The May housing numbers are in for Rutherford County, and they tell a tale of two markets. Last month served up a contradictory mix of cooling sales and rising contract activity—proof that navigating this market requires both data and strategy. Read on for our in-depth look at the most current local market data .



Closed Sales at 6-Year Seasonal Low

Let’s start with the headline: only 498 homes closed in May 2025—a 13% drop from May 2024, making this the slowest May for closings since we started tracking the seasonal data back in 2018. That’s a strong signal that overall buyer activity is down. But things get a little more interesting when you look at pending sales.

In a twist, pending sales were up 15% compared to last May. So while fewer homes closed last month, more are under contract heading into summer. That’s a promising sign—but not all pendings will make it to closing, so it’s something to watch closely. Last summer closings dropped sharply in June, but that was also on the heels of mortgage rates spiking above 7% the month prior. Interest rates, as always, are the key to the real estate market and 7% seems to be the magic number that causes the market to lock up. 

Is Rutherford County Entering a Buyer's Market?

In most price points, listings are starting to outnumber buyers—particularly in the resale sector. That dynamic gives buyers more leverage and places increased importance on smart pricing strategies for sellers. Inventory continues to climb. Active listings are up 42% to 1432 listings, the highest since we started tracking in 2018. Meanwhile months of supply now sits at 3.5 months vs. 2.22 months a year ago. And in the executive and luxury markets we're already in a buyer's market, with homes priced $600K and up at over 5 months supply.

Price Per Square Foot is Increasingly Misleading

When looking at overall price per square foot, it can be a little bit misleading. On new construction in particular, there are two important factors to consider. Builders are building smaller homes, but also they are rolling in incentives to the final sales price. Take for instance that $10,000 rate buy-down. It's a great thing for the buyer, often saving them hundreds on their monthly payments, but it inflates the price per square foot. This because the data doesn't take into account that $10,000 of the sale price wasn't actually for the home. These two factors are making price even harder to gauge. The local micro-market data is more crucial than ever!

Pricing Matters—Big Time

Nationwide, 67% of homes are selling under list price. Locally, 38% of homes that sold in Rutherford County this May required a price reduction. If a listing misses the mark on price, it costs both time and money. It’s not a crime to be wrong on price—but once you know you’re wrong, get it down and get it sold.

Team Highlight: Outperforming the Market

While the market overall was down 13% year-over-year, our team sold 40 homes in May – nearly double our total from last May. My congratulations and sincere thanks to our entire team for their hard work and dedication. I'd also like to thank our all of our clients, who have trusted JJRE with one of the biggest investments you'll likely ever make. We're gaining serious momentum in a challenging market, and it's a true pleasure to have the opportunity to serve this community.

This isn’t a runaway seller’s market anymore. Listings are sitting longer, buyers are negotiating harder, and pricing correctly from day one has never been more critical. Whether you’re buying or selling, make sure your strategy is grounded in real data—and that you have the right team behind you.

Ready to talk real estate? Call John Jones Real Estate at 615-867-3020