Prices Continue to Rise While Inventory Remains Near Historic Lows
The North Shore housing market continues to show remarkable strength heading into 2026. The latest MLS data across the North Shore communities tells a very clear story: home prices are steadily rising while available inventory remains extremely tight.
For both single-family homes and attached housing (condos and townhomes), the supply of homes for sale is now sitting near the lowest levels we’ve seen in the past five years.
Home Prices Continue Their Upward Trend
One of the most notable trends in the data is the steady appreciation in home values.
The average price for single-family homes on the North Shore has climbed consistently since 2021, rising from roughly $875,000 to nearly $1.45 million today. Even through periods of higher interest rates, pricing has continued to move upward.
Attached housing has followed a similar path. The average price for condos and townhomes has increased from approximately $360,000 in 2021 to just over $520,000 today.
What stands out is that this appreciation has been gradual and consistent rather than volatile, suggesting a market driven primarily by fundamentals; limited supply and strong long-term demand for North Shore communities.
Inventory Remains Extremely Tight
While prices have been rising, the supply of homes available for purchase has remained very limited.
Currently the North Shore market has less than two months of housing supply for both detached homes and attached housing.
For context, a balanced housing market typically has four to six months of supply. Anything below that level generally indicates a seller’s market.
The data shows that inventory dropped dramatically between 2021 and 2022 and has stayed constrained ever since. Even today, supply levels remain roughly 1–1.5 months, meaning that homes are still selling faster than new inventory is coming to market.
Homes for Sale Are at Five-Year Lows
Another striking trend is the total number of homes available for sale.
In early 2021 there were over 1,000 single-family homes listed on the North Shore. Today that number is closer to 250 homes.
The attached housing market has seen a similar drop. Condo and townhome inventory fell from roughly 300 listings in 2021 to around 75 listings today.
This means the North Shore currently has about 70–75% fewer homes for sale than just five years ago.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
These market conditions create a very specific dynamic.
For sellers, the environment remains highly favorable. With limited competition and strong demand, well-priced homes continue to attract significant buyer interest.
For buyers, the key challenge remains selection. With so few homes available, many buyers find themselves waiting longer for the right opportunity to appear.
More Inventory Is Likely Coming Soon
While current inventory levels remain extremely tight, there is an important seasonal trend that buyers should keep in mind.
Historically, the North Shore sees a meaningful increase in new listings beginning in April, with the strongest inventory levels typically appearing between April and July. The MLS data shows that new listings tend to rise sharply during the spring market as homeowners prepare to move before the next school year.
This seasonal increase should provide some relief for buyers who have been waiting for more options to come to market.
However, it is important to keep expectations realistic. Even though more homes are expected to list in the coming months, the overall supply-demand imbalance in the North Shore housing market remains significant.
Because of that dynamic, multiple offer situations are still likely to remain common, particularly for well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods.
The difference compared to the past few months is that buyers should begin to see more choices and slightly less intense competition. Instead of ten or more offers competing for a single property, we may start to see smaller multiple-offer situations with three to five buyers, allowing for more thoughtful decision making.
In other words, the spring market should bring more opportunities for buyers, but the underlying fundamentals of the market still favor sellers.
For homeowners considering selling, this environment may present one of the most favorable opportunities we’ve seen in years. For buyers, patience and preparation remain critical as new listings come to market.
