Kitsap Housing Market, October 2026: 2.9 Months of Supply
NWMLS reported 246 closed sales in Kitsap County in October 2026, with 2.9 months of supply and 840 active listings. The Kitsap median sale price was $599,889, down 0.9% from October 2025. Pierce County had 689 closed sales, 3.5 months of supply and 2,909 active listings, with a $572,000 median, up 0.6%. Jefferson County's median was $570,000, down 21.9%, on 49 sales with 4.8 months of supply.
October is the month the fall slowdown shows up in the closed numbers. Fewer homes sold than in September in all three counties, and Kitsap's median came in below its level of a year earlier. That sounds like bad news for sellers. Read the supply number next to it and it isn't, quite. Here's what NWMLS published, how it lines up with September, and what I'd do with it as a seller or a buyer heading into winter.
Key Takeaways
- Kitsap closed 246 sales in October 2026, against 313 in September. That's the seasonal slowdown arriving in the closed column, on deals mostly written in September.
- Kitsap has 2.9 months of supply, Pierce has 3.5. Both are still below the roughly four months a common rule of thumb uses as the line for a seller's market.
- Kitsap's median was $599,889, down 0.9% from a year earlier. Pierce's was $572,000, up 0.6%. Neither is a price move you'd notice on a single house.
- Jefferson County is the outlier. Its median fell 21.9% to $570,000 on just 49 sales, with 4.8 months of supply. With that few sales, I'd treat it as a signal to look closer, not a verdict.
- Rates are easing a little. Freddie Mac's 30-year average was 7.11% on November 12, 2026, down from 7.18% a week earlier, but still above the 6.24% of a year ago.
The October 2026 Numbers, County by County
These are the figures NWMLS published in its Local Market Update, Residential, for October 2026. I'm quoting them as published. Information and statistics compiled and reported by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
| Kitsap County | Pierce County | Jefferson County | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $599,889 | $572,000 | $570,000 |
| Change vs October 2025 | -0.9% | +0.6% | -21.9% |
| Closed sales | 246 | 689 | 49 |
| Months of supply | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.8 |
| Active listings | 840 | 2,909 | 200 |
Source: NWMLS Local Market Update, Residential, October 2026. Information and statistics compiled and reported by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
See the numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Kitsap County | 2.9 |
| Pierce County | 3.5 |
| Jefferson County | 4.8 |
Kitsap: fewer sales, still tight
246 closings is a quieter month, but supply didn't balloon to match. NWMLS put Kitsap at 2.9 months of supply with 840 active listings. For context, my September county report quoted 3.0 months and 865 active listings. Sales slowed, and so did the number of homes for sale. That's a seasonal market, not a falling one.
Pierce: the deeper pool
Pierce closed 689 sales on 2,909 active listings, at 3.5 months of supply. Its $572,000 median sits just under Kitsap's $599,889 and was up 0.6% on the year. A buyer weighing Gig Harbor or the Key Peninsula against South Kitsap has more homes to choose from on the Pierce side.
Jefferson: a big number on a small base
A 21.9% drop in Jefferson County's median is the kind of figure that gets repeated without context. It came on 49 closed sales. In a county that small, a few waterfront or acreage sales in one October and not the next can swing the median by six figures. What I would take from it is the supply: 4.8 months, the softest of the three, which means buyers around Brinnon and the Hood Canal side have room to negotiate. My Brinnon guide covers what that market looks like on the ground.
October Against September
Here are the two months side by side, both as NWMLS published them. I'm not computing changes from these; the year-over-year percentages in the table above are the NWMLS figures.
| Kitsap County (NWMLS) | September 2026 | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $595,000 | $599,889 |
| Change vs a year earlier | +1.8% | -0.9% |
| Closed sales | 313 | 246 |
| Months of supply | 3.0 | 2.9 |
| Active listings | 865 | 840 |
Source: NWMLS Local Market Update, Residential, September and October 2026. Information and statistics compiled and reported by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
See the numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| September 2026 | 313 |
| October 2026 | 246 |
Why the median went up month to month but down year over year
The October median ($599,889) is higher than September's ($595,000), yet NWMLS shows it down 0.9% from a year earlier, while September was up 1.8%. Both are true. Month-to-month moves mix the market with the mix of homes that happened to close. The year-over-year figure compares October with October, which takes the season out. That's the one I trust, and it says Kitsap prices are essentially flat.
Closed sales are a look back
Most purchases take 30 to 45 days to close, so October's 246 closings mostly reflect contracts written in September. The rate drop of the last few weeks won't show up in NWMLS closed sales until the November and December reports.
What the Listing Data Says Alongside It
NWMLS counts closed sales. Realtor.com Economic Research tracks listings, and its October 2026 county data points the same direction. Realtor.com counted 795 active listings in Kitsap, up 25.99% from October 2025, with 363 pending listings and a median listing price of $637,777. Those are asking prices and listing counts on a different method, so they won't match the NWMLS figures, and they aren't sale prices. My October inventory breakdown goes through them county by county.
Putting the two together
More homes on the market than a year ago, fewer sales than last month, and a median that's flat on the year. That's a market where buyers have choices and sellers have to earn the sale, while supply still sits under three months in Kitsap.
What 7.11% Does to the Payment at These Medians
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the 30-year fixed average at 7.11% for the week of November 12, 2026, down from 7.18% the week before. A year earlier (November 13, 2025) it was 6.24%. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.45%.
My arithmetic, 20% down, 30-year fixed
This is my own arithmetic on the NWMLS October medians, not an NWMLS statistic. It's principal and interest only, before property tax, insurance and any HOA dues.
| Median (NWMLS, October 2026) | Loan at 20% down | P&I at 7.11% | P&I at 6.24% | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitsap County, $599,889 | $479,911 | $3,228 | $2,952 | $276 |
| Pierce County, $572,000 | $457,600 | $3,078 | $2,815 | $263 |
| Jefferson County, $570,000 | $456,000 | $3,068 | $2,805 | $263 |
Source: My arithmetic on the NWMLS October 2026 Kitsap County median ($599,889) and Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year averages for November 12, 2026 and November 13, 2025. Principal and interest only.
See the numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| A year ago (6.24%) | $2,952 |
| Today (7.11%) | $3,228 |
For the week-by-week rate picture, see my mortgage rate update for the week of November 5.
What This Means If You're Selling This Winter
Sellers still have the edge in Kitsap, but a flat median means the market isn't going to bail out an aggressive list price.
Price to the recent comps, not last spring
A 0.9% annual dip is small. The bigger risk is pricing to a sale from six months ago and sitting while buyers watch the days on market climb. My guide to pricing your Kitsap home in 2026 shows how I set the number from the sales that actually compare.
Winter buyers are serious buyers
There are fewer of them, but they're relocations, military moves and people who lost out earlier in the year. With 2.9 months of supply, a well-prepared home still sells. My sellers have averaged 99.18% of list price across every market cycle, and most of that comes from getting the price right on day one. If your listing already sat once, here's what I change when a Washington listing expires.
What This Means If You're Buying This Winter
Buyers have more leverage than in the spring, and the rate is moving the right way.
Negotiate where homes have been sitting
With 840 active listings in Kitsap and 2,909 in Pierce, plenty of homes have been on the market a while. Those are where a seller credit or a rate buydown is on the table. My buyers have averaged 95.48% of list price, but where the room is depends on the house.
Watch the rate, but don't wait on it
If rates keep easing, more buyers come back in the spring and the leverage you have now shrinks. Buying the right house this winter and refinancing later is a real strategy, though a refinance isn't guaranteed and has its own costs. If you're buying your first home, check Washington's first-time buyer programs before you write an offer.
Is Kitsap County a Buyer's or Seller's Market in October 2026?
Still seller-leaning. NWMLS reported 2.9 months of supply in Kitsap County for October 2026, below the roughly four months a common rule of thumb uses as the line for a seller's market. But the median was down 0.9% year over year and closed sales slowed to 246, so well-priced homes sell and overpriced ones sit.
How Many Homes Sold in Kitsap County in October 2026?
NWMLS reported 246 closed sales in Kitsap County in October 2026, against 313 in September. Pierce County had 689 closed sales and Jefferson County had 49. Kitsap ended the month with 840 active listings.
What Was the Median Home Price in Pierce County in October 2026?
NWMLS reported a median sale price of $572,000 for Pierce County in October 2026, up 0.6% from October 2025, on 689 closed sales. Pierce had 2,909 active listings and 3.5 months of supply.
Final Thoughts
October's NWMLS report is a fall market doing what fall markets do. Fewer closings, prices flat on the year, and supply in Kitsap still under three months. Jefferson's 21.9% drop is the headline grabber, but it sits on 49 sales. For sellers, the message is to price to the recent comps and show up ready. For buyers, it's a real negotiating window, with rates edging down to 7.11%.
Talk through your numbers with me
I'll show you what these numbers mean for your street or your price range, using the actual comparable sales. Get in touch here, or call (360) 777-7212.
Selling? Get a real valuation on your home. Buying? Search homes for sale.
Sources: NWMLS Local Market Update, Residential, October 2026 and September 2026 (Kitsap, Pierce and Jefferson counties). Information and statistics compiled and reported by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Realtor.com Economic Research county inventory data, October 2026. Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, 30-year and 15-year fixed averages for November 12, 2026, November 5, 2026 and November 13, 2025. Payment figures are my own arithmetic, principal and interest only. This is not financial advice; confirm rates and terms with a licensed lender.