Residential Sales down 1% with dollar volume up 7%

The full PDF report can be found online now, but here is a summary of the highlights!  In the first two quarters of 2025, the number of residential real estate sales retracted -1% to 474 units sold compared to 477 last year, but rose +7% in the dollar volume transacted to $226 million dollars in single-family home sales.  These transactions accounted for wide variations within the region – North County residential sales soared +9% with a +33% bump in the dollar volume, central Berkshire retracted slightly, down only -1% with a +5% gain in dollar volume of sales, however the south region recorded falling sales by -11% in the number of homes sold and a decrease of -6% in dollar volume, when compared to last year.

Notably, sales of single-family residential homes in the first quarter were very strong but flattened as we entered the spring market.

Regional results varied widely:

• North County residential sales rose 9%, with a 33% increase in dollar volume.  Strong year-over-year gains, particularly in Williamstown, where high-end sales boosted overall dollar volume. Adams posted gains, while North Adams saw a decline.

• Central Berkshire was relatively stable, down only 1% in units sold but up 5% in dollar volume.  Pittsfield and Dalton had robust results in both units and volume. Becket surged, Otis retracted. Stockbridge dropped by two sales but increased 46% in volume. Lenox slowed significantly compared to last year.

• South County experienced an 11% drop in sales and a 6% decrease in dollar volume compared to 2024.  Sales were particularly strong in Q1 but flattened heading into the spring market.  Overall sales declined, though Alford, Egremont, and Great Barrington maintained solid activity. Monterey, New Marlborough, and West Stockbridge slowed sharply. Sandisfield and Sheffield saw fewer sales but higher dollar volume.

• Are residential sales up or down?
  Down 1% – 474 sales YTD 2025 vs. 477 in 2024.
  South County had the largest decrease (-11%), Central Berkshire fell slightly (-1%), and North Berkshire increased 9%.
• Is dollar volume up or down?
  Up 7% – $226M in YTD 2025 vs. $212M in 2024.
  North County led gains; South County saw a decline.
• Are pending transactions up or down?
  Up – June 2025 recorded 114 pending sales vs. 99 last June.
  The $250,000–$400,000 price range is the hottest segment.
• Is inventory up or down?
  Up – 428 active listings on average in 2025 vs. 328 in 2024 (a 30% increase).
  The absorption rate rose to 4.55 months (balanced is about 7 months).
• Are home prices up or down?
  Up – Average price: $477,067 vs. $444,665 last year (a 7% increase).
  North County saw double-digit price growth.
• Are Days on Market (DOM) up or down?
  About the same – Average DOM is 102; median days remain close to 2024 figures.

Housing Shortage Tracker: Notable Improvements in Major Markets in Q2 2025. 

In June 2025, nearly 90% of the major market areas that National Association of REALTORS tracks  had narrowed the housing supply-demand gap by issuing more single-family building permits.

Condo Report: Sales rose 3%, dollar volume rose 8%.

Condominiums are selling at a higher pace than last year, with Northern Berkshire sales level but growing dollar volume of sales.  Central Berkshire condo sales are almost exactly on pace as last year and the southern Berkshire’s condo market showed a bright light with reasonable growth from last year, but still lower than the previous market years of 2020-2023 sales spiked considerably.   When looking at the full Berkshire County picture, condominium sales represent a small but important part of our housing stock.

Multifamily Report: Sales fell 5% in units sold; rose 13% in dollar volume

In the first quarter of 2024, multifamily sales were booming in all parts of the county.  This year, however, first quarter sales retracted in both Northern and Central Berkshire, with double-digit decreases. While the North Berkshire region sales did not pick up during the second quarter, the central Berkshire multifamily market rallied.  They now show double digit growth over the multifamily sales rate last year.  In Southern Berkshire, the market made a considerable jump in the dollar volume transacted.  Despite the upswing in the multifamily market of between 1-5 units in 2024 and thus far in 2025, the average sale price rose accordingly.

Land Report: Sales down 41%, dollar volume down 16%

Land sales in the first quarter of each year are typically hard to predict, with warmer months more conducive to testing and site work needed before purchase with soft ground. For this reason, the slower start of the year wasn’t surprising. However, the second quarter thaw did not generate a robust land sale market this year, in part due to buyer reluctance due to unknown economic variables at play with building and development fixed costs.  With sales decreasing substantially from previous highs, it is now more important than ever to generate building opportunities to help alleviate pent-up buyer demand for existing homes in popular price points. It remains incredibly hard to build the needed workforce priced housing with current costs and codes.

Commercial Report: Sales up 13%, dollar volume down 20%

Commercial sales continue to fluctuate.  The first quarter of 2025 was stable compared to last year with a 13% gain in the number of properties transferred, stalled in the second quarter. The overall national commercial vacancy rate is expected to peak at 19%. Office real estate has the highest vacancy rate at 21%.  Please note that not all REALTOR assisted commercial sales are included in this data, only those on the open market are included in this data.

Full Year PDF Editions: 2025 1st Quarter Market Watch Report  |  2025 2nd Quarter Market Watch Report

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