"Highest Inventory in a Decade" Sounds Scary — Here's the Number That Actually Matters to Sellers

You may have seen the headline by now: Central Ohio has more homes for sale than at any point in the past decade. Columbus REALTORS® counted 6,193 homes on the market at the end of July, up 9.8% from 5,638 a year earlier. The last time the count was higher was August 2016, when it hit 6,270. It's a genuinely notable milestone, and it's easy to read it as a signal that the market is tipping toward buyers.

It isn't — at least not yet. And the reason comes down to a number that gets far less attention than the raw inventory count.

Months of Supply Barely Budged

A bigger pool of listings only becomes a buyer's market if it's growing faster than homes are selling. At July's sales pace, the region had 2.4 months of supply — up only slightly from 2.3 months a year earlier. For context, a balanced market sits at 4 to 6 months of supply. Central Ohio would need something in the neighborhood of 8,000 to 10,000 active listings to get there, not the 6,193 it has now. In other words: yes, there are more homes for sale than in a decade, but demand grew right alongside supply, and the fundamental math hasn't shifted.

• 6,193 homes for sale regionwide at the end of July, up 9.8% year over year
• The last comparable inventory level was August 2016, at 6,270 homes
• Months of supply: 2.4, up only marginally from 2.3 a year ago
• A balanced market requires roughly 8,000–10,000 active listings regionwide

What This Means If You're Weighing a Fall Listing



A headline that says "most homes for sale in a decade" can spook a seller into thinking they've missed their window, or that they need to slash their asking price to compete. The actual data doesn't support that reaction. Buyers absorbed the added inventory in July at essentially the same pace they did a year ago, which is a sign of real, sustained demand — not oversupply. A well-priced, well-presented home in this market is still moving through a genuine seller's market, headlines aside.

Bottom Line

Decade-high inventory is a real milestone, but months-of-supply — the number that actually defines a buyer's or seller's market — has barely moved. Central Ohio remains a seller's market heading into fall.

Margaret Lipp | REMAX Premier Choice

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

Source: Columbus REALTORS® Central Ohio Housing Report, July 2026 (most recent available; the August 2026 report is expected around September 20). Additional data from Columbus REALTORS® MLS inventory figures and the Worthington, Ohio Real Estate Market Report. Mortgage rate data from Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, September 10, 2026. Market data is a snapshot in time and subject to change.