Updated October 28, 2026 by David Mount, REALTOR®, The Redux Group of eXp Realty | Fairfax, Virginia
Quick Answer: the City of Fairfax housing market slowed sharply in Q3 2026. About 79 homes closed in the quarter, down from 108 in Q3 2025 (roughly 27% fewer), and by the end of September 70 homes were for sale, up from 51 a year earlier (Bright MLS data reported by FFXnow). Prices softened too: the average sold price was $784,838 in July, down 6.4%, and the average single-family price was $823,411 in September, down 7.4% (both averages, not medians). The city is small, at about 25 to 28 sales a month, so single months swing hard, but the direction is consistent: fewer buyers, more choices, and less room for an optimistic list price.
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In this report:
Q3 2026 Fairfax City Market Snapshot
Q3 2026 Fairfax City key numbers at a glance:
- Closed sales: about 79 for the quarter, down from 108 in Q3 2025 (roughly 27% fewer)
- Average sold price, all home types: $784,838 in July, down 6.4%
- Average single-family price: $823,411 in September, down 7.4%
- Active listings: 70 at the end of September, up from 51 (37% more)
- Pending sales: 19 at the end of September, down from 24
This report covers the independent City of Fairfax, the roughly six square miles around Old Town Fairfax, not Fairfax County and not every home with a Fairfax mailing address (my guide to Fairfax City vs. Fairfax County explains the difference).
| Metric | July 2026 | August 2026 | September 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed sales | 28 (34 a year earlier) | 26 (34 a year earlier) | 25 (40 a year earlier) | Bright MLS data via FFXnow (Aug 12, Sep 15, Oct 13, 2026) |
| Average sold price, all home types | $784,838, down 6.4% | Left out (see note below) | Not reported | Bright MLS data via FFXnow. Averages, not medians. |
| Average sold price, single-family homes | $899,855, down 8.1% | Left out (see note below) | $823,411, down 7.4% | Bright MLS data via FFXnow |
| Total sales volume | $21.94 million, down 22.3% | Left out (see note below) | Not reported | Bright MLS data via FFXnow |
| Active listings at month end | Not reported | 51 | 70 (51 a year earlier) | Bright MLS data via FFXnow |
| Pending sales at month end | 16 (45 a year earlier) | Not reported | 19 (24 a year earlier) | Bright MLS data via FFXnow |
| Average price per square foot | $345 ($358 a year earlier) | $365 | $353 ($365 a year earlier) | Bright MLS data via FFXnow |
| Median sold price, days on market, sale-to-list percentage, months of supply | Not published for the city | Not published for the city | Not published for the city | No city-only figure found in any public source |
Why August prices are missing. FFXnow’s August article lists two average prices for city homes that cannot both be right: a single-family average of $801,641 and a detached average of $575,495, both down exactly 30.8%, alongside a sales volume printed without units. Rather than guess which figure is correct, I left August prices out. FFXnow itself noted that with so few city transactions, “swings up or down are not unusual.” No public source publishes a median price, days on market, sale-to-list percentage or months of supply for the city alone. My own rough math, 70 listings measured against the quarter’s average pace of about 26 closings a month, works out to roughly 2.7 months of supply. Treat that as an estimate, not an official statistic.
How does the City compare to Fairfax County in Q3 2026?
The city cooled faster than the county around it. City closings fell about 27% for the quarter and 37.5% in September alone (25 sales against 40). Fairfax County’s September closings fell much less, to 897 from 953, and the county’s average sold price actually rose 3% to $903,940, per Bright MLS data reported by FFXnow. County homes averaged 26 days from listing to contract in September and sold for 98.3% of original list price, and those are the closest available benchmarks for city sellers. County listings were up 36% year over year at the end of September; city listings were up 37% (70 against 51), so both markets gained inventory at about the same rate. The difference is on the buyer side: city pending sales were 16 in July against 45 a year earlier, and 19 in September against 24.
Regionally, the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors reported a September median of $744,950, up 4.2%, with 2.5 months of supply and active listings up 30.7%. Bright MLS titled its September report for the D.C. metro “A Stalling Housing Market This Fall.” For the full county picture, see my Fairfax County Q3 2026 market report.
What does Q3 2026 mean for Fairfax City sellers?
In a market this small, every competing listing matters, and there are about 19 more of them than a year ago. A Fairfax City buyer in September could choose from 70 homes instead of 51, while fewer buyers were writing contracts. Much of the city is single-family homes and townhomes in established neighborhoods, so buyers compare condition closely: updated kitchens, roofs and systems now separate a quick sale from a long one. Price from the last 90 days of closed sales inside the city limits (county comps can mislead in either direction), finish repairs before photos, and plan for a three to five week marketing window. The average single-family sale price was still $823,411 in September, which means well kept homes are trading at solid prices; the buyers are simply more selective.
What does it mean for Fairfax City buyers?
For buyers, Fairfax City is more approachable than it has been in a while. More listings and fewer competing contracts mean you can tour, think and negotiate, especially on homes that have been listed for more than two weeks.
Thinking about selling in Fairfax City this winter or in 2027?
Call or text David at 571-946-8418. He will tell you what the house could sell for today and what has to happen first.
12+ years, 200+ transactions, $130M+ sold, 100+ five-star reviews across Google, Zillow, Realtor.com and FastExpert.
Recent Fairfax City proof: David has sold two Old Courthouse Square townhouses, one for $10,000 over list in two days (2020) and one at full price within a week (2022).
David’s take
Fairfax City is the hardest market in this series to read from statistics, because 25 sales can be swung by one large house or one estate sale. So I look at the slower-moving signals, and both point the same way: more homes for sale and fewer buyers committing. None of that means city homes are losing their appeal. Walkable Old Town, quick access to I-66 and Route 50, and established neighborhoods still draw buyers. It means pricing has to be grounded in recent city sales, not in what a neighbor got in the spring. I have seen that discipline pay off inside the city limits: the two Old Courthouse Square townhouses I sold went for $10,000 over list in two days and at full price within a week. If a 2027 sale is in your plans, a short pricing and prep conversation this winter is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Fairfax City right now?
The average single-family sale price was $823,411 in September 2026, down 7.4% from a year earlier, per Bright MLS data reported by FFXnow. In July, the average across all home types was $784,838, down 6.4%. No source published a median price for the city alone in Q3, and with only about 25 sales a month, these averages can move a lot from month to month.
How many homes sold in Fairfax City in Q3 2026?
About 79, down from 108 in Q3 2025, a decline of roughly 27%. That is 28 sales in July, 26 in August and 25 in September, per Bright MLS data reported by FFXnow. Fairfax County as a whole saw a much smaller drop, with September closings down about 6%.
Is Fairfax City a buyer’s or seller’s market in late 2026?
Still a seller’s market, but moving toward balance faster than the county around it. The city had 70 homes for sale at the end of September, up from 51 a year earlier, and only 19 pending sales. By my rough math that is about 2.7 months of supply, close to NVAR’s 2.5 months for the region and still below the 4 to 6 months that usually defines a balanced market.
How long does it take to sell a house in Fairfax City?
No public source reports days on market for the city alone; Fairfax County homes averaged 26 days from listing to contract in September 2026. That county figure comes from Bright MLS data reported by FFXnow. With city inventory rising and pending sales falling, I would plan for a three to five week marketing window for a well priced home, plus 30 to 45 days to settlement.
Should I sell my Fairfax City home now or wait until spring 2027?
If you plan to sell within a year, prepare now; the inventory trend does not favor waiting. City listings were up 37% year over year in September while pending sales fell. Spring will bring more buyers, but likely more competing listings too. Your own timeline and next home should drive the decision.
Get a Personalized Fairfax City Home Valuation
With 25 sales a month, a city average can be pulled around by a single house, so no number above is your number. I will run a free, no-obligation comparative market analysis using current Bright MLS sales inside the city limits for your neighborhood and property type, and tell you plainly what the Q3 data says your home would sell for today.
Want a real number for your Fairfax City home, not a city average?
Call or text David at 571-946-8418. He will tell you what the house could sell for today and what has to happen first.
12+ years, 200+ transactions, $130M+ sold, 100+ five-star reviews across Google, Zillow, Realtor.com and FastExpert.
Free, no-obligation comparative market analysis from current Bright MLS data. David reads every message himself and replies by call or text.
Where these numbers come from
Every figure in this report is traceable to a public source, checked on October 28, 2026:
- FFXnow, “Home sales volume tops $1B in Fairfax County, as prices rise modestly” (August 12, 2026; July figures from Bright MLS / MarketStats by ShowingTime)
- FFXnow, “Sluggish August home sales in Fairfax may portend a softer fall market” (September 15, 2026; August figures)
- FFXnow, “Single-family prices tick up in otherwise soft September for Fairfax housing market” (October 13, 2026; September figures, data reported October 12)
- Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, Market Statistics: September 2026 (October 16, 2026)
- Bright MLS, “September 2026 Housing Market Report: A Stalling Housing Market This Fall” (October 12, 2026)
Monthly figures are preliminary. The quarterly totals in this report (79 closings in 2026, 108 in 2025) are sums of the monthly counts, not separately published numbers.
About David Mount, REALTOR®
The Redux Group of eXp Realty | Fairfax, VA | Serving Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, Alexandria and Falls Church
David grew up in Burke, in the heart of Fairfax County, and graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School and James Madison University. He has 12+ years of full-time experience and 200+ transactions in Northern Virginia residential real estate, with a particular focus on life-transition sales (inherited property, downsizing, military relocation, and out-of-state moves).
Credentials and recognition: NVAR Platinum Top Producer (2024) · CPRES and MRP certified · 100+ five-star client reviews across Google, Zillow, Realtor.com and FastExpert · Zillow Premier Agent · Veterans United preferred agent.
Contact David: 571-946-8418 · Text · david.mount@thereduxgroup.com
Related Resources
- How to Sell Your Home in Fairfax, VA in 2026: A Local Agent’s Complete Guide (the full selling guide)
- Selling a Home in Fairfax City (Old Town Fairfax), VA: A 2026 Insider’s Guide
- Northern Virginia Housing Market Update: What Sellers Need to Know (2026) (the regional picture earlier in 2026)
- Is Fairfax, VA a City or a County? Fairfax City vs. Fairfax County
- Selling an Inherited Home in Fairfax County: Probate & Estate Sale Guide
- Downsizing in Fairfax County, VA (2026)
- Your Fairfax Home Didn’t Sell? Here’s How I Relist It and Get It Sold