Madison, Wisconsin Real Estate Market Update
May 2026Created: May 1, 2026 | Last Updated: May 1, 2026
Your May 2026 Madison housing market update: an Extreme Seller's Market with 1.11 months of inventory (234 active listings), homes selling in 7 days, and a $437,500 median sale price.
May 2026 Madison Market — At a Glance
- Median home price: $437,500 (+1.7% year-over-year)
- Homes sell in: 7 days median (+1 days YoY)
- Market status: Extreme Seller's Market (1.11 months of supply)
- Inventory: 234 active listings with 171 pending (median list-to-pending: 6 days for active inventory)
- YTD pace: 663 sales (-7.1%) with a $420,000 YTD median
- YTD listings delivered: 1108 (+0.5% YoY)
- Seller insight: Prices essentially flat YoY — pricing accuracy at list matters more than chasing a market premium.
Quick Market Facts
Data source: South Central Wisconsin MLS. YTD median: $420,000 (0.0%).
Current conditions. Madison is an Extreme Seller's Market as of May 2026, with 1.11 months of supply (234 active listings, 171 pending) and homes going under contract in a median of 7 days. New listings are running +0.5% ahead of last year's pace YTD (1108 delivered through April), but pending sales are absorbing the inflow — supply remains the binding constraint.
Price trends. April's closed median was $437,500 (+1.7% YoY). Prices are essentially flat compared to a year ago, and the YTD median ($420,000, 0.0% YoY) confirms that pattern. Average % over asking is running at 0.84% YTD, so most sellers are landing within striking distance of list price rather than well above or below.
Year to date. Madison has logged 663 closings through April (-7.1% YoY) with a $420,000 median sale price (0.0% YoY). Volume is below last year's YTD pace, but the price line is holding — supply, not demand, is the constraint.
Inventory Supply Gauge
Months of supply: 1.11 mo (SCWMLS published). Formula: # active listings ÷ 12-month average sales. Active inventory: 234 homes.
Supply by Price Range
Months of supply, active listing count, and 12-month average sales pace by asking-price bracket — directly from the SCWMLS inventory snapshot.
| Asking-Price Range | Active Now | Months Supply | Avg Sales/Mo (12-mo) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100k–$199k | 10 | 1.07 mo | 9/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $200k–$299k | 41 | 1.31 mo | 31/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $300k–$399k | 41 | 0.75 mo | 55/mo | 🔴 Extreme Seller's (HOT — under 1 mo) |
| $400k–$499k | 59 | 1.04 mo | 57/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $500k–$599k | 31 | 1.13 mo | 27/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $600k–$699k | 17 | 1.21 mo | 14/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $700k–$799k | 13 | 1.86 mo | 7/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $800k–$899k | 5 | 1.28 mo | 4/mo | Extreme Seller's Market |
| $1M+ | 17 | 2.62 mo | 7/mo | Strong Seller's Market |
Neighborhood Velocity (by Zip Code)
| Zip | Median Sale | # Sales | Median DOM | YoY Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53719 | $423,500 | 39 | 9 days | +0.9% |
| 53711 | $515,000 | 39 | 6 days | +3.0% |
| 53704 ⚡ | $355,000 | 28 | 5 days | +6.0% |
| 53705 | $549,000 | 19 | 8 days | -1.1% |
| 53714 | $387,000 | 14 | 5 days | +7.5% |
| 53718 | $435,000 | 10 | 10 days | +3.6% |
| 53593 | $600,000 | 9 | 24 days | +26.3% |
| 53716 | $391,100 | 9 | 5 days | -8.0% |
| 53703 | $431,000 | 9 | 5 days | -30.5% |
| 53717 | $465,000 | 9 | 16 days | +26.5% |
| 53713 | $250,000 | 8 | 7 days | +19.0% |
| 53715 | $540,000 | 4 | 9 days | +66.2% |
| 53726 | $770,000 | 3 | 9 days | — |
⚡ marks the fastest-moving zip in Madison for April 2026.
Current Market Conditions
- Supply remains constrained. 1.11 months of inventory (234 active homes) keeps Madison firmly in seller's-market territory.
- Prices are steady. Median price is essentially flat YoY, with YTD running 0.0%.
- Pace is fast at the contract stage. Median DOM of 7 days means well-priced homes are picking up offers within a week.
- Volume came in soft. Closings ran -19.0% versus April 2025 — partly an inventory effect, partly a calendar shift.
Dane County Comparison — May 2026
| Community | Median Sale | Months Supply | Active Listings | Median DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $437,500 | 1.11 mo | 234 | 7 days |
| Middleton | $549,900 | 2.45 mo | 119 | 7 days |
| Sun Prairie | $469,900 | 1.36 mo | 73 | 11 days |
| Waunakee | $440,000 | 1.68 mo | 51 | 17 days |
| DeForest | $605,000 | 1.66 mo | 50 | 19 days |
| Verona | $515,000 | 1.57 mo | 43 | 7 days |
All six Dane County cities tracked in the May 2026 Integrity Homes report set. SCWMLS published values.
Year-Over-Year Snapshot
The Big Picture — John's Take
Madison is sitting in a steady-state version of an Extreme Seller's Market — supply is at 1.11 months with 234 active homes, the pace is brisk for well-priced homes, and prices are roughly where they were a year ago. That's a decent backdrop for both sides: sellers who price right still command terms, and buyers who are ready to move can find homes without paying war-room premiums.
The signal to watch through May 2026 and into summer is whether new-listing flow keeps up with pending demand. So far, it hasn't.
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Market Forecast & Recommendations
Market Outlook
Madison's pace is largely tracking last year through the YTD window. Expect the late-spring/early-summer market to be active but disciplined — buyers are ready, sellers who price correctly will move, and homes that need work or stretch on price will sit longer.
What Sellers Need to Know
- Pricing strategy: Anchor to the $420,000 YTD median and the comp set in your specific price bracket — not last year's peak. Avg % over asking is running 0.84% YTD, so precise list pricing matters more than chasing a premium.
- DOM expectations: Median DOM is 7 days. If your home sits past 14 days without an offer, the market is telling you something — usually price, sometimes condition.
- Prep: Pre-listing inspection, professional photos, and clean staging still differentiate at this price point. The premium for move-in-ready hasn't gone anywhere.
What Buyers Need to Know
- Competition: 1.11 months of supply (234 active listings, 171 pending) means competition is real for the most desirable homes. Expect to act quickly on the right one.
- Pricing strategy: Avg % over asking is 0.84% YTD — that means most homes are landing close to list. Big over-list bids aren't required, but underbids on the most popular homes won't hold.
- Timing: Spring-into-summer typically brings the most listings of the year. If you're waiting for inventory to break loose, this window is your best chance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For Home Buyers
Is Madison still a seller's market?
Yes — with 1.11 months of inventory (234 active listings), Madison is an Extreme Seller's Market as of May 2026. Supply remains tight relative to buyer demand, and well-priced homes still move quickly.
Which price range is most competitive in Madison?
The $300k–$399k bracket is the tightest at 0.75 months of supply (41 active listings against a 12-month sales pace of 55/month). The $1M+ bracket is the loosest at 2.62 months.
Is this a good time to buy in Madison?
Spring-into-summer typically brings the most listings of the year. With prices running 0.0% YTD and supply at 1.11 months, waiting for a softer market isn't supported by current data. If you're financially ready and find the right home, the strategy is to act.
How long does it typically take to close in Madison?
Median days on market is 7 days for April closings. Add 30–45 days from accepted offer to closing for a typical financed transaction.
For Home Sellers
How long will it take to sell my Madison home?
Median DOM is 7 days. Properly priced, well-prepared homes are picking up offers inside two weeks. Homes that sit past 21 days are usually a price or condition signal.
Is this a good time to list in Madison?
Yes — supply is at 1.11 months (234 active listings, 171 pending), buyer demand is steady, and average % over asking is running 0.84% YTD. Sellers who price to the comps and prepare the home well are still getting strong outcomes.
- Data snapshot: Reflects closed sales reported to SCWMLS for April 2026.
- Report published: May 2026 — the month this page went live.
- Created: May 1, 2026 — matches
datePublishedin schema, never changes after first publish. - Last updated: May 1, 2026 — matches
dateModifiedin schema; updates if this page is later refreshed. - Coverage area: The Madison report reflects closed sales within the Madison Metropolitan School District boundary, the standard reporting unit used by SCWMLS.
- Source: South Central Wisconsin MLS (SCWMLS).
- Months of supply is calculated by SCWMLS as: # active listings ÷ 12-month average # of sales. Values shown are published directly from the SCWMLS inventory snapshot.
- YTD figures cover January 1 through end of April 2026.
- Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed.