Knox County Real Estate Market Report — April 2026

Published May 4, 2026 · Single-family residential · Knox County, TN · CENTURY 21 Legacy

The Knox County housing market closed April 2026 with 651 homes sold, 870 properties under contract, and a median sale price of $401,025. With months of supply holding at 2.55 and median days on market dropping sharply to 16, the spring market has opened with clear momentum — absorbing a full year of inventory expansion without losing pricing discipline.

April 2026 market snapshot

Closed sales

651

▲ 18.6% vs March 2026

+6.9% vs April 2025 (609)

Pending contracts

870

▲ 11.5% vs March 2026

+16.2% vs April 2025 (749)

Active listings

1,662

▲ 8.1% vs March 2026

+9.0% vs April 2025 (1,525)

Months supply

2.55

▼ 0.25 mo vs March 2026

Flat vs April 2025 (2.50)

Median sale price

$401,025

▲ 2.8% vs March 2026

+0.3% vs April 2025 ($399,900)

Median days on market

16

▼ 12 days vs March 2026

+4 days vs April 2025 (12)

Sale-to-original list

96.7%

▲ 0.6 pts vs March 2026

−0.4 pts vs April 2025 (97.1%)

The 12-month story

Knox County's spring 2026 market opens with clear momentum. After inventory peaked in fall 2025 and demand softened through winter — a pattern consistent with seasonal norms — the market has re-accelerated into April with 870 pending contracts, 651 closings, and a median sale price of $401,025. The convergence matters: pending volume, closed sales, and median price all moved upward simultaneously while months supply held steady at 2.55 — matching exactly the April 2025 reading. The market absorbed a full year of inventory expansion without losing pricing discipline. Price reductions average only −5.35% against the original list price, the lowest in 13 months. Days on market at a median of 16 have returned to spring pace from a February high of 38. This is not a distressed-market rebound — it is a structurally sound market returning to seasonal form.

Full 12-month data — Knox County single-family residential

Month	Active	New	Pending	Closed	Mos. Supply	Med. Sale Price	Avg DOM	Med DOM	Sale / Orig List
Apr 2025	1,525	1,039	749	609	2.50	$399,900	42	12	97.1%
May 2025	1,660	1,017	724	735	2.26	$399,900	35	11	97.1%
Jun 2025	1,758	871	706	735	2.39	$413,400	38	12	97.1%
Jul 2025	1,846	916	694	724	2.55	$395,000	38	18	96.4%
Aug 2025	1,846	804	623	743	2.48	$390,000	41	21	95.7%
Sep 2025	1,895	784	560	583	3.25	$405,000	47	21	95.8%
Oct 2025	1,935	850	640	601	3.22	$380,000	43	18	96.0%
Nov 2025	1,882	603	555	518	3.63	$390,000	49	28	95.0%
Dec 2025	1,773	468	440	616	2.88	$385,000	49	29	94.5%
Jan 2026	1,645	726	617	489	3.36	$385,000	59	33	94.6%
Feb 2026	1,523	644	558	514	2.96	$385,000	63	38	95.8%
Mar 2026	1,537	964	780	549	2.80	$390,000	56	28	96.1%
Apr 2026	1,662	1,045	870	651	2.55	$401,025	53	16	96.7%

Source: MLS Market Trends, Knox County TN, single-family residential. Data downloaded May 4, 2026. All figures rounded.

Market analysis

Supply absorbed the spring influx without softening

Active listings reached 1,662 in April — up 9.0% from a year ago, but months of supply held at 2.55, matching April 2025 exactly. New listings (1,045) represent the largest monthly input in the 13-month dataset. The market absorbed new supply without adding inventory pressure — a meaningful distinction. Active listings peaked at 1,935 in October 2025; the April 2026 reading remains well below that ceiling.

Active listings: 1,662 (Apr 2026) vs 1,525 (Apr 2025) — +9.0% year over year
Months of supply: 2.55 — flat year over year, well below the November 2025 peak of 3.63
New listings: 1,045 — the highest monthly input in the 13-month reporting window

Pending sales reached a 13-month high

870 pending contracts in April is the highest reading in this dataset, outpacing April 2025 by 121 contracts. Closed sales of 651 also exceeded April 2025 (609) by 6.9%. The pending-to-active ratio of 52.3% — more than half of all active listings carrying contract interest — confirms strong buyer engagement entering peak season.

Pending contracts: 749 (Apr 2025) → 870 (Apr 2026) — +16.2% year over year
Closed sales: 609 (Apr 2025) → 651 (Apr 2026) — +6.9% year over year
Pending-to-active ratio: 52.3% — a strong absorption signal entering spring

Median price recovered to $401,025 after winter compression

The median sale price of $401,025 represents a full return from the October–February range of $380,000–$390,000. On a year-over-year basis, appreciation is 0.3% — stabilization rather than acceleration. The average sale price of $481,882 reflects continued upper-price-tier activity, up 4.7% from April 2025.

Median sale price: $399,900 (Apr 2025) → $401,025 (Apr 2026) — +0.3%
Average sale price: $460,046 (Apr 2025) → $481,882 (Apr 2026) — +4.7%
Winter low: $380,000 (Oct 2025) — full recovery confirmed in April 2026

Median days on market tightened sharply

Median days on market fell to 16 in April — down from 38 in February and 28 in March, the lowest reading since May 2025. Average DOM of 53 days reflects overpriced or condition-challenged inventory creating drag on the mean, but the median tells the operative story: correctly positioned properties are moving fast. The 37-day gap between average and median signals a two-speed market.

February 2026 peak: average 63 days / median 38 days
April 2026: average 53 days / median 16 days — lowest median in 11 months
A 37-day average-to-median gap signals meaningful overpriced inventory in the active pool

Pricing power improved to its strongest point in 13 months

The average active price reduction hit −5.35% in April — the most seller-favorable reading in the 13-month dataset. After peaking at −7.60% in July 2025, sellers have progressively needed less discounting to reach closing. The sale-to-original-list ratio of 96.7% is up from a December 2025 low of 94.5%, showing buyers are closing nearer to original asking price.

Average price reduction: −6.94% (Apr 2025) → −5.35% (Apr 2026) — improving
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.4% — consistent with a seller's market environment
Sale-to-original-list: 96.7%, up from the 94.5% December 2025 low

Three indicators to watch through May and June

The April data is constructive across all leading indicators. Three metrics to monitor as the market moves through Q2: First, whether the 870 pending contracts convert to closings at a normal rate — a high pending count with weak conversions would signal financing or inspection friction at scale. Second, new listing volume, which historically declines from May to June in this market — if that pattern repeats, absorption could tighten further. Third, whether the median sale price holds above $400,000 through summer. It failed to do so in 2025, dropping to $380,000 by October. Whether April's recovery holds is the key pricing question for the balance of the year.

Monitor May and June closed sales to confirm pending-to-closed conversion rates
Watch new listing volume for the seasonal pullback that tightens supply further
$400,000 median price floor: held in April 2026, untested through summer

What this means for buyers and sellers

For buyers

Median days on market is 16 — competitive offers must be prepared without delay.
Sale-to-original-list at 96.7% limits meaningful discount leverage on accurately priced properties.
2.55 months supply remains in seller's market territory — expect competition on well-priced homes.
New listings reached 1,045 — the largest monthly input since May 2025, providing more options than any winter month.
Extended average DOM (53 days) creates negotiating opportunity on overpriced inventory for patient, prepared buyers.

For sellers

870 pending contracts confirm strong buyer demand entering peak spring season.
Median price at $401,025 supports pricing confidence after a winter dip to $385,000.
Price reductions averaging −5.35% reward accurate initial pricing — overpricing still penalizes time on market.
651 April closings, up 18.6% from March, confirm buyers are actively transacting at pace.
The 1.7-point gap between sale-to-list and sale-to-original-list shows the market corrects inflated entry points. Price it right from day one.

Frequently asked questions — Knox County real estate

What is the median home price in Knox County, Tennessee in 2026?

The median sale price for single-family homes in Knox County was $401,025 in April 2026, up 0.3% from $399,900 in April 2025. After a winter compression that held the median between $380,000 and $390,000 from October 2025 through February 2026, prices recovered fully to spring 2025 levels by April 2026.

Is Knox County a seller's market or buyer's market?

Knox County is a seller's market as of April 2026. Months of supply stands at 2.55 — well below the six-month threshold that indicates a balanced market. With 870 pending contracts and a median of 16 days on market, demand is outpacing available inventory and sellers retain meaningful pricing leverage on accurately priced properties.

How long does it take to sell a house in Knox County?

The median days on market for Knox County single-family homes was 16 days in April 2026, down from 28 days in March and 38 days in February. Well-priced homes are selling quickly. The average of 53 days reflects overpriced or condition-challenged properties pulling the mean higher — the median is the more useful benchmark for sellers entering the spring market.

How many homes are for sale in Knox County right now?

There were 1,662 active single-family residential listings in Knox County in April 2026, up 9% from 1,525 in April 2025. New listings totaled 1,045 that month — the highest monthly input in the 13-month reporting window. While supply is growing, months of supply held flat at 2.55 because demand absorbed the additional inventory without a buildup.

What percentage of the asking price do sellers receive in Knox County?

In April 2026, Knox County sellers received an average of 96.7% of their original list price at closing, and 98.4% of their final list price. The sale-to-original-list ratio has improved from a December 2025 low of 94.5%, signaling tightening negotiation dynamics and stronger seller positioning heading into spring.

Is it a good time to buy a home in Knox County in 2026?

Active inventory in Knox County increased 9% year-over-year to 1,662 listings in April 2026, offering more options than at any point during winter. However, with 870 pending contracts and a median of 16 days on market, well-priced homes are moving quickly. Buyers who are pre-approved and prepared to act decisively will find more selection than winter offered — and significant competition on accurately priced properties.