MoCo in Its Pumpkin Era: Fall Fun, Home Prep & the Market Scoop

by Derek Colen

Montgomery County is showing off its fall colors, the pumpkins are multiplying on front porches, and the calendar is filling up with all the best parts of the season.

Fall is also a good time to give your home a little attention—and take a fresh look at what’s happening in the local real estate market. Here’s your MoCo guide to enjoying the season, getting your home ready for cooler weather, and understanding the latest numbers.

🍁 Fall plans around Montgomery County

🎃 Pumpkin Festival at Butler’s Orchard

There’s a reason this Germantown tradition makes the fall list every year. The festival has pumpkin picking, hayrides, a corn maze, giant slides, and plenty of family photo opportunities. It runs through November 1. Weekend reservations are strongly encouraged.

Plan a visit to Butler’s Orchard

🐾 Barks & Brews in North Bethesda

On Saturday, October 24, from 4–8 p.m., the Pike District Pop-Up Park hosts a free, dog-friendly fall festival. Costumes are welcome—which means your dog can finally wear that ridiculous pumpkin outfit you bought. 🐶🎃

Get event details

👻 Silver Spring Fall-O-Ween

Head to Veterans Plaza on Sunday, October 25, from noon–5 p.m. for an afternoon of fall and Halloween fun right in downtown Silver Spring.

See event details

😱 Markoff’s Haunted Forest in Dickerson

For those who like their fall with a few extra screams, Markoff’s is a MoCo classic. I’ll be braving it with my middle-school daughters this season. If you see me there, I’ll probably be the one pretending I’m not scared while they lead the way. 😱

Check Markoff’s Haunted Forest details

🏡 A quick fall home reset

A little seasonal maintenance now can help avoid an inconvenient surprise when temperatures drop:

Clear leaves from gutters and downspouts.
Change your HVAC filter and test the heat before the first cold snap.
Disconnect garden hoses and check outdoor faucets.
Check weather stripping around doors and windows for drafts.
Add a few pumpkins, mums, and warm lights to give your porch an easy fall refresh. 🍂✨

Nothing says “cozy autumn home” quite like a welcoming porch. The trick is stopping before it starts to look like the pumpkin section at the garden center exploded.

📊 What’s happening in the MoCo housing market?

September’s numbers show more homes available than a year ago, while prices remain higher year over year:

Active listings: Realtor.com counted 3,222 active listings in Montgomery County, up about 13% year over year.
Months of inventory: Bright MLS data showed 3.4 months of supply, compared with 2.6 months last September.
Median sold price: $610,000, up 2.5% year over year.
Average days on market: 35 days, compared with 32 days last year.
Listings with price drops: Redfin reported 24% of local listings had a price drop, up 3.4 percentage points year over year.
Cancelled contracts: About 12.8% of contracts fell through across the wider D.C. metro area in September. That figure is regional, not Montgomery County-specific.

The takeaway? Buyers may have more homes to compare and more room to negotiate on the right property. Sellers still have buyers, but pricing thoughtfully and making a strong first impression matter. And while countywide numbers help us see the broad trend, the story can look different by neighborhood, home type, and price range.

💸 Mortgage rates and buyer options

Freddie Mac’s national weekly averages on October 15 were 7.40% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.71% for a 15-year fixed mortgage. These are national averages, not personalized quotes; actual rates vary based on the borrower and loan.

I’m seeing sellers use concessions to help make deals work, including in a couple of my own transactions. If you’d like to learn about one option, I shared more here: How a 2/1 mortgage buydown can create opportunities.

Fall is a great time to enjoy the neighborhood, take care of the little things around the house, and get clear on your next move. If you’re wondering what these market numbers mean for your home or your plans, I’m always happy to talk through the MoCo details.

Happy fall! 🎃🍂

Derek Colen
Redfin Lead Agent