Central Ohio Home Prices Keep Climbing as More Homes Hit the Market

Central Ohio home prices went up again. The median sales price hit $350,000 in May 2026. That is up 4.3% from a year ago, according to the Columbus REALTORS May 2026 housing report.

Here is what happened. More people bought homes this spring. Closed sales climbed 7.8% compared to May last year. Buyers closed on 2,618 single-family homes and 439 condos. Condo sales alone jumped 12%.

At the same time, more homes came up for sale. Total inventory reached 5,223 homes and condos. That is 8.2% more than a year ago. New listings also rose slightly to 4,044.

More homes for sale sounds like good news for buyers. And it is. But the market is still tight. Central Ohio has only a 2.0-month supply of homes. A balanced market needs 4 to 6 months of supply. That would be about 8,000 to 10,000 homes for sale. Right now the region is at about half of the low end.

What does that mean for you? Sellers still hold the upper hand. Homes are selling fast. The average home spent just 29 days on the market. That is only one day slower than a year ago. If you list a home in a good spot at a fair price, it will likely move quickly.

But buyers have a little more breathing room than before. With 8% more homes to choose from, you have more options. You may not have to rush your decision as much. You may face fewer bidding wars in some neighborhoods.

Prices are not the same everywhere. The report showed big gaps across the region. In the Olentangy school district, the median price hit $587,000. Sales there jumped 25.2%. Union County saw sales soar 34.1% with a median price of $487,500. Marion County stayed the most affordable. Buyers there closed on homes at a median of $212,500.

So where you shop matters a lot. The same budget buys very different homes depending on the county and school district. If price is your main concern, look at the outer counties. If you want top-rated schools, expect to pay much more.

Here is the takeaway. Central Ohio is slowly shifting toward a more balanced market. Inventory is growing. Prices are still rising, but at a slower pace than the wild jumps of past years. That is a healthier sign for both buyers and sellers.

What should you watch next? Keep an eye on the summer months. Summer is usually the busiest season. If inventory keeps rising and mortgage rates ease, more buyers may jump in. That could keep prices climbing but keep the pace steady.

Also watch the months of supply number. If it climbs toward 3 or 4 months, that would give buyers real power. For now, plan for a market that still favors sellers but is opening up.

If you want a clear read on your own neighborhood before you buy or sell, talk with a local Columbus real estate expert who tracks these numbers every month.

Sources: Columbus REALTORS, The Columbus Team