The Concord and NH Seacoast Housing Market in 2026

By Tina Heaney

Tina Heaney is a seasoned real estate professional and an American-Australian dual citizen with a rich international marketing background. Her extensive experience in global marketing has given her a unique ability to understand diverse needs and tailor solutions that resonate across different markets.

The short version of the Concord and Seacoast market right now is this: prices are still high, inventory is better than it was a year ago, and buyers have become noticeably more selective. This isn’t the frantic, multiple-offer market of a few years ago, but it also isn’t one where buyers suddenly hold all the power. It’s a more balanced, more thoughtful market, and the people getting the best results are the ones reading it accurately.

Greater Concord is balanced but still competitive. The numbers tell the story. In Concord, the median sale price is hovering around $400,000, with homes selling in roughly 30 days on average. In Merrimack County, the median is closer to $474,000, with homes averaging about 33 days on market.

Two things follow from that. Homes aren’t sitting forever, so a property that’s priced and presented well still draws action quickly. At the same time, buyers aren’t blindly overpaying anymore. They’re looking harder at condition, location, the monthly payment, and whether the asking price genuinely makes sense. For sellers, that makes the pricing strategy more important than it was at the peak. What a neighbor got two years ago is no longer a reliable guide, and overpricing now is the fastest way to watch a listing stall.

The Seacoast stays expensive, and buyers stay careful. The Seacoast remains one of the strongest and priciest corners of New Hampshire. Rockingham County recently posted a median single-family sale price of $717,500, the highest county median ever recorded in the state, which says a great deal about demand there. Even so, caution is creeping in. Across Rockingham, Strafford, and York Counties and the Portsmouth area, homes are generally taking longer to sell this year than last.

That isn’t demand disappearing; it’s buyers being more disciplined, weighing the full cost of ownership, including the mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, repairs, and even the commute. The market here is still strong, just no longer automatic. Sellers need accurate pricing and strong presentation, and buyers finally have a little more room to breathe than they did when every listing drew offers in the first weekend.

Improving inventory still isn’t enough. The biggest shift right now is inventory. More homes are coming to market than a year ago, which gives buyers more choice, and that added selection is exactly why some listings linger and why buyers can afford to be choosier. But supply is still well below pre-pandemic levels, which is why prices haven’t dropped the way some buyers hoped.

A big part of the reason is the lock-in effect: plenty of homeowners are sitting on low mortgage rates from a few years ago and are reluctant to trade a 3% rate for something in the mid-6% range. With the average 30-year fixed rate holding in the mid-6% range, as Bankrate reports, affordability remains the single biggest pressure point, and that hesitation keeps inventory tighter than it would otherwise be. The result is a market where both sides feel squeezed: buyers want affordability, sellers want to protect their equity, and what comes out the other side is a slower, more deliberate market rather than a weak one.

What it means if you’re buying or selling. For buyers, the best opportunities tend to come from homes that have sat a little longer, homes that need cosmetic updates, or sellers who are motivated by timing. The discount may not be dramatic, but there’s more room to negotiate on price, repairs, closing costs, or timing than there was a year or two ago. A clear-eyed first-time buyer who knows what to look for is in a strong spot. For sellers, the market is still favorable, but only with realistic expectations.

Well-priced homes in good condition are still moving and still getting attention, but buyers are far less willing to overlook problems or chase an overpriced listing, and they’re paying close attention to condition and inspection issues. The most valuable move a seller can make is to launch with the right price, strong marketing, and a clear understanding of the competition.

So where does that leave Concord and the Seacoast? Prices are still strong, inventory is improving, buyers are more selective, and the best results are going to the people who understand the market they’re actually in rather than the one they wish they were in.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling anywhere from Greater Concord out to the Seacoast, your price range, location, timing, and goals all shape the right strategy. Call or text me at 603-393-4605, email me at tina@heaney-homes.com, or visit heaneyhomes.kw.com, and let’s talk through your specific situation. I’d be glad to help you make your next move with a clear read on the market.