GARY WISENBAKER: The 2025 Valdosta housing market: Spring has sprung

Published 7:42 am Friday, March 21, 2025

As the annual ritual of the residential “Spring Buying Season” begins, it’s probably a good time to see where the Valdosta/Lowndes County market has developed over the past year.

In short, the housing market is buzzing with activity, and both buyers and sellers have good reason to take notice. The latest statistics for single-family homes in Lowndes County paint a picture of a dynamic market with expanding opportunities for everyone involved.

One of the most striking shifts is the dramatic increase in new listings. From 2024 to 2025, new listings surged by 127.8%, climbing from 18 to 41. Year-to-date figures are even more eye-catching, with a 157.7% jump from 26 to 67. This rise signals that more homeowners are feeling confident about putting their properties on the market, providing buyers with a broader selection and sellers with increased competition.

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Pending sales have also skyrocketed, rising from just 3 in early 2024 to 20 in 2025, an astounding 566.7% increase. Year-to-date figures show a similarly robust trend, with pending sales leaping from 9 to 42 — a 366.7% jump. Closed sales followed suit, doubling from 7 to 14 year-over-year and posting a 166.7% increase year-to-date. This uptick underscores the market’s brisk pace, with homes moving from listed to sold faster than ever.

Another key metric pointing to the current market’s strength is the median sales price (half over, half under), which climbed 12.1% from $210,000 to $235,500 year-over-year. Year-to-date figures reinforce this upward trajectory, with median prices rising from $230,500 to $242,250, marking a 5.1% increase. Average sales prices also nudged higher, growing by 1.1% year-over-year and 3.4% year-to-date. These price gains highlight a market where demand is pushing values upward, making now an excellent time to sell for those looking to capitalize on rising home equity.

Days on market (DOM) tells a more nuanced story. While the year-over-year figures show homes taking longer to sell, increasing from 42 to 53 days, the year-to-date numbers show a 25% decrease, dropping from 56 to 42 days. This signals that while the broader market might have slowed slightly, recent months have seen quicker sales, possibly due to motivated buyers eager to lock in deals and mortgage rates falling to the lower 6% range.

Inventory is another critical piece of the puzzle. The number of homes for sale leaped by 114.8%, from 27 to 58 year-over-year. Despite this increase, the months’ supply of inventory dipped slightly from 5.3 to 4.9 months, a 7.5% decrease. This balance indicates a market that remains tight, favoring sellers while still giving buyers more choices than in previous years.

However, sellers should take note of one subtle shift: the percentage of the list price received has edged down. In 2024, sellers received 96.7% of their asking price, while in 2025, that figure has dipped to 94.0%. Year-to-date figures echo this trend, slipping from 97.7% to 94.8%. This slight softening could mean that buyers have a bit more negotiating power than before, especially as inventory increases.  But selling under list is certainly expected and small variations such as these percentages are no surprise.

So, what does all this mean for those looking to buy or sell in Valdosta right now?

For buyers, the expanding inventory and slight increase in DOM provide a bit more breathing room. There are more homes to choose from, and buyers might find themselves with a little more leverage in negotiations than they did last year. Additionally, locking in a home now could prove wise, as prices continue to trend upward. And as more buyers come into the field, the competition only increases.

For sellers, the market remains strong. Homes are still selling quickly compared to past years, and rising prices mean greater returns on investment. While sellers may need to be slightly more flexible with pricing, they can still expect a healthy market response, especially if their homes are well-presented and competitively priced.

In short, Valdosta’s housing market is experiencing growth and movement, offering advantages to both sides of the transaction. Buyers can explore a growing pool of homes, while sellers can still tap into strong demand and rising prices. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or simply keep an eye on market trends, there’s no doubt that Valdosta’s real estate landscape is one to watch in 2025.

So check out your options and get with an informed and knowledgeable Realtor© and make your move!

Gary Wisenbaker is a REALTOR© with Century 21 Realty Advisors and can be reached at gary50155@gmail.com and (912) 713-2553.