If you’ve been watching the Main Line real estate market this winter, you probably already felt it: things are moving faster. Not just anecdotally — the numbers back it up. Federal Reserve economic data pulled from Realtor.com via FRED (the St. Louis Fed’s economic database) shows that the spring 2026 selling season is arriving early across Chester and Montgomery counties, and sellers who are under contract right now are booking their moving crews for March, April, and May.
At LiteMovers, we’ve been serving the Greater Philadelphia area since 2007, and we watch these market signals closely — because when homes sell fast, moves happen fast. Here’s what the latest data is telling us.
What “Median Days on Market” Means (And Why It Matters If You’re Moving)
Median days on market (DOM) measures how long homes sit on Realtor.com before going under contract, pending, or off-market. It’s one of the cleanest real-time signals of buyer demand in a local market. When DOM drops, buyers are acting quickly, competitive offers are flying, and sellers are closing faster — which means they need to be move-ready faster too.
The national median DOM as of November 2025 stood at 64 days, according to FRED’s U.S. housing inventory data. The Main Line suburbs are running well ahead of that pace.
Chester County: The Market Is Already Waking Up
Chester County — home to communities like Wayne, Malvern, West Chester, Paoli, and Berwyn — posted a median DOM of 44 days in February 2026, down sharply from 68 days in January. Here’s the recent trend:
| Month | Chester County DOM |
|---|---|
| October 2025 | 34 |
| November 2025 | 43 |
| December 2025 | 63 |
| January 2026 | 68 |
| February 2026 | 44 |
Source: Realtor.com / FRED — Housing Inventory: Median Days on Market, Chester County PA
The December-January slowdown is completely normal — it mirrors the holiday lull you see in almost every suburban Philadelphia market every year. What matters is what February does. And this February? Chester County snapped right back to near-fall levels, signaling that motivated buyers returned to the market immediately after the new year and are actively competing for inventory.
The practical implication: a home listed in Chester County in February 2026 was going under contract in roughly six weeks. That seller needed a moving crew in the same timeframe.
Montgomery County: Slightly Slower, Still Well Ahead of the National Average
Montgomery County — which covers communities like Blue Bell, Lansdale, Horsham, Jenkintown, Ambler, and Glenside — posted a median DOM of 53 days in February 2026, compared to 64 days nationally. Here’s the recent trend:
| Month | Montgomery County DOM |
|---|---|
| October 2025 | 38 |
| November 2025 | 43 |
| December 2025 | 52 |
| January 2026 | 64 |
| February 2026 | 53 |
Source: Realtor.com / FRED — Housing Inventory: Median Days on Market, Montgomery County PA
Montgomery County’s pattern echoes Chester County’s, with January representing the peak winter slowdown before buyers came back in February. At 53 days, Montgomery is tracking close to a national pace — but remember, the national figure is lagged (last reported November 2025), and if the same spring bounce applies nationally, the gap will likely widen again as we move into March and April.
What This Means for Main Line Sellers in March 2026
If you list your home in Chester or Montgomery County this month, the data suggests you should plan for a relatively swift timeline. Homes in Chester County are closing in roughly six weeks from list date; in Montgomery County, closer to seven to eight weeks. Factor in a two-to-four week period to prepare your home after accepting an offer, and the window between “accepted offer” and “move-out day” can compress quickly.
That’s why we always tell Main Line sellers: don’t wait until you’re under contract to call your moving company. The best local crews — especially for larger homes, luxury moves, or relocations involving seniors — book out four to six weeks in advance during peak spring season. By the time you’re signing closing paperwork, you may have very few options left.
Planning a Spring 2026 Move on the Main Line?
LiteMovers has been moving families across Chester and Montgomery counties — and throughout the Greater Philadelphia region — since 2007. We specialize in local residential moves, senior relocations, and white-glove moves for high-value homes and estates. We know the neighborhoods, the driveways, the parking restrictions, and the building requirements from Wayne to West Chester to Glenside.
If you’re under contract — or just starting to think about your next move — we’d love to talk. Request a free estimate online or call us at (610) 825-8800. Spring books fast on the Main Line. Let’s get your date on the calendar.
Data source: Realtor.com Housing Inventory Core Metrics, retrieved via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis FRED database. Chester County data updated March 6, 2026. Montgomery County data updated March 6, 2026.
