Days on Market Are Climbing in Columbus — Here's What That Really Means for Sellers

If you're selling in Central Ohio this year, you've probably noticed something: homes aren't going under contract in 48 hours anymore. That's not your imagination, and it's not a sign the market has turned against sellers. It's a sign the market is normalizing after several years of unsustainable speed.

What the Numbers Actually Show

According to the Columbus REALTORS® Central Ohio Housing Report for May 2026, closed sales climbed 7.8% year over year, and inventory grew 8.2% over the same period last year. Total inventory reached 5,223 single-family homes and condos across the region — a 2.0-month supply. For context, a fully balanced market needs 4 to 6 months of supply, so Columbus is still tilted toward sellers, just less dramatically than it was in 2021 and 2022.

More listings on the market means buyers have more to compare your home against. That's the real story behind longer days on market — not weaker demand, but more competition for buyers' attention.

Why This Isn't Bad News — If You Prepare for It

A slightly longer runway to a signed contract actually rewards sellers who take preparation seriously. In a frenzy market, an overpriced or under-prepped home could still get bailed out by desperate buyers making blind offers. That safety net is gone. Here's what matters more now than it did two years ago:

• Pricing accurately from day one — a home priced even 3-5% too high can sit long enough to develop a stigma, forcing a price cut that nets less than pricing it right the first time
• Move-in ready condition — buyers with more options will pass over homes that need obvious work in favor of one down the street that doesn't
• Professional photography and a clean, decluttered showing — competing listings mean first impressions online matter more than ever
• Being ready to negotiate on repairs or closing costs — buyers with choices are more willing to ask, and sellers who dig in on principle often lose the buyer entirely

It Looks Different Depending on Where You Are

Central Ohio isn't one market — it's dozens of smaller ones layered together, and the pace varies block by block. Close-in, high-demand areas like Upper Arlington, Grandview, and Worthington are still moving briskly because inventory in those pockets remains genuinely tight. Further out, in parts of Marion County and other outlying areas, the additional supply is more noticeable, and homes are sitting on the market longer. Before you assume your home will move at any particular speed, it's worth looking at what's actually happening on your specific street, not just the regional headline.



Bottom Line: Longer days on market in 2026 reflect a healthier, more balanced Columbus market — not a weaker one. Sellers who price realistically and present their home well are still finding strong outcomes; sellers who assume it's still 2021 are the ones getting surprised.

Curious how your specific neighborhood is trending right now? I'm happy to pull the numbers for your street and walk you through what a realistic timeline and price point look like.

Margaret Lipp | RE/MAX Premier Choice

Serving Upper Arlington, Dublin, Worthington, Clintonville, Hilliard, Powell, Grandview, and all Central Ohio communities

Data source: Columbus REALTORS® Central Ohio Housing Report, May 2026 (most recent report available at time of publication).