While November brought the winter chill in the housing market, December solidified it. As we move into 2026, the Southern Maine housing market has settled into a more predictable seasonal rhythm, characterized by low inventory.
Last month, we discussed the deceleration of the market. The December figures for Cumberland County and York County confirm that this wasn't just a one-month fluke. While we remain in a seller’s market by technical definition, the frenzy of years past has been replaced by a more deliberate, calculated pace from both sides of the closing table.
As a reminder of metric for determining a Buyer's vs. Seller's Market:
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Months of Inventory (MOI): Measures how long it would take to sell all current listings if no new ones were added.
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The Thresholds: Less than 4 months is a Seller’s Market; 4 to 6 months is Balanced; 6+ months favors Buyers.
Cumberland County, Maine – December 2025 Housing Market Trends
Cumberland County ended the year with remarkably steady pricing, though the number of homes actually changing hands reflects the typical year-end slowdown.
| Metric | December 2025 Data | Year-over-Year Change |
| New Listings | 159 | -2.5% |
| Median Sales Price | $594,600 | +5.7% |
| Sold Listings | 251 | +1.2% |
| Days on Market | 17 Days | +1 Day |
| Months of Inventory | 1.7 Months | -22.7% (vs Nov) |
Takeaway: After the jump in inventory we saw in November (2.2 months), December saw a seasonal tightening back down to 1.7 months. This is common as sellers wait for the spring to list. However, the Median Sales Price remains robust at nearly $595k. Buyers in Cumberland County are still facing high prices, but the 17-day Median Days on Market suggests that the "must-buy-in-24-hours" era subsided in many instances.
York County, Maine – December 2025 Housing Market Trends
York County continues to show significant market stabilization in Maine, maintaining higher inventory levels than its neighbor to the north.
| Metric | December 2025 Data | Year-over-Year Change |
| New Listings | 156 | +27.9% |
| Median Sales Price | $530,000 | +6.2% |
| Sold Listings | 185 | -4.5% |
| Days on Market | 21 Days | +4 Days |
| Months of Inventory | 2.3 Months | +34.4% (vs Nov) |
The Takeaway: York County’s market is transitioning from the dramatic shift seen in late fall toward a more typical pace. While the Median Sales Price rose 6.2% year-over-year to $530,000, the Median Days on Market has increased to 21 days, reflecting a 4-day jump from last December.
How this compares to last month:
With our November 2025 numbers, we highlighted a staggering 54.8% year-over-year spike in Months of Inventory, which reached 3.0 months. December’s data shows a slight tightening of that inventory back down to 2.3 months, though it remains up significantly (+34.4%) compared to December 2024. This indicates that while the "winter chill" has slowed, buyers still have more leverage than they did a year ago.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers Heading into 2026
For Sellers:
Inventory is still low, which protects your equity. With homes taking a few weeks to sell in some areas, your first 10 days on market are the most critical. If you don't have an offer by then, the market is telling you your price or presentation needs an adjustment. We still remain confident that the spring market will pop once again, as our team has many sellers sitting on the sideline at the moment waiting for a more favorable time of year to list.
For Buyers:
While prices have risen a bit, the 1.7–2.3 month inventory levels mean you may have a bit more leverage than in years past. A dip in mortgage rates (averaging around 5.87% to 6.18% as of the beginning of January) has also marginally improved purchasing power as we enter the new year.
Thinking of Buying or Selling in Maine?
As we shift into a more predictable market with typical seasonal swings, I’d love to hear your goals for 2026 and help you navigate what this new stability means for your move.
