Fall in Columbus: A Season in Review (and What's Still to Come)

Halloween weekend is here, which means fall in Columbus is basically a wrap. Before we tip into holiday season and winter market conditions, here's a quick look back at what shaped the last two months — and a preview of what's ahead.

The Market, in Two Months

We started September with inventory still climbing and rates hovering in the high 6% range. By mid-September, 30-year mortgage rates had touched a one-year high near 7%, cooling some buyer urgency even as inventory kept building — Columbus ended up with roughly 21% more homes on the market than the same time last year, and homes took a few days longer to sell than they did in the spring.

None of that added up to a crash or a dramatic shift — just the continued, gradual normalization we've been tracking since summer. Prices held steady to slightly up, well-priced homes kept selling at a reasonable pace, and the headline story stayed the same: more choice for buyers, patience still rewarded for sellers who price accurately.

What Actually Happened This Fall

It was a genuinely full season. Oktoberfest kicked things off in September, followed by the Zoo Lantern Festival's two illuminated weekends and the month-long All American Quarter Horse Congress. October brought Boo at the Zoo's family-friendly weekends, a full slate of pumpkin patches and corn mazes across the region, and — on the real estate side — Franklin County's 2026 property value update, which landed at a comparatively modest 9% average increase for homeowners (a relief after 2023's 43% jump).

We also spent real time this fall getting to know Dublin, Bexley, and Clintonville up close — three very different neighborhoods that each make a strong case for themselves in their own way.

What's Coming as We Head Into Winter

A few things worth watching as the calendar turns:

• Mortgage rates remain the biggest near-term variable. Where they settle over the next month or two will likely matter more to buyer activity than any other single factor.
• Winter is traditionally the quietest season for new listings — which also means less competition for buyers willing to shop through the holidays, and serious, motivated sellers who list anyway.
• Franklin County's property value update will show up on 2027 tax bills, not this year's — worth planning around now rather than being surprised by it next year.
• Investor activity will be worth watching, especially whether the forecasted rent growth rebound actually materializes as new apartment construction continues to slow.

The Bottom Line

Fall 2026 didn't bring any dramatic surprises to the Columbus market — just a continued, steady shift toward more balance between buyers and sellers, against a backdrop of a genuinely great season of local events. If you're thinking about a winter move, don't assume the quieter season means nothing's happening — it's often one of the more strategic windows of the year for both buyers and sellers who are ready to act.

Let's talk about your winter buying or selling timeline → [link to contact form / calendar]