting the strongest gain and setting a new high for the period.
- New listings are typically a leading indicator of future pending and closed sales, so this continued growth in inventory could help support sales activity heading into the fall, even though it has not yet fully shown up in pending numbers.
Pending Sales Decreased 3.9%
The number of homes placed under contract decreased 3.9% year over year, with 8,206 pending sales in the first half of 2026 compared to 8,536 in 2025. Compared to 2024, pending sales are still up 1%.
- The dip in pending sales, even alongside a healthy rise in new listings, suggests buyers in Maine are taking a bit more time to commit, likely a byproduct of having more homes to consider and less urgency than in past years.
- Pending sales serve as a preview of closed sales in the following months, so this softness points to sales activity likely remaining flat to slightly lower heading into the second half of the year.
Predictions for the Rest of 2026
Maine’s housing market is expected to remain balanced and largely stable through the second half of 2026. With sales essentially flat and pending contracts down slightly, the rapid, competitive pace of recent years appears to be giving way to a steadier, more sustainable market, especially for those buying and selling at the same time. It’s worth noting that even this flat sales performance came despite mortgage rates being pushed higher by the Iranian conflict earlier in the year – without that added pressure, Maine likely would have posted a modest sales increase rather than a essentially even year.
Maine, like the rest of New England, has a track record of bouncing back hard after a slow start. The last time the market opened the year sluggishly – 2020, when COVID first hit –July came in strong, and the second part of the year was very active. That’s the setup we’d expect again in 2026, so long as mortgage rates don’t push into the 7% range and stay there. If they don’t, Maine should see a genuinely busy stretch through year-end.
Home prices are expected to see only modest movement for the remainder of the year, with the exception possibly of in-demand coastal towns. After years of significant appreciation, Maine’s price growth has slowed considerably, with single-family and condo prices nearly flat and multi-family properties now the primary driver of gains. This levels the playing field for buyers who have faced years of steep price increases and stubborn mortgage rates, though historically moderate at the mid-6% range.
The continued rise in new listings, now running well ahead of 2024, should give buyers meaningfully more choice and negotiating power in the coming months. However, the softer pending sales trend suggests many buyers are taking their time rather than rushing to act, so sellers should be prepared for homes to take a bit longer to go under contract.
For sellers, accurate, market-informed pricing will be essential in a market with more competition among listings and less urgency among buyers. For buyers, the added inventory and cooling price growth represent a real opportunity to find a home without the intense bidding wars of recent years.
Overall, Maine’s housing market is expected to remain steady through year-end – a healthy supply of listings, roughly flat sales, and only modest price appreciation, marking a clear shift toward a more balanced market.
For up-to-date market information, visit our Maine Real Estate Updates page.
Data provided by FlexMLS, compared to the prior year.
