Mid-Year Market Pulse: Catonsville Home Sales Down 14%

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, it’s time to take a close look at how Catonsville’s housing market is performing compared to last year. Through the end of June, 214 homes sold in the 21228 ZIP code. That’s a 14% decrease from the first half of 2024, when 248 homes changed hands during the same period.

What’s Behind the Dip in Sales?

Several factors are contributing to this year’s slowdown in Catonsville home sales:

• Inventory Shortages: The number of homes available for sale has been low for much of the year, limiting choices for buyers and slowing transaction volume.

• Rising Home Prices: The median sale price in Catonsville has continued to climb, with the median list price reaching $450,000 in May 2025, up 8.4% from the previous month. Higher prices can price out some buyers or cause others to delay their purchase.

• Mortgage Rate Uncertainty: While rates haven’t spiked dramatically, ongoing fluctuations have kept some would-be buyers and sellers on the sidelines, waiting for more favorable conditions.

• Changing Real Estate Rules: New regulations around buyer agent compensation, stemming from last year’s NAR lawsuit settlement, may have introduced some hesitation or confusion among buyers and sellers, though Catonsville has not seen a dramatic shift in behavior as a result.

Who’s Selling Catonsville?

This year’s 214 transactions were handled by 171 different agents. That means the vast majority of agents selling in Catonsville are only involved in one deal each. In a market as nuanced and competitive as Catonsville, relying on an agent who only occasionally works in the area can put buyers and sellers at a disadvantage. Local expertise matters—from pricing strategy to negotiation and marketing, agents who consistently work in Catonsville understand its micro-markets, school districts, and buyer demand in ways that occasional agents simply can’t match.

Summer Inventory Boost

For the first time this year, the number of active listings—including “coming soon” homes—topped 60 last week. This marks a notable increase and offers hope to buyers frustrated by tight inventory in the spring. As is typical, sales tend to slow in the summer months, which means homes stay on the market a bit longer and buyers have more options to choose from. This small inventory boost could help rebalance the market and create new opportunities for both buyers and sellers as we head into the second half of the year.

If you’re considering a move—or just want to understand your home’s value in today’s market—make sure you’re working with a Catonsville expert who knows the data, the neighborhoods, and the strategies that work right here in 21228.