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 2025
Data
Existing-Home Sales
Existing-home sales increased by 1.2% in October. Month-over-month sales increased in the Midwest and South, showed no change in the Northeast, and fell in the West. Year-over-year sales rose in the Northeast, Midwest and South, and decreased in the West.
Pending Home Sales
Pending home sales in October rose 1.9% from the prior month and fell 0.4% year over year. Month-over-month pending home sales rose in the Northeast, South and Midwest, but declined in the West, and year-over-year rose in the Midwest and South but fell in the Northeast and West.
Housing Affordability Index
The housing affordability index rose slightly to 104.5 in September from 100.6 in August. An index above 100 means that a family with a median income has more than the income required to afford a median-priced home.
REALTORS® Confidence Index
First-time buyers represented 32% of buyers, up slightly from 30% last month and from 27% one year ago, and 29% of buyers had all-cash sales, virtually unchanged from 30% one month ago and up from 27% 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.
Videos
- Ask the Economist: What Do You Think Is the Most Important Statistic for Real Estate?
- Ask the Economist: Is There a Connection Between Gold Prices and Real Estate Values?
How REALTORS® Can Use This
“Ask the Economist” is a new video series that gives REALTORS® a quick, easy-to-digest update straight from NAR’s Research Team on new economic trends and market activity. 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.”
Reports
- Profile of Real Estate Firms (member login required)
- Highlights from the Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
- October 2025 Commercial Real Estate Market Insights
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
- Buyers Are Slowly Coming Back As Rates Ease
- 50-Year Mortgage: Opportunities and Trade-Offs of a Longer Loan
- Single-Family Rental Trends and Their Geography
- Sustainability as a Hidden Driver in Residential Real Estate Investments
- Tracking Unemployment Insurance Claims, Week of October 18, 2025
- Top 10 Takeaways from NAR's 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
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.