Albuquerque Housing Market Update: What December 2025 Means for Buyers & Sellers

The Big Picture: A Market Finding Its Balance

As we close out December 2025, the Albuquerque single-family detached housing market is showing signs of stabilization rather than decline. Median sales prices for single-family detached homes finished the year at $370,000, up about 2.8% year-over-year, while average sales prices increased to roughly $431,000, signaling continued long-term strength even as the pace of sales cools slightly.

Inventory has increased meaningfully, with active listings rising to approximately 1,688 homes, giving buyers more options than they’ve had in recent years. At the same time, homes are still selling at about 98.6% of list price, which tells us this is not a distressed market — it’s a more balanced one.

This balance is exactly where opportunity lives.

What This Means for Home Sellers

For sellers, the headline is simple: pricing and preparation matter more now than they have in years.

Homes are spending an average of 51 days on market, compared to the low-30-day range we saw in past seller-dominated cycles. That doesn’t mean homes aren’t selling — it means buyers are being selective.

Smart seller strategy in December 2025 includes:

• Pricing based on current comparable sales, not last year’s headlines

• Preparing the home properly to stand out in higher inventory

• Expecting strong offers when priced correctly, not bidding wars by default

The good news is that sellers are still capturing nearly full list price when they align price, condition, and marketing. This is a market that rewards strategy, not shortcuts.

What This Means for Home Buyers

Buyers are quietly gaining leverage.

Pending sales for single-family detached homes increased month-over-month, showing demand is still present, but buyers now have time to make thoughtful decisions. The Housing Affordability Index improved, and increased inventory means more negotiating power than buyers have had in years.

Smart buyer strategy right now includes:

• Taking advantage of improved inventory and reduced competition

• Negotiating price, repairs, or seller concessions

• Locking in a home that fits long-term lifestyle and financial goals

This is not a market where buyers need to rush — but it is a market where prepared buyers can win.

The Bottom Line for December 2025

Albuquerque real estate is not crashing, and it’s not overheating. It’s normalizing.

That normalization creates opportunity:

• Sellers who price correctly still sell well

• Buyers who act strategically gain leverage

• Both sides benefit from data-driven decisions

The market is no longer forgiving guesswork — but it strongly rewards clarity.