According to a new Redfin analysis, home buying is softening as summer winds down. Pending home sales fell 1.3% week over week, while new U.S. home listings rose 1.2%. Home-buying demand remains strong in California’s Bay Area and South Florida.
However, an opportunity remains as summer winds down: New home listings and slower demand could draw out more potential home buyers. Touring activity remains up 10% from the start of the year, as of Aug. 15, 2026.
“Some homeowners have been waiting for mortgage rates to fall and demand to surge, but now they realize that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, so they’re taking the plunge now,” said Jamie Derouen, a Redfin Premier agent in the Houston area.
