After years of relentless price increases, the real estate market along New Hampshire’s Seacoast is showing early signs of moderation, with listing inventory rising, days on market increasing, and the pace of price appreciation slowing for the first time since the pandemic era began.
According to data from the Seacoast Board of Realtors, the median home sale price in the region reached $575,000 in February 2026, up just 3 percent from a year earlier — a sharp contrast to the double-digit annual increases that characterized 2021 through 2024. Active listings were up 28 percent year-over-year, giving buyers more options and somewhat more negotiating leverage.
“We’re not seeing a crash by any means, but the frenzy is over,” said Realtor Stephanie Harmon of Great Island Realty in Newmarket. “Buyers have more time to make decisions, and sellers can’t just name their price and expect five offers by Monday.”
The cooling trend is driven by a combination of factors, including mortgage interest rates that remain above 6 percent, an increase in new construction, and a modest uptick in listings as some homeowners take advantage of high prices to sell. The influx of remote workers that supercharged the market during the pandemic has also stabilized.
Despite the moderation, affordability remains a serious concern for many residents. The Seacoast’s median home price is roughly double the state average, and many workforce-essential employees — teachers, firefighters, healthcare workers, and restaurant staff — find themselves priced out of the communities where they work.
“The prices may be stabilizing, but they’re stabilizing at levels that are still out of reach for a lot of people,” said Dover Housing Authority director Craig Welch. “We need more affordable options, and we need them now.”
Several Seacoast communities are responding with zoning changes aimed at encouraging more housing development. Portsmouth recently approved amendments allowing accessory dwelling units in all residential zones, while Dover approved a new mixed-use development near downtown that will include 80 affordable units.
Market analysts expect the Seacoast to remain a strong but more balanced market through 2026, with price growth likely settling in the 2 to 4 percent range.
