Data Analysis

The National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.75 million for October 2026, down 5.5 percent from September and 8.8 percent from a year earlier, the lowest pace since August 2010.

By Jon Brooks, Co-Founder, Momentum Realty · Updated November 12, 2026

NAR's Nov. 12 report: median $416,700, up 0.4%. In the South, which includes Florida, sales fell 6.5% and the median slipped 0.4%.

Existing-home sales fell 5.5 percent in October 2026 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.75 million, the National Association of Realtors reported on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Sales were 8.8 percent below October 2025. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said sales fell to their lowest level since August 2010. The national median existing-home price was $416,700, up 0.4 percent from a year earlier. Inventory rose to 1.59 million homes, a 5.1-month supply. In the South, the region that includes Florida, sales fell 6.5 percent over the month to 1.73 million and the median price slipped 0.4 percent to $360,900.

How many existing homes sold in October 2026?

NAR counted completed sales of previously owned single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.75 million in October. That is down 5.5 percent from September and down 8.8 percent from the 4.11 million pace of October 2025. The chart shows the 13 months through October: the pace held between 4.01 million and 4.27 million from October 2025 through July 2026, then dropped to 3.93 million in August and 3.99 million in September as first reported, before the October decline.

Single-family sales fell 5.8 percent over the month to 3.41 million and were 8.6 percent lower than a year earlier. Condo and co-op sales fell 2.9 percent to 340,000 and were 10.5 percent below October 2025. Our September existing-home sales article covered the month before the drop.

Why did home sales fall in October?

Yun tied the decline to borrowing costs. "Home buying is difficult when mortgage rates have climbed to their highest levels since 2000," he said in the release. NAR cited Freddie Mac's average 30-year fixed rate of 7.33 percent for October, up from 6.86 percent in September and 6.25 percent a year earlier.

Existing-home sales are counted at closing, so October closings mostly reflect contracts signed in August and September. NAR's Pending Home Sales Index had already fallen 7.3 percent in September, as reported in our pending home sales article. Rates have eased slightly since: Freddie Mac's 30-year average was 7.18 percent in the week ending November 5, its third straight weekly decline, as covered in our November 5 mortgage rates article.

What is the median home price in October 2026?

The national median existing-home price was $416,700 in October, up 0.4 percent from $414,900 a year earlier. NAR said it was the 40th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains, though the margin has narrowed: the September median was up 1.3 percent from a year earlier.

The single-family median was $421,900, up 0.4 percent. The condo and co-op median was $365,100, up 0.3 percent. NAR's Housing Affordability Index registered 100.7, down from 107.3 a year earlier. A lower reading means a median-income family has less income relative to what is needed to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home.

What happened in the South, which includes Florida?

NAR groups Florida in its South region, the largest of the four by volume. South sales fell 6.5 percent from September to an annual rate of 1.73 million and were 8 percent below October 2025. The South median price was $360,900, down 0.4 percent from a year earlier. The South and the West were the only regions without a year-over-year median increase; the West median of $624,300 was unchanged.

The other regions: Northeast sales were unchanged over the month at 470,000 and down 4.1 percent from a year earlier, with a median of $519,600, up 3.2 percent. Midwest sales fell 3.2 percent to 900,000, down 8.2 percent over the year, with a median of $324,300, up 1.5 percent. West sales fell 9.7 percent to 650,000, down 14.5 percent over the year.

NAR does not publish state figures in this report. Florida Realtors publishes statewide October figures on its own schedule, with the next report listed for November 16. For September, Florida Realtors reported a statewide single-family median of $415,000, up 1.2 percent from a year earlier, with closed sales down 3.5 percent, as covered in our Florida housing market September article.

How much inventory is for sale?

Total housing inventory was 1.59 million units at the end of October, up 1.3 percent from September and 4.6 percent from October 2025. At the current sales pace, that equals a 5.1-month supply, up from 4.7 months in September and 4.4 months a year earlier. Supply rose faster than listings because sales slowed: the same number of homes now takes longer to sell at the October pace.

Properties typically stayed on the market for 35 days in October, up from 33 days in September and 34 days a year earlier, according to NAR's Realtors Confidence Index.

Who is buying homes now?

First-time buyers made up 29 percent of sales in October, down from 31 percent in September and 32 percent a year earlier. All-cash sales were 29 percent, up from 27 percent in September and unchanged from a year earlier. Individual investors and second-home buyers bought 20 percent of homes, unchanged from September and up from 16 percent in October 2025. Distressed sales, foreclosures and short sales, were 2 percent of sales, unchanged from both comparison months.

Yun said most of the country's homeowners are financially comfortable because of housing wealth gains and that "there could be sizable pent-up demand if mortgage rates decline."

People also ask

How many existing homes sold in October 2026?

NAR reported existing-home sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.75 million in October 2026, down 5.5 percent from September and 8.8 percent from October 2025.

What is the median existing-home price in October 2026?

The national median existing-home price was $416,700 in October 2026, up 0.4 percent from a year earlier, according to NAR. In the South, the median was $360,900, down 0.4 percent.

Are home sales the lowest since 2010?

NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said October's sales pace was the lowest since August 2010.

How many months of housing supply are there?

Inventory of 1.59 million homes equaled a 5.1-month supply in October 2026, up from 4.7 months in September and 4.4 months a year earlier.

When is the next existing-home sales report?

NAR's own schedule page lists its release dates. Its next housing release on our calendar is the Pending Home Sales Index for October, scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Limitations

Monthly sales figures are seasonally adjusted annual rates based on closings reported through multiple listing services, and NAR revises prior months. The changes from September stated here are NAR's; the comparison months in this release differ slightly from the figures first reported for September (for example, a 4.7-month supply now versus 4.8 months first reported), and the chart shows September as first reported because FRED had not yet been updated. NAR's release does not address statistical significance. Regional figures cover the whole South region, not Florida alone, and the median price is not adjusted for the mix of homes sold. No rate or price forecast is made here.

Sources

National Association of Realtors, "Existing-Home Sales Decreased 5.5% in October, According to NAR Report," released November 12, 2026, nar.realtor, including regional and property-type tables and Realtors Confidence Index figures. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED series EXHOSLUSM495S, existing home sales, updated October 13, 2026. Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week ending November 5, 2026, and monthly averages as cited by NAR. Florida Realtors statewide September 2026 single-family report, published October 16, 2026, and research schedule page. NAR Statistical News Release Schedule.

Disclosure: Jon Brooks is a co-founder of Momentum Realty, a Florida real estate brokerage that owns and funds Florida Housing Intelligence. Momentum has a financial interest in Florida real estate transactions, including in markets named here. See our editorial standards.