Bellingham & Whatcom County Real Estate 2025: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities the Current Market

After several years of rapid appreciation and fierce competition, the real estate market in Bellingham and Whatcom County is settling into a steadier rhythm. Home prices remain solid, listings are up, and buyers finally have a bit more breathing room to make thoughtful decisions. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening locally this fall — and what it means for buyers and sellers alike.

These numbers tell us a few key things:

• The median price is holding at a strong level, indicating continued demand in desirable neighborhoods.

• Listings are up, giving buyers more choices than they had in a hyper-competitive market.

• The average days on market (DOM), at 26 days, shows homes are still moving — but not as frenetically as earlier cycles.

Taken together, the regional data suggests that while things are still strong, they’re not quite as overheated as in 2021-2022. The shifts favor neither buyers nor sellers overwhelmingly, it’s more nuanced now.

What These Trends MeanFor Buyers

1. More breathing room
   With more listings and longer DOM, you don’t need to submit an offer the day a house hits the market. You have a bit more time to research, tour, and compare — though in coveted price ranges, competition still arises.

2. Focus on readiness
   Get pre-approved. Know your nonnegotiables. Work with an agent who’s watching the market closely, because even in a softer moment, good homes move.

3. Negotiate smartly
   In this evolving market, terms beyond price (e.g. closing timing, inspection requests, seller credits) may become more prominent in offers.

4. Watch pricing tiers
   Homes under $500K and mid-range between $500K–$1M are still seeing strong interest.

For Sellers

1. Presentation and pricing matter more than ever
   When buyers have more options, homes that are clean, photographed well, staged, and appropriately priced will stand out.

2. Time your listing
   You don’t have to rush at the instant you’re ready, but waiting too long can push your home into slower seasonal windows. Work with your agent to pick an optimal listing time.

3. Be realistic about expectations
   You may see fewer multiple offers or over-asking bids than you did during the height of the seller’s market. Accepting reasonable offers quickly may be better than waiting for the perfect one.

4. Use data to your advantage
   Track comparable sales, local absorption rates, and neighborhood trends. That kind of insight helps you position your home more competitively.

What’s Ahead: What to Watch for

• Inventory trajectory: If listings continue to rise, that could tilt the market slightly toward buyers in some segments.

• Interest rate movements: Mortgage rates remain a wildcard. Even small shifts can change affordability and buyer urgency.

• Neighborhood differentials: Some areas will hold strength better than others (e.g. in-school-districts, walkable zones, views). Local nuance matters more now.

• Buyer behavior: We may see more contingency offers, longer decision windows, and more back-and-forth in negotiations.

• Macro pressures: Economic factors, job growth, and regulatory or tax changes could influence demand.

Local experts express cautious optimism: the Bellingham and Whatcom markets aren’t plunging, they’re evolving.

This is a moment when having a seasoned, local real estate advisor can make a real difference. Whether you're buying, selling, or planning for the future, strategy matters more than ever in a “normalizing” market.