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

Flat as a Pancake That Has Been Run Over Twice

If you blinked, you might have missed it. This past week in the Metro DC housing market delivered one of the most remarkably uneventful sets of numbers we’ve seen in a while—which, in this case, is actually pretty good news.

Key Takeaways

Total contract activity dipped just 0.8% year over year, with 1,385 newly ratified contracts compared to 1,396 last year.
Two of the six jurisdictions showed no change at all, and none posted a double-digit increase or decrease—about as flat as it gets.
The remaining markets saw only modest movement in either direction, reinforcing the overall stability.
Average days on market was essentially unchanged, rising slightly from 28 days last year to 29 days this week.
Year-to-date contract activity remains up 4.7%, with only Loudoun County and Washington, DC slightly below last year’s pace—and just barely so.

Why It Matters

Not every week tells a dramatic story—and that’s exactly the point.
After several weeks of calendar-driven swings and headline-grabbing rebounds, this was a return to something much more valuable: consistency. The market didn’t surge, and it didn’t stumble. It just… kept going.
That kind of steadiness is a hallmark of a healthy, functioning market. Buyers are active, sellers are engaged, and transactions are happening at a sustainable pace. The slight increase in days on market fits neatly into that narrative—homes are still selling, just with a bit more breathing room than in the frenzied conditions of past years.
And perhaps most importantly, the year-to-date numbers continue to trend in the right direction. A 4.7% increase may not make headlines, but it’s exactly how strong years are built—week by week, without much drama.

The Real Estate Details

CONTRACT ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Blue Ridge Contract Activity

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

A Quiet Week… But a Faster One

Not every week in the Countryside and Panhandle markets comes with fireworks—and this one didn’t. But before anyone mistakes that for weakness, it’s worth noting one important twist: homes sold faster.

Key Takeaways

Total contract activity declined 3.7% year over year (210 vs. 218), a modest pullback that reflects a fairly typical week-to-week variation in smaller markets.
The Virginia Countryside slipped just 2.8%, while the West Virginia Panhandle was down 4.5%.
Despite the weekly dip, both markets remain solidly positive year-to-date:
Countryside: up 7.7%
Panhandle: up 8.6%
Average days on market dropped significantly, falling from 38 days last year to just 29 days last week—a standout data point.

Why It Matters

This is a classic example of why the weekly headline rarely tells the full story in these markets.
Yes, contract activity was off slightly—but in lower-volume areas like the Countryside and Panhandle, it doesn’t take much to move the percentages. A handful of transactions one way or the other can shift the weekly numbers.
What matters more is what’s happening beneath the surface—and this week, that story is encouraging.
Homes are selling notably faster. That’s not just a statistical quirk; it’s a meaningful signal that the buyers who are in the market are serious, engaged, and ready to act.
Combine that with solid year-to-date growth in both markets, and the picture becomes much clearer: demand remains steady, and the overall trajectory is still pointing in the right direction.

The Real Estate Details