Realtor.com just named September 27 through October 3 the best week to buy a home in 2026, nationally. But if you're shopping in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, mark a different date: our local window lands two weeks later, October 11 through 17.

Is there really a best week to buy a home? According to Realtor.com's 2026 analysis of eight years of housing data, yes. Nationally, buyers shopping the week of September 27 could see up to 31.9% more listings than in January and roughly $14,000 in savings on a median-priced home compared to summer prices. DC Metro's own best window, October 11 through 17, shows an even bigger drop in buyer competition than the national week does.

How Realtor.com Found the Best Week

Realtor.com economists analyzed eight years of data, 2018 through 2025, skipping 2020 since the pandemic distorted normal patterns. They scored every week of the year on six factors that matter to buyers: active listings, new listings hitting the market, listing prices, how long homes sit before selling, buyer competition (measured by views per listing), and how often sellers cut their price. The week that scored highest across all six became the Best Week.

This year, that's September 27 through October 3 nationally, arriving earlier than it has the past two years. Here's what that week looks like:

• 13.3% more active listings than a typical week, 31.9% more than at the start of the year
• Buyer competition down 30.1% from its peak
• Homes sitting on the market about 64 days, roughly two weeks longer than the fastest-moving point of the year
• Listing prices about 3.5% below their seasonal high, close to $14,000 on a $416,000 home
• 5.7% of homes seeing a price cut, one of the best weeks all year for that
• 20% more new listings hitting the market than at the start of the year

Why This Fall Favors Buyers

2026 started on solid footing for buyers. Higher mortgage rates through the summer slowed demand, and that cooling helped set up this fall's window. Listings have kept growing year over year, even though national inventory is still below pre-pandemic levels. Buyer demand has softened too, which gives shoppers more room to look around without racing a crowd.

When is the Best Week to Buy in DC Metro?

The national date doesn't apply everywhere. Realtor.com ranked the Best Week separately for the 50 largest metros, and the results span from early September to late November.

DC Metro's own Best Week is October 11 through 17, about two weeks after the national date. Here's what that window has historically looked like locally:

• Active listings running 20.8% above average
• Buyer competition (views per listing) down 38.2% from its peak, a bigger drop than the 30.1% national figure
• Homes sitting about 12 days longer than the fastest point of the year
• Median listing prices running 5.7% below their seasonal peak
• New listings running 3.1% below average
• Price reductions running 1.4 points above the yearly average

That deeper competition drop is worth sitting with for a second. It means DC Metro buyers who wait for this specific window may see less bidding-war pressure than buyers shopping the national week elsewhere in the country, on top of prices already easing from their seasonal high.

For context, markets where the local Best Week fell within two weeks of the national one accounted for roughly 28% of national inventory in mid-August, and 42 of the 50 largest metros land within a month of the national date. DC Metro's two-week gap puts it close to, but not exactly on, the national calendar, which is exactly why a market-specific date matters more than the national headline.

How to Use This Window

Treat this as a planning window, not a single deadline. Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones has advised buyers to use this window strategically rather than treating one week as a deadline, since shopping earlier in the fall tends to offer the broadest selection of fresh listings, while waiting later in the season tends to bring more price flexibility. Which approach makes sense depends on your budget, your timeline, and what you're actually looking for. (PR Newswire)

If you want the widest selection in DC Metro, shop in late September or early October, ahead of our local Best Week. If you'd rather have more room to negotiate, waiting for the October 11–17 window, or a bit beyond it, tends to help.

Either way, knowing your numbers before you start touring homes puts you in a stronger position than reacting to whatever hits the market.

FAQ: Best Time to Buy a Home in DC Metro

When is the best week to buy a home in DC Metro in 2026?

October 11 through 17, according to Realtor.com's 2026 analysis, about two weeks after the national Best Week of September 27 through October 3.

How much can buyers save during DC Metro's Best Week?

Historically, median listing prices during this window run about 5.7% below their seasonal peak, with buyer competition down 38.2% from its high point, a steeper drop than the national average.

Is now a good time to buy a home in DC Metro?

Fall 2026 favors buyers more than earlier in the year. Listings are up, buyer competition has eased, and prices have started softening from their seasonal peak, though local conditions still vary by neighborhood and price point.

Should I wait for the exact Best Week to buy?

Not necessarily. Shopping earlier in the fall generally offers more listings to choose from, while shopping closer to or after the Best Week tends to offer more room to negotiate. The right timing depends on your priorities.

Want to know exactly what this window means for a specific DC, Maryland, or Virginia neighborhood you're watching? Edward Slavis and the team can walk you through the numbers before you start touring.