Existing home sales rise 1.5% in September but stay near the year's low
Sales reached 3.99 million, above forecasts, but remain 2.2% below last year.
Economy · Tuesday, October 13, 2026 · 12:30 PM ET
Sales of previously owned US homes rose 1.5% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.99 million, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday morning (AP, Trading Economics). That was above the 3.95 million that economists expected, according to Trading Economics and investingLive.
Still among the slowest months of the year
Sales were down 2.2% from September 2025 (AP, HBS Dealer). AP notes that part of the monthly gain came because August was revised lower. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said August and September were "the two slowest months for home sales this year," and that "further increases in mortgage rates in recent weeks mean fewer buyers can qualify to purchase a home."
Prices and inventory
The median existing-home price was $417,500, up 1.3% from a year earlier, the 39th straight month of annual gains, per NAR figures reported by HBS Dealer and investingLive. Inventory was 1.6 million homes, a 4.8-month supply (Trading Economics, HBS Dealer). Yun said higher inventory and longer selling times give buyers more room to negotiate.
The 10-year Treasury yield, the benchmark that mortgage rates follow, was near 5.19% early Tuesday, according to CNBC. See our earlier story on Fed Governor Waller on higher yields cooling housing.