New York Inventory Has Grown for 18 Straight Months: What That Means for Upstate and Western NY

New York's housing market has quietly been changing shape for a year and a half, and the latest numbers from the New York State Association of REALTORS confirm it's not a blip.

What the data shows

Statewide active inventory rose 8% year over year in August, the 18th straight month of growth. That's a long, consistent trend. At the same time, the statewide median sale price climbed to $476,000, up 5.8% from a year ago, and months of supply ticked up to 3.8. Closed sales dipped slightly, down 1.8% from August of last year. Borrowing costs also ticked up from the month before, one more reason buyers are taking their time (your lender can give you today's exact numbers).

What it means if you're buying

For the first time in a while, you have more homes to actually choose from. Eighteen months of inventory growth means the "there's nothing on the market" complaint from 2024 and early 2025 doesn't hold the same way anymore, especially across Upstate and Western New York, where new listings have kept pace with or outpaced buyer demand. More choice doesn't mean prices are falling. They're still up nearly 6% year over year statewide. But it does mean less pressure to waive every contingency just to compete.

What it means if you're selling

Rising inventory means you're no longer the only option on the block. Pricing, condition, and presentation matter more than they did when almost anything sold in a weekend. The good news: prices are still moving up, not down, so a well-prepared listing is still in a strong position.

What it means if you're investing

More inventory sitting on the market longer is exactly the environment where value-add and off-market opportunities start to surface. If you're working a BRRRR or buy-and-hold strategy in Rochester, Buffalo, or the surrounding markets, this trend is worth watching closely over the next few months.

Eighteen months is a real trend, not noise. If you want to know what it looks like in your specific town or price range, reach out and I'll pull the numbers for you. Ask Me Anything

Aaron Williams, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson — Own NY Real Estate, New York. Consumers Property Resource Group is an educational resource owned and operated by Aaron Williams, a licensed real estate agent.