The number of properties for sale in Pennsylvania's Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties has hit the highest mark in five years — a trend real estate agents say is helping the summer homebuying season gain momentum.
The number of active listings in those counties grew by 12.8%, 1%, and 18.6%, respectively, according to a market report the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors released July 10. It was a different story in nearby Lancaster County. Inventory had risen all year — until June, the Lancaster County Association of Realtors said in its report, released the same day.
"As we head into the second half of 2025, the real estate market in central Pennsylvania remains strong," Jimmy Koury, president of the Harrisburg association and an agent with RSR, Realtors, said in a statement. "We saw an overall increase in closed sales compared to June 2024, with especially notable growth in pricing for Cumberland and Perry counties."
| COUNTY | MEDIAN HOME PRICE | CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR | INVENTORY CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR |
| Cumberland | $338,000 | 5.6% | 12.8% |
| Dauphin | $275,000 | -1.8% | 1% |
| Perry | $278,500 | 21.1% | 18.6% |
| Lancaster | $360,000 | 3.5% | -6.9% |
Koury told Homes.com that inventory is climbing in the Harrisburg region for a few reasons.
"As home prices remain strong and mortgage rates stabilize, more homeowners are choosing to list, hoping to capitalize on continued buyer interest," he said. "At the same time, slightly longer days on market are allowing more active listings to accumulate."
The Harrisburg association also noted in its report that pending sales grew year over year in June by 62% in Perry County and 2.8% in Cumberland.
Those figures mean "the summer market is gaining momentum with increased inventory and steady buyer activity," the group said in its report.
The number of pending sales fell by more than 12% in Dauphin County, however.
Lancaster County is on 'healthier' path
Lancaster County saw its pending sales jump about 16%, while closed deals rose 18.4%, the Lancaster realtors group said.
Inventory rising across the region suggests central Pennsylvania could soon lose its status as a seller's market.
"Trends say that we are headed to a more balanced market, but there are certainly pockets and price points within our three-county region that remain a strong seller’s market," Koury said in the statement.
Inventory in Lancaster County fell 6.9% in June, but overall, it "continues to be healthier than in previous years," Mike Julian, group president and an agent for Realty One Group Unlimited, said in a statement.
"Inventory still has room to expand before we see a balanced market," Julian said. "Our inventory still does not meet buyer demand."