July 2026
It’s been a busy summer so far! Looking just at July 2026 vs. July 2025, we see continued trends that have been noted so far this year. Dollar Volume remains higher than years past, with homes in July closing 25% over last year, despite there being one less home sold this year. Days on Market is fairly steady, with homes sold in July 26 showing a DOM of 63 compared to 67 days in 2025. New Listings were up 17% - and the market responded – with new pending sales up a whopping 105% compared to last July. Summer is one of the better times to list as there are more people in the area which generally equates to more eyes on your properties. Despite the increase in New Listings, Active Listings remain lower than last year. Coupled with the increased pending sales, all signs point to a hot market.
Year to Date January -July 2026
Looking at the year so far, we’re still seeing several improvements over 2025. Total Homes Sold is up 13%, with increases in both detached single family homes and condo/townhome sales. Dollar Volume is 40% higher than last year – with several $1M+ and $2M+ properties sold so far this year. Days on Market continues to slowly increase, averaging 90 days for homes so far this year. Despite that, 42% of properties sold in 30 days or less. Lot sales remain lower than last year, however.
Buyers
The surge of new listings last month but lower total active inventory show that buyer demand has increased. What does this mean for you? The short answer – you need an experienced and local agent who is looking out for you. What we’ve noticed, especially post COVID, are many out of area agents representing buyers. Just like you would rather get recommendations about the best restaurants from people in the community, the same goes for real estate. Deep Creek Lake is a highly unique market – there are dozens of HOAs with specific rules, state easements, and rental restrictions, just to name a few. Let’s take the rental restrictions as an example…did you know there are some communities that allow rentals in some parts but not in others? That some communities can only have so many short term rentals or have restrictions on stay lengths? While your hometown agent may have your best interest in mind, unless they’re practicing in the area regularly, they won’t be able to provide you with the same guidance as someone who lives and sells here full time. Sure, they can reach out and ask the listing agent – or you could be working with an agent who knows the answers to the questions when you ask them.
Sellers
The summer season has been busy – don’t miss the strong buyer interest! A 105% increase in new pending sales is evidence that homes that are priced well are moving – and quickly! Your listing strategy should be multi-faceted to best place your property in front of qualified buyers. Working with an experienced and local agent will ensure you’re getting the best advice for pricing and a marketing strategy that works for our specific market. Second home markets are drastically different than primary home markets – and we can say with certainty that there are no two towns or markets alike! You can’t buy more lakefront – you can’t buy more dock access – these are incredibly important factors when pricing homes in our area. No two lakefront homes or even lots are the same. Overpricing your home is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Higher-end luxury sales increased this year – that means the right buyers ARE out there – but they’re educated on the market and working with agents providing knowledgeable guidance. Homes with DOMs higher than 90 days sell for 15% less than their list price on average. Pricing incorrectly will cost you time and potential buyers!
Ready to get started? Call our office or fill out an online contact form to get connected to an experienced and local agent today!
Connect