Weekly Meter

We compare contract activity for the same seven-day period of the previous year in Loudoun County, Prince William County, Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Prince George's County. These statistics are updated on a weekly basis. Sign up for our newsletter on the latest market data.

D.M.V. Contract Activity

Too Hot to House Hunt?

Last week’s scorching temperatures may have done more than send everyone searching for air conditioning. Contract activity declined in five of the six major jurisdictions, suggesting that at least some buyers may have postponed showings, open houses, and weekend home searches until conditions became a little more comfortable. Prince George’s County was the lone exception—and quite an exception it was.

Key Takeaways

Total new contract activity across the region declined from 1,111 contracts last year to 1,095 this year, a decrease of 16 contracts, or 1.4%.
Although the overall decline was modest, it was unusually widespread. Prince George’s County was the only jurisdiction with an increase, rising 16.4%. The other five jurisdictions all recorded fewer contracts than during the same week last year.
The weighted average days on market increased from 34.6 days to 40.9 days, a rise of 6.3 days, or 18.4%.
Year-to-date activity remains positive, however, with combined contracts increasing from 30,908 to 31,594, a gain of 686 contracts, or 2.2%.

Why It Matters

A regional decline of 1.4% would ordinarily be little more than statistical background noise. What makes this week noteworthy is the breadth of the slowdown.
Northern Virginia, Loudoun, Prince William, Montgomery County, and Washington, DC all finished below last year’s activity. That kind of broad-based pause suggests there may have been a common short-term influence—and the extreme heat is a reasonable candidate.
Home shopping is a highly physical activity. Buyers tour properties, walk neighborhoods, attend open houses, and spend much of the weekend driving between appointments. When temperatures become oppressive, some of that activity simply gets deferred. One hot week does not erase demand; it can merely push decisions into the following week.
That context is especially important because the year-to-date market remains ahead of last year. Northern Virginia is up 3.9%, Prince William is up 9.6%, Montgomery County is up 2.1%, and Prince George’s is up 1.2%. The weekly softness therefore looks more like a temporary interruption than a meaningful change in direction.
Days on market deserve attention as well. The regional weighted average rose more than 18%, with particularly large increases in Prince William, Montgomery County, and Washington, DC. Some of that may reflect a more deliberate buyer pool, but the weekly mix of properties also matters. A handful of older listings going under contract can significantly raise the average.
Prince George’s County was the clear bright spot. Contracts rose from 159 to 185, with strong gains below $500,000 and additional improvement above $750,000. In a week when every other jurisdiction declined, that performance stands out.

The Real Estate Details

Northern Virginia: 349 → 346 (-0.9%)
Loudoun County: 127 → 120 (-5.5%)
Prince William County: 131 → 127 (-3.1%)
Montgomery County: 226 → 201 (-11.1%)
Prince George’s County: 159 → 185 (+16.4%)
Washington, DC: 119 → 116 (-2.5%)
Total contracts: 1,111 → 1,095 (-1.4%)
Weighted average days on market: 34.6 → 40.9 days (+18.4%)
Combined year-to-date contracts: 30,908 → 31,594 (+2.2%)

CONTRACT ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Blue Ridge Contract Activity

Shenandoah, Warren, Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick Counties, Winchester City, and West Virginia.

One Side Pumped the Brakes. The Other Hit the Gas

If you've been following these markets all year, this week's results probably won't surprise you. Once again, the Virginia Countryside and the West Virginia Panhandle moved in opposite directions, reminding us that these two markets may share a report—but they certainly don't share a heartbeat.

Or perhaps they do share a heartbeat... it's just that this week's EKG looked a little irregular.

Key Takeaways

Combined contract activity slipped from 169 contracts last year to 164 this year, a modest decline of 5 contracts, or 3.0%. The split, however, was dramatic.
Virginia Countryside: 109 → 74 contracts (-32.1%)
West Virginia Panhandle: 60 → 90 contracts (+50.0%)
The combined weighted average days on market increased from 34.9 days to 45.4 days, an increase of 10.5 days, or 30.0%.
Despite the weekly roller coaster, the broader trend remains very healthy. Combined year-to-date contracts increased from 5,008 to 5,350, a gain of 342 contracts, or 6.8%.

Why It Matters

If there were ever a week that illustrated why we avoid overreacting to weekly numbers in smaller markets, this was it.
The Virginia Countryside experienced a significant pullback after several strong weeks, while the West Virginia Panhandle posted one of its strongest weekly performances of the year. Individually, those swings grab your attention. Combined, they almost cancel each other out.
That's been the recurring theme throughout 2026. These markets often seem to take turns carrying the load. One surges while the other pauses, and then they switch roles the following week. Looking only at one geography can make the market appear volatile. Looking at both together reveals something much steadier.
Days on market also moved noticeably higher this week. Much of that increase came from the Virginia Countryside, where the average rose from 36.6 to 55.1 days. In markets with relatively few weekly contracts, it doesn't take many older listings finally finding buyers to move the average significantly, so this is a statistic worth watching rather than worrying about.
The encouraging news is that the annual trend remains intact. A 6.8% year-to-date increase in contracts tells a much more reliable story than any single week can.
And about that heartbeat. . . . Over the past several months, these two markets have behaved almost like the left and right chambers of a heart. One contracts while the other expands, then they reverse roles the following week. It isn't always pretty on the monitor, but together they keep pumping. This week's rhythm was another reminder that while the beat may be irregular, it's still strong.

The Real Estate Details