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Four Counties. Four Conversations. | Finger Lakes Newsletter | Issue #4 | January 15th, 2026

Finger Lakes Market Truth — Issue #4

If you work across the Finger Lakes, December made one thing very clear:

We are not in one market — we’re in four very different ones.

And that matters more than ever for how agents price, position, and advise clients.  Let’s break down what actually happened in Ontario, Seneca, Yates, and Livingston counties.

The Big Picture

Across the four Finger Lakes counties in December:

  • Median price: $255,000 (up 2% year-over-year) 
  • Homes sold: 183 (down slightly from last year, but up 26% from November)
  • Months of supply: 1.1 (very tight) 
  • List-to-sale price: 102.1% (homes selling over asking) 

So even with fewer listings in December, buyers were still active — which kept competition strong.

But when you zoom in by county, the story becomes much more nuanced.

Ontario County — Strong Prices, More Selective Buyers

  • Median price: $300,000 (up 17.6% YoY) 
  • Days on market: 23 (up 53% YoY) 
  • Months of supply: 1.0 
  • List-to-sale: 103.6% 

Ontario County is still commanding strong prices — but buyers are taking longer to decide. This is a market where pricing and positioning matter more than ever.

Livingston County — Tight, But Price-Sensitive

  • Median price: $210,000 (down 11% YoY) 
  • Days on market: 17 
  • Months of supply: 0.8 
  • List-to-sale: 102.7% 

Livingston remains competitive, but buyers are more value-driven. Homes that are priced well move quickly — those that aren’t feel the slowdown.

Seneca County — Where “Tryers” vs Sellers Shows Up

  • Median price: $183,500 (down 26.4% YoY) 
  • Days on market: 25 
  • Months of supply: 1.3 
  • List-to-sale: 97.8% 

Seneca County is more balanced — and that’s where expectation-setting really matters. Overpricing hurts here. Real sellers win; tryers struggle.

Yates County — Premium Market, Patient Buyers

  • Median price: $338,000 (up 7.3% YoY) 
  • Days on market: 68 
  • Months of supply: 1.4 
  • List-to-sale: 98.7% 

Yates remains one of the highest-priced counties — but it’s also the slowest moving. This is an emotional, lifestyle-driven market that requires patience and careful pricing.

What This Means for Finger Lakes Agents

If you work in more than one county, you’re not just changing ZIP codes — you’re changing buyer psychology.

  • Ontario = professionalism
  • Livingston = value
  • Seneca = realism
  • Yates = patience

The agents who thrive in 2026 won’t be the loudest — they’ll be the ones who can adjust their conversation based on where the client is standing.

So What?

One thing this data makes clear is that we’re no longer in a market where one script works everywhere.

We’re in a market that rewards judgment.

The strongest agents in 2026 won’t be the ones who know the most stats — they’ll be the ones who know how to read the room.
They’ll understand when a client needs urgency… and when they need reassurance.
When to push… and when to pause.

That’s leadership in real estate.

And this is the season when it shows up.

Markets like Ontario and Wayne require confidence.
Markets like Yates and Seneca require patience.
Markets like Livingston require clarity around value.

There’s no single right way — only the right approach for the moment.

The agents who thrive in the Finger Lakes this year will be the ones who:

  • listen carefully
  • adjust thoughtfully
  • and stay grounded even when the market feels uneven

That’s how momentum is built — not through noise, but through steady, intentional leadership.