Updated: October 31, 2026 · By Mark Dietel, Broker/Owner, Mark Dietel Realty · 5-minute read
Quick answer: Mark Dietel Realty does not call Marion County, Indiana, which covers Indianapolis, a buyer's or seller's market, because the report's sale-to-list figure does not say original list price. September shows more homes for sale and fewer new contracts than a year ago, so sellers face more competition, and your price range decides how much.
What we analyzed: Marion County, Indiana, all residential sales for September 2026, from the Indiana REALTORS Housing Hub monthly report updated October 7, 2026, with Johnson County for the same month. These are county figures, with no Southside-only or ZIP Code detail.
This page sets Marion County beside Johnson County and shows, with a made-up sale, how one house can read about 97% or about 95% depending on the list price used.
Key takeaways
- The September report shows more homes for sale and fewer new contracts than September 2025, as published.
- The sale-to-list percentage compares with list price, not original list price, so it cannot decide a buyer's or seller's reading for us.
- One made-up sale can read as balanced or as a buyer's market depending on the list price used.
- Owners outside Marion County, and owners far from the county's typical price, should treat these figures as background.
What do the September numbers show for Marion County?
Marion County had about three and a half months of homes for sale in September 2026, and a typical home took four weeks to go under contract, a figure the report flags as below its expected range. The report shows fewer new contracts and more homes for sale than in September 2025. Exact figures are in the table.
Marion County, September 2026, all residential
| Measure | September 2026 | Change vs September 2025 (as published) |
|---|---|---|
| Closed sales | 961 | -5% |
| New listings | 1,370 | -6% |
| New pending contracts | 1,031 | -14% |
| Average daily inventory (active listings) | 3,461 | +20% |
| Months of inventory | 3.5 | +21% |
| Median days on market (listing to pending) | 28 | +12% |
| Median sale price | $250,000 | +0% |
| Sale price as % of list price | 95.2% | +0% |
For an owner, that means more homes competing for each buyer's attention than a year ago, while the typical sale price held steady. The report flags closed sales and days on market as below its expected range, and recent months can be revised as late entries post.
Why do we not call it a buyer's or seller's market?
The Housing Hub's sale-to-list figure compares with list price and does not say whether that is the original or a later, lower one. It also does not deduct seller-paid concessions. Our test needs the original list price, so we cannot apply it. The cutoffs in the table are our policy, not Housing Hub data.
Our Indiana cutoffs
| Sale price as % of original list price | Our reading |
|---|---|
| 98% or more | Seller's market |
| 96% to under 98% | Balanced market |
| Under 96% | Buyer's market |
Months of supply supports the reading and does not decide it. A county figure also covers every home from a starter house to a large one, and a different price range can be a different market. We would make a call for your home only after looking at the homes that compete with it.
What does this look like in Central Indiana?
Take a made-up Marion County home near the county's typical sale price, in the $250,000 to $299,999 price range. It lists, takes one price cut and sells. The table measures that sale two ways. Against our cutoffs, one measure reads as a balanced market and the other as a buyer's market, so we check the list price a report uses.
Hypothetical example, not a real sale
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original list price | $260,000 |
| List price after one cut | $255,000 |
| Accepted price | $247,000 |
| Sale price as % of last list price | 96.9% |
| Sale price as % of original list price | 95.0% |
How does Marion County compare with Johnson County?
Johnson County, just south of Marion, had less supply in September and a slightly longer wait to go under contract. Marion had about three and a half months of supply against Johnson's roughly two and three quarters, so Marion has more homes for sale compared with its sales. Both counties' days on market sit below the report's expected range.
Marion County and Johnson County, September 2026, all residential
| Measure | Marion County | Johnson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median days on market (listing to pending) | 28 | 30 |
| Months of inventory | 3.5 | 2.7 |
| Sale price as % of list price | 95.2% | 95.7% |
A Johnson County owner can find ZIP Code detail in our Greenwood housing market page. Bloomington and Monroe County owners can read our Bloomington market page.
Should you sell now, or wait?
Reasons to act now: Marion County has more homes for sale and fewer new contracts than a year ago, so a home priced above its competition may wait longer. Reasons to wait: if your home sits near the $250,000 median and you have no deadline, county figures alone do not show your range is slow. We do not forecast prices.
Where do mortgage rates fit?
The 30-year rate is above the same weeks a year earlier, so a buyer's monthly payment on the same loan is higher than it was a year ago. We show it as context, and it does not change the reading above.
30-year fixed mortgage rate, Freddie Mac weekly survey
| Week | Rate | Same week a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| October 29, 2026 | 7.24% | 6.17% |
| October 22, 2026 | 7.32% | 6.19% |
When this doesn't apply
These figures do not apply if you own outside Marion County, since Johnson County and Bloomington have their own pages. They also do not describe a single Southside Indianapolis neighborhood. If your home is priced far from the $250,000 median, this page is background only, and you need numbers built from homes near yours.
What to do next
If you own a home in Marion County, ask for a plan built on your street's recent sales. If you are weighing a sale against renting, read Should I Rent Out My House or Sell It in Indianapolis? For the costs at closing, see What Is a Seller Net Sheet in Indiana and What Goes Into It?
Mark Dietel Realty has helped 128 sellers in Indianapolis since October 30, 2024.
Prefer to talk? Call (317) 426-9911. Mark Dietel Realty has offices in Southside Indianapolis, Greenwood and Bloomington.
Frequently asked questions
Does the median sale price tell me what my house is worth?
No. The median is the middle sale price of every home sold in the county that month, from small to large. Your home's value depends on its size, condition, location and the homes competing with it. This is general information, not legal, tax or appraisal advice. Confirm your situation with the Marion County Assessor, a CPA or an attorney.
Why do two reports on the same county show different sale-to-list figures?
Reports differ in what they compare with: original list price, last list price or asking price. They also differ in whether seller-paid closing costs and buyer agent compensation are deducted. This report compares with list price and does not deduct concessions, so read each percentage together with its definition.
Can you tell me where prices are headed next spring?
No. We report what happened and what it means for your price range. We do not predict prices, and anyone who gives you an exact number for next spring is guessing. Treat the figures on this page as September's picture, and check the date at the top.
Do these numbers cover Southside Indianapolis?
Not by themselves. The report covers all of Marion County, and Southside neighborhoods sit inside it. We have no Southside-only figures for this post, and a single neighborhood can differ from the county. Ask for a plan built from recent sales near your home to see your own numbers.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Mark Dietel Realty - offices in Indianapolis (Southside), Greenwood and Bloomington, Indiana.
Sources
- Indiana REALTORS Housing Hub, Marion County, September 2026 (updated Oct. 7, 2026): https://data.indianarealtors.com/viewreport/2/all/18097/
- Indiana REALTORS Housing Hub, Johnson County, September 2026 (updated Oct. 7, 2026): https://data.indianarealtors.com/viewreport/2/all/18081/
- Freddie Mac weekly mortgage rate survey, October 22 and 29, 2026: https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms
