If you’ve owned a home in Kearney for the last several years, you may have noticed something interesting when looking at your home’s equity: you’re probably still gaining value, but the pace of that growth looks very different than it did a few years ago.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The Kearney real estate market has continued to move forward, but we’re seeing a much more normalized market compared with the extraordinary appreciation we experienced during the 2020–2022 period.
What Are We Seeing in Kearney Right Now?
Looking at January through July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, the market is still showing healthy activity:
Average sales price increased from $322,804 to $365,857 — an increase of approximately 13.3%.
We also saw:
- 272 homes listed compared with 220 in 2025
- 230 homes sold compared with 197 in 2025
- 99.3% average sale-to-list ratio, up from 98.3%
- 41 average days on market, compared with 37 last year
On the surface, those numbers paint a picture of a market that is continuing to grow—and they do.
But there’s another layer to the story.
Appreciation Isn’t What It Used to Be
As we prepare equity reports for homeowners, we’re noticing a trend that isn’t necessarily obvious from looking at one year’s average sales price.
Homes that were purchased during the rapid appreciation years of 2020–2022 often experienced significant equity growth in a relatively short period of time. In some cases, homeowners saw increases in the 10–20% range or more.
We’re simply not seeing that kind of broad appreciation across the market today.
Instead, the market appears to be settling into something much more sustainable.
Homes are still appreciating, but the increases are generally smaller and much more dependent on the individual property and updates completed.
That distinction matters.
A homeowner shouldn’t necessarily expect their house to gain 10–20% in value every year simply because that happened recently. At the same time, a slower rate of appreciation doesn’t mean the market has stopped working in their favor.
It means we’re moving away from an unusually rapid period of growth and toward a more typical real estate market.
Not Every Home Is Experiencing the Same Growth
One of the most interesting things we’re seeing is how much the property’s price point, age, condition, and location can influence its equity growth.
For example, homes in the mid-to-upper $200,000s through the $350,000 range, particularly older homes, have appeared to experience much more modest appreciation.
We’re also seeing some homes that are 100+ years old remain relatively flat in value, particularly when compared with the rapid gains many homeowners experienced earlier in the decade.
That doesn’t mean these homes aren’t valuable.
It means buyers are becoming more selective about where they’re willing to spend their money.
Condition, updates, maintenance, energy efficiency, layout, location, and overall functionality can have a much bigger impact on today’s market value than simply owning a home and waiting for the market to appreciate it.
Why Your Neighbor’s Equity May Look Different Than Yours
This is one reason we’re careful about making broad statements like, “Kearney home values are up X%.”
The market is not one-size-fits-all.
Two homes on the same street can have completely different equity stories depending on:
When they were purchased.
A homeowner who purchased in 2019 may have a very different equity position than someone who purchased in 2022.
What they paid.
The amount of appreciation isn’t necessarily the same as the amount of equity.
The home’s condition.
A well-maintained, updated home may perform very differently from a property that needs significant work.
The home’s price range.
Buyer demand can vary significantly between entry-level, mid-range, and higher-priced homes.
Improvements made since purchase.
A remodeled kitchen, finished basement, updated bathrooms, new roof, or other improvements can affect a home’s marketability and value.
What buyers are looking for today.
Buyer preferences change, and homes that meet today’s expectations can have an advantage over properties that feel dated.
So, Is This a Good or Bad Market?
We’d say it’s different.
The days of widespread 10–20% annual appreciation were never likely to be sustainable forever. Those years created tremendous wealth for many homeowners, but they also created expectations about what “normal” appreciation looks like.
Today’s market is giving us a different picture.
We’re seeing:
More inventory.
There were 23.6% more homes listed January–July 2026 than during the same period last year.
More closed sales.
Homes sold increased approximately 16.8%.
Strong sale-to-list ratios.
Homes are still selling, on average, for 99.3% of their list price.
Continued price growth.
Average sales price is higher than it was during the same period last year.
But we’re also seeing a market where pricing correctly matters, buyers have more considerations, and individual property characteristics play a larger role in determining how much a home appreciates.
What Does This Mean for Homeowners?
If you’ve owned your home for several years, this is a great time to look at your equity—but don’t rely on a generic online estimate or a citywide percentage to tell the whole story.
Your home’s value is specific to your property, your neighborhood, your improvements, and today’s comparable sales.
That’s exactly why we like doing personalized equity reports.
Instead of simply asking, “How much have home values increased?” we’re looking at:
What did you purchase your home for?
What have comparable homes sold for recently?
How has your specific neighborhood performed?
What improvements have you made?
What would today’s buyer see as a strength—or a drawback?
Those details can tell a much more useful story than a single market-wide percentage.
The Bottom Line
Kearney’s real estate market is still growing.
But we’re no longer in the extraordinary appreciation environment we experienced from 2020–2022—and that’s an important distinction for both homeowners and buyers to understand.
Growth hasn’t disappeared. It’s simply becoming more normal, more property-specific, and more dependent on the fundamentals of the home.
If you’re curious about what that means for your home’s equity, we’d be happy to take a look.
Your home’s value isn’t just a number on a website. It’s a piece of your overall financial picture—and understanding where you stand can help you make better decisions about what’s next.
Market data reflects January–July 2026 compared with January–July 2025 for the Kearney area. Individual property performance can vary significantly based on location, condition, age, improvements, price range, and other factors.