And That’s a Wrap for 2025!

Contract activity for December 28 - 31 in the Virginia Countryside and West Virginia Panhandle area was unchanged compared to the same four-day period last year.

Key Takeaways

• We have adjusted our regular week-long compilation to capture the last four days of the year and have a full-year recap.
• The year ended in much the same way that the year progressed. The Virginia Countryside market was up slightly, and the West Virginia Panhandle market was off slightly.
• In the last four days of the year, homes took 18 days longer to sell (73 days) than the same period last year (55 days).

Why It Matters

• Given the relatively small number of contracts on a weekly basis in these more rural areas, the percentage swings from week to week can be enormous. It’s the long-term trend that matters, and the Countryside fared a bit better than the WV Panhandle in 2025.
• Yet perhaps the most important metric was the very modest 1.8% drop in overall contract activity in this subregion. 2025 was the third consecutive year with essentially flat buyer demand, and given everything that has happened this year in particular globally and locally it could have been a lot worse.
• This remains a remarkably resilient market.

The Real Estate Details: December 28 – 31 & Full Year 2025 vs 2024

• Virginia Countryside was up 3.0%, and was up 2.3% for the full year.
• West Virginia Panhandle was down 3.7% and was down 5.7% for the full year.