According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Pending Home Sales Report, pending home sales rose 0.3% month over month in August. Pending home sales rose month-over-month in the South and West but fell in the Northeast and Midwest. Year-over-year, pending home sales decreased 4.7%. “Buyers steadily entered into contracts in August even though mortgage rates increased,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “However, the housing market is still sluggish, with contract signings below last year. This is due to higher mortgage rates offsetting the increased buying power created…
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Existing home sales see slight dip in August
According to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Existing-Home Sales report, existing-home sales in August 2026 decreased by 2.0% month-over-month and 1.2% year-over-year. “Mortgage rates and home sales move in opposite directions, so it’s not surprising to see a mild dip in home buying activity due to high mortgage rates,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Still, home prices are rising and existing home sales are actually up 1.6% year-to-date through the first eight months of the year. Homebuying demand, despite higher interest rates, is no doubt being supported by…
Read MoreExisting home sales rise in metro markets
According to the National Association of REALTORS’ latest quarterly report, home prices rose in 80% of metro markets during the second quarter of 2026. The report also showed the national median single-family existing-home price rose 1.5% year-over-year to $434,900, up from 0.5% annual growth in the first quarter. “Home sales increased despite mortgage rates rising. This testifies to the potential housing demand building up from steady job and income gains,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Sales rose in three of the four major regions, with the South leading…
Read MoreExisting-home sales slow in June
The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Existing-Home Sales report was released on July 9, 2026. According to the report, existing-home sales slowed in June, decreasing by 2.4% month-over-month and increasing 2.8% year-over-year. “The back-and-forth in monthly home sales activity, driven by mild fluctuations in mortgage rates, shows how sensitive home buyers are to affordability conditions,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “However, job gains, more than half a million since the beginning of the year, will continue to provide support for the housing market.” In June, Month-over-month existing-home sales increased…
Read MoreExisting home sales expected to increase
The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun reported that home sales are expected to be modestly better in the second half of 2026, while NAR’s current forecast calls for existing-home sales to rise 4% this year. Meanwhile, mortgage rates are projected to average 6.5% in 2026. Yun added that housing wealth accumulation will continue in 2026, with the typical homeowner gaining approximately $16,000 in wealth this year. Despite headwinds in the housing market, Yun said the U.S. economy will avoid a recession in 2026. Dr. Jessica Lautz,…
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