Strafford had 37 homes for sale at the end of September 2026, up 85.0% from a year ago and the most supply relative to sales in this report. Seven homes closed at a median of $350,000, and new contracts fell to 5 from 10.
Here is what the growing inventory means, and why the year-to-date price dip is not what it looks like.
Absorption rate: 4.27 months. Strafford has 4.27 months of supply at the current sales pace. Under 6 months is generally a seller’s market; 3 to 6 months still favors sellers, but buyers have more room.
The one town where buyers have real choice
Strafford’s absorption rate was 4.27 months of supply, the highest in this report and the only city above four months. Active listings nearly doubled from 20 to 37. New contracts were 5 against 10, and the median home took 32 days to go under contract, the slowest in this report, against 7.5 a year ago. Homes still sold at 96.8% of final list price.
| Price band | September 2025 sold | September 2026 sold | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200K – $250K | 1 | 1 | 0% |
| $250K – $300K | 2 | 0 | −100% |
| $300K – $400K | 3 | 4 | +33% |
| $400K – $500K | 0 | 2 | N/A |
Source: Southern Missouri Regional MLS via Flexmls, September 2026 vs. September 2025, residential closed sales with a reported sale price, Strafford (Greene County), MO.
More sales, a lower year-to-date median
Strafford’s year has been about growth. Year-to-date sales are 86 against 52, up 65.4%, the largest increase in this report, and new listings are up 74.1%. The year-to-date median is $282,500, down 10.3% from $314,850. That is new, mid-priced supply changing the mix of what sells, not existing homes losing value. September’s median of $350,000 came from seven sales, most of them between $300,000 and $500,000.
What buyers should know right now
- Relative to how fast homes sell, Strafford has more supply than any other city in this report: 4.27 months, with 40 active listings as of October 2.
- Most of the inventory is priced high. The median active listing was $478,952, and only 6 were under $300,000.
- Homes are taking longer to sell, a median of 32 days in September. That gives you time to compare and negotiate.
- Strafford sits on I-44 just east of Springfield, in the Strafford R-VI district. Year-to-date prices are lower than 2025, which makes this a good time to look.
What sellers should know right now
- You are competing with 37 other listings, nearly double a year ago. Price and condition decide who sells.
- Buyers are taking more time: 32 days to contract in September. Plan for a longer listing period than last year.
- Price against recent Strafford closings. The median active listing ($478,952) is far above the year-to-date median sale ($282,500).
- Homes that are priced right still sold at 96.8% of list price, so a correctly priced home does not have to give much up.
Year-to-date trends (Jan–Sep 2026 vs. 2025)
Strafford sellers face more competition, relative to sales, than anywhere else in our report. Find out how to price yours with a real, agent-reviewed valuation.
Or call Zac directly at 417-413-4305 for a 10-minute market conversation.
What this means for the rest of 2026
Strafford’s year to date shows 86 closings and 96 new contracts, both well above 2025. In September, though, inventory rose while new contracts fell. With 4.27 months of supply and fewer new contracts in September, expect more negotiation and longer selling times this fall, especially above $400,000.
The bigger picture
Strafford is the area’s growth story in 2026: more listings, more sales and more new homes. That growth has shifted the balance toward buyers more than in any other town in this report. Seven sales in a month is a small sample, but the inventory trend has been building all year.
Strafford real estate: frequently asked questions
Is now a good time to buy a home in Strafford, MO?
Strafford had 37 active listings in September 2026, up 85.0% from a year ago, with 4.27 months of supply, the most of the eight cities in our report. Buyers have more choice and more time to negotiate in Strafford than anywhere else in the area right now.
Are home prices going up or down in Strafford, MO?
Strafford’s September 2026 median was $350,000, up 20.1% from a year ago, on just seven sales. The year-to-date median is $282,500, down 10.3% from 2025, mostly because more mid-priced homes are selling.
How fast do homes sell in Strafford, MO?
The median Strafford home that sold in September 2026 went under contract in 32 days of cumulative market time, compared with 7.5 a year earlier, the slowest of the eight cities in our report.
How much does a home cost in Strafford, MO?
Strafford homes sold at a median of $350,000 in September 2026, with a year-to-date median of $282,500. The median active listing was priced at $478,952 as of October 2.
Figures reflect residential sales in Strafford (Greene County), MO for September 2026 compared with September 2025, pulled from the Southern Missouri Regional MLS via Flexmls on October 2, 2026. Sold counts, prices and price bands use closed sales with a reported sale price. Days on market is the median CDOM (cumulative days on market). Active inventory, pending sales, new listings, sale-to-list ratios and absorption are the MLS monthly statistics. Year-to-date figures cover January through September. Prior-month figures can shift slightly as late sales are recorded. Market data is provided for general information and is not a guarantee of future results or a substitute for professional or financial advice.