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The Greater Nashville Area’s housing market has shifted from breakneck competition to a more balanced, opportunity-rich phase. However, affordability and local demand still influence every transaction. Average sale prices remain higher than the national average, and inventory has also increased, resulting in homes staying on the market longer than they did last year at this time.

Over a decade ago, in early 2013, journalist Kim Severson of The New York Times dubbed Nashville the “It City” in an article titled Nashville’s Latest Big Hit Could Be the City Itself.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 7, 2026) – Final numbers for 2025 indicate there were 33,737 homes sold in the region, compared to the 33,935 closings in 2024. The total sales for 2025 were down half a percent compared to 2024.

I’m Jack Gaughan, 2026 president of Greater Nashville REALTORS®, a Nashville native, and managing broker with RE/MAX Choice Properties. I’m a third-generation REALTOR® and a third-generation association president. Both of my parents, along with my grandfather, previously served as president of the Sumner Association of REALTORS®. Those are big shoes to fill, but I’m honored to serve our association this year and proud to work in an industry that has given my family a terrific life. More importantly, I’m proud of the role REALTORS® play every day helping clients across Middle Tennessee build stability, opportunity, and generational wealth through homeownership.

As a REALTOR® who works closely with families, investors, and first-time buyers, I’ve noticed more and more conversations surrounding a new trend in home financing, the 50-year mortgage. Yes, you read that right. Half a century of payments. So, let’s unpack what this means for you, the pros, cons, and what to really consider before signing on that dotted line.

As Heraclitus of Ephesus famously quoted the only constant is change, there is one lesson I will undoubtedly carry with me into 2026 after my year serving as president of Greater Nashville Realtors. Leaning into the inevitable obstacles that will arise to enact meaningful change is an essential step toward progress.

The end of the year is quickly approaching, and as the holiday season fills calendars with travel, family time, and a chance to slow down, the housing market tends to follow suit. This time of year typically brings a natural pause in activity, and the latest home sale figures for November reflect that familiar seasonal lull.

Housing affordability remains a central focus in Washington, DC, and Nashville has felt the crisis firsthand. Following significant public and industry pushback on the proposed 50-year mortgage, the administration has shifted its focus to exploring portable and assumable mortgage options. A portable mortgage would allow a homeowner to transfer their existing loan – and its lower interest rate- to a new property, potentially easing the “lock-in” effect that keeps many homeowners from selling. More than half of US homeowners currently hold rates below 4%, creating a major barrier to mobility.