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

The Market Took a Summer Siesta

This was a sluggish week across the Metro DC region. Two jurisdictions were essentially flat, while the other four posted meaningful declines. Whether the slowdown reflects summer vacations, lingering heat, or buyers simply taking a more deliberate approach, the result was the weakest broad-based weekly performance we have seen in a while.

Key Takeaways

Total contract activity declined from 1,123 contracts last year to 1,030 this year, a decrease of 93 contracts, or 8.3%.
Loudoun County and Prince William County were essentially unchanged, rising by just 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively. The other four jurisdictions declined, led by Washington, DC at -19.5% and Prince George’s County at -11.2%.
Please note that there is an error in the BrightMLS data for average days on market for Montgomery County. It shows as 90 days, because of a glitch on one particular listing. The actual figure is 35.2 days, so the regional weighted average days on market fell from 42.7 days last year to 38.5 days this year—an improvement of 4.2 days, or 9.8%. We'll get a corrected version of the PDF out to you as soon as we can!
Combined year-to-date contracts remain ahead of last year, increasing from 32,031 to 32,624, a gain of 593 contracts, or 1.9%.

Why It Matters

There is no way to dress up the weekly contract result: this was a slow week.
The weakness was also fairly broad. Northern Virginia declined nearly 10%, Prince George’s fell more than 11%, and Washington, DC dropped almost 20%. Montgomery County was down more modestly, while Loudoun and Prince William were close enough to flat that the differences are not especially meaningful.
That kind of regional softness often points to temporary factors rather than a sudden shift in demand. Late July is traditionally a period when vacations, camps, and travel compete with house hunting, and the recent stretch of uncomfortable weather may also have discouraged some buyers from spending their weekends touring homes.
Northern Virginia and Loudoun both saw substantial improvements in market speed, while Prince William was unchanged. Prince George’s and Washington, DC moved in the opposite direction, but those increases were not enough to offset the faster pace elsewhere.
That combination—fewer contracts but shorter marketing times—suggests the slowdown may have been more about fewer buyers actively shopping during the week than a deterioration in demand for homes already on the market.
The year-to-date numbers reinforce that interpretation. The region remains ahead of last year’s pace, led by Prince William County at +9.3% and Northern Virginia at +3.4%. One sluggish summer week does not erase that progress.

The Real Estate Details

Northern Virginia: 362 → 326 (-9.9%)
Loudoun County: 105 → 106 (+1.0%)
Prince William County: 114 → 115 (+0.9%)
Montgomery County: 215 → 205 (-4.7%)
Prince George’s County: 178 → 158 (-11.2%)
Washington, DC: 149 → 120 (-19.5%)
Total contracts: 1,123 → 1,030 (-8.3%)
Corrected weighted average days on market: 42.7 → 38.5 days (-9.8%)
Combined year-to-date contracts: 32,031 → 32,624 (+1.9%)

CONTRACT ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Blue Ridge Contract Activity

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

The Summer Slowdown Found the Back Roads, Too

Last week's slowdown wasn't limited to the Metro DC market. It made its way west as well. Just as we've seen several times this year, however, the Virginia Countryside and the West Virginia Panhandle refused to move in lockstep. One market cooled noticeably while the other quietly held its ground, proving once again that these two regions share a report—but they definitely have minds of their own.

Key Takeaways

Combined contract activity declined from 178 contracts last year to 168 this year, a decrease of 10 contracts, or 5.6%.
The story was split once again. Virginia Countryside: 108 → 97 contracts (-10.2%) and the West Virginia Panhandle: 70 → 71 contracts (+1.4%)
The combined weighted average days on market increased from 38.0 days to 46.7 days, an increase of 8.8 days, or 23.1%.
Despite the slower week, the longer-term picture remains encouraging. Combined year-to-date contract activity increased from 5,186 contracts to 5,518, a gain of 332 contracts, or 6.4%.

Why It Matters

If the Metro market took a summer siesta, these rural markets apparently decided to join in.
The Virginia Countryside experienced a fairly broad slowdown, with overall contracts falling just over 10%. The West Virginia Panhandle, meanwhile, was essentially unchanged from a year ago, posting a slight increase that kept the combined regional decline relatively modest.
Once again, we're seeing the "heartbeat" we've talked about throughout the year.
hese two markets rarely seem to beat in perfect rhythm. One side contracts while the other expands—or at least refuses to follow along. Last week the Panhandle carried the pulse while the Countryside took a breather. A few weeks from now, it may very well be the reverse.
Days on market also moved noticeably higher, driven primarily by the Virginia Countryside, where the average increased from 41.3 to 52.7 days. In smaller markets, this statistic can swing considerably from week to week because a relatively small number of older listings going under contract can move the average. It's worth monitoring, but it's probably not something to overinterpret based on a single week's data.
The bigger story remains the year-to-date trend. Combined contract activity is still running 6.4% ahead of last year, with both markets posting healthy gains. That's a much better measure of market direction than one slow week in late July.

The Real Estate Details