One number jumped off the page when I pulled housing statistics for Tippecanoe County for the first half of 2026.
41.
That’s the average number of days it took for a home to sell through July 6, 2026. It’s the highest we’ve seen in years. That number tells us a lot about where today’s market stands.
Here’s how the first half of each year compares:
| Year | Homes Sold | Average Days on Market |
| 2020 | 1,083 | 25 |
| 2021 | 1,130 | 15 |
| 2022 | 1,091 | 14 |
| 2023 | 904 | 21 |
| 2024 | 916 | 23 |
| 2025 | 935 | 27 |
| 2026 | 965 | 41 |
There’s no question homes are taking longer to sell than they did just a few years ago. But there’s another number worth paying attention to.
Through July 6, 965 homes have sold in Tippecanoe County, compared to 935 during the same period last year. So while homes are spending more time on the market, buyers are still buying. They’re simply moving at a more normal pace than they did during the frenzy of 2021 and 2022. We’ve settled into a healthier, more balanced pace.
Mortgage rates continue to be the biggest factor influencing buyer behavior. We went from record-low rates around 2.65% in early 2021 to nearly 8% in late 2023. Rates briefly dipped below 6% earlier this year before settling back into the mid-6% range, where they sit today at 6.43%. That has changed how people shop for homes. Instead of feeling pressured to make an offer within hours, buyers are comparing homes more carefully, thinking through monthly payments, and negotiating a little more than they were a few years ago. That’s actually just what a balanced market looks like.
So, it is a buyer’s market? Not quite. Nationally, inventory has grown to about 4.5 months of supply, which is still below the six-month mark typically considered a balanced market. Existing home sales remain steady, and home prices continue to hold up. Here in Greater Lafayette, I’d describe today’s market as balanced, with a slight advantage for buyers compared to the last several years. Buyers have more choices, more time to make decisions, and in some cases, more room to negotiate.
Sellers still have something working in their favor, too. Well-priced, well-presented homes continue to attract strong interest, especially in desirable neighborhoods and realistic price ranges. So, for sellers, the strategy has changed. Pricing, presentation, and condition matter more than they did a few years ago. The days of putting almost any home on the market and expecting multiple offers by the weekend are mostly behind us. That doesn’t mean your home won’t sell. It means buyers have options, and they’re choosing carefully. The homes I’m seeing sell the fastest are the ones that look great online, are priced correctly from day one, and have been well maintained.
What’s happening in a $250,000 neighborhood in Lafayette may look very different from a luxury home in West Lafayette or an acreage property outside town. There are many more factors that will likely go into a specific buying or selling decision.
If you’re wondering what these numbers mean for your home, your neighborhood, or your next move, I’d love to help you put the local data into perspective.
Leave a Reply