Ali Rasouli, Realtor - MORE Realty

Salem is not just one city but rather a group of neighborhoods.

These Are Neighborhood Trends Buyers Are Watching

Different areas of Salem are behaving differently.

West Salem

Popular for commuter access and established neighborhoods.

South Salem

Continues to attract buyers looking for larger lots and established communities.

Northeast Salem

Often draws buyers prioritizing affordability and value.

Keizer

Remains competitive due to location and lifestyle appeal.

(Neighborhood-level data tends to matter more than city-wide averages.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Home in Salem
Is now a good time to buy in Salem?

For many buyers, increased inventory creates more flexibility than previous years.

Are Salem home prices expected to fall?

Current trends suggest stabilization rather than sharp declines.

How competitive is Salem for first-time buyers?

Competition remains strongest for well-priced homes under key affordability thresholds.

How do I know which neighborhood fits my goals?

Market statistics are useful, but local guidance and neighborhood-specific analysis often matter more than city averages.

About Ali Rasouli

Al Rasouli is a Realtor serving Salem, Portland, and surrounding Oregon communities with a focus on helping buyers understand market conditions and make confident real estate decisions.

Areas served:

Salem
West Salem
Keizer
Marion County
Polk County
Greater Willamette Valley

Topics regularly covered:

Salem housing market updates
Buying a home in Oregon
First-time buyer guidance
Neighborhood analysis
Local pricing trends

Looking for insight on a specific neighborhood or price range? Reach out anytime.

Is the Real Estate Market Changing?

Ali Rasouli's May 2026 Housing Update

Are you wondering if now is a good time to buy or sell a home? The latest data from the Portland Metro Housing Market report shows a real estate market with steady demand, rising average prices, and unique opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

Here is a quick breakdown of what the current housing market means for you.

Current Housing Inventory: More Choices for Buyers
Months of Inventory: The market currently sits at 3.7 months of inventory. This is a slight increase of 0.2 months from April 2026, giving buyers just a bit more breathing room.

Active vs. New Listings: There are 14,754 active homes on the market (up 8.0% from last month). However, fresh options are tightening—new listings dropped to 6,682, which is an 8.0% decrease compared to May 2025.

Home Prices: Real Estate Values Remain Strong
Average Sale Price: The average home price climbed to $583,800, reflecting a 4.3% bump from April and a 1.6% increase from last year.

Median Sale Price: The median home price sits at $515,000. While it is up 2.3% from last month, it is down a minor 1.0% compared to May 2025.

Market Speed & Sales Volume: Homes Are Still Selling Fast
Time on Market: The total average market time is 63 days. This is 7 days faster than April 2026, meaning serious buyers are acting quickly when they find the right home.

Pending and Closed Sales: Buyer demand is highly active. Pending sales hit 4,900 (up 5.8% year-over-year) and closed sales reached 4,009 (up 1.6% year-over-year).

The Bottom Line for Consumers
For Buyers: You have access to a higher number of total active listings, but because fewer new homes are hitting the market, the best properties are moving fast.

For Sellers: Average home prices are continuing to climb, and a 5.8% annual jump in pending sales proves that buyers are active and ready to make a deal.

Want to know exactly what these numbers mean for your neighborhood's home value? Contact Ali or Amy Rasouli today for a personalized local market analysis.

Ali Rasouli helps buyers navigate the Salem and Willamette Valley real estate market through local insights, neighborhood knowledge, and practical home buying guidance.

One of my favorite parts of living and working around Salem is how easy it is to find something happening locally. Whether you're already here or getting to know the area, these are 3 Salem events worth checking out this month:

Salem-Keizer Juneteenth (Jun 19): Head to Salem Riverfront Carousel for a free, outdoor celebration. Enjoy a live DJ, local Black-owned business vendors, a community meal, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities.

Coming Out Strange (Jun 20): A vibrant downtown night market at the Grand Theater celebrating individuality, featuring over 40 creators, makers, and artists.

Make Music Salem (Jun 21): Celebrate the summer solstice and Father’s Day at Beehive Station with a fantastic outdoor, day-long lineup of local musicians.

I share local updates like this because real estate is only part of what makes a place feel like home. If you make it to one of these events, let me know which one was your favorite.

Call now to connect with business.

Salem Oregon Housing Market Update – May 2026

If you're thinking about buying a home in Salem, Oregon, one of the biggest questions right now is whether the market favors buyers or sellers.

After reviewing May housing activity across the Salem metro area and watching local trends across Marion and Polk counties, the short answer is:

Buyers have more opportunity than they’ve had in years, however, strategy still matters.

I’m Ali Rasouli, a Realtor serving Salem and the surrounding Willamette Valley, with a focus on helping buyers understand market conditions and make informed decisions before they purchase.

Quick Answer: Is Salem a Buyer’s Market Right Now?

Salem is becoming more balanced.

Inventory has increased, new listings are rising, and buyers have more negotiating power than they did during the highly competitive years.

Current market indicators:

Median Sale Price: $449,700
Active Inventory: 1,326 homes
New Listings: 780
Median Days on Market: 61
Sold Price per Square Foot: $282

For buyers, that means more options and less pressure to make rushed decisions.

What Buyers in Salem Are Actually Experiencing

Numbers only tell part of the story.

Here’s what I’m seeing locally:

Well-priced move-in-ready homes still attract attention quickly.
Buyers are regaining room for inspections and negotiations.
Some listings are entering the market priced for 2021 conditions and sitting longer.
Strategic buyers are finding opportunities that were difficult to capture in previous years.

For first-time buyers especially, today’s market can create better decision-making conditions than recent years.

This has been local Insights for Home Buyers from Ali Rasouli, Salem Area Realtor

This home has a semi rare feature, which is an RV pad! Or boat storage, or trailers, or cars. Either way, it’s there if you need it. This home for sale is also close to just about everything you need. I mean literally minutes away. If you don’t live in Keizer, you might see it as a small city attached to Salem, but for a small city in Oregon, it has things going for it too, like Keizer station and the only In N Out in the Willamette Valley! Ok fine, and a Burgerville is coming too I guess.

In any case, if I were in the market for it, I’d paint it, put new flooring in, and call it good. Then you’d enjoy a nice home with four bedroom, enough rooms to give everyone their own space. AND, you have a nice fenced yard for the doggies!

4 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,095 sqft | Built in 1995

📲Are you thinking about buying or selling? Message me and let’s chat!

Listing courtesy of: Gladys Blum, Blum Real Estate

This market update is for Oregon as a whole. I thought that would be interesting to view, in context of what is going on in the world.

April is the start of the spring season, and inventory jumped as expected. And other indicators also increased accordingly. Time on the market however remains relatively high.

This home for sale in Keizer is in one of the nicest areas! And it has driveway for days! In fact, if I was looking for a large family home or a ton of roommates, this would be the house, because you have sooooo much parking here! Actually, thinking about it, the home is a single story and the hallways are wide and the rooms are good sized, so converting it to a small care facility wouldn’t be out of the question either.

If you don’t live in Keizer, you might see it as a small city attached to Salem, but for a small city in Oregon, it has things going for it too, like Keizer station and the only In N Out in the Willamette Valley! Ok fine, and a Burgerville is coming too I guess.

3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,684 sqft

📲Are you thinking about buying or selling? Message me and let’s chat!

Listing courtesy of: Gaby Heusser, EXP Realty