Checked October 16, 2026. Each figure shows the period it covers.
What is happening in housing right now
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025-10-16 | 6.27% |
| 2025-10-23 | 6.19% |
| 2025-10-30 | 6.17% |
| 2025-11-06 | 6.22% |
| 2025-11-13 | 6.24% |
| 2025-11-20 | 6.26% |
| 2025-11-26 | 6.23% |
| 2025-12-04 | 6.19% |
| 2025-12-11 | 6.22% |
| 2025-12-18 | 6.21% |
| 2025-12-24 | 6.18% |
| 2025-12-31 | 6.15% |
| 2026-01-08 | 6.16% |
| 2026-01-15 | 6.06% |
| 2026-01-22 | 6.09% |
| 2026-01-29 | 6.10% |
| 2026-02-05 | 6.11% |
| 2026-02-12 | 6.09% |
| 2026-02-19 | 6.01% |
| 2026-02-26 | 5.98% |
| 2026-03-05 | 6.00% |
| 2026-03-12 | 6.11% |
| 2026-03-19 | 6.22% |
| 2026-03-26 | 6.38% |
| 2026-04-02 | 6.46% |
| 2026-04-09 | 6.37% |
| 2026-04-16 | 6.30% |
| 2026-04-23 | 6.23% |
| 2026-04-30 | 6.30% |
| 2026-05-07 | 6.37% |
| 2026-05-14 | 6.36% |
| 2026-05-21 | 6.51% |
| 2026-05-28 | 6.53% |
| 2026-06-04 | 6.48% |
| 2026-06-11 | 6.52% |
| 2026-06-18 | 6.47% |
| 2026-06-25 | 6.49% |
| 2026-07-02 | 6.43% |
| 2026-07-09 | 6.49% |
| 2026-07-16 | 6.55% |
| 2026-07-23 | 6.58% |
| 2026-07-30 | 6.66% |
| 2026-08-06 | 6.69% |
| 2026-08-13 | 6.67% |
| 2026-08-20 | 6.65% |
| 2026-08-27 | 6.66% |
| 2026-09-03 | 6.71% |
| 2026-09-10 | 6.76% |
| 2026-09-17 | 6.95% |
| 2026-09-24 | 7.03% |
| 2026-10-01 | 7.28% |
| 2026-10-08 | 7.40% |
| 2026-10-15 | 7.40% |
What the data says, September 2026
- There are 5.4% more homes for sale in the U.S. than a year ago.
- The median asking price is down 1.4% from a year ago.
- 21% of active listings have had at least one price reduction.
- The typical listing spends 61 days on the market.
Sources: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (United States, Week of Oct 15, 2026); Realtor.com® Economic Research (United States, September 2026); FHFA House Price Index (all-transactions), via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (United States, Q2 2026); U.S. Census Bureau & HUD, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (United States, Q2 2026). Listing figures are asking prices and active listings, not closed sales. National figures are not local; see your state for local data.
Latest analysis
All news & analysisThe Affordability Illusion
Home prices are falling in dozens of metros. Sellers are cutting. So why does buying a home still feel impossible?
- News · Market
The Home Inspection Trap
- News · Buying
How to Improve Your Credit Score for a Mortgage: The 90-Day Action Plan
- News · Buying
New Construction vs. Existing Home in 2026: The Builder Contract Guide
- News · Buying
How to Sell Your Home While Buying Another: Bridge Loans, Contingencies & Timing Strategy
- News · Buying
How to Read a Loan Estimate: Every Line Explained
Buying a home
Buyer roadmapThe whole purchase, in order. Each step links to the guide and the tool for it.
- Get financially ready
Credit, savings, and a payment you can live with.
- Get pre-approved
What lenders check, and why it matters before you shop.
- Research homes and neighborhoods
Property records, prices nearby, and the questions to ask.
- Make an offer
Price, contingencies and earnest money without overpaying.
- Inspect, appraise, close
What can still change, and the costs due at closing.
First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: Grants, DPA, and Low-Down Loans
Dozens of state and local programs exist to help first-time buyers cover down payments and closing costs. Most people don't know they qualify. Here's what's available.
Mortgage Pre-Approval: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How to Get One
Closing Costs for Buyers: The Complete Breakdown by State
Selling a home
Seller roadmapThere is more than one way to sell. Each trades price, speed, cost and effort differently, and the right one depends on your situation, not on who is advertising.
List with an agent
Usually the widest buyer pool. Commission and preparation costs come off your proceeds.
Sell it yourself (FSBO)
Saves the listing commission. You take on pricing, marketing, negotiation and paperwork.
Sell to a cash buyer
Speed and certainty, often as-is. The price is typically below what a listing could bring.
Compare all three side by side
How to Price Your Home to Sell in 2026
Overpricing is the #1 reason homes sit unsold. Learn the exact framework agents use to price a home correctly the first time — and why the first 7 days are everything.
Selling Your House As-Is: What It Really Means and When It Makes Sense
Selling as-is doesn't mean giving your home away. It means selling without making repairs — but you still need to disclose everything. Here's when it makes sense, what to expect on price, and how to do it right.
FSBO vs. Realtor: The Honest Math on Going It Alone
For Sale By Owner sounds like a way to save 6% in commission. The reality is more complicated. Here's the honest breakdown of what FSBO actually costs, where agents earn their fee, and when each approach makes sense.
Tools that show their math
All tools- Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment with taxes, insurance, PMI and an amortization schedule.
- Affordability
A price range from your income, debts and down payment.
- Seller net proceeds
What you walk away with after payoff, commissions and costs.
- Rent vs. buy
Year-by-year cost of owning compared with renting.
- Points break-even
How long it takes for a rate buydown to pay for itself.
- Property lookup
County assessor facts and neighborhood data for a U.S. address.
Explore markets
All 50 statesAsking price vs. a year ago, September 2026. Select a state for its full profile.
Source: Realtor.com® Economic Research (50 states and D.C., September 2026).
More from the desk
Guides libraryThe Hidden Costs of Year 1 Homeownership: The Complete Budget No One Shows You
Most buyers budget for the down payment and closing costs. They forget the $12,000–$24,000 in additional costs that hit in the first 12 months. Here's every expense, quantified — so you're not blindsided.
First-Time Homebuyer Programs in 2026: Grants, DPA & Low-Down Loans
Dozens of state and federal programs can help cover your down payment and closing costs. Most buyers don't know they qualify. Here's exactly what's available and how to access it.
How to Buy a Home in 2026: The Step-by-Step Playbook
Rates are at a 3-year low. Homes are sitting longer. Competition has cooled in most markets. Here's exactly what to do — and when — to buy smart.
Home Inspection Checklist 2026: Red Flags, What Inspectors Miss & How to Negotiate
A $300–$600 inspection is one of the best purchases you'll make in the entire transaction. Here's what gets checked, what red flags mean, and how to use the report to negotiate effectively.
From our network
Free, sourced, and clear about who pays for it.
- Free, no account
- Every guide, dataset and tool is free. Nothing is behind a sign-up.
- Every number has a source
- Each figure names who published it and the period it covers. If we do not have a value, we do not show one.
- Ads are labelled
- We advertise companies owned by the same group that publishes this site, and we say so on every ad.
- Ads do not write the guides
- Our guides describe each option’s trade-offs, including options our own companies do not offer.