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Housing Market TrendsPublished September 18, 2026
Greater Boston Housing Market 2026: Milton, Dedham, Quincy
The data shows more listings, longer market times and more price cuts, while well priced suburban single family homes still sell above asking in about a week.
Greater Boston is moving toward a more balanced market, not a buyer’s market. As of September 15, 2026, MLS PIN shows more active single-family listings than a year ago in Dedham (+31%), Quincy (+23%) and Boston (+18%), and months of supply is up in every market we track. Still, single-family homes in Milton, Dedham and Quincy sold for a median 101.6% to 102.2% of list price, usually with an offer within a week.
Buyers in Greater Boston finally have more options and more negotiating power than they’ve had in years. That doesn’t mean it’s suddenly a buyer’s market.
More homes are on the market, properties are taking longer to sell and buyers have more leverage than they’ve had in years. At the same time, desirable, well-priced homes are still competitive, particularly suburban single-family homes. Instead of a true buyer’s market, a more balanced Greater Boston housing market is starting to emerge after years of sellers having the upper hand.
Months of supply is rising everywhere
Months of supply estimates how long it would take to sell every active listing at the current sales pace. The lower the number, the more the market favors sellers. Every market below added supply this year, but single-family homes in all four are still under three months. Boston condos are the closest to what many agents consider balanced territory.
Milton, MA: still firmly competitive
MEDIAN SALE
$1.125M. +6.1%
DAYS TO OFFER
6 median
SALE-TO-LIST
101.8% median
MONTHS SUPPLY
2.10 was 2.05
Milton changed the least of the four markets. Active single-family listings on September 15 matched last year exactly (33), and months of supply barely moved. The median single-family sale price rose 6.1% to $1,125,000 year to date. Homes typically went under agreement in 6 days and sold at a median 101.8% of list price.
Fewer Milton sellers have had to cut price: 37 listings had a price change this year, down from 47. For buyers, a well priced Milton home in good condition still draws competition. Your leverage is with the listings that have sat. The average active listing has now been on the market 71 days, up from 48.
Dedham, MA: the clearest shift toward balance
MEDIAN SALE
$765K. −5.0%
ACTIVE LISTINGS
42. +31%
SALE-TO-LIST
101.6% median
MONTHS SUPPLY
2.32 was 1.88
Dedham shows the clearest move toward balance. Active single-family listings rose 31% (32 to 42), months of supply climbed from 1.88 to 2.32, and the absorption rate fell from 53% to 43%. Price cuts are up as well: 58 listings have reduced price so far this year, compared with 44 in 2025.
Demand hasn’t disappeared. Dedham recorded 151 closed single family sales year to date, up 4.9%. The median sale price dipped 5.0% to $765,000, while the median asking price of active listings dropped from $1,169,500 to $837,400. That suggests more moderately priced homes are coming to market, not simply that values are falling. Homes still typically got an offer in 7 days.
Quincy, MA: fewer sales, firm prices
MEDIAN SALE
$758K. +4.9%
CLOSED SALES
192 −25%
SALE-TO-LIST
102.2% was 100.8%
MONTHS SUPPLY
1.88 was 1.31
In Quincy, the story is fewer sales, not weaker prices. Closed single-family sales fell 25% year to date (256 to 192), and homes going under agreement fell 17%. Yet the median sale price rose 4.9% to $758,000. The median sale landed at 102.2% of list, up from 100.8%, and homes typically got an offer in 7 days.
Supply loosened more in Quincy than anywhere else we track. Months of supply jumped 43% (1.31 to 1.88) as active listings grew from 39 to 48. Quincy is still one of the tightest markets around, but buyers have more to choose from than they did a year ago.
Boston: condos give buyers the most leverage
SF MEDIAN SALE
$872K. −3.9%
SF SALE TO LIST
100.0% median
CONDO SALE TO LIST
98.8%. median
CONDO SUPPLY
4.88. months
Within the city, how much leverage you have depends on what you’re buying. Boston single-family homes, which are concentrated in neighborhoods like West Roxbury, Roslindale and Hyde Park, saw active listings rise 18% to 200. The median sale price slipped 3.9% to $872,000, and the average sale came in just under original asking price (99.7%). Homes that don’t sell quickly are sitting: the median active listing has been on the market 46 days, up from 27, and price changes over the last 12 months rose 18%.
Condos, the main housing type in Back Bay, the South End and South Boston, give buyers the most room to negotiate. Boston had 1,400 active condo listings on September 15, or 4.88 months of supply, and the median condo sold for 98.8% of list price. Condo prices are still up 2.0% to a median $780,000, but the typical time to an offer stretched from 17 to 20 days.
What this means for buyers
Right now there are opportunities that were rare a few years ago: more choices, more room to negotiate and less pressure to waive every contingency just to compete.
Target the listings that have sat. Price cuts are up 32% in Dedham, and Boston single-family listings are sitting a median 46 days.
Protect yourself. With more inventory, inspection and financing contingencies are back on the table in many price ranges.
Don’t overplay your hand. In Milton and Quincy, the best homes still sell above asking in about a week.
Don’t wait indefinitely for rates to fall. The most desirable homes are still competitive right now.
What this means for sellers
Buyers can afford to be pickier, so the old playbook of naming your price and waiting for an offer isn’t working like it used to.
Price it right from day one. Overpriced homes are sitting. Boston’s active single-family listings have now been on the market a median 46 days, up from 27.
Presentation counts. With more listings to compare, buyers notice condition, staging and photography.
Market with a plan. Well-positioned homes in Milton, Dedham and Quincy still sell for more than list price.
Know your micro-market. A 43% jump in supply in Quincy calls for a different strategy than flat inventory in Milton.
Massachusetts real estate is hyperlocal
What’s happening in Boston neighborhoods like Southie, Back Bay, the South End, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury can look very different from suburban markets like Milton, Dedham, Quincy, Canton, Westwood, Norwood, Medfield and Walpole. Within each market, conditions can also vary significantly by neighborhood, property type and price point. As this year’s numbers show, a Boston condo and a Milton single-family home are in completely different negotiating environments.
Frequently asked questions
Is Greater Boston a buyer’s market in 2026?
No. It’s becoming more balanced, but it isn’t a buyer’s market. As of September 15, 2026, single-family months of supply was 1.88 in Quincy, 2.10 in Milton, 2.32 in Dedham and 2.93 in Boston, all still below the 5 to 6 months often associated with a balanced market. Boston condos, at 4.88 months, come closest.
Are home prices dropping in Milton, MA?
No. Milton’s median single-family sale price rose 6.1% to $1,125,000 from January 1 to September 15, 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. Homes sold for a median 101.8% of list price after a median of 6 days to an offer.
What is the Dedham, MA housing market like right now?
Dedham has the clearest shift toward balance of the towns we track. Active single-family listings are up 31%, months of supply rose from 1.88 to 2.32 and price reductions are up 32%. The median sale price is $765,000, down 5.0%, while closed sales are up 4.9%.
Is Quincy, MA still competitive for buyers?
Yes. Quincy single-family homes sold for a median 102.2% of list price with a median of 7 days to an offer, and the median sale price rose 4.9% to $758,000. Supply did improve, with months of supply rising from 1.31 to 1.88, but closed sales fell 25% year to date.
Can buyers negotiate on Boston condos?
More than on any other property type we track. Boston condos sold for a median 98.8% of list price year to date, with 1,400 active listings and 4.88 months of supply as of September 15, 2026. Median time to an offer rose from 17 to 20 days.
How should I price my home to sell in Greater Boston this fall?
Price to the current market from day one. Buyers have more options, and overpriced listings sit: the median active Boston single family listing has been on the market 46 days, up from 27 a year ago. Homes that are priced well and presented well are still selling above asking in Milton, Dedham and Quincy.
Kerri Mulvey
Realtor® | Kerri Mulvey | Moor Realty Group
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