Spring and Fall Are Back as Prime Brookline Selling Seasons

January’s national housing data points to a market that is slowly loosening up – and that matters directly for Brookline buyers and sellers.​

More Listings, Still Low Inventory

Nationally, the number of new listings coming to market in 2025 is up roughly 6% versus last year, a clear sign that “lock‑in” is easing as more homeowners with ultra‑low mortgage rates decide to move.​
For Brookline, that likely translates into:

• Slightly more choices for buyers than in 2023–2024’s ultra‑tight market
• Continued competition for well‑priced properties, especially near the C and D lines and around Coolidge Corner and Washington Square

Because inventory remains well below pre‑pandemic norms nationwide, local sellers in Brookline still hold a meaningful pricing advantage when a home is prepared and priced correctly.​

Mortgage Lock‑In Is Fading

The national report highlights that the mortgage “lock‑in effect” – owners staying put to protect their 2–3% loans – continued to fade through 2024 into early 2025, which is one of the most positive shifts in recent housing data.​
In practice for Brookline:

• More move‑up sellers (trading a condo for a single‑family or a smaller home for something larger) are starting to list
• Buyers are seeing more fresh inventory rather than recycling the same stale listings month after month

For anyone who wanted to sell in 2022–2023 but felt “trapped” by their great rate, this is a window to run the numbers again and see if a move in 2025–2026 now pencils out.​

Prices: High, But More Stable

National charts in the January 2025 Compass report show median home prices have largely held their pandemic‑era gains, with year‑over‑year changes moderating into a more normal single‑digit appreciation range in many regions.​
For Brookline, that backdrop supports:

• Strong pricing for well‑located condos and single‑families, with buyers still paying a premium for renovated, turnkey properties
• More realistic pricing conversations, as the extreme double‑digit run‑ups of 2021–2022 have given way to a steadier, data‑driven market

Buyers should expect to pay near peak pricing for quality homes, but with less risk of runaway bidding wars at any price than during the frenzy years.

Seasonality Is Back

One of the national charts in the report notes that many of the “ups and downs” in recent years are now better explained by normal market seasonality rather than pandemic distortions.​
For Brookline:

• Spring (March–June) and early fall (September–October) are again the prime windows for listing, when buyer traffic and pricing power tend to peak
• Late summer and mid‑winter can offer opportunistic buys for patients shoppers willing to act quickly when a good property appears

Planning around these cycles – staging, pre‑inspection, and launch timing – is once again a real strategic lever for local sellers.

What This Means If You’re Moving In 2025–2026

Taken together, January’s national insights paint a picture of a market that is healthier and more balanced than it has been in several years, even while prices remain elevated.​
For Brookline homeowners and buyers, the key takeaways are:

• Sellers: This is still a favorable environment, but success now depends on data‑driven pricing and strong presentation rather than assuming any listing will sell itself.
• Buyers: Slightly more inventory and more normal seasonality create chances to be selective, especially if you are pre‑approved and ready to move quickly.

If you are considering a sale or purchase in Brookline this year, the next step is to pair these national trends with hyper‑local data by property type and neighborhood so you can make confident, well‑timed decisions.

Source: Compass