Home Not Selling in Columbus?
When a Columbus home sits with few showings and no offers, the cause is almost always one of five things: the price is ahead of what's closing nearby, the photos and presentation aren't earning the click, the listing isn't reaching enough buyers, the timing is working against it, or showings are hard to book. All five are fixable, and the fix usually starts with an honest look at the numbers. Matt Cochrell, broker/owner and REALTOR® with MDC, helps homeowners in Columbus, Powell, Dublin and across Central Ohio sell after their home didn't.
This page is for you if your home is still listed and stalling, if it expired or you pulled it, or if you're getting ready to try again. Start with what's happening in the market right now, because that's what buyers are reacting to.
What's happening in Columbus right now
The Columbus market has more homes for sale than at any point in the past year, and sellers are giving up more of their asking price to get to closing.
| What the numbers show | September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Active listings | 7,058, up 6.3% from a year ago and up 51% from the February low of 4,669 |
| Months of supply | 2.71, the highest in the past 12 months |
| Sale price vs. original asking price | Homes closed at 96.4% of original list but 98.9% of final list. That 2.5-point gap is what sellers cut before an offer came. On the $337,000 median, it's roughly $12,000. |
| Average days on market by season | 24.5 days in June, 47 to 50 days in January and February. A home listed heading into winter should expect roughly twice the wait. |
| $500,000 and up | 1,916 active listings against 582 September sales, about 3.3 months of supply, versus about 2.4 months in the $300,000 to $499,999 range |
Source: Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS market summary data, residential, October 2025 through September 2026, analyzed by Matt Cochrell.
Two things stand out. First, the typical seller who closed in September started about 3.6% above where the home actually sold, which usually means a price cut after weeks of sitting instead of a strong start. Second, the $500,000-and-up market is the most crowded it has been all year, so homes in Powell, Dublin, New Albany and Upper Arlington are competing with more neighbors than they were in the spring.
Why Columbus homes stall
These are the usual reasons a listing sits. They're general patterns, not a verdict on your home.
- Price is ahead of the comps. Buyers compare your home to the five or six most similar homes that closed in the last 90 days, not to what's listed. If the asking price leans on what a neighbor is asking rather than what a neighbor got, showings dry up fast.
- The photos aren't earning the click. Most buyers decide whether to tour from the first three photos on their phone. Dim rooms, clutter, or an exterior shot taken in bad light cost more showings than most sellers realize.
- Exposure is thin. A listing needs to be syndicated everywhere, described well, and promoted to buyer agents working in your price range. If it's only on the MLS with a short description, it's being outworked.
- Timing worked against it. A home that went live in late November is fighting the slowest weeks of the year. That's not a flaw in the home. It does change the plan.
- Showings are hard to book. Restricted hours, 24-hour notice, or a tenant in place all shrink the pool of buyers who ever walk through.
What Matt Cochrell does differently with a home that didn't sell
When Matt takes over a listing that sat, Matt doesn't start with the yard sign. Matt starts with the numbers.
- A data-driven price reset. Matt holds a Master's in Business Analytics and prices against what is actually closing in your price band and neighborhood right now, not against what other sellers are hoping for. The goal is a number that earns showings in the first two weeks, because that's when buyer interest is highest.
- A real rent number next to the relaunch plan. MDC manages more than 1,000 properties across Central Ohio, so Matt can tell you what your home would realistically rent for and what that would net you. Some sellers relist. Some lease for a year and sell into a stronger spring. You decide with both numbers in front of you.
- A full relaunch, led by the broker. New photography, a rewritten description, fresh syndication, re-entry timed around the MLS days-on-market rules, and Matt personally on the listing rather than handing it off.
Already listed with another agent?
Your listing agreement is with your current brokerage, so the right first step is a direct conversation with your agent about what's changed and what the plan is from here. Many stalls get solved that way. If your listing has ended, or your brokerage has released you, Matt is glad to talk through a fresh approach with no obligation.
Common questions from Columbus sellers
Why isn't my house selling when the market is supposed to be strong?
Central Ohio is still relatively tight by national standards, but it has loosened. Active listings were up 51% from February to September 2026, so buyers have more to choose from and more room to wait. A price or presentation that would have worked in 2024 can sit in 2026.
How long should a house be on the market in Columbus before I worry?
In September 2026 the average Columbus-area home spent about 32 days on the market, and the median was 14. If you've passed 30 days with few showings and no offers, something in price, presentation, or exposure needs to change. Waiting rarely fixes it on its own.
Should I lower my price, and by how much?
Only if the comps say so. Sellers who closed in September 2026 gave up about 2.5% between their final list price and the price they started at. A single meaningful adjustment that lands you in a new search bracket almost always beats a series of small trims that buyers read as hesitation.
What happens when my listing expires?
Your home comes off the MLS and off the public sites. Nothing is owed and nothing changes about the home. Your listing agreement may include a protection period that applies to buyers who saw the home while it was listed, so read it and ask your current brokerage before you sign anything new.
Can I cancel my listing agreement in Ohio?
In Ohio, most listing agreements are exclusive right to sell contracts with a set term. Some brokerages will release a seller on request; others will hold to the term or ask to be reimbursed for marketing costs. Read your agreement, talk to your current brokerage first, and consult an attorney if you need legal advice. Matt won't advise you to break a contract.
Does relisting reset days on market?
It depends on the MLS rules and how long the home was off the market. Buyer websites also show listing history, so a short break rarely hides anything. A relist works when the price, photos, or marketing are different, not because the clock looks new.
Talk it through with Matt
If your Columbus home is sitting, came off the market, or you're thinking about trying again, email Matt Cochrell at matt@mdclimited.com. You'll get a second opinion on the price, the presentation, and a realistic rent number, with no pressure to relist.
About Matt Cochrell
Matt Cochrell, broker/owner and REALTOR® with MDC, helps homeowners in Columbus, Powell, Dublin and across Central Ohio sell after their home didn't. Matt has been licensed in Ohio since 2004 and holds an MBA and a Master's in Business Analytics. MDC is a full-service Columbus brokerage and property management company headquartered at 685 S Front St in the Brewery District.