Fargo-Moorhead Home Sales Up 6% Despite Decline in Grand Forks
News related to:The Elm Group · 2 min read
FARGO, ND, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Elm Group, a real estate brokerage firm, reported a 6% increase in home sales in the Fargo-Moorhead region through September 2026, according to a year-to-date analysis of local MLS data. The increase contrasts with a 10.7% decline in sales in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, where the median sale price rose by 4.7% to $314,000.
In the broader Fargo-Moorhead market, which includes Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Horace, the number of closed sales reached 2,040 in 2026, up 6.0% from 1,924 in 2025. The median sale price in this region increased by 2.5% to $325,000, while the total sales volume rose by 10.4% to $758.7 million.
The decrease in sales in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, which includes Grand Forks and East Grand Forks proper, saw 525 homes sold in 2026, down 10.7% from 588 in 2025. The median sale price in this area increased by 4.7% to $314,000. Notably, the median time to contract shortened from 20 days to 16 days.
The rise in median sale prices does not necessarily indicate a uniform increase in home values. In Fargo-Moorhead, 28% of homes sold this year had a price reduction from their original list price, compared with 18% in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. The median Fargo-Moorhead home sold for 99.3% of its original list price, while the median Grand Forks home sold at 100%. In Fargo-Moorhead, 45% of sales included a seller contribution toward the buyer's costs, with a median contribution of $5,600, up from 42% and $5,000 a year earlier.
Jim Rentfrow, a real estate agent with The Elm Group who works in both Fargo and Grand Forks, commented on the market dynamics.
The data also highlights a shift in the market's negotiation landscape. In Fargo-Moorhead, 28% of homes sold this year had a price reduction from their original list price, compared with 18% in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks. The median Fargo-Moorhead home sold for 99.3% of its original list price, while the median Grand Forks home sold at 100%. In Fargo-Moorhead, 45% of sales included a seller contribution toward the buyer's costs, with a median contribution of $5,600, up from 42% and $5,000 a year earlier.
For buyers, the increase in sales in Fargo-Moorhead while the median sale price rose modestly offers a mixed market. In Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, homes that sold went under contract in a median of 16 days. In either market, having financing ready before making an offer is crucial.
For sellers, the rise in median sale prices in both markets indicates a need to price homes accurately. Recent sales of comparable homes nearby remain the best guide to pricing.