Published October 25, 2026 in Market Update

Forest Grove inventory stays tight as more buyers step in

By Tony Apa

Real estate, Forest Grove

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 98 homes for sale in ZIP 97116 during the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 33.3% from the same period a year before. Fewer choices for buyers can work in a seller's favor, but only if the price is right.

At the same time, Realtor.com reported that active listings nationally topped 1.16 million in September 2026. Forest Grove is moving in the opposite direction from the country as a whole. That gap matters if you are deciding where to list or where to buy.

Buyers are moving faster

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 100 pending sales in ZIP 97116 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 14.9% from a year before. More buyers are committing, even as supply shrinks.

Speed is up too. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median days on market at 30 days for that same period. That is 33 days shorter than the same months in 2025. One in three homes, exactly 33%, went under contract within two weeks of listing, up 16.9 points from a year before.

Prices dipped a little, but sellers are still getting close to asking

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price in ZIP 97116 at $520,000 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 2.8% from the same period a year before. A small dip, not a slide. Sellers are still getting 99.7% of their list price on average, up 0.1 points from a year ago.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator also found that 23.5% of homes sold above list price, up 6 points from a year before. Not every home sold fast or over asking, but the share that did is growing.

Rates are a real factor right now

Realtor.com reported that mortgage rates climbed above 7% for the first time since January 2025. That affects what buyers can afford. It also explains why some buyers are moving quickly when they find the right home at the right price.

CNBC reported that a monthly payment on a median-priced home took up 33% of a median family's income in 2025, up from 26% in 2022. Affordability is tighter than it was. That is worth knowing whether you are buying or pricing a home to sell.

What 3.1 months of supply means for you

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put months of supply in ZIP 97116 at 3.1 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 2.5 months from a year before. Below six months generally favors sellers. Above six months generally favors buyers. Forest Grove sits well below that line right now.

New listings did tick up. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 128 new listings in ZIP 97116 for that period, up 5.8% from a year before. More sellers are coming in. But with 98 homes sold and 100 pending, demand is keeping pace.

One more thing: these numbers cover all of ZIP 97116. One street can read very differently from the whole ZIP code. A block near downtown Forest Grove may move faster or slower than the data above suggests. Reply and I can tell you what is happening closer to your address.