CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Realtor.com’s 2025 Best Time to Buy Report points to October 12–18 as the most favorable week of the year for homebuyers nationwide, offering higher inventory, reduced competition, and lower prices. But for Chester County, where housing costs continue to run well above state and national averages, the national outlook offers only partial relief.
Nationally, mid-October is expected to deliver 32.6% more active listings compared to the start of the year, while listing prices are projected to dip 3.4% from summer peaks, translating to average savings of $15,000. Buyer competition typically drops 30.6% during the same period, giving prospective homeowners more negotiating power.
In Chester County, however, August data showed the median home sales price ranging between $560,000 and $565,000 — nearly $120,000 above the national median of $439,450. List prices averaged $599,000, up 5.9% year over year. Despite a slight uptick in new listings, inventory remains tight at 754 to 826 active listings, and homes are still selling quickly, averaging 30 days on the market. More than half of homes sold above asking price in July.
These figures suggest that while Chester County buyers may benefit from the seasonal cooling and a possible increase in fresh listings, the structural pressures of high demand, limited supply, and elevated prices will keep the market firmly tilted toward sellers. Renters face similar constraints: average monthly rents in September 2025 reached $1,787 in West Chester and $1,954 in Chester Springs, further underscoring the affordability gap.
The broader takeaway is that national conditions pointing to a more balanced housing market are unlikely to erase the premium in Chester County. Mid-October may ease competition and create space for negotiations, but buyers should not expect significant price relief in one of Pennsylvania’s most competitive markets.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.