The St. Johns County housing market showed a notable slowdown in September 2025.

• New Pending Sales dropped to 370 contracts, a 27.2% decline compared to September 2024, when there were 508 pending sales.

• This is one of the lowest September levels we’ve seen in recent years, pulling activity back toward pre-pandemic norms.

What the Chart Shows

Looking at the long-term trend (2017–2025), pending sales in St. Johns County have always followed a seasonal pattern: activity rises in the spring and early summer, then eases in the fall. What stands out this year is the sharper-than-usual decline, especially compared to the highs of 2020–2021, when demand surged.

The May 2025 peak of 666 pending sales marked the strongest point this year, but the drop since then has been steep, mirroring a combination of affordability challenges, higher mortgage rates, and buyer hesitation.

What This Means for Buyers

• Buyers today are facing less competition. With fewer contracts being written, sellers may be more open to negotiation on price, closing costs, or repairs.

• For relocation buyers, this could be a window of opportunity to secure a property without the multiple-offer frenzy that defined past markets.

What This Means for Sellers

• Sellers need to be strategic in pricing. Overpricing in this market can cause a home to sit while buyers wait for reductions.

• Proper staging, marketing, and digital exposure are more critical than ever to stand out.

Looking Ahead

The fall market typically softens, but the size of this year’s decline suggests a reset in buyer demand rather than just seasonality. If mortgage rates stabilize or ease heading into 2026, we could see activity rebound. Until then, buyers have more leverage, and sellers will need to adapt.