Are You Thinking about buying or selling on the New Hampshire Seacoast? The latest Rockingham County numbers tell an interesting story.

🏡 Home sales across Rockingham County jumped 16.8% in May while inventory continued to rise. If you’re buying or selling in Portsmouth, Rye, Exeter, Dover, Hampton, or the surrounding New Hampshire Seacoast communities, here’s what the latest numbers mean for you.

While national headlines continue to focus on mortgage rates and affordability, the local market across Portsmouth, Rye, North Hampton, Hampton, Exeter, Greenland, New Castle, Stratham, and surrounding Seacoast communities remains remarkably strong.

Buyers: More Choices Are Finally Hitting the Market

One of the biggest challenges buyers have faced over the past few years has been a lack of inventory. The good news? We’re seeing more homes come to market.

📈 New Listings increased 9.7%
📈 Inventory of Homes for Sale increased 9.8%
📈 Pending Sales jumped 22.1%

With 442 new listings coming on the market in May, buyers have more opportunities than they did a year ago. If you’ve been waiting for the right home in Portsmouth, Rye, Exeter, Hampton, or Dover, this summer may provide the selection you’ve been hoping for.

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According to REALTOR.com, any given Summer month typically sees about 32% more fresh options than the average month from September to December.

Sellers: Demand Remains Strong

If you’ve wondered whether you’ve missed the best time to sell, the numbers suggest otherwise.

✅ Closed Sales increased 16.8%
✅ Median Sales Price rose to $717,500 (+2.9%)
✅ Closed Sales Volume surged 22.3%
✅ Sellers received 100.5% of their original asking price

That means many sellers are still receiving full-price offers—or even slightly above asking price.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes sold during a Summer month usually sell for about 4% more than homes sold during the typical month from September to December

What This Means for Seacoast Homeowners

Whether you’re considering a waterfront home in Portsmouth, a coastal property in Rye or Hampton, or a family home in Exeter, Stratham, or Greenland, the market remains active and competitive.

The increase in inventory is creating opportunities for buyers, while continued demand is helping sellers achieve excellent results.

Bottom Line

The Rockingham County market isn’t slowing down—it’s evolving.

Buyers are seeing more choices, sellers are still benefiting from strong pricing, and homes continue to sell at a healthy pace.

If a move is part of your plans for 2026, now is a great time to explore your options and develop a strategy that fits your goals.

📞 Ann Cummings & Jim Lee
🏡 RE/MAX Shoreline
🌐 NewHampshireMaineRealEstate.com

Serving Portsmouth, Rye, Hampton, North Hampton, Exeter, Greenland, New Castle, Stratham, Dover, and communities throughout the New Hampshire Seacoast and Southern Maine.

Ann Cummings and Jim Lee are Portsmouth NH REALTORS® with RE/MAX Shoreline and have more than 40 years of experience helping buyers and sellers throughout the New Hampshire Seacoast and Southern Maine. Ann served as President of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS® in 2004 and was named NH REALTOR® of the Year in 2004. Jim served as President of NHAR and was named NH REALTOR® of the Year in 2017.

Frequently Asked Questions: Is now a good time to buy a home in Portsmouth, NH?

Yes, if you find a home that:

✅ Fits your lifestyle
✅ Fits your monthly budget comfortably
✅ You can see yourself owning for several years

then I would not wait for mortgage rates to fall. If rates fall you can always refinance.

The bigger risk for many Portsmouth buyers is missing the right house while waiting for a rate that may never arrive.