Learn more about the housing market in Missouri

Every state is unique when it comes to the real estate market. That’s why it’s critical to understand the market you live or operate in. Whether you’re renting, buying, or selling, it will impact many aspects of your life.  

Key Takeaways

1. Missouri is entering 2026 with improving inventory but still below fully balanced levels, keeping many markets moderately competitive despite slower demand than earlier in the decade.
2. Home prices have continued to rise modestly statewide, with the November 2025 median sale price around $280,500, though trends vary significantly by metro area.
3. Foreclosure activity increased in late 2025 compared with the prior year, but overall levels remain mid-range nationally rather than indicative of widespread distress.
4. Mortgage rates and affordability will remain key variables in 2026, as easing rates could bring more buyers and sellers back into the market while tight supply persists in desirable areas.

Missouri Housing Market Overview 

You may think of Missouri when thinking of the Chiefs football team, Budweiser, or the Gateway Arch, but for prospective homebuyers, the main question is what the housing market looks like as we head into 2026.

Like much of the country, Missouri has faced affordability challenges in recent years as higher mortgage rates and elevated home prices slowed buyer activity. Although rates have eased from their 2023 peaks, many buyers are cautious, and overall demand has slowed compared to earlier in the decade.

Inventory, however, is still relatively limited in many parts of the state, and supply levels in several metros remain below what is considered a fully balanced market. This means buyers in 2026 may continue to encounter tight listing availability and competitive conditions in desirable areas, even as price growth has moderated.

Missouri Housing Market Trends 

To further understand the Missouri real estate market, it’s important to keep up with trends. Let’s look at some key ones in Missouri: 

Note: These statistics are based on Redfin’s monthly housing data from November 2025. 

Median Home Price 

The median home price in Missouri is $280,500 in November 2025. This marks a 7.0% increase year-over-year. This median home price is the highest rates have reached since mid-2021, though some areas have a lower sale price—for example, St. Louis has a median sold price of $210,000 according to Realtor.com. 

Number of Homes Sold in November 2025

In November of 2025, there were 5,809 homes sold in Missouri. There were 4.8% less homes sold this time this year than last year.

However, it is important to note that nationally speaking, sales tend to peak during the spring and summer months and slow in the winter. In fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) predicts that in February and March alone, sales activity increases by as much as 34% and prices by 3%. 

Median Days on Market (DOM) 

Days on market (DOM) is a measure of the average length of time a home remains listed on the market before being put under contract. A lower DOM signals a highly competitive seller’s market with more pressure on buyers to make higher offers and remove contingencies. A higher DOM signals a buyer's market as sales are slower and sellers have less leverage. 

The current median days on market (DOM) in Missouri is 40 days. Redfin states that the United States average DOM is 53 days, which is notably higher than Missouri’s rate. Some things that can affect a home’s DOM is how the home is priced compared to other listings in the area, or more generally, what the market is like. If the days on market is shorter, it typically indicates a seller’s market—there are more buyers than affordable homes available in that particular area.  

New Supply Statistics 

In November 2025, there were 27,406 homes for sale in Missouri, an 8.5% increase year-over-year, while 6,166 newly listed homes entered the market during the same month, up 1.7% from the prior year. The state’s average months of supply sits at about three months, which remains below the level typically associated with a fully balanced market.

Taken together, these trends show that Missouri’s inventory improved compared with earlier years, but supply is still relatively tight in many areas, meaning buyers in 2026 may continue to face competition and limited choices in certain price ranges.

Property Tax Rate 

Missouri’s average property tax rate is 1.01% according to Rocket Mortgage. This rate is relatively typical for the nation, as it ranks #30 for property tax rates in America. However, keep in mind that property tax rates vary widely by county as well as your home’s value, so be sure to research your area’s rate before you purchase a home. 

Foreclosure Rate in October of 2025 

In October of 2025, one in every 459 housing units in Missouri had a foreclosure filing, according to ATTOM. The state recorded 6,121 total filings and ranked 33rd nationwide for foreclosure activity. This reflects a 37.01% year-over-year increase and a 21.43% quarter-over-quarter rise, indicating that foreclosure pressure has intensified compared with the prior year.

Hottest Local Markets in Missouri 

1. Ballwin

Ballwin, Missouri is an up-and-coming city within the St. Louis region. It is one of the hottest markets in the state—the median sale price has stabilized around $380,000, only a 4.8% drop from this time last year. 

Redfin characterizes Ballwin’s market as one of the most competitive in the nation, based off data from the past three months. Many homes get multiple offers, some with waived contingencies. The average homes sell for about 1% below list price and go pending in around 17 days, but some homes also sell about 2% above the list price, making it a very stable market.

Although St. Louis generally is less competitive than the averages for the state, certain spots within the city, such as Ballwin, are extremely popular and can be an area to look into.  

2. Green Park

Another hot spot within St. Louis is Green Park. Green Park’s had a median price of $302,000 in November of 2025. Since Missouri’s average sale price hovers around $280,000, it’s clear that Green Park is some of the more expensive cities in the area. 

The average homes sell for about 2% above list price and go pending in around 7 days, but the hottest homes can sell for 7% above the list price. It's one of the most competitive housing markets in Missouri in 2026.

3. Crestwood 

Another hot market within Missouri is Crestwood. Crestwood is another extremely competitive area where popular homes can sell for about 7% above list price and go pending in around 4 days.

Crestwood’s median sale price is $325,000 as of November 2025, up 6.6% from last year. This area has a lot of interest and not much supply, creating such a competitive market. There were only 13 homes sold last month, which is a decrease from 17 homes since last November.  

Economic Factors Impacting the Missouri Housing Market 

A holistic view of Missouri’s housing market requires a basic understanding of the main economic drivers affecting the market. Let’s look at a few critical ones below: 

Mortgage Rates 

Bankrate lists Missouri’s current interest rate as 6.38% for a 30-year fixed mortgage as of January 2026. In 2021, Missouri saw rates that were record lows, but they’ve sharply increased to their currently high levels.  

Although these rates seem high, they are around the national average which is currently 6.27% for a 30-year fixed mortgage.  

Inflation and Cost of Living 

Missouri continues to be one of the more affordable states in the U.S. going into 2026. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the state’s cost-of-living index was about 89.0 in the third quarter of 2025, giving it one of the lowest cost-of-living rankings nationwide.

Population Changes and Demographics 

According to Missouri’s September 2025 employment report, Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was about 4.1%, below the national rate, and the employment-population ratio was about 61.0%, higher than the U.S. average of roughly 59.7%.

At the same time, housing affordability pressures persist for many renters nationwide, with recent reports from the Joint Center for Housing Studies showing that more than 22.6 million renter households spend over 30% of income on rent and utilities, a pattern that reflects broader cost-burdened conditions that also affect Missouri renters.

Missouri Housing Market Forecast 

Missouri is expected to continue operating in a low-to-moderate inventory environment heading into 2026, which will likely keep market conditions leaning toward sellers in many areas, even as price growth has slowed from earlier peaks.

If mortgage rates continue at their current pace, the market could see renewed activity from buyers who delayed purchases during higher-rate periods, as well as from homeowners who have been reluctant to list due to “rate lock-in.” Lower rates would help improve affordability and could gradually add more listings to the market.

Until rate conditions shift more meaningfully, however, Missouri’s housing market is likely to remain stable but supply-constrained, with localized competitiveness depending on price range and metro area.

Likelihood of Missouri Housing Market Crash  

Low inventory levels in Missouri have contributed to much of the difficulty buyers are having with finding homes that are within their budget. Lagging construction from the pandemic as well as the 2008 housing crisis still have ramifications on Missouri’s market—Missouri Realtors Association President Andrea Sheridan noted that with the 2008 crash, many builders left the industry and new construction rates have been low ever since. 

However, despite low inventory, the Missouri housing market seems stable. The population in the state is growing about 6% per decade, which is slower than the national average at 10% but growth all the same. Those 18 and older is expected to grow around 25% by 2030, which could increase demand for homes and revive the currently slow new home business. 

Forecast for The U.S. Housing Market 

Now that we’ve looked at Missouri’s housing market, let’s zoom out a little bit. What about the U.S. housing market? What do you need to keep an eye on in the coming years? 

The United States' current median existing-home sale price is around $415,200 per the National Association of Realtors. The inventory, though, remains low. A balanced market typically has a 5-to-6-month supply, but the current figure is 3 months, keeping conditions constrained.

We’re currently in a seller’s market with buyers looking at continued rising house prices—although they are rising at a slower pace compared to previous years.. The same trend can be seen with renters. Housing continues to appreciate, in general.

Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research, National Association of Realtors, believes the housing market will appreciate 15 to 25% over the next five years. He thinks that the seller’s market will continue because housing inventory will remain low. In 2026, he predicts that existing home sales will rise an additional 13%. Yun expects mortgage rates to stabilize at the lower end of the current 6-7% range through 2025 and 2026 as the Federal Reserve continues gradual rate cuts. There's an anticipation of a more balanced market in the coming years, with moderate price growth and a greater amount of Americans re-entering the market.

Hybrid work also impacts the housing market. This shift in work culture means suburbia will continue to grow. States like Texas, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Florida should see continual growth.

The number of single-family homes built decreased over the past couple years while the number of multi-family homes increased due to lower prices and a demand for affordable housing. Year-to-date single-family housing starts were down about 7.1% in 2025, whereas starts for buildings with five or more units were up roughly 14.5% Higher mortgage rates and inflation (affecting price of materials) were the main causes.

Lower income households continue to struggle in the current housing market. This trend appears likely to continue into the foreseeable future. According to the National Association of Home Builders, approximately 74.9% of U.S. households were unable to afford a newly built median-priced home in 2025. Without enhanced supply or helpful subsidies, the outlook is that many Americans will still wrestle with housing affordability in the years to come.

Missouri Rental Market 

The rental and homebuying markets remain closely connected in Missouri. When home prices or mortgage rates rise, more households remain in the rental market longer, which increases rental demand and can keep rents elevated even when sales activity slows.

After rapid rent growth in 2021 and 2022, national and state trends show that rent increases moderated through 2024 and 2025 as new multifamily units came online and demand cooled. However, in many metros in parts of Missouri, rent levels remain high relative to income growth, meaning affordability pressures persist even without the extreme price spikes of earlier years.

Higher borrowing costs have also affected the development side of the market. The Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey reports weaker demand for multifamily loans and tighter lending standards over the past year, which has slowed new construction and may limit future rental supply growth. As a result, heading into 2026, Missouri’s rental market is more stable than during the pandemic surge, but affordability challenges continue for many renters.

This short summary leads directly into Missouri’s current rental market, with key trends from Zillow:

Missouri Rental Market Key Trends 

• Median Rent: $1,350 

• Month-over-month Change: $0

• Year-over-year Change: +$50 

• Available Rentals: 10,424

Conclusion 

The Midwest may seem quieter than coastal markets, but competition remains strong in Missouri as inventory stays tight and affordability pressures persist. If you’re planning to buy in the state, research specific neighborhoods and price trends carefully, as conditions can vary widely by metro and county. Keep a close eye on mortgage rates and lending costs, and make sure a purchase comfortably fits your budget. If it doesn’t, it may be wiser to pause, continue saving, and strengthen your credit before re-entering the market in 2026.

FAQs

What type of housing market is Missouri expected to have in 2026?

Missouri is expected to remain leaning toward a seller’s market in many metros, due to limited supply and competitive conditions in popular neighborhoods, even though price growth has moderated. More balanced conditions may emerge if mortgage rates fall and inventory continues to improve.

Are home prices still rising in Missouri?

Yes — statewide prices increased about 7% year-over-year in late 2025, with a median price near $280,500. However, price trends are highly local. Some areas have stabilized or slowed, while competitive suburbs near St. Louis and Kansas City continue to see stronger price pressure.

Is Missouri becoming more affordable for buyers?

Affordability has improved slightly as rates eased, but many buyers still face budget constraints due to elevated prices and limited supply in certain price ranges. Affordability is better than in many coastal states, but cost pressures remain, especially for first-time buyers.

How competitive is the Missouri housing market compared to the national average?

Missouri’s median days on market of about 40 days is lower than the national average, meaning homes tend to sell faster than in many states. Competition is strongest in high-demand St. Louis suburbs like Ballwin, Green Park, and Crestwood.

What could change Missouri’s housing conditions in 2026?

The biggest potential shifts depend on mortgage rate movement and new housing supply. Lower rates could encourage more listings and bring back sidelined buyers, while continued tight inventory would keep select markets competitive and price-supported.