September: Benton Slows While Washington Adds Sales
Benton and Washington Counties recorded a combined 836 residential closings in September 2026, down from 881 in September 2025. That is a 5.1% decrease, but the two counties moved in different directions. Benton County closed fewer homes, while Washington County closed more.
Across Benton and Washington Counties, new listings were nearly unchanged: 1,239 in September 2026, up from 1,231 in September 2025, a 0.6% increase. Pending activity declined 4.0%, from 832 records to 799. New listings held steady, while fewer listings overall entered pending status.
September Sales Moved in Different Directions
Benton County recorded 483 residential closings in September 2026, down 13.1% from 556 in September 2025.
Washington County recorded 353 residential closings in September 2026, up 8.6% from 325 in September 2025.
Median Sold Prices Fell in Both Counties
Benton County’s median sold price was $363,600 in September 2026, down 3.0% from $375,000 in September 2025. Washington County’s median sold price declined 2.8%, from $359,900 to $350,000 over the same period.
The Price Range Matters
Countywide totals provide context, but homes at different price points can face different competition. These September comparisons show how closed sales were distributed across the price ranges.
Sales Under $300,000: Benton and Washington Counties
Sales From $300,000 to Under $500,000: Benton and Washington Counties
Sales From $500,000 to Under $750,000: Benton and Washington Counties
Sales From $750,000 to Under $1 Million: Benton and Washington Counties
September Luxury Sales: $1 Million and Above
Across Benton and Washington Counties, the supplied September 2026 residential exports show 31 closings at $1 million or more, totaling $46,290,468. September 2025 had 38 such closings totaling $57,976,672. That is an 18.4% decrease in the number of luxury closing records and a 20.2% decrease in volume.
Benton County accounted for 28 luxury closing records in both September 2025 and September 2026. Benton County’s luxury sales volume increased 2.9%, from $41,680,405 in 2025 to $42,875,468 in 2026. Washington County recorded three luxury closings totaling $3,415,000 in September 2026, compared with 10 totaling $16,296,267 in September 2025. With a small number of high-priced sales, individual transactions can meaningfully change a monthly comparison.
The highest-priced September 2026 closing was 19890 Bittersweet Dr, Rogers, which sold for $5,650,000 on September 10, 2026.
Luxury here includes all residential subtypes selling for $1 million or more, including one Benton County townhouse in 2026. The possible duplicate Nottingham closing is included in the current draft totals and requires review.
Price Per Square Foot Changed Less Than Median Price
Benton County’s median sold price per square foot was $209.65 in September 2026, down 0.6% from September 2025.
Washington County’s median sold price per square foot rose 1.2%, from $203.86 in September 2025 to $206.29 in September 2026.
In Washington County, a lower median sold price alongside a higher median sold price per square foot suggests a shift in the mix of homes that sold. This does not mean every home became less expensive. These are separate medians calculated across the closed records, and changes in size, location, and property type can influence them.
Original List Price to Close Price
In Benton County, the September original-list-price-to-close-price ratio moved from 99.0% in 2025 to 97.4% in 2026, a decline of 1.6 percentage points. Washington County moved from 98.7% to 97.9%, a decline of 0.8 percentage points.
These figures compare closing prices with original list prices, capturing the gap from the initial asking price to the eventual sale. Review them alongside location, condition, pricing history, and market time when assessing an individual property.
Homes That Closed Took More Time on a Median Basis
Among homes that closed in September, Benton County’s median days on market increased from 20 days in 2025 to 35 days in 2026.
Washington County’s median days on market changed from 27 days in September 2025 to 28 days in September 2026.
For Benton County sellers, fewer closings and longer median market time make current competition and recent comparable sales especially useful when setting a price. Buyers can use the additional time reflected in the closed-sale data to ask careful questions about condition, pricing, and terms, while recognizing that an individual neighborhood or price range may behave differently.
September Residential Sales Volume
Benton County’s residential sales volume decreased 10.4%, from $256,632,327 in September 2025 to $230,016,767 in September 2026. Washington County’s volume rose 0.9%, from $139,384,466 to $140,600,086 over the same period. Combined residential sales volume for the two counties was $370,616,853 in September 2026, down 6.4% from $396,016,793 in September 2025.
New Listings, Pending Activity, and County Comparisons
Benton County’s September pending activity decreased 10.6%, from 538 in 2025 to 481 in 2026. Benton County’s new listings slipped 1.1%, from 802 to 793.
Washington County’s September pending activity rose 8.2%, from 294 in 2025 to 318 in 2026. Washington County’s new listings increased 4.0%, from 429 to 446.
Northwest Arkansas at a Glance
| Measure | Sept. 2025 | Sept. 2026 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| New listings | 1231 | 1239 | +0.6% |
| Pending activity | 832 | 799 | -4.0% |
| Closed residential records | 881 | 836 | -5.1% |
| Sales volume | $396,016,793 | $370,616,853 | -6.4% |
| Median sold price | $369,965 | $355,000 | -4.0% |
| Median sold price / sq. ft. | $208.33 | $208.01 | -0.2% |
| Median days on market | 23 | 32.5 | +41.3% |
Benton County
| Measure | Sept. 2025 | Sept. 2026 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| New listings | 802 | 793 | -1.1% |
| Pending activity | 538 | 481 | -10.6% |
| Closed residential records | 556 | 483 | -13.1% |
| Sales volume | $256,632,327 | $230,016,767 | -10.4% |
| Median sold price | $375,000 | $363,600 | -3.0% |
| Median sold price / sq. ft. | $211.01 | $209.65 | -0.6% |
| Median days on market | 20 | 35 | +75.0% |
Washington County
| Measure | Sept. 2025 | Sept. 2026 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| New listings | 429 | 446 | +4.0% |
| Pending activity | 294 | 318 | +8.2% |
| Closed residential records | 325 | 353 | +8.6% |
| Sales volume | $139,384,466 | $140,600,086 | +0.9% |
| Median sold price | $359,900 | $350,000 | -2.8% |
| Median sold price / sq. ft. | $203.86 | $206.29 | +1.2% |
| Median days on market | 27 | 28 | +3.7% |
What to Take From September
The county breakdown is more useful than treating Northwest Arkansas as one uniform market. Benton County had fewer closings and a longer median time on market. Washington County had more closings and pending activity, with median time on market nearly unchanged. In both counties, the median sold price was below last September’s figure.
If you are considering a move, start with the homes that compete directly with yours or the property you want to buy. County statistics provide context; reviewing comparable sales, current listings, condition, and your timeline helps turn that context into a decision.
Desiree Stock
Executive Broker | Collier & Associates
479-409-4241
Source: MLS residential exports for Benton and Washington Counties.