Each month we pull the numbers from across Sevier County and share what we are seeing on the ground.
Here is what the data is telling us.
May 2026 vs. May 2025
84 residential properties closed in May 2026, compared to 67 in May 2025. That is a 25% increase in transaction count, and total volume grew 39% from $46.2 million to $64.1 million.
Average sale price reached $763,277, up nearly 11% from $688,850 a year ago. Price per square foot came in at $359, up 1% from $356.
Days on market increased from 70 to 89, a 27% rise.
Properties are taking a bit longer to close than they did a year ago, but they are closing.
The combination of more transactions at higher prices and a larger pool of active buyers tells the more important story here.
More homes are moving, prices are higher, and volume is up substantially year over year.
Single Family Homes and Cabins
74 single family homes and cabins sold in May 2026, up 17% from 63 in May 2025.
This segment continues to lead the market.
Average price climbed to $804,321, a 13% increase from $711,445 a year ago.
Price per square foot rose 5% to $369.
Total single family volume grew 33% to $59.5 million.
Days on market for this segment increased from 70 to 94 days.
Well-priced cabins and homes are still finding buyers, but sellers who come in above market are feeling the difference.
Pricing accurately from the start matters more now than it did during peak years.
Condos
Condo activity remained limited in May, with 3 closings matching the same number from May 2025.
The average price, however, rose 36% to $451,333 from $332,300.
The standout number is days on market, which dropped 65% from 86 days to 30 days.
The condos that are selling are moving fast. With a small sample size, individual transactions carry significant weight on the averages, so we will continue watching this segment as more activity accumulates through the summer months.
Land
23 land lots sold in May 2026, down slightly from 25 in May 2025, an 8% decrease in transaction count.
Average land prices rose 10% to $140,726 from $128,227, and total land volume held nearly flat at $3.24 million.
Days on market for land increased 37% to 97 days.
Land in the Smokies has always moved on its own timeline, and that remains the case.
The lots that are selling are commanding meaningfully higher prices than they did a year ago, which signals continued demand for well-located parcels even as overall transaction counts soften.
If you are sitting on land in a desirable location and wondering whether now is a good time to sell, the pricing data suggests it may be worth a conversation.
How the Market Built Through 2026: January Through May
The monthly progression from January through May tells an encouraging story. Across nearly every metric, the market gathered strength as spring arrived.
Residential closings grew from 51 in January to 67 in February to 65 in March to 86 in April and 84 in May.
Volume followed the same trajectory, climbing from $28.3 million in January to $64.1 million by May.
Average sale prices moved steadily upward as well, from $555,810 in January to $763,277 by May.
Price per square foot climbed from $304 to $359 over that same stretch.
The days on market trend may be the most telling piece of the story. Residential properties averaged 145 days on market in January. By March that had fallen to 63 days. April saw it rise to 86, and May settled at 89. The overall arc shows buyers who were deliberate early in the year becoming more active and decisive as the spring selling season took hold.
Land activity also built through the period, with lot closings growing from 12 in January to 23 in May and total land volume rising from $1.64 million to $3.24 million.
What This Means for Buyers, Sellers, and Investors
The Smoky Mountain market is more active in May 2026 than it was at this time last year.
Transaction volume is up, prices are higher across the board, and the spring momentum has been building consistently through the first five months of the year.
For sellers, the data confirms that demand exists.
Properties priced well for their location and condition are finding buyers.
Those coming in above market are sitting longer in an environment where buyers have more options than they did during the peak years.
For buyers and investors, the window ahead of peak summer demand is one of the more favorable times to evaluate opportunities. Entry prices remain more accessible than the heights of the market, and the fundamentals that make the Smokies attractive for short term rental investment have not changed. Millions of visitors come to this region every year, and that draws consistent demand for well-managed rental properties.
We have been helping buyers, sellers, and investors navigate this market since 1996. We own short term rental properties in these mountains. We have built them, bought them, and sold them. We know the management companies, the local vendors, and the rates of return across different property types and price points.
If you are thinking about making a move in the Smokies, we would love to help you think it through.