Housing market improvements stall compared to 2025 gains
May data shows an uptick in existing home sales as pending sales stay flat — signs that buyers and sellers have little momentum this spring homebuying season.
June 8, 2026
By the Numbers
Making sense of the data that impacts residential real estate.
- Housing had a ‘disappointing’ May as new listings dropAt a time when home sales should hit their peak, both buyers and sellers are backing off, “possibly foreshadowing slower sales in the second half of the year.”June 4, 2026
- List prices see sharpest annual decline in nearly a decadeFalling prices, an uptick in pending sales and fewer price cuts could mean sunny months are ahead for the market — if inflation, mortgage rates stabilize.June 3, 2026
- Housing inventory lagging for first time in 4 yearsThe market has about 1% less inventory now than a year ago, Compass’ chief economist said. If the trend continues, buyers may see prices start to rise again.June 2, 2026
More in By the Numbers
- Existing home prices outpace new homes for 4th straight quarterThe quirky trend can be explained in part by the flexibility of home builders as they navigate higher material costs and persistent economic uncertainty.May 29, 2026
- Homebuyer ‘malaise’ evident as sales, applications fallWith mortgage rates still elevated, pending and new home sales — along with mortgage applications — have all trended down as affordability weakens.May 28, 2026
- Investor purchases hit 6-year lowReal estate investors are pulling back as rising homeownership costs, economic uncertainty and slowing price growth in some areas threaten to reduce profits.May 28, 2026
- Housing market won’t be affordable for at least 7 years: ReportShifts in household incomes, home prices and mortgage rates will be key to housing affordability improvements in the next decade, according to Oxford Economics.May 27, 2026
- Data offers ‘credible signal’ of returning homebuyer demandContract signings remain sluggish compared to pre-pandemic norms, but new data suggests 2026 has shown improvement over the past few spring homebuying seasons.May 23, 2026
- Rates up, sales down as ‘housing market tug of war’ continuesPending sales and purchase applications fell this week as average mortgage rates topped 6.5%, narrowing “the pool of buyers who can make the numbers work.”May 21, 2026
- Builders lack ‘conviction’ amid high costs, consumer cautionThough construction activity in April was mixed, recent data indicates home builders are being cautious about the types of projects they’re willing to take on.May 21, 2026
- Housing market still out of alignment despite affordability gainsA new Listing-Income Alignment Score finds “a shortage of options” for buyers looking to purchase a home they can afford, according to NAR and Realtor.com.May 20, 2026
- Pending sales inch up, but real growth unlikely until late 2026The housing market may be stabilizing, but many economic factors are still in flux — and could tip home sales in a less rosy direction over the summer.May 19, 2026
- Down payments drop to 4-year low of $23KStill, most renters lack the funds for a down payment, and more buyers are turning to government-backed loans, suggesting that affordability remains a problem.May 19, 2026
- Mortgage rates jump as inflation reality sets inWith no end in sight for the war in Iran, investors are growing increasingly nervous about how sky-high energy prices are impacting the U.S. economy.May 15, 2026
- Sellers lose over $2K on typical dual agency transaction: StudyA new Zillow analysis found that homesellers collectively lost nearly $1.5B on dual agency transactions in three years — and over $1.3B on off-MLS listings.May 14, 2026
- Are homebuyers ready to look past current market conditions?Rising pending sales and loan activity suggests some buyers have “shrugged off the current economic and mortgage rate uncertainties and returned to the market.”May 14, 2026
- Inflation data deals ‘a double-blow’ to housing affordabilityConsumer confidence and purchasing power are weakening, with inflation jumping 3.8% in April amid rising energy prices.May 12, 2026
- Home sales disappoint as consumer confidence hits a 70-year lowApril existing sales were flat year-over-year despite improving affordability, with an annual pace of just 4.02 million — below analysts’ expectations.May 11, 2026
- Jobs report encouraging, but consumers remain pessimisticApril employment numbers were better than expected, but for buyers and sellers, “positive momentum matters more than any single month of data,” economists say.May 8, 2026
- Pending sales data brings ‘good news’ to lagging housing marketWhile economic uncertainty persists amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, “the math has shifted in favor of buyers,” according to Zillow’s chief economist.May 7, 2026
- Rise in new home sales shows demand exists — but it’s ‘fragile'Sales of new single-family homes climbed 3.3% year-over-year in March as builders continued offering incentives, giving buyers “some serious purchasing power.”May 5, 2026
- ChatGPT’s impact on Bay Area luxury home pricesIn the wake of the popular chatbot’s launch, home sale prices in San Francisco’s poshest ZIP codes saw an outsized surge compared to the market overall.May 5, 2026
- Many homebuyers held back by financing misconceptionsA recent survey found that many prospective buyers are in possession of incorrect or outdated information. It’s up to agents to set the record straight.May 4, 2026
