Why Are Homes Sitting Longer in Central New York? An End-of-Summer Market Update
Why Are Homes Sitting Longer in Central New York?
Market Watch Monday | August 24, 2026
We're continuing to see more than 400 homes available for sale in Onondaga County. As of this Market Watch Monday, we're sitting at approximately 430 homes on the market.
At the same time, you may be noticing something else:
Some homes are taking longer to sell.
Does that mean there's something wrong with those houses?
Not necessarily.
We're entering the final stretch of summer, and that's important context when looking at what's happening in the Central New York real estate market.
🎥 Watch This Week's Market Watch Monday
In this week's Market Watch Monday, I explain why some Central New York homes may be taking longer to sell—and why buyers and sellers shouldn't overreact to days on market during the final weeks of summer.
Why Does the CNY Real Estate Market Slow Down in Late August?
Real estate is affected by what's happening in people's everyday lives.
And late August in Central New York is busy.
Families are trying to squeeze in one last summer vacation.
The New York State Fair is underway.
Parents are preparing kids to go back to school.
College students are heading back to campus.
And plenty of people simply want to enjoy the last few weekends of summer.
For some would-be home buyers, house hunting gets pushed down the priority list for a week or two.
That means there may simply be fewer active buyers looking at a particular home at any given moment.
More Days on Market Doesn't Automatically Mean Something Is Wrong
For the last several years, Central New York buyers became accustomed to homes selling extremely quickly.
A house being available for a week—or sometimes even a few days—could make buyers start asking:
"What's wrong with it?"
As our market changes, that mindset needs to change too.
A home being on the market longer than you expected does not automatically mean:
There's a problem with the house
The seller is desperate
The property is dramatically overpriced
Nobody wants it
The seller will accept any offer
It may simply mean the right buyer hasn't walked through the door yet.
And during a traditionally slower time of year, that can take a little longer.
Does Longer Days on Market Mean You Should Offer Less?
This is where buyers need to be careful.
Longer market time can sometimes create an opportunity to negotiate.
But days on market alone don't tell you how motivated a seller is.
A seller may have plenty of time.
They may have already reduced the price.
They may have a specific number they need to receive.
Or they may simply be waiting for the right buyer.
That's why I don't recommend looking at days on market and automatically assuming it's time to submit a significantly lower offer or less-than-stellar terms.
Instead, look at the entire situation.
What have comparable homes sold for?
How does this home compare with the current competition?
Has the price changed?
What's the condition?
And most importantly:
How much do YOU want the house?
If it's the right home for you, write an offer that reflects both the market and what you're comfortable risking.
Late August Can Actually Be an Opportunity for Serious Buyers
There's another side to the seasonal slowdown that buyers shouldn't overlook.
There may be less competition.
If some buyers temporarily step away from the market because they're traveling, attending the Fair or preparing for school, serious buyers who continue looking may have an opportunity they didn't have earlier in the summer.
You may have a little more time to think.
You may be able to schedule a second look.
And depending on the property, you may have more room to negotiate certain terms.
That doesn't mean every seller will negotiate.
But fewer active buyers can change the dynamics of a transaction.
What Should Central New York Sellers Do?
Sellers shouldn't panic simply because their home didn't sell during the first weekend.
The market we're experiencing today isn't identical to the market we had a few years ago—or even earlier this year.
Buyers have more choices.
They're being more selective.
And during the final weeks of August, there may temporarily be fewer of them actively shopping.
That makes preparation, presentation and pricing especially important.
If your home is positioned well against the competition, sometimes the answer is simply patience.
What Happens After Labor Day?
This is what I'll be watching next.
Late August is traditionally a busy time outside of real estate in Central New York.
Once vacations end, the Fair is over and kids are back in school, routines begin returning to normal.
We'll be watching to see whether buyer activity picks back up as we move into the fall market.
That's why I don't like making broad conclusions about the market based on one week—or even a couple of weeks—of activity.
Real estate is constantly changing.
Sometimes that's because of interest rates, inventory or economic conditions.
And sometimes it's simply because it's August in Central New York and everyone is trying to enjoy the last few days of summer.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy or Sell in Central New York?
That depends much more on your individual situation than it does on a headline about the market.
For buyers, the next couple of weeks could provide an opportunity to shop with less competition.
For sellers, longer market time doesn't necessarily mean something has gone wrong—but it does make pricing and presentation increasingly important.
And for both sides, it's important not to confuse a seasonal slowdown with a dramatic change in the overall housing market.
I'll continue watching the numbers and, more importantly, what we're actually seeing inside Central New York transactions.
That's your Market Watch Monday!
About Stephanie Scriven
Stephanie Scriven is a NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker and Broker/Owner of Home With Us Realty Group, serving buyers and sellers throughout Syracuse and Central New York.
With a background in market research, Stephanie combines local housing data with firsthand observations from active real estate transactions to help CNY buyers and sellers understand what's actually happening in the market.
Through her weekly Market Watch Monday updates and Real Talk with Stephanie series, she shares practical information about Central New York real estate, pricing, buyer behavior and the home-buying and selling process.
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Central New York?
Stephanie Scriven
NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker
Home With Us Realty Group
315-569-8931
StephanieScriven.com
