Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

Fairfax inventory rose, but the market is still much tighter than the U.S.

By Elizabeth Sachero-Perez

Real estate, Fairfax

More homes are coming to market in Fairfax. That is good news for buyers. But do not mistake more choice for a balanced market. The numbers show Fairfax is still meaningfully tighter than the rest of the country, and preparation still matters for sellers.

The big gap: Fairfax vs. the U.S.

The National Association of Realtors put national months of supply at 4.9 months. In Fairfax, the tightest ZIP code, 22039, sat at just 0.7 months of supply in the three months ending August 31, 2026, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Even the loosest ZIP, 22031, reached only 2.8 months. Every part of Fairfax is well below the national figure.

That gap matters for both sides of a sale. Buyers have a little more to look at than a year ago. Sellers still face active competition from other well-prepared homes.

More new listings came to market

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 732 new listings across Fairfax in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 8% from the same months of 2025. Most ZIP codes added new supply. ZIP 22031 led with new listings up 14%, and ZIP 22015 was close behind at up 15.1%.

ZIP 22039 was the exception. New listings there fell 8.2%. That ZIP also had the lowest supply in Fairfax at 0.7 months. Fewer homes coming in, and buyers still competing hard.

Homes are still selling fast, and often above list price

More inventory has not slowed closings much. The Real Estate Data Aggregator found that across Fairfax, 688 homes sold in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 1.9% from a year before. Pending sales across all six ZIP codes totaled 621, nearly flat year over year.

Speed tells the clearest story. In ZIP 22015, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 64.5% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing. ZIP 22039 was close at 62.2%. In ZIP 22030, 57.3% of homes went under contract in two weeks. These are not slow markets.

Sale prices relative to list prices also stayed above 100% in every ZIP code. ZIP 22039 led at 101.8%, followed by ZIP 22032 and ZIP 22015, both at 101%, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator.

Prices moved in different directions by ZIP code

This is where it gets important to look at your specific area, not just Fairfax as a whole.

ZIP 22031 saw the largest price dip, down 12.1% year over year, while homes sold there also fell 12.7%. ZIP 22033 moved the other way, with prices up 5.7% and the share of above-list sales up 2.7 points. Same market, different story by neighborhood.

A word on national context

Nationally, Realtor.com reported that mortgage rates climbed above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Price cuts hit 20.8% of listings nationally in September, the highest since October 2022, also according to Realtor.com. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026.

Fairfax is not the national market. Supply here is a fraction of the national figure. But rates above 7% affect buyers everywhere, including here, and that is worth keeping in mind when pricing or planning an offer.

What this means if you are thinking about selling

Supply is still low, but it rose in most ZIP codes. Buyers have a few more options than they did a year ago. That means a home that is priced right and presented well still moves quickly. A home that is not may sit longer than sellers expect. In ZIP 22032, days on market rose 7 days year over year to 36 days, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Preparation and pricing still do the work.

What this means if you are thinking about buying

You have a little more to choose from than buyers did a year ago. But supply is still tight. In ZIP 22015, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found homes for sale actually fell 5.9% year over year, and more than half of homes went under contract within two weeks. Being ready to move when you find the right home still matters.

One more thing worth saying: the numbers above cover whole ZIP codes. One street, one building, or one price range can read very differently from the ZIP code average. If you want to know what the data shows for your specific home or search area, reach out. I am happy to take a closer look.