Ice Storm vs. Murfreesboro Real Estate: How the 2026 Ice Storm Impacted the Rutherford County Housing Market

The ice storm of 2026 hit Middle Tennessee hard this week. Roads were covered, power lines came down, and a lot of normal activity came to a stop. That includes the real estate market. In this week's video, I break down how the storm showed up in the Murfreesboro housing numbers and what it means heading into February.

Inventory Dropped Nearly 100 Homes in One Week

One of the biggest things that jumped out this week is the drop in active inventory. Rutherford County went from 1,313 active homes last week down to 1,254 this week. The week before that we had 1,352. So over the past two weeks, nearly 100 homes have come off the market.

Some of that is normal seasonal movement. Listings expire, sellers pull their homes off the market, and new listings have not ramped up yet. But the ice storm added another layer. It is hard to get good listing photos when there is ice and snow all over the ground. Some sellers likely delayed putting their homes on the market because of the weather.

We will find out over the next week or two whether there is pent-up supply waiting to come back. If we see a spike in new listings over the next couple of weeks, that is a sign sellers were just waiting for the weather to clear.

Pending Sales Slowed but the Market Did Not Stop

This week 64 homes went under contract across Rutherford County. That is down almost half from last week, but that is not surprising. When the roads are icy and showings get cancelled, fewer contracts are going to be written.

What is encouraging is that 52 homes still closed this week. Closings are a lagging indicator because those contracts were written weeks ago, but it shows the pipeline is still moving. Buyers who were already under contract pushed through and got to the closing table.

We also saw 59 new listings hit the market this week, which is lower than recent weeks. Combined with the 77 homes that expired or were cancelled, the net result is a market that tightened up.

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Below 3 Months Supply of Inventory

Rutherford County is now below 3 months supply of inventory. Over the past six months, 2,565 homes have sold in the county. When you compare that to the number of active listings, the supply is getting tighter.

Below $500,000, inventory is especially tight. This is the price range where most buyers in Murfreesboro are looking, and there simply are not as many homes available as there were a few months ago. The $800,000 and above range is also showing surprisingly low supply right now.

For sellers, this is worth paying attention to. Fewer homes on the market means less competition. For buyers, it means you need to be prepared to move quickly when the right home comes along, especially in that under-$500,000 range.

January Month-End Numbers Are Coming

January ended on a Friday this year, which means not all real estate offices have updated the MLS yet. That makes it hard to pull complete month-end data on a Sunday. I will have the full January recap in next week's update.

What I can tell you is that the early signs point to a solid start to 2026. We have seen steady buyer activity throughout January, and the trends we have been tracking since the beginning of the year continue to hold. More on that next week when the numbers are complete.

What This Means If You Are Thinking About Buying or Selling in Murfreesboro

If you are a seller, the combination of dropping inventory and steady buyer demand is working in your favor. The ice storm created a temporary pause, but the underlying market is healthy. If you have been waiting to list your home, the spring market is right around the corner and getting a head start on the competition could work to your advantage.

If you are a buyer, do not let a slow week fool you. The demand is still there. Inventory under $500,000 is tight and it is not likely to loosen up much as we move into the spring selling season. Having your financing in order and being ready to act when the right home hits the market puts you in the best position.

Weather events like the ice storm are temporary disruptions. The fundamentals of the Murfreesboro real estate market have not changed. Inventory is tightening, buyers are active, and we are heading into what looks like a strong spring.

This Week's Rutherford County Market Snapshot

John Turner

Turner Victory Team at Onward Real Estate

Since 2000, John and his team have helped families buy and sell over 4,200 homes across Middle Tennessee and have earned more than 421 five-star reviews.

Cell: 615-586-0900 | Office: 615-234-5020

Email: john@turnervictory.com

Website: TurnerVictory.com

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