The Salina-area housing market experienced a significant slowdown in sales activity last month, even as home prices continued to climb and inventory levels improved, according to the latest report from the South Central Kansas Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The data, compiled by the Wichita State University Center for Real Estate and released on July 9, paints a picture of a market shifting toward balance after years of frenzied buying, with Saline County seeing fewer transactions but more options for buyers.
In June 2025, closed home sales in Saline County plummeted to just 70 units, a staggering 61.1% drop from the 180 homes sold in June 2024. Year-to-date figures tell a similar story, with 352 homes sold through the first half of 2025—down 54.6% from 775 in the same period last year. Total sales volume also fell sharply, from $40.5 million in June 2024 to $16.7 million this year, a 58.8% decline.
Despite the slowdown in sales, home prices are on the rise, offering some silver lining for sellers. The median sales price in June reached $220,000, up 10% from $200,000 a year ago and marking a continuation of upward trends seen throughout 2025. Year-to-date, the median price stands at $205,000, a 14.5% increase over 2024's $179,000. Average prices followed suit, climbing 5.9% to $238,106 in June.
Homes are also moving faster when they do sell. The median days on market dropped to just 7 days in June, an 81.6% improvement from 38 days in 2024. Year-to-date, properties spent an average of 33 days on the market, down 41.1% from the prior year. Sellers are fetching close to their asking prices, with homes selling at 99.7% of list price in June—up from 98.2% last year—and 98.9% of original price.
On the supply side, the market is showing signs of easing tightness that has plagued buyers in recent years. Active listings at the end of June totaled 86 homes, a 72% jump from 50 in 2024, pushing the months' supply of inventory to 1.0—up 150% from a scant 0.4 months a year ago. This represents the highest inventory level in Saline County since at least early 2023, potentially giving buyers more negotiating power. The median list price for active homes was $229,000, a 25.5% increase, while the typical time on market for these listings fell to 7 days from 31.
New listings added to the market in June numbered 78, down 49% from 153 in 2024, with a median list price of $227,000 (up 19.5%). Year-to-date new listings are down 51.6% to 419. Contracts written—a key indicator of future sales—also declined, with 61 homes going under contract in June (down 54.8% from 135), though the median list price for these properties rose 10% to $220,000. Pending contracts at month's end held steady at 77, nearly unchanged from 78 in 2024, with a median price of $210,000.
Historical trends in the report highlight the market's volatility. For instance, median sales prices have risen steadily from $210,000 in June 2023 to the current $220,000, while days on market have halved over the same period. Months' supply, which hovered below 0.7 throughout 2023 and 2024, has now crossed the 1.0 threshold for the first time in recent years, signaling a potential shift from a seller's market.
Local real estate experts suggest the slowdown is likely attributed to higher interest rates and economic uncertainty, but the price gains and increased inventory might attract more buyers in the coming months. "This data indicates a market that's normalizing after the post-pandemic boom," the report notes, courtesy of the Kansas Association of REALTORS®.
