The Lake Real Estate Slowdown Is Over — Here’s What Just Changed | Real Estate News – Lake of the Ozarks

The Lake of the Ozarks' real estate market changed forever in 2020. But the five years since then have been... well, interesting.

The red-hot pace of real estate continued from 2020 through 2022, but it cooled off quickly by 2023. In fact, total sales of waterfront homes at the Lake fell to a level that hadn't been seen since 2011; the median selling price had doubled, but anyone trying to sell a home in 2023 and 2024 knew things had slowed down quite a bit.

That changed last year.

While 2025 started off looking like 2024 2.0 (or even worse), LakeExpo Real Estate partner Jesse Faulstich says the latter half of 2025 showed signs that the tide was turning.

While the first half of the year saw only 279 lakefront home sales (compared with 295 in the first half of 2024), the second half of the year exploded. "August through October became a sales juggernaut, with 110 more transactions than the spring months combined," Faulstich wrote in a recent letter to clients.

In all, the latter half of 2025 saw 400 waterfront home sales — that's 65 more than the same period in 2024.

In the Lakefront Homes category, Faulstich pointed to the following trends:

• 679 sales in 2025 versus 630 in 2024 (+7.78%)

• $544.4 million total volume in 2025 versus $482.5 million in 2024 (+12.83%)

• $625,000 median price - unchanged from 2024, demonstrating remarkable stability

• $801,782 average price - up 4.69%, driven by luxury strength

"2025 told a story of resilience and dramatic momentum," he added. "What began as a challenging spring transformed into one of the strongest second-half performances in recent memory."

Faulstich says he doesn't think that's a fluke: he believes the second half of 2025 was the start of a strong growth period for Lake of the Ozarks real estate — waterfront homes in particular — thanks to tightening inventory, more seller confidence, and friendlier Federal Reserve monetary policies.

Faulstich says he believes the Lake's waterfront home market will see 5–10% growth in 2026, thanks to the following encouraging signs:

• Inventory tightened to 4.7 months heading into spring

• Only 35% of homes are showing price reductions—seller confidence is strong

• Luxury market momentum (46% more $2M+ sales last year)

• Days on market is still 59% below pre-pandemic normal

• Strong second-half of 2025 proves demand is robust

• Stable monetary environment supports organic growth

Ready to list your home at Lake of the Ozarks? Contact LakeExpo Real Estate for unmatched marketing, and experience the "LakeExpo Effect." Call 573-693-1613 or email info@lakeexporealestate.com.

Thinking of buying a Lake house? Scroll to your heart's content, here, and let us know when you're ready.

LakeExpo Real Estate on Facebook | Instagram