U.S. housing inventory climbed to 1.62 million homes in August 2026, pushing months of supply to 4.9—the highest level in over a decade—while the median price reached $429,100.
In August 2026, the United States held 1.62 million homes for sale, the largest active inventory in more than ten years. The National Association of REALTORS® reports that this figure translates to a 4.9-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 4.0 months a year earlier. Redfin data shows 1,534,918 homes listed, a 2.7 % year-over-year increase, with 393,178 new listings added during the month—4.3 % more than August 2025.
Existing-home sales fell 2.0 % month-over-month and 1.2 % year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million units. Despite softer sales, the median existing-home price climbed to $429,100, a 1.6 % gain over August 2025. The Pending Home Sales Index rose 0.3 % nationally, with gains in the South and West offset by declines in the Northeast and Midwest.
Live FRED data as of 1 October 2026 place the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.28 %, the 15-year fixed at 6.6 %, and the 10-year Treasury yield at 5.27 %. The resulting 2.01 % spread remains wide by historical standards, keeping monthly payments elevated even as inventory expands. The national average 30-year rate reported by NAR for August stood at 6.7 %.
| Metro Area | Homes for Sale (Aug 2026) | MoM Change | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 27,800 | +3.1 % | +5.4 % |
| Phoenix | 22,400 | +2.8 % | +6.9 % |
| Dallas | 19,900 | +1.9 % | +4.7 % |
| Chicago | 18,700 | +0.6 % | +1.2 % |
Redfin data show the fastest year-over-year price growth in Austin (+3.4 %), Raleigh (+3.1 %), and Charlotte (+2.9 %).
With inventory now above 1.6 million homes, the market has moved closer to pre-pandemic norms. However, months of supply remain below the 5.5–6.0 months historically associated with balanced conditions. New listings continue to trend upward, but mortgage rates above 7 % continue to limit transaction volume.
Housing inventory 2026 has reached its highest level in a decade, yet elevated mortgage rates—7.28 % on the 30-year fixed per FRED—continue to weigh on affordability. Buyers who want to model payments under today’s rate environment can run live scenarios at HomeRates.ai.
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