May 2025 Housing Market: What’s Going On Nationally—and Right Here in Vancouver, WA

🏡 May 2025 Housing Market: What’s Going On Nationally—and Right Here in Vancouver, WA

I sat down last weekend with a young couple searching for their first home in Orchards. They’d been burned twice last year—bidding wars, cash buyers, and heartbreak.

But in May? Things finally felt different.

And that’s not just a local feeling. From coast to coast, the market is adjusting—and Vancouver is riding that wave in its own unique way.

🔍 What’s Happening Nationally?

Let’s start with the big picture.

📈 Inventory is Up
Across the U.S., active listings rose 31.5% from May 2024—marking 19 months of steady growth.
For the first time since 2019, there were over 1 million active listings on the market.

⏳ Homes Are Taking Longer to Sell
The typical home took 51 days to go pending. That’s 6 days slower than last year.
Translation? Buyers aren’t rushing like they used to.

💸 Prices Are Leveling Off
The national median list price held steady at $440,000.
However, nearly 1 in 5 homes had a price cut—the highest May price reduction rate since 2016.

So what does that mean for us here in Clark County?

📍 Vancouver, WA: A Local Market in Sync (But With Its Own Personality)

Here’s how the May numbers looked in our backyard:

🏠 New Listings:
986 homes hit the market in May—up 4.6% YoY, and 10.9% from April.

⏳ Time on Market:
Homes sold in a median of 50 days. That's slightly faster than the national average—and faster than April’s 65-day pace.

💰 Prices Are Still Rising (Slowly):

• Average Sale Price: $634,900 (up 1.0% YoY)

• Median Sale Price: $559,000 (up 3.1% YoY)

• Year-to-date prices are up 4.6% on average from 2024

📉 Buyer Activity Is Slowing:

• Pending Sales: Down 6.0% from May 2024

• Closed Sales: Down 4.0% YoY

🧭 Local Inventory:
Clark County sits at 3.4 months of inventory—a major jump from earlier this year, though still slightly short of a “balanced” 5-6 month market.

💸 Price Cuts Are the Common Thread

Nationally, price reductions are climbing. And we’re seeing the same trend here—especially for homes priced over $700,000 or in neighborhoods just outside the “hot zones.”

In Clark County, nearly 25% of closed sales were in the $400k–$500k range, where demand is still solid. But anything luxury? It needs to shine or be priced right from day one.

🌟 Hot Local Spots (Still in Demand)

🔥 Camas – Median $844,300
🔥 Brush Prairie – Larger lots, luxury homes gaining attention
🔥 Salmon Creek – Steady with strong schools
🔥 Ridgefield – Popular with buyers relocating from Oregon
🔥 Orchards & East Vancouver – Affordable, family-friendly, still moving fast

These areas still get multiple offers—if the home is staged, priced right, and in move-in condition.

🧠 What Buyers Should Know

Whether you’re looking nationally or in Vancouver:

✅ You now have more homes to choose from
✅ You can take your time—but don’t sleep on the perfect home
✅ Be alert for price cuts—it’s your chance to negotiate
✅ Talk to a lender before touring—mortgage rates are still high

📣 What Sellers Need to Keep in Mind

If you’re thinking of listing this summer:

✅ Price it competitively from the start
✅ Prep your home for today’s buyers—think clean, bright, and updated
✅ Expect longer timelines, unless you’re in a top-tier area
✅ Highlight anything that adds value: updated roof, A/C, energy savings, etc.

🏁 Final Word: The Market Is Balancing, Not Crashing

We’re not in a bubble. We’re not crashing. We’re finding our footing.

Here in Vancouver, we’re still seeing steady appreciation—but the days of frenzied overbidding are mostly behind us.

Buyers can breathe. Sellers still have equity. But both sides need to be informed.

If you're planning to make a move—whether you're buying your first home, upsizing, downsizing, or investing—I’m here to help you make sense of your market.

📲 Just send me a message or click below for your personalized market update.