US New Home Sales October 2026
October 27 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
US New Home Sales October 2026
Next US New Home Sales: Tuesday, at 10:00 am ET (2:00 pm London). Covers September 2026 data.
- Consensus
- Not yet published
- Prior
- 607,000 SAAR (July 2026)
- Actual
- Pending
Full schedule and background: US New Home Sales.
Updated
US New Home Sales for September 2026 is scheduled for release on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 10:00 am ET (2:00 pm London), published jointly by the US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The report covers sales of newly built single-family homes during September 2026. Full schedule and background: US New Home Sales.
What is New Home Sales?
New Home Sales measures the number of newly constructed single-family houses sold during the month, expressed as a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Unlike existing home sales, which are recorded at closing, new home sales are counted at the point a sales contract is signed, even if construction has not started. This makes the series a leading indicator of housing demand and builder activity.
The Census Bureau collects data from a sample of homebuilders and combines it with permit records to produce national and regional estimates, alongside the median and average sales price, and the months’ supply of homes available for sale. Because the sample size is relatively small, the monthly figures carry wide margins of error and are frequently revised.
Markets watch the release because it captures the most rate-sensitive part of the housing market: new construction depends heavily on mortgage affordability, builder incentives, and land and materials costs. Central banks, including the Federal Reserve, use housing data as one gauge of how tight monetary policy is biting into the real economy.
When is the September new home sales report released?
The Census Bureau and HUD will publish the September 2026 report on October 27, 2026 at 10:00 am ET (2:00 pm London time). The release appears on the Census Bureau’s New Residential Sales page, alongside the accompanying PDF tables. This is the standard publication pattern for the series, which is typically released around three to four weeks after the end of the reference month.
What is the consensus forecast?
A consensus forecast for the September 2026 report had not been published at the time of writing. Economists’ estimates are usually collated by data providers such as Trading Economics and Reuters in the days before release, and will be updated closer to October 27, 2026.
The most recently confirmed official reading available covers July 2026. Sales of new single-family homes fell 10.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000, down from a revised June figure and 6.3% below July 2025, according to the Census Bureau’s New Residential Sales release. This was reported to have missed market expectations of a smaller decline to around 620,000, according to Trading Economics.
| Measure | Prior (July 2026) | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| New home sales, SAAR | 607,000 | Not yet published |
| Median sales price | $393,800 | Not yet published |
What the result could mean
| Scenario | Likely market read | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Above consensus | Read as a sign of resilient demand despite elevated mortgage rates, potentially seen as reducing pressure for near-term Fed rate cuts | More people are buying new homes than expected, which could support builder share prices but keep borrowing costs higher for longer |
| In line | Limited market reaction, consistent with the “broadly flat” trend described by Mortgage News Daily since 2023 | The housing market continues on its current path, with no major surprise for buyers, sellers or investors |
| Below consensus | Could reinforce concerns about affordability constraints, according to commentary accompanying prior releases, and may feed expectations of further Fed easing | Fewer new homes are selling than expected, often linked to high mortgage rates and stretched household budgets |
Why does this release matter right now?
New home sales have been described by Mortgage News Daily as “broadly flat” since the volatility of the pandemic years faded, with builders relying on price cuts and incentives to keep buyers engaged. The median new home price fell to $393,800 in July 2026, described by First American senior economist Sam Williamson as the lowest level in five years, according to Real Estate News.
The Federal Reserve monitors housing indicators closely because the sector is one of the most sensitive to interest rate changes. A weaker September print would add to evidence that elevated mortgage rates are still weighing on construction and household formation, while a stronger print could suggest builder discounting is successfully drawing buyers back into the market. Either outcome feeds into the broader debate over the pace of future Fed rate decisions, which also matters for housing markets in the UK, Europe and Asia through its influence on global bond yields and the dollar.
What It Means for Your Money
- Mortgages and rates: Weak new home sales can add to expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates, which over time can filter through to lower mortgage rates in the US and, indirectly, influence global borrowing costs, including UK and eurozone mortgage pricing linked to dollar-denominated markets.
- Savings: If the data pushes rate-cut expectations forward, returns on cash savings and money market funds could edge lower in the months ahead, though this report alone rarely moves savings rates on its own.
- Jobs and wages: A sustained slowdown in new home sales can eventually affect construction employment and related trades, from builders to materials suppliers, with knock-on effects for regional labour markets.
- Prices: Falling new home prices, as seen through 2026, ease one part of the cost of living for buyers, though they can also squeeze builder margins and slow new construction, affecting future housing supply.
- Investments, pensions and currencies: Homebuilder stocks often react directly to this release. A weaker-than-expected report can also move the dollar, with knock-on effects for the pound and euro, and for pension funds holding US housing-sensitive equities or bonds.
Related events
- Previous report: US New Home Sales, September 2026 preview
- Existing-Home Sales, published monthly by the National Association of Realtors
- Housing starts and building permits, published monthly by the Census Bureau
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the September 2026 new home sales report released?
The report is released at 10:00 am ET, which is 2:00 pm London time, on October 27, 2026.
How should I read the new home sales figure?
The headline number is a seasonally adjusted annual rate, meaning it estimates how many new homes would sell over a full year if the current monthly pace continued, adjusted to remove typical seasonal patterns.
How does this data affect interest rates?
Weaker-than-expected housing data can add to the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, while stronger data can reduce pressure for near-term cuts, though housing data is only one input among many the Fed considers.
Where can I find the official release?
The official report is published on the Census Bureau’s New Residential Sales page.
When is the next new home sales report?
The following report, covering October 2026 data, is typically published around three to four weeks later, in late November 2026.