Is Birmingham, AL 35242 a buyer’s or seller’s market?

The Birmingham housing market right now

In the three months ending August 31, 2026, 30% of homes in Birmingham, AL 35242 sold above their list price, the typical home went under contract in 45 days and there were 3 months of supply. Under four months of supply means sellers have the edge: expect competition for well-priced homes. That’s based on 261 home sales.

Compared with the same period a year earlier, the share selling over asking rose from 21%, homes sold faster (51 days then) and the median sale price held steady to $574,751. Overall, Birmingham is more competitive than a year ago, so tougher for buyers.

Within Shelby County, homes here sell faster than in 87% of the county’s ZIP codes, and sell more often over asking than in 87%. On our competition score, Birmingham ranks #21 of 249 AL ZIP codes with enough sales (score 57 out of 100).

Nearby, buyers who want less competition could look at Vandiver 35176 (0% sold over asking) or Shelby 35143 (0% sold over asking), while Vincent 35178 (33% sold over asking) is even more competitive.