Pending home sales rose 0.3% in August 2026 while existing sales hit 3.98 million, as 30-year mortgage rates held at 6.95% per FRED.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a 0.3% month-over-month increase in the Pending Home Sales Index for August 2026, bringing the national reading to 71.2. Despite the modest gain, the index remained 4.7% below its August 2025 level, underscoring the continued restraint in buyer demand.
Regional data reveal uneven momentum. The West posted the strongest monthly advance (+3.04%), while the Northeast recorded the largest decline (-4.50%). Year-over-year, every region posted losses, with the West down 8.43% and the Midwest off 5.63%.
| Region | Aug 2026 Index | MoM Change | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 61.6 | -4.50% | -3.30% |
| Midwest | 72.1 | -1.64% | -5.63% |
| South | 86.2 | +1.41% | -3.04% |
| West | 54.3 | +3.04% | -8.43% |
| **U.S.** | **71.2** | **0.00%** | **-4.69%** |
Existing-home sales for August 2026 totaled 3.98 million on an annualized basis, according to NAR. Active inventory climbed to 1.62 million homes, a 9.5% increase from a year earlier, while the national median price rose 1.6% year-over-year.
Live FRED data as of 17 September 2026 show the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.95%, the 15-year fixed at 6.26%, and the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.96%, producing a 1.99% mortgage spread. These levels continue to constrain purchasing power, particularly for first-time buyers in high-price coastal markets.
Contract signings, captured by the Pending Home Sales Index, typically lead closings by 4–6 weeks. The modest August uptick suggests September closings may stabilize near 4 million, but persistent rate pressure and elevated list prices are likely to keep annual sales below 4.1 million for 2026.
Pending home sales 2026 remain range-bound near multi-year lows. With mortgage rates anchored above 6.9% and inventory still below pre-pandemic norms, meaningful demand recovery will require either lower rates or further price concessions. Readers can run live scenarios at HomeRates.ai to model how potential rate movements would affect monthly payments in their target markets.
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