Each month, the Research Update report provides a summary of the data, reports, blog posts, and instant reactions produced by NAR's research team.
October 2026
Data
Existing-Home Sales
Existing-home sales increased by 1.5% in September 2026. Month over month sales increased in the South and West, held steady in the Midwest, and declined in the Northeast. Year-over-year sales declined in all four regions.
Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales in September decreased by 7.3% month over month and 11.3% year over year. Month over month pending home sales declined in all four major U.S. regions. The West had the largest decrease, followed by the South, Midwest, and Northeast. Year over year pending home sales also declined in all four regions.
Housing Affordability Index
The Housing Affordability Index registered 105.4, down from 106.7 one year ago. Affordability declined year-over-year in three of the four regions: Northeast: -4.5%, Midwest: -3.1%, South: -0.4%, and rose slightly in the West: +1.0%.
REALTORS® Confidence Index
Median time on market: 33 days, up from 31 days in August and unchanged from September 2025. First-time buyers represented 31% of sales, up from 30% in August and 30% one year ago. Cash sales accounted for 27% of transactions, unchanged from last month and down from 30% one year ago.
How REALTORS® Can Use This
REALTORS® can use existing-home sales and pending home sales data to gauge current demand trends and anticipate market shifts. They can also utilize the affordability and quarterly data to identify pricing patterns and assess buyer capacity across different regions to adapt strategies for their clients.
Reports
REALTORS® Technology Report
Technology is delivering value to clients. Forty percent of REALTORS® said their clients responded very positively to the use of technology throughout the home buying and selling process. Saving time remains the primary reason for adopting new technology. Eighty-one percent of REALTORS® reported embracing new technology primarily to improve efficiency and productivity. Artificial intelligence use continues to grow. Twenty-three percent of REALTORS® reported using AI tools daily in their business activities.
October 2026 Commercial Real Estate Market Insights Report
Economic conditions were mixed in August. The economy continued to grow, but at a slower pace. The labor market remained relatively steady, while inflation was still elevated. At the same time, interest rates remained high, suggesting that borrowing costs are likely to stay elevated in the near term. With little change in the broader economy, commercial real estate also continued a similar path in August. Some sectors improved further, while others remained mostly steady.
Metro Market Statistics Dashboard
(Member log-in required)
NAR's Market Statistics Dashboard gives REALTORS® exclusive access to monthly local data on the impact of lower rates, housing affordability, prices, sales, & listing trends, economic conditions, the home buyer and seller profile, and more, with breakdowns by age, race/ethnicity, and income.
How REALTORS® Can Use This
REALTORS® can leverage NAR reports to provide clients with data-driven insights on specific market conditions and equip themselves with important knowledge about the market. This empowers members to assist buyers and sellers in making informed decisions regarding timing, pricing, and location.
Articles on the Economy
- How Lower Property Taxes Could Improve Housing Affordability in Florida
Lower property taxes could reduce housing costs and help more Florida households afford a home. - Agent Movement and Retention Trends
Explore real estate agent movement and retention by firm size, career stage, sales volume, and reasons agents leave their firms. - Hispanic Homeownership: Trends in the United States
Hispanic homeownership rose over the past decade despite affordability challenges, supported by gains in income, education, and wealth. - Instant Reaction: Jobs, October 2, 2026
September jobs data points to slower inflation and modest mortgage rate relief as wage growth eases and labor force participation rises. - Instant Reaction: Mortgage Rates, September 16, 2026
Average mortgage rates rose from 6% in late February to 7% this week,ahead of the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in three years today.
How REALTORS® Can Use This
REALTORS® can use the Economists’ Outlook blog to stay updated on experts’ commentary, economic forecasts, housing market outlooks, and regional trends, and then use these insights to help clients on timing purchases or sales based on anticipated market movement. By sharing analysis of the housing market and translating it into consumer-friendly guidance, agents can build credibility and empower their clients to navigate the housing market with confidence.
Ask the Economist
- Ask the Economist: How Does the Locked-in Interest Rate Affect Changes Over Time?
What happens to the “lock-in effect” over time? NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explains. - Ask the Economist: How Are Some First-Time Buyers Able to Afford a Home?
Wondering how first-time buyers are making homeownership happen in today's Market? Dr. Jessica lautz breaks it down in the latest Ask The Economist. - Ask the Economist: What Sticky Trends in Real Estate From Covid Still Exist Today?
The housing market has changed since COVID, but some trends are still shaping today's market. Dr. Jessica Lautz breaks down what's still influencing real estate. - Ask the Economist: Does Demography Determine Your Destiny?
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explores how demography influences housing demand and what it could mean for the future of real estate. - Ask the Economist: Which Type of Homes Is Performing Better in the Housing Market
Curious which type of home is leading today's housing market? Lawrence Yun explains the latest trends and what they mean for today's buyers and sellers.
How REALTORS® Can Use This
“Ask the Economist” is a new video series that gives REALTORS® a quick, easy-to-digest update on new economic trends and market activity, straight from NAR's Research Team. REALTORS® can use this in listing appointments to show buyers/sellers they’re up-to-date on interest rates, housing inventory, etc.; buyer consultations to explain why now might be a good time to act or wait based on real data; email follow-ups: “Here’s what NAR’s latest economist update says about local trends.”