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September 2026 Alabama Gulf Coast Market Update

What's happening in real estate across the Alabama Gulf Coast?

This month's market update looks at the latest residential sales activity in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, including home prices, closed sales, days on market, and how current activity compares with last year.

Because different parts of our area can behave very differently, we'll look at each market separately rather than combining everything into one set of numbers.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or simply keeping an eye on your local real estate market, here's what the September 2026 data is showing us.

Baldwin County Market — September 2026

Baldwin County's residential market is reported in two categories: Traditional Residential and Resort/Island-Based properties. Looking at them separately gives us a clearer picture because these two segments can behave very differently.

Traditional Residential

For September 2026, Baldwin REALTORS® reported:

Average Sales Price: $422,269
↑ 6.76% compared with September 2025

Average Days on Market: 67 days
↓ 6.94% compared with September 2025

Closed Sales: 482
↓ 17.61% compared with September 2025

What We're Seeing

Baldwin County's traditional residential market showed a higher average sales price and fewer closed sales than September of last year, while homes that sold spent less time on the market.

Closed sales were down 17.61% compared with September 2025, even as the average sales price increased 6.76%.

That combination is a good reminder that higher average sales prices don't necessarily mean more homes are selling.

The increase in average sales price also does not mean every Baldwin County home increased in value by 6.76%. The types, locations, sizes, and price points of homes sold during the month can affect the average.

That's why we look at several indicators—and the individual property's local market—rather than relying on one countywide statistic to determine what a particular home is worth.

Resort/Island-Based

Baldwin County's resort and island-based market showed a different pattern from the traditional residential market in September.

For September 2026, Baldwin REALTORS® reported:

Average Sales Price: $868,897
↑ 20.56% compared with September 2025

Average Days on Market: 131 days
↑ 7.38% compared with September 2025

Closed Sales: 173
↓ 7.49% compared with September 2025

What We're Seeing

The resort/island-based market had a significantly higher average sales price than September of last year, while fewer properties closed and those that sold spent longer on the market.

The 20.56% increase in average sales price stands out, especially compared with the more modest increase in Baldwin County's traditional residential market.

However, that doesn't mean individual resort or island properties increased in value by 20.56%. A change in the mix of properties sold—including waterfront locations, property sizes, and higher-priced homes or condos—can have a substantial effect on the monthly average.

Another interesting difference is the time properties spent on the market. While traditional residential homes that sold spent less time on the market than a year ago, resort/island-based properties took longer on average.

For buyers and sellers, the important takeaway is that location and property type matter, even within the same county.

Mobile County Market — September 2026

The Mobile County report separates the residential market into Residential Detached and Residential Attached properties. As with Baldwin County, looking at the segments separately gives us a better picture of what's happening.

Residential Detached

For September 2026, First Multiple Listing Service reported:

Average Sales Price: $274,880
↓ 1.8% compared with September 2025

Days on Market Until Sale: 56 days
↑ 3.7% compared with September 2025

Closed Sales: 388
↑ 12.8% compared with September 2025

What We're Seeing

Mobile County's detached residential market showed more closed sales but a slightly lower average sales price than September of last year, while homes that sold took a little longer.

Closed sales increased 12.8%, from 344 in September 2025 to 388 in September 2026. Meanwhile, the average sales price decreased 1.8%, and days on market until sale increased from 54 days to 56 days.

This is an interesting contrast to Baldwin County's traditional residential market, where closed sales were lower than a year ago.

As with Baldwin County, these countywide numbers provide a broad view of the market. They don't tell us what every individual home, neighborhood, or price range is doing.

Residential Attached

For September 2026, First Multiple Listing Service reported:

Average Sales Price: $261,269
↑ 9.5% compared with September 2025

Days on Market Until Sale: 56 days
↑ 1.8% compared with September 2025

Closed Sales: 8
↓ 33.3% compared with September 2025

What We're Seeing

Mobile County's attached residential market had a higher average sales price than September of last year, while fewer properties closed and those that sold spent slightly longer on the market.

One important piece of context: only 8 attached properties closed during September 2026, compared with 12 in September 2025.

With such a small number of sales, percentage changes can look particularly dramatic. The 33.3% decline in closed sales represents a difference of just four transactions.

The source report itself cautions that percentage changes can appear extreme when the sample size is small.

That's why it's especially important to consider the number of transactions behind the statistics when looking at this segment of the market.

What Does This Mean for Buyers and Sellers?

September's numbers are another reminder that there isn't one single “Alabama Gulf Coast real estate market.”

Baldwin County's traditional residential and resort/island-based markets both recorded higher average sales prices but fewer closed sales compared with September 2025.

Mobile County's detached residential market, meanwhile, recorded more closed sales but a slightly lower average sales price. Its attached residential market showed a different pattern again.

That's why broad headlines about the market don't always tell you very much about your particular situation.

If You're Buying

Buyers may find opportunities in today's market, but conditions can vary considerably depending on where and what you're buying.

Rather than trying to time the entire market based on one statistic, it can be more helpful to look closely at:

• Recent comparable sales

• Current competition in the area

• How long individual properties have been on the market

• Property condition

• Pricing compared with similar available homes

• Your own budget, financing, and plans

A property that's been available for a while may present a very different situation from a newly listed home receiving strong buyer interest.

If You're Selling

September's numbers certainly don't mean homes aren't selling.

They do reinforce the importance of understanding your specific market when deciding how to position your home.

Even in areas where average sales prices increased, closed sales were not necessarily higher. That makes it important to consider more than just the latest price statistics.

Pricing, condition, location, competition, property type, and current buyer activity can all affect the selling experience.

Countywide statistics provide useful background, but when you're preparing to sell, looking at recent comparable sales and the homes currently competing with yours gives you a much more property-specific picture.

The Biggest Takeaway From September

Sales activity and average sales prices don't always move in the same direction.

September provided several examples of this across Baldwin and Mobile Counties.

Both Baldwin County market segments reported higher average sales prices but fewer closed sales than a year ago. Mobile County's detached residential market showed the opposite combination, with more closed sales but a slightly lower average sales price.

That's why we use broader market statistics as context, not as a substitute for evaluating an individual property.

Instead of simply asking:

“Is it a good market or a bad market?”

A more useful question may be:

“What's happening right now for the type of property I'm interested in and in the area I'm considering?”

That's where looking more closely at the local market becomes valuable.

Data Sources & Important Notes

Market statistics in this update are provided for general informational purposes and represent broader market activity. They should not be used to determine the value of an individual property.

Baldwin County: September 2026 residential market statistics are from Baldwin REALTORS®, which reports Traditional Residential and Resort/Island-Based market activity separately.

Mobile County: September 2026 residential market statistics are from First Multiple Listing Service, which reports Residential Detached and Residential Attached market activity separately. The Mobile County report was current as of October 10, 2026.

The Mobile County source also notes that its sales-price figures do not account for sale concessions and/or downpayment assistance.

Market statistics can change as transactions are entered or updated, and countywide data may not reflect conditions in a particular neighborhood, price range, or property type.

For a property-specific look at current market conditions, recent comparable sales and competing listings should be evaluated.

Related Resources

Community Guides
Learn more about the communities we serve throughout the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Buying
Explore our buyer resources for information about the home-buying process.

Selling
Explore our seller resources for information about preparing for and navigating a home sale.

Have Questions?

Market statistics can give you a helpful look at the bigger picture, but real estate is local—and sometimes the numbers that matter most are the ones closest to your particular home or the area where you're considering buying.

If you're wondering what current market conditions could mean for your plans in Baldwin or Mobile County, we're happy to take a closer look with you.

Dana & John Martin – Team Martin
Associate Brokers | Waters Edge Realty
318-504-9925 | 504-450-2714
ALGulfCoastAgents@gmail.com