The Salina-area housing market held steady in sales volume last month but showed clear signs of cooling, with increased inventory and a slight dip in median prices, aligning with broader national patterns of moderating activity and easing supply constraints. According to the South Central Kansas Multiple Listing Service (MLS) report released on August 7 by the Wichita State University Center for Real Estate, Saline County's July data reflects a market in transition, offering more choices for buyers amid persistent economic headwinds.
Closed home sales in Saline County remained unchanged at 63 units in July 2025, matching the figure from July 2024. However, total sales volume edged down 2.3% to $14.3 million from $14.7 million a year earlier. Year-to-date, sales are down 7.3% to 419 units, with volume off 2.5% at $96.2 million. The median sale price for July slipped 0.1% to $199,900 from $200,000, though year-to-date figures show a healthier 10.1% gain to $201,000 from $182,500 in 2024.
These local trends echo a national housing market that continues to cool in 2025, with inventory climbing and price growth slowing amid higher mortgage rates and cautious buyer sentiment. Nationally, active listings rose 25% year-over-year in July, reaching the highest levels since 2020, while months of supply approached 4.92—nearly five months of homes available. Home price growth has flattened to about 0.5% annually, with some regions even seeing declines, and quarterly growth at 1.7%. Existing-home sales nationally hovered around 3.93 million in June (the latest available), with a median price of $435,300—far above Salina's more affordable levels.
In Saline County, inventory growth outpaced the national average, with active listings surging 122.7% to 98 units from 44 in July 2024. This boosted the months' supply to 1.6, up 128.6% from 0.7, though still well below the national figure, indicating a relatively tight market locally. The median list price for active homes rose 6.8% to $229,000, but average list prices fell 4.9% to $256,882. Homes on the market spent a median of 20 days listed, down 16.7% from 24 days a year ago.
New listings in July totaled 84, a 22.2% decrease from 108 in 2024, with a median price of $210,000 (up 7.0%). Year-to-date, new listings are down 7.6% to 512. On a positive note for future activity, contracts written increased 9.2% to 71, with a median list price up 14.2% to $199,900. Pending contracts at month's end rose slightly by 1.2% to 83.
Sellers in Salina continue to benefit from quick turnarounds, with median days on market for sold homes dropping 84.1% to 7 days from 44. Properties sold at 99.3% of list price (up from 98.6%) and 98.0% of original price. Year-to-date, average prices are up 5.2% to $229,645, underscoring resilience in values despite the slowdown.
Experts attribute the national and local cooling to factors like elevated interest rates and inflation, which have tempered buyer enthusiasm while encouraging more sellers to list.
In Salina, the inventory buildup—mirroring rises in states like Florida and Colorado, where some areas now exceed pre-pandemic levels—could signal improved bargaining power for buyers in the months ahead.
As the summer selling season winds down, the report suggests Salina's market may continue to stabilize, potentially aligning further with the national "modest cooling" observed this year.
