Key Takeaways

• If last week taught us anything, it’s that buyers may be patient—but Mother Nature is undefeated. A significant snowstorm across the region sharply curtailed showings, disrupted open houses, and made even the most motivated house-hunters think twice before braving icy roads. The result was a clear, weather-driven pause in contract activity across the Metro DC area.
• Northern Virginia contract activity slowed modestly last week, with snow clearly limiting showings and decision-making. The impact was most visible in higher price points, where in-person traffic matters most. Year-to-date trends remain positive, but last week was a reminder that even a resilient market pauses when roads do.
• Loudoun County felt the weather impact acutely, particularly in the luxury segment. Buyer interest remains intact, but snow reduced mobility and delayed commitments. Expect activity to normalize as conditions improve, especially given strong year-to-date performance.
• Prince William County was the outlier last week as the only jurisdiction with an increase in newly ratified contracts.
• Montgomery County – the storm significantly disrupted momentum in Montgomery County, where contract activity pulled back sharply. Rising days on market reinforce that buyers are engaged but deliberate—and last week, largely housebound.
• Prince George’s County saw a notable weather-related slowdown, particularly in mid-range price points. Demand sensitivity remains high, and reduced access during the storm amplified that effect.
• Washington, DC experienced one of the sharpest pullbacks of the week. Snow compounded an already cautious urban buyer mindset, especially in higher price tiers. Elevated days on market continue to signal hesitation rather than absence of interest.

Why It Matters

• Average days on market for properties going under contract jumped from 39 days this time last year to 71 days last week, reinforcing an already well-established theme for 2026: buyers are active, but in no hurry. Weather slowed the process further, stretching timelines even for homes that ultimately found a buyer.
• Importantly, the year-to-date numbers continue to tell a steadier story beneath the snowdrifts. In several jurisdictions, contract activity remains ahead of last year’s pace overall, suggesting that demand hasn’t disappeared—it simply took a snow day. As temperatures rise and roads clear, some rebound in activity would not be surprising, particularly given improving inventory levels and stable mortgage rates.
• For now, last week serves as a useful reminder that short-term data can be noisy, seasonal, and occasionally frozen solid. Markets respond to economics, psychology, and supply—but when a snowstorm hits, even the most resilient housing market yields to the laws of physics.