US Existing Home Sales October 2026
October 13 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
US Existing Home Sales October 2026
Next US Existing Home Sales: Tuesday, at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London). Covers September 2026 data.
- Consensus
- Not yet published
- Prior
- 4.06 million SAAR (July 2026)
- Actual
- Pending
Full schedule and background: US Existing Home Sales.
Updated
The US Existing Home Sales report for September 2026 is released on October 13, 2026 at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London) by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). It covers home resale activity for September 2026 and is one of the most closely watched monthly gauges of the American housing market. Full schedule and background: US Existing Home Sales.
What is existing home sales?
Existing home sales measures the number of previously owned US homes, houses, condominiums and co-ops, that changed hands during the month. It excludes newly built homes, which are tracked in a separate report. The NAR compiles the figure from closed transactions reported by multiple listing services and Realtor associations across the country, then converts the monthly total into a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), the pace at which homes would sell over a full year if the month’s activity continued.
Because a resale closes weeks or months after a contract is signed, the report reflects buying decisions made in the summer rather than the exact release month. Investors, mortgage lenders and central bankers watch it as a real-time read on how mortgage rates, wages and consumer confidence are feeding through into one of the economy’s largest asset markets, housing.
Alongside the headline sales pace, the NAR release includes median home prices, the months of unsold inventory on the market and regional breakdowns for the Northeast, Midwest, South and West, all of which help analysts judge whether the market favours buyers or sellers.
When is the September existing home sales report released?
The report is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London), published by the National Association of Realtors on its website. NAR typically issues existing home sales data around the third week of the month following the reference period, so a September report landing in mid-October is consistent with its usual publication pattern.
What is the consensus forecast?
As of writing, a consensus forecast for the September 2026 existing home sales rate has not yet been published. Forecasts from economists surveyed by outlets such as Reuters and Bloomberg typically appear in the days immediately before the release, once August data and weekly mortgage application figures are available to model against.
The most recent confirmed NAR data available covers July 2026, when existing home sales fell 1.7% month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million units, up 0.7% from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors. An August 2026 report was scheduled for release on September 10, 2026, but its confirmed figures were not verified in time for this preview, so readers should check the NAR release directly for the most current prior reading ahead of the September print.
| Measure | Prior (July 2026) | Consensus (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Sales pace (SAAR) | 4.06 million | Not yet published |
| Median existing-home price | $434,100 | Not yet published |
What the result could mean
| Scenario | Likely market read | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Above consensus | Seen as a sign the housing market is holding up despite elevated mortgage rates, potentially easing pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut rates quickly | More homes are changing hands than expected, which can support related sectors like furniture, moving services and home improvement |
| In line | Limited market reaction, treated as confirmation of the recent stabilisation NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun has described in prior releases, per the National Association of Realtors | The housing market is behaving roughly as expected, neither improving nor worsening buyers’ and sellers’ prospects meaningfully |
| Below consensus | Could be read as a sign high mortgage rates and affordability constraints are still weighing on activity, adding to arguments for the Fed to keep easing | Fewer homes are selling, which can mean longer waits for sellers and softer demand for related goods and services |
These are possible market reactions, not predictions, and actual moves will depend on other data released the same week, including inflation and labour market figures.
Why does this release matter right now?
Housing has been one of the more resilient corners of the US economy even as average 30-year fixed mortgage rates have stayed above 6.5%, according to Freddie Mac data cited in NAR’s July release. Yun noted that “home sales have been remarkably stable” despite the rate environment, while flagging that lower borrowing costs could unlock stronger activity. With year-to-date sales running ahead of 2025 levels and inventory still tight relative to long-run averages, the September print will help confirm whether that stability is continuing into the autumn or beginning to fade as mortgage rates and affordability pressures persist.
The Federal Reserve does not target housing data directly, but officials watch it as part of the broader picture of consumer demand and financial conditions when setting interest rates, making this release relevant input ahead of upcoming Fed meetings.
What It Means for Your Money
- Mortgages and rates: A stronger than expected sales figure can reduce pressure on the Fed to cut rates, which may keep mortgage rates higher for longer, while a weak print can support the case for cuts that eventually filter through to cheaper home loans.
- Savings: Interest rate expectations shaped by housing and broader data feed into what banks pay on savings accounts and fixed-term deposits, so a weaker housing market can eventually mean lower returns on cash savings if it contributes to rate cuts.
- Jobs and wages: Real estate, construction, mortgage lending and related retail sectors employ millions of Americans, so a sustained slowdown in sales can eventually show up in hiring and wage growth in those industries.
- Investments and pensions: Homebuilder and real estate related shares, along with real estate investment trusts (REITs) often held in pension funds, can move on the day of release as investors reassess demand trends.
- The dollar, pound and euro: US housing data feeds into broader expectations for Fed policy, which influences the dollar’s value against the pound and euro. A softer US housing market that raises the odds of rate cuts can weaken the dollar, making US assets and travel relatively cheaper for UK and European buyers.
Related events
- Previous release: US Existing Home Sales, September 2026 release
- US New Home Sales, published separately by the US Census Bureau
- US Housing Starts and Building Permits, a leading indicator of future housing supply
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the September existing home sales report released?
It is released on October 13, 2026 at 10:00 am ET, which is 3:00 pm in London.
How do I read the existing home sales figure?
The headline number is a seasonally adjusted annual rate, so it shows the pace at which homes would sell over a full year if September’s activity continued, not the actual number of homes sold that month.
How does this report affect interest rates?
It is one of many data points the Federal Reserve weighs when judging the health of consumer demand and financial conditions, so a surprisingly strong or weak reading can shift market expectations for future rate decisions.
Where can I find the official release?
The National Association of Realtors publishes the full report, including regional breakdowns and price data, on its website at the time of release.
When is the next existing home sales report?
NAR typically publishes the following month’s data in mid-November 2026, covering October 2026 sales.