Homes sales up, prices moderate in James City and York counties as listings increase
It's April 28. We'll take a deep dive into why local home prices are moderating even as sales go up. Feedings every 20 minutes and scaling tall trees -- it's not easy saving songbirds and raptors.
More homes are coming on the market in our area, keeping price increases lower even as home sales increase, according to data from state and local Realtors.
But increasing interest rates may soften demand going forward, the chief economist of the Virginia Association of Realtors warned.
James City County saw the biggest jump in home sales last month – up 24.8 percent – while the median sales price remained flat at $475,000 compared to March a year ago, the Virginia Association of Realtors reported.
Liz Moore, owner of Liz Moore and Associates, told us active listings in the area are up 31% over a year ago, “a pretty big jump.”
“It’s definitely a good thing for buyers, who have more choices, and more bargaining power, than they did a year ago,” Moore said. “New listings coming on the market are outpacing sales... which is what is causing the inventory buildup.”
York County sales were up 21.9% in March from the previous year, the Realtors data showed, and prices were up only 1.6%.
Williamsburg sales were down 55% in March and prices jumped 44.8%, but those are based on a much smaller base, so they tend to fluctuate dramatically from month to month.
For the first three months of this year, James City County had the largest increase in home sales, up 19% from the first quarter of 2025. The county’s median home sales price increased 7.3% in that time.
York County sales increased 4.3% and median sales prices for the quarter dipped 2.3%.
Williamsburg’s home sales in the first three months of this year dropped by 5.7% from the prior year, and the median sales prices dipped slightly by 1.6%.
“We have over three months of inventory, which is getting close to a balanced market,” Moore said. “It used to be that six months was considered a balanced market, but I believe that four to five months means that buyers and sellers have equal leverage.”
Ryan Price, chief economist for the Virginia Realtors group, said more homes for sale, combined with lower price growth and steady buyer interest, stimulated home sales this spring.
But he cautioned the fallout of the Iranian war has pushed up mortgage rates and created swings in the bond market.
“How high mortgage rates climb will play a major role in determining whether the spring market maintains its pace or slows,” Price said.
The hard work of saving birds
Every spring, Julie Wobig and her helpers care for 50-60 baby birds, taking turns feeding them every 20 minutes -- from sunrise to sunset.
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